I'm playing with new technologies

I know this is not a surprise since I'm a nerd.

But I have set up an account on Flickr... It's a photo website that I started playing with in August, but just found a little time to play with it. You can see some of Cameron's recent adventures (which by the way, he pronounces: E-ventures) by visiting The Reeves Kids Flickr Site.
You'll probably have to sign up as a member to see the shots. I'm not sure.

Have fun.

Holiday season is alive

Since I keep getting larger and more uncomfortable by the day, we decided to use the weekend after Thanksgiving as a time to decorate for Christmas. On Saturday we set up the tree, put lights up in the front and backyard (white lights in front, colorful pepper lights in the back). We talked about why Christmas is important. After Cam talked about Santa, he asked when Jesus would come for a visit. I told him that his spirit is in our heart and we're celebrating his birthday. Hopefully that made sense to him.

Today we put the ornaments up on the tree. Cameron did a pretty good job putting ornaments up on his own. We also did a project to create presents for the family.

I figure, the more we do for the holidays early, the less work I'll have to do when all I want to do is sit and make a baby.

Funny moment I almost forgot

So Cameron was hanging out in the newsroom on Thanksgiving. I was printing the 6pm newscast scripts when one of the printers was acting up (not unusual in the newsroom). Anyway. Cameron walks up and says: "Do you have a paper jam?" I said that we could have a paper jam. He goes: "Where's the easy button?"

The director of the show looks up at me and says: "Did he really just say that?"

Yes he did.

I think the boy is around too much TV. We play often in the basement while Dad watches sports. Clearly Office Depot advertises often during the football games.

A day at home

I finally had to take a day off from work thanks to my nasty cold. So Cam and I have spent the day together. I was cleaning a little junk off our TV to help make way for our new Tivo when I discovered two checks from Cameron's birthday. That's right. Two checks from Cameron's birthday in April. That is so wrong. I'm a terrible Mom.

I know I've bought him cool toys and games that would include that money. But now I feel bad cashing a check that is THAT old.

Anyway. Cam took a good nap, and so did I. That helped me catch up on sleep I lost last night. Now he's playing with shapes from a shape puzzle book. He's been really into building and creating things with his toys. It's very cool to watch him in this creating phase. He's still not into drawing or learning how to write his name (which all the girls are really into at school). But it's great to see where he likes to put his imagination.

BTW... You know we're really parents after Randy made the ultimate sacrifice today. During a break from work, he trekked to Wal-Mart to buy some Leapfrog books for Cameron. 7 dollars each... I really wanted to take advantage of that deal. Randy was willing to sacrifice the insanity to get something for the boy. What a Daddy.

Too much pepper

Cameron and many family members gathered over the weekend to celebrate Thanksgiving since we have to work on the actual holiday. I cooked my first Turkey and didn't screw it up.

Randy cooked the mashed potatoes and dressing... Both had way too much flavor for Cameron. So he's been walking around saying: "Daddy put too much pepper in the dressing." We're going to eat another batch for a newsroom Thanksgiving meal, we'll see if Cam likes that version better.

I also got Cam to pose for his Christmas card picture this week... After doing a little computer work on it, I think it will work. I ordered a few more things for the holidays. That means I'm just a few gifts away from wrapping up holiday shopping. That's a good thing -- Since I'm going the cash-only route this year to save money.

Cam and I are building space guns with mega blocks (larger version of Legos) and we're watching the Thanksgiving parade. He's really into the balloons.

After Cam's nap, we're headed to the newsroom to eat holiday food and I'll produce the 6pm newscast. Fun.

Fun weekend for Cam

My cousin Christie brought her daugher Ginny to our house to have fun for the weekend. They drove 12 hours to get here... So we were very lucky for their visit. Cam and Ginny played as if they were friends for years. It was very cool.

Cameron and Ginny were very busy -- On Saturday, they went to the Mizzou football game. It was Ginny's first football game... And it rained, so the kids weren't on their best behavior (not to mention, the game started smack in the middle of nap time). But it was fun. We also went to a free movie earlier that day and went out to dinner that night. By the way, the second picture is of Ginny and Cam growling like Tigers in the stands -- Just like the Missouri Tigers. On Sunday, we went to a baby shower for me and three other co-workers. (Acutally, one woman was a co-worker's wife) The kids played and played and played. Christie made us an awesome dinner last night -- But Cam was sleep deprived (the baby shower was smack in the middle of nap time as well) and he was not willing to try a bite. That ended with crying and screaming. Not a very pleasant eating environment. But the food was good!

Cam woke up looking for Ginny... She and her mom left really early this morning to get home. I heard them getting ready to leave... But I didn't have the energy to get out of bed and give them one more hug. We can't wait to see them again sometime soon. First, Mommy has to bring our next family member into the world!

(by the way... this was my 100th post on this blog. that's a lot of talk about a kid)

Two stories from this week

Cameron is running around the house with Ginny, my cousin's daughter right now. They're so excited to be together. It's very funny.

Anyway. Two stories.

First one happened last night. Randy was watching Cam spin around in circles. Faster and faster. When suddenly Cam says: "I can't keep the pee in." Poor buddy. He ran upstairs to go potty (he was playing in the basement). But he couldn't make it. He made a mess in the bathroom.
----
Earlier this week, Cam and I were working on a feather for school where you write down things you're thankful for. After he told me he was thankful all of his toys and toys he hopes to own soon... I explained that Thanksgiving was a time to be thankful for family and friends. SO I asked him again... What are you thankful for? He said: "My family, my friends, my teachers and food." I was impressed. When we went to school, I turned the feather in (it's a piece of paper with a feather drawn on it, and you write down the thankful things on it). The teacher says: "Oh! That's what we sing in our Thanksgiving song!"

And I thought he was a genius. He was just reciting a song.

Where is your belly button?

Cam and I were talking this morning when he took a peek at my big baby belly... When he was shocked to notice I didn't have a belly button.

I told him I'd get it back when the baby is born.

He lifted his shirt up and said: "I don't have a baby in my belly... So I have a belly button."

I think reality finally set in... He now knows boys can't have babies in their bellies. I kind of enjoyed the earlier months when he told me and everyone that he had his baby brother in his belly and I had his baby sister.

I guess all good things must come to an end.

Leaves, leaves... Everywhere!

It's that time of the year when all of the trees are giving up their colors and sharing them with the grass.

That gives Cam and I the chance to play in the most simple of ways -- running, jumping and throwing leaves.

This past weekend, I raked up a big pile of leaves for Cam to play in. I took a ton of pictures. I'm including a couple of my favorites.

This morning, he and I grabbed our jackets to play out in the leaves before he had to go to school. There was some serious wind whipping through the night, so the front yard is blanketed with leaves. (Even though Randy worked so hard last weekend to clear away the leaves... You'd never know he did that if you look at the yard now!) We picked out our favorite leaves... Cam played with a stuffed animal in the piles. We ran (okay, I waddled) through the leaves -- kicking them up and chasing each other. It was nice. It's exactly why Fall is such a fun season.

Good boy again!

Seven straight school days... That's right folks... That's seven days with two weekends in the middle where the boy hasn't been sent home with a note saying he hurt a "friend."

It's a miracle.

Maybe we've finally moved past this "violent" phase.

(sigh of relief)

Camryn D_____ isn't here today

So, Cameron and his dad were walking out of school today when a little girl named Suzanne asked Cam for a hug before he left. They had their hug... And as they walked away from each other, Randy heard Suzanne say: "Camryn D_____ isn't here today."

Camryn is Cam's "girlfriend" who goes to school with him on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Since today is Wednesday, apparently Suzanne decided Cam was fair play.

These are 3 and 4 year olds. Don't you think that kind of behavior is a little strange... And amazing. Suzanne actually notices how Cameron and Camryn interact with each other.

Amazing.

I laugh at Halloween

So we survived Halloween. I skipped out of work to take part in Cameron's class party and school celebration for Halloween. The kids were so great. It was also fun to just hang out and talk to the parents. I'm finally starting to feel like I'm a part of the class -- the kids know my kid, I know the kids and I'm starting to really know the parents.

Anyway. After Cam's party, we ran over to the newsroom to pick up all my stuff (for some reason, I had convinced myself that Cam and I could leave his party early so I could get back to work).

We ran home to eat dinner with Daddy and a former student who was in town. Then we decided to split up the Halloween responsibilities. I took Cam out trick or treating in the neighborhood while Randy stuck around talking to our former student (and friend) and he got to hand out the candy. Cameron wouldn't let me go near the door of each house where he trick or treated. He was very good at saying Trick or Treat! and Thank you! Sometimes he was willing to drop the bucket of candy (which got pretty heavy by the end of our time out there) and strike a Mr. Incredible pose. Very funny.

I'll get more pictures soon. I think the coolest part of the night was how we got to light up our real pumpkins. That just looks cool. Now I remember why carving those suckers are worth the effort.

So this is the start of Halloween?

We had a rough day today. Things were going well until Cam woke up in the middle of his nap and did something that's so disgusting... It's not worth going into the details.

After interrogating the boy for at least an hour, we couldn't get an answer from him -- And now we wonder if he even knows what happened.

So we went to our neighborhood Halloween party... And Cam got to see his new Mr. Incredible costume for the first time. He planned on being Dash for most of the months leading up to Halloween. On Thursday, he decided he'd rather be Mr. Incredible. The good news: Dash and Mr. Incredible wear the same outfit.

He was good at the party and made friends with a couple of 5 year old little girls from the neighborhood.

The last thing he said to me before he went to bed tonight: "I love my supersuit Mommy."

Let's pray for a good night. I could really use it.

Am I going to be four today?

Cameron is fixated on turning four. I keep asking him when his birthday is... And Cam knows it's April first. But he keeps asking. I think some of his friends are turning four and Cam wants to join in the fun.

He had a bad day on Thursday. But he ended the week with positive comments from his teachers. So we have our bad days and our good days. When Cam's days are bad, they're bad. When they're good... We're all happy.

Cam is really scared of shadows and noises these days. He got all freaked out by the squeaks of the second floor while I was getting dressed upstaires -- Cam was in the kitchen eating breakfast. "Mommy! I'm scared! What's that noise?" I know Halloween is exciting, but I look forward to us moving past this holiday just so he can stop feeling so scared.

We're taking him to St. Louis tomorrow. He gets to hang out with his Uncle Barry while Mommy and Daddy go to an uppity dinner/awards ceremony for the TV station. That will make it two weekends in a row when Mom and Dad get to hang out alone on a Saturday night.

Who knew that could happen?

Success on the playground

Yesterday Cam went home with a POSITIVE note from his teachers!

He actually made an excellent choice in the heat of a moment. He was out on the playground with his friends. He apparently got mad at someone and raised his hand to do hit... When he stopped himself and put his hand down. A teacher watched it happen and Cameron got a TON of praise from his teachers and his parents.

I put the note up on the refrigerator to keep looking at it. He got tons of hugs and he even got to eat an ice cream sandwich!

I hope he can keep up the good work!

What a pose

So... I was downloading pictures from the last month or two... And I came upon this shot of the boy trying to look tough. It's kind of GQ, kind of Dash from The Incredibles (Which is who he was pretending to be in this picture).

Cam had another accident last night. We can't figure out how to put an end to this 5-6 am wake-up annoyance. I'm almost ready to have him clean it all up himself... It took me forever to get back to sleep. And once I did, it was really hard to wake up. And no one wants to be around a cranky pregnant mommy.

Anyway. Cam was really excited to go to school today to show off his new shirt (with arms that were too long!!). And he was extra excited to wear his fireman jacket because of the cool and wet weather outside. It's always the simple things that makes him so happy.

I can't figure this kid out

So Cam started the morning crazy. He peed on his underwear during an early morning trip to the bathroom... I helped him go back to bed. One hour later, he did it again. That's when we got angry. There was no need for him to continue coming to us with his wet clothing problem... And then he started screaming out of control. I pounded into his room, demanded he get dressed and put him back to bed.

Did I mention his grandparents were here and had to listen to the insanity?

Not fun.

So Cam was a loose cannon for most of the day. He had to go to his room and scream it out because i wouldn't let him watch a movie. But minutes before that, he'd been fantastic at the grocery store, and even politely looked at a little baby that I demanded he see.

We ended the day carving pumpkins... Cam went to a pumpkin patch last week, so we carved that one along with a big, big pumpkin from a local store. Cameron decided the little happy face pumpkin was for Jordan, the big pumpkin is his.

I'm going to be a good boy today

I called Cam this morning to say hi... He answered and told me immediately: "Mommy, I'm going to be a good boy today."

Which makes me wonder... What happened yesterday?

Actually, he had a note sent home to tell us about an incident he had with a "friend" on Tuesday... And Daddy had to institute the new rule: hurt a friend, dog or family member... lose a toy.

Hopefully Cam will focus more on using his words (He likes to yell: "Stop! I don't like that!" And yesterday, Cam and I discussed how we can walk away when someone upsets us... instead of hitting. Of course, he immediately walked away from Randy during an incident where Cam threw a toy into the Goldfish cracker bag. Who knows if I gave him a good idea.

Only time will tell. (Just like everything else)

Out of town AGAIN

I'm in Florida right now... And I'm sad... Because I got here and quickly set up my computer to see if it would work. It didn't, I got a phone call to meet people for dinner... And I didn't call home for the second time in the evening. And that worried Randy to death. I feel terrible.

I'm sure Cam was upset too.

Fortunately, I tinkers and spent more money on the web connection in this room... So I can get the camera to work tonight... And Cam and I will be able to talk!!

:-)

Busy weekend

Yesterday was the big homecoming parade and Cam had a chance to ride in it. I joined him in the trailer... While Daddy followed the float through town. We were all exhausted after that. Cam and I also enjoyed a grocery store trip and we made dinner for house guests who were in town.

Today we took an early nap and got to go to Cam's second theater show... Today we saw Beauty and the Beast. Cam wasn't so sure about it during a couple of portions... But he loved the big group songs and when we walked out of the show he said: "I had a great time!" He had a chance to sit in the second row and we got to say hi to all of the stars of the show afterwards. He HAD to say hi to the Beast and Belle... And at the end, he decided he had to say hi to every single person. I asked him if he was ready to go and he said: "I have to say some more hi's!"