Living with Cameron

Every child is unique.

In my own house, with four children that all share the same exact genes, there are many similarities across the board. However, when I look at each of my children individually, I see a lot of differences.

Take Cameron, for example.

There is just something about this child that I can not explain. Everyone that meets him loves him almost instantly. He has a way with his actions, his mannerisms, his words....it's not really something I can put my finger on, entirely--so it may be hard for me to express in one post exactly what I am talking about--but I am going to give it my best shot.

When you live with Cameron, you hear things like this:

"Mommy? When I was in your belly....did you eat a lot of cauliflower?"

"Mommy, I would like to be a walrus for Halloween next year. They seem nice."

"Mommy? I love you eighty seven percent."

You also hear a lot of *thuds*.  When you inquire about said *thuds*, asking something like:
 "What in the world are you doing, Cameron?"

You might receive this answer:
"I'm doing some hard damage."

 ****************************************************************************

When you live with Cameron, you say things like this:

"I'm pretty sure there is no super hero named 'big-fat-jerk-man', Cameron."

Or:

"No, I don't believe there is ever a time when a fly could beat a tiger, honey."  {{pause}}  "No....I don't think that a tiger would get sick if he ate a man with only one eye."

****************************************************************************

When you live with Cameron, you see things like this:

And then you have a conversation that goes somewhat like:
"Cameron, what'cha doing?"

And you get a response of:
"Playing Chinese."

Or, you see things like this:

 You ask this question:
"What'cha doing, Cameron?"

And you get this answer:
"Playing superheroes. I'm Diver Man."
{And, yes--those are underpants on his head. Don't worry. They're his.}

Or, if you ask for his help at arranging your goodies from CVS 

(for a long overdue couponing post), he will most likely add his own little flair:

"Mom...Wolverine just wanted to be in the picture too, okay?"

How do you say no to that?
You don't.
(By the way, all that stuff cost me less than four dollars....but that's another post for another day.)


He sometimes forgets how big he is, and does things like this:

{Poor Deanna. I'm sure her back ached for days.}

 When you get him a gift (like his Urlacher jersey, given by Grandma Jane at Christmas,
or his Bears backpack from Grandma 'Nette and Grandpa)....

....you can tell by the expression on his face that he is truly grateful. 

(Blurry, but you get it.)

He always, always wants to help me around the house.

Whether it is making a bed all by himself....

or pitching in by doing some dishes.

{This was unprompted, may I add--and he never knew I was snapping

pics of him, because I hid behind a post and shot them from far away. I was 

completely astounded that he did this all by himself.  Needless to say, 

he got a little extra-special treatment from Mommy on this day!)

 And, he always adds comic relief.
Like the time he offered me some help when I was cutting some onions for spaghetti sauce. 

No matter what day it is, who is around, or what is going on, having Cameron by my side always makes things better.  He just adds a special something to my everyday life.

I sure feel lucky that God chose me to be his Mom.

13 months of wonderful

Lola.

Today, you are 13 months old.  You truly have given your Momma 13 months of wonderful. You are in a stage of life right now that is so exciting--you are doing new things each and every day, and your Daddy and I get the biggest kick out of you!

You:

Are sixteen and a half pounds, and everyone--I mean everyone-- comments on how tiny you are.  You are in the one percentile.  Yes, you heard me right.  (And I think the nurse was being generous.)

Almost always sit with one leg straight out and one leg tucked back behind you.

Are in a size three diaper and wearing 12 month clothing--some of which

fits, and some of which you are still swimming in.  See sleeves.

Love to splash yourself silly in the tub.

And, when cousin Livy was here, you loved bath time even more!

You go by many different names: Lo, Lolee girl, LC, LoBaby, LolaBelle, Peanut, LoLo, Stinky...you answer to all of them!

Are still nursing--for comfort only now, morning and night. I very much still enjoy our snuggle time, but I know it will be coming to an end soon.

Love to nap with this guy.  

{He has, apparently, taught you everything you know.}

 

 Actually, you love to do most everything with your Daddy--you adore him!

You have the best smile.  It melts our hearts.

However, you also (ALREADY) know how to use said smile to get out of trouble.  Each and every time you are caught with something in your hand that you know you are not supposed to have--Wii remotes, for example--you flash your pearlies and think it's all going to be okay!!

Sleep in the same corner of your bed, in the same position, every night.

  Suck your thumb and play with your ear when you get tired. It is the cutest thing.

Have learned to spread your legs to avoid being put in the exersaucer.

{Enter your groans here, at the fact that I still put my one year old in an exersaucer...I know, I know....but seriously, people, sometimes a Mommy has to be able to do things without worrying about what little fingers are getting into. And, once in, she still enjoys it. Somewhat.}

Look adorable in your "winter gear".

Come on, Lo....smile!!

  That's better.

Are standing, cruising around furniture, and walking behind your baby doll stroller from Grandma Nette. And, any day now, you are going to take off walking all by yourself, and your Momma is going to have to chase you even faster than I do now. *sigh*

Can say all done, kitty, momma, dada (and almost daddy), your own version of Col, more, down, nigh-night, bye.  I'm sure there are a few other things, too!

Can rock a very boyish Urlacher jersey.....

....all while playing "Tea Party".
A real multi-tasker already, I say.

{ And your teeth. Oh...they kill me.}

 Love taking rides in the Tonka truck....given, of course, by your loving big bros.

And, probably the funniest thing you do right now is the "death crawl" (as evidenced below, and cleverly nicknamed by your brothers after watching Facing the Giants one too many times!)  Apparently, you don't mind crawling on the wood floors or the carpet--as seen in the second half of the video--but the slate floor in the kitchen gives you the heebies!

Oh, Lola girl.  Have I mentioned you are such a blessing?

And that your Momma's life has been so much more wonderful since you arrived 13 months ago?

Also known as JEWS

A few weeks ago--the same week the Bears lost to the Packers in the division playoffs--Cameron came out of Sunday school and proclaimed that he was learning about "Queen Hester".

Forgive him--he had Bears on the brain.

The children have been continuing to study the story of Esther, the King, Mordecai, and Haman. Today at the doctor's office, we were talking all about it.

Cameron: "Mom, did you know that in Esther, there is a bad guy?"

Me: "Yes, I sure did. Do you remember what his name was?"

Cam: "Yes.  It was Haman."

Me: "That's right. And can you tell me why it is that he was bad? What did he do that was not the right thing?"

Cameron: "Well, he was trying to get the king to kill all the jewels in the land."

Oh, be careful little mouth, what you say (and, apparently--HOW you say it)

Today, Colin and I were reading some Henry and Mudge books. We got done with a story about kittens--who happened to be named after some of the planets--and this conversation ensued:

Colin: "Oh! Venus! My reading buddy lives on Venus."

Me, taken aback: "What's that? Your who does what now?"

Colin: "My reading buddy. Lives on Venus."

Now, this is the first I've heard of such a thing as 'his reading buddy'.

Me: "Your reading buddy? Who is that?"

Colin: "His name is Jack. He's a lobster."

I sat and just stared, squinty-eyed and a bit open-mouthed, at Colin. I hear a lot of wacky things each day, but this conversation was getting weirder by the second, and just caught me a little more off guard than usual.

A reading buddy. Named Jack. Who is a lobster. And lives on Venus.

Hmmmmm.

Colin could tell I wasn't picking up what he was laying down.

He opens his mouth and does 'the slow speak'.

"Moooooooom. At schoooooool. I have this reeeeeeading buddy. His name is Jaaaaack. He is a loooooobster. He lives on Veeeeenus and sometimes goes to Mer...Mer-ker-ee to warm up. 'Cause Mer-ker-ee is warmer than Venus, you know?  And trust me.  You'd really like him! He's niiiiiiiiice."

I burst into giggles.

Me: "Colin, why on earth are you talking like that?"

Colin: "Well, usually when Cameron doesn't understand things, you talk really slow and make your words.....like....longer, or.....or something....I just thought if I did that too, it might help you understand about Jack a little better!"

My very special birthday gift

I've spoken several times on this blog of my very special Grandma, Franzi.  Lola was named after her, and I get lots of my love of the kitchen from her. She inspired me every single day of my almost 31 years.

When she died, my mom and aunt were gracious enough to allow me to take some things from her kitchen.  Wooden spoons, bowls, spatulas--those sorts of things.  My favorite thing of hers that I have are her measuring spoons, since I use them almost daily while I am cooking or baking.

Every time I break out one of her things, I think of her--and it's like we have our own private moments all over again.  I can almost hear her over my shoulder saying, "Add just a touch more cinnamon to your zucchini bread, honey."

Or, more accurately, with her thick German accent, "Oooooh.  Dat looks goot." *grin*

Ich liebe dich were my most favorite words to hear from her.  I didn't hear them often, because she usually just said "I love you."  But, I always remember thinking as a girl (and even as a young woman) how cool it was that my Grandma could tell me she loved me in German.

For our family, it was just kind of our thing....and we've said it a lot since she's been gone. "Ich liebe dich, Grandma Franzi. We love you. We miss you."

One thing that has been missing from my almost perfect kitchen is a set of canisters.  Shane decided to fill that gap for me this year--he got me the most beautiful set for my birthday.  They were perfect--exactly what I have been wanting for ages!

At first glance, they look pretty ordinary.

But then, as I looked a bit harder, I noticed that they were not perfect.

They were way beyond perfect.

Have a closer look...

Amazing.

Not that I could ever forget my Grandma Franzi. Not that she is never not with me in spirit.

But now, sitting right next to where I work many hours each day, is the most 

wonderful reminder--both of her and of the amazing love my husband showed

me through this unique and thoughtful gift.

You are awesome, babe.

Ich liebe dich.

At this rate--it's gonna be a long day . . . .

Me: "Ethan, please don't do handstands on the couch like that."

No movement.

Me: "Ethan, please get down."

No movement.

Me: "Eee-thaaaan...."

No movement.

I come over and put him upright on the couch, look him in the eye, and say:

"Ethan, why are you not obeying Mommy?"

Ethan: "I've decided not to put my listening ears on today."

A lesson in love

I think, when you are older, things like Valentine's Day can lose their charm.

Now, please don't get me wrong.  I love Valentine's.  I love to decorate the house, I love to celebrate Shane and our marriage and our family--but on the other hand I have a tendency to hate Hallmark for blowing this 'lover's day' out of proportion.

My Valentine's trees

Forgive me--but I do not think the family cat needs to be the recipient of a Valentine's card. (Ever see the "From the Cat/From the Dog" section at the card store? My goodness.) Neither does your dentist, your UPS man*, or your hairstylist**.

*Unless your UPS man is your husband
**Unless your hairstylist is your wife

I think it is the feeling of obligation that I struggle with. No longer is Valentine's seen as a day to express your genuine love for someone in a unique, personal way--it's now become just another excuse to do the usual: think card, chocolates, candy for us; cologne (or in my case, gift cards!) for the men.

And, I learned this week that, even though I didn't even realize it--I myself have been facilitating this all along.

Colin came home Wednesday saying that he needed to do Valentines for his class. My response was to ask him which ones he wanted to get.

"Huh?" Colin replied.

"Which ones do you want to get for everyone, Col? I can pick them up the next time I am at the store. Do you want Toy Story, Spiderman, CARS....what?"

I figured he would balk, and say that he 'wanted to pick them out himself'.

Instead, I got a totally different response.

"I want to make them for everyone, Mom."

"You want to make them? Col, you have 17 other kids in your class...that will be a lot of work, honey. Why don't you just let me buy some, you know--out of the box--for you to just sign your name to?"

But Colin was insistent.  I know him well enough to know that he was determined. (And, shame on me for trying to stifle his creativity....)

So, over the next few days, he worked.  I watched him as he cut, colored, 

and painstakingly wrote names of his class members on each 'card'.  

But it wasn't until last night, when I was checking them all over, when I realized what my little guy had really done.  He didn't just cut and color some copy paper.

In his own unique way, he had shown love to each one of his class mates.

On each Valentine was something special--designed only for the recipient.

Take this one.  Madisen loves rainbows, Colin said.  

"So, I colored hers with rainbow colors!"

Tyler likes spiders.

"They're his favorite thing, Mom."

Olivia? A soccer player.

"Gavin loves brown, Mom. He colors with it every single time in art class."

Mercee loves hearts.

His best friend Colden? A fellow Bears lover, of course!

And Ethan? Well, Ethan likes Sonic the Hedgehog, apparently.  

Colin informed me that he didn't really know how to draw Sonic, "But I did my best!"

And, of course--we can't leave out the teacher. *grin*

And so, yet again, the teacher (me) has been inspired by the student (him).

Think outside of the box.
Be original.
Be unique.
Make an effort.
Show love in your way, and mean it with every ounce of your heart.

And have a wonderful, Happy Valentine's day with all those you love!

The hint

Cameron, to me, a little past our normal lunch time:

"Mom, do you know what today is?"

Me, oblivious: "What's today, buddy?"

Cameron: "Today is a good day to eat some food."

So much more is "caught" than "taught"

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you hang my
first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately
wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you feed a
stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind
to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make my
favorite cake for me, and I learned that the little
things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say a
prayer, and I knew that there is a God I could always
talk to, and I learned to trust in Him.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make a
meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I
learned that we all have to help take care of each
other.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of
your time and money to help people who had nothing,
and I learned that those who have something should
give to those who don't.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you take care
of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have
to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw how you
handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't
feel good, and I learned that I would have to be
responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw tears come
from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things
hurt, but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw that you
cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be.


When you thought I wasn't looking I learned most of
life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and
productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked at you and
wanted to say,

"Thanks for all the things I saw when
you thought I wasn't looking."

(I read this today and it touched my heart....as a Mommy, I think sometimes we think that the 'small' things we do don't matter....but they do!  Happy Wednesday, everyone!)