When the Dream Never Dies

Sunday, March 23, 2014

10 month update

It's spring and Caden is 10 months old! This month has flown by and we are so excited for the warmer weather. We have already been enjoying a few walks around the neighborhood and at the park. As hard as it is to believe, plans are already underway for his 1st birthday party. How can that be?? I guess time flies when you're having fun :) We are so blessed to have him in our lives and love him more everyday. He has the cutest personality and is so much fun. He likes to be sneaky and peek around corners and just makes us laugh at the funny things he already does. He is still loving that he can crawl and hasn't slowed down any. Most evenings we're tired before he is! We tend to put him in his bouncer to get rid of some energy before bedtime. We had a doctor's appointment this week to see if we could figure out what to do about some digestion issues he's having. So, we were able to get his weight then.

Here are some 10 month stats...

weight-20 pounds and 13 ounces
height-we tried to measure him... practically impossible these days! Around 29 1/2 inches would be my guess
diapers- size 3
clothes- 9 month onesies still fit, but the pants are getting too short. So, he's started wearing some 12 month pants.
new skills- he learned to clap a couple weeks ago and does it all the time. He likes to clap while having his diaper changed. I think he's cheering me on :) Not only does he crawl everywhere, but he's started pulling up on everything. He hasn't figured out that he can't stand on his own and turns around to go to a new toy and falls over. He continues to be very vocal and is saying new sounds all the time. He'll say, "Hey, Dada" and he loves the sound the T makes. This week he started saying the "B" sound a lot. Still nothing that resembles mama! He likes to dance and does it when he's awake and in his sleep. It's pretty funny.
hobbies- he likes to help with laundry, flip the light switches off and on and close the doors on the cabinets, pantry, fridge and microwave. He has become a sympathy cougher. If anyone coughs, so does he.
feeding- we added peaches, green beans, carrots and asparagus to the list of foods on the rotation. As I mentioned above, he's been having some digestion problems, so we have put all food on hold and I'm just breastfeeding him for now until we can get some of his issues resolved.
sleeping- well, we just said last week, "it's nice that he's more predictable now and we have a set schedule down" We never should've said that! It seems that the week leading up to his month birthday, he throws us for a loop! He had been waking around 9, then napping from 11-12, then again from 3-5 and going to bed around 9. This week, none of that has worked! For instance, on Tuesday his morning nap lasted 7 minutes! Now, I'm all about a power nap now and then, but 7 minutes! The crazy thing is, he woke up refreshed and energized and didn't sleep again until 2:30. Go figure!

The shirt says it all :)

He likes to pick out a CD to listen to

So many toys it's hard to decide what to play with first!

Carrots!

Looking handsome in his Carhartt outfit

Such a cute laundry helper!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Staying warm in his penguin sweater

More laundry fun

Driving his car around the basement

Hanging out in the new play yard, our attempt at keeping him somewhat contained!

I caught him mid-clap

He loves that he's tall enough to see out the window now. Since it was warmer this week there was a lot more activity outside.

10 months old!

So long!

This is what happens when I try to take his picture sitting on the couch!

Snap the picture quick, he's sitting still!

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

9 month update

Happy 9 months! It has been a busy month! Caden started getting sick and we went to the doctor the day after he turned 8 months old. He weighed in at 19 pounds and 3 1/2 ounces. His diagnosis was a viral respiratory infection. There wasn't anything they could do to help, so we just did a few things at home to relieve the symptoms. He wasn't the biggest fan of saline spray, boogie wipes, aspirators and chest rub. When he started feeling better I came down with a sinus infection. Then Caden started feeling bad again and ran his first fever of 100.1 on February 1st. It came down and that was the only dose of Tylenol he had to have. The next day he had about a degree, but it never went back up again. He started having more symptoms and by Wednesday night he was coughing and wheezing. We went back to the doctor and they tested him for RSV. Thankfully that was negative. This time he weighed 19 pounds, 11 1/2 ounces. His virus had turned into bronchiolitis. They wanted us to do a breathing treatment in the office and they said his lungs sounded much better after that. So, we took home our own breathing machine and picked up the medicine for it on the way home. We did treatments for about 6 days until the symptoms were much better. He still coughs a little bit when he wakes up, but is so much better. Between Caden being sick, me being sick, our extended family being sick and all this snow, we are beyond ready for spring and nicer weather!

February 9th, he learned to crawl. It's so funny how he had been practicing and rocking for a month, then that night it just clicked and he put it all together. He has been going non-stop since that moment. He knows one speed...FAST! We are busy chasing him and preparing the house for a mobile baby!

9 month stats-

weight- the wii says he weighs 20.3 (keep in mind that all our calculations are done with his clothes on, so they will be slightly higher than the ones at the doctor's office)
height- 29 inches
diapers-size 3
clothes-9 months
skills- he started saying "dada" on Feb. 8th and likes to say it over and over. This makes his dada smile :) We practice mama, but no such luck. Crawling is his newest skill. He loves to crawl and move all over the house investigating everything.
hobbies- he loves to initiate peek-a-boo and will play with blankets, toys, or anything he can cover his face with. Now that he's crawling he likes to find the tiniest crumb on the floor and try to pick it up. I guess I need to vacuum more:) Splashing in the bath continues to be one of his favorite things. Is smiling a hobby? Everywhere we go people comment on his smile. I love it! I let him ride in the front of the cart at Walmart last weekend and he smiled and danced the whole time. Who knew Walmart could be so exciting. He still loves tags, singing and talking. He continues to believe that his left sock is unnecessary!
feeding- we have added oatmeal, prunes, zucchini and squash to the list. He started liking his puffs and they are great for practicing on using his thumb and forefinger to pick things up.
sleeping- earlier this week he decided it was time to change up the napping routine! He is going longer in between naps and seems to be transitioning to just 2 longer naps and a later bedtime. We're still trying to figure out the new schedule. This week has been somewhat experimental.

Looking handsome

Learning to sit still during breathing treatments

Since he was contagious he had to miss the gender reveal party for his new cousin. I let him vote for pink or blue. He picked blue both times I asked. He was wrong!

It's a girl :)

I wanted to build a snowman for him to take his picture with. We waited for a day that was warmer since he'd been sick. He wasn't sure what to think of all the layers I made him wear to go outside

This is actually Caden's 2nd snowman...

Here's his 1st snowman :)

Checking out the early Valentine's Day gift from Aunt Shannon

PaPa and Grandma came by to visit

GiGi played with Caden so I could work on taxes

Love that smile!

The loves of my life

Mitch and I are going to The Plaza III Steakhouse to celebrate Valentine's Day this week. We got a Groupon that couldn't be used on Valentine's Day. So, I made us a nice dinner at home.

This is Caden's friend, Nicholas. The picture below shows how much they've changed! They were due exactly one week apart. Nicholas came on his due date, but we all know Caden didn't. It's funny to see their size difference back then and now they weigh the same.

Cute little penguin!

He barely still fits on his changing table!

He seems to know the routine now. I get out the camera and he poses and smiles!

Playing the piano that Aunt Shannon got him for Christmas

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

8 month update

Happy 2014! Today is Caden's 8 month birthday. That just sounds so old! It sounds more grown up and less like a baby. We've been enjoying watching him learn how to work all his new toys from Christmas and practice crawling. Our world is about to change again as soon as he's mobile. Mitch is coaching 1st/2nd grade boys through Upward Basketball at our church. Caden and I have been going to the practices and games. He loves watching the boys play and wants to join in. We're looking forward to what God has in store for us this year!

We didn't have any appointments with Dr Holly this month, so we did our own calculations at home.

8 month stats...

weight- 19lbs, 13oz
height- 28 inches
diapers- size 3
clothes- 6-9 mos and 9 mos
new skills- he spends a lot of time on his hands and knees, rocking, lunging, scooting backwards and hopping forward. Still no actual crawling, but he's very close. He has been "singing" a lot this past week. It's a sweet little song in a high voice. I love it! His little personality is really starting to show. He is very social, ornery, sweet, observant and active! He's doing great at sitting up these days and loves to roll to get where he needs to go.
hobbies- he is still working on teeth, so absolutely everything goes in the mouth and gets chewed on! At Christmas, he got lots of new toys and spends most of his day playing with them.
feeding- he has added peas, pears and bananas to the list of foods he's eating. I made squash and zucchini this week, but he hasn't tried them yet.
sleeping- nights have been much better, but he's going through a nap fighting stage. Who wants to take a nap when there are much more exciting things to do?!

Helping mommy shake the donuts in sugar