Caden's First Easter

Here are a few pictures from Caden’s First Easter!  We had some very special visitors that made the day even more memorable (Jenni and Clay Caswell, our wonderful friends from college, along with their 2 boys Connor and Levi)! 
And yes, the Easter Bunny was very good to all of them!

"Paci, Paci Leash, Paci Animal.... Where's the chocolate?!?!?!"

I was fighting a cold, please excuse my uncertain smile...

What a handfull!

I think they were plotting against us!

Caden is now a rolling machine, a little trick that Levi taught him!

Back to tummy -

Then tummy to back - and he is SPENT!  What a workout!

3 Months!!! A Month of Many Firsts...

We've been extremely busy this month.  The weather has finally warmed up and I don't feel like the cold and flu season is such a threat - so we hit the ground running!  Caden went on his first road trip.  We visited Washington D.C. and I feel like we couldn't have timed the trip more perfectly - the Cherry Blossoms were beautiful!

After returning from the road trip, Caden went on his first plane ride to Texas!  We visited many family and friends, but as always our trip just wasn't long enough.  If we didn't get to see you, our apologies, but hopefully we can make it up next time!  We got to visit his birthday buddy (Blair Ferguson - the son of Brad's college roommate - how fun!).  I enjoyed putting the boys on the quilt to let them have a kick fest. 

He got his wings!!!

First Plane Ride

Birthday Buddies

Of course we had to take a picture in some Texas bluebonnets!

He has turned into a smiling machine, finding many of the silly things we do absolutely hysterical!

Caden can now roll from tummy to back AND back to tummy, although he doesn't do the later nearly as frequently.  He has also taken up holding rattles and is getting pretty good at putting them in his mouth.  It is fun to see how his motor skills are progressing.  He still hasn't found his thumb, but has settled on sucking his pointer for now.  His sleep schedule has progressed quite nicely - usually going to be around 7:30, getting up twice to feed during the night and then up for good by 7:45.  Day time naps are still sporadic and inconsistent, but my girl friends keep encouraging me that these are the last of the sleep patterns to get organized - so I will work another month on trying to get a good day time routine down!

2 Month Check In

Brad and I recently had a realization.... we haven't set an alarm clock since the night of December 27th.  This is not for the lack of early appointments, we just know that we'll always be up!

Now that Caden is 2 months old there are definite improvements in his sleep patterns, but they are still nothing to brag about.  He takes minimal cat naps during the day, leaving me just enough time to start something but not finish it.  At night, he is now sleeping from 7:30 - 5:00 with 2 night feedings and a couple of paci replacements or re-swaddles.

At the 2 month check-up he weighed 11 pounds and 5 ounces.  He is now 22.5 inches long.

Now for a few pics of our little alarm clock....

Don't let this yawn fool you, he's not looking to sleep anytime soon!

 

Sorry for the paci, but it's what makes him happy these days.  Very appropriate for his 2 month pic!

Stole the paci for a second, just a matter of time before his hands get in the way!

Exercising his limbs and lungs!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Sending lots of love to all of our Valentines!

One Month Milestones

Where has the time gone???  I've always heard mothers say that the time will fly, but nothing can prepare you for what that actually feels like.  Caden now weighs a whopping 9 pounds!  His cheeks have definitely filled out and his little legs are pretty chunky.  It seems that we have this feeding thing figured out, now we've got to work on sleep!  His one month appointment went well, minus the shot.  He has much more control over his neck muscles and his legs are extremely strong (they've been that way since in utero!).  He is still a very "vocal" baby.  Not that he cries... he just makes LOTS of noises: grunts, squeals and many, many other unidentifiable sounds.  Below are a few pics from the past couple of weeks.

Now this is pure relaxation!

He loves his Moma, almost as much as she loves him!

We actually had "spring-like weather", so we took advantage and made a trip to the zoo.  I definitely enjoyed the outting more than him, but it was good for both of us to get out and breathe the fresh air (well, semi-fresh, the penguins are rather smelly).

3 Weeks Update

Things are going well for us here in Ohio, minus the typical new parent complaint about a lack of sleep.  A doctors apointment last week assured us that Caden's Jaundice is clearing and that he has gained back his birth weight, plus some.  Here are a few pics from the past 2 weeks.  Enjoy!

2 weeks

3 weeks

Nice and relaxed after a warm bath

Ready Or Not.... Here He Comes!!!!

Caden Maxwell
Born December 28, 2011
6 pounds 15.9 ounces (the official weight was 6 pounds 16 ounces... still trying to figure that one out!)
18.5 inches long

In the Delivery Room.

Poor guy doesn't stand a chance on the dance floor....

Actually, I was much relieved when the nurse explained that she accidentally stamped the same foot twice!

Someone gifted my Grandma with this vase when she was in the hospital with my Mom.  My Grandma then gave it to my Mom when she had my brother.  Many states and an airplane ride away, the vase made it up to Ohio for me!!!  It's a very special vase!

Caden's one week photo.

On day 3 we discovered that his Jaundice was bad enough that he needed to go under the Biliblanket.  I am very happy that we had the in-home care option, but the poor little guy was glowing blue for a good 2+ days, didn't make for good photo ops!  The Jaundice is better now and we are hoping to get more pics soon!