My baby girl is officially walking. And she's pretty darn cute at it too!
She's a stinker tho. She totally could have been walking 2 months ago. Instead she took a few steps now and then and absolutely REFUSED to practice in my sight. I would walk into a room where she was walking and she'd see me and sit down and cry. (How DARE I interupt her private practice times!) Eventually, when she did walk while I could see it was only....ONLY... in the wading pool, on a bed, or sometimes in the grass. Never somewhere easy to walk. Never somewhere normal.
But...over the last couple weeks she's started walking more and more and by mid-July she was walking "full-time." It's sooo nice that she isn't crawling on the hot cement anymore-wearing out here knees and/or clothing, etc. The other day she tried running. And again this morning I saw her running after Kaden.
Also, she FINALLY has a 3rd tooth! I was seriously beginning to wonder if her mouth forgot what it was there for. She eats any food she wants, but no one but Mom and Dad will give her those foods since they don't think she could possible chew it with no teeth!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Kaden's 3rd Birthday
I am finally getting around to posting pictures of Kaden's 3rd birthday. We had his party 2 days early- on Sunday the 10th- and were able to invite some of his friends that we met last year at the park. When I asked him what he wanted for his party he said only two things: pizza and a Thomas cake.
At age 3 they already know how to pick the more difficult things. That's ok, tho. I was able to precook some crusts (even personal size for the 3 kids old enough to care) and get all the ingredients prepared the day before (after spending the whole day at craft day!) and so putting the pizzas together was a breeze.
I baked the cake in a round cake pan, 11 cupcakes, and a small round pan. I wasn't entirely sure what I was going to do with it.. I was just glad I had talked Kaden out of his 3D Thomas idea. I convinced him it would be MUCH more fun ot have a toy on his cake to play with later. Luke jumped in on the fun too-which made decorating fun to. (Usually it's fun, but more stressful. Luke is more into detail so he helped with getting the frosting spread just right!)
I ended up experimenting a lot with this cake and was totally and completely pleased with how it turned out. I really outdid myself, and I'm wondering what he's going to expect in coming years??? Also, i just have to say- I didn't have to run to the store-or have Luke run to the store once in the whole process. THAT is a real accomplishment for me! (WHAT? I was prepared? SO WEIRD.)
He had such a fun time. First we ate pizza outside with his friends. Then they played in the pool for a long time-with his big slide into it. Then they played in the sandbox...then we had cake and ice cream and opened presents. He was truly spoiled. He got so much Thomas and Cars toys... he couldnt have been happier!
So here starts the tradition I plan to follow for birthdays. Pick your meal, pick your cake, pick your friend. It seemed to go over very well!
Also. he wants everyone to know that since he is THREE now, he no longer wears bibs. I think I'm just as happy to be done with them. At his 3 year check he was back down in the "normal" percentiles for other 3 year olds. High, but normal. At 36lbs 8oz he was at 89th percent of average. And at 39 inches tall he is at 83rd percent average.
At age 3 they already know how to pick the more difficult things. That's ok, tho. I was able to precook some crusts (even personal size for the 3 kids old enough to care) and get all the ingredients prepared the day before (after spending the whole day at craft day!) and so putting the pizzas together was a breeze.
I baked the cake in a round cake pan, 11 cupcakes, and a small round pan. I wasn't entirely sure what I was going to do with it.. I was just glad I had talked Kaden out of his 3D Thomas idea. I convinced him it would be MUCH more fun ot have a toy on his cake to play with later. Luke jumped in on the fun too-which made decorating fun to. (Usually it's fun, but more stressful. Luke is more into detail so he helped with getting the frosting spread just right!)
I ended up experimenting a lot with this cake and was totally and completely pleased with how it turned out. I really outdid myself, and I'm wondering what he's going to expect in coming years??? Also, i just have to say- I didn't have to run to the store-or have Luke run to the store once in the whole process. THAT is a real accomplishment for me! (WHAT? I was prepared? SO WEIRD.)
He had such a fun time. First we ate pizza outside with his friends. Then they played in the pool for a long time-with his big slide into it. Then they played in the sandbox...then we had cake and ice cream and opened presents. He was truly spoiled. He got so much Thomas and Cars toys... he couldnt have been happier!
So here starts the tradition I plan to follow for birthdays. Pick your meal, pick your cake, pick your friend. It seemed to go over very well!
Also. he wants everyone to know that since he is THREE now, he no longer wears bibs. I think I'm just as happy to be done with them. At his 3 year check he was back down in the "normal" percentiles for other 3 year olds. High, but normal. At 36lbs 8oz he was at 89th percent of average. And at 39 inches tall he is at 83rd percent average.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Three soon?! OH MY!
(I know you thought this was a pregnancy announcement!)
My baby boy turns 3 in just 4 more days. I can't believe it! He is such a fun kid these days (haven't I always said that?) but really I mean it more than ever! There were times in the last 3 months I wondered if we would survive the 2s. I had heard that 3s were worse-and I was in dread. But then a few people told me that it was just a phase...an "almost 3" phase. I think (and pray) they were right! Or it could be that it's summer finally and we aren't stuck in the house? But I'm going with the 3s not so bad.
This year there won't be grandparents here for his party. We had thought Luke's parents were going to come over the 4th and we could celebrat then. However, Luke's dad had a slight heart attack and some stints put in and that plan was abandoned. Thankfully, Luke's dad is doing great after all the fuss...but Kaden's party was looking a little hopeless! I just couldn't get motivated! And on top of that he was INSISTING that he would have a 3D Thomas the Tank Engine cake. He told everyone. How do you break a heart so set on it? I wasn't sure I was up to the challenge, ESPECIALLY without a Gramma here to help! So I looked all over online and he just kept showing me just what he wanted. Then one day he said "Mom, my thomas cake will go fast!" (or something to that effect...) and then it hit me. He thought he'd be able to play with his Thomas cake. I told him that Thomas cakes don't move. They don't get played with. They just get cut and eaten. He was devastated. Absolutely devastated. So I suggested that maybe we could have a cake with a Thomas toy on top that he could play with. His eyes literally danced. We were saved! His devastation was gone, and my predicament wiped away...all in one little moment. Relief. I can't wait to make his cake now, and I can't wait to share it with you! But for now, it's a secret. :)
Next we went to the store...to look for presents. I was asked to buy presents for Luke's parents since they couldn't come. They wouldn't have time to mail anything and wanted him to have something from him. So we looked at Walmart and, of course, Kaden wanted everything but I just couldn't swallow the rediculous prices! So we headed over to Kmart. (I always wonder why I go to Kmart....) Anyway, if there's one thing about Kmart it's that it lets me down about 99 out of every 100 times I'm in there. You'd think I'd learn, but I don't. And then I hit the ONE time it has what I need and I'm s glad I haven't given up. (Trust me...if we had ANYTHING but Kmart and Walmart and the expensive Teacher's Corner I'd go...but we don't.) Anyway, I found the clearance toy aisle that I never knew existed. It was PERFECT! For $20 total I was able to get Kaden a Cars duplo gas station with 3 of the Cars characters, a Lightening McQeen matchbox car, and a Thomas the Train Memory game. He is gonnna LOVE them! How, you ask, did I buy it without his knowledge...well that was kinda a funny story.
So ...I had walked over from Walmart, WITH my groceries in the back of the cart, as well as Kaden next to them. I refused to go to the car which was at the opposite side of Walmart as Kmart...and I also refused to drive to Kmart when I could just go straight over. They didn't seem to mind the Walmart groceries, or the Walmart cart... Anyway so when I found the toys I distracted Kaden with another toy and put them on the bottom rack of the cart under where the groceries were sitting so Kaden couldn't look down and see them. Problem was, the darn McQueen car kept falling off. We LURCH as the wheel hit it and Kaden would frantically look for the problem. "What was that, MOM?" "Um, I think we just ran over a rock, Kaden....LOOOK AT THIS NEAT THING!" as I handed him some random thing to distract him and get the toy safely back on board. It didn't matter how i put it, it wouldn't stay very long. On top of that we had to go to the very back of the store because Kaden needed to go to the bathroom. REALLY, kid? The timing! So we managed to get back there without him seeing the toy...then i wondered how to get him down from there without seeing? Well i just carried him into the bathroom, came back out to get kate, and reversed it to get it back out. Then right as i started pushing to get back to the front of the store it fell of again. "MOM, you need to drive better!" as he frantically looked for my problem. "Kaden! Look at this!" to distract him....it was a camper trailer dish drainer. He was NOT impressed. By then, I think he thought I was crazy. 100% crazy. We did finally make it to the checkout aisle, where I wondered what to do. I took him out of the cart, stuck him right by the candy, and told him to look at the candy. It worked. He was too busy checking out the candy to see that i'd bought some toys. Then I tried to not buy any. MISTAKE. You do NOT plant your not-quite-3-year-old in front of the candy on purpose and then not buy something. We ended up with a package of mini M&M's...I couldn't bare to pay for anything that wasn't on sale. We made it out to the car without him noticing (remember it was all the way on the opposite side of Walmart...) and home. Then without thinking i got him out of the car and let him play in the yard while i unloaded the trunk. Yep. I opened it right in front of him. I thought he didn't see but now I'm not so sure. Two times now he's talked about the toys that are in the trunk for him! I asked if we bought him toys. He says no, mom didn't buy toys for him, but that he knew there were toys in the trunk. So I took him out to the car to have him show me (acted all confused.) He was so confused when I opened the trunk and they weren't there. "Where'd they go, Mom?" "Kaden, are you SURE there were toys in there?" "Yes...WHERE ARE THEY?" "Kaden, if momma didn't BUY toys, then we couldn' bring them home from Kmart. Did you see Momma buy toys?" "No...... but...." as he walked away. He is still wondering how he saw toys that must have never been there. I can imagine itwill all make sense on his birthday.
We're doing his party on Sunday. He has requested Pizza (how did he know he got to request???) So I think we will just do a family pizza for lunch after church and then have naptime and have a cake and ice cream party after his nap with some friends. It will be fun. I'm so glad it's all coming together. I was starting to feel bad for not being able to get in the groove with his birthday plan!
My baby boy turns 3 in just 4 more days. I can't believe it! He is such a fun kid these days (haven't I always said that?) but really I mean it more than ever! There were times in the last 3 months I wondered if we would survive the 2s. I had heard that 3s were worse-and I was in dread. But then a few people told me that it was just a phase...an "almost 3" phase. I think (and pray) they were right! Or it could be that it's summer finally and we aren't stuck in the house? But I'm going with the 3s not so bad.
This year there won't be grandparents here for his party. We had thought Luke's parents were going to come over the 4th and we could celebrat then. However, Luke's dad had a slight heart attack and some stints put in and that plan was abandoned. Thankfully, Luke's dad is doing great after all the fuss...but Kaden's party was looking a little hopeless! I just couldn't get motivated! And on top of that he was INSISTING that he would have a 3D Thomas the Tank Engine cake. He told everyone. How do you break a heart so set on it? I wasn't sure I was up to the challenge, ESPECIALLY without a Gramma here to help! So I looked all over online and he just kept showing me just what he wanted. Then one day he said "Mom, my thomas cake will go fast!" (or something to that effect...) and then it hit me. He thought he'd be able to play with his Thomas cake. I told him that Thomas cakes don't move. They don't get played with. They just get cut and eaten. He was devastated. Absolutely devastated. So I suggested that maybe we could have a cake with a Thomas toy on top that he could play with. His eyes literally danced. We were saved! His devastation was gone, and my predicament wiped away...all in one little moment. Relief. I can't wait to make his cake now, and I can't wait to share it with you! But for now, it's a secret. :)
Next we went to the store...to look for presents. I was asked to buy presents for Luke's parents since they couldn't come. They wouldn't have time to mail anything and wanted him to have something from him. So we looked at Walmart and, of course, Kaden wanted everything but I just couldn't swallow the rediculous prices! So we headed over to Kmart. (I always wonder why I go to Kmart....) Anyway, if there's one thing about Kmart it's that it lets me down about 99 out of every 100 times I'm in there. You'd think I'd learn, but I don't. And then I hit the ONE time it has what I need and I'm s glad I haven't given up. (Trust me...if we had ANYTHING but Kmart and Walmart and the expensive Teacher's Corner I'd go...but we don't.) Anyway, I found the clearance toy aisle that I never knew existed. It was PERFECT! For $20 total I was able to get Kaden a Cars duplo gas station with 3 of the Cars characters, a Lightening McQeen matchbox car, and a Thomas the Train Memory game. He is gonnna LOVE them! How, you ask, did I buy it without his knowledge...well that was kinda a funny story.
So ...I had walked over from Walmart, WITH my groceries in the back of the cart, as well as Kaden next to them. I refused to go to the car which was at the opposite side of Walmart as Kmart...and I also refused to drive to Kmart when I could just go straight over. They didn't seem to mind the Walmart groceries, or the Walmart cart... Anyway so when I found the toys I distracted Kaden with another toy and put them on the bottom rack of the cart under where the groceries were sitting so Kaden couldn't look down and see them. Problem was, the darn McQueen car kept falling off. We LURCH as the wheel hit it and Kaden would frantically look for the problem. "What was that, MOM?" "Um, I think we just ran over a rock, Kaden....LOOOK AT THIS NEAT THING!" as I handed him some random thing to distract him and get the toy safely back on board. It didn't matter how i put it, it wouldn't stay very long. On top of that we had to go to the very back of the store because Kaden needed to go to the bathroom. REALLY, kid? The timing! So we managed to get back there without him seeing the toy...then i wondered how to get him down from there without seeing? Well i just carried him into the bathroom, came back out to get kate, and reversed it to get it back out. Then right as i started pushing to get back to the front of the store it fell of again. "MOM, you need to drive better!" as he frantically looked for my problem. "Kaden! Look at this!" to distract him....it was a camper trailer dish drainer. He was NOT impressed. By then, I think he thought I was crazy. 100% crazy. We did finally make it to the checkout aisle, where I wondered what to do. I took him out of the cart, stuck him right by the candy, and told him to look at the candy. It worked. He was too busy checking out the candy to see that i'd bought some toys. Then I tried to not buy any. MISTAKE. You do NOT plant your not-quite-3-year-old in front of the candy on purpose and then not buy something. We ended up with a package of mini M&M's...I couldn't bare to pay for anything that wasn't on sale. We made it out to the car without him noticing (remember it was all the way on the opposite side of Walmart...) and home. Then without thinking i got him out of the car and let him play in the yard while i unloaded the trunk. Yep. I opened it right in front of him. I thought he didn't see but now I'm not so sure. Two times now he's talked about the toys that are in the trunk for him! I asked if we bought him toys. He says no, mom didn't buy toys for him, but that he knew there were toys in the trunk. So I took him out to the car to have him show me (acted all confused.) He was so confused when I opened the trunk and they weren't there. "Where'd they go, Mom?" "Kaden, are you SURE there were toys in there?" "Yes...WHERE ARE THEY?" "Kaden, if momma didn't BUY toys, then we couldn' bring them home from Kmart. Did you see Momma buy toys?" "No...... but...." as he walked away. He is still wondering how he saw toys that must have never been there. I can imagine itwill all make sense on his birthday.
We're doing his party on Sunday. He has requested Pizza (how did he know he got to request???) So I think we will just do a family pizza for lunch after church and then have naptime and have a cake and ice cream party after his nap with some friends. It will be fun. I'm so glad it's all coming together. I was starting to feel bad for not being able to get in the groove with his birthday plan!
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
An Update.
I go through these phases where it's really hard to convince myself to post. I'm not sure if it's because i feel like everything I'm doing is unimportant to remember. Or if there's so much going on I just don't feel like trying to keep up. I feel like it's more the second one. I have so much going on, and when I have a few minutes what I really want is to go outside since it's so nice out!
Next week the kids and I leave for Denver for a week with my friend/roommate from college. I am really looking forward to that. I have so much to get done before then though, because VBS is just 1 week later.
I tried to go to the church today to copy the VBS inserts (this attempt was #3.) It did exactly 15 and then started being a pain. I figured out how to do 10 more...so then it started printing them off center. WHAT? Stupid stupid stupid. So.... that is still not done. I was going to put up the big huge sign with Luke on Sunday but then our car died, and that became priority. I also was going to put posters up around the church, but when I looked for them I realized I hadn't gotten them ordered in time. I'm determined this stuff WILL get done. I'm thinking a family trip to the church is in order tonight.
I do however, have cooking club done, and have 1 show ready to submit, the other I'm still waiting on. I have directions MOSTLY printed for Denver next week. Deposits made, cash gotten, Walmart shopped, and the kitchen is sparkly. Only 1 more Lia Sophia order to get dropped off and that will be checked off. So I feel like I should feel accomplshed today, btu i don't!
Today I ended up at the park for a while (a story in itself) and Kaden had to potty. So, he peed on a tree. At first he was not okay with it. Then he loved it. Then he thought he needed to pick the flowers he had also peed on. GROSS!
I have looked EVERYWHERE for sandals for Kate. In all of Gillette and Rapid City there is not a single pair of cute size 3's. How is it that my kids sizes are always out of stock??? Always!!?!?!
I think why I feel so behind on this blogging thing is that Luke had 2 four day weekends in a row. That's right, he worked only 2 days out of 10. That's a lot to keep up with! We were BUSY. but we have new windows, new gutters, an (expensive) trip to Rapid, and a dead/now revived car behind us. And that's just what Luke did.
Better get back to life now...I'll try to update-even if it is boring.
Next week the kids and I leave for Denver for a week with my friend/roommate from college. I am really looking forward to that. I have so much to get done before then though, because VBS is just 1 week later.
I tried to go to the church today to copy the VBS inserts (this attempt was #3.) It did exactly 15 and then started being a pain. I figured out how to do 10 more...so then it started printing them off center. WHAT? Stupid stupid stupid. So.... that is still not done. I was going to put up the big huge sign with Luke on Sunday but then our car died, and that became priority. I also was going to put posters up around the church, but when I looked for them I realized I hadn't gotten them ordered in time. I'm determined this stuff WILL get done. I'm thinking a family trip to the church is in order tonight.
I do however, have cooking club done, and have 1 show ready to submit, the other I'm still waiting on. I have directions MOSTLY printed for Denver next week. Deposits made, cash gotten, Walmart shopped, and the kitchen is sparkly. Only 1 more Lia Sophia order to get dropped off and that will be checked off. So I feel like I should feel accomplshed today, btu i don't!
Today I ended up at the park for a while (a story in itself) and Kaden had to potty. So, he peed on a tree. At first he was not okay with it. Then he loved it. Then he thought he needed to pick the flowers he had also peed on. GROSS!
I have looked EVERYWHERE for sandals for Kate. In all of Gillette and Rapid City there is not a single pair of cute size 3's. How is it that my kids sizes are always out of stock??? Always!!?!?!
I think why I feel so behind on this blogging thing is that Luke had 2 four day weekends in a row. That's right, he worked only 2 days out of 10. That's a lot to keep up with! We were BUSY. but we have new windows, new gutters, an (expensive) trip to Rapid, and a dead/now revived car behind us. And that's just what Luke did.
Better get back to life now...I'll try to update-even if it is boring.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Right Here at Home
Nothing like watching some video coverage of a town torn apart by a tornado to put my problems in perspective!
Also seeing the pictures/videos of my hometown and the flood that is, and is coming.
It reminds me of that country song...I don't know the title. One of the main chorus lines is "I've got problems, right here at home." I think it fits. It seems that the weather is beating up all different areas and we all have our problems "right here at home."
I can't say Gillette has seen it's share yet, but I also wouldn't say I'm holding my breath against it!
But my problem "right here at home" is my sick baby girl. How many appointments, fevers, meds, etc...can this girl possibly have? It's certainly wearing on me. I'm praying for real answers...not just more meds.
But my perspective has changed. My problems are small compared to many.
Also seeing the pictures/videos of my hometown and the flood that is, and is coming.
It reminds me of that country song...I don't know the title. One of the main chorus lines is "I've got problems, right here at home." I think it fits. It seems that the weather is beating up all different areas and we all have our problems "right here at home."
I can't say Gillette has seen it's share yet, but I also wouldn't say I'm holding my breath against it!
But my problem "right here at home" is my sick baby girl. How many appointments, fevers, meds, etc...can this girl possibly have? It's certainly wearing on me. I'm praying for real answers...not just more meds.
But my perspective has changed. My problems are small compared to many.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Snakes and Worms
The other day Kaden got to go outside and play in the rain. When it's rained for 5 straight days and the forcast calls for at least 5 more we just go play in the rain. He found that our pond out back had filled with some water and proceeded to take his extra big dumptruck, some scoops of various sizes, a bucket and various other toys he happened to find in the garage and played happily for quite some time. However, this IS my Kaden-boy, and that means he cannot do anything without inviting me to join him at least every 5 minutes. (At LEAST.)
He had been coming up the deck and opening the slider and inviting baby (Katelyn) out. "Baby, do you wanna come play with me?" Baby would get all excited and mommy would have to break her heart. Eventually he realized he could tease her. That's when mommy locked the slider door. OH MY. I honestly didn't know if he was going to forgive me, but eventually he made his way back to his pond.
And figured out he could still come invite me by going through the backdoor of the garage and coming in through the garage door. About the 25th time he did this I decided enough is enough. I headed down to have a little talk with the boy. Right as I got to the door he said "LOOK MOM!" It was a worm. Now I'm not scared of worms, snakes, or anything else like that....but it startled me. I mean this thing was huge. And I just wasn't expecting it! I gasped and that was it.
Kaden saw my reaction, dropped the worm, and backed back out into the garage absolutely SHRIEKING! He was hysterical. I finally calmed him down (by calling Daddy to have daddy reassure him that it was ok)...and that he had just startled momma-no big deal. That's when he whimpered, "Mom, I was holding a snake, I think." I asked him why he thought that...he replied that "A snake startles mommy." I don't know how he got that but somehow that's what he thought. I told him it wasn't a snake and asked if he knew what it was. He happily replied that it was a WORM.
It took him a while to convince himself. I tried to get him to pick it up to put back outside (by this time, Kate was VERY willing to pick it up.) He would get *this* close, then startle and jump back. He finally did and was proud to show mommy his worm.
He had been coming up the deck and opening the slider and inviting baby (Katelyn) out. "Baby, do you wanna come play with me?" Baby would get all excited and mommy would have to break her heart. Eventually he realized he could tease her. That's when mommy locked the slider door. OH MY. I honestly didn't know if he was going to forgive me, but eventually he made his way back to his pond.
And figured out he could still come invite me by going through the backdoor of the garage and coming in through the garage door. About the 25th time he did this I decided enough is enough. I headed down to have a little talk with the boy. Right as I got to the door he said "LOOK MOM!" It was a worm. Now I'm not scared of worms, snakes, or anything else like that....but it startled me. I mean this thing was huge. And I just wasn't expecting it! I gasped and that was it.
Kaden saw my reaction, dropped the worm, and backed back out into the garage absolutely SHRIEKING! He was hysterical. I finally calmed him down (by calling Daddy to have daddy reassure him that it was ok)...and that he had just startled momma-no big deal. That's when he whimpered, "Mom, I was holding a snake, I think." I asked him why he thought that...he replied that "A snake startles mommy." I don't know how he got that but somehow that's what he thought. I told him it wasn't a snake and asked if he knew what it was. He happily replied that it was a WORM.
It took him a while to convince himself. I tried to get him to pick it up to put back outside (by this time, Kate was VERY willing to pick it up.) He would get *this* close, then startle and jump back. He finally did and was proud to show mommy his worm.
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