Christmas Part Two

These are some snapshots from this past week in Iowa. We enjoyed Zio Johno's for "Christmas Dinner", then had a nice evening of opening gifts together. It was really fun to watch Cadence wearing her first "party dress", it is a lovely red satin and tulle on loan from Lauren (our almost 2 year old niece). At first she didn't notice then she looked down and saw it and immediately picked it up to chew on. She looked a little like a Can-Can girl. The snow picture was of the afternoon we left Iowa - 3 hours behind when we normally leave to come home. It all worked out well and we made good time, since there was little to no traffic. Most of our Christmas pictures are a little dark - because I turned off the flash for an up close picture and forgot to turn it back on...nice. Nothing like ruining some of your baby's first Christmas pictures! :)

Getting Stuck in the Driveway

Mom got stuck in the snow at the cement pad

by the garage - so we called my dad (he was inside the house) to help. These pictures explain what happened next. In the process of getting "unstuck", Dad got stuck the end of the driveway. It was hilarious. Matt's little Subaru ended up pulling the van out. Then late my brother got stuck and my dad's jeep got him out. Snow is so much fun :).

A Bicycle for One

I got this decoration from my mother-in-law. It is perfect for Cadence :).

Christmas Part One (for real)

We actually had one Christmas before the pictures I posted we did Christmas with Aaron and Erica at their house -- but we forgot our camera. But it was a lovely time! I promise.

Christmas Part One

This is the Christmas from our house. We opened Grandpa and Grandma Laux's gifts and our own. It was fun to see Cadence get into ripping paper. The evening didn't quite start off well. I stopped at Wal*Mart (my first mistake) for dinner supplies. Steak, garlic bread, mashed potatoes and cookies. Never get steak at Wal*Mart - that or else don't let Tiffany cook them. They were horrible. Ryan only ate a little bit and said (letting me keep my dignity) that he just wasn't that hungry!! HAHAHAHAHA. Then we did gifts and it was really fun. The pink blanket is a really soft one that Ryan picked for Cadence, since she sleeps with a soft blanket it is perfect. The books and train are from Doug and Bonnie, she loves all the gifts from them. The pink fleece are from my Aunt and Uncle in Florida. It is adorable on her.

Flashback

In honor of Cadence's 6 month birthday - December 15th, I would like to remember a simplier time...hahaha. No, these are just really cute pictures. Cadence would like the say "Peace" and good tidings and then she was playing a cheerleader and the last pic is of my sister and Cadence when she came down to see us after the birth. Good times.

Green Beans

This really summed up her experience with green beans. She kept opening her mouth in good faith that we just might give her something "good". Poor girl, gullible just like her mother. :)

Two Baby's in a Picture

Really, they like each other...at least we think!

This was the best one. That is all your getting :). It was hilarious to watch them, Ryan just kept snapping pictures in hope that one would work out :).

Random Thoughts for a Friday

I don't have any cute new pictures to upload yet. I wish I was a little more creative with my picture taking. Maybe I will strive to become that -- a creative photographer. So if you see some crazy pictures in the future it is because I am trying to achieve this goal.

Lets see, other things that have been happening...Cadence eats a little food now. That is always exciting. She also sits up a little bit. I should get some pictures of those things on the blog. We are fully decorated for Christmas and almost done shopping. We would have been but had second thoughts on my dad and brother's gifts. We have some left to get my sister too. And we have to ship some gifts to AZ...so really we aren't done at all.

Cadence gets up pretty early these days and most of the time after she nurses she just plays. I do Bible study but then have time to do other things...any ideas from you guys out there? I am not really wanting to do house work that early... and I should work out...but I would rather hear what you all think I should do that early!

Boot update: I got my leather boots!! WAHOO they are fabulous, and I look Ryan in the eyes almost when I have them on and he is bare foot. They are really a great boot.

I am not ready for my 27th birthday...which is less than a month away. I am in denial that I could be that old when I feel like I am 22 still. I said feel - not look... In a lot of ways I don't want to be who I was back then. I like where I am in life. I just like that "younger number" a whole lot better :).

We had Erica, Kira and little Caleb over today. He is 3 months older than Cadence and really reminds us of how non-baby-proofed we are right now. We will have to get some serious gates up before the next few months. We tried to get the two together for a picture...I will have to post the sequence of events that followed.

Well, enough random thoughts for now.

Cadence's First Christmas Tree

Cadence's first tree and it is a fake one. That is sad, but when you find them half off and they are PRELITE what more could you want???!!!! :) She is on my lap so it is hard to type so I will post more later.

Who Knew Dogs Were so Funny

This a little bit of a long video - but it is adorable and so I wanted to share it. Cadence is laughing at our two Jack Russels. Apparently, they are funnier than anything else we have in our home.

Christmas Boots

I just bought these on http://www.piperlime.com/ for myself for Christmas/Birthday from Ryan...has anyone else done that before? Do you like them? Let me know.

Thanksgiving Family Hugs

Cadence is reading a magazine with my sister Summer. I think she was very content with her. Then with my brother Matt -- she has a little bit of a look of confusion. No really, she likes ALL of our siblings :).

Not only pictures...but a video!

First Snow

We woke up on Sunday to drive home (Mom, Dad and Matt took C and I to Osceloa and Ryan came to get us - he had to work on Friday) and there was this wonderful heavy snow on all the trees and grass - Cadence's first snow!!!!! We had to take pictures, of course.

Thanksgiving

We had a great Thanksgiving. We were up in Iowa for about a week. It is always nice to catch up with family and spend time with loved ones. It is also nice to be able to pass the baby to Grandma and take a nap! :) Cadence tried a sippy cup - she gets a sip every now and then. We did go shopping on Black Friday - why is it called that? I got a $40 dollar dress/sweater for Cadence for $11. That was the deal of the day for me. Mom and Summer had better luck. We missed the other side of the family - in fact they had quite an adventure (or so I have heard) that involved a fried turkey and very expensive oil. Oh, the things we do for family.

Here are some pictures of our holiday.

This us shopping at Lindale Mall - Cadence's first time at the ole 'dale.

"Shoes" & A Cute Picture

It has been awile since I added a shoe picture - here are some cute ones. The blue socks are cousin Grant.

And a "cute picture" - this is 5 Months (and one day).

Hairy Legs

While I was one the phone with my mom this afternoon my daughter did something hilarious! We were sitting on the floor and she was touching my unshaven legs -- then she laughed. It is her "fake laugh" but still a laugh. Then she kept doing it. So I pulled out the camera - she still did it for the camera so it must feel really funny. I am putting my pride to the side in order to share with you a funny moment. Please don't think I never shave my legs. But if I were bad at shaving, I would have a new excuse - it brings humor into my daughter life. They say laughter is the best medicine...good enough excuse?

Genius Child

Yes, she does everything we tell her to do. Even 2 legs or one for jumping, stop crying when we say to, go to sleep whenever we ask and everything else you can think of. HAHAHAHHA, what I am not sharing is the video where Ryan continues to ask her to jump and she does nothing but stare at him. Just a humorous note on why we should not be too quick to brag about their abilities, they will choose that moment to do nothing but stare at you like you are crazy. For the record when I was playing this video with the sound up she was jumping when Ryan said "jump jump" in the video :). But that is because not a soul but myself is around to witness it.

A Public Announcement

Okay, so it is nothing that big but I read this quote in my cookbook and it really hit home today.

Cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow

For babies grow up we've learned our sorrow

So quiet down, cobwebs...dust go to sleep

I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep

Cadence really is not excited or scared in this picture. She was yelling - that is what she does. She is a vocal little gal -- no snickering here -- we know she most likely takes after me since Ryan is a little more laid back. Okay, a lot more laid back than me.

Cadence's second (of three) platlet checks came back in the normal range *so did the first follow up test* so we are very thankful for that. If all is well at the next check we don't have to go in anymore for blood work.

I started my Christmas shopping. I figure that way I can really enjoy the holiday and not worry about what I have not done yet. I will leave some shopping for the later in the season - that is always fun.

Everyday Life

Sorry, this video is so dark -- I will do better next time. This video is for the Tammany clan down in AZ. I just wanted them to get a peek into life up here. These are all the cousins from Missouri. We miss them! I have recently been told (by Ryan) that all I post is videos -- I will try to get back into to regular blogging :).

Jump Jump Jump

Cadence loves to jump! This video is a small sampling of her talents!

Girl Talk

Cadence and her cousin Lauren. Lauren is teaching Cadence how to use a phone!

Not Me Mondays

Today I did not justify buying Chick-fil-a because I was on my way to the grocery store - and everyone knows how bad it is to go to the grocery store on an empty stomach. That would be wasteful and a bad idea - especially during a recession.

Today I did not bump up my schedule becuase Cadence wouldn't go to sleep, just so she would fall asleep in the car. That would be a parent copout moment and I am a perfect parent. I am always super patient also.

Today at the grocery store I didn't get plastic bags for the convience of carrying them in my house one handed. That would be completly NOT green of me and I am a very green person.

And finally I did not just get around to ordering Cadence's birth certificate - that would be 4 months late and irresponsible. I had her birth certificate ordered when it was hot off the press. hahahahaha.

I love Mondays.

We did a lot of firsts on our way to / in Arizona ...

First pumkin patch

First try at rolling over (she gets half way there and then her arm is in the way)

First time getting up 5 days in a row before 5:00 AM (to stay awake)

First time flying -- definatly more stressful for the parents then the baby. You only get two reactions from people when you walk through the airplane 1) please please dont be in the row behind me look 2) a smile and an oh she's so cute look. Thankfully most of our looks were the "oh so cute" look.

It was great to be with family and to hang out with Ryan's sister and her family. We are truely blessed with a wonderful family and it is so neat to see our kids interact.