895 Days

Yesterday, Caden and I went to the pediatrician for his 895 day check up.  Just kidding, it was really to get him a flu shot.  Which, as it turns out, is just a mist sprayed up his nose.  Hallelujah, so much better than a shot - he didn't even cry and we were out of there lickity-split!  Caden was not thrilled when he heard we were going to the doctor.  He was even trying to get me to go for him! In the car on the way he said, "No Cay-Cay doctor.  Just mama doctor."  Being able to be in and out of there with no tears was a huge accomplishment! 

Of course we couldn't leave before registering #2 with our fantastic pediatrician and getting CP to stand on the scale.  We haven't been to the doctor since May and I was sure that he weighed 350 lbs give or take a few.  I knew he was 26lbs 8 oz at his 2 year check up 5 months ago, but I was still surprised that he *only* weighed 29lbs 2 oz.  I realize that's a 3 lb gain in 5 months, but I was just sure he was going to be about 32 lbs.  The good news is that I'm still in the clear to carry him (OB says I can lift up to 40 lbs) which I've been doing a lot lately - "Mama hold you!"

Just for the sake of recording, here is what cute Caden P looks like at 895 days old



He's showing off his "I Voted" sticker.  Way to do your civic duty, Buddy!



Yeah for being a big, tough guy, Cadster!

Like Dis, Mama!

 The other day I found Caden like this...

He's flipping through a Fisher-Price Christmas catalog.  When I walked in he pointed to a Lightning McQueen toy and said, "Like dis, Mama!"

I guess someone has already started his Christmas list!

Operation Christmas Child

It may only be October, but we're already thinking about Christmas - but not for us.  Our church is collecting shoes boxes full of toys for Operation Christmas Child - a wonderful organization that delivers shoe boxes full of toys and toiletry items to needy children around the world.  Our family (ok, me) decided that we wanted to participate and have Caden help pick out toys for a little 2-4 year old boy across the world.  I was hoping it would go better than the last time we tried to donate some toys. 

With my fingers crossed, Caden and I loaded up in the car and went to Target

Where he helped me pick out cars, yo-yos, a toothbrush, toothpaste (HAD to be the one with a choo-choo on it), paper, pencils, and other items.  There were a lot of things in those bags!



Ok, so maybe we found a fireman hat in the dollar bin for you know who.

And we took them home and neatly packed them up

Alright, maybe not neatly, but we did get them in there

We (Ok, me again) even added a personalized note before we closed it up

Does he really get it?  No, but he does understand that he doesn't get to play with the toys and they're for the "boys."

And for now, I think that's good enough. And there were no tears.  Double success!! 

Bye-Bye Caden's Castle

  All good things must come to an end...

Bye-bye Caden's Castle

You were fun while you were here!

16 Weeks

Today I went to the doctor for my 16 week appointment.  No ultrasound this time, just a routine pee in a cup and listen to the heartbeat appointment.  It *should* have been so simple that JZ didn't even come with me.  I say *should* because for the first time ever the midwife struggled to find the heartbeat.  I layed on the table and didn't say a word as she assured me that it was there, but the baby was just being stubborn.  Sure enough a few minutes later I heard that wonderful beating heart - 156 bpm!  She said she would leave it there for a minute so I could listen while I cried and cried.  I have what's called an anterior placenta - my placenta is attached in the front.  It's perfectly normal, it just means that it's a little bit more difficult to hear the heartbeat because there's a "barrier" to go through, and I probably will not feel movement as early or as strong because the placenta is in the way.  Regardless, we have a healthy, growing baby, who was way up high and kept moving around.  She said we must either have a "drama queen" or a "prankster" in there.  Hmm.  None of those are the easy-going or calm one that I was hoping for.  God help us!

We also got the results back from some genetic screening that we had done.  The blood test showed that our baby has a 1 in 10,000 chance of having down syndrome and a 1 in 10,000 chance of having trisomy 8.  Another big sigh of relief. 

I'm feeling much better than I was at the beginning.  I'm still pretty exhausted, and that could be the pregnancy.  Or the teaching.  Or the 2 year-old I chase around daily. Or the combination of all 3.  I'm now in maternity clothes and growing daily. 

So that's the update on #2!  And just to not leave out #1, here is a video of him "reading" the other night

Wordless Wednesday:Markers

Fight on You Stalwart Ram Team...

 Last Saturday, JZ and I took Caden to his first CSU football game.  We had been talking about it for awhile and he was super excited.  He woke up Saturday morning and the first thing he said was, "Football game." Our little Ram fan was ready to cheer on his favorite team!

We drove up early, put him down for a nap at a friend's house, and then went to the game a little late.  Everything started out fine, and then the Rams scored.  The crowd went wild, the cannon went off, and Caden did this...

And then we never went back to our seats.  He spent the remainder of the game playing in the rocks

and checking out the "amlance", "peace car", and "fire truck."

I even tried bribing him with fruit snacks and ice cream.  No luck, he was not going back.  Luckily, we could still watch the game from the rock pile

The Rams were behind the whole game and then tied it up in the last quarter

Unfortunately, with 54 seconds left, the Rams botched a field goal and then San Jose State scored a touchdown.  Bummer.

At least our little Ram fan ended up having a great time (once the cannon stopped going off)

After the game, we had a post-tailgate with some friends.  Caden loved playing with his new friend, Kasey. 

Those boys have some serious soccer skills!

All in all, despite the Rams heartbreaking loss, and Caden feeling *slightly* overwhelmed, I'd call our first CSU game a success!