Camden is TWO!

Birthday Party in Texas, Ethan helping Camden open presents

Camden likes his applesauce

Singing "Happy Birthday"

I like this picture of Camden's eyes, so pretty!

Seth and Camden at his birthday party in Colorado

Cupcakes and birthday decor

My two favorite guys!

Lil' Hiker

Picking Raspberries

Enjoying Colorado fall

Pumpkin Pickin'

Hiking!

Happy Birthday, Camden!

This second year has gone by so much faster than the first. And I have been told that the years to follow seem to be shorter and shorter. I love the new developments and abilities that come with each new stage, but I don't want my baby to grow up too fast.

Camden got to celebrate his birthday twice. We went to Texas in early September (before he turned two, so we could get by with buying only two airline tickets one last time) to have a party with our family. My mom, Gramma, hosted the party at her house in Beaumont and Kevin's parents and brother, my brother and sister-in-law, my Aunt Teresa and Aunt Debbie, my Uncle Alden and his wife and little girl, my cousins Jarrod and Kari and their little boys, and my grandmother all came over for Camden's party. I made a train cake and my mom made a wonderful meal for everyone. Camden received lots of fun gifts and fall clothes!

The second birthday party took place at a local park in Colorado. We invited Camden's closest friends and they all had fun playing at the playground and taking turns riding in Camden's new wagon (our present for him). The kids all enjoyed sports cupcakes and ice cream!

On Camden's actual birthday, September 23rd, he was sick. Poor boy. Kevin worked from home that day and we stayed in all day and let Camden recover from whatever virus he caught. He didn't feel too bad, just a little bit subdued and not much of an appetite. We had a doctor's appointment for Camden's two-year check up and his doctor said he is doing really great! We had to feel out a questionnaire about his development and there were only a couple of things he has not accomplished. Camden weighed 26 pounds (25th percentile), was 35 inches tall (80th percentile), and his head measured 19 inches (40th percentile).

New things Camden has been doing/saying:

• Camden likes to ask if he can go swimming or ride a choo-choo or go to Water World. I usually answer him by saying, "No, we can't go swimming right now." And Camden replies by saying "Maybe later, Mommy."
• After many times of us telling him this joke and him laughing to it, he can now tell this joke on his own. Camden: Knock, knock. Us: Who's there? Camden: Duane. Us: Duane, who? Camden: Duane the bathtub, I'm dwowning!
• The other day Camden and I were in a parking lot and a dog started barking at us from a car. Camden notices and tells me that the doggie is barking. So I ask him, "How does the doggie bark?" I thought he would say "woof", but he says "with mouth"! Pretty clever!
• I took Camden to the library where they have story time for toddlers. The room was full of kids, some older than Camden, some younger. When they sang songs, Camden was the loudest singer of all the kids.
• It amazes me how many songs Camden knows. We sing all the classic kids songs with him and most of the classic kids' church songs. Today was his first day in the two year old class at church. I teach this class and I was singing a song that I have never sang with Camden at home and he knew it! I guess he had learned in bible class before.