Spring Adventures

Here are a few things that we have been up to lately. Cadence now crawls on all fours all the time. She also love to "drive". One new toy from our garage sale adventures is a driving 3-1 toy and she goes nuts on it!! The picture on the top left is the of the spoils of garage saleing - mom and dad were here and we had a blast! We found really great deals. Those toys are Little People and mom got those two sets for $8! I bought the 3-1 toy and the puzzle and bulldozer. I also found a booster seat, high chair and some little things (like $.10 little swimmers). We ate at some fabulous places - like Oklahoma Joe's BBQ - it is in a gas station - I know, I know ~ I was worried about the quality of meat also but it was GREAT!!! Good job Ryan for finding that one! Matt and his girlfriend Tamara came down for a surprise visit and we hung out at Doug and Bonnie's land for awhile. Matt and Tamara had to stay and extra night because of the bad weather going on up in Iowa. My parents went home to find that their house had been barely missed by a tornado!!! Very crazy weekend. The stoller picture is of Caleb pushing Cadence at softball, he would push her and then stop and clap for himself and then push and clap and so on. Very cute. We also go family/Cadence spring pictures taken by our friend Antony - wait for those to be posted soon. :)

Bang on the Drum All Day

This is just a yelling shot...kind of a funny moment. The next picture is of her very first pony tail. It is really cute and hilarious! She really looks thrilled to have it in and she shock her whole head the entire time I was trying to get it in place. I won - though I am sure this will not be the last hair battle we have :). And I am sure I will not be winning every battle.

Since we still have not taken the time to figure out how to put our new fancy camera's videos online this quality from our digital camera will have to do. Cadence likes to bang on about anything she can touch, I guess that is to be expected when you name a child Cadence. She was having a grand time in the video, it is a long one though. Hope you enjoy!

Easter Weekend

Of course my pictures are loaded backward - so these first few pictures happened after the dress change. Caleb first pulled Cadence around with him on this toy and then later must have wanted her to do the same - she couldn't do it :).

We didn't have anyone to take a family portrait of all 3 of us but here are Cadence and I early Easter morning. She looked adorable in the purple dress. She actually kept the hat on most of the day - and all the time in the nursery. It is a really soft cotton hat and she must have really liked the feel.

We got a really good price on this car seat and it will work until she is 100 lbs ... I am not sure she will need it when she weighs that much but at least we have that option. She loved being faced forward. Maybe it felt like she was going to go on a roller coaster or something. She looks so big in her infant seat right now so Ryan and I were both shocked when we saw how little she looked in this seat. Sometimes we forget that she is really still very little.

Kira goes to Grandma's house (which happens to be right down the street from us) every Tuesday. This Tuesday she was over and read Cadence some books that Grandma Nancy got her. She loves these books - and in this picture she looks like she is reading along with Kira.

Bragging on God and Ryan

RYAN PASSED HIS PARAMEDIC TEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! These past 20 months *yes, 20 months - he started the month before we found out we were pregnant and he finished right before her 10 month birthday* have been full of sacrifice, study, lecture, long ride alongs, big medical words, foreign concepts, grit, and spit - oh, yeah, and Ryan has been through some tough stuff in the last 20 months also, hahahaha! Needless to say we are both very glad it is over. I am so thankful for God's faithfulness and grace during this time of learning and change in our life.

The test Ryan took is a computerized test that continues to ask questions until it (the computer) is 95% sure you have failed or passed. Therefore each person's test is a different length. Ryan passed in only 81 questions! When you are unsure if you are in the failing 95% or the passing 95% you are not sure if the 81 questions are a good or bad thing!! Most of the other guy's who have taken it have had longer tests (not to brag on my God and husband :). I am so proud that he set aside serious study time and applied himself to learn and refresh all of these concepts. Cadence and I tried really hard to stay out of his way and space so he could concentrate, which can be difficult when you live in a smaller duplex.

On another note, now that he is a licensed paramedic all of our family gatherings will be safe - your welcome (and on both sides of our families we have nurses so our gatherings were already safe :). HAHAHA, if Ryan was reading this I know what he would say "a fireman (paramedic) without his gear is just another guy". So please resist feeling safer on the 4th of July when a firework heads right for your vehicle (or a large area of dry grass in southern Iowa...) and Ryan is standing there next to you, remember he is just a another guy. :) No matter - I am very thankful and glad that this chapter of our life is complete.

Thoughts

I have noticed a few things:

1) Even if Cadence is not with me I park by the cart returns at stores.

2) I am a lot faster at getting chores and everything else done around the house.

3) I look forward to a few minutes of "alone" time.

4) Poop doesn't really bother me like it used to.

5) When someone wants to schedule something with me the first thing I do is think of what time nap time is (her nap time...not mine).

6) I say "night-night" instead of bed time - even to Ryan (that I am working on).

7) I really love to go to bed before 11:00 p.m.

8) When Cadence does something I have never seen before it is more exciting and interesting than the best movie or book I have ever seen or read.

9) I never thought a little baby could be this cute - even her cries can be adorable (for short periods of time :)

Laux Family Update: Ryan takes his paramedic exam tomorrow at 12:15 CT. So if any of you read this before then or during early afternoon please pray that God will help him recall all the information that he studied and to remain calm through the test. THANKS!