*I* will hold my OWN bottle

Our little boy will be turning the big ONE a week from tomorrow. Sniff. Sniff. (I've been sniff sniffing a lot, haven't I?). While I am excited to watch Caden and anticipating all of the new things he will discover as he grows I am also a bit sad. The last year has been the BEST year of my life. Every month was something new and I looked forward to what the next month would bring. I barely remember life before Caden. Except we had a LOT of time on our hands. (Although I thought we were busy then - Ha!)

Almost a week before Caden turns one marks the first time he held his bottle on his own. With one hand, nevertheless. He has held his sippy cup from the first time we introduced it around 5 months, but never his bottle. I didn't mind either. Since we have not been nursing since he was 8 months I actually enjoyed holding his bottle. We are also on our last week of formula and then we will start weaning Caden from the bottle. Not sure how well this will go over with Caden, so we shall see.

Grandma B is coming into town next Tuesday for the week! Yay!! We couldn't be more thrilled.

Come on Tuesday - get here fast!

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On another note, we are still praying for Stellan. He has been mostly out of SVT for the past week and is now on oral medication to control his SVT. There is still a chance he may have to fly to Boston to have an ablation if the oral meds do not work and other factors (blood levels, blood pressure, ect) are not where they should be. Please continue to pray for Stellan and the MckFamily.

Weekend Update

Although Caden and I were couped up all weekend in the house we still had some fun. He is finally getting over his cold. Just a few sniffles left here and there, and boy does he despise booger sucker! Poor boy.

Caden was really clingy to mama this weekend. I couldn't even go upstairs (while I left him with Ryan) to change my clothes without him crying for me. (I secretly like it though).

Here are a few pictures from this weekend and a video of my baby officially walking. *sniff sniff*

Caden has the most perfect profile I've ever seen, and I'm just loving his curls.


Sunday morning watching The Micky Mouse Clubhouse. He was literally making a point to roll around in his cheerios.


Big smiles after his morning nap!


"I'm gonna get you, Mom!"


Officially walking - EVERYWHERE!

Daddy was NOT happy when he saw this!

My friend Nina came over last week for a visit with her little girl. Ryan left to pick up some food and just as he was coming in the door.. Nina threw this on Caden's head.

Needless to say, Daddy was not happy. (LOL!)

(Caden, please don't be mad at Mommy - Auntie Nines did it!)

We are sick...

Caden is sick. Poor baby had a really rough weekend. His naps were almost nonexistent on Saturday and he cried all day. He wasn't even congested, but I imagine he was probably aching all over. The congestion and coughing kicked in full force on Sunday and he is even worse today. My MIL is watching him today while I *try* to concentrate on work. Apparently he is running a low grade fever of 100.6. It's his first fever ever so far. When I talked to my MIL Caden was taking a really good nap, so that makes me feel a little better.

Fingers crossed that his fever goes down.... I'll definitely be staying home with him tomorrow.

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Still praying for Stellan. He is not doing so well. My heart is just aching for the MckFamily.

Some favorites.....

This face looks guilty... don't you think?



These two pictures just melt my heart...

Weekend Visit with Family and Friends

In my last post I forgot to mention Caden's new word - "eck" or "ecky". We have seem to mention this word when changing his diapers. Most recently we use it a lot when he tries to use the garbage can to walk along - or when he tries to open it! Now he just says it whenever. It's not to be confused with "gee" (doggy). :)



I've also been meaning to post about our sleep over at Jodi and Aubree's house last weekend. (I've been exhausted all week!) Saturday Caden and I drove out to my friend Jodi's and stayed the night. Caden and Aubree were too cute together. She is about 3 months and some weeks older than Caden. Aubree was more interested in Caden while he would just prefer to steal her toys! Aubree is just a sweetheart and it makes me so excited for the months to come.





Sunday morning we visited my grandpa and Aunt Judy, Uncle Tom and Holly. He seemed really well and actually remembered Caden! He was smiling ear to ear watching Caden while he attempted to get into everything. After our visit we went to lunch at Coney and Caden had his first chicken tender and fries. He LOVED every bite!

No more ear infections ~ and an update on Stellan

Caden went for another recheck on his ears today. After his second round of antibiotics his ear infections have finally cleared up. The doctor said he still has some fluid in his ears, but the infection is gone. I hope the fluid drys up quickly because another infection could occur if it doesn't.

He is 21lbs even! He has been guzzling his bottles and eating like a little piggy. We started his whole milk transition last Friday by doing 6 oz of formula and 2 oz of milk in his bottles. (He gets 3 bottles a day). Every Friday we will replace 2 oz of formula with whole milk and the transition should be complete by his first birthday! I intend on cutting out his afternoon bottle completely this Friday (when I'm home with him). Wish me luck! I know he will (and has for Tammy) do well with the afternoon bottle elimination, and I'm hoping it will just as easy for me.

He is walking all over the place now - with many spills. Thankfully he mostly plops down right on his bum. In just 3 1/2 short weeks our baby will be 1. To think a year ago right now I was pregnant and counting down the days. I remember being miserable and anxious to meet our son. Being pregnant seems like such a distant memory and I can't wait to experience it again. (No, we are not TTC at this moment - but hopefully soon!)





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An update on Stellan - his heart rate has been up and down so much over the last couple of days. He went into prolonged V-Tach only to come out and into a perfect rhythm and moments later back into SVT. He is manic, restless and exhausted. Please continue your prayers for God to bring Stellan's heart rate down and for him to go home to his family.

You can also click on the button on the right side bar to read his story.

Snapfish:Photo:Shared

Snapfish:Photo:Shared

I was looking back at some photos of Caden my mother-in-law took when he was just born... and now I'm a sobbing mess! I've never seen something so sweet.

Happy 11 Months!

The one month I was dreading was 11 months. I was scared about how sad I would feel and thought I would be crying all day. Although I am sad this is his last month birthday - I am not in tears. Not yet anyway! I just don't understand where the last 11 months went? I just remember to cherish each day and every moment I spend with Caden. I guess that is what matters.

Every day Caden still continues to amaze us. During his 10 month he learned to crawl and cruise mighty fast. He cruises along the wall and opens cupboards too! We finally put the safety locks in our kitchen cupboards with the exception of two - Ryan still needs to get on the ball with those. Right now we have his big rainforest jumperoo blocking those cupboards - that take up literally 1/2 the kitchen! He'll eventually get so annoyed with the thing that he'll put the extra locks on - I just know it.. Or hope so anyway! LOL!

Caden took his first steps during his 10 month as well and every day he takes more and more. It's all so bittersweet. He just looks to little to be walking around. He is only about 2 1/2 rulers high. That doesn't sound very tall, does it?

We haven't started his whole milk transition yet. I'm waiting until this Friday because he is still on his antibiotics for his ear (until Friday). I didn't want to chance him getting sick from either and then us not knowing what caused it. He has had zero reactions to this antibiotic, thank the Lord.

I don't think I've mentioned yet what a temper Caden has on him. If something doesn't go his way, he throws a fit! He will plop himself on his butt and scream as loud as he can. His face turns all beat red too. He likes to "help" me with the dishwasher and when we are done I naturally shut the door. The first time I did this he cried so hard I thought I hurt him or he hurt himself. It turns out he doesn't like when you close the dishwasher door.. or the fridge door for that matter. Wow! What a temper - wonder where he gets that from? ->insert sarcasm here <-

Happy 11 months Caden. Mommy and Daddy love you with all our hearts. You are the most amazing miracle that came into our lives and we are forever grateful.

end of 10 Month milestones:

Most babies should be able to . . .
Stand holding on to someone or something - Yes
Walk holding onto furniture - Yes
Pull up to standing position from sitting - Yes
Wave goodbye - No
Crawl well - Yes
Use thumb and finger pincer grasp to pick things up - Yes

Some babies will probably be able to . . .
Say mama and dada to the right parents - Yes
Understand the word no but doesn’t always obey it - Yes
Respond to own name - Yes
Indicate what he or she wants with gestures other than crying - No
Stand alone momentarily - Yes

Some babies could possibly be able to . . .
Drink from a cup independently - Yes, a sippy cup
Stand alone well - Yes
Play ball and patty cake - Sometimes
Walk for a step or two - Yes
Say one word other than mama or dada - Yes, "gee" (doggy)
Put toys or object into a container - Yes

I didn’t get a lot of pictures of him today because I was at work. When we got home it was time for a nap (and time for Mommy to update her blog). To make up for it I have a cute video of Caden and Mia – he just finds her hysterical!