What a cluster!

We were still unwrapping gifts into the evening!

Work bench

Camden received this miniature work bench to play around with.  His cousin, Olivia, liked it as well.

Thank you, Mama

Camden is most happy having a book read to him by his Mama or Daddy.  And it shows....

Christmas stockings

Camden is breaking into his Christmas stockings here.  After this, he was perfectly content to play with and enjoy what he received in them.  He didn't need anything else.  Such a sweet baby!

Musical toys

Camden loved playing with his great grandmother and the musical toys he received earlier that day.  Every time he wasn't looking, she and I would turn them off hoping he would forget about them and the noise they made!

Snow globes

I've always loved the magic that accompanies snow globes.  Everything is in miniature and the swirling 'snow' around it all...just magic to me.  I hope that Camden is as captivated as I was with this Elf on the Shelf globe....

Merry Christmas 2011

From Mommy and Daddy and Camden and NB!

This didn't take long to learn

Camden got into the spirit of things by learning to rip/tear paper of packages.  Can't wait to see him do this Christmas morning!

Papa's boy

Last night we hosted the annual Christmas dinner and White Elephant gift exchange we do with our friends and their family.  Little guy here couldn't get enough of his Papa.  When I was around, he wanted nothing to do with me.  ME!  The one who rolls around on the floor with him playing non-stop choo-choo trains with him!!!  It was all about being with his Papa.  Hmmfph.  Coal in his stockings for sure....

Quiet Bear

This is Camden's Uncle Tippy's stuffed teddy bear he had when he was a little baby.  It has been cuddled by both of Camden's cousins while napping here.  Camden has decided that he likes napping with it as well.  And just carrying it around to nuzzle every once and awhile.  We named it Quiet Bear because it didn't make any sound unlike Teddy Ruxpin that was so popular back then.  Quiet Bear has been waiting for the second generation to discover him since Uncle Tippy quit sleeping with it about 5 years ago.

Presenting....

This is little Whosits, Camden's baby brother or sister.  This baby is already 7 pounds and Mama still has few more weeks to go.  Karma is a wonderful thing to me.  Mama weighed 8 pounds 15 ounces when she was born 21 days late!

Here, play with this bubble wrap

This kept him entertained for quite some time.  But then, bubble wrap keeps me entertained for quite some time as well.

Holly Bells

Mama and Uncle Tippy received a Holly Bell ornament every Christmas while they were growing up.  Once they moved out and had Christmas trees of their own, they were each given all of their Holly Bells to put on their own tree.  Camden didn't realize that the Bells made noise and was tickled that they did.  Also, after seeing the Polar Express movie, Holly Bells have a new meaning for the little ones.

Not on your life, Daddy

The approach....

 the bailout.....

Mama for protection...

Hand print ornaments

Each year I have the little ones make a hand print ornament (by PearTree; available at Babies R Us) for our Christmas Tree.  Just press their little hands into the dough and let it set up for a couple of days and voila!, good to go.  I write their names and the year on the back of it so each of them know which one is theirs.

Within reach

Guess who found the candy canes at home?

Great things come in small packages!

There he is!

Everyday the Elf moves around the house keeping an steady eye on Camden (and sometimes Daddy) making sure that everyone is well behaved.  Camden looks for him and is delighted when he spies him.

A male model

Camden, do you want me to take a picture of your special Christmas shirt of the Yeti with the candy canes and Christmas trees in his belly?  No.

Special treats

It comes only once a year and Camden seems to like Candy Canes!!

Annual family party

We had our annual family Christmas party last night and to the age two and under crowd, this was THE gift to have!  BALLOONS!!!!!!

Look at all the stuff!

This was his first opportunity to see the Snowman Ensemble that I've collected over the years.  He wanted to touch everything!

Look! Shiney!

Mama turned on the lights of some decorations and surprised little guy here.  He kept pointing to it and saying LIGHT!

He's getting big!

Yesterday I measured out how tall he's become to add to my door frame histogram of all the kids.  He is 33 inches tall and 26 pounds!  I knew he was getting heavier!

Who's at the Book Nook with Camden?

It's Papa!!!

Christmas stockings

This is the second year that this little stocking has been out for Camden.  Last year, he was still a little baby and the season meant nothing to him.  This year,  everything about Christmas is new!  and amazing! and fun!  So he was very happy to see a Teddy Bear and a Choo-Choo on his stocking.

You little stinker!

Mama didn't want me to give him any leftover chocolate from my baking.  But then, Papa and Mama decided that a 'little' chocolate would be ok.  And I think that it was ok with Camden as well.  What do you think?

The talking house

This little house lights up and recites 'Twas the Night Before Christmas'.  Camden was entranced!

Cereal

He's getting so good at using his spoons and his fork now.  Of course, hands still come in handy, just not when eating cereal..

Mary?

I can no longer keep track of all the words that Camden says now.  I used to write them all down on a piece of paper but that piece of paper got all filled up.  He says everything as a question though.  And now both Papa and I when speaking to each other, mimic the question-like speaking.

Toy catalogs

Ah, there's nothing like looking through all the toy catalogs as Christmas nears.

Let me show you around

All three cousins went to the Discovery Museum yesterday...here Camden is showing his female cousins just how the airplane works...

It's that time again

Mimi is experimenting with her camera....

Grrrr!

Papa was asking Camden where this animals teeth were and Camden was glad to point everything out...but Camden wanted to make sure that his hand stayed out of any snapping teeth's way....

It's the time of year for....

Egg Nog!!

Two, no, Three Troublemakers

I can just see the three of these running around crazy together next summer, chasing each other....

Happy Thanksgiving

...from Camden, Mama, Daddy, and NB.

Happy. Turkey. Day.

He can't quite get 'Thanksgiving' out yet so we settled for Turkey instead....

Discovery Center

The family went to the new Discovery Center we have here in town.  It's much like San Francisco's Exploriatorium.   The children can play on and find out about so many things.  Here, Camden and his friend Jake, sit in a mini helicopter.  Camden loves 'hoppers'!!

Slow down, you move too fast!

Camden and his new 'hopper'  (helicopter) could not take time for me and my camera today.  Busy, busy busy....

One year ago today

Camden and his Mama and Daddy spent the Thanksgiving holidays in Costa Rica....he didn't crawl yet and didn't have any teeth yet.  Boy, a year's difference!  (and now Mama is pregnant with baby number 2!)

Do you know the name of a good personal injury attorney?

Hold on, Olivia!

Just bring out the camera

Camden has now entered the stage when he recognizes the camera and knows to smile.  His older cousin is so used to my camera and me crawling around the floor to get a good shot.  And now my baby grandson has become 'camera aware' as well.  Yippee!!!

Fresh face

He's so happy when he sees Elmo now!