I love playing in the backyard. At night, I do "shots" with Daddy. (Basketball)
I love playing in the pool and with my water table! I've also mastered the slide!
I really like the spaghetti Mommy made the other night. So much, it was all over me and the floor too!
"Aren't I beautiful?!" I love playing dress up with necklaces and other jewelry.

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!