Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Last week we received last minute tickets to the Rockies game.  Although we were supposed to go to church that night, we skipped out and took Caden to his first baseball game instead.  He had absolutely no idea where he was going or what he was doing.

But, very quickly he decided that baseball games are a lot of fun!

After all, there's singing (he wasn't sure why everyone took their hats off, but he did it too!), 

and eating

and a playground nearby

and hanging with some of your favorite people

Oh yeah, and some baseball too (although the Nationals CREAMED us!)

We made it though about half of the game before we all decided it was time to pack up and go home - after we fished our snow cone, that is.  It was a super successful first game for our little guy!

Go-o-o-o-o-o-o Rockies!

Beating the Heat

Yikes, it's been hot around here!

Yep, that's 100 degrees at 5:30pm

In fact, it's so hot that our beautiful state is going up in flames.  And it's only June.  Double yikes!

It's been too darn hot for my fair skinned, blond haired friends to even go outside.  So, we've spent a lot of time inside potty training, playing trucks, and playing on the iPad

On the days that the evenings cool off enough that we can go outside, we've been finding some fun ways to beat the heat...

Like going for a walk by the creek in downtown Golden!  While we were there we peeked our head into the windows of the fire station and were so happy when the garage doors opened and we got to have a personal tour of the fire trucks - complete with a fireman's hat and everything!

After we left the fire station (which is right next door to the police station), we walked out back and saw a Golden policeman standing outside his car.  Caden must have been feeling pretty brave because he asked the officer if he could drive his car.

We told Caden that he is only allowed to ride in the front of a police car.  Ever.

We've also been playing with the coolest bubble gun.  I can't remember who gave Caden this for his birthday, but it is a BIG hit.  In my experience, bubble guns usually break immediately upon opening.  But the "Turbo Bubble Gun" is awesome and makes unbelievable bubbles!

But, without a doubt, Caden's favorite way to beat the heat is to play on our neighbor's Slip and Slide.  He started out scooting down on his bum...

...or running...

...or crawling

But after a little help from a friend

and a snuggle from Mommy to warm up

He totally got it!

And he ran

and splashed

Until he crashed

Hope you're finding ways to beat the heat too!

Another Place We Can Never Go Again...

During Caden's first year of life, we took pictures of him at 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and one year.  We decided to do the same thing for Asher (we already have the frame, after all!).  My sweet friend, Courtney, usually takes the boys' pictures, but I didn't want to bother her every three months, so I dragged him down to Kiddie Kandids.  I thought it was going to be an easy shoot - Asher is the sweetest, smiliest, easiest going little guy I have EVER met.  WRONG! Let's just say we can NEVER go there again!  Asher was sleepy, which caused him to be ca-rank-ee (if you're in a really bad mood, cranky has 3 syllables.  Trust me.).  Plus, he spit up 4 times.  Projectile spit up.  4 times.  On his clothes, me, and their blanket.  4 times (did I mention that part?).  I just laughed, because what else are you going to do?  I kept telling the photographer that my sweet Asher is usually the happiest guy on the block and has the greatest smile.  I'm not sure she believed me! I felt so bad that she (who, incidentally, was about 12, had worked their 3 weeks, and our shoot was her first time being alone in the store.  Super.) had spent so much time with us that I had to buy something.  So I searched and found a picture that will do.  It's not his best work - he's not smiling, but he has a pleasant, sweet look.  After all of that, I'll take it!

She also managed to get a cute picture of his little toesies.  I just thought this was darling!

For a comparison, here are both boys' 3 month pictures.  That is Caden on top and Asher on the bottom.  

I forgive you sweet Asher!  Who needs Kiddie Kandids anyway?!?  Everyone who loves you will always remember that at three months old you had a smile to die for.  

Next time, we'll call Courtney instead!

Prince of the Potty

**Caden, I know that one day this post will embarrass you.  I'm really sorry, but I'm just so stinkin' proud of you that I had to post it.  I promise not to show this to your prom date - I'll wait to show your wife instead!** 

Someone around here has a lot to be proud of!  

We have been attempting to potty train CP for the last 7 months - remember this post from last November?  Unfortunately, he just wasn't ready.  He tried hard - he sat on the potty a lot, but he just couldn't make the pee-pee come out.  He was frustrated.  I was frustrated.  The doctor wondered why I was even trying it before the baby came.  I didn't have a good answer, so we quit.  

Until this week.  Then we hit it hard.  I put him in underwear and gave him a lot of juice (a big treat!)  He sat on the potty a LOT.  

Don't you wish you had a potty in the living room?!?

We read a lot of potty books. His favorite was The Prince of the Potty 

We talked a lot about him being "The Prince of the Potty" too.   

I guess he was finally ready, because on Wednesday he did it.  We celebrated, danced, called Papa and Gaga, and got a truck for the first 5 times that he went.  He also got a sticker on a chart each time he went. By Thurs. he had filled out his first chart of five stickers and he earned a toy of his choice. He was pretty excited and really proud of himself!

 

 Although it was a hard decision, 

he surprisingly (ha!) chose a truck!

That's a pretty happy Prince!

On Friday he was able to complete sticker chart #2

and we even made our first outing without a diaper!

I haven't wanted to jinx anything, but I think he's got it now.  I think he's really The Prince of the Potty!  

On Saturday night we were at a park when he said he needed to go potty.  So we raced over to the (gross, outhouse-like) bathroom nearby.  I had accidentally left his fold up potty seat in the diaper bag, attached to the stroller on the other side of the park (I panicked when he said he had to go and we just ran), so I just held him up there and he did it!  He earned two stickers for that one!

**I'm REALLY sorry about this next part, Cade.  I promise to keep it short!*

Unfortunately, there was one thing that he hadn't done yet - poop in the potty.  He was a little nervous about that one because he had an accident on Thurs. and well, you know...gross!  Instead, he just held it in.  Yikes!  I'll save you the details, but basically, after a conversation about the mechanics of how it all worked (I had never thought to explain some of this stuff!) he did it!  Oh happy day!

Our big guy is pretty psyched to be wearing big boy underwear.

If you come over to our house he'll show them to you - but fair warning, he's probably going to ask to see yours too!

I am 99.9% ecstatic that he is no longer wearing diapers (two in diapers + formula for one = broke Team Zahrte!), but I have to admit that there is .1% of me that is sad that my baby is so big.  This was really the last of the baby-ness.  Sigh.  

Congratulations, Big Boy Prince!  Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you!