3-0

I haven't ever really paid much attention to my age.  I guess because I always felt young, I don't know.  When people asked how old I was, half the time I'd have to count from 1982 to the year it was, and then answer, I just didn't really think about it much. 

Well, I did it.  I went and turned 30.  Freaks me out a bit for some reason.  30 sounds so grown up and mature.  Just weird.  I always thought of 30 as old.  I can remember my parents in their 30's, PARENTS.  Oh wait, I guess I'm one of those :).

Like I told Jared, if I'm honest with myself, I am long overdue to be 30/sound 'old' to myself.  I have been driving a mini van for 4 years, we have a mortgage, 2 dogs, an almost 3-year-old son, another baby on the way, and don't do anything past 9:00 at night typically.  Therefore, I am long overdue to be 30.  We fit the bill pretty well.  Jared likes to remind me he's not 30 yet.  But, he's not far behind :).  Look out, honey!  As was the case with Caden, we will be different ages when baby girl is born.  We were 26 and 27 when Caden was born.  We'll be 29 and 30 when baby girl is.  Now 26 sounds like a young pup to me :).  Jared was only 26 when Caden was born?!?!  Really??  Haha.  See what turning 30 does to your perspective.

At any rate, my birthday was coming, ready or not.  My sweet hubby is not a planner, and he organized a wonderful dinner with friends and siblings at Old Chicago for us the Friday before.  I knew there were plans in the works for that night, but didn't know details.  Then my mom of course organized an adorable Sunday dinner birthday for me that weekend, and my wonderful in-law's took us out for dinner Monday night after Caden's swimming lessons.  I am a blessed chica indeed. 

30 won't be so bad I suppose.  Right off the bat I'm gaining a daughter at 30, so who can complain?!!?

30 and pregnant

At Old Chicago with Brittany and my sis

With my (only 29-year-old) hubby

Krissy and me

For some reason that's the only pics we got - I kept

wanting to take more and it apparently never happened -

Thanks everyone who came - It meant so much to me!

Eating leftover cupcake with CW the next night

Cuteness

We had a night just the 2 of us while Daddy was at the

football game.....look at that messy face!

Eileen's cookies for me at Mom's

So girlie.  So pretty...love it :)

Mom doesn't miss a detail.....love her

The kids with pumpkins from Marci (Grandpa D's lady :))

Helping me blow out the candles

The whole gang for Sunday dinner

Helping me open presents...."wook, money mom!"

Coloring with Great-Grandpa

Washing dishes with Grandma and Marci

At AppleBee's with Grandma and Grandad

With Friends :)

We have come to know the Dudley's, Jacob and Karlene, through our dear friends the Henning's and the Flohr's.  Jacob had been overseas for 9 months, away from his daughter the same age as Caden.  What an incredible sacrifice he makes for our country.  It is amazing to me and we are forever grateful to amazing men and women like him.  He returned about a month ago and they had a Welcome Home Captain Dudley party for him at his parents' amazingly beautiful home.  And, it happened to be a Husker football night, so we all got to watch a game together too :).  Caden had a lot of fun playing with Nora and Gianna, and making new friends.  Thanks for including us Dudley's, we were honored to be a part of the special festivities :).

Nora and Caden watching a movie

Megan, Annie, and I watching the intense game

Caden snuggled in watching a movie with his new

buddy Rowan who was the same age as him

Gianna cuddling with Jared

So cute :).....not sleeping, don't be fooled.....just

looking down at the TV

A Date with T

Caden loves his T.   He hadn't got some time with just his T for a long time.  I started noticing one week that he was calling T on his play phone a lot and talking to her.  Then he started making up stories about stuff he and T did. 

"I ride on a dog and T did too"
"I gonna drive a bus, and T gonna sit in the back, and we gonna drive far."

"Actwawee (actually), Boo gonna go wiff us, and T sit in front with me while I drive the bus.  Or maybe T will sit in the front of the back by Boo, cuz we gonna pick kids up" 

"Me and T went far away over and over and over....."

Haha, this kid was planning.  I mentioned it to my sis and she decided it was time for some one-on-one time with her favorite boy :).  So sweet of her......here's a girl who works her butt of teaching middle schoolers all week and keeping up with her 8 month old, and still took a night of her week to have Caden time.  And it meant the world to Caden.

I told him she was going to take him on a date, and he couldn't wait "to go to a date" with his T.  All day it was all he could do to be patient and wait for that time to come :).  We put on khaki pants and gel in our hair.  Studly, to say the least :).

They went to the park and had a picnic.  T even let him sit on the picnic table to eat.  They played at the park.  Then they went to McD's for icecream.  He was grinning from ear-to-ear the second she came and got him and couldn't quit smiling when he got home.

Thanks for making him feel so special T, he loves you more than you will ever know :).

Cool Weather. Football. Bring it on!!

Caden gets really into football, although I know he doesn't totally grasp it all :).  What I mean, is when Daddy and Boo or Mommy and T are going to a game, he wants to see if he sees them on TV all the time while watching the game.  I always thought that was cute, that he was watching for the crowd I assumed, and then one day I realized that was not the case.  Daddy and Boo were at the game and CW and I were home watching.  "Daddy gonna get that guy and hit him and frow da ball for points, woohoo!!"  Oh boy, he thinks they are actually playing when they go :).  How adorable.  And his cheering the Huskers on?  "Go Big Red Huskers!"  It's pretty cute.  Any football game on TV is Huskers. 

Any football game in general is Huskers, actually.  Caden is always wanting to go with daddy to the games.  Not quite yet, buddy :).  My cousin Zach Heitkamp plays for Syracuse, and we went to one of his games.  All week CW talked about going to the game and watching Huskers play.  I don't think he was fooled once we actually got there, as it looked much different than all the hoopla on TV.  He was pretty quiet for a while and just kept looking around.  Needless to say, whatever football game it was, he realized it was lots of fun :).  We all had a good time.

Just getting to the game.....not interested in taking a pic :)

Iz cheering on the team!

Eating popcorn with Tom & Grandpa

Grandpa and Mini Grandpa 

This kid makes friends everywhere we go

Playing football with Grandpa

Walking on the field after the game.....big stuff :)