16 months

Just when I think he can't get any cuter, he goes right on ahead and proves me wrong--with the most adorable personality to boot.

christmas eve in our home

A perfect evening together with family. Warm and cozy and filled with my favorite things.

Merry Christmas!

christmas miracle

One Sunday back in November, Matt, the boys, and I were actually having a smoothly running Sunday morning. We pulled into the church parking lot and I excitedly exclaimed, "Yay! It's a Christmas Miracle! We are actually early for church!" Ever since then, if I or Kaden feel excited about something, or something cool happens, Kaden proclaims in a loud, sweet voice, "it's a Christmas Miracle!" I think it's the cutest thing.

Yesterday Beckham was playing in the living room and I was busy making dinner and straightening up the house. I looked into the living room and he was gone. I was actually dumbfounded because that boy is always right where I leave him. Lo and behold, he was all the way down the hallway. He had maneuvered himself through the living room and to the end of the hall using his modified army crawl, all by himself. I was so proud. It was indeed a Christmas miracle. One, because the boy actually had the motivation to go somewhere, and two, he used his legs and those wimpy little arm muscles to pull himself there. I was so proud and made a big deal, which makes him feel so happy and he beamed. Kaden played off of my excitement exclaiming "Christmas miracle!" and jumping around. Becks was soaking up the love.

It is so cute to watch that little guy try to get around. When he is doing his little crawl his legs are flailing, his head goes from side to side, and he huffs and puffs. He is still so uncoordinated and weak, but he tries hard. He is still improving and is showing more of a desire to get to things he wants. He followed me down the hall into his room today. It took him forever, but he did it. I can tell that it makes him very happy when he discovers new things that he can do. He's getting there, slowly but surely.

sweet tooth

How do kids seem to know how wonderful sugar is? It's like they are inherently born with this incessant craving, a need, and an internal honing device that leads them to the source of such goodness. I know my kids are doomed, because I also have this sugar addiction. I would like to keep all sweets out of my house but who am I to deprive them of such a gift?!? We try to eat healthy around here, and I think we do a pretty good job, but sometimes that sugar craving gets the best of us. It's too embarrassing to admit how many times we hit up the local bakery for their delicious doughnuts (really, they're the best I've ever had) after working out at the gym. The other day we made a stop to satisfy our need and I was completely entertained watching Beckham savor his ginormous, Christmas-spirited doughnut. Seriously, what a little ham!

"So I ate a doughnut the size of my head. What are you looking at?"

time flies

The little man is four today. Time has flown and he's changed and grown so much.
brand new

one and wo years

three years

four years

I've loved being his mom for the past four years. He makes our family so happy, brings us so much joy, and is a constant light in our home. We love him so much. Happy Birthday, Kaden!

kaden's cupcakes

Sometimes it's rough being a little boy. This week Kaden was so excited to take treats to his school for his birthday and I was going to read his favorite Christmas book to his class. He talked about it all week, picked out his flavor of cupcakes and anticipated making them. Wednesday night we baked yummy strawberry cupcakes. We made blue and green frosting and had sprinkles to go on top. He was thrilled to pieces.

The day before he had a fever and just wasn't himself. Then all day Wednesday he complained that his mouth was hurting. When I brushed his teeth that night I noticed that he had little sores all over the inside of his mouth. Tons and tons of canker sores that looked so painful. I called my friend whose husband is a dentist to see what I should do. She asked me to look at his hands and feet, and sure enough, he was developing little sores, blisters, and a rash. She said that it was hand, foot, and mouth disease. What?!?! It sounds like some crazy sickness you would acquire in a third world country or something. Apparently it's a virus that is very contagious for about a week and eventually resolves on it's own. Weird.

I felt so bad for him because he had to stay home from school. He was so bummed that he didn't get to bring his treats or have his mama read to the class. He had also been so excited for the preschool Christmas program. He's been singing the songs and dancing around the house. It was such a bummer for him to have to miss that.

He was a pretty good sport though when he got spoiled because I felt bad for him. He definitely ate his fair share of the cupcakes. He got to paint and make a big mess of the kitchen. Then, Nana came over while I went to work and they created a gingerbread house.

And what is up with his smile?!?! I wish he would get over this silly stage already and show me that cute smile he's known for. The little guy is feeling much better and his sores are almost healed. I think he's almost forgotten the fun he had to miss because we tried to make up for it and I promised we'd make them again to bring to school in January. He's a little spoiled sometimes, but he deserves it because he's a sweetheart.