Kai's Poses

Can't forget my cute little guy...he's got some great poses too, awake or asleep.

Kaeden's Poses

With the house in disarray and a 2 year old, nap times are extremely difficult. Kaeden fights having to go down, and without an actual room or crib to put him in, it's hard to get him to stay in one place. Kevin tries hard to set a routine, but Kaeden still struggles. So, I've got a great set of pics of all the weird places we find Kaeden as he has crashed for a nap...

Kaeden's Monsters

For his birthday my mom sent Kaeden a box. Some clothes, a Bears hat and these cute little monsters to play with in the tub. You can shoot water out of their faces. Kaeden was of course enthralled with them, and I was able to catch it on video.



I was stunned when he started pointing out facial parts - we do it on ourselves, but that's the first time he's done it to his toys, or something besides my face :-) His vocabulary is growing everyday.

I was also stunned by how big Kai is. As I was filming I couldn't help but keep him on screen for a bit, just watching him watch Kaeden. He learns so quickly from Kaeden and the only time he actually laughs (not just a little giggle) is when Kaeden makes faces at him.

And of course we captured Kaeden playing with the monsters in the tub.



Thanks Grandma!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Spooky Day! I was so excited to be able to have Kaeden do so much for this holiday (it's my favorite!). Especially since he was sick and missed his birthday. I knew that he was going to be a football player for awhile, it totally makes sense cuz it's his favorite thing. I found a great little generic jersey and shorts, we had plenty of balls to use, and my mom sent him a box of goodies for his birthday, which included a Chicago Bears hat, so his outfit was complete :-)






Kai was a pumpkin, the hat left over from Kaeden's first Halloween when he was a week old (and it didn't fit his ginormous head, either!) He was obsessed with the pumpkins after we were done carving them, so it was a good choice for him, too. As you can see in the pic, Kaeden's was a football pumpkin, and mine was a kitty. Kevin's still sits on the counter, waiting to be carved...



We had spent a few days practicing 'Trick or Treat,' saying it to me, and I even took him outside to try and practice knocking on the door and saying it, but that turned into a driver's ed lesson...




We went to our ward's Halloween Carnival on Saturday. There were several booths of games, a cake walk, a photographer, and of course tons of food. Kaeden was really into the games, and any game that had a ball he was involved in, usually in the way as he just wanted to throw the ball over and over. The only candy he was interested in was a sucker, so I 'held on' to his candy bars while he chowed down on any sucker he could get his hands on. He tried the cake walk, and was confused by walking in the circle, but was all about getting the cupcake with a sucker on it. I graciously held on to his cupcake for him, too. Kai was a hit with all the young women, and he made the rounds, smiling and giggling with all the girls. He's gonna be a heartbreaker!

After the Carnival we went to the parking lot for a small Trunk or Treat. Kai and I passed out the candy while Kevin took Kaeden around. I think it scared him a little, all those bigger kids running around, but he got a decent basket of candy.

Sunday I wanted to take him around the neighborhood, Trick or Treating for real. We went through the day without a nap however, so we only made it down the block 4 houses and he had conked out. Kai was still up, and as they were strapped into the strollers, we walked around the block, visited a few friends houses to say hi, then came home and went to bed.

Happy 2nd Birthday Kaeden!

I can't believe that my little boy is 2! It's been such a fast two years, and he has grown so much. I'll never forget the excitement of going to the hospital, awaiting the arrival of my little baby boy, of seeing his little face peeked over the surgery drape in the delivery room, and holding my much-bigger-than-expected baby in my arms! Always a happy baby, he is now a happy little kid! With big brown eyes and brown curly hair, a great laugh, a huge smile and always ready to help or play, Kaeden we are so happy to have you in our family!

This week was kinda rough - Kaeden got really sick with the croup. Not fun when it's the rainiest week of the year, and your birthday too. We had to cancel his party at the park due to the rain and his illness, so we just had a little party here at home. Kaylee Thorne made his cake, and we just had a few gifts to play with this morning.



The golf clubs were the hit of the day. He didn't even want to put on his clothes, just go outside in his pajamas to play. Since it was his 'party' we let him, and he was out there a good hour and a half, whacking away at the golf balls!



He also got his first pair of real tennis shoes, not sandals. He LOVES them! Every morning when he wakes up he has to put them on. He lifts his knees higher when he runs with them on, which always makes me laugh.





We also took away his paci, which didn't go so well last night before bed, but during the day he seems to be okay without. He asks for it occasionally, but it's mostly just the comfort of it at night that he misses the most. (It actually went a ton better than I thought to take it away, that thing was a must in his comfort-kit!) He got his 2 year check up at the doctor, and besides his croup is just fine. He weighs 31 lbs, is 35 inches tall and has a huge dome at 50 cm around! He got all his shots, and now we are looking at coming back for his school shots (which I still can't imagine my little man in school yet!)

Kai also got his check up, and is 15 lbs, 25 inches long, and 42 cm around his head. He is also very healthy and happy. He didn't take to the shots too well, getting a fever and sick in the middle of the night (right on me, by the way. Thanks so much!) and blew out several diapers (again on me, double thanks!) so he's still a bit cranky. He was very into watching Kaeden play with the golf clubs this morning, and loves to watch Kaeden do anything.

Kaeden loves to play with Kai, or help change his diaper or feed him. We are trying to start rice cereal again, which still isn't going well, but Kaeden is a big help, making Kai laugh so I can get the spoon in. They love to make faces at each other, which is a kick to watch.

October is...

Finally a good weather month! It's getting so that you can actually set foot outside during daylight hours and not melt in 5 seconds! That means more trips to the park, my boys favorite thing (and mine too!).

This last week we went several times, either just our family or with other. Nothing beats letting the kids run themselves ragged for the evening!





Kaeden is a ball-crazy kid. He points them out everywhere, stops dead when he sees them on tv, will look through any book that has them for ever, and will even try and imitate the football games on tv. It was so great to run around the park with him and his soccer ball.


This was Kai's first contact with grass. Not as dramatic as Kaeden's, who wouldn't put his legs down for anything. Kai is way more laid back, just a 'this is different, whatever' attitude. Makes life very easy!

We did put him in the park swing, which he wasn't too sure about, but after about five minutes, this was all he thought...

Hmm...let's see

Kaeden is such a great little helper. Usually it's helping me to clean or cook or change 'brother' (as Kai is called) but lately he wants to help Kai as he is playing with more and more toys. It's so funny to hear him talk to Kai as he 'explains' how a toy works. We pulled out the Baby Einstein exer-saucer (because Kai loves to bounce!) and Kaeden had to give directions. His favorite phrase lately is 'hmmm...let's see..." as he makes a choice in something. Can you hear it?




Getting so good at talking!!

With fall comes sports, and our little Kaeden is quite the athletic little guy. He had started to find random items around the house to use as a baseball bat (paper towel roll, bubble wand, etc) so I decided a tee ball set was definately in order. He took to it like a duck to water.



Now when I come home from work he pulls me out back saying, "Side? Ball? Side? Shoes? Pweeese?" How can one say no?!

My Boys

I love having my two little boys. Kaeden is so much fun to play with, and his talking is getting better all the time. He can imitate almost any phrase you say, and is really good at saying football, ball, sit, side (outside), shoes, milk, juice, brother, hello, e-i-e-i-o, yeah and no. He loves to help with his brother, changing diapers and throwing them away, shaking the bottle to mix it, bringing a toy to play with. Sometimes sharing is not so great, but he is learning to take turns.






Kai is growing so fast! I can't believe he is already four months old. He is smiling all the time, is almost rolling over onto his tummy, loves to reach for and play with toys (hanging above him or keys) and is now starting to 'talk'. His favorite thing is to watch his brother, and he smiles at Kaeden's antics all the time.

I've been trying so hard to nurse this time around, and have been doing okay until I went back to school. I've had to supplement with one formula bottle since Kai was born, but now it's more and more formula and I can't keep up with just a pump at school. Kai is also still up 2-3 times a night, so I decided to start Kai on rice cereal...

After this, I just put it in his bottle. He's only been up once at night now, so we'll see if this continues. Kaeden never changed his sleeping habits with the rice cereal in his bottle, but he also ate a ton more than Kai, so maybe this will help. I know I would appreciate a full night's sleep :-)

Friends and Family

Wow, has time gotten away from me. So much has happened in the last month let's see if I can catch you up...

My good friend Meagan from work had a baby the day before I did (it was fun to be pregnant together at school!) and already has another little boy almost Kaeden's age, Cayson. We were finally able to get together for a playdate and to meet each other's little ones.

Kai and Jameson meet


dominoes!!


Kaeden loves to go to Cayson's house because they have the ballpit.


And he and Cayson get along really well and are good at playing together. However, we did learn that when they are quiet, it's not a good thing :-) They got lotion everywhere and smelled like peaches all day!!


My parents and brother, Taury, came down for a visit and to meet Kai. They stayed at the Palace Station Casino cuz our house is still under construction, so we got to hit the pool everyday, we visited our favorite restaurant Claim Jumper, and saw an impersonationist show on the strip. They also came to church and Taury was able to bless Kai. They stayed a week and it was the best!

I was so happy that they could come down for Kai's blessing and that Taury could preside over it. They missed Kaeden's, so it was very special this time around. Just as I did with Kaeden, I brought the flipcam and recorded from the back of the chapel...



After my family left Kevin's dad, Keith, rolled through town. He was helping Kevin's sister, Lisa, move across country (she's a Marine and moved from San Diego to Virginia). He was nice enough to bring some Alaskan moose and salmon for us, and got to play with the boys, too.



I was very sorry to see everyone leave, we all have so much fun, but it was a great way to end the summer.

Picture Fun

Random pictures from this week.


With the house all scattered due to our remodeling, the xbox migrated from our bedroom to the living room. As Kevin has been playing, Kaeden naturally took and interest, so he got the old controller to use.




Kaeden's room is one that is torn up, so he and Kevin have been camping out in the livingroom. This makes naptime and bedtime a little more crazy, as we can't just put him down in a seperate room. so he finds the most unlikely places to go to sleep.



As people send gifts for Kai, Kaeden has gotten a few things too. This is a great little outfit from our good friends Matt and Robin. I love the shorts, they're so golfer! ( I also get a kick out of Kaeden's mad face, he hates to smile for the camera at times, and it took a couple minutes just to get him to turn around for this shot, made me chuckle).

Videos

I've been taking tons of videos of Kaeden, and am just now getting to posting them. I have to laugh, now that I'm editing them for the blog, I've noticed that Kai is sleeping in the swing in the background everytime! Ha ha ha. See if you can catch a glimpse :-)

First video - Kaeden loves our dog Tok, and his latest game is to take the kibble out of his food dish, run somewhere in the house and try to hide them from him, seeing if he finds it. Fortunately, Tok is usually right on his heels and Kaeden never goes far, but it's a different spot each day!


Second video - Kaeden also loves to play with our phones, which is how mine got broken. He gets the broken one to use, and I came out of my room one day to find this...


Think I walk around much while on the phone? :-P

Third video - As every kid does, he loves cookies. So I thought a lesson was in order.


You can't help but love this little guy! He makes everyday things hilarious.

Summer Fun

Oh how our days are filled...our good friend Evan comes over to play in the mornings. We are slowly learning how to share our toys and not hit. Both boys are fun to watch, as Kaeden tries to show how he plays and Evan wanting to check out the differences in toys and houses. The piano is always a big hit.




Evan is almost the same age, so sometimes the tempers flair, but the dog is always a good way to make both boys happy and forget the fight!



Kaeden loves to stir the pots on the stove. He is always dragging a chair over to see what is up there, ready for him to put in motion. I have found I am baking and cooking a lot more, so he can have lots of stir-time. Maybe he's part chef...




Kai is also making new friends. My old college roomie, Danielle, and her two kids were in town not too long ago. She had her second a few weeks back, so we had to share our precious little ones with each other! Her little Nora has the most expressive face, and is always smiling! Here they were paci buddies!



Kai is getting so big! I can't believe he is almost 3 months old already. He is very observant of the world around him, starting to reach out towards toys, smiles at everything, likes to coo at you, and is the squirmiest little thing ever! I think he's gonna be a runner the way he's always kicking those legs out! He is such a good baby, whoever said that if the first is a good one the second won't be, didn't have my genes :-)