Down on Grandpa's Farm

This is partly why Camden is so animal obsessed.

He gets to see them first hand at Papa's farm.

Sheepies, pigs, and Grandpa Judd.
Camden is the perfect side kick for Papa Judd. He as just as much energy, and they can both sit still for about the same amount of time :)

Whenever Camden sees his grandpa, he now makes a pig sound...

I'm pretty sure it's not related to the amount of food Charles eats. Pretty sure. :)

Charmer

18 months!

My baby boy is a whopping 18 months old.

He is such a charmer. He has the sweetest personality.

At 18 months he loves to give "loves" and kisses. He has perfected all the animal sounds, and practices them often. He loves running around outside, and when it is raining and we can't go outside, he stares out the back door window and says "please".

He is so polite! He says "peease" and "dank too" like a champ. (Even from the back seat when we are ordering in the drive through)

He can gallop like a horse. It's both entertaining, and amusing...he's quite coordinated!

He still loves the BYU fight song--and claps/ does the ra ra ra at the end...we are so proud.

He loves to dance and rock out in the back seat.

He waves to everyone-- such a friendly little thing :)

The first word out of his mouth in the morning is still "ball"

He loves to go to papa's farm and see the sheepies and pigs.

He loves nursery (the teachers could just be saying this, but they say he is the best behaved)

He loves to sing, play hide-and-seek, and follow memo around the house.

We are working on his ABC's and 123's.
He loves his dadee. He asks for him all day long.

He loves to dip everything in ketchup. He also loves nanas and berries and says "cracka" when he wants something to eat. He is a candy fiend. You want this kid to love you immediately, you give him "nandy".

He loves to laugh along with anything.

He also claps for people at church when they finish their testimonies. (we should be working harder on saying "amen", but I sometimes think you need a good clap!)

He loves to sing "popcorn popping" "if you're happy and you know it" and "once there was a snowman"--

He loves to play with his friends...especially london and penny

He can take a bath for hours...it may be due to the amount of time I spent in the bath tub while pregnant with him.

I still can't get over his expressions. His uh-oh face is my absolute favorite!

His monster eyelashes. Love. them.

I also love how he climbs on everything, but has never attempted to climb out of the crib. Instead, when he wants out, he just sits and repeats "mama", until I come. It makes me feel needed :) Which is sometimes really nice in the life of a toddler.

When he wants something, he grabs my hand, and leads me there.

Pretty much melts my heart.

Motherhood has it's moments, but most of them are pretty dang good.

Especially with this little guy :)

Flowers

You can learn a lot of things from the flowers...all in a golden afternoon.

(Alice in Wonderland)
Well, we did learn a lot of things the afternoon we spent at the Thanksgiving Point Tulip Festival.

It was our first time attending, and the first thing I learned is that 1) it is WAY bigger than I expected.

2) Tulips smell lovely.
3) Trying to get a 1 1/2 year old little boy to smile (let alone hold still) for a picture is nearly impossible.
4) Grandma's and flowers are both sweet

5) Riding on bears (even if they are only statues) is really fun. And making growling sounds the entire time is even more fun!

6) Camden has enough energy to keep 5 adults on their toes!

7) Little children LOVE wide open, grassy areas to run around in...
Camden is no exception.

8) The sun loves us, and the feeling is mutual.

9) I should visit Italy. The Italian gardens told me so.
10) Anywhere you can find Navajo tacos, Brazilian lemonade, deep fried doughnuts, and ice-cream- is a good place in my book.

11) A day running around among the flowers is not relaxing, but completely exhausting! Both for Camden and Mama...

and makes for a lovely afternoon :)

Angel Baby

Happy Birthday Kyla!

My little niece would have been 4 years old today :)

Every year this day is hard. Today it is especially hard.

Camden is the same age right now that Kyla was when she passed away.

I can't imagine losing him. It breaks my heart to think of what Brian and Kasey went through, and continue to go through every day.

Kyla has made me a better mother.

I know that I cherish my time with Camden and am so grateful partly because of her.

Sometimes, when Camden wakes up from a nap and is so smiley, I think that maybe he was in heaven's dreamland somewhere, playing with his cousin.

I think about Kyla a lot.

I think about her stubborn personality, sweet smile, and awesome dance moves!

I think of how she has strengthened my testimony of eternal families.

I think of how she has brought my family closer together.

I think of others who have lost a child or loved one, and it makes my heart ache for them.

I love you, sweet girl!

the Zoo for You

As soon as we got a warm weathered day, we headed to the zoo.Camden is a little bit animal obsessed, so it was a great way to keep the kids entertained, and the moms enjoying the sun.
We saw the baby elephant-- Camden kept saying "baby! baby!"
The giraffe came right up to the fench where we were watching...

We also saw the little baby geese...
We got to ride the train. ($1.50 well spent)

The playground was a big hit! Especially the teeter-totter...it was even a bumpy ride for Brecca!

The first of many trips to the zoo this summer :)

Mama

the first word i hear every morning.

the last word he says every night...preceeded by "love you".

he stole my heart the moment i knew he was mine.

sometimes i look at him and can't believe God sent him to me.

i am so grateful He trusted me to be the mother of this little angel.
i know mother's day is hard for some. it breaks my heart to think of all those who have lost a mother, or a child, or who wish they had a little one to call them "mama", but for some reason, haven't been able to yet. i hope you feel loved, and not discouraged.

although i have a little one, and am technically a mother, i feel as though my year and a half is not much compared to the years and years of love and devotion of that of my own mom.

she is the best example. she is beautiful, kind, loving, compassionate, and thoughtful...i didn't appreciate how great she really is until i became a mother myself. it is hard work, and this woman makes it look easy. i love you, mom.

mother's day was great. :) i am a little embarrassed to say i didn't pay attention in church...during sacrament meeting i just played with my little boy. but as much as mother's day is about the mothers, i feel like it is also about the wonderful little spirits that bless our lives.
i am also grateful for the wonderful examples of motherhood all around me.

"Men are what their mothers made them."-ralph waldo emerson

--that is the best compliment i can give Ryan's mom. she raised a son who is an amazing man...i sure am thankful for her :)

Happy Mother's Day

Never thought I'd do this...

I broke another mom rule.

Right along with "my kid will never have snot running down his face." and "he will never throw a tantrum in public."

Riiiight.

So, I saw a contest put on by a photographer in which the winner gets a bunch of free stuff...including free kids photo session-- so, I broke another rule and entered my kid into a "cutest kid" contest.

I really am lame.

But, I would really like some nice pics of my incredibly cute kid without having to give up my arm and leg... so I would love to win!

If you get a min, head over to facebook, "like" captivated candids

and vote everyday for #11 by leaving a comment

it would really be helpful...

plus, he's a really cute kid!