Many Changes

Wow, things can change so quickly! We found out we will be expecting Baby Stockwell #3 on Jan. 19, which is my sister Molly's birthday. Although the doctor knows I will probably be far from still pregnant on that date, we are hoping to at least get this baby to full term. I've already been told I will hit bedrest around 30 wks. (right before Thanksgiving). Part of me is looking forward to the idea of skipping the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, but really what it does is just move mine closer. I have to get it all done this summer and fall.
Some days I'm really excited for this baby and other days I'm kind of scared...I mean 3 kids under 3--what were we thinking???? Actually, we know this is God's timing and pretty much how we pictured it ourselves. We wanted our kids to grow up close, be friends, and experience so many things in life together...and, they will! We couldn't have asked for God to bless us any more.
Everything else has been going pretty well. This summer I'm watching a couple kids a few days a week, which isn't bad and I know it's short term so I can get through it. Fortunately, the kids (mine and the kids I watch) have been great! It will be weird in the fall to just have my own b/c I'm so used to always having other kids around.
Brooklyn is always getting more mature in so many ways. Even though we're still kind of in a "whiny" phase with her, she has more up moments than down. I can't definitely tell the influence I have on her, which is scary at times. The other day I was upstairs and she was downstairs with Camden. I heard her say, "Wow Camden! That's so crazy. That's cool, Camden!" And lately, as we've put her to bed, as we leave the room she tells us to have sweet dreams. I'm sure we've said that to her before, but not on a consistent basis...where do they get this stuff??? Brooklyn's favorite thing to do this summer has been to go outside with Cade after her bath and help him water the flowers. She has her own little bucket and they have quite a routine! She loves to play basketball, or "do shots" as she calls it, afterwards in the backyard!
Camden is our little man. So hilarious, for the most part laid-back, but can throw himself into a fit in seconds, which is weird because I didn't ever feel Brooklyn really do that. He's walking all along everything and can stand by himself and has even taken a few steps on his own, but he's not quite there yet. He loves the pool and yesterday he even kept trying to just put his face in...it was so funny and he was so proud!
Cade is loving his new job and I can tell he is pouring himself and his heart into the church. He really desires to see people connected and making that effort to get involved. I'm really proud of him for being willing to follow God as he led us to TPCC (in terms of a "job"), and we are realizing more and more that it was His perfect timing.
Well, we look forward to a great summer! We are heading to Great Wolf Lodge for an overnight in July as well as a week in Myrtle Beach...both vacations with family! Brooklyn is also going to her first "sleepover" (I'll be going too) at the end of June. Always something new, always something fun!

Some Early Spring Pics

"I fly like a bird, Mommy!" said Brooklyn.
Just a pretty picture!
I've mastered the art of biting the spoon when Daddy feeds me yogurt!
I love wedding cupcakes!
"Daddy knows how to do my hair, Mommy!"

Happy Birthday Camden!

This is on my birthday...the hat only lasted long enough for the picture!
I love the camera...and I love to say CHEEZZZZ!!
I loved my birthday cake and my birthday cake loved me!

The Year Has Passed So Quickly

I can't believe Camden will be 1 in two days. This past year has gone so quickly. Part of that I'm grateful for, but I also feel like where did that time go and how has he grown so quickly? I try not to compare, but I feel like I had so much more one-on-one time with Brooklyn to read, build blocks, etc...and I wonder if I shorted him of those same opportunities. However, I know he has experienced different things she never did. I try to convince myself that every family with multiple children goes through this, and all children grow up experiencing life differently based on birth order, but it's a different feeling as a mother than as a child. Anyway, I'd love to brag on him for a moment and let you know what he's been up to! Well, like any boy I'm sure, he's totally all over the place. He's very active and climbing and walking along anything he can hold onto. He laughs and smiles a lot, although having a shy, flirtateous side to him as well. I know he's our kid, but I just think he absolutely beautiful and wouldn't change a thing about him! The thing I have been most excited about is the relationship I see developing between Brooklyn and Camden. To see her be so protective (and of course those other "big sister moments" too) and for him to watch her every move is so intriguing. I know God gave me Brooklyn first for a reason, and I love growing her heart to love others so that Camden and any other siblings that may follow can have a role model that loves Jesus. I am so grateful for both of our children, and I'm so excited to see them grow together in friendship and love.

Spring is Here!

Well, it's been so nice to have such beautiful days lately. The kids have enjoyed many wagon rides and trips to the park. I'm looking forward to summer! Brooklyn is now 2 1/2 and Camden is 11 1/2 months. I can't believe he is almost one. It's scary to think how fast the last year has gone. Camden has really blossomed (no pun intended w/ the weather) in the last couple weeks. He has a hilarious personality and is so easy-going. He waves and says Bye-bye, and babbles all of the time. He's a pretty good eater and sleeper, and is just a real happy kid! He laughs a lot and loves to follow Brooklyn everywhere, which she doesn't always appreciate. Nevertheless, she's taken on the big sister role well. She plays out a good balance of nurturing and loving on him, and of course, the sibling squabbles over toys. Brooklyn just had her 2 1/2 year check this week and is about 38in. tall and weighed in at 27.5 lbs. (I'm sure one of these days she won't appreciate me sharing her weight)! A few weeks ago, Brooklyn did take a hard fall and had an emergency trip to the dentist. She chipped a top tooth and the four main bottom teeth are loose. The dentist believes they'll tighten back up, but they're still tender for her with certain foods. She's really loving to read lately and is reading many of her books to us (well, she's memorized her books to us). She will really be at a loss in about a month when we take the summer off of MOPS and Bible Study, but hopefully we can fill it with many trips to the zoo and parks.

There's not much news on the homefront lately. Cade and I are doing well and he's really enjoying his new job. We're so blessed that he is so close to home. Well, I'm sure we'll have more news in May...Camden's birthday, Mother's Day, I'm running the Mini, and whatever else comes our way. I'll try to stay updated!

*Pics above are 1)Brooklyn and cousin Avery at Chuck E. Cheese and 2) Camden laughing because he is excited Mommy fed him some ice cream!

Life is Good

Our life has been in constant change for the last couple of weeks, but it's all been good. Cade has started his new job at Trader's Point as Director of Member Involvement and he's really enjoying the people he's getting to meet and the other ministers and staff. God really has a plan and it's always good to listen and follow Him in His timing. We truly are blessed. I am currently still in the midst of working with a few other friends to get MOPS going at TPCC in the fall. We are making great progress but are still in prayer for the right leaders to come forward to serve on the team. We are confident God will provide the women we need and funds we don't have! All the changes have been exciting and overall good for us as a family.

Brooklyn is just a piece of work. She's really understanding a lot more and speaking more clearly, which helps me get through the day...she can be fun to have a conversation with actually! However, as Camden becomes more active and fun to be around, Brooklyn realizes that the attention focused on her has been cut in half and she has become quite clingy...which can be a little much on my nerves. My mom came down last week and we tried potty training with Brooklyn again. We also quit again as we realized she's really not ready and became the devil child over a matter of hours. We wanted our old Brooklyn back and are willing to take diapers with her!

Camden is a ham. He's such a laid-back kid and just goes with the flow. He smiles, eats, and poops! He constantly wants to be in the know, which has not been good with naptime because he doesn't want to miss a thing! Today I cut his hair for the first time. I used the clippers and it ended up a lot shorter than I had intended, but he's still a cutie. He did sit still for the most part, but he kept trying to turn his head because he wanted to see what the noise was.

Our Easter holiday went well and it was great to see friends and family...oh, and watch basketball. I mean, what's Easter without basketball...I don't remember seeing that anywhere in the Bible, but I'm sure Jesus has a bracket too (but I doubt he gets in a pool...anyway, it would be cheating since he already should know who will win!). Brooklyn has learned a lot about the Resurrection from CBS and Sunday school over the past couple of weeks. She told me today that Jesus is alive and lives in her heart...so precious. Well, I'm posting some pics and hope to post more in the next couple of days. Take care to all!

*Pics are of Brooklyn & Camden and Annabelle, GoGo, and Brooklyn making cookies for Easter!

So Many Changes

Since I've last blogged there have been a lot of changes going on in our lives. First, Brooklyn continues to amaze us every day with new phrases, songs, and extensive sentences. She really has a great sense of humor and is such a nurturing and loving little girl (she has her moments, though!). I have shared this touching moment with several of you, but Brooklyn and I had a short conversation the other day as we were singing songs one morning:
Me: Brooklyn, who lives in heaven?
Brooklyn: gives me strange look
Me: Who do you talk about at church?
Brooklyn: Jesus.
Me: Where does Jesus live? (thinking she'd make a connection?)
Brooklyn: Down in my heart.
Me: What did you say? Where does Jesus live?
Brooklyn: In my heart (Da Mom, did you not hear me the first time!?)
It was such an awesome opportunity to hear our daughter really remembering the things she is learning in church!
Camden is now ON THE MOVE. He still has a good army crawl going, but he can get wherever he wants to go. He also just started to clap, and is always looking for a crowd of applause when he does it. I definitely notice the difference between having a girl and boy, but I haven't quite put a finger on what it is yet. I feel like when Camden looks at things he's thinking how can I break that? or how is that put together? He's also doing really well drinking out of a cup and can almost do it by himself...but I think that skill may still be a little while off. However, he definitely eats like a boy. He's been eating meat ravioli, chicken nuggets, grilled cheese, goldfish, peaches, etc...Whatever Brooklyn doesn't eat, he'll pick up her leftovers (after his own meal)! It's weird how much faster and willing I have been to let him try new things with him being my second. He's such a content little guy though and for the most part continues to be a happy camper!
OUR BIGGEST NEWS is that by God's grace Cade has found a new job. Cade has taken a job at our church (Trader's Point Christian Church). He will be the Director of Assimilation, which basically entails knowing everybody in the church on a more personal level and getting them connected within the church body. Getting this position was definitely in God's plan. Cade has been looking for a job for several months to a year. We seemed to be looking on our own terms, but were continuing to be faithful in prayer about where God wanted us and wanted Cade. And God is faithful and we're learning this through this opportunity. The church actually approached him about the position and it couldn't have been a better fit for Cade's passions and desire to impact other people. Although he felt like he had a ministry being a Christian in the workplace at the NCAA, this is just God's way of putting him someplace else and reaching different people just where they are. We are so excited to see how God will continue to work. But just know that if any of you are trying to make a change or praying for something, continue to be faithful in that prayer, for God will reveal Himself and His plan in His timing...and it is perfect!
As for me, I am doing well. We are trying to get MOPS going and ready for launch this fall. I am looking forward to the opportunity to work with some great women and minister to other women who need and desire fellowship and the Lord. I continue to enjoy being at home and can't say I miss working (although talking to more adults during the day would be a nice change every once-in-awhile!). I've also been involved with our Senior Crib at church on Sunday nights. These high school seniors are great, funny kids and I'm learning so much from them and about how to strength my own faith. I pray our own kids will one day have this opportunity.