A Hunting we will Go...or not:)--Part 2

pop-pop always knows just what a boy needs:)

please just let me play ball

After the Easter celebration at church (see below) we called gammy to let her know how it went. I told her the story that I shared with you below and she thought it was funny and no matter how many eggs Caden "hunted" (or didnt hunt) he was perfect:) After hearing that Caden decided that he wanted to go play at gammy and pop-pop's house for a while. When we arrived what did we see? Gammy getting some plastic eggs out of the car and filling them with treats. She decided she and Caden were going to have their own egg hunt.

he did it!! woo hoo Caden:)

A Hunting we will Go...or not:)--part 1

This past Saturday our church hosted an Easter Egg hunt for the kiddos. It was great! Dying Easter Eggs (which we bypassed), listening to the Easter story and the grand finale of hunting the eggs. Caden did great listening to the story (at least up until the prayer when he was screaming the whole time but I just assumed he was having an intense "come to Jesus moment;)" Then it was time for the big hunt. We were armed with his Easter basket and an anxious little boy that couldn't wait to get outside! The little ones got to go first so all the kids and their mommies and daddies (complete with video cameras attached to their hands) rushed out to the field to fill their baskets with candy filled eggs. Everyone got outside and all the kids ran to the field and started collecting eggs...well amost all the kids. What I failed to mention is that there was a small area set up with some bubbles, hula hoops, sidewalk chalk, and yep you guessed it balls. It was an area off to the side and was intended for everyone to play AFTER all the eggs were gone. Caden however saw a ball...and that was it. There was no running to the field with the other kids, no wanting candy, nope he ran straight to the ball and that was it:) He collected 3 eggs. One that was put in his basket before we even got outside, the second that I put in and a third that our friend Jacob gave him.

the kids and their parents in the field. Caden playing with his "ball"

15 Months

what?! Did I seriously just have to entitle this post 15 months?!? Thats almost one and a half...I am still in denial that we have exited the baby stage and entered the toddler phase (which I know we have been there a while but still...in denial:) 15 things I don't want to forget about 15 months:

1. you LOVE your daddy

2. puppy goes everywhere with us...EVERYWHERE I am pretty sure you will be taking your puppy with you to sleepovers when you grow up:)

3. you like to watch barney...in about ten minute intervals

4. you are a great sleeper (knock on wood)

5. I am starting to worry about your obsession with "balls"

6. you are very happy 95% of the time

7. the other 5% you are probably having a little tantrum:)

8. you love to be around people

9. going outside is your favorite...you stand at the door with my keys and say "bye-bye" until I say no or until we go outside

10. you have stopped crying when I drop you off at the nursery and at school

11. you really like to eat grilled cheeses

12. you love taking baths...we are working on you loving getting on and getting your pjs on:)

13. you really love animals but mommy always says "animals don't live at mommy and daddys house:)"

14. you have had two haircuts and the second one went much better than the first

15. recently you have learned to touch my belly and say "baby"

Sunshiny Day!

written by caden gaither

NOTHING and I mean nothing in the whole world makes my mommy happier then when the sun is shining and it is nice outside. seriously, she is such a better mommy when we can go outside and play and man did we play today.

I know it is hard to see but WAY up there is man playing soccer. He ran by me and I just HAD to go chase the "ball"

this is me exploring and getting my picture made after climbing up the stairs...mommy is going to buy me some sunglasses soon

this was earlier in the week when I wanted to go outside but mommy said it was too cold

she thought giving me goldfish would make me feel better..it did...a little

Chris, Katie, Caden and.....

...and that is the big question. Chris and I (a while ago) decided that we were going to name baby boy #2 Colton Lee. Boy names I feel like are SO hard, we had a tough time naming Caden and the same holds true with this baby. On Sunday I looked at Chris and said you know I don't think I want to name the baby Colton anymore and he replied with, "yeah I have been thinking the same thing," and that was that. SOO we are back to square 1 and any suggestions are welcome:)

The Things we Think

I "freak out" about little things.
I don't like having a messy house.
I can't stand having dishes in the sink.
I am a planner.
I am impatient.
I am most definately a work in progress and I have recently read something that may help me.

Through a friend I found out about Layla Grace. She is, from what I can tell, around 17 months old and was diagnosed with a massive, cancerous tumor (stage 4) in her abdomen. From reading her parents blog it is clear that she used to be a beautiful, vibrant, typical 15 month old little girl and within a matter of days that changed.

from www.laylagrace.org
"our sweet Layla went from normal, happy and healthy to lethargic, in pain, and skin and bones in a matter of a week and a half."

I am not writing this post to be morbid. There are a couple of reasons I am posting this:
1. This family needs as many prayers and as much support as they can get and
2. It is just so eye opening and hear wrenching that I have not been able to stop thinking about it since I heard about her

I encourage yall to check out her blog at www.laylagrace.org and read the posts by her parents.
Not that it takes something this dramamtic to help us appreciate our relationships but I will say all that the dirty dishes, the messy house, the occasionally fussy boy...makes me feel more than fortunate!

Typical.

This is a picture of some of us mommies who got together this past Friday. I have to say I look forward to Fridays all week now and SWEET time with women! Our boys play "together" pretty well (despite the story the picture tells:) There were 6 mommies and 7 kiddos.

and yes that's Caden lunging off the couch with tears in his eyes attacking poor danielle and harrison!

March 4, 2006

Before marriage and babies.

Before facing the "real world."

Before having to make grown up decisions.

There was just us.

After 2 and a half years of marriage and a baby (and a half:).

After doing a little growing up.

After making some big decisions.

There is still just us.

it may not seem like a big deal to some. and i know we have a LONG way to go. but four years ago today Chris and I started dating, and that, for me, is definitely something to celebrate. because I love him more now than I did then and hope for that to be the case for many many many years to come.

C-A-T-S CATS CATS CATS!

John-who? That is what people may be saying when Caden Gaither laces up his Nikes and steps on the court (okay maybe not, but we can dream a little right?). On Chris's day off we all headed to, where else, but the gym!

Boys will be Boys!

We had the boys over to play on Friday. Elijah in the car, Caden (probably begging me for a bite-bite), Walker man puckering up and not pictured is sweet 5 month old Harrison who was safe in his mommies arms:)