Survey Results

It was super close, and over 75 people voted, which is crazy! Thank you to everyone who voted and we are really excited with the winning name! We have both always really liked the name Tyler, and it has been one of our top choices as a first name with both kids. Since Rubin says we aren't having any more kids, I'm glad we are going to use it now.

1. Which name do you like best? Think of all 3 names together, and please vote only once!! :)

Cameron Tyler Chrisman 27.6% 21
Cameron Carter Chrisman 17.1% 13 (We still really think this one is cute)
Cameron Evan Chrisman 5.3% 4
Cameron Jordan Chrisman 7.9% 6
Cameron Ryan Chrisman 26.3% 20 (Soooo close!)
Cameron Richard Chrisman 18.4% 14 (Sorry Daddy, but you got a lot of votes!!)

answered question 76

Big Boy Party

Today we had a "Big Boy Party" for Brayden. Yes, our 3 and 1/2 year old has still been sleeping (note, sleeping only) with a pacifier. He was really having a hard time giving it up, so we decided to make it a big production. Anytime he gets a balloon, he wants to let it go and watch it fly, so we decided to tie the paci to a balloon and send it flying. We have been talking about it for a couple of weeks to get him ready for it and he was really excited. We decided that today would be the day so we have all weekend to deal with the crankiness before he has to go back to daycare and we have to go to work. We made a big deal out of him being a big boy and had a little party to celebrate. He got a cake and a new toy. Now we're praying that it goes over well. I know that he will still ask for it when he goes to bed, but we're hoping that instead of telling him "No, you can't have it anymore" or "We threw it away", the explanation that it flew away with the balloons and is up in the clouds now will go over a little better, especially since he watched it disappear. Pray that I get some sleep these next few nights - I'm already having a hard enough time sleeping as it is...

I'm on a mission....

to find the perfect diaper bag this time around. I absolutely hated the one we had with Brayden, and we ended up using a backpack. Rubin loves the backpack and wants to use it again, and I'm fine with him doing that, but I want something a little bit cuter and easier for me to carry around. I know what I'm looking for but can't find anything. I'm having a little more luck online, but I can't tell how big they are when I'm looking at a picture. I am starting my search now so that if I end up ordering one online and don't like it, I will have time to send it back and get another one. I'm afraid I may end up doing this more than once, but we'll se how it goes. I want 2 straps (like a purse or tote), no flap over the top (just a zipper, tie, magnet, anything), and plenty of pockets for bottles, diapers, my keys, wallet, etc. I don't want to have to carry a diaper bag and a purse - I want it all in one. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know! I've become obsessed.

Halloween....

is finally over!! Now it's time to move on to the good holidays - Thanksgiving and Christmas! Spending time with family, watching football, and eating good food - how can you go wrong with that?
I had not planned on dressing up for Halloween, and said that if I did I would put very little effort into my costume. Well, on my way home from work yesterday my sister mentioned an idea that she had seen online, and my plans changed. I started working at about 8:30 last night and then woke up at 6:00 am to go to work and finish my master design. I went as a "Bun in the Oven".

Brayden was Thomas the Train and he finally figured out what this whole trick-or-treating thing was all about. He had a lot of fun but didn't last too long before he was ready to go home. He enjoyed handing out candy to the other kids and it was really cute.

Baby Name Poll!!

Follow this link and vote on our baby's name!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Y4f8SnBEYqd7g4I46lHOwQ_3d_3d

By request, the names are:
Cameron Tyler Chrisman
Cameron Carter Chrisman
Cameron Jordan Chrisman
Cameron Evan Chrisman
Cameron Ryan Chrisman
Cameron Richard Chrisman

I'll give an update in a couple of days and let you know which name is in the lead!

Jack-O-Lantern

I decided that I wanted to carve a pumpkin with Brayden yesterday. We went to Wal-Mart and bought a pumpkin and a carving kit and he was all excited...and then he laid his head down in the cart and said he was tired and wanted to go to bed. I expected him to just crash and not contribute at all, but he was a trooper and wanted to "help" and stayed with me through the entire process. He didn't help much. I thought I could get him to help clean out all of the seeds, but he said it was yucky and wouldn't touch it. He wanted to make a "silly face pumpkin" so we free-handed it and didn't use any of the stensils that came with the kit. He helped me decide what shapes to use for the eyes, nose and ears and then we started carving. I haven't carved a pumpkin since I was a kid, and I don't think I realized how much work it is! Brayden did help at times and he seemed to really have fun. He was so proud and couldn't wait to show his daddy when he got home. It was fun bonding experience.

With that being said...I hate Halloween and can't wait for it to be over. Only 2 more days! I am ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I very much prefer the holidays where I get to spend quality time with my family and eat lots of good food. November will be here on Saturday!

Arkansas Adventures

Brayden and I have been in Arkansas at my parents house since Friday and Brayden has experienced some fun things since we've been here. On Friday we took him to a state park and he got to see all of the fun animals and then feed the ducks and fish at the pond. He also "helped" my dad, who has a bum ankle, walk the walking trail.

Yesterday we went to my aunt's house. Brayden jumped on the trampoline with his cousins and we spent a lot of time down at the pond. He caught his first fish, rode on a paddle boat, rode a 4 wheeler and played in the mud. He had so much fun and really enjoyed playing and getting dirty. This is what I did growing up and I hate that he doesn't really get the opportunity to do things like that all the time. I guess that's one more thing about going to Nana's that makes it that much more special.