A pitiful sight.

Campbell is sick with an ear infection and some sort of virus that causes fever and a head to toe rash. Yesterday she was so pitiful that we made the perfect Elmo-watching pallet on the floor and she just laid there for a good bit of the afternoon (when she wasn't pitifully sitting on my or Robbie's lap).

At least she's resourceful...

This is what happens when Campbell gets thirsty and can't be bothered to ask for water...

It's a...

Campbell is very excited to announce:

We are all very excited! We haven't 100% decided on names so we'll let you all know that soon.  Robbie and I were quite surprised because at the 12 week ultrasound the doctor was 70% sure it was a boy.  However, we are thrilled it's a girl because she can use all of Campbell's cute clothes and other girly stuff.  Plus, preemie girls do better than boys....just in case.

At the ultrasound, baby was measuring a few days ahead which is great news.  With my history (Campbell's lack of growth in the last two weeks before her birth and the pre-eclampsia) and my clotting disorder (Factor V Leiden) we would be worried if she was measuring behind because that could be an indication of problems with the placenta.

The doctor (MFM specialist) was so happy with how she is doing, that he doesn't need to see us for 6 weeks.  At that time, we'll have another ultrasound to check on her growth.  I go back to my regular OB January 4th for a regular check up.   Hopefully my blood pressure will still be good and everything will be normal.

Thanks for your continued prayers and support!

Merry Christmas

From our family to yours . . . Merry Christmas!!!

5 years

Robbie and I celebrated our 5th anniversary this past weekend. On our 1st anniversary, we decided we would rather get away just the two of us rather than spending money on gifts. We have been able to do this every year and it has been a great tradition for us!

This year we went to the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC. They had a major snowfall (16+ inches) the day before we arrived and it was still snowing when we got there. The snow was beautiful but luckily by the time we arrived, most of the main roads were pretty clear. We had an awesome time. I got to have some time at their famous spa and Robbie got to play in the snow. 

Many thanks to Nana and Pop (and Aunt Julie and Uncle Dean and the cousins!) for watching Campbell for us!

The spa includes an outdoor heated pool...there were actually people swimming in it when snow was falling!

Here's me and my 17-week pregnant belly (ok, I know I just look chubbier than normal, but just humor me folks, ok?)

Robbie enjoyed experimenting with the settings on the camera as we were sitting in the rocking chairs in front of the huge fireplace!

Here we are in front of the fireplace.

Robbie with one of the many snowmen we found.

One Cute School Pic

Here is Campbell's first ever school picture . . . I know I'm the father so my thoughts are a little biased . . . however, that's one cute baby!  I'm just so happy to know that I won't have to submit this year's picture to this website:  CLICK HERE

Campbell's First Christmas Program

Today, Campbell's school had their Christmas Program . . . CAMPBELL'S FIRST CHRISTMAS PROGRAM and you know we were there with camera (video and picture) . . . .

Daddy . . . it's me . . . Daddy, it's Campbell!

I don't know what's going on, but I like it!

Clapping . . . now I can handle this . . .

Oh Holy Night . . . . (check me out front and center)

I'm having sooooooo much fun!

mommy, daddy, nana, pop . . . where are you?

Merry Christmas!

Of course . . . this post wouldn't be complete without the videos . . .

The Duggars #19 is a preemie

A fellow preemie mom wrote a thought-provoking blog post on the Duggar's preemie that was born this week.  I have to admit when I first heard that it had happened, I immediately thought "oh that poor baby and family" and then my next thought was "well, maybe they'll stop having kids now..."   My first instinct was to believe it was the result of her uterus giving out or some other negative result of having so many kids.  When I heard it was pre-eclampsia, my thoughts immediately changed. 

I think Trish (the blog author) is to be commended for having a more compassionate, accepting heart than most (including myself).

http://fertilehope.blogspot.com/2009/12/fine.html

Boo!

Tonight Robbie was telling Campbell that it was bath time and she started playing a game!  So cute!  This kid makes me laugh so much.




(oh, and the reason she's still wearing her coat is that she loves it and refuses to take it off when she comes inside!  Crazy kid...)

What Does A Lion Say?

Plus bonus footage . . . .



Even More . . .

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

Each year Rock Hill hosts a little festival called Christmasville. It includes the Christmas parade and lots of fun holiday events such as Breakfast with Santa. This is the first year we have gone and it's been a lot of fun!

Friday night we went to the parade. Only in Rock Hill, will you see some of these floats...

Campbell's ready for the parade to start!

Nana came along and Campbell loved sitting with her!

Martha's sister, Emily, and her family were on a float.


So were our friends, Rob and Emily.
Ethan jumped off his float to come give Robbie a quick hug and get a snack.

If you look closely you can see Ethan running to catch the float. He made it!

Saturday morning we met our friends Adrienne and Emily to have Breakfast with Santa!

Campbell's in shock when we tell her who's coming...

The bffs: Emily and Campbell

The big moment
The girls had tons of fun playing in the booth!

The girls with the big man.
"I don't know about this..."
"Let's push really hard and try to knock this over!"
"Bye! See you next week!"

Turkey Trot 2009

Each year I run the Charlotte Turkey Trot which falls on Thanksgiving Day. . . . speaking of . . .

Campbell and Nana on Thanksgiving

Anyway . . . We usually take Ethan and let him run the "tot trot" which is 26.2 yards. This year I decided to let Ethan run the 1 mile and I would run it with him. For the days leading up he kept asking about if we will run or jog. I told him that we'd jog and he would say "no . . . . I'm going to run it." We even made a plan on where we would meet up after the race in case he ran so far ahead of me . . . the following is our video diary from the morning.

Check Ethan out . . . he's gone! Maybe I will be meeting him at our finish line meeting spot . . .



Well about 30 seconds later . . . look what I found . . .



So Ethan must have caught his second wind because he's gone!



20 seconds later . . . .



Still walking . . . now he wants to know if we're done . . .



Check out some of the video of the people (3 and 4 year olds) passing us.



Finally . . . the finish line . . . Ethan, we can run this . . .



So Ethan technically survived his first "official" run. On the way home he was telling me that he hoped they would not post his time on the internet. Well below are the official results. I'd like to point out that we came in 264 out of 275. Check out the screen shot and you can see that multiple 3 and 4 year olds who beat us. At least we can sleep well knowing that there were 10 people who finished behind us!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving . . . . by Campbell

Campbell the artist.

Campbell and her classmates enjoying a traditional Thanksgiving Feast (apples, grapes, pineapple, and mac & cheese)

my little pilgrim in her thanksgiving outfit!

We have had a fun week . . .

Campbell's newest love . . . ELMO!

Campbell's second love . . . Coke . . . just kidding . . . she did put this empty bottle to her mouth, attempt a sip, then look at us and go "ahhhhh."


On Wednesday, Campbell had a playdate with one of her BFFs Nick

and her another one of BFFs Breana . . . . we had so much fun today at our Chick-Fil-A peppermint milkshake play date . . . we'll have to do it again. Breana was so brave going down the slide all by herself!

I ♥ Etsy

With the holidays coming up, I thought I'd share one of my favorite websites for handmade, custom items.  I have used etsy.com several times in the last few years and have been so thrilled.  Etsy is made up of individual sellers who use it kind of like a booth at a craft fair.

Some of you may remember Campbell's birthday outfit with the customized shirt and tutu.  I got it from an Etsy seller named "noodlesandmilk".

I also have purchased monogrammed bloomers and an adorable Big Sis shirt and Lil Bro onesie for some friends of ours who recently had a baby.

A new shop that I discovered a while back is one I'm very excited about because I think it's a cool concept and it happens to be run by a dear friend of mine from college.  It's also perfect timing to share since the holidays are coming up and many of us will be sending out cards to our friends and family.

My friend, Jaime, will customize a design for you for a card (or even holiday letter) for as low as $15.  Then, what is really neat, is that she can email you the design for you to either print at home or you can send it to snapfish or other photo printing lab and print them for as low as 4 to 6 cent per 4x6.  Isn't that genius?!  So, for $15 plus the low price per card, you can get customized holiday cards.  I know what we paid last year for our holiday photo cards and they weren't nearly as cute as Jaime's designs and they weren't that cheap.

She also has options where she can print them for you and even has some two-sided designs.  I encourage all of you to check her out!

http://fineprints.etsy.com

Here are some examples of her work: