Cool Autumn Breeze

Fall is here and there's a cool breeze in the air which means football season is heating up! Roll Tide!
Campbell had Picture Day at school yesterday, and we were told that it went well. She has really starting talking more. Constantly. She's really good at repeating stuff now, so mommy and daddy have to be careful. Campbell loves giving high fives and dressing up in her bumble bee outfit. She likes to hug her stuffed animals and say "awww". Her best friend, I believe, is the tin frog that stands by the fireplace. She talks to him and puts hats, glasses and even her bee antennae on the frog. Sometimes, when she gets in trouble, she'll run to the frog to tell him all about. She calls him "Rog".

A Bit Tired From A Long Weekend

Campbell in her lego wagon saying "cheese".

Al and I were in the mountains of North GA this past weekend for some great friends' wedding. It was a beautiful ceremony with a beautiful bride. There was golf for me and spa time for Al. However, it was a long weekend with an abundance of social gatherings. The drive home was peaceful as Al slept most of the way.
Campbell seems to have grown a lot in the three days we were gone. Her hair seems longer. To me, her cheeks appear less chubby. She missed her mommy and daddy. Cam's new favorite word is "tada!".
Special thanks to MeMe and Meme for taking care of Campbell while we were gone. And, thanks to Joey for watching over Marley and making sure she wouldn't slip out of the room while he slept by tying her to his toy ship.

I'm 30. Summer's Over.

Being 30 isn't all that bad. I feel wise and slightly less shameful of waking at 4:30. Al threw a "surprise" party; it was fun. It was nothing too over the top, just a few friends, cold drinks and good food. I played golf that morning and the morning after. After that weekend, I definitely felt older.

Al starts school tomorrow. She's sad. Whatever happened to the days when school started after Labor Day and ended before Memorial Day? You can't argue that kids aren't dumber now, so the extra time isn't very useful.

Campbell is trying to stay awake, but she can barely stand up without wobbling around. We spend most evenings playing with her Legos. The Bama outfit was a gift from Aunt Kari (Cam says thank you).

The Heat Is On

Global warming may be real. But, it's more likely that the heat is due to the season known as summer. Al and Campbell have been hanging out around the pool to beat the heat while I have to work.

Independence Day Weekend

"Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."

We spent the majority of the weekend at The Farm. MeMe and Pawpaw were there, and Auntie Karisha was there on the 4th. Hunter had a mechanical problem of some kind. It was peaceful. The weather was amazing for July in Alabama. D.C., Philly and New York may have been scorching, but in the Heart of Dixie the weather was sunny with a constant breeze that kept temperatures well below what is normal for early July.

On Sunday we all had a big lunch with baked potatoes, baked beans, rolls, grilled chicken and steaks. Homemade ice cream finished off a great meal.

June Is Over

Well, in the past couple of weeks we've celebrated an anniversary and gone to the beach.

We went to Gulf Shores. The oil was terrible. Click the thumbnail above to open a high res picture. The double red flags were out. The beach was stained. Tar balls were everywhere. And, occasionally the oil would come ashore in long slicks that you could see stretch for several hundred yards, possible a mile or more. On the bright side, I hear that BHO is accepting foreign help. Hey, it only to 70 days!

While at the beach Al treated me and Campbell to dinner for our anniversary.

Campbell is getting to be a little girl now. She is such a playful and silly little girl. She just had her 18 month checkup. She's now 50th percentile height and weight and 90th in head circumference. She's learning more words and is starting pick up a little sign language. I still think her favorite thing to say is "stop".

Father's Day Eve Eve

We've had some rough times with furry family members as of late. Hopefully, everyone will wind up being fine. Dixie and Bella are both having unrelated issues right now, so let's hope their ordeals will be remedied quickly.

Campbell is getting bigger. Hard to believe; I know. She has gotten to where she can climb on to the couch, the chair, the top shelf by her TV... Last night we turned on Elmo Goes to Grouchland via Netflix through the Wii. The picture above is of her kicked back laughing at Elmo.

Marley is doing well physically. She is still needy. She's been bad a few times recently in a effort to get attention.

Al continues to enjoy her summer vacation. Meanwhile, I slave away. I'm looking forward to this weekend. I got the yard work out of the way yesterday. I hope to be able to hang out around the pool a little bit and play with Cam. Maybe golf will be in order. Of course, I'll have to catch some of the US Open. I could watch the World Cup, but soccer sucks!

Summer Is Here!

A lot has happened since the last post. Al is finished with school for the summer, so she gets to spend all day with Campbell. They both seem to enjoy it. I think you'll find them by a pool on most days.

We just got pictures back from Cam's school from January through the end of the year. It's surreal looking at how much she has grown in the past six months. She's getting so big! It's funny to see her personality come out more and more. She has a good blend of her mommy and daddy with a few quirks from other folks.

Al went for an infusion this morning. Her knee seems to be doing well. She asked me last night what I wanted to do for my birthday. I didn't know what to tell her. What does one do to celebrate their 25th birthday?

Another Fever

It's a weekend, and we're getting ready to go to the doctor. The nurse thinks it may be the flu. We're about to find out.

I had planned on doing yardwork this weekend, but it looks like rain. I don't think I'll mind if I postpone digging up shrubs and trees.

I posted another video of Campbell and Marley. Here's a link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uHKp3_Q15w

More Info...

I've been told that I'm not putting enough info up when I do post, so:

Campbell's asleep. She's gotten so big now that she doesn't want to be held. She finds her little lovie and stumbles around trying to find someone to hug on. Then she just wants to be put down in her bed with her blanket, and she goes right to sleep. She and Marley are playing together a lot more now that Marley has gained confidence in her knee after surgery. When Campbell is sleepy she loves to snuggle with Marley.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ft5Fye3dMGg

Marley did get the all clear from the Doctor at her 12 week post op check up. She got to play at the farm the weekend after her check up. I held her back a little in an effort to prevent her from hurting the other knee. She's well and shows no signs of soreness. She still has a litte ways to go on the fur growing back in to match the rest.

Al's looking forward to the summer...

I look forward to coming home everday...

Easter

Easter was a fun, busy day. Campbell found a lot of Easter eggs. Everyone enjoyed the great weather. After the egg hunt, we played baseball, rode bicycles, swung, and anything else in the sun.

Tubes

The tubes are in! Everything went well. We had a such a great medical industry here in the USA. Cam was feeling fine shortly after leaving Children's Surgical Center.

This past weekend a friend from UA visited with her little boy (8months). Campbell had such a great time playing with him. He may need a dog, because he was constantly cracking up at Marley.

Marley, of course, enjoyed the attention. We've given her a little bit more freedom. We don't keep her contained in a small area; she once again rules the house. I don't take her out anymore; she's back to going to the potty solo. She walks well when we go for walks with no limp.

Photo Shoot

Al and Wendy took the girls to have pictures made for MeMe. They turned out great.

Campbell's Ears and Marley's Knee

Campbell has another ear infection; it's a double. I took her in to see Dr. Stone on Friday, and MeMe (How is Cam going to keep up with Meme and MeMe? I can't.) met me up there to help and so I could go on to the office afterward. She is pitiful. She perked up a little Saturday long enough to go to the thing at the BJCC. But, she was feeling bad at dinner Saturday. Yesterday Al bailed on us to go to some dance thing all day, and Campbell was feeling worse. Cam and I spent the majority of the day sitting in the chair together. She ate well for me at lunch yesterday, but her appetite isn't what it should be. We go to see the ENT next week. Could tubes be in our future? I think it's a question of when, not if.
Marley is getting better. Her doctor said she was looking good, and we were doing a good job so far. We started short walks on Wednesday. It was rough yesterday. The weather was so nice that all the neighbors were out and wanted to pet Marley. The kids down the street were sad when I tried to explain to them that they couldn't pet her. Think 3 and 4 year olds know what an ACL is?