A Christmas Story

The Christmas season has been quite a month-long event this year. I'm not sure if it has to do with having a baby or being more settled in Houston this year, but we have been going non-stop, had a great time, and are officially exhausted.

We started with Christmas with Russell's mom and stepdad and his family a few weeks ago. Russ got his Christmas wish that weekend...Campbell suddenly decided she was ready to start sitting up (literally, one day she was couldn't stay up, the next day she could sit up for hours). She also demonstrated a love for this Texas football that delighted both him and Bob.

Christmas Eve has been my favorite day of the year for as long as I can remember. Since I was little we started the day exchanging gifts with my immediate family, then going to my mom's mother's house for the afternoon, then to my dad's mother's house. It is long, exhausting, and crazy, but I see almost all my relatives on one day and it never fails to be completely entertaining! Now we do basically everything the same, except my parents, Russ, Cam, and I, and my sister, brother-in-law, niece, and nephew meet at my parent's house in our pajamas in the morning to exchange gifts.

Campbell was such a champ. She slept for like an hour all day, stayed up until 11:00 that night, and charmed everyone in sight.

We got up Christmas morning, Campbell opened a few presents (I opened the presents, she licked the wrapping paper) and we headed back out the door. We had brunch with his dad and stepmom, visited with our good friends the Pereira's and met sweet Hudson Lee, had lunch with Russ's mom and stepdad, and hung out at with my family some that evening. Campbell was a doll again and literally looked relieved to get in her crib at the end of Christmas day.

We have been trying to recover for the past two days. Aside from dinner last night with the Rhodes', we have reverted back to newborn status (pj's, dirty house, sleep when the baby sleeps). Luckily today we are starting to feel like humans again and our house no longer looks like Christmas exploded in it. Just in time for Russ's 27th birthday party tonight!

Despite the constant movement, Russ and I have been so mindful over the past few days about what we want Campbell to be aware of about Christmas. While the presents, food, and family time are great, as she grows to understand what is going on we are so aware that we want her to have great understanding - both at Christmastime and throughout her life - of the Truth and Freedom of Christ and the availability of His presence in our lives.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

We Kings are bursting at the seams with holiday cheer. Campbell has already experienced a lot of Christmas festivity (decorating the tree, unveiling daddy's hard work putting up outside lights, lots of Christmas shopping, visiting Santa, and a holiday photo shoot). Of course she is mostly oblivious to it all. I did catch her trying to eat pieces of the Christmas tree off the carpet.



We call her nosy Rosey (Campbell Rose is her name), because she would break her neck to see what someone else is doing. We could barely get a picture with Santa for her looking at the people in line waiting to see him.

Props to her GiGi (Russell's mom) for the most gorgeous Christmas dress!

Little Miss Pumpkin

I'm finally getting around to posting Halloween pictures of Campbell, only a week late! It is definitely much easier (and more addicting) to stalk other people's blogs than post on your own.

Campbell went as a pumpkin. We actually bought her costume when I was pregnant, I think before we even knew she was a "her". We had dinner at my parent's house that night and went trick or treating with cousins Lauren, Greg, and Jessika, then swung by the Paschall's house to visit with some of our church friends.

In Lauren's geisha wig. She was so delighted...maybe next year she should be a geisha.

Campbell the Pumpkin, Geisha Lauren, and the scary guy from Scream

Campbell was pretty tolerant of her costume (much more than I would have been - it seemed hot in there), however her favorite part of the night was getting out of the costume and playing with Yamy.

All the toys in the world and she found being under the coffee table completely fascinating.

Stripey pants

Campbell looked so cute in her striped pants the other day that I felt a photo shoot was necessary. We started indoors, then headed outside.

She is now constantly reaching for things. The camera was no exception.

I laid her on her belly in the grass, then realized this was the first time she had felt grass. Her emotions ranged from being puzzled to interested to completely annoyed.

So she's not ready for grass yet.

The best 30 seconds of my day

Is at Campbell's bedtime.

I sit in the chair in her room and feed her before she goes to bed. Russ sits on the floor and talks to me while she eats. She is swaddled up and normally starts to drift off when she's done eating. When she's done, he picks her up off my lap and pauses to let me kiss her sweet cheeks. As he walks over to the crib with her, he kisses her and looks at her. Sometimes he stops before he puts her down to whisper to her. He lays her down and smooths her fuzzy hair and kisses her again.

I know many people think their husband is the best father in the world. I know many great fathers myself. There is something, however, about the messiness of marriage that for me has highlighted what a wonderful father Russ is to Campbell. In the four and a half years we have been married, I have come to know his every weakness, his every fault. We have battled through issues too numerous to count and often relied on God alone to make it through this crazy business we call marriage. And despite the fact it has not always been an easy road for us, he has exceeded every expectation I ever had for what kind of father he would be.

So every night, regardless of what that day has held, I watch him put her into bed and think to myself what a lucky little girl to have him for a daddy. I know she will never remember these moments, but I forever will.

Aunt Amy's Girl

Guitar lessons, Cousin Preston, & 4 months

It is never too early to learn to play the guitar

Campbell's newest cousin, Preston, was born last week. What a handsome little man. If she is anything like her mother, I am confident Campbell will be bossing Pres around for years to come.

He's been in the NICU since birth, with an infection that effected his breathing. He has made tons of progress and is scheduled to be released this week...we are praying fervently for their power to come back on!


Campbell turned 4 months the day after Ike hit. When she was first born, I almost immediately felt sad that she was not always going to be this sweet, tiny girl I loved so much. My mom told me, "every week you are going to think - this is the cutest she will ever be". She was so right. Campbell at 4 months is so fun, smiley, and excited to interact, that I can't help but think that THIS is the cutest she will ever be!