Updates...

Well I'm still trying to get my iphone to upload pics of Caden eating and a video of his first food but I'm not very techno so I'll keep working on it:)  He is doing really good with solids and has liked everything we've given him except green beans and prunes are not his favorite...but really, can you blame him? We've just increased him to breakfast with a fruit and bottle and then dinner with a veggie and bottle.  He's still sleeping pretty much the same...getting a little better with waking only at 12, 3 or 4, then 530 for the day.  I'm trying to just pat and shush him at the 3 awakening and it's doing ok.  I'm also trying to get him away from the swing for naps so that's been our goal this week was napping in the crib and TRYING to get a nap schedule. I really feel like that will help with the night time sleeping.  He's just too busy and too nosey to nap!!
Cooper is doing well and is just so stinking sweet I can't stand it. (thank goodness he doesn't read this because he would kill me!!)  Flying through 2nd grade without any issues and is so smart...sometimes I don't even know how to do his homework!!
This past weekend we went down to the beach to visit Crista and her family because it was so warm and had a nice time catching up!!  She's due with her new little guy May 11 and we can't wait to meet him! It was Cade's first sand adventure and he loved the squashy feeling under his toes!! We didn't do the water because it was SO COLD!!!Here are a few pics from the last couple of weeks.  Hope all is well and love to you all!

uh-oh...got a thumb sucker??

it doesn't feel too weird:)

Cooper and Coles 'pond' and yes they were both wet!

sweet love:)

Happy Birthday little man!!

Well today at 11:32am little man was officially 4 months old! Wow!! where in the world does time go? I can remember 4 months ago the day/time/moment/feelings of having Caden just as clearly as I can remember almost 8 years ago on March 28 2005 @ 3:51pm with Cooper.  I love these little boys more than I will ever be able to express. I am blessed beyond words in my life and having them in it makes me so grateful.
I told you in the last blog about Cade's eating solids and well, it's been interesting.  We actually went to our pedi last week because I was sure he had an ear infection. He didn't. I guess it's one of those 'wonder weeks' of growth spurts but man was he fussy and rosy cheeks, and howling when I laid him in the crib which he's never done before.  Sooo, for a couple of nights we were back in ole faithful...the rock and play. While we were at the pedi, I did ask if I could start Cade on oatmeal and a fruit. Our md said that we could definately start him on solids and not to even worry if we didn't want to do rice or oatmeal, no worries. Ha! I was so relieved because I'd already tried the rice and Cade was not too impressed. Our MD also said that he could tell Cade was healthy and happy and not missing too many meals so he wasn't worried. Oh, did I forget that he weighed 17lbs and 26" long?!?! I know, I grow them big. We go back next Tuesday for his shots and 4 month check and I'll have more measurements then. Coop was 17lbs 13 oz and 26" long at his so I'll be anxious to see.
Anyway, back to feeding. We started Cade that night with banana's and he loved it! There was no 'teaching' him to eat of the spoon, he wanted us to just shove it in like he'd been eating that way for years. So he's done well with that and tonight we tried sweet potates and he liked those as well. Our pedi said to do one meal a day and then go to two so next week I guess we'll do breakfast and dinner and see how it goes.
I guess since it's his birthday today, he also wanted to show off and as soon as I laid him down to do tummy time, he decided that he would just start rolling and off he went!! My little guy is growing so fast and learning so much and boy is he keeping his little eyes on his brother...and keeping his mama running!! I know before too long he'll be up and mobile and I CAN wait for that one!
Oh, and for the last two nights Cade has wanted to be back in his crib, awake , and falling asleep on his own. Granted he's not sleeping trough the night, but I'll take what I can get:)
I've tried to upload a pic and a video of Cade eating AND a video of Cooper doing just dance 4 on the xbox but it's not working so I'll try again either later tonight or tomm.
Love you all!!

Blessings

Lately I've really been complaining of Caden and his sleep (or lack of) habits. He has only slept maybe a 4 hour stretch once in his little life and at night he likes to wake up and keep mommy company. I guess he thinks I'm bored and he needs to keep me entertained.
As I sit here and think of him up in his crib and waiting anxiously for him to wake, I also think of how blessed I am.
I'm catching up with my friends blogs, news, other babies and I see a 6 month old diagnosed with leukemia, children getting shot while at school, all kinds of awfulness.
Thank you God that my two little Angels are healthy, that they can cry when they need me, that when I go into their room I can see them smile, that my legs are strong enough to carry them when needed and that my ears can hear them when they cry. I'm thankful that I can hold them day or night, awake or asleep, crying or laughing. I'm thankful that they are in my life and I'm thankful that for whatever reason, God trusted Lee and I to take care of these two beautiful, precious children.
So forgive me when I complain because really, I have no reason to.  I am so unbelievably blessed in my life and I am even more thankful.

a MERRY CHRISTMAS with the FAM-A-LEEEE!!

Whew...what day is it? That's a question that Coop kept asking me over our break and to tell you the truth, most of the time I had to ask Lee or look at the calender!! I can't believe what a whirlwind this Christmas has been AND that it's already over. 
Let's see, first we went to Siler to see everyone and exchange Christmas with nana & papa and then maw maw, pawpaw, uncle Jimmy, aunt Sherry and the girls. That was fun and Caden did very well on the traveling part. Sleeping...well, I'll get to that later. Coop had a blast seeing his family, playing with his cuz's, and of course...getting presents!

 

who is the cutest santa???

BFF's always

so this last pic was pretty much the highlight of coop's trip. pawpaw took him out in the woods and let him shoot the rifle and pistol and that's all Coop talked about for days.  He LOVES to play army and go into the field and shoot his BB gun. Over Christmas break he decided to take some of his $$ and he bought a air rifle that he has now added to his arsenal of guns and 'hunting' equipment. 
Finally, after all of that fun was over, we headed home to finish up school and some Christmas programs. Our friend Kelly is the youth pastor at her church so we went to see their program which was great and then our church did a Christmas cantata which was also super.  Caden loved the light show:)

Finally, Christmas was here, school was out and the fun was supposed to start!! mawmaw and pawpaw came in for Christmas eve to see what santa brought and enjoy the show of the boys opening their goodies.  Cade really wasn't that into it but I can only imagine next year...

Cades gift from brother...a new blankie

coops only surprise..his nook color!

santa's loot

 

 

 

as you can see, coop had lots of goodies from Santa and the sides were a little off balance with coop's side being MUCH larger than little Cades:)
There was one little mishap with Santa this year. The only toy that Coop kept asking over and over from Santa was a RC flyline (seen in the above pic) that he wanted SOOOOOO badly. Basically it's a remote control plane on this string kinda thingie that will do tricks. Well, we wait for the sun to come out (oh, did I mention that we were up @ 5:00??) and out we go to test it. It's so big we have to set it up in the drive and do a test run. oh, oh, wait...I think it's going to...CRASH. What a piece of junk. No matter what we did, that crazy thing would not work. So, thank goodness Santa left the receipt with that one and Coop took it back to Walmart where he decided to exchange it for a XBOX 360 kinect and seemed pretty pleased with his decision! I did feel so bad for the little guy though because that is all he wanted for Christmas and then...let down. but oh well, it ended up okay. Santa also brought him a bow and arrow and he's been playing with that in the yard as well.

So, that's it for our Christmas. Lot's of toys, lot's of playing, and lot's of doing nothing!! Caden is still not sleeping more than 3 hours at a time but we are keeping our fingers crossed for more very soon!! I'll have a new post soon because Caden has gotten the okay for solids---this should be fun!!
Love yall all!
Our prayer is that 2013 will be filled with love, laughter and good health for us all!

 

ps...i don't know why this is here...i tried to post a Christmas morning pic of all of us and this is what happened.ugggg