Jo

Yesterday the unthinkable happened.

I had a session scheduled in the Woodlands. Russ and Campbell tagged along so we could walk around/eat dinner afterwards. We did the pictures on the Waterway, then the three of us headed over to the outdoor area connected to the mall to eat. We took a round-about way (mostly because we didn't exactly know where we were going). We probably walked about three miles total.

We got to the Cheesecake Factory, waited for a table, were seated, and were unloading the stroller and putting stuff in the diaper bag. Russ handed me Campbell's little lovey blanket that she always carries with her baby, Jo. I asked where Jo was. We started frantically searching through all of our stuff. Nothing.

Jo was missing. We both freaked. Russ went and checked the stroller. Nothing. He ran up the sidewalk where we had been walking as we waited for our table. Nothing.

Many, many parents will identify with both Campbell's (and our) attachment to Jo. She goes everywhere with us, is a staple at bedtime and mealtime, and provides security in new situations for Campbell. She endured 19 days at Texas Childrens and recently got a major bath when Campbell took her diaper off at naptime and accidentally peed on Jo. Waiting for Jo to dry outside on the patio table was excruciating for Campbell that day.

We paid for our drinks, packed up our stuff, and took off. We retraced our steps, walking those miles again (I might have been running some). We got back to the place where I had taken the pictures and...nothing. I started sobbing. Russ and Campbell went up to the car to make sure she wasn't there and I retraced the steps again.

We ended up at Pottery Barn Kids, looking at cloth dolls, thinking maybe if she picked out a new doll things would be okay for the night. By that time we were all starving, feet aching, Campbell had peed through her diaper and clothes (we may have been a little distracted), and I was borderline emotional mess. We left PBK with $95 dollars worth of new baby (Abby) and coordinating outfits.

Today, Campbell hates Abby, has asked for Jo a hundred times, and I have cried about fifteen times about it. I have always marveled over how much Campbell loved her and how sweet she was with her. Today when she asks for her and I've tried to explain "we don't know where she is. Jo is lost", she has told me "Jo in car" and " Jo in bed". When we put her down for her nap this afternoon she asked for her again. Russ said "how about Abby?". Campbell said "how about Jo?" :)

The positive note about all of this is that I contacted the seller on Etsy who made Jo. She doesn't make the dolls anymore, but she was so touched by the story that she is trying to track down the fabrics to make Campbell another one. I am praying she can and will, and that Campbell will never know the difference.

Otherwise the Kings might be in morning for Jo for a long time.

Meeting Jo for the first time on Easter last year. She loved her instantly.

Feeding Jo in her new highchair on Christmas Morning.

At the end of my photo session yesterday, right before we started walking along the Waterway. Jo's sitting in the stroller.

These days

These days are busy and full...

*These days, I am 39 hours away from being done with my LPC (licensed professional counselor). I took the big exam the day after I found out I was pregnant with Campbell and began the process of completing the required 3000 supervised hours a few months after. Ever since Campbell was born I've worked three days a week, which has dragged out the process a little, but I am finally almost there!

My fabulous company has agreed to create a new position for me, only working 2 days a week. I can also pick my days, which is awesome since the past few years I have worked different days every week. I am unbelievably excited about dropping a day of work and having more time with my sweet girl AND being able to do playgroups and playdates and storytime (since we will finally have a set schedule). In anticipation of finishing, I have been working extra days since the beginning of February. It has been exhausting and I have hated being away from CRK so much, but I am looking forward to my new schedule!

*These days Russ is busy studying to take the state ESL test this weekend and the GRE next weekend. Campbell and I are so proud of how hard he works for us, his desire to be a GREAT teacher, and how hard he is working to advance his education.

*These days the photography spring rush is in full swing. I am BUSY. I do love it, but combined with my current work schedule, it has been crazy.

*These days Campbell Rose is developing into a funny, opinionated, almost two-year old. Bless her heart, I think she has gotten more spankings in the last week than in the past two months combined. We are also contending with sickness, the emergence of two-year molars, and attempting to drop from two naps to one. It's a lot for a girl to handle!

She has recently learned the word "no". Literally one day I asked her a question and she shook her head no for the first time. The next day I asked her a question and she told me "no". She says no as sweetly as I would have expected her to, but don't be fooled - she says it a lot. Sometimes it seems like she says no to everything, but mostly it seems like she fully means what she is saying. Yesterday I asked her if she wanted a grilled cheese sandwich for lunch. She told me "no. oatmeal". Sure enough she ate two bowls of oatmeal for lunch.

*These days we are loving our life as three!