CLICK HERE FOR FREE BLOG LAYOUTS, LINK BUTTONS AND MORE! »

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Cameron Was Tagged

Cameron got tagged by Sam - Heather A.'s baby boy

8 Things about Cameron
1. Cameron has snored since birth and secretly (though it not a secret now) I like it because I can hear that he is breathing. I actually have a hard time when his breathing is normal because then I can't hear that he is breathing (I know I am being paranoid, but still I allowed at least one paranoid mama thing) & so I check on him way more
2. Cameron loves bath time. His average bath last 30 minutes and he usually cries when he is removed.
3. Cameron hates shoes and sock. I can't even put him in pajamas with feet because he will stay awake trying to pull the feet off of his pajamas and crying in frustration.
4. Cameron's hair get more curly everyday. I was told on Tuesday that he was too pretty to be a boy. The woman said between his curly hair, long curly eyelashes, big brown eyes & adorable smile that he couldn't possibly be a boy and if he was that his beauty was being wasted on a him because he was male. It made me laugh.
5. Cameron has at least one cupboard in every room that has cupboards that is all his.
6. Cameron grew out of his 0-3 hats in 3 weeks and by 6 months was wearing 2-4T hats. I have now had to switch him to exclusively 18 month t-shirts because his head doesn't fit through 12 or 12/18 month shirts unless they have buttons or snaps on the neck. There are even some 18 month shirts that he can't wear because his head won't fit through the neck hole.
7. Cameron nurses on the left side 4 out of 5 times. It doesn't matter what I do, he even switches to the left in the middle of the night while he is asleep if I latch him onto the right side.
8. In 3 days Cameron will be 1, but he is Length = between percentile 10 and 25 & Weight= between percentile 50 and 75 for 24 months

Tag: the children of my few faithful readers

Monday, February 25, 2008

New Things Cameron Can Do

Besides getting better at walking Cameron has been figuring out some other things too in the last few weeks. Here are a few of the things that he has been doing.
He can now wave hello/bye-bye
He will play catch with you and throw the ball back
When You give him a wash cloth he will scrub whatever is in front of him
When I make an elephant sound he imitates it back to me
When I point at something he looks at what I am pointing to and not just my finger
He loves putting lids on things and taking them off and putting them on, etc. He can even do this with small lids like on an empty shampoo bottle
Cameron will dance when music is on, by bouncing and wiggling his butt to the beat

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Interesting Tid Bit

I found this on Brekke's blog

There are 7 people in the U.S. named Sophia Crane.
There are 157 people in the U.S. named Brian Crane.
There are 8 people in the U.S. named Cameron Crane.
How many have your name?

Friday, February 22, 2008

I'm IT-I've been tagged!!

I was just tagged by Heather Ridge. So here we go!

10 years ago - I went to Bryant Intermediate School, spent 5 months in Brasil with my Vovô & Tia Marçia, My parents got divorced, I got my hair high lighted for the first time (only 3 times since)
5 things I would do if I was a billionaire - Pay off our house & buy one in a better neighborhood that had a library room & craft room, feel really good about the tithing & fast offering checks we would be cutting, Pay for Brian's school in cash, pay for everything in cash for that matter, set aside money for kids school and mission and not tell them so they still learn how to work, set aside money for us to go on a mission or two or three, live in such a way that no one would guess we were billionaires, invest, invest, invest & donate, donate, donate.
3 bad habits - staying up WAY too late, eavesdropping - I have really good hearing and sometimes I listen in on conversations, eating way too much sugar and not exercising enough to compensate (unless you consider lifting Cameron around all day enough)
5 places I've lived - Brasil, New York, Utah, Idaho, Illinois, Texas, Massachusetts (I know that was 7)
5 jobs I've had - Babysitter, Fabric store, I worked at a deli, Customer Service, Receptionist
Some things you may or may not know about me.- I am half Brasilian by blood (my Mom is from Salvador, Bahia) but have citizenship in Brasil & the US of course. I am 5th of 6 & the only girl. I lived in 30 houses/apartments by the time I was 16, had been to too many elementary schools to count, 1 intermediate school & 3 high schools. I have lived in 10 houses/apartments since then. I love to dance. I love reading. I collect children's books (I spent over $500 dollars on them the semester I had Children's Lit-book orders were my down fall). I am good at crafts but don't like starting projects because I am a perfectionist & I know it will take me forever. My first kiss was when I was 14- I don't know if it was Dec 31 '99 or Jan 1 '00 we were outside walking in very cold Illinois winter weather and not paying attention to the time & yes I know that I wasn't 16 yet. I have only kissed 4 guys, unless you include cheek kisses, if so there are way to many to count. I have been in a choir of some variety for as long as I can remember. I was writing a missionary when Brian & I started dating. My favorite colors are the colors of the Brasilian flag - blue, green & yellow. I love hiking & camping. I have broken 7 bones, one being the strongest bone in your body. I was hit by a car when I was 5. Brian & I were only married 2 months when we found out I was pregnant with Cameron.

I think that is a good list I am going to bed now.

Tag: Amanda, Heather A, Tiffany & anyone else that is at a loss of what to post in your blog today

"Won't You Be My Teddy Bear"



We had a ward dance today with the above theme. It would have been a lot more fun had Brian been there. However, Brian had a camping trip with the Scouts tonight. Cameron & I went and I had an ok time. The young women in the ward volunteered to man the nursery and I relectantly took Cameron. Cameron basically jumped out of my arms and never looked back. I know that I should be happy that he so willingly went to nursery for the first time and was happy, lots of people have to fight to keep their kids in. I, on the other hand, was very sad. I didn't even get a good bye glance, he was so happy to be with the other kids. Maybe if Brian had been there too I would have welcomed Cameron's response as a much needed/wanted opportunity to dance with Brian, but Brian wasn't there so I was just lonely. Ok, I will stop moping now. I did get to talk with friends and eat good food. I also got some pictures with Brian before he left.

Monday, February 18, 2008

Some Videos

Ok, so I am being lazy and posting some videos instead of putting in a thoughtful post. I just barely got this working on our new computer & everyone likes pictures and videos anyway & they say a picture is worth a thousand words right & since this is a video it is worth that much more. Enjoy!

Ok so this is from Christmas, but I was just barely able to get it up & it is good anyway.

This one is from Cameron's first time in our yard. It is a video of his dislike for grass it makes me laugh.

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Splish, Splash Cameron's Having a Bash!









For any of you in the Houston area we are throwing a Bath Themed Birthday Party to Celebrate Cameron's first year of life.


When: March 1, 2008


Time: 10:30-11:30 am


Place: Our House




Hopefully, I will be getting out the invites by Wed. of next week, but if not, you have been informed.

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Waving & Diaper Ditching

Ok, sorry for no posts this last week, our computer & then the internet was having issues. Cameron started waving on Thursday and had been doing so more & more. It is really cute, he waves his arms big and it is always accompanied by a big smile. The other Cameron has figured out is how to remove his diaper :( I now have to keep him in a onesie or pants at all times which is sad because Cameron really likes being in just a diaper. I usually will let him stay in just a diaper until he attempts the removal, but sometimes that is less than a minute after putting the diaper on. I have a feeling that once he figures out how to remove his clothes that I am going to have a nudist on my hands.
Brian played in an all day basketball tournament and his team went pretty far in. However, with only 2-3 breaks, no new legs & several back to back games after 6 games they were out. Brian came home a little worse for the wear with a pretty badly jammed finger. The good news was though that he didn't have any asthma. He had a Chiro visit and had been adjusted on Friday and the week before & since then he hasn't had any asthma. Before the Chiro any sports activity and lately any exurtion really would leave him with an asthmatic cough all day. We found out that the vertebrae where the nerves to the lungs branch out from was out of alignment pretty bad. So just a few adjustments and no asthma, no drugs that just fix symptoms, just a quick adjustment and the problem was gone. Yay!

Friday, February 15, 2008

Valentine's Day



Valentines day was low key, but brian was sweet and had my oath lined in roses from our garden and roses hiding in various other places through out the house. Here are some pictures.



Saturday, February 9, 2008

First Steps!

Cameron has taken his first steps! He has now taken 6 steps in total, unless I have missed some. The first two results in a crash with the coffee table where the coffee table won :'( Friday night, the next two were in the foyer of the Lexington Chapel during the World Wide Leadership training & the next two were hear at home on his way from one of the couches to Daddy on the other couch. I am so excited for this new development to start, although scared of all the trouble he will be able to get into once it does. Considering that the steps have been few and surprises I have yet to get a video of them, but as soon as I do it will be up. Today was a good day. We went to our Chiro (Dr Long of West U Wellness) which we LOVE. Brian had his first ever Chiro visit and he is already noticing a difference. I love how good she is with Cameron she is so mellow about him getting into everything. We also spent the gorgeous day playing in our yard and gardening. Cameron even ventured out onto the grass. An upper & downer, we went and picked up our van from the mechanic's (we got a recommendation and we are REALLY impressed with them). It was good to have our van in good working condition, but the bill came out just shy of half of what we paid for the van in the first place. We were treated to dinner at Kim Son, a Vietnamese restaurant, by Brian's parents and they joined us in going to the training broadcast. Dinner was great, Cameron enjoyed being fed rice with chopsticks. Cameron also really enjoyed having Grandpa play with him. I love seeing the stark contrast of their interactions from the previous Cameron bawling and snuggling into Mommy's shoulder to the now peels of laughter as Grandpa plays with him. Grandpas sure are great. The broadcast tonight was also really good. The main topic was family. A lot of poignant things were said tonight that I really appreciated. They spoke of the difference between house keeping and home making; the importance of knowing our family roles, but still having equality; love as the foundation for our family relationships & the importance or other people, extended family and friends, in the rearing of our families and as a support. I highly suggest reading about what was said and shared in the broadcast tonight.

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Giggling babies & the Book of Mormon in Portuguese

Cameron was super cute today. He spent a good part of his waking hours smiling and laughing. Can I just say, one of the most beautiful, happy sounds in the world is a baby's laugh. Anyway, we got a security system installed today, an unfortunate necessity when living in a big city. We are trying to get used to it as we are not used to doing much security-wise besides locking doors. Another significant thing that happened today was that I started reading/listening to the Book of Mormon in Portuguese for the Hinckley challenge that I started. I have it on CD and I am listening to it and reading along. It is really neat to do this. I feel like I get different things out of my reading when I read it in Portuguese, but my Portuguese isn't very great when it comes to church vocabulary. So, I listen to the CD and read along and I get more out of my reading that way; plus, it helps me with my Portuguese vocabulary. Reading along also helps me from getting side tracked- a common occurrence in my scripture reading since becoming a mother. I have really enjoyed the time spent reading and listening. I haven't been doing as well with my scripture studying lately. I have allowed myself to be distracted by life. I am glad to have found out about the challenge (thanks Tiffany) as it has jump started my scripture study & spiritual well being efforts. It is amazing the amount of truth and guidance that can be found in the scriptures, even when you are not looking for it. It is also amazing how aware of the void that is left when not regularly studying you become when you start studying again and that void is filled to over flowing. I don't know if the last few sentences make sense, but that is how I feel and feelings are sometimes hard to articulate.

Monday, February 4, 2008

For Those interested: Hinckley Challenge

This is a challenge created by a member of the church. There are currently over 18 thousand people who have accepted the challenge.

"As most of you know, our beloved prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley passed away at the age of 97. His funeral will be on Saturday, February 2nd.
I was thinking of how I could honor his legacy and I came up with an idea. My friend and I have created a challenge for those willing to accept it: Read the Book of Mormon in 97 days. We are trying to get everyone to start on the same day. Here are the details:
Go to www.hinckleychallenge.com and create an account (free, of course).
On Feb 4, 2008 (the Monday following the funeral) have an FHE lesson on the Book of Mormon and begin your reading.
Each day you read, record what page number you are on by going to www.hinckleychallenge.com
We would like this challenge to be heard all around the world! Please forward this message to everyone you know. We would love to see over 1 million pages of the Book of Mormon read by the time this challenge has ended.
Do you want to show your support? Do you want to follow the prophet? Do you want to get rid of all of your excuses for not reading and become a warrior? Then join me in this challenge!!!
We are going to spread this throughout the news media (TV and radio) and we've already contacted Fox news, KSL, CBS, and ABC. But we cannot get the word out to everyone without your help! Please forward this on to EVERYONE in your address book. Time is of the essence!! This will be the one forwarded message that everyone will be happy to get :).
--Join by going here www.hinckleychallenge.com/createUser.php
-Jake Andersen
P.S. You can always see an updated list of those who have accepted the challenge by clicking here www.hinckleychallenge.com/warriors.php"

Engagement story

There were a few request for the story of our engagement so here it is. The story includes the lead up to it as well because it wouldn't make as much sense without it. As, I said in the last post it is a long story.

The story of Brian & Sophia

Brian and I both had been going on quite a few dates a week before our first date. Our first date actually only happened because he couldn't get a hold of the girl he originally wanted to ask. Well we went out dancing (it was the big BYU welcome back dance/event) and had lots of fun. The next day I was supposed to go out with another guy but I didn't hear from him and Brian stopped by to ask if I & any of my roommates wanted to go to the movies with him and his roommates. I wanted to go but no one else could go & none of his roommates got anyone to go. So, our second date ended up being Brian & his roommates & I. The next night we went to a fireside together and then sat outside his apartment and talked & we held hands. From that point on we were pretty much exclusive and we both were falling for each other. I got to thinking I REALLY like this guy, I might even love him & that scared me.

I had a missionary coming back in a few weeks and I had been writing to him at least every other week up until Brian and I started dating. He & I & his family kind of figured he would get back come back to BYU and we would date for a little then get married. So, being foolish and frightened by my feelings for Brian & worried about my missionary's feelings I broke it off between Brian and I. Well, the missionary came home He called me once and we talked for a few hours and all I could think about was how much I missed Brian. Luckily, the missionary didn't call again. But, I missed Brian so much that I called Him and asked if we could talk. I told him I was dumb and scared because I really liked him. I told him that it was a huge mistake and that I had learned during the last week that when they say heart ache they are not kidding about your heart physically aching. We talked some more and then he said he would have to think & pray about whether he was willing to take the risk of getting back together. I found out the he failed two tests the week we were apart because he was so heart broken by the situation (I felt even worse at that point)

I was frustrated but, understanding & impressed by his thought and prayer into the matter. The most excruciating 3 days of waiting ensued, then obviously we got back together (otherwise I would not be telling this story). About a week and a half later he invited to come to a large family home evening at his grandparents (aunts, uncles, cousins, the works) on Sunday. When we arrived the room went silent then there was a "ooooh, Brian who is this" and the ribbing began. Later that night Grandpa Crane was talking to Brian & I was right by them talking to one of his cousins. next thing I know I was tapped on the shoulder by Grandpa and asked how serious I was about Brian. he said he couldn't get a straight answer out of him. Now we had only been back together about a week maybe a week and a half, so I told Grandpa that I wasn't sure & that we were going to continue dating and see where things end up. Grandpa then took my hand and looked at me seriously and said "before you decide on Brian pray to make sure it is right. I love my grandson but there are a lot of good fish in the sea & marriage is an eternal decision." I was a little weirded out but, at the same time I really felt the sincerity of his statement. The night continued with ribbings from everyone but, we had a good time.

At that point in our relationship we hadn't even said "I love you" but, as we drove back from South Jordan we talked about what Grandpa had said. When we were dropped off , we got a ride from his cousin Barbara, we kept talking in the parking lot of the apartment complex. That was the night that we said "I love you" for the first time.

Brian was struggling in a few of his classes, no thanks to the week of separation, and so he asked Grandpa if he could get a blessing. We drove up the Thursday following the FHE and had dinner with Grandma & Grandpa and played some games. Before we left Brian received a blessing from Grandpa & in the blessing he was told that we needed to talk about and pray about marriage. I was sitting there listening to the blessing & I am pretty sure I gave an audible gasp as I could feel the poser of the Spirit confirm to me that statement was true. When the blessing was over there was an awkward silence and we got in the car and started driving. We were both floored by this revelation given to us by the Lord via Grandpa. We had only been back together for 2 ½ weeks and had only said "I love you" a few days earlier. Grandma & Grandpa live really close to the Jordan River Temple & it was on our way home. So, we decided to stop there to talk about what we had just been implored to do in his blessing. We walked the temple grounds and talked and then we prayed together. We went home and we both spent time on our knees an in the temple over the next 2 weeks and a day.


Jordan River Temple


Brian had gone through and looked at notes he had written about previous blessings and saw that in the blessing he received from his Grandpa right before his mission his Grandpa told him that He had been blessed to see the woman Brian was going to marry. He said that he had prayed and he felt that that is why Grandpa felt so emphatic about receiving an answer to how serious we were. We talked the Friday before Thanksgiving and decided that both of us received the same answer, that we were indeed supposed to marry each other. Brian left the next Tuesday to go spend Thanksgiving with his family. We told them Thursday night over the phone. I was on speaker phone while the his whole family was listening. We told them what we had decided. At that point only my roommates and his family knew.

Brian didn't want to make it official until He had the ring because the first thing someone says to you when you tell them you are engaged is "Can I see the ring?". A week later we were on our way to the Temple to do baptisms together and I asked if we could make it official so that I could tell people. When we got out of the car and headed up to the temple He stopped me in front of the temple and got down on one knee and asked for my hand in marriage while skillfully using my whole name. At that point he said we are officially unofficially engaged.

Provo Temple


I went to Texas to meet his family for Christmas. On Christmas Eve he took me out to lunch and then to the Water Wall in the Galleria in Houston. There was a capoeira group there (Brasilian Martial art/dance form) that Brian says he used he connections to have them there-not true. and then he led me into the middle of the water wall and while I was looking up at the wall he got down on his knee and pulled out the ring then took my hand. I looked down & even though I already knew that we were engaged my tummy was full of butterflies. He said that something along the lines of his loved flowed for me even stronger then the greatest water fall ever could and would I marry him so that it flow for me eternally. I am paraphrasing, it was a lot more eloquent and sounded a whole lot less cheesy at the time.


the Water Wall


So, even though Brian did propose to me, we joke that Grandpa did first because He was the one that started us talking about marriage in the first place. Had it not been for Grandpa's receptiveness to the Spirit, who knows when we would have gotten around to talking about marriage & how long we would have delayed the joy that we have in our eternal marriage, sealed in the Manti temple.



Manti Temple




Saturday, February 2, 2008

About my Love

So, I was tagged by my old roommate Heather to fill out this questionaire and here it is.

What is his name? Brian C.J.

How long have you been married? 1 year 8 months 28 days 1 hour as of the time I am typing this

How long did you date? 1 month then, we broke up for the worst week of my life (it was my own doing which made it worse) then another month before we talked about marriage, we were unofficially engaged for a month & officially engaged for 5 months (I don't reccomend being engaged that long)

How old is he? 25

How old are you? 23

Who eats more sweets? Brian definately , but since we have been married my sweet tooth seems to have doubled.

Who said "I love you first"? I think Brian was ready to say it first, but I think I actually verbalized it first.

Who is taller? Definitely Me, by 3 inches.

Who can sing better? Me, but I love it when he sings to me or when I catch him crooning Cameron to sleep (the only times he sings outside of church)

Who is smarter? We are smart in our own ways & we both think things through differently. We come at problems differently; so, when we work together we can pretty much solve any problem we have.

Who does the laundry? That would be me, washing, folding & ironing. Brian hangs up all of his shirts though so it makes his stuff a little easier. About a month ago, when I was sick, Brian did a load of diapers though (We do cloth diapers, I was very grateful & surprised that he did it) a task I have yet to get him to repeat.

Who does the dishes? We try to do them together, but lately Brian has been doing the brunt of it

Who pays the bills? He works hard for it and I do most of the bill paying, but we try to do the big stuff together

His guilty pleasures? Peanut butter and chocolate, combined & a good book. Though he doesn't have any guilt about his pleasures

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? We both do. Otherwise, we would get up on the wrong side of the bed and no one would want that now would they?

Who mows the lawn? We haven't mowed our lawn yet, but when we do I am sure it will be Brian. Our grass just doesn't grow very fast or tall.

Besides you, who is his best friend? Jared (since he was little), Dustin (from school) & Tim (BYU roommate)

Who cooks dinner? Me mostly now, but when I was pregnant and just after Cameron was born Brian was the sous chef (so basically the first year of our married life)

Who drives? Him mostly, he says I am too careful and pay too much attention to the legislation

Who is more stubborn? We are both pretty stubborn, but I probably eek out in front

Who kissed who first? It was a mutual kissing

Who asked who out first? Brian asked me out first because he couldn't get the person he originally wanted, but it turned out better that way for him anyway.

What was your first date? We went out dancing & he actually danced more than just the slow dances, that pretty much won me over

Who proposed? Grandpa Crane - its a kind of long story, you can ask me for details if you want them

Who has more siblings? We are both 5th of 6

Who wears the pants? We both wear pants; unless it is Sunday, then I am usually in a skirt. We make decisions together (I am guessing that is what the question was really asking)

What is your favorite thing about him? His smile, His laugh, the way He makes me laugh, the way He notices the small things, His tenderness, His understanding, how hard He works, how I fall even more in love with Him when I see Him play with or take care of Cameron, how He falls even more in love with me despite my short comings. Mainly, I love the boy that made him the man He is today & that he is man enough today to strive to be the man that he can become tomorrow

Tag: Amanda, Tiffany, Becca & Ryan (just change the words to she) & who ever else actually reads this and hasn't done it yet

Friday, February 1, 2008

Bath Time Dillema

So, Cameron LOVES bath time, as you saw in the pictures form the previous post. The dillema comes in the fact that Cameron has recently discovered the what makes him a boy & during bath time is completely fascinated by it. I can't figure out how to let him play in the bath & get him to stop playing with himself at the same time and it is driving me & Brian nuts. If, we take him out of the bath then he is sad that his bath time has been cut short (i.e. he throws a fit). We have tried just making sure that he has something in each hand but, inevitably he drops it and loses interest. Anyway, if any of you mothers or fathers of boys have suggestions for me I would really love them. Right now it is only bath time, but I have babysat for boys and been around plenty of little boys to know that soon enough it will happen beyond that. Frankly, I am surprised it took him this long & I figure if I can get some ways to deal now, it will help later.