Wordless Wednesday...a day late

tis the season...

It's hard to believe that Christmas is just 11 days away. Jason and I are enjoying watching Campbell experience Christmas this year. He is really beginning to understand what Christmas is all about. He does get confused about the difference between Christmas day and the Christmas season :). Last night, we enjoyed Campbell's singing of "Happy Birthday Baby Jesus." And while he sang, he pointed his finger up to the sky. We think this is one of the songs that they will be singing in his school Christmas concert on Thursday.

Last week was Parker's 5 month birthday. We cannot believe how fast the time as flown by and know it will go faster and faster. His personality is really starting to show. The poor little guy has had a rough few months, but we are slowly beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The fussiness is lessening and when he is happy, he is hysterical. A total flirt! He loves to make all kinds of funny noises and his latest trick is spitting his food out of his mouth after each bite. He absolutely cracks himself up with this, while I on the other hand, am not totally amused. Especially when I had green beans in my hair and on my neck the other day. Don't get me wrong, it's cute and all, but every meal? Really? Parker also loves, loves, loves (the feeling is mutual) his big brother. Campbell will walk into the room and Parker turns his head and is completely fixated on whatever Campbell is doing and/or saying. Campbell adores Parker in a way that completely and utterly melts my heart. He is so gentle, caring, and nurturing. On Saturday, I was making Campbell's lunch and Parker was ready for his bottle, but I could only do one thing at a time. So I asked Campbell if he would give Parker his bottle. Campbell jumped right on it and did it until I was finished making his lunch. At one point, Campbell said "now Parker, don't turn your head if you want to eat." He clearly hears everything I tell Parker.

I was able to take an almost identical photo of Parker at 5 months as the one I took of Campbell. It's so fun to see the similarities and differences in the boys!

Parker - 5 months...

Campbell - 5 months...
We had such a fun weekend with two birthday parties and a Christmas party with Santa and his elf! Saturday was our friend Amory's 3rd birthday. Her parents had the party at a horse farm in Maryland. All of the families got a tour of the stable, took a hayride (Parker and I skipped this part), searched for candy in a haystack, and best of all...got to ride a horse. Campbell had the BEST time!

After stopping by the 2nd birthday party on Sunday, we went to a Christmas party with Santa and his elf, Grampus. This is the 3rd year we've gone and it's so much fun to watch the kids see Santa and Grampus arrive. Campbell was so excited and couldn't wait to tell Santa that he wants a bean bag chair and a jack in the box for Christmas. Campbell has no fear when it comes to Santa. Parker, on the other hand, was a bit upset. You be the judge (see the pictures below)!

What a great weekend and now the countdown begins for December 25th! We will host our 2nd Christmas Eve open house for friends that are in town and then head to Charlottesville on Christmas afternoon. If I don't post before the 25th...I hope everyone has a Very Merry Christmas. We are blessed to have so many friends and family and look forward to 2010!

Wordless Wednesday

Happy December!

Today is the 1st day of December and the Spences are ready for Santa! Well, almost. Our tree is up and Campbell constantly wants the lights on. He is so excited for Santa to come in just 24 days!


Since my last post, Parker has begun eating baby food. He started with rice cereal, then prunes, squash, green beans, and today apples. He is becoming a really good eater and really likes green beans! Maybe he'll be a vegetable eater unlike his big brother. He now also has 2 teeth! It's hard to believe how my little guy is growing up so fast. Soon enough, he'll be chasing after Campbell and driving him crazy!

Also since my last post, C has developed a love for the New Orleans Saints and hammed it up for the video camera a few weeks ago. Glad we beat the Patriots last night and are now 11-0!!! Go Saints!

We also took a "hike" on Roosevelt Island with the boys and Campbell loved exploring the woods! It was so much fun to enjoy one of the final weekends of fall with my 3 favorite boys! You'll see Parker's chompers in one of the pictures below :).

Last week, we went to Charlottesville to be with Jason's family for Thanksgiving. Campbell was in pure heaven playing with our nieces. We got there on Wednesday afternoon and didn't see him for about 3 hours. He was so busy playing with each niece that he forgot we were there. It was a great Thanksgiving and we have so much to be thankful for. Especially our newest member of the family, even during his fussy times (which seem to be more often than not). One day he'll work out the kinks and be the happiest baby around. Let's hope so!

Spence Family Updates

We've had a busy Fall with a baptism, a trip to New Orleans, and Campbell's 3rd birthday! All in the month of October.

We baptized Parker on October 11th (in my great-grandfather's gown that he wore in 1882) and were so blessed to have many family members in town to celebrate. The Rapier family flew up from New Orleans and Jason's brother and sister and their families drove up from Charlottesville and Lynchburg. My brother, Jim, and Jason's sister, Amy, are the godparents. We kicked off the weekend with a casual dinner at our house on Saturday night. The kids played, the parents relaxed, and Parker...well he just slept thru it all.

Sunday morning was the baptism. With a couple of meltdowns during the service, Parker was baptized and he cried during the majority of it. Then the minute he was baptized, he stopped crying. My mom likes to think that they got the bad out of him:)!

We had a brunch at our house after with our families and close friends. It was a beautiful day and once again, Parker slept during the whole brunch. That's okay, at least he was content.

On Tuesday, October 13th, my mom flew to New Orleans with me and the boys for my 15th high school reunion. Thank God she was with me...I don't know how I thought I was going to be able to fly with a 3 year old and a 3 month old by myself. Phew! We made it in one piece with no major meltdowns.

We enjoyed a week in New Orleans and Jason came down on Friday for the reunion festivities. Shortly after Jason arrived, we ventured to my brother and sister-in-law's house for a sip n see for Parker. It was such a fun party with all of my New Orleans friends and relatives. Campbell played with Ana while everyone passed Parker around.

On Sunday, we boarded our plane to head back up to VA to get ready for Campbell's 3rd birthday party. Since last Halloween, Campbell has been talking about being a firefighter. So, we bought him the best costume we could find and decided to invite everyone to wear their costumes and celebrate C's birthday!

Not one family rsvp'd "no" to the party, so we had about 30 children and their parents here for snacks and cake. The weather was not great at all...but the kids played outside and enjoyed seeing everyone's costumes. Right after we cut the cake, it started to rain again, so we headed inside, ate cake, and everyone went on their way to trick-or-treating in their neighborhoods. Campbell had the best time and loved trick-or-treating after his party with his two friends Keating and Sophia.

So now we're up to November. The day after Campbell's birthday, I noticed that Parker felt a little warm. Something made me look at his gums and well, he was getting his first tooth! He wasn't even 4 months yet! Campbell didn't get his first tooth until 8 months. Poor little guy just can't catch a break. In the past 3 weeks, he has been on breathing treatments along with his normal daily regimen of caro syrup and prune juice, and now to top it off, is getting a tooth. Once it came up, he was fine. Now, 2 weeks later, he's getting his 2nd tooth. At least he's done with the breathing treatments.

Yesterday, was another big day for Parker. He had his first taste of rice cereal. I still have to upload the pictures. He didn't dislike it, but he certainly didn't LOVE it. He did better with it today and hopefully will continue to like it more. It's so hard to believe that Parker is now getting teeth and eating baby food. What's next? I guess rolling over. We'll see when that happens. The little (really I should say big) guy is huge! 19 pounds and 29 inches long. 95% for both height and weight. So, don't know when he'll roll over...that's a lot of weight to handle.

Well folks...I'm off to bed. We have a birthday party tomorrow at a bowling alley and Campbell is super excited. Have a great weekend and GO SAINTS!!!

Parker is 4 months

So, I know I am behind on updating you all on Parker's baptism and Campbell's 3rd Birthday. That will come this weekend.

I was just looking at some pictures of Parker on his 4 month birthday and decided to find a picture of Campbell on his 4 month bday. Below is a photo of each...it's amazing how much they look alike and at the same time each have their own unique look. You will notice that Parker's hair is much better at 4 months...thanks to his first haircut by Daddy :)! Happy Friday everyone.

Campbell...4 months

Parker...4 months

Wordless Wednesday