Life has been happenin'......I'll try to get you caught up :)

Caden is changing by the minute!  I say it all the time, but it continues to blow my mind.  He has a favorite book, "Llama Llama Misses Mama" right now.  He can recite most of every page and it's so cute.....he's 'reading', haha. 

And the first 2 pages have fallen out because we read it so much.  I said I needed to fix the pages.  And keep forgetting til we're reading it again.  I told him to be careful with the pages when we read it.  Now every time we read it, "Real careful Mama, be real careful.  You fixy with tape some day mama?"  Haha.  So cute. 

He has all sorts of little phrases he's saying right now.  Cracks me up.  I tried to jot down a few but I'm sure there's lot's I'm forgetting. 

"You so funny"
He says this all the time.  If I say something remotely silly, or not :), he'll tell me this.  So cute.

"Go Huskers!!!"
Caden's way of 'smoothing things over' in tense situations or when he is in trouble.  He assumes it will work :).......and sometimes it does.

"Me Okay!"
If you hear this, he has either fallen, gotten into something he shouldn't, or done something else mischevious (spelling?).....go check on the situation :)

"Two kine five mitties"
This is his time reasoning.  On everything.  "Caden, we need to go now." This will be his response.  I think he's saying Two kind of five minutes, or something like that.  He whips that time out a lot.  Ha.

"Don't breaky you neck"
While Jared was gone (more on that later) I tossed all the dirty laundry into the stairway, and refused to move it until it went into the washer/dryer, I wanted it all done!  One day when we were leaving to run errands I'd forgotten it was there, and said, "Oh no, don't break your neck" under my breath, as we went down the steps.  Now if there's anything on the steps, "Me okay mom, me no breaky me necky.  Now you no breaky you necky, okay??"  Haha.

"So pre-ee"
He will mess with my hair and look at my earrings, and tell me I'm pretty :).  Love him.

"Who itty?"  "Oh, Coo!"
If he sees someone he doesn't know, sees an animal in a book he doesn't know, whatever.  This is his way of asking who it is.  And when I answer, his way of answering "Oh cool."  What a hoot!!  He asks a lot these days.

"Who you talky to?"
If I am on the phone, calling someone, or just getting off the phone.  More questions :).

"It's my favorite"...."No me my faritty"
If we're doing something I like or reading a book or watching a show I like, I'll say "It's my favorite." He apparently thinks only 1 person can have that favorite, so he'll always respond that it's his favorite, not mine :).

"Me prow you momma!"
When I tell him I'm proud of him for listening or whatever, this is how he responds :).

In other news......
 
Jared went to Liberia Africa for 10 days.  He had an incredible experience.  It was 6 of them from our church.  He'd love to share with you some time......it was amazing.  He is still dragging.....he's been back about 10 days now......between exhaustion and still having to take Milaria (spelling?) pills, he's not 100% yet.



We've been having Izzie Monday's and WEdnesday's while Allie teaches, and have loved it :). Caden is so cute with her. He will stop in the middle of playing several times a day and come kiss her. He is in love.......and so are we :)!!

We went to the zoo with Jaime and Bryan........made flower pots for Grandma's and Auntie on Mothers Day.......Did Nature Walk at school to raise money for Nature Explore Center remodel......went to baptism for sweet baby Henry.......went to Lincoln zoo a few times....fed goats lots.........Grammy and Grandpa built a swingset for the kids in their backyard......Grandpa swings with Caden :).....Caden planted me a flower in a cute little cup for Mothers Day at school, and made an adorable picture with his handprints, so precious :).......Izzie took a bath at our house.....in the sink....while CW was in the tub.....it was awesome.......Caden helped himself to cheerios, while naked, and shared with the dog, all before I found him to see what he was up to.......went to Lexi's birthday party and had lots of fun with our friends......playdates.........met Jon and kiddos at the park and Lizzy and Caden swang on swings forever.......lots of blowing bubbles, playing 'basketball' (any ball game) in the backyard......playing with dogs......running in yard........going to park.........can't keep him inside :)

We've had lots of grad parties, etc, and life is flying by as always. Love to you all!

Easter

Our's was lovely.  Hope your's was too :)

Always Changing

Caden has some new lingo the last couple weeks.  It's pretty cute and funny.

"What doon momma?"  (What are you doing?).......asks it ALL the time now
"Who you talky to??"
"Sure momma, sure!"
"Me too fine" (I'm fine)
"Talka me" (Talk to me........when I am  closing my eyes in his bed & not talking)
"Wooky me" (Look at me)
"Real fasty" (Really fast)
"Too hotty" (too hot)

He continues to blow our minds with how he doesn't miss a beat.  Like mother like son, I guess :).  We drive by the park, "T, Boo, Dadda and Bampa all takey me here".  Yep, they've all taken him to Holmes Lake.

"Car like you momma but different persons."  Yep, that's like my van, but it's somebody else's. 

We see a guy in a blue shirt kind of like daddy's uniform he wears to work.  "That guy go to worky too momma?" 

Aunt Linda watched Caden for a while last week, and she had to take my Grandpa to the doctor in the middle of the day, so Linda dropped Caden off with my cousin while she did that.  When I got home, he tells me "Winna takey gate bampa to doccer and me go Cheechee's house".  Yep, Linda took great-grandpa to the doctor and you went to Teresa's.

I bought a skirt the other day at Kohl's.  Caden was with me when I tried it on and bought it.  Happened that my mom got my sis the same skirt for Easter.  Allie was trying it on at mom's, and Caden comes running over "Momma, you hatty too.  You hatty these clothes too!!"  Yes, I have those clothes too.

One time we looked at fish at Walmart.  Now every time we are near the area of 84th& Highway 2, "Go see fishies momma?"   Haha.

We needed to go get dog food. We knew he'd know the pet store, so (we sound terrible), Jared drove the 'back way' in the parking lot hoping I could just run in quick and he wouldn't notice.  Well, first going the back way we passed the gas station we got a slushie at one time.  "Mom, sushies, here!  Peeez!!  Me wanty sushie!!"  Fail number one.  Then, we pull around the building (still not even in front of the pet store), and he says "Oh, Bar Mi need food?"  WE CAN'T FOOL HIM!!!

Buddies

Welcome to our house, Izzie!  (Followed by open mouth kiss)

Asleep in her bed at Auntie's

Caden saying "cheese" really proud of himself for

putting Izzie's hair bow around Milo's neck.  Oops.

"Me hold beebee!!!"

"Me and beebee play cars.  She likey!!!"

We've had Izzie starting this week since Allie started back at work.  We had her Monday and Wednesday.  It was delightful.  I adore her and all her rolls and deliciousness :).  She is an angel baby.  And Caden has been suprisingly involved and sweet with it all.  He has been very cute with trying to 'fill her in' on what's going on, and getting her to play with him.  It's pretty comical.  And sweet :).

These moments.......and those moments

Caden keeps me on my toes indeed.  Has since the day he was born.  Stayed awake the first four hours of his life.  He was ready to roll :).  He is so sweet.  And so wild.  So caring.  And so 'violent.' We see it all these days.  Still want to squeeze him to death he's so cute :).

We have the moments when he kisses me on the lips out of no where.  And the moments when he yells to "Knock it otty" (Knock it off).

The moments when he puts his arms around me in bed and says, "Whatch too mom" (Love you too).  And moments when he hits our pastor in the face when he's talking to us.

The moments when he curls up with me and wants to snuggle.  And moments when he refuses to eat and his fork goes flying across the room.

Moments when he says "Sure mom" in this adorable voice and melts me.  And then moments when he cries because we're not outside. Then cries because we are outside.  Then cries because I'm standing in the wrong place on the patio.........and so on.........

Moments when he 'reads' his book "Llama Llam Misses Mama" and makes my sis and I cry it's so cute.  And moments when he is sassy and says "Wissen to me" (Listen to me).

Moments when he offers his milk to cousin Izzie when she's crying.  And moments when he pushes on her stomach and she cries.

Moments when he lays on the floor and pets Milo and talks so sweetly to him, telling he's a "Goo bo Mi" (Good boy Milo).  And moments when he hits Milo on the head with the frisbee they were playing with.

Moments when he says "Goo Nighty Dadda.  Me Whatcha too".  And moments when he has a meltdown in the middle of the store and I'm the mom who leaves my cart and carries the screaming kicking kid out of the store.

Moments when he asks me "You buy more fruit snacky Bejjy Tail" (Buy more Veggie Tale fruitsnacks) in his adorable sweet tone.  And moments when he screams he wants some milk and I have to remind him yet again he needs to ask nicely and say 'please' first. 

We correct him/reprimand him when he acts in the 'those' moments the way that he does.  Doesn't seem to be doing any good, but keep on persisting we will :).  And eventually it will pay off, right?  Everyone tells me he is wonderful and polite and listens well, so at least I know he is learning how he is supposed to act, haha.  Now if only I could get a little more of a taste of that, ha.

Now I sounds like I'm complaining.  That I am not.  We have SO much fun with this wild man.  Exhausted?  Yes.  Challenged?  Yes.  Blessed beyond measure and forever grateful?  Yes.  The joy of our lives forever?  Yes.  But, let's be honest, he's a 2-year-old boy, and this momma has her work cut out for her sometimes.  Or maybe it's just me.........goodnight :).

This week with my favorite boy

Pajama day at school 3/1/12

We went to the park this week a couple of times.  We played outside a lot.  Caden got lot's of time with Isabel. 


First time getting Mr. Potato head together with ALL parts
in all the right places by himself.  So cute :).


This morning when Caden woke up he woke me up and said, "Momma, I miss you."  BREAK MY HEART!!  I had been gone a lot the last few days and Jared had him to bed the last couple nights before I got home.  I knew he'd been missing me because when I was around he wanted me to hold him non-stop.  If I left the room his sweet little voice would say, "Momma, wheh aw you??" (Mommy where are you?).  My favorite.  Anyhoo, it was pretty sweet.  So, between that and daylight savings woes he and I skipped church today.  We went to Walmart and shopped forever.  He was so well-behaved.  It was great.  "Momma I miss you."  Melt my heart.  I hear that, and "Hey, you want candy for breakfast?  Okay!!"  Haha.  Seriously. 



Helping Daddy in with Laundry Room
renovations.  Insisted on frog boots :).

 New this week, Caden says "Sure" (minus the 'r' sound) tons.  In context.  "Sure momma, sure!!"  So cute.  And now when I tell him we need to change him, ask him if he is hungry, whatever, he says, "No me too fine momma."  He's fine and doesn't need messed with, haha.  "Me too fine."  Love it.

Jared took Caden to the Lorax movie this week.  We'd attempted to take him to Cars 2 last year, but he was too little and the movie wasn't good enough to captivate him.  Not the case with this.  They got there after the credits had been rolling, so it was dark in there.  CW was a little aprehensive and wanted to sit in Daddy's lap.  He sat there the entire time and watched.  At the end when the lights turned on, he looked around in amazement.  He couldn't believe other people were there.  Haha.  He'd thought it was just him and Daddy there the whole time in that big theatre.  So sweet.






This is big - has been terrified of shower.  Went in, wanted
water on, and showered by himself....3 times :).  Love him.


We babysat Isabel for a couple hours for the first time Friday night.  I had asked Caden that morning if he'd help babysit Isabel.  Well, she fussed for a bit while she was here, and Caden crawled up next to her, rubbed her face and said, "You miss T, baby??"  He's so smart.  He figured  she was missing her mommy, 'T'.  Then later he told me he baby needed her T-Boo.  (T and Boo, aka Allie and Bryan aka baby's parents :)).  When it was time for bedtime he told me he couldn't go to sleep because I needed to "sitty the baby."  (Babysit her) til she left.  Ha.

He is officially my kid, in case the jury was still out for some. He knows people's cars. It's crazy. We pull up to school, and he sees Nora's mommy's car, Lizzy's mommy's car, and tells me which is which and that they are at school. Or sometimes we see a red PT on the street and he tells me he sees Bampa's car. He doesn't miss a beat.

Another biggie...wore his baseball cap....and on his own!











Went to the park Monday.  Chilly but had a blast!



Wanted to pull the wagon home from the park.

Or places.  This kid doesn't forget 'em.  Him and Jared walked on the bike path along Pioneers by our house a couple months ago.  He still tells me every time we go down Pioneers that him and daddy go "herrr" (here) and points to the trail.  Oh, and the movie?  Well, when we ran errands  yesterday, when I turned to go down 56th (the way towards the theatre), he told me he and daddy went "herrr" that way to the "moo" (movie).  Then he pointed to the Edgewood Movie theatre as we went by and told me to go there for another "moo."  How does he remember those things??  Doesn't miss a beat,
I'm telling ya!!!

Babysitting Isabel.  He couldn't love her more! (And neither
could we frankly!!)

Caden, Uncle J, and Izz.  Love.

Out to eat for Grammy's birthday.  CW decided to clean up
the salad.  He was in 'rare form' and at this point I didn't seem
to care I guess.  Oops.

My thoughts exactly, "T"!!

Happy Birthday to Grammy (a week early, since she'll

be gone this weekend :)).  WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!

The Day They Met

So I had already fallen in love with Isabel and was on cloud 9 of emotions.  I got home that evening after Caden was in bed.  The next morning I told him T had had her baby and we were going to get to meet her.  I told him her name was "Isabel."  He quickly corrected me that her name was "T's Baby," as it had been for 9 months to him :).  My mistake.  He was so excited he couldn't get dressed fast enough. 

I had ordered a shirt for him and for Isabel.  "I'm the BIG cousin", and "I'm the little cousin."  I told Caden what his shirt said, and explained Isabel was his cousin and that's what the shirt said.  Again he corrected me.  Her name was T's baby and the shirt said "Go Huskies!" (Huskers).  Duh.  My mistake again.

We stopped at the store to get some flowers and a balloon for T and her baby.  I had something, you know, baby-themed in mind, but again I was mistaking :).  Caden selected a Happy Valentine's Day balloon and small rose plant.  Duh again.  (PS Why do they have V Day balloons in the store so early??  They don't last that long.....duh!).  Anyhoo, so we were off to the hospital. 

I didn't really know what to expect from Caden.  Whether he would be really excited or scared.  Whether he would love on the baby or be jealous.  On the way I told him baby was very little and we'd need to be very gentle with baby.  No hitting or yelling.  Ugh.  I was getting nervous how this would go :).

We got to the hospital.  I entered a euphoria for a few minutes that I only wish I had on tape.  Caden was so excited to see her.  He couldn't hold her fast enough.  He just looked at her while he held her.  Kissed her on the head.  Smiled at her.  Touched her cheek.  Checked to see if she had a shirt on under the blanket.  Touched her head.  Kissed her again.  Whispered, "Whatcha too, baby" (Love you too, baby) to her several times.  Kissed her again.  Seriously the most precious thing I have ever seen.  It was amazing.  I cried my eyes out.  It was lovely. 

At the risk of being a total cheeseball, it was seriously a heavenly moment.  That was the only time Caden has held her for that long and been that sweet and gentle to her.  I am so thankful for their special first meeting :).  Not that he isn't sweet to her, but sometimes he's a little rough, only holds her for 2 seconds, etc.  You know, the 2-year-old boy comes though.  There again, so thankful for that special time.

Caden has adjusted to life with his little cousin really well.  I was afraid he'd be jealous of T, Boo, Grammy, and Grandpa.  Mostly, though I need to credit those 4 for this going so well.  They all make a conscious effort to make sure he still feels like the greatest thing on earth when he's around them.  Right when we got to the hospital to visit, T invited him to sit with her on the bed.  Boo took him on a walk.  T let him go down to the nursery with her the next day and watch baby's hearing test.  Grammy still slobbers all over him.  Grandpa still does projects at the house with him.  Turns out he isn't any less loved by them all, no worries, Caden :). 

As of about 2 weeks ago he officially accepted her name is Isabel.  Not only that,but he has come full circle and claims Boo as her father now.  For a long time according to CW, T was her mommy, but Boo was not her daddy (makes sense......he didn't see Boo with a baby in his tummy I guess, haha).  They are now officially a unit to him.  Everything used to always be "T-Boo".  Where are you going Caden??  "T-Boo's".  Who loves you Caden?  "T-Boo."  Now everything is "T-Boo-Wizbehw".  Haha.  It's precious. 

Caden s a cousin.  My heart is happy :).  Sweet baby girl, I know he might be a bit rough and tumble with you, and you'll have to toughen up to him quickly, but he will always have your back :).