The Life

I have been wanting to post updates and pictures everyday for the last couple of weeks. Finding time to do that, well, it is not easy nor a priority with everything else going on. I like my job and I like what we do here at Camp Rockmont. Growing young boys into young men. Teaching young men and adults to work hard and live in community. Doing the little things that no one sees or notices so that the ultimate goal is accomplished. Loving people where they are and encouraging growth, discipline, and training. Giving back to the community we live in.

I realized over a month ago this would be my first summer in 7 years where I did not go out on backpacking trips and/or help lead others on outdoor expeditions. It was kind of a sad moment. It is something I love to pour into and find great joy in doing. This summer is different for a number of reasons. Different is not always bad. Bryce and I both are here at camp more than our previous 3 summers. That time gives us so many great opportunities to feed into our co-workers lives and be present here at camp.

Cap is just an amazing guy. He goes from here to there, from one set of hands to another, and smiles through it all. He brings a lot of joy wherever he is and we are proud to be his parents. Camp life for Cap means he is passed around from friend to friend throughout the day. I mean, who doesn't love to hold babies! Working at an all boys camp I wasn't expecting for these guys to love on him like they have. Seriously, these guys LOVE CAP. Always asking to hold him, talking and playing with him, and talking about the new things he is up to and how he is growing. They are so cute with him. Sometimes Bryce and I have to decide before a meal starts that he is going to eat with us this time because we just miss him. I just hope that after summer is over he is okay that it is just the 3 of us and not 400!:)

Singing in the Rain

So thankful to have a husband who turns a rainstorm into an opportunity for a huge shower!

3 month post

Summer is here! We are 2 weeks in and having a great time so far. We are blessed to work for a place where we believe and agree with what they "do". They help grow young boys into young men. It is great! Cap is loving all his friends, but still needs his quite alone time. You can always tell when he starts getting overstimulated, but he has been a champ. More on the summer later.

Here is what Cap is up to at 3 months:

- talks a lot

- studies all sorts of objects

- will win any staring contest

- pees in his pot a lot, not a lot of poo catching yet

- best laugh ever

- smiles all the time except when overstimulated then he becomes very serious

- is trying to figure out how to use his hands

- doesn't know what to think when he is in water

- went on his first over night backpacking trip

- sleeps through the night every other night or so

- eats every 4-5 hours

- no more middle night feeding, just a diaper change

- 9 month clothes fit best

- is lonely in his car seat when no one is riding with us (we don't care for this one)

- needs a blanket or something on the side of his face when he sleeps

- scratches his head with his right hand a lot lately (looks like a monkey when he does it!)

- keep thinking you are going to roll over any day (this has gone on for weeks though:)

- a great son!

The Nose

Capitan loves to suck on things. Anything he can shove into his face is going to get a wet one! We got him on video attacking Bryce's nose. Listen to his grunting. He is so boy!

On a side note, Cap has slept through the night (on our hours) for the past 2 nights. He slept from 10-6 on the first night and 10:30-8 last night. He takes a nap in the evening in between dinner and last feeding. We are so proud and rested!!!

First Hike

Bryce and I love the outdoors. We love the solitude, the stillness, exploration, adventure, and the intimate conversations with our Father. When faced with decisions about life, we take it to the wilderness. When we need to celebrate, we take it up the mountain. When we are in need of a word, we walk out into the woods. We strip down that which so easily entangles us. Run free, jumping and leaping over fallin trees and creeks. Our ears begin to hear and our hearts start to dance. We celebrate full life in sweet Jesus. Life that is much bigger than what our eyes see. Much tastier than the food we find ourself eating some days. It is a simple love. Pure and clean.

We were able to take Cap on his first hike almost 2 weeks ago. Our plan was to go to the top of Pinnacle Mountain starting off the Blue Ridge Parkway. We were on the Toll Road, but could not find the trail that cuts off towards Pinnacle. We didn't bring a map, we weren't too worried about a set plan. We just enjoyed being out, off of camp, and far enough to where we couldn't hear a single car. Cap was having one us his extra sleepy days. He was only awake for lunch. He was a trooper though. Oh the many hikes he will go on in his life. How exciting to take him on his first one. Here are just a few pictures of our day. We didn't take much.

2 month

Cap was 2 months old this past Friday. Here are some updates and pictures.

13.6 lbs., 85 percentile

24.5 inches long, 95 percentile

16.5 inch head, 75 percentile

• you are starting to make a lot of different noises
• you are moving your entire body like crazy,

swinging your arms up and down

kicking your legs

just getting all kinds of excited

• when you are hanging out by yourself your head will follow us around the room as we move about
• you only get up once in the middle of the night to eat, typically sleep 7-8 straight hours straight starting between 6:30 - 7:30pm, not always around that time though
• you still laugh in your sleep, but you laughed the best at 8 weeks when your dad was using you as his weights bringing you up and down in the air
• you are a snuggler and i love when you nestle around my neck
• when you are in the ergo and wanting to sleep you stick your head right in the middle of my chest with your face straight in me
• you drool a ton! and you blow bubbles all the time
• usually eat on one side every 4 hours sometimes 3 or even 5 hours
• you need your morning nap
• you are loving your mobile now, i catch you laughing at it
• you still smile when we whistle
• you dig your fist
• we call your pacifier your bullet, on occasion you really like sucking it
• loud noises still startle you

We are having a great time. The longer stretches of sleep have made us feel a little more human. I don’t think we are even close to catching up on life and sleep, but everyday is getting closer. I still very much feel the effects of a long labor, a big boy and doing too much the first month.

Cap has gotten pretty overstimulated several times, but we always leave time for some quietness. When he is thinking and staring at something, we try very hard not to interrupt those moments. It can be pretty hard not to come up to him and make noises and get him to smile. He can observe an object for 10-20 minutes as long as we don’t get in the way of it. This is something that we have been intentional about and want to continue with. In an overstimulated nation with constant noise and visual garbage most of us would struggle sitting on a porch watching a bird’s comings and goings for longer than 2 minutes.

We are off to Tejas!

so his ear doesn't poke out, just his hat

Expressed

The many sweet faces we see everyday.

What a treasure it is to make eye contact,

to hear giggles,

to see huge smiles with a mouth full of milk.

Many moments to treasure and hold dear.

What an honor to give yourself away.

I have two great guys in my life.

Overwhelmed with love and joy.

Thank you Lord for full life.