Weekend Links 10/24/14

So it has been a while since I posted a Friday Weekend Links. Several weeks ago we were dealing with some major sickness around these parts (trip to ER for Clara which resulted in a + test for flu, pneumonia, and an ear infection, and a pretty bad cold for Camille), and once we recovered from that we were on our way to the North East to spend time with family. Oh . . . and I also resigned from my job (more on this at a later date, once I gather the words). So wrapping up the last few weeks of work took up a lot of time. And now here we are, almost at the end of October. I blinked and October basically waved hi and bye.

So . . . A few links for your weekend down-time. . .

Life
Can I trust God in the worst?
From the Other Side. . . isn 
On not "firepitting" our marriage 
On breaking up with perfection
Overwhelmed? Learn To Say Your Best Yes - An Interview w/ Lysa TerKeurst

Special Needs
Is it Behavior? Or is It Sensory? - lots of great info about the vestibular system in this post

And a few pics of Clara in her new blue glasses (which she is doing remarkably well with I might add! As in. . . she doesn't take them off 154,569 times a day). Hooray for progress!!

Enjoy your weekend & this fall weather!

Camille 9 months

This little one turned nine months old while we were in CT last week! 

A few things about Camille at nine months. . .

Loves: taking baths, splashing non-stop while in the bath, grabbing people's noses or face in general, playing in the mirror, babbling to herself in the mirror, eating anything and everything, getting as close as possible to big sister, looking at books, crawling around the house & getting into whatever she can find, following me around while I vacuum, and flirting with whoever will give her the time of day.

Does Not Love: changing clothes & when I intentionally take a toy/item away from her. . . Que the drama!

Eating: She takes a bottle every 4 hours and gets three meals a day of baby food + finger foods. Some favorite foods are yogurt, yogurt melts, blueberries, puffs, cheerios, Cheetos (I know), and various other fruits/veggie combos. She has been working on her sippy cup skills but usually prefers to just chew on the top rather than actually drink.

Sleeping: Camille sleeps 7pm - 7am, and takes two naps per day usually around 10am & 2 pm. She is a great sleeper! If she wakes up around 6am sometimes we can give her a bottle and she will go back down until 8-8:30am.

Misc: Size 4 daytime diapers, size 5 overnights, clothes size 12 months

9 month stats: 28 inches tall, 21 pounds, and HC measured 17.76 inches

I just cannot emphasize enough how much she truly loves being close to Clara. Camille is seriously always trying to touch her, inch her way closer to her, etc. This really does warm my heart. Except when she tries to pull Clara's hair as hard as she possibly can. It is safe to say this does not warm Clara's heart either.

Development: She is now pulling to stand on just about anything she can, and babbling non-stop. She frequently says "Da-da-da-da, Eeeeeeee, Na-na-na-na," and just as of this week said "Ma-ma-ma." Love hearing her sweet voice!

Adventures: Camille got to spend a little bit of time last weekend with my Grandpa Jim (my dad's dad) in Waxahachie. We made a very last minute trip to Ft. Worth to help my Grandma Ann (my bio mom's mom) with some things, so we stayed Friday night with my Grandpa and went for donuts early Saturday morning before we headed to Ft. Worth. Love, love these sweet pictures. And yes, I gave her bites of donut.

Happy nine months, Camille! You are a joy!

CT vacation 2014. . . part two

Picking up right where we left off . . .

When Clara was a baby, our friends Matt & Jenna gave us the brilliant idea of carving out a pumpkin and putting her inside. We thought it would be fun to recreate this idea with Camille. It is safe to say she was not so much a fan. . .

We decided to try again with clothes on. . . and that did the trick. Someone doesn't like the feel of sticky, gooey pumpkin insides all over their legs. Guess I can't blame her. . .

Later that same day we took the girls to a beautiful, open field not too far from my aunt and uncle's house. The trees are so vibrant. Everything about this little spot just makes me smile.

Yes, we put Camille inside the pumpkin for a third time. . .

Clara and I have this little game where we "stomp, stomp, stomp," and she thinks it is the most hilarious thing ever. Love how we captured her mimicking the motion in the second picture. . .

So much joy this one has. . .

We also have a little game where I chase her around and try and tickle her. Again, she thinks it is hilarious.

We didn't want Clara to feel excluded, so of course we plopped her right inside the pumpkin for a photo shoot. At first, she was not impressed. . .

Thinking about smiling. . .

There it is. . .

A few family shots. . .

 These two. . . Can't get enough. . .

I spy Camille. . .

We enjoyed our time so much, just like every year, and cannot wait for October 2015 to roll around. If any of you ever have a chance to visit the northeast in the fall, do it. Until next year, CT. . .