FOUR.

Dear Campbell,

It is mind-blowing to me that you are now of the age where you will remember these birthdays, school days, beach days... until you are old and gray like me. However, you have an impressive memory already.. and are always shocking us with your Chris Farley "member when..." moments even now...sort of frightening, really. You love to talk and ask a million questions.... I love your curiousity for the way the world works. It is important to you to know how people are related, where they came from, names, locations, etc. You are always enthusiastic and love hearing what the day is going to bring as we have our "coffee" together most mornings... always an early bird, you still are.

You are not shy or intimidated by people (maybe dogs) and have many friends (and just as many imaginary ones).. but your best friends are Jbird, Leo, and Townsie. As I mentioned, you have an excellent imagination. You willingly play house and school Olivia and Kate.. just as easily as you play dinos, guns, and surf-contest-wipeout with T, and idolize Jake's ability to make Lego creations and his impressive quiver of nerf guns. Following Dad and your Poppis around is a favorite of yours... Dad could be driving to the dump and you are full of excitement to ride along (even if you have to hide your eyes so they "won't see you" in the car when the sign says "no children allowed")

You love counting off the family members when we are together... "1,2,3,4,.... someone is missing!!!" if it is early and your big sister is asleep... or dad is away at work. Since your brother has been born, you relish the chance to talk to anyone about him... you are so proudly the "big brudder" and tell everyone about him. You got to go to preschool with Nana when he was born and are so eagerly awaiting the official start of your school year right now. You love pretending to do homework, building things (even if it's really just jamming a screwdriver into an outlet..umm), swimming (you are now unofficial mayor of the neighborhood pool as you eagle-eye from your room), riding bikes and skateboards.

You are still careful and cautious.. hall monitoring everyone, looking both ways 9999 times before crossing the street (most of the time) and a notoriously finicky eater. You love helping me bake but do not always love to lick the bowl. Your favorites are still milk, chips/crackers/carbs, spaghetti and meatballs.. and random things like seaweed and beef jerky.. and of course, just to get my goat, you love cold cuts. You take care in what you are wearing and enjoy shopping (raised under the racks at Macy's while I "worked" .. my retail training has paid off... or bites me in the ass as you are also very picky about your clothes).

I always say this, but you lead the way and help me be more snuggly. You still love cramming your head under my chin, just like when you were born.. I know the time is not far away when you will be (even more) stinky and huge and hairy and won't want to climb onto my lap or into my bed and stick to me like a barnacle... you measure distances by hand-holding... "will you still be able to hold my hand if you are all the way over there??... can you reach my hand still to hold, mom??" ...so!! I just have to try hard to be present and remember all of these times... when you wake up and tell me "The sandman hit me in the face with a whole bag of sand last night" as you rub your eyes and join me for our coffee klatch.
Happy year ahead! xoxoxoxoxox

THREE

And so it goes, another birthday.. we are lagging at taking the banners down and I don't want to really admit that Labor day has come and gone, signaling the celebration is pretty much over for Campbell's big 3rd. He was cracking up when I busted out the RUG. He remembered it from his "old house room" and I swear, for reals, this thing has shrunk from numerous attempts to wash and stashing it during our move. Ah, well.

Three year stats: topping the scales, this peanut is still only 28 lb.. small and mighty... or should I say, wimpy? A legend in his own mind, let's say. We laugh that he loves the "Wimpy kid" books of Jbirds.. thinking they're "big-kid books" and toting them around telling us "this is what I'm reading." He is definitely a cautious guy, however confident in his trike riding and skate boarding, as well as standing on a boogie or surfboard.. thinking he's doing 'tricks' and 'riding big waves, wiping out'.

He adores his sister, still Gia or JAAAY, to him, and idolizes his dad. He told him yesterday " I miss you all day long, dad." And whenever we drive by Jbird's school, he just wants to go in and be a part of it, OR pick her up "right NOW"

A vivid imagination this one has.. making up friends and stories left and right. Ask him if he has taken a bath or eaten dinner and he'll tell you, "ya, I did that at my friend's house" or "my friend is picking me up for our basketball game" or any number of stories... hillarious. We just love hearing the ways that his little mind explains the world. Constantly cracking us up with his own "Campbell-isms" (and if you know this family, I'm sure they'll only get better with age)

Continuing to follow in my footsteps, he still loves TV (no shame) and Toy Story is a huge fave right now... Buzz "Bite-ear" obsessed. As far as culinary delights, I think a blue slurpee will win him over at any time. Our Oregon trip, in fact, solidified the slurpee ritual and he talks about going to "Seben a Webbin" and getting slurpees with Big Poppi almost daily. And in true Virgo form, we have to sit down when we have slurpees (on the curb?), just like Big Poppi.

I will never stop loving his enthusiasm for each moment of life. Although some mornings it's tough to have SUCH an early bird, he's always excited for what each day is going to bring. It is a quality I love about Jbird, too... they both just love the adventure of our (simple?) life and are so resilient and genuine, true to their own little individual styles. He will not go to sleep until the day (for Jbird or any of us) is done. He is often found passing out on the couch or wherever.. just so as not to miss out on ANY action. Truth be told, I don't mind him snuggling up and falling asleep, especially since I am not the cuddliest of types.

He has really shown me to listen to my instincts and not push either one of them to be something that they're not. They'll cross each bridge when they are ready...and there is really no rush to grow up, it's happening too fast, as it is.

We all love you so much, Campbell Curoius George. Here's to another exciting year ahead!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CAMPBELL!

WOW!! Two, already?? Where did it all go?.. I think the rug shrank?, no, really.

Two year bio for C.G.H:
Weighs in around 23lb. I don't know how he only gained like 3 lb in one year because he's grown a lot taller and a lot more hair and teeth. Talking: more and more everyday... loves Jadyn, whose name has morphed into GIA. We love the Italian version. He's a real renaissance man, our Campbell. He takes roll call where ever we are...Momma, Daddy, Nana, Bop-bop, TEE (Townsend), etc.

A finicky eater, he does love popsicles, mexican, chinese and italian (ok, beans and rice, chow mein noodles and pizza)..in addition to Pirate's booty, goldfish and cheerios.. I'm predicting the next Anthony Bourdain or Tyler Florence?

He works very hard at his latest masterpieces, coloring all over the house. So nice. I'm really glad we didn't put too much art up.. would ruin our works-in-progress mural project we've got going on.

Motorcycles, trucks, ambulances and trains are HUGE. "WHOAAAAAAAAH!!" he shouts, each time we pass something of that boyish nature. Just born in them, I guess. Along for a hatred of Target... lots of bribing takes place in order to get him to sit in the cart anywhere anymore.

Anything shaped like or resembling a surfboard (he's crazy for the water and waves.. or the pool will do) or skateboard also gets a loud shout-out from Campbell. He is obsessed with wheels... bikes are cool, too... and helmets of any kind.. oh and shoes. He prefers 'hip hops' (flip flops) and high heels...

He still loves TV (my son). Elmo rules, seconded by Choo-choo (Thomas the train) and Boo-coo (Blue's Clues) lately.... also enjoys baseball, basketball and football with dad... and his security blanket that he has recently named "beebee or mee mee".

Perhaps he will be a DJ with his love for music, drums and dancing. He can really cut a rug and jump around....jump,jump around.

I really can't believe how quickly time has flown. Of course I have hopes and dreams for both of these kids, but I really just want us all to live for the moment, everyday. Soak it all in and enjoy it. Everyday that I can get a little cuddle where Campbell's whole head fits into the crook of my neck I love it.. and those little dimples in his fingers I know will soon be big strong hands.. I just want to hold on.

We love you, little man. You are a careful, sensitive, yet dramatic little guy. I want to bottle up your belly laugh and listen to it for the rest of my life.

No way

OK, I guess Campbell is over laying down for the "rug picture"... All decked out in his b-day crown.. he couldn't get it and his shoes off to scoot away fast enough. I canNOT belive it's been a year since this little man came into the world. Looking back at that teeny little alien in pictures, it does feel like a lifetime ago in ways.. but it all flew by... isn't that what they all say?

One year stats: I don't know how much he weighs, but it's not that much.. maybe 19 lb? and he has only two teeth as of yet. He doesn't like mushy foods or balloons (we learned on the ride down to the beach with the car full of helium balloons in his face) and loves growling, making ET wheezing noises and ARRGH-ing with Jadyn and dad. He is a speedy crawler and goes for anything with buttons (especially computers and remotes), pots and pans and door stoppers...oh and if his big sister's door is open even a crack, he's in there like lightning. He stands on his own and scales all furniture.. but no real walking... we're trying before "Wedding 08" next month!!! He is still a TV lover... faves being Baby Einstein, Sesame Street, Yo Gabba Gabba and when he has the remote it always ends up on the spanish channel or CNN. (?)

He says "Hi", "All Done", "Day-Dun (Jadyn)", "Mama" ,"Dada",.. and we might be making this all up because it's just sounds that babies say..
Happy Birthday, Campbell George.

One more month....

..till C is ONE!!!I cannot believe it's 11 months. Campbell is such a little man.. crawling all over.. saying Jadyn.. (day-dun) and the occassional dada and moma.. we swear he will call me Bibif. Happy Birthday to our friend, Kyle Nichols.. exactly one month apart!

Perfect Ten

What?? He's been out here in the real world as long as he was inside of me? I really am in disbelief. Campbell is becoming quite a little daredevil-bruiser with his tumble nearly breaking his nose this week (tipping the entire booster/ high chair over landing face first..). He has healed super fast and is growing like a weed. Notice the nice stroller tan from always having his legs sticking out. He loves the water and is swimming most afternoons with his big sis; his idol. She lights up his face any time of day. With two (sort of half) teeth now, he is loving chewing on ONLY hard, dry foods like well, Cheerios (and Gerber puffs) are about it. Just like Uncle Joe. I think he is getting really tired of me dressing him up for photo op's as seen here.

Love Potion number 9

He's trying to be all macho gym guy here in his board shorts with his faux double chins. Weighing in (unofficially) at 17lb this month. **ammendment.. had the nine month checkup today, 6.3.08 and he was 16lb 10 oz... that puts him in the 2nd percentile? haa!! but he is 50th percentile for height, so whatevs..percentile, schmentile

Wait.... EIGHT?

Months old already!! April 29th... weight at the post office last week was about 16lb...big old chunk. ha!

Lucky Number Seven

Awe!! 7 months old already! Campbell is so hysterical and always has a smile...interests include whatever Jadyn is doing, exersaucering, eating his own shoes and assorted other non-edible objects... Not crawling yet, but up on all fours and ready for troublemaking.

Happy Half Birthday

Campbell's half birthday is kind of a big deal. Being Leap Day, it's only going to happen every 4 years... so hip-hip-hooray, (sad!) He's already 1/2 year old! But, as our little friend, Riley says, "Him is still zero". Weighing in around 14.4 lb (I snuck him onto the scale when I had to bring Jbird to the pediatrician on Friday) and gobbling all sorts of food (still no-go on the peas). He LOVES his sister and daddy... follows them with his eyes and reaches out when he sees them.. and is such a little giggler, especially ticklish under his chin. Hair=still suuuuper light, but coming in.. eyes= still not sure ?? light brownish greyish greenish. Our little lovebug.

Holy... Time Flies

Where did it all go? Five Months Already!! January 29th, 2008.... big old C, weighs 12lb, 6oz.... yup, still a little peanut, but hungry and eating all sorts of goodies from avocados to bananas... not a fan of peas (me, neither)...

Mini Dad

Time flies

December 29th, 2007 :Campbell Heit, 4 MONTH old?! wow. He's going to outgrow the rug before I know it.

Happy Birthday!

November 29th, Campbell is 3 months old already!? Of course I can't believe how fast it has gone.. and how big he has gotten.. and does this mean maternity leave is almost over? whaaaaaaa!

Happy Birthday!

October 29th, Big C is tipping the scales at 9lb, 9oz on his 2 month b-day

Happy Birthday!

September 29, 2007... One month already!
Big C weighing in at 7lb 10oz! chunkin' right up!