22 & 23 Months

So, it's 10:40 pm on the eve of our 2nd baby boy's birth and I am still up... I know I won't be able to sleep, so I thought I'd do some blogging. I figure Caden's birth is about to take over "Colton's Corner" for a while so I better post a few things about the past 2 months so I don't forget!



One day after house hunting we stumbled across a little fountain area and let Colton run around! We didn't know he would get soaked! He loved the fountains and wasn't afraid to lean over them and let them spray him right in his face! We recently went back there and got some video. This time we let him wear his swimsuit.

Here he is on the car ride home enjoying the rest of Mom's sonic ice - yes, life is good at 23 months!

Here's Colton yesterday showing us what he made at "Teddy Bear Camp"... He made a "do not disturb" sign for Baby Caden's door. The camp was great - we got a tour of the hospital, saw a newborn, learned how to swaddle and diaper a teddy bear and learned what toys are too small for baby brother. Grandma and Grandad brought Colton a "baby brother doll" and he has loved taking care of him and playing with him! We can't wait to meet you Caden!

Enjoying a cookie while watching cartoons. He used to call cookies, "cooks" but now he's outgrown that.

Putting a "fresh" diaper on Baby Brother.

Trying on a newborn hat... His shirt says "Big Brothers Rock"!

This book has been read many, many times! Colton is really in to fire trucks, sirens, ambulances, helicopters, trash trucks and motorcycles!

Silly boy!

A day in the life of Colton - Bunny's house may never be the same!

Fireman Colton!

Superman!

Loving on Mommy!

Loving on Baby Brother!

Just the two of us...but not for long!

Mowing Bunny's house with Daddy's socks on. This was while I was folding laundry... He loves to "help" with the laundry and it always takes a bit longer with his help :)

Showing me where Baby Brother is...

Our family of 3 one last time! We cannot wait to see you and hold you Caden!

Come and play baby boy!

This is out of order but too sweet not to share. The day we found our house, there was a terrible storm and the tornado sirens went off. Jack and I were looking at the new house and Colton stayed home with Bunny. She took him into her closet with a ton of pillows and blankets and he fell asleep while they were staying safe!

A few more things to remember about 22 & 23 months...

• I can't list his new words anymore because there are dozens of new words each day! He is like a sponge and a parrot!
• We have to be careful because he's already added, "oh shoot" to his vocabulary... Thankfully, he has recently begun saying "oh man" or "oh me" instead which seems a little tamer :) It really is amazing that he can use them in the right context and tone of voice.
• Almost done with paci - knows we are going to give them all to Baby Caden and thinks it's funny to go and get one to see if I notice.
• Loves to play toys and wants to have you sitting right there on the floor with him.
• Loves to get the cushions off the couch and jump from one to the other.
• Can climb into his crib, but thankfully not out YET...
• Can put his own crocs on...
• Talking in full sentences.
• Loves Barney...
• Loves to point out vehicles on the road especially motorcycles, ambulances, fire trucks, tractors, and big, big trucks.
• "Herds" us into the toy room by pushing on the backs of our legs until we acquiese to his demands.

I'm sure there's more but it is 11 now and I really do need to go to bed! I love you Colton and know that you will be an awesome big brother! Caden - we love you already and cannot wait to meet you tomorrow! Father, please give us a smooth and safe "birth" day! Thank you for these two precious boys. Give Jack and I wisdom as we raise them up to be godly men!

Where do I start?

First of all - no baby yet... We're scheduled to be induced this Monday at 6:30 am if Caden doesn't arrive before then. My babies seem to like to stay put! I cannot complain though - we've had a lot going on, so I'm very thankful he's given us time to take care of a few pressing matters before he comes!

One very important thing being buying a house! Yay! This has been quite the process - we have learned a LOT and I can honestly say I do not want to buy or sell another house for a very long time. We are super excited about our new house - I'll post pics soon. We should close around the middle of July if all goes well.

Here are a few pictures from the last few weeks of what we've been up to...in no particular order...

Caden's Diaper Shower - My sweet coworkers (Angel, Gabi, Stephania & Darey) threw me a diaper shower and we have diapers stockpiled for months! We are so thankful!

A few weeks ago we ventured to Houston, TX and celebrated our favorite niece's graduation from High School! It was such a fun weekend and we are so proud of Brittany! She will be heading to ACU in the fall on a full scholarship! Way to go Britty! Here she is with her sweet beau Jarrett.

Proud Mom and Brother :)

Henry and Colton having a little snack during graduation...

Brittany and all her siblings at her graduation party.

Colton enjoying the party!

In early May we celebrated with April at her wedding shower! It was a great day and she looked beautiful as always! We can't wait until the wedding!

Zach's aunts and Meme...

Just a random picture of our boy licking water off the floor... We're so proud :)

On June 11th, Jack and I celebrated our 4th anniversary! Jack surprised me with a lovely bouquet of tulips and a sweet card! Then Bunny watched Colton while we ate at La Hacienda, browsed at Barnes & Noble and then splurged for a dollar movie. We saw Duplicity. It was a great evening & I'm so thankful for my hubby and our marriage!

Getting ready for Baby Brother. Colton has had fun trying out all of the baby's things.

Getting reaquainted with the froggy pool from last summer.

Our happy boy!

Loving Mr. Frog...

Vacuuming with Bunny. He is such a big helper.

"Working" with Daddy...

Swinging like a monkey... This boy loves to climb, swing, jump and run! Whew - he makes me tired! Thankfully he sleeps as hard as he plays!

This picture was taken on Moving Day - Colton enjoyed playing in the empty storage containers. During the actual move, Grandma and Grandad took him to their house with his cousins so we could finish packing and loading. It was a crazy day but we had amazing help from our friends and family! Thanks Aunt Paige, Papaw, Brad, Nathan, Ben and Bunny! We couldn't have done it without you!

Henry checking out the containers.

Wilkin and Colton running in and out of the containers.

Welcome Summer!

Summer is finally here! We are so excited because it means Baby Brother Caden is almost here, too! We had a sonogram at our last dr's visit and they are estimating that he weighs about 7 lb 11 oz already! Yikes! We will induce on June 22nd if he doesn't come on his own before then. Colton is having so much fun living at Bunny's house and we are very thankful for her hospitality and help! As far as housing, we have been diligently looking. We have put in two offers on two different houses, they countered so now we are waiting to hear if they accepted our counter offer... Hopefully one of these will work out! Please say a prayer for Baby Caden's safe arrival and for a house to work out soon!

21 Months...

I could also entitle this post "How to Lose a House in 10 Days" but I am choosing to focus on the positive. Here's a little bit of what's been going on around our home these days and it just might account for my lack of blogging...

1) We are officially moving this coming weekend. Have not found a house, but are thankful our house sold in this market. Will be moving in with my gracious mom until we find a permanent abode.
2) Have looked at over 55 houses - finally found the "one" and someone put an offer in just as we were looking at it. It had only been on the market 4 days.
3) My mom found the exact same wonderful layout in the same neighborhood in another house which we looked at today and believe it or not someone made an offer and the deal closed unbeknowst to us as we were looking at the house. Crazy!
4) I'm sure there is a reason that we have lost 2 houses right in a row after looking at so many...so I will try to turn all this over to God. He certainly can see the big picture and I cannot. I am blessed even to have this problem...when so many are struggling with health issues, job issues and foreclosure.
5) We are up to our ears in boxes. Colton thinks it's great fun! Packing has not really been too bad, but I am ready for it to be done!
6) I really will miss this house. It's where our family began so I'm a little sad to be leaving it for the great unknown...


That's enough about our moving trevails... On a brighter note, Colton is just about out of his 21st month and I wanted to take a moment to remember this sweet stage! He keeps us very entertained! Also, I haven't blogged much about baby brother so I will try to dedicate a post very soon just to him! He is doing great and all dr's appts have shown him to be right on track as far as heartbeat and size. According to the books, he's about a pineapple size and weighs nearly 4 lbs.

Here are a few things I want to remember about Colton at this age:

Loves the lawnmower... His supersonic ears can hear a mower from 5 streets over and I constantly hear this little voice saying "Mowing, Mowing (sounds like morning), see, see"

Here he is checking out the mower with Daddy.

Really enjoys his ride on toys and thinks its funny to crash them into anything and everything. He also likes wearing his glasses.

I know - he still has a paci... We are going to try and go paci free by age 2...

Loves wrestling with Daddy every night!

Loves getting ALL of Daddy's socks out of the drawer (which he can open by himself) and taking all of them into the living room. He then proceeds to throw them at us or jump into them and bury himself under them. Really, who needs toys?

Boxes have been pretty fun. They are his house and slide and he has not figured out that when they are empty you cannot just jump on top of one.

A few more things to remember:

• Has mastered the "bridge" at the park. This consists of black steps going across a balance beam. He can now hold on to the bar and make his way across all by himself.
• Loves to say I did it, I fix it, I like it...
• Loves waffles. We have them for breakfast almost every morning with an egg or banana. They are the Eggo Whole Wheat, so I feel like they are somewhat healthy. When I go get him in the morning its usually the first thing out of his mouth, "Waffles?"
• Very interested in baby brother in mommy's tummy and has been very sweet. Likes to pat and kiss my tummy as well as share his toys.
• Loves to be in the car and point out the things we pass.
• Loves watching the trash truck on Thursday mornings.
• Can say all of his grandparents' names and talks about them very often!
• Loves to read his books and look at pictures of his family.
• Counting... usually 2...1...3 but after 4 almost always gets 5, 6, 7, 8 in the right order. He's beginning to try and show us that he will be 2 but has trouble getting his fingers in the right position.
• New words... "love you, thank you, monster, siren, mowing, horsey, shhh...baby sleeping, butterfly, oh shoot (we've got to work on that one), clothes on, shoes on, move!, watch, breakfast, fire truck, daddy's shoes, mommy's shoes, necklace, kitty cat's house..."
• Got a new pair of crocs and loves wearing them. He can put them on by himself, too.
• Thinks its great fun to run away from us as we change his clothes, diaper, pjs... This game is getting very difficult for his 8 months prego mommy!
• Loves to play "boo" with daddy. This consists of running around the house and jumping out of doorways and scaring each other.
• Loves to run with daddy. They race from one door to the other. Colton likes to stay in the "set" position and has to be reminded to get up and go.
• Loves his water table and bath time!