Sunday, November 25, 2012

Quick Update


There isn't too much to report from the home front this week. We enjoyed Thanksgiving with my family, which meant we had to stay overnight. In the past this has usually gone terribly wrong. Cayden refusing to sleep in his pack n play; Heath and I accepting defeat and driving home at midnight. Surely this time would be better....

It was..kind of. He did okay at first, but at 10:45 he woke up crying and just wouldn't calm down. I think he knew he wasn't in his own bed. By the time I got back, Cayden asleep on Heath, who was sitting on the couch. Once I returned I put him in bed with me, and Heath was left on the couch. Cayden slept until 6:24. Where was I during all of this? Well, I got the grand idea to hit Branson for early Black Friday shopping. In some ways it was a waste, in others it wasn't. It was just my mom and I, so that was a fun adventure for us!

We are starting to gear up for the holidays around here. Starting with Christmas cards. We are notorious for sending them out at the last minute. It's always my fault because I wait until the last minute to take pictures. Not this year! I just ordered our cards! Woo Hoo! While I understand there is really no way to top last year's card (it was fantastic), I took pictures knowing that this one would be good too.



Here is a sample of what we were going for this year. I love my camera 99% of the time. But every now and then I wish for something a little more on the professional side.


On a different note, I failed to mention one of Cayden's obsessions. It's hard for me to call it an obsession, but he is completely mesmerized by the Heidi Klum Jordache commercial for WalMart. You know the one where she dances. I'm not sure what it is about that commercial - is it her? is it the dancing? the jeans? Who knows, but for a kid who hardly looks at the TV for longer than a moment, he is transfixed by this. I think inside Heath is doing a "My kid is a stud" dance, at least until his son screams at the top of his lungs at the pink bikes in Walmart...yeah, that happened.


Wednesday, November 14, 2012

16 Months...And Yes, I'm Behind


I feel like such a slacker. It has literally been one month since I updated the blog. What the heck? I feel like a terrible parent. There was no 15 month update, I just breezed right by it. Anyway, enough of the self-loathing. Cayden is quite the character these days. More than once I find myself thinking that he is becoming such a little boy, no more baby here.


 His newest tricks. He loves to climb on his truck. It seemed like for a few days this was all he wanted to do, but of course he has now moved on.

Let me recap his 15 month appointment. We are supposed to be doing away with the bottles and going to sippy cups only. When we were told this, I was right in the middle of getting ready for a craft fair, and I thought, eh, we can wait. Well, we have waited, and really I haven't given it much thought since. I know it needs to be done, but I'm not just gung-ho. He stayed within his normal stat range. He weighed in at 26.10, and was 31 3/4 inches. By the way, I think their measuring system is a little flawed. The doctor thinks he is doing fine, looking good, all the things you want to hear.

That was until two weeks ago, when we were hit with our first ear infection, and a double one at that! Oh lord. Three nights of literally holding Cayden all night so he could sleep about did Heath and I in. It was somewhat reminiscent of the newborn days. Three days was plenty for me. He got the all clear on Monday, and I hope and pray, we don't have to do that very often.


 When I took this picture, I got kind of sad. There he was, sitting in his chair, eating from a fruit pouch like a big boy. He really is growing up so fast.  I had been a little concerned about the fact that he really doesn't talk too much. Oh, he babbles. A Lot. But few actual words.  But you can talk to him, and ask  him to do stuff, and he understands you. So, I would be more concerned if he didn't understand what we were saying, but since he does, I'll put my worries a way. for a bit.

 Cayden's BFF. Boy does this girl love her some Cayden. BTW- Parent fail. Took him to the fall festival without costume. Seriously, we were the only ones there without a costume. I really felt like the worst parent. But Millie looked cute, and I loved her outfit.
 There were about 15 shots where Millie was touching Cayden. Most of the time he doesn't really mind. He just looks at her like, "Why are you touching me?"
 We tried without success to get them to sit together for a picture. They are  movers and shakers!

 I'm not sure why, but this photo strikes me as super cute!

 Millie is throwing down her gangster swag. Is she warding off a rival gang fight? Practicing her rap skills?

Another cute one of Millie. I swear this post is about Cayden. But you can't help but love this girl!

 Cayden also loves hats. He likes putting them on. Taking them off. Putting them on you. Taking them off you. It's a vicious circle.


 We attempted our traditional Halloween photo. I'm pretty disappointed with the results. They are a little fuzzy, and the color is off. But we got it. I hope we get to do this for years to come. Won't that be sweet at their wedding?



Cayden's Likes:
Bath's in the sink - playing on the bed - playing in the toilet - outside - crawling under/into stuff - piggy back rides - chasing cats - attempting to eat their food - trucks/cars - iPad - books - being held at night (while you are supposed to be sleeping) - chocolate donuts - mac n cheese - baked potatoes - crawling on the fireplace

Cayden's Dislikes:
Being told he can't go upstairs - fruit punch - eating the same food more than once in a 24 hour period - riding in the car for longer than 20 minutes

Tricks:
Mimicking certain things: Yelling at the TV during football. Hitting the car seat when Daddy is yelling and hitting it too. That's right, we teach life lessons in this house.
Finding his belly button, and your belly button. Getting stuff out of drawers. Cleaning out the closet by pulling ALL of the clothes off their hangers.
Getting stuff he wants by just being cute.

Heath was in the UK for a few days, and while he was gone it seemed like everything became DADA. So now when he talks, everything his dada. He was pretty excited when Heath came home!

Potty training. No, I'm not trying it yet, but I think he is giving us signs that we should be thinking about this sooner than later. He pulls at his diaper when he pees. If you say that you need to change his diaper, he will lay down on the floor and let you change it. Maybe we'll try it during the Christmas break, but I was really shooting for more like next summer! ugh.

Thanksgiving is next week, I'm in denial. We have no Christmas tree. And I don't mean a live one. I mean we don't. own. a. tree. I think that when you have a kid, it's like a requirement. So that is on our list. Christmas cards. Need to do that, and come up with something as good as last year. Tough shoes to fill.

I will try to be better at posting. Hopefully it won't be another month before I do!