Update from us

Sorry for the couple month delay... things have been BUSY around here!! As my previous post stated, I started daycare right after that post. I care for 4 kids, plus Kaden, each day. The kids are all great and we're having lots of fun. We're in a great routine and the days fly by. It took Kaden a couple weeks to adjust to having new friends, sharing his toys, and having to share Mommy, but he's doing much better. I have learned that he's definitely a rough-housing boy, but luckily his friends have figured this out and when he hugs them so hard they both fall down, they just laugh and get back up.

Here are some pictures from the last couple months:

When Kaden's looking for something, he puts his hands up by his eyes and calls them his "super hands". I'm pretty sure this came from TV somewhere...but I still think it's the cutest thing! He was looking for the garbage truck here...



With Elena, one of the daycare kiddos



King of the couch -- Kaden has enjoyed some recent changes around the house that have allowed him much more TV time. One being that he stopped napping towards the end of July and the other will be shared later...





Matt's been working crazy hours and was really exhausted one week. Kaden and I made him his favorite cookies to help cheer him up. Kaden enjoyed licking the beaters!! :)





The Parents as Educators group in St. Louis put on a truck "festival" the other weekend. We decided to take Kaden, even though I know we both had visions of the last time we took him a to see big trucks (crying, screaming, asking to leave, clutching to our waists). He surprised us both and loved it!

Riding a school bus


Walking on a flatbed truck



Driving a big truck



And enjoying an ice cream sandwich on the way home



"dancing" with Talbot



I took Kaden to the Transportation Museum a month or so ago. He had fun, even though it was almost 100 degrees and we were both WAY too hot!



I had to run inside real quick the other day and came out to find Elena and Kaden swinging and holding hands. My heart just melted! It was so sweet!






Having fun inside with the tunnel and catching bubbles







Kaden really enjoys playing with playdoh and has quite the imagination. He LOVES baseball (well, really any type of sport) and was pretending to use a "bat" to hit a "ball". Cute!



Iowa State Fair -- in August we took a weekend to go up to the State Fair in Des Moines. I hadn't been in several years and Matt had never been. Plus we knew Kaden would love it! We all had a good time and got to see several family members.







Kaden was so excited to jump on this, until it was actually HIS turn! Then he cried and cried and I had to go out there, get on the trampoline, and show him it was okay! haha





















We took a very quick trip to Minneapolis/Stacyville last weekend to buy our new-to-us van. Matt took one flight and Kaden and I took another (it was cheaper this way) but as usual, Kaden and I had horrible luck and instead of getting to Minneapolis at 10am, we spent extra hours in Milwaukee and got to Minneapolis at 3:30. We visited Mall of America with Aunt Debbie, saw Rainforest Cafe, rode some rides in the mall, then drove to Stacyville to visit with Grandpa Bruce, Grandma Sherri, and Aunt Nicole. Kaden had fun driving the tractor, playing baseball, and playing with a very friendly kitten. This was him waiting in the airport -- watching Mickey Mouse on the ipod.



As I stated earlier, Kaden stopped napping a couple months ago. He spends about an hour in his room everyday, but never naps! An average 2 year old should be getting 14-15 hours of sleep/day...not Kaden, he gets 10-11! I know he's exhausted but have no idea how to give him more sleep. Here's what he looks like during his TV time in the afternoon.



Other changes -- we moved Kaden out of his crib into a big boy bed at the beginning of the month. He's done great. I was fully expecting him to get out of his bed and play in his room, but he never does. Not even during his hour "rest" time. He just waits for me. He really likes his bed and I love being able to lay and cuddle with him while we read bedtime stories. It's also nice on nights when Matt works all night because I can go in and sleep with him... so cozy! He also had his first ear infection a couple weeks ago. He was really tough during it and mentioned to me a few times that his ear hurt, but never ran a fever/cranky/etc... I eventually took him in, and sure enough, EI it was! He's almost done with antibiotics and is doing a bit better.

And, even bigger changes--- as most of you know, Matt and I are expecting again! We found out during the last week in July and were very excited. In August we had our first ultrasound that showed it was twins! We were completely shocked and it took a good 2-3 weeks to settle in and feel real. I haven't been feeling great -- every night around 5ish I start getting super nauseous, sick, feeling exhausted, etc. It's all I can do to make supper, clean up, get Kaden and myself clean, and get Kaden to bed. I am now in my 2nd trimester and have felt a bit better the past 2 days. I REALLY hope it continues! So, between being busy with the daycare and going to bed at 8pm because I feel awful, the blog has really been ignored. The babies are due around April 3rd, but will probably come sometime between the 2nd week in February and 2nd week in March.

First ultrasound



And a couple days ago

Baby A (I think?)


Baby B (I think?)




A couple belly shots, because I know that's what everyone asks for! The first is about a week after finding out. I had started showing and my pants were getting tighter. I really started thinking it might be twins, but Matt told me the chances are so low, that it's barely a chance! Ha!

almost 5 weeks



13.5 weeks



We don't know gender yet, but will find out in the next month or so and will be sure to share! (think pink...think pink...think pink)

Matt has been busy with work and averages 80-90 hours/week. He's doing amazing and his constantly getting compliments at how great he's doing (as if any of us are surprised). He enjoys what he's doing and finds he really likes the surgeries.