Field Trip!

Last week we took Cami and Mady out to an orchard with Grandma Beyer and Uncle Steve and Aunt Krista. There were plenty of attractions there for them. We went on a hay ride, Mady jumped in a bounce house, Uncle Steve and I got lost in a corn maze, and we picked up some pumpkins. Near the end of our visit, it was clear that Mady was getting a little bit of a cold, and since she had missed her nap, the trip ended with some fussiness.

On Wednesday, Carrie's folks drove out here to stay with us for a week. This was Grandpa Mittelstedter's first time meeting his new granddaughter, which was very exciting. They brought out a lot of our stuff that we had been storing at their house, including our bed. After eight and a half years of marriage, we are finally sleeping in our own bed! They picked this week to visit because Cami's baptism will be this Sunday.

The Greanya family drove down from Michigan to visit with us today since they aren't able to be here on Sunday for the baptism. We were excited to get to see them again.

Cami continues to do very well. She eats well and poops very little. The doctor suggested that she has a very efficient digetive system. She is generally a very even-tempered baby. Best of all, she continues to sleep well at night. We can usually count on at least 5 hours of good sleep each night.

Mady is still doing well as a big sister. She has recently started getting jealous when we take pictures of Cami, so we are careful to also take pictures of her. Even so, it is sometimes challenging to keeping her from inserting herself between Cami and the camera every time we take it out.

Tomorrow is the baptism, then Monday is Halloween and Grandma's birthday, so we will have more to share soon!

1 month old!

Wow. It already feels like time is zipping right by. Today is Cameron's one month birthday. She is doing really well. The ooziness in her eye and belly button has completely cleared up. She is gaining weight really nicely. She had a checkup today and is up to nine pounds, which is very average for her age (literally the 50th percentile). She graduated to the size 1 diapers last week. She sleeps really well, generally only waking to eat twice each night (not every night, but most nights). She also doesn't have the long bouts of inconsolable crying that Mady had when she was a newborn, and we are very grateful for that.

Grandma Beyer has been with us for the last two weeks, and she has been a big help. She has really given Mady a lot of attention, which has allowed Carrie to focus on Cami. Grandpa Beyer came into town last weekend, and we got to celebrate their birthdays. They had an impromptu cake and ice cream party at my Grandpa's house, and since we live in town, we were able to load the girls into the van and take them over for the party. This was Cami's first opportunity to meet her Great Grandfather.

The other excitment this week is that we finally found a new church home. It is a very large church with lots of young families and small children. The downside is that it is a 25 mile drive to get there, but it was important to us to find a church where we would have opportunities to connect with people at a similar place in life as us. Every church we visited in Cleveland had few, if any, young families, and almost no children's programs. The church is called Royal Redeemer, and it is located in North Royalton, OH. We are planning on having Cami baptized there on 10/30. If you are in the area and want to join us, we'd love to see you there.

Two Weeks Old!

Today is Cameron's two-week birthday and what an exciting two weeks it's been! Grandma Mittelstedter had been staying with us for a few weeks to help us out. She returned home to Kansas on Wednesday. I was able to take the rest of the week off of work to help out at home. Grandma B is coming in to town tonight and will be staying with us for a few weeks as well. It won't be until the middle of October that we finally have to figure out how we're going to get by with two little girls while I'm working full time. We've already discovered how difficult it is to get everyone out the door now. Between last minute feedings, potty trips, and diaper changes, it could take up to an hour to get going. Hopefully we'll figure this out with practice.


Cami had her two week check-up yesterday. She is up to 8 lbs now, so she is eating and gaining weight really nicely. She is fighting a little cold, but it isn't too bad. It is just causing her some congestion. Her left eye is a little goopey, but it seems to be clearing up. Her belly-button is also oozing a bit. Her doctor put a little silver nitrate on it, so hopefully that will dry things out. She sleeps a lot during the day while someone is holding her, but isn't a great sleeper during the night. Quality sleep is elluding us for now, but that is all part of life with a newborn.

Last week we celebrated Cami's one week birthday. Grandma and Grandpa Beyer drove out from Wisconsin to meet their new granddaughter. It was a beautfiul day, so we spent the morning at a Lake Erie beach with Grandma M, and Grandma and Grandpa B. We had a very full house for the afternoon when the LaVignes (6 of them) came to visit. In the evening, we celebrated with a cheesecake. It was a very full weekend!

Mady is doing really well as a big sister. She likes to give Cami lots of hugs and kisses. She also likes to be involved in diaper changes. When Cami is crying, Mady will try to comfort her by saying "big sister is here." If we try calling Mady "babe," or "baby" she will set us straight: "I'm not a baby, I'm a big sister." Thanks to our friends Jen and Tim, she even has the shirt to prove it.