The Dowdney Summer Update...i know it's late

Our summer has been so busy! May started off the madness with Graduation activities. We had Prom, Baccalaureate, Graduation, and Graduation parties. Cameron finished his senior year strong and graduation was a very sweet time for us. Cameron has enlisted in the Army and will be going to Basic Training August 17, the day after his birthday.

In June, Cameron left for YL camp and we headed to the McCann family reunion. Then it was back in Dallas, as I prepared to take my Middle School friends to their camp. Camp is always a time of the year that I sincerely look forward to. I have seen God’s hand and lives changed at every camp I have gone to, whether it was for High Schoolers, Middle Schoolers, or teen moms. This year…..it was a lot harder for me to get into camp mode. I was excited bout all the wondrous ways I knew God would show up, but I also knew I would be leaving B for an entire week!! Thank goodness for family!! My precious cousin Valerie and her amazing daughter, we call her Nanny Savannah, came for Monday – Wednesday. Then, my mom took over Wed until I made it back home on Friday. I got all his food made and labeled and his routine written down…and I was off to camp with 25 kids and leaders!!

I also had a much needed and overdue visit from my amazing friend from OKC, Amy Trent and her little Garrett! Amy’s husband, Jim, was David’s roommate in the Fraternity house at OU and they had started dating a little bit before Dave & I. Jim & Amy were really our bestest friends during the first two years of our marriage, while we lived in OKC. We dearly missed them when we moved from Norman to College Station and we love to get in extended visits whenever we can! Having a true friend that you know you can just be yourself around, and they will still love you, is such a rare gift. I loved visiting with Amy and having time. One night we got the boys bathed and in bed, and while David kept watch, we left and had some girl time! We went to see SITC 2, had a nice adult beverage, and just relaxed. It is also nice to have a friend that you know you can count on for Godly advice, but that will still sit down and have a glass of wine with you!! Loved our time with Amy & Garrett!!!

In July, we had a precious time out at Sisterdale with my Aunt Nette and the entire Dixon/Overton family for an entire weekend. My aunt has two boys, Patrick & Paul and they each have just precious, precious families!! We loved hanging out with their kids and just being together as a family.

August brought the business of life back again. Young Life was starting back up and we were recruiting leaders and planning for our semester clubs. We had a great “Going Away luncheon” for Cameron and sent him off to Basic Training. I was also truly blessed to have had the opportunity to take care of my cousin Lucy’s son, Grant, during the summer. Grant & I had so much fun teaching Brayden how to swim, playing games, going to the circus, and enjoying each other’s company. Grant was a HUGE help with Brayden and I was sad that our summer was coming to a close. Thankfully, I still get to see him a few times a week when I pick him up from school and tutor him with his homework.

Other than that…that brings us to the start of September! It will be a fun month as B will be turning 1! That also means lots of trips to Cook Children’s as we have doctor follow up appointments. We will keep everyone in the loop. Love to all…..
David, Kelli, & Super B

Confessions of an Inferior Mom

from my journal about 2 months ago.......

Well, it’s been a while since I have confessed. And I really hate to even get started but here it goes. …ATTENTION: No children or babies were harmed during any of the incidents below. DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!

So since we have started introducing solids to Brayden, I had started to notice he was a little more constipated than normal and my pediatrician had warned me that it might occur. He had also given me a little home remedy that would help “the process.” The remedy…I will spare you the details….but it did involve a Q Tip and some Vaseline. So, yesterday I decided that my little man needed a little help and so we proceeded with the home remedy. Only…..I must have grabbed a defective Q Tip because went I pulled it out….the cotton tip was missing!!! What kind of mother…well, I can’t even finish that sentence. So…..wouldn’t you know it, David just happened to be standing right there for the whole thing. When I looked up at him the only thing he said was “ Well, you got it stuck in there so you have to get it out!” GREAT!!! How do you go about getting a small cotton ball out from you baby’s bottom. Answer: You don’t. You wait! This morning, after 4 days of no Poop, Brayden grunted and pushed….and first out came a little brown ball (the Q Tip)..and then A LOT of poop. Thank goodness for gravity…and the body’s inability to absorb cotton. Won’t be trying that home remedy again.

Praying we make it to next week...KD :)