Yum....Peas!!

Caeden started eating cereal at about 4 1/2 months old. At first he wasn't so sure about it, but eventually he got the hang of it and loved his cereal. So on February 3 we decided to give him a shot at eating peas. As you can see from this picture he was a little unsure of the taste in the beginning. The peas were thick and had a completely different texture from his cereal. But the more he ate them the more he loved them!!!






By Caeden's third or fourth bite of peas he was diving into them!! We have tried all of the Gerber 1st stage veggies and I have to admit that peas are by far his favorites. He also enjoys green beans and carrots. He's really not too sure about the squash and I think it's safe to say that he's not a fan of sweet potatos! I am terribly allergic to sweet potatos myself, so I won't be offended if he never wants to eat them :)

Valentine's Day 2008

Caeden and Adelyn...best buddies
Of course his heart belongs to mommy!
Mommy's Little Valentine :)
Valentine Puppy from Grammie and Pappy

So Caeden's first Valentine's day was an exciting one for him. Granny and Papaw were still in Florida, so he spent the day with Adelyn, Aunt Netter, and Ma Nancy. As you can see from the picture at the top Caeden was really into the Valentine's Day spirit and was trying to hold Adelyn's hand. Or maybe he was taking her red ring away...but either way they are totally cute together and are the best of friends. He took his Jumperoo to play in that day and boy did he have a big time jumping!! He even shared it with Adey girl and let her try it out too. After we left Aunt Netter's we came home and made a Valentine's dinner for Daddy. Chad had to be at work in Lexington at 4:30 a.m. on Valentine's day and he even got a speeding ticket on his way there :( Poor Daddy wasn't having a very good day and we knew that he would be much too tired to go anywhere...so we made a quiet dinner at home. After we ate we played with Caeden and had a big time rolling around on the floor. I should take the time to mention that Caeden rolled from his belly to his back for the first time when we were visiting Annette on January 7th. So when I picked him up on Valentine's Day Ma Nancy informed me that Caeden had been rolling all over her floor. Welp...she was right. He started rolling from belly to back and then from his back to his belly on Valentine's day while spending the day at Netter's (must be something about her floor!! HA!). So overall it was a pretty relaxed, but fun, first Valentine's Day for the Caeden man :)

A week with Daddy and Aunt Netter

Granny and Papaw frequently go and visit Mitch, Jill, Hunter, Holly, and T.J. in Florida and they had a trip planned for February 2-15. It worked out that Chad was able to stay home with Caeden February 4, 5, and 6 and it was a really good experience for the both of them! Chad was definitely nervous about keeping Caeden for a whole day without me being there. It was too funny but he called me at about 9:30 a.m. on Monday morning and said, "well he's awake and I fed him cereal..now what does he do all day!!" I had to laugh out loud, but I think he entertained Caeden well and they bonded for their few days together. Caeden then went and stayed with Aunt Netter and Ma Nancy on Thursday, February 7 and boy did he have a big time!! Adelyn was there with him and he had a good time playing with her. On February 11, Caeden was able to go and stay with Nanny (his great grandmother) and then the ice storm came so I was home with him on February 12th and 13th. Caeden was then able to go back to Aunt Netter's on Valentine's Day!! I am super glad that he got to spend this holiday with his best buddy Adelyn! Aunt Netter took some cute pictures of them and I have stolen them and posted them above. Overall I know that Caeden missed Granny and Pappa while they were gone, but he also got to spend some time with some of his favorite family members :)

Mommy and Daddy's Birthdays

So Chad and I turned the big 27 in January. My birthday is January 1 and Chad's is January 12! My birthday was pretty laid back for a New Year's Birthday. On New Year's Eve Aunt Netter and Jeff came over and we played a new game that Netter had bought. Caeden went to bed early as usual, so he had no idea there was a new year coming in!! When I woke up on New Year's Day I immediately knew that I didn't feel right. I was sick to my stomach and I soon found out that Chad thought he was getting the flu!!! I called my mom and Caeden went to Grammie's for his first ever overnight stay. I felt terrible all day long and spent my birthday asleep in the recliner! The next day I was much better (Chad wasnt) and I was so happy to go and get my little Caeden man. We eventually went out to eat for my birthday, but I have to admit it wasn't the greatest birthday I've ever had. Thankfully everyone was well on Chad's birthday and we went to Applebee's with my parents to celebrate. We also went to the Merrick Inn in Lexington with Chad's family to celebrate as well! Overall our birthday's were the most memorable because they were the first that we celebrated with Caeden :)

Caeden's Christmas List

Caeden LOVES his new Jumperoo Santa brought!

Another favorite of Caeden's...his exersaucer from Great Uncle Mitch and Great Aunt Jill

So independent in his BeBe Pod seat!

Well Caeden's first Christmas has come and gone..and boy was it a big one!! He got so much stuff and people are constantly asking me what he got and I honestly have lost count. So I am going to post a list of what everyone got him so that way I can print it off and keep it for him so he will know just how loved he was his first Christmas here. So sit back and relax...because this is going to be a long list!! HA!!
Friday before Christmas
*Granny's Christmas Party ~ Kristin drew his name and got him a set of key teething rings and Granny got him a book called "Little Lion and Daniel" and it has a lion puppet to go with it.
*Aunt Netter ~ Moose outfit with socks, brown dress shoes, and a toy guitar.
*Ma Nancy ~ Brown football outfit with a bib
Christmas Eve
*Bob and Betty Pingleton (Nanny and Papaw) ~ Blue outfit with sweater, ball that wiggles and rolls, and a train with balls that blow out of the smoke stack.
*Kyle Kephart ~ Glass snowman ornament
*J.C. and Kathleen Patterson (Memaw and Papaw) ~ Stand up horse, blue snowsuit, small stuffed bear, and a step stool to match his room.
*Deidra, Tim, Dillion, and Kali ~ U.K. sweatsuit
*Tabi, Fred, Zac, and Zane ~ Carter's sleep sack, John Deere barn with animals, and a John Deere combine toy.
Christmas Day
*Mommy and Daddy ~ Bebe pod seat, Leap Frog Little Leaps, Little Leaps Game, Link a doos, Sweater with hat to match, jeans, overalls with alligators and a green shirt to go under it, 2 books, a toy for carseat, cincinnati reds fitted baseball hat, turtleneck, longsleeve shirt, and the Rainforest Jumperoo (couldn't find it until the day after Christmas!!)
*Grammie and Pappy ~ Radio Flyer wagon, baby tool set, Fisher Price Stackable stars, Teddy Bear that talks when you push the buttons on its belly, thermal shirt with jeans, football shirt with jeans, khacki pants with long sleeved onesie, blue jeans with camo belt, short sleeved shirt for summer. His stocking had two books, a toy phone that he LOVES, a package of socks, and a teether in it.
*Uncle Brent and Aunt Kelsey ~ Nike Shox, a toy for the car, a baseball, Izod warmup suit, three short sleeved shirts for this summer, and Fisher Price busy balls.
*Aunt Sherry ~ Sleeper (and she had already given him a Baby's First Christmas bib and burp cloth!)
*Nanny and Grandpa ~ 3 pairs of pajamas, a package of socks with cars and trucks on them, and a teether. He also got a stocking with diaper size baby lotion, kleenex, and a bib.
*Nana Penny ~ Radio Flyer Horse, Radio Flyer Walker, a Carter's fleece overall outfit, a pair of baby's first Levi's, 2 books, a white bear, and a Christmas long sleeved onesie.
The Day after Christmas
*Granny and Papaw ~ Camo pants with 2 onesies to match, a camo hat, and a stuffed lamb.
*Great Uncle Mitch and Aunt Jill ~ Evenflo Exersaucer
*Great Uncle Mike and Aunt Jennifer ~ A U.K. football signed by Jacob Tamme and a pair of blue corduroy pants with a long sleeved onesie to match.

Baby's First Christmas

Caeden in his wagon and Grammie and Pappy's!

It was a cold Christmas...Caeden in his hat!!

Tasting his new toys!! Everything goes to to the mouth!

Our first Christmas as a family...what a time we had!

This Christmas was definitely a lot of fun with Caeden! He was only 3 months old, but everyone had such a good time holding him and giving him presents. Christmas was very hectic this year and we started Christmas Eve off by having breakfast at Cracker Barrel with Granny, Pappaw, Mom, Mike, Jennifer, and Landon. After breakfast Caeden and I met Chad at Bob and Betty's to open gifts. Caeden was wide awake and ready to play with all his new toys. The next stop was J.C. and Kathleen's and by that point Caeden was tired and ready for a nap. He slept while everyone ate and opened their gifts, but he woke up in time to see everything that he got! Christmas Eve night was a relaxing one for us and we went to bed early so we could enjoy the next day! Christmas morning we went to mom and dad's and Caeden cleaned up in!! For lunch we went to Nanny and Grandpa's and Caeden was able to catch a nap and then open his gifts. For dinner we went to Chad's mom's and Caeden got a lot more cute stuff from his Nana. The day after Christmas we went to Uncle Brent and Aunt Kelsey's for Christmas with mom's family. Caeden met his Great Uncle Mitch and Great Aunt Jill for the first time! Overall Christmas was filled with love and family, but by the time it was over we were all exhausted! :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is a big holiday for our families. With this being Caeden's first Turkey Day we had a lot of places to go. Caeden and I got up early on Thanksgiving Day and headed to mom's to help her cook. Caeden slept most of the morning, but woke up in time to visit with dad's family. After we ate lunch we then went to Chad's grandparents to visit everyone over there. Caeden got tired really quick so we went home to take a nap. We were suppose to go to Chad's Nanny and Papaw's that evening for dinner, but Caeden had had a long day and we stayed at home. We then went over to Granny and Papaw's the Saturday after Thanksgiving for another dinner!! We had a good time visiting with family and Caeden was the center of attention everywhere that we went :)

Happy Halloween!!

Caeden was a month and a half old on Halloween. We dressed him up like a horse and had his pictures professionally taken because he was so adorable!! I will have to scan a picture of Caeden in his horse outfit and add it to this blog. Anyway his Halloween didn't start off too great because he had to go to the doctor for shots (I know...mean mommy!!). He didn't do so bad with the shots and we got him all dressed up in his horse outfit and went several places so everyone could see our horse! Caeden slept the whole time and was sore for a few days from his shots..poor guy!

Back to work for mommy :(

So as sad as it was for me, my maternity leave ended and I had to go back to work on October 29, 2007. I don't know when I have felt so sad in my whole life. I had enjoyed my 6 weeks with Caeden so much and I hate the thought of leaving him for even a minute. I contemplated my life and the purpose of it, and while I know God put me on this earth to be a mommy, I also know that he gave me the gift of being a therapist and I needed to return to work to help the kids that I see. I have to admit that my first day back to work was not nearly as hard as I thought it would be. I am so blessed that my grandmother was willing to keep Caeden for me. She is the most patient, kind, and gentle woman and I know that my childhood was so much better because she was a part of it. I knew that there would be no one better to take care of my baby and so I was comforted by the thought that he was being well cared for by Granny. My mom also decided that every Wednesday she would pick him up at noon (she gets a half a day off on Wednesdays) and take care of him the rest of the day. I am so glad that mom and Caeden have their special bonding day and that child is exhausted when he gets home on Wednesday nights. Caeden, Grammie, and Pappy have such a big time together and I can work easier knowing that my child is in good hands :)

Grammie and Caeden bonding at Applebee's!

The first few months with Caeden

Caeden's first smile...only 4 days old :)
Caeden after his sponge bath...he hates the cold!
My precious baby boy, sleeping like an angel.
The first few months with Caeden flew by and I absolutely loved being at home with him. I was lucky enough to get to take 6 weeks off for maternity leave and my days were filled with taking care of this sweet baby. The top picture was the first time that we caught Caeden smiling. I immediately grabbed my camera and caught the moment! He LOVED his Rainforest Swing and smiled for the first time on September 16, 2007 at only 4 days old :) Caeden then had his first sponge bath on September 16th as well. He did not enjoy having his clothes off so we washed him super fast and wrapped him up in his towel. It amazes me how much he use to scream when you would undress him because now he wants nothing else then to be naked!! HA! The bottom picture is one of my favorites because he looks so sweet while he sleeps. I would catch myself just sitting and watching him sleep and being so amazed at the beautiful son that God gave me. I will never admit to Caeden that the first few months that I was pregnant I prayed that God would give me a baby girl. I kept thinking, "I am not cut out for boys. I am so girly and I would totally ruin a boy." Well God knew what was best and he gave me the most perfect, precious baby boy that anyone could ever ask for. I love my little man to pieces and I now realize that it takes a special person to be a mommy of little boy and I feel so priviledged that God chose me for the job!

Caeden comes home :)

All bundled up in his carseat...he looks so tiny!

Our house was all pretty when we got home!

So on Friday, September 14 (Grammie's Birthday!!) Caeden was finally released from the hospital at 2:30 p.m. We had been there for a full 48 hours and we had had enough of being in the hospital! It was a cold and rainy day for September so we bundled Caeden up in his carseat and headed for home. We were welcomed with a wonderful homecoming and my mom in the kitchen cooking her heart out (yeah for no more hospital food!!!). Caeden was a wonderful baby from the beginning, but I must admit that the first few days at home were difficult. Thankfully my mom had taken a week off from work and was there to help me around the house and with Caeden. We were a bit overwhelmed by visitors the first few days and it really began to take a toll on me. Chad eventually intervened and asked everyone to give me some time to rest, heal, and adjust to life with a newborn and no sleep! We were truly blessed to have such a wonderful church family at Southside Christian Church that provided us with meals for a solid week. Uncle Brent and Aunt Kelsey also brought us food one day and my mom cooked for us on a regular basis. They will never know how much that helped us and I will never be able to thank my mom enough for being with me my first few days home. She was such a lifesaver and I know I can depend on her for anything! Caeden did have to go to the doctor on Monday, September 16 because he had a touch of jaundice and the pediatricians wanted to make sure that his bilirubin levels were normal. After sitting in the hospital forever and having to have Caeden's heal pricked :( we were told that everything was normal!! Life with Caeden had a wonderful start and we knew right away that we were truly blessed :)

September 12, 2007 ~ Caeden is born!!

So in an effort to make up for lost time I'm going to add a few of his milestones from the past five months! Caeden was born on September 12, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. He weighed 7 pounds 4 ounces and was 19 1/2 inches long. The crazy thing about his birth was that I was scheduled to be induced on September 13th. I was due on the 9th and since I had gone over my due date Dr. Turcea decided to admit me on the 12th at 8:00 p.m. and start the medication to induce me. The plan was for me to have him sometime on the 13th. Well Caeden had other plans for us and at 5:11 am on September 12 my water broke (I should mention that it broke at the EXACT same time Chad's alarm was going off!!HA!). Of course as most of you know I am the biggest planner that there EVER was and this just totally messed up my plans. I was fully expecting to be home all day on the 12th and therefore didn't have my suitcase fully packed. Chad was a nervous wreck as I packed my last few things into the suitcase. We were off to the hospital and arrived there around 6:30 a.m. At that point I was having some minor cramps and really didn't know that those were, in fact, contractions! I was admitted to the labor and delivery floor and started having real, painful contractions at around 9:00 a.m. At that point I was only 2 centimeters dialated so the nurse started me on pitocin. Okay so let me just say that that stuff is NOT FUN!! My contractions started coming on really strong and me, being a total dork, decided that I didn't want to be a total wimp and get the epidural that early. So...I held off until 11 a.m. with those not so fun contractions and then finally decided that I was dying and needed the epidural! That was the greatest thing I have ever had and I immediately started to feel much better. The only down side to the epidural was that I started to have chills and felt nautious, but the nurse piled me up with blankets and gave me some oxygen and fluids through an IV and I was much better. Dr. Frazier was the delivering doctor that day and when she checked me at around 1:00 p.m. I was already 10 centimeters dialated!! Sadly there were two other babies being born at the same time..so I waited until 1:30 before I started pushing. Labor was as easy as can be and within 30 minutes, Caeden was here!! He did have to be suctioned out, but thankfully his head was only cone shaped for a few hours. Caeden had a smushed nose when he was born, but within a few days it was already starting to straighten out. He was a beautiful baby and we had one nurse tell us that she sees babies every day and she had never seen one as cute as him :) Of course that just fed Chad's ego even more because Caeden looked JUST like him at birth! We are so thankful that he was a healthy baby and is perfect in every way :)

Caeden's Blog

Okay so I decided that Caeden is growing WAY too fast and some of you are simply missing out on all of his milestones and growth. I never realized how much babies grow and change until I had my own, and now I am amazed by how different he is every day! Caeden is now 5 months old as of February 12, 2008 and time has FLOWN!!! Check by often because I am going to reguarly add pictures and update everyone on Caeden's growth.