Houston!

I can't believe I have not updated since we moved!  It has been a very busy and very blessed several weeks.  It goes without saying that we miss our dear friends in Abilene:(.  With that being said we are very excited to build relationships here and plant roots!  We have been very welcomed since we have been here.  It has been wonderful seeing the friends I grew up going to church with on a more regular basis and watching Ava play with their kiddos!! We are getting to see different family members much more often- which ROCKS!  Ava has had a blast and has so many new friends to play with all the time!!!  Jason is really enjoying his job and excited for where the new programs will take him and what his job will look like! 

We think we are almost ready to announce what baby girl #2 will be named- woohoo! 

We are house hunting and ask for lots of prayers over our search and decisions! 

I still need to post Halloween pics soon! 

I guess that is all for now.  However, developing relationships, house hunting, planning for a new baby, holidays coming up, etcc..  are all a pretty big deal;)- haha! 

Have a blessed week!



Pictures

These pics are random from the last two months.  Just wanted to post a few!

Ava found my knee pads one morning early and wanted to wear them:)

Before church one Sunday

Static much?  This pic is hilarious!  It was a cool, overcast day and every time she slid down the slide her hair looked like this.

Before the zoo on Labor Day

Night time reading for kids while listening to Papa play

Snack time in YaYa's lap

GJ came to visit

Harper and Ava are best friends

Have a great weekend!

Long Overdue......

Sophie Tate Blackburn, my niece was born on August 22!

She is an absolute angel, as you will quickly see for yourself;)!

I am in love, I miss her, she gets more beautiful everyday.

I am going to post pics to tell the story. 

Quick note first, I got to be there!! I made it from Abilene to see Jamie for like 15 minutes before we all were kicked out and Sophie arrived shortly after!  Great day and such a blessing! 

Sweet Pic of Mommy and Daddy with Sophie right after delivery!

Papa and YaYa with 3rd gran and look how beautiful Jamie looks!

Beautiful Sophie girl!  One of Jamie's good friends got to transition Sophie and made her this bow hat- too cute!

Josiah coming to meet his sister and saying hello to his Mommy:)

Beautiful family- look at Jo's grin!  He was very curious about Sophie.  He wanted to see both hands and make sure she had feet!  He was precious and loved being there with everyone! 

Her first nail trim.  Love this pic- so peaceful! 

Such a good big brother with the prompting of Freckles (Jay's mom), Josiah made Sophie a coming home picture!

Getting in my last cuddles before I had to head back to Abilene!!!

First sweet mommy and daughter moment at home:)

This pic is from my visit when Sophie was two weeks!  Melts my heart!  Angelic!

We love you Sophie Tate!  We miss you! 

For more recent pictures look at Jamie's facebook!!

At two or so weeks I stayed and helped out there while my parents kept Ava.  We then brought Josiah back with us to my parents for the weekend!  It was a great visit!  I will post more on that another time hopefully! 

I also have lots of new pics of Ava and updating on our family to do!  Don't hold your breath- haha, but I will try soon! 

The past month or so....(random)

It has been awhile since my last post.  I realized I still haven't posted any pics of Father's Day, Fourth of July, a cousins wedding on Jason's side, and more!

Life has been good around here for our family.  I have been dealing with some morning sickness but on the tail end of that now, thank goodness!  I had forgotten how much I used to be able to get done in one day until the last few when I have felt better.  Ava is thankful too!  I had been struggling to interact with her the same way.  The average of 106 degree temp here for the last two months has been rough as well.  It is bad when your 18 month old wants to go back inside after a bit because it is so stinking HOT!!   

Anyhow, we have been having FUN inside:)!  Ava is become quite vocal!  She is starting to string together phrases and some short sentences, mainly beginning with, "I want" or "I need"- lol!  It amazes me the things she will say sometimes.  I know all moms feel that way.  It is just so neat watching them grow into expressing themselves and verbalizing the knowledge they have had but not been able to put into words!  I love it!  

The other night at a wedding, Jason started walking off with our camera and Ava ran after him saying, "I want a picture!!"  So cute.  She played with a disposable camera at the reception and was quite the photographer!  The day after the wedding we took her to a local splash park in Gatesville, her first one, and she squealed the entire time!  It was great to have the chance to do that with GJ!

Anyhow, she is such a  joy!!  Every age is more FUN and DELIGHTFUL, not to pretend each isn't met with its own set of challenges!  

As for me, I HAVE BEEN ON PINS AND NEEDLES waiting for my little niece, Sophie Tate, to join us!!  I can not wait to meet her. I have also been slowly getting back into a workout routine since not feeling well.   

Jason has started getting up to workout in the mornings at 5:30 again and has really been enjoying it, although I know sometimes bed sure seems more cozy!  His softball league is about to start back up!  We are all excited because this year Ava and I should be able to make it to some of his games! 

We FINALLY BOUGHT A NEW CAMERA!!!!  It will be here shortly!  I can not tell you how excited I am about it!  I am not a great photographer but I have the ability to catch precious moments when I am using a good camera. I feel like I have missed so many with Ava because ours takes like 5 full seconds to take!  Anyhow our Nikon d3000 is on its way!  YIPPEEEEE!!! 

Father's Day was a low key and sweet day for the three of us!  Ava walked her gift over to Jason and sat with him while he looked at it!  We played, ate, and enjoyed a family day!  We loved honoring Jason and all the hard work he puts in at work and home to take care of and serve us!  We are two very lucky ladies!!! 

Our vacation to Gruene with our friends was wonderful and relaxing.  We floated the river two days, ate lots of good food, played games, and enjoy adult conversation with no kiddos!  We laughed alot!  Medicine to the soul:)!

Fourth of July was the day we found out that baby #2 is on the way.  We were with the whole family and had a great day PLAYING IN THE POOL!  We stayed out there all day and had a blast!  The kiddos love Yaya and Papa's pool and so do we!  We had my Dad's steaks- there is none better anywhere!!!  Great day of fellowship and fun!! 

Finally, baby #2 is healthy and growing.  Heartbeat was 189 at my appointment:).  We could see baby c's head bobbing up and down.  It was exciting!  Due date still set for March 3rd! 

Last but not least, pics from recently....



Ava's first snow cone!  I had to post this pic, we came across it yesterday.  Not sure exactly what happened here- we just found it hilarious!

Father's Day!

The girls (Talan- preggers, Kellen, and Me-preggers- but didn't know)!

The boys and very typical. Jason and Paul being funny and Dillon laughing at them!

Ava's playhouse that was a complete surprise from YaYa and Papa:)

The best pic I have to capture the 4th!  Jason is the one behind the camera, the rest of us are in there somewhere- ha!

Family pic at Trey and Derah's wedding

Saying their vows- congrats you two!

Our little photographer- "Say cheese"

Fun at the splash park!

What comes after the number 3?

4

We are going to be a family of 4:)

Ava is......

GOING TO BE A BIG SISTER!!!!

We are thrilled!! :)  We found out on July 4th while spending the day with the whole family.  It was FUN!  We are still really early, like 5.5-6 weeks along.  My first appointment is still three weeks away. 

We covet your prayers for a healthy pregnancy for both little baby C and myself. 

I intend to do my best to enjoy all the moments I have left of just Ava and I!  

We are so curious to know if it will be a boy or another little girl! 

Ava will be such a good big sister.  She loves her babies and real babies.  She loves to try and feed them, give them paci's, rock them, and say "shhhh" when they are sleeping. 

Gotta run!

Have a great weekend everyone!!!

Campbell Househould Lately...

I don't feel like I have anything real exciting to catch everyone up on but our everyday life:)! 

Jason has begun to gain a little more flexibility at work which has been an incredibly nice change for us!  One half day a week on top of Sundays and his boss advocating for him to get more days off for vacation type purposes!  YAY!! 

Ava and I have both been doing a lot of traveling.  We have been to Houston, Temple, Colorado (just me) and so on.  Kellen and I drove to CO for a wedding of one of our former players!  It was a very sweet wedding that fit her and her husband perfectly.  They honored Kellen and I at the beginning of the ceremony along with their family members.  It was quite touching!  Then as only Shawna would, for her bouquet she threw a hot pink volleyball- lol!  Priceless. 

Ava and I are about to head back to Houston for a crazy, busy time.  We are coming for a shower for my sister.  Right after the shower I am leaving town to meet Jason and two other couples for a vacation in Gruene TX.  Leaving the munchkin behind- wohoo!  Thanks mom and dad!  We are going to float the river, golf, hangout, etc...  Just enjoy one another's company without all the kiddos running around! 

Jason then gets to turn around and come back to Houston the Sunday before the 4th and join us for the 4th in Houston!  We are so excited.  The nine (including baby Sophie, of course) very rarely all have time together, we are usually missing Jason!  We will have a great family day! 

Ava is FOR SURE NO LONGER A BABY!  It is crazy.  I was holding her yesterday and saw our reflection in the mirror!  She is SOO BIG!  She is repeating almost everything we say, talking, singing, dancing, climbing, etc... I really can't believe it!  She also finally learned to crawl at 1.5 years old-ha!  She is for sure her own person! 

Her personality is precious, fun-loving,  and very independent:). 

She lately ..

(this will be a long list mainly for my records)

• started counting (1,2, and we occasionally get the three;))
• making animal sounds for sheep, cow, rooster, monkey, lion, snake, camel (sometimes), elephant, puppy, horse, bird, and duck
• has added dusting to her already superb sweeping and mopping skills
• climbing on everything
• blowing her nose and wiping her mouth
• is asking for specific books
• has become obsessed with Winnie the Pooh movie, books, and stuffed animal
• helps pick up her toys
• puts objects in random places
• loves to take things out and put them back in over and over
• runs fast
• "jumps" without her feet leaving the floor unless she is in her crib then she jumps up and down
• fallen in love with the Zoo and doesn't understand why she can't get in the cages with the animals
• has Tea parties with her tea set
• she has begun to identify the color purple
• sings "It's a hap, its a hap, its a happy day" by singing "happy, happy, happy, dddddaaaaayyyyyy"
• does some motions to "My God is so big"
• does some motions to "Head and shoulders"
• acts out happy, sad, silly, giggling, mad, crying
• points out her belly button, ears, eyes, hair, head, nose, mouth, and toes
• helps me load water into the fridge, two at a time- what?  too cute!
• loves her baby pool
• tells me what the letters A, B, C, and sometimes D say
• laughs alot
• loves to pray and say Amen
• loves to read her Bible, especially the story page- Jesus Loves the Little Children
• loves to be tickled
• loves music
• loves to dance
• LOVES HER DADDY!!!!
• saying (new words from last post I think)... oatmeal, giraffe, pool, pooh, teeth, chur-oh (cheerio), juice, milk, water, bach (block), bed, park, pear, manna (bannana), wamama (watermelon), I know, I want _____, air-pay (airplane) or plane, read it, rock, circle, and then repeats almost everything!
• hates brushing her teeth
• thinks it's funny to stick her finger in her nose, "wake up" Jason and I from pretend sleep, tickle us, or touch our belly buttons
• is really testing boundaries just for the heck of it
• cuddling much more-  Yay!! 
• missing her Yaya, Papa, GJ, Uncle J, Jamie, and Josiah.

Every morning she goes over to a pic of the Blackburns and takes it down, points to all three of them, and gives Josiah kisses.  Then throughout the day she always "is on the phone" with Yaya or Papa.  So sweet! 

Jason and I are still praying and waiting to see what God has in store next!  We are learning and growing as we wait!  Prayers for our next step would be AWEOSME!  Thanks. 

I will leave you with a few pics:)

She loves to wear my headbands

Kel and I at Shawna's wedding

The volleyball bouquet

Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!