Cavan loves me!

Cavan just turned two a couple of weeks ago. I can't believe how quickly the time has flown. I have been so busy with quintessential summer activities (birthday parties, weddings, hosting out-of-town family, etc.) that I haven't even gotten a chance to add the details and photos of his big day to the family blog.

I don't scrapbook, but I love to take photos. So far, I have captured every milestone of Camden's on camera, and for his first year, I completed a traditional baby book of photos. When Cavan came along, I joined a popular website for social networking for the sole purpose of posting his cute face all over the Internet and sharing my joy with family, friends, and foe alike. Because I have been electronically journaling Cavan's infanthood, I never bothered to start a traditional baby album. The problem is, my entries are unmethodical (to say the least) because I never know when I am going to find time to upload photos complete with colorful descriptions and captions. Now Cavan is two years old and no longer an infant. I can tell you he took his first steps over Easter weekend of 2009 at my parent's house, but I don't think have a photo to go with it. I know Ryan and I were living in Fayetteville, NC at the time, and we were only there for 9 months...

When I think about it, Cavan has seen quite a bit in his young life. He was born in Charlotte, and we moved to Fayetteville when he was 6 months old-right after Christmas. In fact, our young family spent the new year of 2009 in a hotel room-just Ryan, Camden (then 2 years), Cavan (6 months), and myself. We didn't have a big party, but we were about to have a new big adventure. Fayetteville was a short stop, and 9 months later, upon the completion of Ryan's project, we left for Wilmington, NC. Cavan was 14 months old when we moved to Wilmington. More pictures remained stored in boxes and 6 months later we left Wilmington for Savannah, GA. I know I can recall the moments that matter, but I am not certain I have it all written down. I know there must be photos in a box somewhere, or on a disc waiting to be printed...

Cavan, when you are old enough to read this blog, please forgive me. I promise I will have it all together one day! There is not a baby book or blog on this earth big enough to contain all the love if have for you, and I know you love me, too! Two nights ago, as I was patting you to sleep, you told me in your sweet toddler voice that you loved me-and I didn't even say it first! I know I will never forget the day you said it, but I am writing it down now, so I will never forget the date. I love you. Every inch. Every laugh, every tear, every finger, every toe, every wild hair on your head.

Introducing the Baby "Modelquins"

My children are beautiful-seriously. I know every mother thinks her baby is the future face of Gerber or the next Grand Prize Winner in Regis Philbin's search for the most beautiful baby in America, but let me assure you I am not just another prejudiced mother. All sarcasm and indulgence aside, my toddler boys, Camden and Cavan, have been photogenic since before birth, and with their killer good looks, they continue to stop perfect strangers dead in their tracks. Alright, I might be getting a little carried away here. The truth is, I can't pin my children down long enough to take a decent photo, and when they see the camera, they run screaming.

My family has been urging me for a while to get the boys involved in modeling, but I think I am lacking the right connections. They have graced the pages of The Charlotte Observer, 910 Moms, Wilmington Parent, and The Skinnie ( a Skidaway Island magazine), but we have yet to make it to the big time. Well family, you will be proud to know that just last week, the boys made their accidental modeling debut at the Old Navy store in Savannah, GA.

The last week of June and beginning of July, for all of you bargain hunters, is the perfect time to shop for summer clearance items and take advantage of Independence Day sales. Being the patriot that I am, I decided to take the boys on a little shopping field trip to the Oglethorpe Mall in Savannah, GA and load up on swim gear for our July 4th celebration at the beach. They are past the age where I can strap them into the double stroller without protest, but I thought that with a little pre-op planning and the promise of post-op rewards, that my little soldiers just might pull through for the greater good.

We spent the morning upsetting the studious customers at Barnes and Noble while I browsed in vain for a beach read (which I know I will never read), and after a chaotic attempt at "lunch" in the food court, I buckled the boys down, pushed them across enemy lines and right into the line of fire at the crowded Old Navy. I didn't have a quarter for the prize machine (located in the rear of the store), but I thought I had enough little cars and toys to keep them busy for 15 minutes or so. Clearly, I did not, or I my idea of 15 minutes in Old Navy might be a little distorted. Regardless, I knew I didn't have long before the boys went AWOL-and they did. I gave my boys some shoes to try on, and while they were strapped down and fumbling with the shoes, I circled a rack for just a minute. I could still see the stroller from around the circular rack, but I must have missed the moment when my boys slipped from the seat belts like slick escape artists. I turned back around and panicked when I saw them missing from the stroller. My panic turned to relief when I saw them sitting on top of the nearby display table sorting and swapping the $5 graphic t-shirts. They were safe! They were looking pleased with themselves and so adorable- they could have been models!
The lesson has been learned on my part. Apparently, they are too smart for the stroller, and I can become a little distracted with a sale. I need to keep my activities toddler-friendly, and I'll hold out for a sitter the next time I want to bargain-hunt at the mall.