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Playing with Marie - Kaden's best buddy







He is going to miss her so much when we move!

When did these two babies become toddlers....





It was MeMa's (our neighbor) birthday last week. Kaden helped bake a cake for her and picked out a bouquet of flowers for her. He even colored her a card. He was excited to deliver the items to her house that night.







Opening Valetine's Day presents. We got this fishing set from Aunt Debbie when Kaden was much younger and he wasn't old enough to "get" it, so I just kept it in the closet. Since he has recently gotten very interested in fishing and fishing rods, we thought it was a good time to give it to him.







Last weekend we drove to Atlanta, GA. Matt had to take a test there on Monday, so we decided to leave on Saturday to do a bit of sight-seeing on Sunday. I was planning to meet up with some friends on Monday, and then we drove home on Tuesday. We hadn't planned for the SNOW that Atlanta got that weekend and it got in the way of a few of our plans. But, we still had fun and enjoyed ourselves.

Determined to watch Mickey before bed





Getting ready to read books before bed. Notice the taggies in his hands!



On Sunday we went to the Coca-Cola Museum/Store and took a tour of their building. Then we walked up the block and went to the Aquarium. We were shocked at all the snow.



Kaden WAS so scared of the Coke polar bear



Filling Coke bottles



Kaden was mesmerized watching this robot pick up empty/full bottles and move them





The Museum part





The Olympic torches





The coolest part of the tour was the last room, where you could taste all the products that Coca-Cola makes around the world! It was amazing to taste the flavors of Asia, South America, Africa, etc. Kaden also got a few sips, which he enjoyed for the most part.









At the end of the tour we got to pick out a Coke bottle to take home. Kaden enjoyed this



Checking out the snow



Walking to the Aquarium - we didn't even pack winter coats! :)









Kaden remembered the snow from the wintertime and loved it. He was running in it and trying to pick it up!







This is where we ate - it was a fun restaurant. At each table we had a small jukebox that we could put a nickel in to pick a song -- just like in the OLD days, huh Mom! :) We had the best chocolate malt!! Kaden even picked it out on the menu.





Kaden looks a little odd -- I think he had a bit of a sugar high from the Coke samples he had just drank!







The entry to the Aquarium -- super cool! The fish look so fake, but they were definitely real!





You can see Kaden in the bottom right corner and see his smile!











Touching a star fish





The craziest animals -- Garden Eels... it gives me goose bumps just looking at them





Jumping!





Wow! Fishes!







Exhausted on the way home



We hung out in the hotel that night -- the weather was horrible and Matt needed a bit of studying time. Kaden had fun playing in the bed.



The next morning Kaden and I took Matt to his test. The weather was a bit better, and I wasn't sure we wanted to be stranded at the hotel without a car. We did end up venturing to a Toddler Storytime at Barnes and Noble, but it wasn't quite at Kaden's level. But, he enjoyed playing with the Thomas train and looking at all the books.

This was Kaden right after we got back from taking Matt.





Kaden did really well in the car ride going there and coming home. On the way home we stopped by Mayfield Dairy and took a tour of their milk plant. After we got home, Kaden was super excited to play with all his toys. His diaper was soaked by the time we got home so I just left him pantless (even though he quickly soaked another diaper!).

Birthday Ideas

I've had several people ask for ideas for Kaden's birthday. I know it's hard when many of you don't get to see him weekly to know exactly what he's into!! I made an Amazon wishlist of things he's interested in -- it helps having playgroup b/c I see things he likes to get ideas for gifts for him. Here are a few ideas for you, if you want/need them. Click on the button below.

Tough Kid!

I forgot to post this story when I posted earlier tonight.

The other day I noticed during Kaden's bath that he had a small splinter in the palm of his hand. He must have got it that day when playing with his "fishy wa" outside. I was really dreading taking it out, because I knew he was going to cry and be upset, but also knew this was one of those horrible parenting jobs that ranks up there with cleaning up vomit and dirty diapers.

So, I took my fingers and squeezed his palm -- What did he do? Cry? Scream? Nooo!! He laughed!!! Like serious giggles! So I stopped for a moment, then started again and the giggles started again!! I was able to get the splinter out without a problem! Our son is a tough a$$!!

Then he started looking at his hands and found a freckle he has on his index finger and said "another one. another one"

What a silly, tough boy!!

Finally time to blog!

Oh how the days fly by too quickly! I have sat down SO many times in the last few weeks with the intention of updating the blog, then we either get busy doing something else, the internet goes too slowly (thank you Time Warner Cable), or life just gets in the way! We recently turned off our cable to save $60/month, so all our night-time network shows are being watched through the internet, so some nights we are doing that! Plus, one of our laptops was being repaired so we were down to one computer, and for some reason Matt completing our taxes trumped updating the blog!

But, here are some pictures to show that I am taking them and that we've been busy!

Kaden continues to climb on everything and to reach things he shouldn't. One day he was determined to get to his room and I was busy making lunch and was unable to take him upstairs. Then I look over and he was sitting on the boot bench trying to climb over the baby gate! When that didn't work out well, he realized he was the perfect height to turn the hallway lights on & off!







We took Kaden to the circus a couple weeks ago. We all had a lot of fun. Kaden was so mesmerized by everything going on around him. He was super excited about the elephants ("trunks"), dogs, horses, and motorcycles.









Super Bowl Sunday! On SBS we had nachos and blackberries for dinner. Kaden couldn't believe how lucky he was to get to eat NACHOS in front of the TV for dinner! Not a great habit, but okay for special occasions!



A few weekends ago we had sunny weather and decided to take Talbot to the dog park. Kaden loves seeing all the dogs and Talbot enjoys having a large space to play Frisbee.

There were 2 golden retrievers that looked A LOT like Talbot. Kaden was sure they were in fact Talbot and kept yelling at them "come, Talgee (his name for Talbot), come!"















Safety first! Kaden has fun in his Kettrike bike, so the other weekend we finally bought him a bike helmet to start teaching him that when he rides his bike, he wears his helmet. Luckily he loves it!





Hoarding his 2 balls, wearing his super cool sunglasses, while swinging at the playground.


Funny boy!


More pictures from the climber!





Twinners!






Kaden has these glow sticks that we let him use if we're playing outside after it's dark. Last week he kept saying "fishing wa" and shaking the sticks. I realized the next day he was saying "Fishing Rod" and was determined to catch a fish and a turtle! Oh the imagination of an almost-two-year old!



Here's a video of it. A little dark, because we were outside, but you can hear him! Some of his words are "fishy wa", "shake, shake, shake", and "turtle"



Randomness! During his bath the other night Kaden kept singing the ABC song (correctly) over and over again. I had Matt bring the camera upstairs to record it, and of course he doesn't do it after I start recording. But, you do get to hear his randomness. He sings all the time to the tune of the ABC Song, but makes up his own jibberish words!



Fire hats are cool!




Friends! Marie and Kaden are such great friends. He will be so lost without her in May. Even on the weekends when we wakes in the morning he starts asking for "Rie Rie". You may notice his "fishing wa" in his hand!



Kaden has a tee and bat and several big whiffle balls that he loves to play with. He's surprisingly good.







With some help from Daddy after he got home from work.


And discovering a new way to use the bat! haha