Easter!

Yesterday was Easter Sunday and we started our day out by heading to church early. The entire church was packed!! People had to stand in the back because there just wasn't any room left. It was a great service too!! After church we were going to head home to eat but our friends asked to eat out with them :) we would have made plans to eat with my grandparents but they were sick. Everyone has been sick!! I really hope that everyone starts to feel better soon. 

His Easter basket! He got flash cards, a puzzle, a little toy train, and some Cadbury chocolate (that I ate half of haha)

My handsome men at church 

Caden and his friend running around outside at Red Lobster

Then we came home and had a little egg hunt for Caden. At first he didn't want to find the eggs but once he realized there were gummy bears in some of them he was all into it! :) After that it was naptime and Caden didn't take a nap. It was rough! haha 

An Easter book from Mimi and Papa! 

He dumped his basket out! 

I can't add the videos of Caden finding his eggs for some reason :( and I guess I didn't take pictures, just videos. 

Today we let Caden paint my belly like an Easter egg! We had planned to do it yesterday but everyone was too tired and cranky. Two years ago we bought paint to paint my Caden belly but he ended up being born that day! So this time around I was determined to do it. We painted his belly too :) he loved it!! 

This has nothing to do with Easter, but tonight's supper was amazing! It was a joint effort and we made Hawaiian chicken, coconut rice, and grilled pineapple. It was so good. So very good. Afterwards we all played outside and wore Caden out. It's been a good day :)

Happy birthday sweet boy

My sweet Caden Nathaniel turns two today. He was born on April 8, 2012 at 4:02 in the afternoon in Anchorage, Alaska. He weighed 9 pounds, 2 ounces, was 21 and a half inches long, and had head full of dark brown hair with blond tips. He was so chubby! But so tiny at the same time. His little tongue was always sticking out too :) he was just hours old and that tongue was sticking out. 

He wore little socks on his hands because his nails were so long and we forgot to pack mittens.

I can hardly believe it's been two years since I first was able to hold him. It seemed like I'd waited forever for him! I thought was already in love with him but after holding him I knew I was in love with him. 

First family photo :) 

In those first moments I knew how my mother felt when I was born. I finally understood what it felt like to love another person so fiercely that you'd do anything for them. I've loved Nathaniel since I was 16 years old but my love for him is different than my love for Caden. I truly believe in falling in love (that's what a lifetime of Disney movies will do to you) but I also believe in choosing to stay in love. Everyday I choose to stay with the man I fell in love with. Everyday I choose not to let my heart or mind stray. Everyday I choose to love Nathaniel (I'm not saying it's hard to love him or that I have to force myself to love him. I'm just saying that even when times get rough I will always choose to love him. Like our wedding vows said "in sickness AND in health", in the good times AND bad times, in the ups AND downs of life). But with my son? There was no choice. I held him and my heart just jumped right off the deep end and I can never go back to a time when I didn't love him. And I don't want to :) becoming a mother to that boy was something I didn't even know I was missing but I'm so glad I found it. I can't wait to be a mommy of two and watch Caden become the world's best big brother. Anyways, enough of this sappy stuff... :)

Today we are doing all of Caden's favorite things!! We decorated his door so that he got a surprise when he woke up! It's cuter in person than in pictures but he loved it!! 

He got pancakes for breakfast and chocolate milk :) 

He got to open one present this morning and opened the rest at lunchtime. Caden actually "slept in" today and we didn't have time to do all his presents before Nathaniel left for work. So he opened a gift from his great grandma--a ton of airplanes! 

He loves bubbles baths so he got to take a bath this morning with a bazillion bubbles :) 

The bubbles died down by the time I took this picture but there was a mountain of bubbles earlier!!

Picking out his favorite movie :) of course it's Cars! 

At lunchtime we gave him the rest of his gifts. He got several awesome shirts, a tool set from his favorite (and only) cousin (ok, only first cousin. He has a million second cousins who he loves very much!!), more airplanes, a Cars plate, cup, and bowl set, an art easel, a pilot's hat, a car travel case, a pirate ship, a bubble gun...I think there's more but I can't remember! He got gifts from us and family today. Our families said that a few more packages are on their way too :) I love that they all love my son so much!! 

He loves everything!! 

This afternoon he got to watch airplanes fly over and see guys jump out of them! A dream come true for him! He was so excited. He kept asking for more planes and more parachutes. It was cute :) 

He even got to wear one of the jumper's helmets! He could barely hold his head up haha

This evening his friend came over to say happy birthday!

These boys and cars:) 

We all had a great day today. Caden had the best time and tomorrow we're taking him to his favorite place, Chick-fil-a (I don't actually know if it's his favorite haha but it's the only place where he eats all the food!!) and letting him spend his birthday money. He got $42, a weird amount, I know. It's because the maintenance guy came yesterday to fix my garbage disposal and then gave Caden $2 for his birthday! The other money is from grandparents :) anyways, Caden had a great 2nd birthday. Thank you to everyone who wished him a happy day, he certainly had one. 

Happy birthday, sweet Caden. Mommy loves you.

My babies

Today we had an appointment to see how big Miss Isla is! We had an ultrasound but she is so squished in my belly that we couldn't see too much. We had the ultrasound because my belly has consistently measured big and I previously gave birth to a large baby (Caden was 9lbs, 2oz). The doctors and midwives (I see both) have been discussing a possible induction based on Isla's size but today it was decided that I will not be induced unless I go past my due date. I'm currently 34 weeks but I'm measuring at 37. According to the ultrasound Isla weighs 6 pounds, 15 ounces!! I'm carrying around a 7lb baby right now! No wonder my back hurts all the time. No wonder the kicks are so strong and way up in ribs. So I guess Nathaniel and I are just destined to have ginormous babies! The ultrasound is supposed to be accurate but who knows, she could actually be smaller and I'll have a petite little thing...wishful thinking. 

Hard to see but here's Isla! It's just her face and she's all squished in there. Her little fingers are up by her nose. 

Here's me at 33 weeks but measuring 36 weeks. Can't wait to hold my girl!! 

Isla is doing great and so is my Caden :) he's such a sweet guy! I love that boy. This morning he said, "Mommy, love you" without me saying it first! He just recently started forming sentences. And by sentences I mean two, maybe three, words strung together. Hearing him say that he loves me made me so happy! But now he won't say it again! haha if he gets hurt he will say "hurt" and then whatever body part got hurt. He knows all his body parts (including wiener...that one seems to be his favorite. Makes me laugh so hard everytime). It's so amazing to watch him grow. He learns new things everyday! I just love watching him. We've been very busy lately too! He's had several little play dates at various parks and he's had a blast at each one :) we went to Lubbock last week, painted one day, and have been playing in the backyard almost every day. 

He fell asleep in the truck on the way home from Lubbock like this! 

Today we went to a potluck play date/favorites party and that was super fun! I made s'mores bars (to die for!!!) and I ate to my heart's content. Everyone made some delicious food and I enjoyed all of it. Caden and I made some new friends and I came home with some cute little gifts! It was fun :) 

All my goodies from the party! I'm completely obsessed with the cute flowery cup. 

We had a donut date with my grandparents last week and then another one with a friend this week. If I end up a whale at the end of this pregnancy it's definitely my own fault. I just realized how much junk I've eaten lately! I guess the gym will be my new best friend...boo hoo. I hate the gym. Anyways, Caden's doing great and I am so thankful for that boy. I can't wait to watch him become a big brother! 

Donuts with Ma and Papa!

So I know this post is entitled "My babies" but I'm going to talk about Nathaniel for a second :) I do call him babe so I guess he could fall under the babies thing...I bet he doesn't like me saying that! haha so last week he graduated from ALS! ALS stands for Airman Leadership School and it's a five week class. His commander, supervisor, and Senior Master Sergeant and their wives all came out to show their support for him at his graduation. He earned the Commandant's Award. I'm so proud! He made some friends in ALS too but he's happy to be back at work. And at his work there are big things going on. More about that later. 

Accepting his award!

The entire ALS class. Nathaniel's in the back though and you can't see him. 

And one quick thing about me, I went and played bingo tonight! How old am I?! haha it was so fun though! I didn't win anything but I had a great time. 

Today was insanely busy--play date, baby appointment, and bingo. I was out of the house from 10:00am-7:00pm. So I'll be sitting here on the couch watching tv until I can't keep my eyes open anymore :)