2020

Goodness, what a year it has been and we still have about a month and a half left. SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED THIS YEAR. 

I'm not even sure where to start.

COVID

I guess the first thing to mention is the global pandemic that shut down the world. I cant even describe the chaos the coronavirus has caused. My job sent everyone home on March 18th to work from home and we are still working from home with no return date in sight. The first 2 months of "quarantine" were spent navigating working from home and life with a 2 year old that we decided to keep home from daycare. With my immune system, we weren't sure how I would do with the virus so we decided to play it safe. My mom helped out greatly and it was fun having Camden around so much. In May, we decided to send him back to daycare and we have adjusted to a new "normal" with having to wear masks in public and social distancing. Its been a very odd year.

NEW HOUSE

This was a big turn of events for our family and one that we did not see coming. With the global pandemic, mortgage interest rates dropped dramatically and the housing market started booming. In April, Craw and I started talking about desiring more space when it came to raising our family. We especially wanted a backyard with plenty of space for kids to play. While it was the perfect time to sell, we had a hard time trying to figure out if we wanted to build or buy and the cost of building. In June, a long time family friend decided it was time to downsize her home. She had the perfect corner lot with the most perfect house we could ever imagine. We weren't sure if it would work out but we decided to commit it to prayer. Within a couple weeks, our old house was under contract and she had accepted our offer on the new house. Everything fell in to place and we closed on our new house August 14. It was a whirlwind summer with packing and moving but we have loved every second of making our new house a home.

ADOPTION #2

Surprise! Another twist to the crazy year 2020 is we feel God is calling us to expand our family through adoption again. We are so excited for this journey and are well underway to bringing home Baby Bolton 2.0. I will do another post with more details on this exciting new adventure.

As you can see, there is a big reason why things have been radio silent for me. I'm hoping to get back in to the swing of things because I really would like to blog our journey to Baby #2. Fun things are happening for us and I can't wait to see the journey unfold. 

September Life Lately

I am trying to get this space updated but there are SO MANY PICTURES. We've also done so many fun things as a family that deserve their own post. So before I dive in to the fun events, I wanted to provide a September life lately so that I'm semi caught up.

 

 

Slides were a big hit this summer.

We were able to meet Miss Logan Kate in September. Cam kept pointing to her and saying "baby" but was otherwise unaware that I was holding her. 

 



 

Lulu and Papa got a pool this summer and we were finally able to enjoy it. We had so much fun swimming with the family and can't wait to enjoy it even more next summer.

 

 

Cam loves Uncle Coop...especially since he kept pushing him in his car.

 

Our best friends found out they would be welcoming their FOURTH boy to the word in March. We were hoping for a girl but now it's so fun to know there is a fourth boy on the way. We love him so much already.

 



 

First day of Football so you know we had to rep the Panthers. I can successfully say Cam knows how to say "lets go" and almost has "keep pounding" down pat.

 

Daycare pictures make me very happy.

 



Fun with AB and Logan

 



Craw reading a book to Carter and Camden one night

 



I had to entertain Cam while Craw was in a long checkout line at Walmart so I took him over to the bikes. He still has another year before he can ride it but he loved sitting on it while I pushed him.

 



 

Sweet Avery Alice turned one.  I cannot believe she is already one but she had the CUTEST Avery Alice in ONEderland themed party.

 

Cam didn't understand why she got the cake and he didn't so he told her he would help her out.

I can't wait to see how these two grow together. I can tell that Avery is always interested in whatever Cam is doing but Cam doesn't seem as interested in Avery. I think once they are a little older and can truly play together, it will be perfect.

 



 

Cam giving Mrs. Nancy some loving. I will forever cherish this picture as Mrs. Nancy doesn't have very many days left. I will always remember the tea parties she would throw for Hillary and I as we would get dressed up in our Sunday best with big hats and pearls. It's so sweet to see her loving on my baby.

 

 

Cam loves him some Big Pa. This is special to me as well and I'm so thankful for the role he plays in Cam's life.



Life Lately

So much life has happened the past 3 months. My surgery went great and I had about 18 inches of intestine removed. Recovery was a bit tougher than I expected but once I got to the 4th week, it was much easier. I am amazed at how fast the body can heal. I returned to work two weeks ago and it has been interesting trying to adjust back to normal life.

 

Camden has grown so much in the past few months. I am amazed at how much he has changed. I am hoping to post a 15 month update soon. For now, here is a little bit of what we have been up to for the past 3 months (warning:lots of pictures).

 

Our little guy got his first haircut back in January. He did so good and this is when I realized we now have a toddler.

No telling what we will find in the wrong places now. His favorite is the toilet and the trashcan.

 

We celebrated Valentines Day by attending his first class party and handing out Valentines to all his classmates. I didn't get a picture of his goodies but we handed out goldfish and attached a note that said "I'm so glad we swim in the same school."

 

Team Spirit day and you know he had to rep his Panthers.

How cute is his class?

 

This was taken back in January and they have both grown even more since then. Avery is getting so big and Camden is really loving his cousin.

 

Somebody loves to play hooky from school if it means he gets to spend the day with Mimi.

 

Naps with Big Pa are his favorite.

 

This boy loves cars. He always want to touch the tires and sit in the front seat to pretend like he is driving.

 

Trying to the hang of his four wheeler from Lulu and Papa Al.

 

 

We took Camden to his Papa Al's baseball practice and he loved watching the players and playing with the baseballs.

 

He loves spaghetti.

 

Celebrating St. Patrick's Day at daycare.

 

Cam loves Ella and Caleb.

 

He loves playing outside and usually screams when we take him in.

 

Craw and I had a date day the Saturday before my surgery. We rode motorized scooters around NC States campus and had the BEST day.

 

We took Cam to a baseball game and he did so good. One day he will be out there playing and I will be his biggest fan.

 

This boy loves a ball.

 

Fun at Mimi and Pappys

 

It was time for another haircut. Why does my baby look so big?