Our November. Sorry we ignored you, Mr Blog

Between the holiday's we had and the parties and showers I hosted, I was OCD'ing over a lot of things, but apparently the blog wasn't one of them.  So sorry.   Enjoy.

There was costume day at school

There were playdates

There was washing hands.  And lots of Toy Story toys.

There were more playdates

There were walks.  Complete with Woody (Toy Story) of course

There was looking at the latest sales ads

There was dish washing.  Lots of that.

There was the first night day in a big boy bed (11.11)

There was kisses for the pups

There was brushing of teeth.  And climbing in boxes.

There was watching for daddy with the pups

There were more hugs for the pups

There was no more sitting in booster seat.  Big chair like mom & dad.

There were new bedtime routines.  And lots less sleep.  With big boy bed

There were trains around trees.  At Grandpa's and Grandad's

There was learning how to run each of the 'choochoo's'

There was an early celebration for Daddy's birthday

There were more candles and parties.  Caden loves to shut

off the lights, sing happy birthday, and blow out candlles.

"Pawty!  Pawty!!  Happy Bowday you!!"

There was sleepy cuddle time with Milo before nap

There was time with family for Thanksgiving

There were treats Mommy made for Thanksgiving

There was boys scooting seats too close to TV at Grammy's

There was shopping.  Tis the season :)

There was lots of coloring

There was visits from out of town friends

There was cuddling with the new friends

There was playing in the leaves outside

It was a great month.  Sorry I ignored blogging.  Guess these pics some up the month was hoppin' for us (See party blogs, too :)).  I love the fall.  We had a lovely fall indeed.

My Boy

(For some reason thisdidn't post Sunday.......oops)

Says phrases now instead of a word or two.

Gets kleenexes himself and blows his own nose.

Sleeps in his big boy bed.

Has an opinion of which shoes he wants to wear.

Asked to go potty on the potty this morning and did.........awesome.

Got one of his dollars this morning before church, and wanted to put it in his pocket.  When we got to church I asked if he wanted to give it for offering like daddy does, and he said, "oh ya!" and ran up and gave it to the guy working at the information desk at church.  Warmed my heart, even if he doesn't really know what he was doing :).

Is adorable.  I love him.

Big Boy Bed

Wednesday of last week (11/9/11) we went to the doctor for Caden's 2-year checkup.  The doctor asked about his bed, whether he was sleeping in his crib still and hadn't tried to climb out.  The doctor said there is no rush, then, if he's not trying to get out. 

I also have commented to Jared and others lately about how much Caden listens to what I am saying.  He pays such close attention to what I am saying.  I see it played out later.  Things that I comment about, talk about him doing, whatever, later he will do something that makes me realize he was listening to me when I least expected it :).

Well, turns out he done 'er again.  You know, listen to me when I wasn't expecting it?? 

The scene: Caden's bedroom.  The time: 11:30 am CST

Caden had been whiney all morning.  Just one of those days I guess.  He started whining for a binkie.  He only get the binkies at nighttime usually.  He kept begging for a binkie.  More and more.  I finally told him that if he was that tired, he could lay in his crib and have a bink for a while.

I put him in there with a couple binks.  I was kinda okay with it, because he was going to be contained for a little while and I could check me email, pick up a bit, etc.  So, that is what I did.  Went in the room next door to his bedroom to check my email.

After a few minutes I thought to myself that he was being unusually quiet.  I began to wonder if he actually fell asleep :).  I snuck back towards his bedroom to peek at Caden. 

I looked around the corner.

Into his crib.

No Caden.  Not a bink or a Caden to be seen.

I stood there for a moment.  Had one of those "I put him there, right??" moments.

I walked down the hall.  No Caden.

I stood at the top of the steps. 

"Caden?"

"Ya mom," I heard from downstairs.

"What are you doing buddy?"

"I paying (playing), Mom!"

"Caden, can you come upstairs and show me how you got out of your crib please?"

"Oh YA!!!" (I don't know if I mentioned this before or not, but for the last 2 weeks that has been his phrase.  It is so adorable.  So enthusiastic.  So cute).

He comes upstairs.  Scurries down the hall.  Throws his binks over the side of his crib.  Throws his leg up on the side, scales the side, and hops in.  Then throws his foot back up on the side and climbs back out.

This time not so quietly as last.  Almost fell on his head.  Almost got his foot caught.

Mom almost had a hear attack.

And so the chapter of the crib came to a close.

Just like that.

Kinda sad.  But no going back.  Once he had escaped, that was it.  I would be up all night worrying that he was going to try to get out and get hurt.

So, I scooted the crib over.  Got the twin bed out of the bedroom.  Put it in Caden's room.  Went to Target and got (adorable construction themed) bedding.  Tried to get the crib out of his room.  And tried again.  And got it stuck in the doorway.  And took part of it apart.  And tried again.  And got it stuck again.  And took more of it apart.  And tried again.

A mere 3 hours later, Caden was down for a (late) nap and I was exhausted :).  And, had a mess to clean up and a crib to put back together in the spare bedroom.  It's going to be for my sweet little niece when she is here :). 

The first nap, he told me to 'go, go' and he wanted to sleep.

He slept 3 1/2 hours.  It was lovely. 

Nighttimes and naptimes since have been a little rocky.  But still really good, all things considering.  He looks so tiny in his bed.  And yet so grown-up.  So sweet. 

So, one more step out of the baby camp for this mom.  I'm a little sad about it.  But, hey, I guess he made the decision for me and I didn't have to force myself to move him from his crib one of these days, right :)??  Ugh.  Hard for your babies to get 'bigger' sometimes.

Sweet dreams, baby love!!

2 year birthday pics posting tommorow, I PROMISE!!!

Birthday party with the Olson's (Numero Dos)

My mom's side of the family always does birthday's.  And Caden loves parties.  So, what the heck, we had all the stuff anyhoo.....we did it again the next week with Mom's family :).  It was lovely.

Two Years Old. Sweet Potato. The General.

Caden turned 2 years old 5 days ago.  My son is two.  I do not know how this is quite possible :).  2 years ago I was on a complete high, completely exhausted, completely in love with my 5 day-old son.  Today I am loving life with my entertaining, spunky little two-year old.  Wow, incredible.

More on turning two later.  I have lots of pics and fun to share.

I have a couple Caden quirps to share before I forget today.

Last night I was washing dishes at the sink in the kitchen (I suppose you could figure out the "at the sink in the kitchen" part on your own.....where the heck else would one clean dishes :)???).  Anyhoo, I was on the phone with my aunt washing dishes.  Caden had been downstairs with Jared.  They came upstairs, and Caden ran past me, whining, and into the dining room.  Since I was on the phone I wasn't paying much attention and was hoping Jared would help him with whatever he needed so I could finish on the phone and he would stop crying. 

Well anyhoo, he was in the dining room, all-out crying at this point, so I figured I'd better see what was going on.  I finished up on the phone, and asked Jared what the heck was going on.  Jared had just figured it out. 

"He wanted to help you," he said.

"What?  Do dishes you mean?" I asked.

Yep.  Turns out that little Sweet Potato had gone down the hall to the linen close and got what he thought was a dish towel (pillow case), and went running into the dining room to get a chair to stand on at the sink.  There have been a few times that I let him stand up there with me, and he apparently remembered.  So his crying started when he couldn't get the chair himself and was in a panick to come help me.  What a Sweet Potato.  And boy did I feel like Mom of the year, wishing he'd "calm down" so I could finish on the phone.

He just wanted to help.  Love him.

This morning Caden had his 2 year well-check at the doctor.  Side note.....he was 30 lbs (70th percentile), 36 1/2 inches tall (93rd perecentile)......."Size of a big 3-year-old according to the doctor.  Okay, back to my Army General story.  We are in the waiting room waiting for our turn to go in.  I had sat my purse down on one of the couches.  After we sat there a little while, Caden remembered the fish take on the other side of the room and wanted to go look at the fish.  I went with him, and just left my purse where it was (mind you, all of 10 feet away, and I could see it).

We were looking at the fish and talking over by the fish tank.  We were the only ones in the waiting room at that point.  Then a man came in with his little son.  After they checked in, they went to sit down.  They walked over towards the direction of the couch my purse was sitting on. 

They sat down on a seat a ways away from the couch where my purse was.  Mr. Caden runs over, grabs my purse, and starts bringing it over to me, "Momma, pess!!  Momma, you pess!  No momma's pess, Momma!!!". 

Yes, Caden, that's mommy's purse.  Thank you for bringing it to me.  No, they were not going to take my purse, Sargent, sir :).  Haha.  Seriously.  He wanted to make sure that guy wasn't going to take my purse, and make sure he knew it was mine. 

Good thing he's watching out for me :).  And my purse........and the valuables in it........the cough drops, stale crackers, gum, diaper, and debit card with no money in the account :).  Phew, that was a close one.  Haha.

Birthday party Numero Uno (for 2nd birthday). 11.06.11