*hope*

~kaden rockin out on one of the pianos on 16th street.

I have so much to be grateful for this year, and I would love to go on and on about those things, but I feel that would be cheating in a way. I find this year, what I am most grateful for is Hope. Hope is what gets me through each day at work and is my greatest wish for all of the children and families that I work with. Hope is the ability for a person to dream big, and to take that initial step to making their dreams a reality...a huge step that I took years ago when I flew from my cozy nest in Rochester. Hope is also something I cherish as a mother who sometimes may get a little overly anxious about the little things and helps me to become full of faith and joy instead...and full of Hope.

Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.
― Shel Silverstein

some random morsels of happiness

* the first big hug of the morning.

* tuesday nights thanks to the amazingness that is Parenthood.

* little kicks in my belly from our sweet little lovebug.

* anything and everything PUMPKIN!

* kaden randomly busting out in a happy birthday tune for me at various times of the day.

* having an amazing hubby who also happens to love to do the dishes.


Here's a little peek at our Thanksgiving day at Mamaw and Papaw's house....




~checkin out daddy's technique.


~cozy with Uncle Larry.


~he loved his little white dress up shirt. He would put his hands on his hips and ask everyone if they "liked his shirt".


~people often wonder why I don't have more pics with me and kaden...this is a prime example of why.




~kaden finally fell in love with his four wheeler! He was saying the funniest things into his little walkie talkie.


~gettin a little help from Jack!


~kaden proudly wearing his fancy hat that he made at daycare.


~ "helpin" David in the kitchen.


~kaden getting in on the annual Euchre game.


~end of the night rockin out with Uncle Brian.





~posing with my 20 week bump and apple cider.

*bits and pieces*

when life gets busy its easy to get stressed and spiral into a mess of bummed-out-edness...but it only takes a little bit of effort to stay positive. it only takes a minute of deep breathing to make me feel more calm...about 6 good ones. funny how doing less, thinking less, worrying less, having less, takes more effort than the constant sensory overload we've become accustomed to.
but even the littlest things can be pretty fantastic if you just think them so.
because...in the scope of things...life is good.







~chad teaching kaden the wonders of turning trash into treasure. Chad has sweet dreams of turning this crazy old chest into a really cool toy chest.






~an attempt at a family portrait.


~fun with a little shaving cream and food coloring in the bath. Kaden had way too much fun with this!


~kaden with his two fave stuffed animals stuffed in his jammies so he can be "just like mommy".


~daddy and me guitars. This eukele was a gift that Mamaw and Papaw brought back from Hawaii...kaden's newest fave.


~our little turkey.


~20 weeks. my buddha belly is growing so fast, I will make a point of questioning my OB at the next appt (for the thrid time) if there is truly only one nugget in there, or possibly two or three??? Please excuse my horrific hair...in desperate need of a new 'do, but it needs to grow a wee bit longer first.

*Poppy*

I know that I have been quiet lately, and I have been neglecting our sweet little blog. I suppose I've been feeling a little bit awed by all that has been happening, and I am just trying to wrap my head around it all. This little one growing inside me has been quiet and cozy, but growing very very large (or at least my belly is). I am 19 weeks and I am anxiously awaiting the feeling of those little kicks! We had an ultrasound last week (for genetic counseling...very long and lengthy screening)and it was so incredible how they could zoom in and look at every little detail. I feel so blessed to have this little one growing inside of me, and I cannot wait to meet him/her in what seems like a few months!

I also found out that I was finally approved to take the licensing exam after jumping through all of Colorado's crazy hoops! I am hoping to take it at the beginning of February, which means I need to buckle down and get studying! I have horrific test anxiety and I am not sure how to go about studying for something so big, but I know that somehow i will find a way!

This weekend we were so grateful to have Poppy come and stay with us for a few days! We really had a wonderful time, and Kaden did some super bonding with my Dad. Kaden asked several times this evening if Poppy was coming back tonite to "sleep on the bed downstairs". We really didn't have any plans and just kind of went with whatever we felt like doing each day and it was truly a wonderful visit. I think it was good for all of our souls, especially Kaden.














~kaden not happy about saying goodbye to Poppy.





We have had two big snowfalls here so far, and both have been melted within 24-48 hours. I am a bit jealous of Chad, as he has been home with Kaden on these days (wednesdays) and has had an absolute ball playing in the snow with Kaden. I wouldn't mind if the snow stuck around just a wee bit longer so those of us that are imprisoned at work could enjoy in the snow fun too!







ps....I need a new name for our blog! Any ideas or suggestions?

*happy halloween 2011*

Halloween was so much fun this year! We hit up Boo at the Zoo, Old Gaylord Street Fest and then finished the night off with some good ol fashioned trick or treating. It was so much fun to take my *two* lil ones trick or treating this year! Kaden got a LOT of candy, and we were a bit perplexed what to do with it all, since he doesn't really eat sweets or candy of any kind. We let him have a few pieces on Halloween and he slept horribly and had a tummy ache all day. I am thinking that the Halloween fairy may have to come one night this week, take all the candy and maybe leave a special toy in it's place. In the meantime while I am trying to decide if that is *the best* plan, I will continue making sure that the Reese's Peanut Butter Cups make their way safely to the bottom of my belly.

Speaking of bellies, I am 17 weeks this week and HUGE. So far, I feel awesome and feel truly blessed not to have more uncomfortableness or morning sickness. We have another ultrasound this next Monday and I can't wait to see the little nugget, part 2! We are choosing not to find out the sex of the little one. There are few surprises in life, and this is one we feel is worth the wait.


Here is a look at the weekend in pictures!


~a high five for mrs elephant at Boo at the Zoo.


~kaden's future wife.




"my mommy tried to make me wear that last year!" getting retraumatized by elmo ;)


~lil monkey.


~drum session with daddy.


~kaden and julia havin a crazy fun time at chipotle.

Kaden is so smitten with Julia. He always asks her if he can have a hug, and she says in her sweet and dainty voice, "No thank you". Kaden apparently couldn't handle the rejection any longer, and grabbed her face and planted a huge kiss right on the mouth!


~posing in the Gnome Village at Old Gaylord Street Fair...


~he just watched these older boy's every move at the Old Gaylord Street Fair.


~trick or treatin. kaden had this constant giggle the whole time...he loved every second of it.








~playing cards post trick or treatin.


~the squirrels tore up our pumpkins. This gang of squirrels is completely ruthless! They are so aggressive and they go after what they want and take no prisoners. These are the same guys that broke into our kitchen on four separate occasions. Killer squirrels!