Just Chillin'

Kaden has started putting his feet up on the tray of the stroller when we are out cruising. He looks so laid back and relaxed. It makes it easier for him to suck his toes too. I love it.

The house

Mark's been working so hard on the siding & trim on the house lately. Yesterday he went around and took some pictures of his progress and Mackinna decided they'd be better if he was in them with his work. She took the camera and told Mark where to stand and how to pose. She moved him all over the place and did a whole photo shoot. It was pretty funny.
For some pictures of the work in progress check out www.343main.blogspot.com

Memorial Day

We went to the parade downtown today. Kaden loved it. Both kids fell asleep on the walk home. How cute are they?

Kaden & Daddy watching the parade.

Mackinna pointed out to us a number of times that the icecream truck was there, finally we got the hint. At least she shared with her brother.

Sleeping, sweaty kids.

Mommy's helper

Kaden helped in the garden this weekend. I'm not sure what I would have done without him.

Like a moth to a flame

Well Kaden turned 10 months old earlier this week, its hard to believe that this time last year I was huge and everyone was asking if I was due any day. To which I would reply, "I wish, I still have 2 solid months to go." Then they'd say something up how huge I was. That was the best. I really was huge though, there is no denying that.

Anyway ... a bit about what the Nugget is up to these days, now that he's a big ten month old...
He is still in his 18 month clothes, I think he may be slowing down. This is definitely the longest I've gotten out of any one size. He is a happy boy, but almost always a filthy boy. He's into EVERYTHING, but his favorite is the dogs' water. He'll crawl clear across the house to get to it. Once there, he splashes around, elbow deep. He loves it. He's like a moth to a flame. There is nothing I can do to keep him out of it- other than take it away and let the dogs be dehydrated, but since we are now dealing with one with kidney failure, I figure that is not really a good option, so I'm taking suggestions, if anyone has them. If I yell NO, he does stop, for a brief moment, only to return to his fun moments later.

He still has no teeth, but that doesn't slow him down when it comes to eating. He's gumming everything quite nicely, and will not under any circumstances let me feed him with a spoon. He actually swats me away big time. He's added high fives to his bag of tricks in the past couple of weeks and will point to his sister when asked, "Where's Mackinna" He holds toy phones & remotes/calculators and other things up to his ear and talks on the phone. (I suspect he picked this up from his sister, who is on the phone with imaginary people CONSTANTLY. I had to take her phone away from her the other day because people kept calling while she was trying to nap)

Kaden loves cats and pictures of babies. He loves to play his piano & to swing- just seeing one makes him kick his legs likes crazy and make excited noises. He's still not sleeping through the night, I'm beginning to think he might never, but it doesn't really bother me anymore, unless he pees on me or our bed in the middle of the night- that gets to me.
His favorite foods I would say are avocado & banana, but he'll eat just about anything. He prefers Mackinna's sippy cups to his own, and luckily she doesn't mind. Its funny how early they start wanting to do things bigger kids do.
He loves his sister. Today she fell at the park and was crying, so he rubbed her back. It was so sweet. He hates having his diaper changed because he just can't sit still that long. His latest trick is to roll over and stand up while I try to change him. I am working on perfecting the diaper change from that angle.
I am not sure if I am going to give him credit for it yet, but its possible he started saying Mum and Mumma yesterday. At first I thought they were just babble, but his typical babble is bla blah and ba ba and there have been a couple of times now where it seems pretty deliberate, once this morning he was patting me and saying Mumma, and once last night and again this morning he yelled it, as if to get my attention. (He had eaten all the food on his tray- in both instances...maybe he was saying MORE??) Oh as I wrote this, he just crawled over and pulled himself up in my lap and looked at me ad said Mumma, maybe that is a sign that I should give him some credit!

He's got a bad habbit of pounding his head on things- the floor, the wall, tables, right now the wood stove door. He does this on purpose and not very hard, but over and over again, I would think hurts. He's got a killer smile and is such a flirt with folks who make a fuss over him. He likes to make new friends and play with folks from the comfort of my arms. He really makes a stink if someone trys to take him from me. It hurts my mom's feelings- what can I say he's a momma's boy.

That might be about it on Kaden "Nugget" James at ten months.

Today in Mackinna world

This morning when I was in the shower, I heard Mackinna puttering around in the bathroom. I peek out to find her holding "Baby Dylan" over the toilet. She had even pulled out the potty seat from under the sink. Just as I was about to ask her what she was doing, she flushed the toilet. So I guess Baby Dylan is learning to use the potty- maybe then she won't have to spend so much time changing his diapers.

The Relay for Life

On Friday night Mom walked in the Relay for Life, so we went up there to hang out with her. Mackinna wore her "when I grow up, there's gonna be a cure" shirt. She ran- like all out running for 3 solid laps. She was crazy! Mom ran with her a good chunk of the time. It was kind of funny to watch.

Mackinna sprinting- Grandma trying to keep up

Mackinna looking at the luminary that said, "We love you Auntie xoxo Mackinna and Kaden" The track really looked beautiful with all the luminaries around it.
Two tired girls. The both managed to stay awake till we left around 10:00. Kaden slept in the sling and nearly broke my back. 25 pounds of sleeping kid is a lot to lug around.

Conversations with Mackinna

On the way to the grocery store today, when we passed the Ford dealership Mackinna suddenly says to me, "I don't see any blue ones Mommy. I need a blue one." It took me a second to realize what she was talking about- but I caught on when she said, "I need a blue car like Daddy's to drive to Pride's Corner Nursery School" I told her that I didn't think she needed a car yet, and that I could drive her to school so that I could talk to her teachers. She's gonna think about it.

Last week "Baby" suddenly became "Dylan". After two years of being a girl named Baby, she just changed her name and gender! Mackinna holds Dylan and feeds him and talks to him constantly. We had to go buy him some boy clothes, because I was embarassed for him that he was wearing all pink. ( I couldn't find boy clothes in the doll section- we had to get him preemie real baby clothes)

Random pictures

Here are a few recent pictures...

Kaden playing at the children's museum

Kaden fell asleep eating after a hard day of playing

Kaden on the beautiful blanket his Great Granmda Price made him

Mackinna waiting in the rain for Grandma & Grandpa to arrive

Mackinna and Jada on Mother's day

Mackinna just started sitting with her legs crossed- it cracks me up!

Mackinna and Kaden checking out their cousin Dylan

Baby Dylan

Big Boy update

Kaden had his 9 month check up today... yes I know he is nearly 10 months old but his doctor was on vacation forever!
Here are his stats:
weight: 24lbs 5oz (90%)
height: 30 inches (95%)
head circ: 48cm (95%)

Dancing fool

Last week there was a program at the Warren Memorial Library that featured African drums. Kaden LOVED it- check him out dancing & clapping.

Here comes trouble

Kaden is into everything now. The dogs' water and food is his favorite. He'll crawl clear across the house to find in and dive right in. Mackinna gets pretty mad and usually scolds him.

Preschool

Well I put Kaden on list for preschool today- planning ahead for the fall of 2010.  We've been looking at places for Mackinna and the place I really want her to go is completely filled with siblings of previous students- they never even opened enrollment up.  We are third on the waiting list and I'm not holding my breath, but I did put Kaden on the list for 2010.  Now we just have to figure out what to do for his sister next fall.

She's like a parrot

Mackinna just made a bear with her play dough mold.  (an orange bear) She showed it to me, with such pride in her eyes, because she had done it completely on her own.  Then she hands it to me and says, "Could you take this and put it over on the window?  That would be a really big help."  

You don't think she's heard that before- have you?

Needless to say, I did it.  Of course I wanted to be a really big help.