I can say that I haven't necessarily been dreading this particular birthday, but it would be nice to go out for a celebratory beverage as I enter the second third of my life. Thanks a lot Baby G#2.
To celebrate, my fabulous coworkers decorated my room and gave me items in quantities of 30 which led up to lunchtime when the 30s theme was all-out craziness and full of inside joke gifts that would make your mama blush.
At home Cameran and I relaxed while waiting for Daddy to get home. He came home bearing gifts. A new iPhone 4 (the new white color to be exact) and a cute coffee mug. Apparently jewelry was in the running, but I must've unknowingly been talking a lot about my phone crapping out lately so the ole iPhone has been retired and alas I have a new phone on which to check Facebook and play Words with Friends ;)
Ryan took Cami to Olive Garden to pick up dinner which gave me about 45 minutes of solitude. It was nice and relaxing. All in all, a nice low-key birthday. Saturday we have a sitter for Cameran and will be going out and about then to continue this newly foreign decade :)
Happy Birthday/Down Syndrome Awareness Day Cameran Leah!
Turning two is a big deal. You were smiley and cheery all day. You ate cupcakes at daycare with your friends and teachers, and then you came home and played on the slide. You opened lots of presents and you ate another cupcake AND a cookie cake slice with Mommy, Daddy, Pappy, and Nanny by your side. Aunt Melody also stopped by to give you a birthday squeeze and a present. You wanted NOTHING to do with opening presents. You even crawled away. Does this mean Mommy doesn't have to wrap them next time?? After proudly using your hands to dig into your cupcake, you used the icing as hair gel. Your birthday ended with bathtime, and now you are passed out on the sofa with Daddy.
It really is special how God gave us you on 3/21/09. We had no idea their was a World-Anything Day, let alone World Down Syndrome Awareness Day until you were born. Because of you we are blessed to advocate for other people with intellectual disabilities. Because of you I am more tolerant of others. Because of you I take more time with my students who have learning disabilities. Because of you I am educating others to stop using the word "retard(ed)" to mean something silly, annoying, or mindless. Without you, I don't know that these things would have occured. Because of you I am a better person.
Here's a little prequel to Cameran's 2nd birthday....
Cameran Leah, today was spent wrapping and baking all in celebration of your Birth Day. Tomorrow marks the second day of your life. Your Daddy and I are forever changed for the better because you are here. We love you NutterButter.
BLOG! Yes, my blog, you are one year old today. Oh how time flies. It seems like only yesterday I began clicking away to track memories of little Peanut who is soon going to be, dare I say it, 2 in March. I have to tell you blog, since I did such a crappy job documenting Peanut's first 11 months, I better make up for it with baby number 2. We should have about 7 1/2 months to document this new little Pea's journey before he/she makes the grand entrance. For now, guesstimates have Pea's arrival around the beginning of September, but experts won't weigh in until this Tuesday, when I am going to badger them for an ultrasound to date this little dude/ette. Seriously?! Who woulda thunk (great English teacher I am) that Ryan's boys would break and enter a second time after being told there wasn't a snowball's chance in H-E double hockey sticks that it would happen without $22,000 up front for in vitro. Psh-shaw on you Dr. @*&!%. I'll bet one 22 month old and raise you a 2011 knock up that YOU WERE WRONG.....TWICE. How's that for two surprise pregnancies ;) Seriously though, Ryan is almost out of denial, and I am trying to calm my nerves about any possible malfunctions of this round's sperm and egg meeting. There is a reason this happened, and just like with Peanut, we will love this child regardless, but oh, not to have to worry for the rest of the pregnancy would be glorious. Prayers. And.................madre's potential donor is a MATCH! There are a few last health tests and a meet-up with the surgeon by the donor and her family for a date can be arranged. Thank you for all the prayers.
I can hardly believe my baby is 19 months already!
Happy birthday, Peanut. We are constantly in awe of you.
Congratulations, too, on your daycare boyfriend. Let the record show that today when I picked up Cami she received her first kiss-on the mouthish area-by her little bf, who reached up to say "Bye". I leaned down and bam, he planted one. Then his identical twin toddled over and, not wanting to miss the action, planted his own kiss on Cami. (It appears twin 2's technique is better ;). Apparently the one twin stood by her walker today and repeatedly tried to vie for her attention. "Cammin. Cammin. Cammin, Baby. Cammin, Baby..." is apparently his pet name for Peanut. Too cute.
At least I know she won't be alone in a corner when she scoots herself away from everyone.
Starting young Cami. Daddy is gonna have to install extra locks to keep you in and boys out when you get older!
September has been full of appointments and birthdays and puke and recovery and shots and fevers, but perhaps most of all ROCKING!!! Check this snippit out that I captured on the first day I caught Cameran doing this on her own...
Go Cameran! I have a feeling that little Miss Cameran Leah is going to be doing lotsa things all at once, making for some interesting days to come in the Gerber household....
Ryan's birthday was pretty mellow. We went to Lancaster for the day, shopped, and ate at a restaurant on the outskirts of the city. Having the evening to ourselves was definitely the highlight!
That same weekend we also parted with our younger dog, Nala, who is now living at the home of one of Ryan's coworkers. This family has a house full of kids, and has more time to devote to Nala's needs. So, even though my head and my heart disagreed at first and I miss her, I know she is better off. Jasmine has been loving life as an only doggie again too. She gets the attention that Nala hogged for 4 1/2 years. Not only that, but she is actually mellow enough to keep inside AND in the same room when Cameran's entourage is at the house doing various interventions! Double plus. So, all in all, it is a good change.
Shots were Friday. By shots I mean Cameran's 15 month and some of her 18 month shots since she was unable to receive immunizations while on her seizure steroids. She never tolerates them well, and this weekend was no exception. Finally, four days later, she is beginning to feel better and her fever broke for the first time today.
We are busy gearing up for this year's Buddy Walk! Cameran's Crew is growing still, and we have 6 fundraisers including myself. So far we have exceeded $1,000 in support of the inclusion and acceptance of people with Down syndrome. I never used to be much of a fundraiser-ish type of person, but I have shamelessly and probably to some, obnoxiously posted and reposted links to Cameran's page of Facebook, if for no other reason, to raise awareness (and share a cute picture too!)
Finally, here are a few pictures from the past few weeks...
Amidst all the chaos of doctor's appointments, worry and our baby-centered life I still do enjoy things. I have ups and downs just like anyone. I keep telling myself that this is just my time to have a "rough patch" and once Cameran's seizures cease (because I refuse to think of the alternative) life will be back to our "normal".
My birthday was yesterday. 29 years old. I keep joking that I have 365 more good days left in me when in fact, I don't think 30 is going to bother me as much as it does most. I don't know; maybe that is just me being optimistic.
Despite Ryan and Cami both having nasty colds and Ryan being gone for grad class, I still had an awesome birthday. Mom and Dad came up and took us (Cami and me) out to Chili's for dinner. Cameran of course would not allow me to actually eat a hot meal, waking just as the meals arrived. But the appetizers and three bites of loaded mashed potatoes were great!
We then went to the greatest place on earth--Target--where I picked up stuff for me baby food and stuff for Cameran.
Stopped by Sherry's ice cream and got a cone of Hershey's Ultimate Peanut Butter Cup with chocolate sprinkles. To. Die. For.
And then we were back home and I enjoyed a nice text-fest with my 10 year old niece Gabriella, who apparently tried to send me a birthday song via my iPhone, which did not work out. Oh well. No birthday present for me.
This was followed by a phone call from 6 year old niece/goddaughter Isabelle, who proceeded to wish me a happy birthday and informed me that she was going to put me on speaker phone so she could squeak out play wonderfully "Happy Birthday" on her teeny weeny violin. It was cute, I must say. Apparently she asked her teacher if she could learn this song just for my birthday. How sweet!
Finally...I am loving my presents. Here are the biggies...
Samsung point and shoot hi-def camera/video recorder. Courtesy of the hubs. (Smile detection so maybe I can actually catch Cameran in action!)
Keurig Deluxe Coffee maker! Couresy of my parents. (Now I don't have to go to Sheetz everyday!)
We are tick-tocking closer and closer to Cameran's first birthday (party)! Oh how a year flies by. I'm not gonna lie-I could easily get carried away being all sentimental and reflective about the past year and its trials and tribulation, but mostly the pure joy of motherhood and my little Peanut--but I am not. Maybe another entry. Maybe I will go wild and crazy on Cami's actual birthday, March 21, which is also coincidentally amazingly World Down Syndrome Awareness Day. What an awesome way to celebrate a little T21 awareness!
So anyway...
Basically, I am writing this entry to A. fill up time since Daylight Savings Time has us out of whack, and B. to procrastinate what I should be doing, which is preparing the rest of my lesson plans, but mainly C. to celebrate how much I love planning for and shopping for Cameran's birthday party!!!!!!!!!!!
It has kicked so much monetary butt, but so worth it. And, if I play my procrastinating cards right, I may still have time to create a digital memory book for Cameran so she can look back at her first birthday party and see how wild and crazy her mama went! Did I make the Hawaiian beaded bracelets and necklaces I was supposed to make? No. Did I order her cake? No. But...with Ryan's help (he is not innocent for those who know him) we spent well over a few (did I write that) hundred dollars to make this first birthday a freaking blast! Hallmark? Check. Bon-Ton? Check. Toys R Us? Check. AND...when I got home I ordered most of the not so necessary trinkets and decorations from Oriental Trading Post magazine to make this the best luau in March ever!
Here's the remaining to do list in no particular order:
Order cake Order fruit tray Get balloons Get Cameran's pictures taken (not necessary but hey) Finish Shutterfly memory book Find pictures to go in the 12 month frame to display at party Go to Party City and get plates, napkins, and tableclothes Download Hawaiian I-tunes for I-pod party playlist (Suggestions? Thinking Lilo and Stitch) Get drinks and snacks Decorate location (Friday) Pray stuff ordered today comes by the 18th as guaranteed. (They can't lie--it's a guarantee, right?) Make those damn darn bracelets/necklaces.
Phew. Now if only we didn't have EI on Monday, PT on Tuesday, Ryan's class/BLAST on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday I'd be great. I see a whole lotta Thursday and Friday cramming in my future.
Sweet dreams. I am off to highlight packets for 7th graders. Yawn.
