tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56552261065144985282024-03-13T12:50:04.787-04:00Little Kaden and Little SydneyMy Two Little WonderfulsKaden and Sydney's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13816559072441489525noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5655226106514498528.post-25973930828651949862015-09-06T00:11:00.002-04:002015-09-06T00:12:40.709-04:00The Wonder Years<span style="font-size: large;">Okay, it's been a really looooonnngggg time since I posted to the blog. Months, milestones, birthdays, anniversaries . . . a million things have passed without a word from me on here. I should probably just stop pretending that I'm gonna post more frequently because when you boil it down to a choice between composing something for the blog and sleeping, well, sleep wins every time. Such is life with kids, I suppose.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Anyway, life's been good to us in our still somewhat new small town. It's been happy and full and brimming with adventure. The kids are growing at an alarmingly fast pace at this point: 7 and 4 years old. My Lord, where did the time (and my babies!) go? Here's some recent pictures of them at a local ice cream shop . . . </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lj57lcX9uIY/Veuw2nQxD0I/AAAAAAAAB5g/xGrAgSAOw_0/s1600/Syd%2Band%2BKD%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lj57lcX9uIY/Veuw2nQxD0I/AAAAAAAAB5g/xGrAgSAOw_0/s320/Syd%2Band%2BKD%2B2.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DvR5h5ImTFw/VeuxDHgaD8I/AAAAAAAAB5o/Y-ss9kPHMBw/s1600/Syd%2Band%2BKD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DvR5h5ImTFw/VeuxDHgaD8I/AAAAAAAAB5o/Y-ss9kPHMBw/s320/Syd%2Band%2BKD.jpg" width="229" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">See, I told you. They're big kids now. How on Earth did that even happen? (And yes, Sydney is sticking out her tongue for no good reason in that picture on the right. It's a thing she does now when I want to take her picture. I'm hoping very hard that it will soon pass.)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As usual, there's been a lot of changes for us in the past few months. I've returned to work full-time and Sydney began preschool for the very first time a few weeks ago. She was nervous and doubtful and I expected lots of tears on her first day. Turns out, she LOVES going to school and ran right into the fray of new friends without so much as a backwards glance at me. All the tears were mine (and there were many) that day. It's been great to see her happy and excited to go to school. One day as we were getting out of the car at her school she actually said "Hurry, mommy! I don't want to miss a single thing!" Seriously, I couldn't ask for a more joyful spirit.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Sydney and Kaden had a great summer.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-prPmvJ-laJE/Veu57ciBabI/AAAAAAAAB54/I0XkfcSth8s/s1600/KD%2BBowl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-prPmvJ-laJE/Veu57ciBabI/AAAAAAAAB54/I0XkfcSth8s/s640/KD%2BBowl.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--5ntG7KecUg/Veu590GK-mI/AAAAAAAAB6A/jzxBIutGgWs/s1600/Syd%2BBeach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--5ntG7KecUg/Veu590GK-mI/AAAAAAAAB6A/jzxBIutGgWs/s640/Syd%2BBeach.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This was a Spring Break trip to the closest beach we could find - a mere 14 hour drive to the Gulf Coast. Not sure we'll be doing it often, but we all loved the gorgeous white sand beaches. Sydney made herself right at home.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-54HyaaMj6Q8/Veu5_1NS-FI/AAAAAAAAB6I/PpOO9QUeTtM/s1600/KD%2BSwing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-54HyaaMj6Q8/Veu5_1NS-FI/AAAAAAAAB6I/PpOO9QUeTtM/s640/KD%2BSwing.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o037QbH3v-c/Veu6CXvpj-I/AAAAAAAAB6Q/FZ47wxsB4zY/s1600/Syd%2BGolf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o037QbH3v-c/Veu6CXvpj-I/AAAAAAAAB6Q/FZ47wxsB4zY/s640/Syd%2BGolf.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AhD3IB1AfX4/Veu6Hoc0CKI/AAAAAAAAB6Y/nX6OeJxnVCo/s1600/KD%2BHorse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AhD3IB1AfX4/Veu6Hoc0CKI/AAAAAAAAB6Y/nX6OeJxnVCo/s640/KD%2BHorse.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This one was technically at the end of the last school year and not the summer but it was worth including . . . Kaden loves riding horses and he gets to do it every week in the Spring with his classmates. Another reason we love this place.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OtDtR6Zz1xE/Veu6JmmOjfI/AAAAAAAAB6g/-cNTcyLoqtQ/s1600/Syd%2BSplash%2BPad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OtDtR6Zz1xE/Veu6JmmOjfI/AAAAAAAAB6g/-cNTcyLoqtQ/s640/Syd%2BSplash%2BPad.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Did I mention she is joyful? This picture is a good reflection of Sydney's general attitude about life. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And this is something I caught one day when I looked into the backseat of the car:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EOLY2i-lHiI/Veu7yX_X34I/AAAAAAAAB6s/kEpDqic05PQ/s1600/Holding%2BHands%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EOLY2i-lHiI/Veu7yX_X34I/AAAAAAAAB6s/kEpDqic05PQ/s640/Holding%2BHands%2B2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I love their love</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qkviLKfQLkw/Veu7_eU5psI/AAAAAAAAB60/RT3YNHg1Td0/s1600/Syd%2Band%2BKD%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qkviLKfQLkw/Veu7_eU5psI/AAAAAAAAB60/RT3YNHg1Td0/s640/Syd%2Band%2BKD%2B3.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So that's it. That's us right now. And now it's time for me to sleep. :)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Kaden and Sydney's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13816559072441489525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5655226106514498528.post-70056585250856251712015-02-25T01:24:00.000-05:002015-05-25T13:06:39.346-04:00A few months at-a-glance<span style="font-size: large;">As Sydney's 4th birthday approaches, it occurs to me that time is going by so fast. Too fast. Whiplash, punch-drunk, WTF fast. I get so caught up in living the day-to-day of our lives that I forget to record anything of it for posterity. And though I absolutely want to be immersed in the actual living part, I also want to leave a trail of breadcrumbs through some of the highlights for the kids to discover later down the road. </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">So here it is: a breakneck tour through our past few months.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Halloween 2014</span></u></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GjE-1pentp4/VO1XKJAiurI/AAAAAAAABz0/7XM7gXQptCc/s1600/Halloween.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GjE-1pentp4/VO1XKJAiurI/AAAAAAAABz0/7XM7gXQptCc/s1600/Halloween.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Jake and Izzy from Jake and the Neverland Pirates. Sydney picked the costumes. Pirate Kaden (or Jake if accuracy matters to you) tolerated his look for about two hours while we went to a local hotel that invited special needs kids and their families to trick-or-treat through suites designed and sponsored by companies like Hershey and Crayola. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Christmas 2014</span></u></b></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Kaden's Christmas was full of games: Trouble, Connect 4, Mustache Smash, and Jumpin' Jack. He likes Connect 4 and Jumpin' Jack. Sydney is obsessed with Mustache Smash. I don't take pictures of them playing because the sight of my iPhone would distract Kaden but it's a beautiful thing to behold. He likes to play games with his sister. Not always but sometimes. I'll take it.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Kaden was also reunited with a long lost favorite TV show that we lost from DVR when we moved last summer; the Classical Baby series from HBO.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Oe0rfQzes5c/VO1YExRMIRI/AAAAAAAAB14/pINbArw0Gn0/s1600/Chrsitmas%2BDancing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Oe0rfQzes5c/VO1YExRMIRI/AAAAAAAAB14/pINbArw0Gn0/s1600/Chrsitmas%2BDancing.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Here he is dancing with daddy to his new set of Classical Baby DVDs. He LOVES these shows and could watch all 3 DVDs back-to-back on a loop for days. Me not so much.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As for Sydney, it was a Christmas full of dress-up and pretend.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RQhIPnzndDg/VO1YIMIbOmI/AAAAAAAAB2A/b5h40ufz-WI/s1600/Christmas%2BAnna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RQhIPnzndDg/VO1YIMIbOmI/AAAAAAAAB2A/b5h40ufz-WI/s1600/Christmas%2BAnna.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q2rhlFMItB0/VO1YI17ZsmI/AAAAAAAAB2M/r3M59GZTlg0/s1600/Christmas%2BChef.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q2rhlFMItB0/VO1YI17ZsmI/AAAAAAAAB2M/r3M59GZTlg0/s1600/Christmas%2BChef.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n7KxP1Yhe1E/VO1YIkflFaI/AAAAAAAAB2E/aZQBM0BXRBI/s1600/Chrsitmas%2BExplorer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n7KxP1Yhe1E/VO1YIkflFaI/AAAAAAAAB2E/aZQBM0BXRBI/s1600/Chrsitmas%2BExplorer.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">She can spend hours and hours pretending to be a whole cast of different people: Doctor Sydney, Chef Sydney, Explorer Sydney, Ballerina Sydney, and, of course, over and over, Elsa or Anna.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">2015 so far</span></b></u></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Kaden is a first grader now and doing really well in his new school. He has a one-on-one aide in a self-contained class for most of the day with daily inclusion time in the general ed first grade and a few other classes like art. He also has an adaptive PE class where he's learning things like T-Ball and practicing his bike riding skills. (Despite the way it may appear in the picture, that's not a full face helmet. He tends to look at his feet as he tries to pedal so it's actually the top of his head.)</span></div>
<div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MuVz4VfyLCs/VO1YWBU4ohI/AAAAAAAAB30/zWq_r9PgMZA/s1600/Kaden%2B7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MuVz4VfyLCs/VO1YWBU4ohI/AAAAAAAAB30/zWq_r9PgMZA/s1600/Kaden%2B7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">He's also doing a lot more communicating using a picture book as well as an AAC app on his iPad. Here's a pic of him experimenting with the phrases "I like it" and "I don't like it" on his AAC app. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-teb0X3PFQio/VO1YcXoEG1I/AAAAAAAAB4Q/mD4TYmYTHNo/s1600/Kaden%2BAAC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-teb0X3PFQio/VO1YcXoEG1I/AAAAAAAAB4Q/mD4TYmYTHNo/s1600/Kaden%2BAAC.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: large;">On a recent visit to the eye doctor, he pulled up the app and repeatedly hit the phrases "I'm scared" and "I don't like it." As much as I hated to hear that he was feeling that way, I was totally psyched to see him expressing himself. He's getting there, this one, and I'm as proud as ever.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And despite the usual big brother annoyance with little sister, he loves to hang with Sydney. They are buds and their connection grows each day.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vyqH-Kp52Cc/VO1YP6mKzXI/AAAAAAAAB3E/Ki228dSxrbQ/s1600/Kaden%2B3%2BTable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vyqH-Kp52Cc/VO1YP6mKzXI/AAAAAAAAB3E/Ki228dSxrbQ/s1600/Kaden%2B3%2BTable.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Of course, daddy is still his favorite. I'm going to assume it's because he gets to spend less time with daddy and absence makes the heart grow fonder and all that but, well, I think you can see that they're really just two peas in a pod.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sB7J4ssbDV4/VO1YVKRDD5I/AAAAAAAAB3k/cA6HSNqiDRc/s1600/Kaden%2B4%2BDaddy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sB7J4ssbDV4/VO1YVKRDD5I/AAAAAAAAB3k/cA6HSNqiDRc/s1600/Kaden%2B4%2BDaddy.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">That's not to say he's not a mama's boy too. He absolutely is, 1000%. Particularly when he's sick, which has been quite a bit in the past few weeks. And as much as I hate it when Kaden's sick there is one very big upside; he actually lets me snuggle and cuddle him all I want. Silver linings.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">A rare selfie with my boy. Yes, he's posing. Mr. Cool.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_PnjjQnG46g/VO1YRN5tf6I/AAAAAAAAB3Q/3qf01FqpSVI/s1600/Kaden%2B5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_PnjjQnG46g/VO1YRN5tf6I/AAAAAAAAB3Q/3qf01FqpSVI/s1600/Kaden%2B5.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Sydney is very nearly 4 years old. She is whip smart, super-duper incredibly silly, and absolutely the most joyful person I have ever known. It's contagious. Usually.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-btWrYR9fy1Q/VO1YKOw2PJI/AAAAAAAAB2k/Ddt3L5unQZc/s1600/Hello%2BBeauty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-btWrYR9fy1Q/VO1YKOw2PJI/AAAAAAAAB2k/Ddt3L5unQZc/s1600/Hello%2BBeauty.jpg" width="280" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QaQcvNcBTcM/VO1XYr95JuI/AAAAAAAAB0Y/PK46VUC6DFM/s1600/Syd%2B15.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QaQcvNcBTcM/VO1XYr95JuI/AAAAAAAAB0Y/PK46VUC6DFM/s1600/Syd%2B15.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P2xf-WrCpAs/VO1YaIKslmI/AAAAAAAAB4A/gKW_SA9_JPQ/s1600/Syd%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P2xf-WrCpAs/VO1YaIKslmI/AAAAAAAAB4A/gKW_SA9_JPQ/s1600/Syd%2B1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">She's an athlete in the making. She takes weekly classes in soccer, swimming and fitness . . .</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tsKfU2qzwNU/VO1X7i3vd7I/AAAAAAAAB2c/019NocvGiX8/s1600/Syd%2BVid.MOV" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tsKfU2qzwNU/VO1X7i3vd7I/AAAAAAAAB2c/019NocvGiX8/s1600/Syd%2BVid.MOV" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V9oYcCsrKH8/VO1XWlpQMtI/AAAAAAAAB0I/YgUjeQf84sk/s1600/Syd%2B13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V9oYcCsrKH8/VO1XWlpQMtI/AAAAAAAAB0I/YgUjeQf84sk/s1600/Syd%2B13.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y7uN44cAT0Y/VO1YZplvalI/AAAAAAAAB38/XYQFJ58ffPk/s1600/Syd%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y7uN44cAT0Y/VO1YZplvalI/AAAAAAAAB38/XYQFJ58ffPk/s1600/Syd%2B2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And goes to play dates at friends' homes, the library, and a cool local art museum that hosts monthly preschool playdates. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nyAy6Kvi8oY/VO1XUNbDTnI/AAAAAAAABz8/l_CpInMYqi4/s1600/Syd%2B10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="381" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nyAy6Kvi8oY/VO1XUNbDTnI/AAAAAAAABz8/l_CpInMYqi4/s1600/Syd%2B10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qQd-32HCSpY/VO1XoyiyWLI/AAAAAAAAB1U/Cex9KXKTSEU/s1600/Syd%2B9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qQd-32HCSpY/VO1XoyiyWLI/AAAAAAAAB1U/Cex9KXKTSEU/s1600/Syd%2B9.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6KcN4Gyf4K8/VO1XWHbrB0I/AAAAAAAAB0E/H6aboQKPr0Y/s1600/Syd%2B12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6KcN4Gyf4K8/VO1XWHbrB0I/AAAAAAAAB0E/H6aboQKPr0Y/s1600/Syd%2B12.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">She's a helper . . .</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SGHxs_PWtXk/VO1XpXEYgbI/AAAAAAAAB1Y/_MrfRcRFcss/s1600/Syd%2B8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SGHxs_PWtXk/VO1XpXEYgbI/AAAAAAAAB1Y/_MrfRcRFcss/s1600/Syd%2B8.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And very brave - here she is "roaring" through her fear at the dentist. (Did I mention she loves Katy Perry?)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h26gdPypL9w/VO1XkAgODCI/AAAAAAAAB1M/sE711ytaA-o/s1600/Syd%2B6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h26gdPypL9w/VO1XkAgODCI/AAAAAAAAB1M/sE711ytaA-o/s1600/Syd%2B6.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZPQH4Z_jbd4/VO1Xem8WIFI/AAAAAAAAB00/nt_v-_zQbHk/s1600/Syd%2B5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZPQH4Z_jbd4/VO1Xem8WIFI/AAAAAAAAB00/nt_v-_zQbHk/s1600/Syd%2B5.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">She asked for a "Hello Kitty" birthday party. Shocker, right?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1kZJUDhjZRA/VO1Xut5z_-I/AAAAAAAAB1k/8qna6A8xlSU/s1600/Syd%2Blast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1kZJUDhjZRA/VO1Xut5z_-I/AAAAAAAAB1k/8qna6A8xlSU/s1600/Syd%2Blast.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So that's what's next for us. And I can't wait.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
</div>
Kaden and Sydney's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13816559072441489525noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5655226106514498528.post-90984012159480043542014-12-09T13:11:00.004-05:002014-12-09T13:26:16.483-05:00Chicka Chicka Boom Boom According to Sydney<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
For anyone who might be unfamiliar, there's an app called Chatter Pix that allows you to add a recording to a picture and insert a mouth to make it look like the object in the picture is talking. Our family loves this app, especially Kaden who loves the idea that beloved objects, like toys and books, talk to him in Daddy's voice. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We've had the app for over a year and Daddy has created many, many talking pictures so Sydney's seen how it's done numerous times. She recently decided to create her own Chatter Pix for one of her and Kaden's favorite books, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom . . .</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ktbxn0-79BM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
I find that little voice and giggle so endlessly adorable and I am adding it here because I want to remember it forever. This little video is so totally Sydney in every way: happy, funny, charming and thoroughly original. I love it.<br />
<br />
She still loves to make up her own songs. A favorite that I've heard her refining over the past several weeks goes something like "I love everything . . . Rain. I love everything . . . Sky. I love everything . . . Trees." It's still in process but I'm pretty sure we've got a really great song on our hands.<br />
<br />
Rock on, Sweetpea! I love you.<br />
<br />Kaden and Sydney's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13816559072441489525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5655226106514498528.post-49020271452997365092014-09-28T04:02:00.000-04:002014-11-06T14:15:02.120-05:00Six Years Old!!!<span style="font-size: large;">Kaden's birthday, June 20th, is one of my two favorite days of the year because it's a day that we devote, as entirely as possible, to coming together in celebration of our beautiful boy. Parties and commotion are not generally Kaden's thing but he seems to make an exception for his birthday.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kphnf5Svha4/VCembvj6AEI/AAAAAAAABwE/Pksq6qc7ODk/s1600/photo-21.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kphnf5Svha4/VCembvj6AEI/AAAAAAAABwE/Pksq6qc7ODk/s1600/photo-21.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">There was cake. There were smiles. There was a Monsters University themed backdrop.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y-mpeLxVj1U/VCes_PRZbdI/AAAAAAAABwU/Q-kNpk0XtZo/s1600/Kaden%2BBirthday%2BSmile.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y-mpeLxVj1U/VCes_PRZbdI/AAAAAAAABwU/Q-kNpk0XtZo/s1600/Kaden%2BBirthday%2BSmile.JPG" height="400" width="363" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And there was SO MUCH love.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E4GMpobOJxM/VCeuhiv5mEI/AAAAAAAABwo/ElL2R5DG9IM/s1600/Kaden%2BBirthday%2BLove.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E4GMpobOJxM/VCeuhiv5mEI/AAAAAAAABwo/ElL2R5DG9IM/s1600/Kaden%2BBirthday%2BLove.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Despite the million things that were swirling in our lives on his birthday this year (a major move, job change, etc.), for a little while it was all about our precious boy turning six. And he loved it!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Five was a tough year. Kaden broke his leg on his third day of kindergarten and had spinal surgery two weeks later. Recovery was long and hard. But this is what I want to remember about the past year:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cpqu7A3ARHo/VCez3dplouI/AAAAAAAABw4/ZnZCpPVTtVU/s1600/KD%2BKindergarten%2BSchool%2BPicture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cpqu7A3ARHo/VCez3dplouI/AAAAAAAABw4/ZnZCpPVTtVU/s1600/KD%2BKindergarten%2BSchool%2BPicture.JPG" height="400" width="293" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This is Kaden's kindergarten school picture. It was taken at the beginning of April 2014 and it captures a little bit of the Kaden sparkle that I've mentioned.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hd_6A6uTtVY/VCe5kZXYgoI/AAAAAAAABxI/rMTH1u1TynM/s1600/Kaden%2BPT.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hd_6A6uTtVY/VCe5kZXYgoI/AAAAAAAABxI/rMTH1u1TynM/s1600/Kaden%2BPT.JPG" height="352" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This is Kaden working his butt off at physical therapy.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hy2maStgBXs/VCe5yj1RUuI/AAAAAAAABxQ/omemut7bIBM/s1600/Kaden%2BBike.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hy2maStgBXs/VCe5yj1RUuI/AAAAAAAABxQ/omemut7bIBM/s1600/Kaden%2BBike.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And this is Kaden learning how to ride a bike. I wish I could post the video I took of him riding but I can't figure out how to upload it to Blogger. Kaden loved this bike. It's one of the things he'll miss the most about this particular therapy center. One day he took my phone and repeatedly watched a video of him learning to ride the bike with his therapist. It was as if he was studying it, trying to figure something out. At the very next PT session he was super-excited about the bike and pumped his legs harder than ever the second he was strapped in. Gross and fine motor tasks are still very difficult for him so his first few attempts on the bike had been frustrating. He jerked muscles all over his body as he attempted to isolate the specific ones needed to push the pedals. But, like so many other things, Kaden eventually conquered it and was able to do more than ten pushes on his own after a while. The best part for me was seeing him be proud of himself and happy to be engaged in a physical activity. I loved that bike, too. It's definitely going on the short-list of way-too-expensive-but-totally-necessary things to get for our boy.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Finally, this is a shot of Kaden that I took earlier today at the park.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2SmyO4IRPSU/VCe_XweuTUI/AAAAAAAABxg/INrOWm7T4RA/s1600/KD%2BBaseball%2BCap.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2SmyO4IRPSU/VCe_XweuTUI/AAAAAAAABxg/INrOWm7T4RA/s1600/KD%2BBaseball%2BCap.JPG" height="640" width="502" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Here's to you my sweet, strong, brilliant and adorable angel. You're amazing and I love you to the moon and back a gazillion times.</span></div>
Kaden and Sydney's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13816559072441489525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5655226106514498528.post-72729966185115966652014-08-28T02:30:00.001-04:002014-11-06T14:18:18.068-05:00Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes . . . <span style="font-size: large;">It's been a long time since I posted here. I even missed posting pics from Kaden's birthday in June so you know we've been going through something. </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Well, my friends, it's been a crazy year . . . </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Last September, shortly after I posted about Kaden's first day of kindergarten, our little angel had a very major surgery to have steel rods implanted and partially fused to his spine. The surgeon who does this particular kind of procedure is in St. Louis so we essentially relocated for almost a month so he could be close to the hospital during his first few weeks of recovery. The surgery was successful and his curve was reduced from nearly 60 degrees to less than 20 degrees, which is amazing and we are thankful. I don't particularly want to say more about it because the whole thing (his scoliosis) is scary and difficult and ongoing (further surgeries will be necessary, we just have to wait and watch over time). Suffice it to say that Kaden proved once again how incredibly strong and downright amazing he is - my boy is AWESOME and I will always be grateful for that little sparkle that refuses to be suppressed no matter what the universe throws at him.</span></div>
<div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VhpYU53CkuQ/U_6_al2xV9I/AAAAAAAAADU/UBhF8Vkpo5w/s1600/IMG_9747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VhpYU53CkuQ/U_6_al2xV9I/AAAAAAAAADU/UBhF8Vkpo5w/s1600/IMG_9747.jpg" height="400" width="256" /></a></div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Once Kaden fully recovered, which took a full three months, I began slowly dipping my toes back into the work pond. As I might have mentioned, I'm finishing up a masters degree in library and information science. I took on a field project for the Spring semester that had me working two days a week and then I got a full-time position at the Library of Congress. It was an ideal job and I loved it but (as usual) the universe had other plans for this family . . . </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Due to an unexpected career opportunity for my husband, we moved this summer and it was a big one: halfway cross-country to a relatively new boomtown in the rural south. And, as unlikely as it might seem, we're actually really liking it so far. A whole new chapter begins . . . </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Anyway, that's the super-abridged version of our past year. Now that I'm a stay-at-home mom starting at ground zero with my career (ugh, again!) I anticipate having a bit more time to post to the blog. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">In the meantime, here are a few pics of my favorite people from the past few months.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EvOJP1ffMoM/U_7I_KHtGNI/AAAAAAAAAF0/J65p8L3-woc/s1600/photo-8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EvOJP1ffMoM/U_7I_KHtGNI/AAAAAAAAAF0/J65p8L3-woc/s1600/photo-8.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Kaden's really gotten used to sharing iPad time with his sister and she'll usually sit and watch whatever he wants so long as he lets her be close. LOVE.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4EE9w36cgAc/U_7Ixz2V3aI/AAAAAAAAAEI/82wwM8f2PEU/s1600/photo-14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4EE9w36cgAc/U_7Ixz2V3aI/AAAAAAAAAEI/82wwM8f2PEU/s1600/photo-14.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wtSY23eUQFE/U_7I8giUaLI/AAAAAAAAAFY/BvvIFmHHIGU/s1600/photo-7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wtSY23eUQFE/U_7I8giUaLI/AAAAAAAAAFY/BvvIFmHHIGU/s1600/photo-7.JPG" height="310" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Kaden was never able to tolerate swing seats for more than a second before his spine surgery and we would have never even tried a see-saw. Check him out now!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6yFCov3B5LY/U_7Itg7WAPI/AAAAAAAAADo/kg1phDRaPMc/s1600/photo-10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6yFCov3B5LY/U_7Itg7WAPI/AAAAAAAAADo/kg1phDRaPMc/s1600/photo-10.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2bAYZ6_luBk/U_7I3MSFIAI/AAAAAAAAAE0/ImgCGWWsYQI/s1600/photo-20.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2bAYZ6_luBk/U_7I3MSFIAI/AAAAAAAAAE0/ImgCGWWsYQI/s1600/photo-20.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Kaden still loves the beach. It's growing on Sydney.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RNeMJjPZHik/U_7I2TEi-VI/AAAAAAAAAEs/PWinI2HsOhk/s1600/photo-19.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RNeMJjPZHik/U_7I2TEi-VI/AAAAAAAAAEs/PWinI2HsOhk/s1600/photo-19.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Kaden's birthday pics coming soon!</span></div>
Kaden and Sydney's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13816559072441489525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5655226106514498528.post-70577709087538504642014-03-07T23:14:00.003-05:002014-11-06T14:20:27.845-05:00The Sweetest Thing . . . <span style="font-size: large;">It's been a good long while since I posted an update but there are certain things that cannot be missed . . . a certain sweet, smart, beautiful girl I know turned 3 last Saturday.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-drdQn3hJ80U/UxqBz7PdorI/AAAAAAAABr4/yBLmFSmcYL8/s1600/Syd+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-drdQn3hJ80U/UxqBz7PdorI/AAAAAAAABr4/yBLmFSmcYL8/s1600/Syd+1.JPG" height="400" width="310" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This is an open letter to my Sweetpea in honor of her 3rd birthday:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Dear Princess Sweetpea Doctor Sydney Ballerina Coco Pop,</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This has been a tremendous year and you, my angel, have grown into the sweetest, most wonderful and adorable little girl I could have imagined. You have a BIG personality and though I'll never find the words to truly capture the beautiful spirit that I witness every day, I want to share a few of my favorite things about you at 3 years old:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">-You're a tomboy and a princess. You would throw yourself face-first down a slide if I'd let you but you've also got a keen eye for beauty and stop to observe it at every opportunity. We can't walk past a flower without stopping to smell it or look out the window on a snowy day without discussing the snowflakes. I hear "wow, it's so pitty (pretty)" several times each day.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">-You love your birthday. You don't often wear dresses but when it came time to pick something to wear for your birthday it was extremely important to you that you "be like a pincess (princess)" so you chose the pinkest dress we could find and said "wow, I gonna be so excited" every time we looked at it before your big day arrived.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mc1NfnLrMjk/UxqB25l9gXI/AAAAAAAABsY/xiptLfBdWuw/s1600/Syd+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mc1NfnLrMjk/UxqB25l9gXI/AAAAAAAABsY/xiptLfBdWuw/s1600/Syd+3.JPG" height="400" width="215" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">You told me every day for a month that you wanted a chocolate cake and presents and a party. On many days the first thing you said when you woke up in the morning was "is it my birthday yet?"</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">-You have a tremendous sense of humor, fun and just plain happiness. You smile, laugh, giggle and squeal no less than a hundred times a day. You're amazingly joyful and virtually everything you see, hear and do is hilarious . . . </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DYz8362B-3s/UxqB5SmJ6DI/AAAAAAAABs4/pe35W_-LWz4/s1600/Syd+7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DYz8362B-3s/UxqB5SmJ6DI/AAAAAAAABs4/pe35W_-LWz4/s1600/Syd+7.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_JeOhQoViVI/UxqBz6LeELI/AAAAAAAABrs/XA30ZP3yoDk/s1600/Syd+10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_JeOhQoViVI/UxqBz6LeELI/AAAAAAAABrs/XA30ZP3yoDk/s1600/Syd+10.JPG" height="400" width="317" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Even duckface selfies with mommy.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- You love to pretend. You can play dress up all day long. . .</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EvNZEQq6jyg/UxqB25g3aHI/AAAAAAAABsk/-lzg3yhufS4/s1600/Syd+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EvNZEQq6jyg/UxqB25g3aHI/AAAAAAAABsk/-lzg3yhufS4/s1600/Syd+2.JPG" height="400" width="255" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yqQlWs8Y7tY/UxqB680WgAI/AAAAAAAABtE/uZb3D9A0HJI/s1600/Syd+6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yqQlWs8Y7tY/UxqB680WgAI/AAAAAAAABtE/uZb3D9A0HJI/s1600/Syd+6.JPG" height="400" width="246" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- You love to sing and make up songs about everything we do. Everything. Songs like "Mommy's driving the car and we're gonna pick up Kadie from school and I'm singing a song." You always give me an impish smile and sing louder when I say "Did you just make that up? I love it!"</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- You're already fiercely independent. When I take you to art class you want to do everything "by myself, mommy, my wanna do it!" You almost always say "Daddy's gonna love it!" when you're done.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p-aQ2Nklkr0/UxqB5VsvyNI/AAAAAAAABs8/p_WHXZL_cHA/s1600/Syd+8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p-aQ2Nklkr0/UxqB5VsvyNI/AAAAAAAABs8/p_WHXZL_cHA/s1600/Syd+8.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- You're kind. Polite. More often than not you say "please" and "thank you" and a few times even "have a nice day" or "nice to meet you" to store clerks. And lately, even after a tantrum (which is happening less and less) you come up to me afterwards and say "my sorry, mommy, my feel better now."</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- You love your family, especially your brother.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YoKFOK5E3Ys/UxqB24esWoI/AAAAAAAABsM/zxh0Vdyt2xU/s1600/Syd+13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YoKFOK5E3Ys/UxqB24esWoI/AAAAAAAABsM/zxh0Vdyt2xU/s1600/Syd+13.JPG" height="382" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">You give him hugs and kisses and love, love, love to play tag and bingo and old maid with him. Your bond is so special and pure and beautiful and it makes my heart soar to see you together.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">These are just a few of the many, many things I adore about you, Sydney. Happy birthday, my angel! I love you, Stinky Face.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Mommy</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<span id="goog_1843842486"></span><span id="goog_1843842487"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />
<br />Kaden and Sydney's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13816559072441489525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5655226106514498528.post-89795448623104183412013-08-26T17:54:00.004-04:002013-08-26T17:54:59.488-04:00Kindergarten<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm absolutely certain . . .</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mVruEXbxWWA/UhvMFti0RdI/AAAAAAAABlg/VCaWlwjPmhs/s1600/should+I+go+in.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mVruEXbxWWA/UhvMFti0RdI/AAAAAAAABlg/VCaWlwjPmhs/s640/should+I+go+in.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">That if my heart decided to leap out of my chest . . . </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9Y-CtiwyMGk/UhvLxGZzfnI/AAAAAAAABlU/MNJMutib_6A/s1600/let+me+in.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9Y-CtiwyMGk/UhvLxGZzfnI/AAAAAAAABlU/MNJMutib_6A/s640/let+me+in.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And go to kindergarten . . .</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0hzC4zSwGFQ/UhvL9Di-L1I/AAAAAAAABlc/gafu0rOcfzw/s1600/happiness.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0hzC4zSwGFQ/UhvL9Di-L1I/AAAAAAAABlc/gafu0rOcfzw/s640/happiness.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It would look exactly like this . . .</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm SO proud of this kid. Happy first day of big-kid school, K man!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
<br />Kaden and Sydney's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13816559072441489525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5655226106514498528.post-55243773972445941882013-07-24T00:12:00.002-04:002013-07-24T08:08:36.033-04:00This Summer<span style="font-size: large;">Life's been hectic and these hot summer days have flown by unimaginably fast. There's a lot going on and some very major challenges await us in the coming months but for now there's this . . .</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nTZzRR4HDKk/Ue9R4dNuYJI/AAAAAAAABh4/7cPVzjZ1eS8/s1600/3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nTZzRR4HDKk/Ue9R4dNuYJI/AAAAAAAABh4/7cPVzjZ1eS8/s640/3.JPG" width="480" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oO82qNBn5o4/Ue9R_Y2GuwI/AAAAAAAABiA/Yk-bFcWFQ4E/s1600/2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oO82qNBn5o4/Ue9R_Y2GuwI/AAAAAAAABiA/Yk-bFcWFQ4E/s640/2.JPG" width="480" /></a> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cL6lOfCX8BE/Ue9SH6-TVDI/AAAAAAAABiI/CZnwK2eKh50/s1600/6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cL6lOfCX8BE/Ue9SH6-TVDI/AAAAAAAABiI/CZnwK2eKh50/s640/6.JPG" width="480" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G1SJMZzCOJw/Ue9S0TsQpRI/AAAAAAAABiw/A8Vjt1Bo-MY/s1600/8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G1SJMZzCOJw/Ue9S0TsQpRI/AAAAAAAABiw/A8Vjt1Bo-MY/s640/8.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jUVtjact8h0/Ue9a2hTMTSI/AAAAAAAABkQ/dMai_QAyEvg/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jUVtjact8h0/Ue9a2hTMTSI/AAAAAAAABkQ/dMai_QAyEvg/s640/14.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7nT4gVIqztE/Ue9TPVc-kmI/AAAAAAAABi0/A62fEPj7Duo/s1600/11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7nT4gVIqztE/Ue9TPVc-kmI/AAAAAAAABi0/A62fEPj7Duo/s640/11.JPG" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WKBTpoYog7o/Ue9XELEik7I/AAAAAAAABjs/Fa5Ypam4jxs/s1600/1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WKBTpoYog7o/Ue9XELEik7I/AAAAAAAABjs/Fa5Ypam4jxs/s640/1.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZqW4yxSp5wo/Ue9UCLMBLvI/AAAAAAAABjU/6KW-Ue5lXQA/s1600/12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZqW4yxSp5wo/Ue9UCLMBLvI/AAAAAAAABjU/6KW-Ue5lXQA/s640/12.JPG" width="480" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OL0662qOR44/Ue_DCt8L-3I/AAAAAAAABkg/LTPsy-dCxSU/s1600/15.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OL0662qOR44/Ue_DCt8L-3I/AAAAAAAABkg/LTPsy-dCxSU/s640/15.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mDzuh2pcOUI/Ue_DIc2O37I/AAAAAAAABko/P7SCYVk6g6U/s1600/16.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mDzuh2pcOUI/Ue_DIc2O37I/AAAAAAAABko/P7SCYVk6g6U/s640/16.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pgRj0PxqauQ/Ue_DN8bymkI/AAAAAAAABkw/mwu4Adm3UmI/s1600/17.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pgRj0PxqauQ/Ue_DN8bymkI/AAAAAAAABkw/mwu4Adm3UmI/s640/17.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j8ohS2e1xuA/Ue_DUtUlXPI/AAAAAAAABk4/Kc1wmdQCs9Y/s1600/18.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j8ohS2e1xuA/Ue_DUtUlXPI/AAAAAAAABk4/Kc1wmdQCs9Y/s640/18.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Good times!</span></div>
<br />Kaden and Sydney's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13816559072441489525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5655226106514498528.post-85522372428750832782013-06-20T21:14:00.000-04:002013-06-28T07:47:17.935-04:00Happy Birthday, Sweet Boy!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gr1Xo6FhbG8/UcOmc5sbKQI/AAAAAAAABhY/JXHnDxOOCNw/s1600/Birthday+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gr1Xo6FhbG8/UcOmc5sbKQI/AAAAAAAABhY/JXHnDxOOCNw/s640/Birthday+1.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Kaden turned 5 today and we spent the whole day together celebrating . . .</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xkg6-WmSYvY/UcOnpaQiXKI/AAAAAAAABho/Y_JzyX_9qi0/s1600/birthday+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xkg6-WmSYvY/UcOnpaQiXKI/AAAAAAAABho/Y_JzyX_9qi0/s640/birthday+5.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">And the smiles . . . oh, the smiles! Our hearts just soared all day. We love you so much, sweet boy!</span>Kaden and Sydney's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13816559072441489525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5655226106514498528.post-71249352703524251572013-06-17T03:02:00.001-04:002013-06-17T03:07:14.196-04:00Father's Day 2013<span style="font-size: large;">I cannot even begin to tell you . . .</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B8uJzAsosdU/Ub6zauTJ-rI/AAAAAAAABg0/cafba9EMKQc/s1600/FD2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B8uJzAsosdU/Ub6zauTJ-rI/AAAAAAAABg0/cafba9EMKQc/s400/FD2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">how much I love these faces.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qFdN2oZv6lA/Ub61fIAVFtI/AAAAAAAABhM/dcT8PX7R2h4/s1600/FD1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qFdN2oZv6lA/Ub61fIAVFtI/AAAAAAAABhM/dcT8PX7R2h4/s400/FD1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Happy Father's Day to the best man, friend, husband, daddy on Earth!</span>Kaden and Sydney's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13816559072441489525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5655226106514498528.post-973085229770894772013-06-14T20:30:00.002-04:002013-06-14T20:30:35.961-04:00School's Out For Summer!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zbn3vUITy_Y/Ubuy2KcmswI/AAAAAAAABgQ/Ln4QGtzrlQo/s1600/Birthday+in+School.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zbn3vUITy_Y/Ubuy2KcmswI/AAAAAAAABgQ/Ln4QGtzrlQo/s640/Birthday+in+School.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Today was Kaden's last day of school. Since his birthday is only a week away, his classmates sent him off with a cupcake party. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Meanwhile, home at the ranch . . .</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lva7uZ-1pIM/Ubu0U9kP_-I/AAAAAAAABgg/YA-y7BGJl20/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lva7uZ-1pIM/Ubu0U9kP_-I/AAAAAAAABgg/YA-y7BGJl20/s640/photo.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Both of these pictures were taken today. I swear. Did these two come up with some kind of photo ear-pulling signal when I wasn't looking? Siblings. They already have their secrets.</span></div>
Kaden and Sydney's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13816559072441489525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5655226106514498528.post-82849682943075795792013-04-19T21:56:00.004-04:002013-04-19T21:56:39.015-04:00Happy Days<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">These are happy days . . .</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zKHyyiolDVc/UXHtjEuszKI/AAAAAAAABeU/pqTQP0kLdlg/s1600/photo_6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zKHyyiolDVc/UXHtjEuszKI/AAAAAAAABeU/pqTQP0kLdlg/s400/photo_6.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">full of exploration . . .</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vxssc8gorTA/UXHvEq-RuLI/AAAAAAAABes/ud-uT9J0pHY/s1600/photo_11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vxssc8gorTA/UXHvEq-RuLI/AAAAAAAABes/ud-uT9J0pHY/s400/photo_11.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CBQ27mdPhSM/UXHuRMrzmoI/AAAAAAAABec/3LEPDKDK6e0/s1600/photo_13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CBQ27mdPhSM/UXHuRMrzmoI/AAAAAAAABec/3LEPDKDK6e0/s400/photo_13.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">learning . . .</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_M6pGl8oktw/UXHv8l96_MI/AAAAAAAABfE/c27_9dyqJ7w/s1600/photo_3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_M6pGl8oktw/UXHv8l96_MI/AAAAAAAABfE/c27_9dyqJ7w/s400/photo_3.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">smiles . . .</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tVM6TTOL6eY/UXHvUmHSQRI/AAAAAAAABe0/Mu3hN_2k9i4/s1600/photo_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tVM6TTOL6eY/UXHvUmHSQRI/AAAAAAAABe0/Mu3hN_2k9i4/s400/photo_1.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bwgndVePAvg/UXHvh7b7ycI/AAAAAAAABe8/RlrH-eOhFQs/s1600/photo_10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bwgndVePAvg/UXHvh7b7ycI/AAAAAAAABe8/RlrH-eOhFQs/s1600/photo_10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bwgndVePAvg/UXHvh7b7ycI/AAAAAAAABe8/RlrH-eOhFQs/s400/photo_10.JPG" width="300" /><br />
<div align="left">
</div>
</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">and, for one little girl, accessories.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J9PwAr4eI0k/UXHwsOxoaDI/AAAAAAAABfM/MFTZ6Xtf7kA/s1600/photo_5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J9PwAr4eI0k/UXHwsOxoaDI/AAAAAAAABfM/MFTZ6Xtf7kA/s400/photo_5.JPG" width="307" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-StqG6a1vq4o/UXHw_J1qgkI/AAAAAAAABfc/3D1Iq0crpvQ/s1600/photo_7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-StqG6a1vq4o/UXHw_J1qgkI/AAAAAAAABfc/3D1Iq0crpvQ/s400/photo_7.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">This girl goes crazy for hats, bracelets and sunglasses. She doesn't get it from me and I find it so adorably, wonderfully her. Even more endearing is that she's otherwise pretty rough and tumble with a good baseball arm and a wicked soccer kick. She's a girly-girl-tomboy. I love it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">And Kaden is blowing me away on so many fronts. School has been a really great thing for him and he seems to truly like it. He starting to walk around school like he owns the place, even balancing a backpack. Check him out . . .</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/LGEOKLndC20?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/pFvLxFVHn-k?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">My little caterpillar is becoming a butterfly. He seems to have really bonded with Sarjeet, the woman spotting him in the videos. Did you catch how he looked up to her and reached for her hand when he saw the big kids coming? I love to see my boy connecting with others. Progress. Major.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Yes, these are very happy days.</span></div>
Kaden and Sydney's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13816559072441489525noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5655226106514498528.post-64623616248613200752013-03-22T21:21:00.003-04:002013-04-05T21:19:41.459-04:00Spring Update<span style="font-size: large;">I'm really trying hard to remember that it's officially Spring because it still feels like winter -- temperatures in the 30s and coughs/sniffles that we just can't shake. I've neglected the blog but with good reason, our home has been a non-stop infirmary for well over a month. It's been Survival-Mode City here, folks. But that doesn't mean we've not had fun and smiles and milestones.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I think it's time for a photo recap:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So, yeah, there's been lots of this . . .</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-utFBpp9LSuc/UUz4oHbnC-I/AAAAAAAABbs/nJ5SNltC2TY/s1600/sick+face.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-utFBpp9LSuc/UUz4oHbnC-I/AAAAAAAABbs/nJ5SNltC2TY/s320/sick+face.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0GM7qTRnk1A/UUz4sKEoWXI/AAAAAAAABb0/w51t8CXV_Kw/s1600/sleeping+boy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0GM7qTRnk1A/UUz4sKEoWXI/AAAAAAAABb0/w51t8CXV_Kw/s320/sleeping+boy.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But even these shots are related to big milestones. Kaden has successfully transitioned to his first big boy bed. It's a twin with lots of pillows and plush jersey and velour linens so he gets enough sensory input to feel relaxed, comfy and cozy. He loves it. And we love being able to take turns snuggling up in bed with him. As for Sydney, she's learning to express herself so well. When she gets congested she says "I sickie inna face." I kid you not. Whole sentences brimming with her own unique way of putting things. It's so, so adorable. Another gem is that she's taken to saying "thanks much" instead of "thank you." Where did she get that?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And when everyone was feeling a little better, we got a little of this . . .</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9ix_ILgXsNs/UUz-jsXJ_1I/AAAAAAAABb4/skXjduJPj0s/s1600/reading+books.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9ix_ILgXsNs/UUz-jsXJ_1I/AAAAAAAABb4/skXjduJPj0s/s320/reading+books.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_e4krGu6CU/UUz-pe9oStI/AAAAAAAABcA/qn8lfBtSBKE/s1600/sibling+love.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_e4krGu6CU/UUz-pe9oStI/AAAAAAAABcA/qn8lfBtSBKE/s320/sibling+love.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Did I mention the tooth fairy's been visiting us lately? Kaden lost his two bottom front teeth (another one has gone since this photo was taken). They were the first teeth that grew in at around 6 or 7 months old and they were the first ones to go to make room for his adult teeth. My gosh, it's all going by so fast!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O9cl4kjr-jc/UU0Bi7KN81I/AAAAAAAABcQ/LL2xZg2Cylg/s1600/tooth+fairy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O9cl4kjr-jc/UU0Bi7KN81I/AAAAAAAABcQ/LL2xZg2Cylg/s320/tooth+fairy.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Kaden's starting to look so grown up . . .</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b4NdUG4gvz0/UU0DKYKeZXI/AAAAAAAABcY/y_i92g6HCus/s1600/angel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b4NdUG4gvz0/UU0DKYKeZXI/AAAAAAAABcY/y_i92g6HCus/s320/angel.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rf7itgrUqH0/UU0DQYF6dgI/AAAAAAAABcg/-RzvLv9a4VQ/s1600/hanging+out.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rf7itgrUqH0/UU0DQYF6dgI/AAAAAAAABcg/-RzvLv9a4VQ/s320/hanging+out.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">And so, so much like his daddy.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WdiUtI9Ky6E/UU0Db-tmfHI/AAAAAAAABco/UyRSKGY0NX4/s1600/yankees.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WdiUtI9Ky6E/UU0Db-tmfHI/AAAAAAAABco/UyRSKGY0NX4/s320/yankees.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Aside from getting sick a few times, he's doing really great with school. He's doing far more independent walking and just seems more engaged with others and the environment. He also seems to be gaining confidence and more willingness to try things that are hard for him. We've seen lots of really joyful smiles on his face lately and that, my friend, is awesome.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Sydney is also learning so many new things . . .</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J_qMhy-GceM/UU0D8QqBksI/AAAAAAAABcw/oO7qAir8Mg4/s1600/eating+yogurt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J_qMhy-GceM/UU0D8QqBksI/AAAAAAAABcw/oO7qAir8Mg4/s320/eating+yogurt.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">like feeding herself (she absolutely insists);</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kFKnY4Vg_kg/UU0EPQeJS2I/AAAAAAAABc4/-BeX-0wYyME/s1600/brush+brush.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kFKnY4Vg_kg/UU0EPQeJS2I/AAAAAAAABc4/-BeX-0wYyME/s320/brush+brush.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">brushing her teeth (still not a favorite);</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OQnlFtSGY_c/UU0EhOTAvtI/AAAAAAAABdA/FYlSRxYR_vk/s1600/potty+time.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OQnlFtSGY_c/UU0EhOTAvtI/AAAAAAAABdA/FYlSRxYR_vk/s320/potty+time.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">and even starting to practice (clothes on) with the potty.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And have I ever mentioned what a character she is?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VAlM8yuB5LA/UU0FOVzq3BI/AAAAAAAABdQ/oVWmcR3AOEg/s1600/silly+girl+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VAlM8yuB5LA/UU0FOVzq3BI/AAAAAAAABdQ/oVWmcR3AOEg/s320/silly+girl+1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HWRXDTSpj2c/UU0FTsXNemI/AAAAAAAABdg/y4nIfs_OhCY/s1600/silly+girl+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HWRXDTSpj2c/UU0FTsXNemI/AAAAAAAABdg/y4nIfs_OhCY/s320/silly+girl+4.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ba5Tdgsysn4/UU0FVVilnXI/AAAAAAAABdo/d1iuMAL1AEU/s1600/silly+girl+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ba5Tdgsysn4/UU0FVVilnXI/AAAAAAAABdo/d1iuMAL1AEU/s320/silly+girl+3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So, despite a rough month, we're still happy and smiling.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
Kaden and Sydney's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13816559072441489525noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5655226106514498528.post-89676732898722511982013-03-02T22:17:00.000-05:002013-03-02T22:19:49.313-05:00Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">2 Years Old!! It takes my breath away. My baby is a big girl! A sweet, smart, funny, quirky, strong and beautiful little lady . . .</span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NeK0odRBFgs/UTK27aZr4UI/AAAAAAAABag/PZf8wtVmt9Q/s1600/birthday+morning.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NeK0odRBFgs/UTK27aZr4UI/AAAAAAAABag/PZf8wtVmt9Q/s400/birthday+morning.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">And despite a very sleepless night before (we've all been pretty sick recently but that's a story for another time), she woke up happy and ready to celebrate turning TWO.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Minnie and Daisy joined the celebration . . .</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HWIUCaYLwFI/UTK5YZytYmI/AAAAAAAABas/V_1gWOYyldk/s1600/Birthday+Decor.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HWIUCaYLwFI/UTK5YZytYmI/AAAAAAAABas/V_1gWOYyldk/s640/Birthday+Decor.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">And Sydney got her princess on . . .</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iRQ4O7i_AOk/UTK5vHxJoGI/AAAAAAAABa4/F59KWm9h3Jo/s1600/Princess+Syd+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iRQ4O7i_AOk/UTK5vHxJoGI/AAAAAAAABa4/F59KWm9h3Jo/s640/Princess+Syd+1.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">She had a really great day of love and smiles and fun and presents. And when daddy got home it was time to get dressed up in her brand new patent leather "birday shoohs" that she LOVES and has been practicing wearing for a week. Ready to party!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uqwN7VHFCB8/UTK7YT3yYzI/AAAAAAAABbI/B6-PkuzX2qg/s1600/All+dressed+up.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uqwN7VHFCB8/UTK7YT3yYzI/AAAAAAAABbI/B6-PkuzX2qg/s640/All+dressed+up.JPG" width="332" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">(a few side notes about this pic - as much as I would love to put a pretty barrette in her hair or put it in pigtails or basically<strong> <em>anything</em></strong> other than having it all down in her face - Sydney is NOT havin' it. She's really very unequivocal about it. Another thing she's unequivocal about: pacifiers. She's not ready to let go. Do you see the death grip she has on that back-up paci? Oh, my sweet girl!)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YMcE3p0vB6U/UTK-dETntvI/AAAAAAAABbQ/JeAgAR7uPfg/s1600/Party+Table.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YMcE3p0vB6U/UTK-dETntvI/AAAAAAAABbQ/JeAgAR7uPfg/s640/Party+Table.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2410t_le2Kg/UTK-2g0tRMI/AAAAAAAABbY/kmYcWVI-PYc/s1600/birthday+candles.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2410t_le2Kg/UTK-2g0tRMI/AAAAAAAABbY/kmYcWVI-PYc/s640/birthday+candles.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Happy Birthday, Sydney Belle! We love you, Sweetpea! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
Kaden and Sydney's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13816559072441489525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5655226106514498528.post-87373523042414068682013-01-14T11:25:00.000-05:002013-01-14T11:25:15.655-05:00SCHOOL!!!<span style="font-size: large;">Today, my friends, has been a VERY big day for this family . . .</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vis24HbRYdc/UPQukczlHgI/AAAAAAAABaM/EkKGe54K-D0/s1600/Kaden+School.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vis24HbRYdc/UPQukczlHgI/AAAAAAAABaM/EkKGe54K-D0/s640/Kaden+School.jpg" width="456" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WpwM0IOeAb4/UPQuwQA4W4I/AAAAAAAABaQ/VmBTg0OvefI/s1600/Kaden+School+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WpwM0IOeAb4/UPQuwQA4W4I/AAAAAAAABaQ/VmBTg0OvefI/s640/Kaden+School+2.jpg" width="456" /></a></div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It's official - Kaden is a school kid! He's ready! He's excited! And according to early reports from his teacher, Miss Debbie, he's already doing great! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We are SO PROUD of you, Kaden. You're gonna ROCK pre-school! </span></div>
Kaden and Sydney's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13816559072441489525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5655226106514498528.post-48991076859462443922012-12-29T00:46:00.000-05:002012-12-29T01:08:48.475-05:00Sydney Speak<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-su8RqAKd_Xo/UN5uMu_XOTI/AAAAAAAABY8/QmRlDDaONVg/s1600/Syd2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-su8RqAKd_Xo/UN5uMu_XOTI/AAAAAAAABY8/QmRlDDaONVg/s640/Syd2.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Okay, so I've heard that toddlers can go through a language explosion but I've never seen it for myself so I can't say I understood how suddenly or intensely it could happen. Well, holy cow, let me tell you, this little girl is absolutely busting at the seams with new words and phrases. It's so adorable. I wish there was a way to train my brain to remember every detail of what and how she says things. Since there's not, let me share some for posterity . . .</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">During our <strong><em>long</em></strong> car trip to Florida, Sydney practiced the ABC song. About 1000 times (though it felt more like a million). She's got almost every letter down except L-M-N-O sounds a little fuzzy like she thinks it's one big letter she doesn't quite know how to pronounce. She also pronounces the letter 'R' as "or-ah" (similarly, the number '4' is "foo-wah") - who knew a New York accent was innate? But the absolute cutest thing about her Alphabet Song is the letter 'W' which she pronounces "double-boo." I can't help myself from going up to her several times a day and saying "Q-R-S-T-U-V" just to hear her say "double-boo-X-Y-Z" and give me a big smile.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Over the past few days, Sydney's taken to saying "I yike (like) it" and it's really funny because the context in which she says it leads me to believe that what she actually means is "I want it." For example, she'll come up to me when I'm eating something she's never seen before much less tasted and say "I yike it" as she reaches out for me to give her some. For some reason, it's so much harder to refuse when she frames it her way. Clever, clever girl.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">She likes to punctuate everything with "WOW!" or "YAY!" And she LOVES to sing! Not just the Alphabet Song but also Twinkle-Twinkle Little Star and Jingle Bells and the Hot-Dog Song from Mickey's Clubhouse. She's got an indomitable spirit.</span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8PFgWjOXnZw/UN5uU6TnNvI/AAAAAAAABZE/DKWcmTUsdBM/s1600/Syd5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8PFgWjOXnZw/UN5uU6TnNvI/AAAAAAAABZE/DKWcmTUsdBM/s640/Syd5.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I love this little girl so much.</span>Kaden and Sydney's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13816559072441489525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5655226106514498528.post-31595918928060699442012-12-26T23:46:00.001-05:002012-12-28T10:28:25.209-05:00Very Happy Holidays<span style="font-size: large;">We're an interfaith family. Or, more accurately, a secular family with both Jewish and Christian roots. We generally do a little bit of Christmas and a little bit of Hanukkah but I wouldn't say we've ever done either all the way. Now that we have kids, we try to make the whole holiday season about togetherness and family time. This year we did it up right -- I'll give you one hint where we went . . .</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RdiLKSaVZ8s/UNvHw70_4II/AAAAAAAABWU/IREqrtaZ1HU/s1600/1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RdiLKSaVZ8s/UNvHw70_4II/AAAAAAAABWU/IREqrtaZ1HU/s400/1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Yup, family road trip to sunny Florida. And it was awesome! Here's a few of the highlights:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We visited a local farm where Kaden rode a pony and Sydney chased an extremely evasive team of ducks.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KWdeFFzAIW0/UNvKjq5b-pI/AAAAAAAABW8/yK8qFAFURbs/s1600/20.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="577" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KWdeFFzAIW0/UNvKjq5b-pI/AAAAAAAABW8/yK8qFAFURbs/s640/20.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-igAJ-r5kZeo/UNvKRYfp3DI/AAAAAAAABW0/DPADRvrS9vE/s1600/21.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-igAJ-r5kZeo/UNvKRYfp3DI/AAAAAAAABW0/DPADRvrS9vE/s640/21.JPG" width="497" /><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Kaden went swimming with daddy</span> . . . <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aeTLwzpK3cc/UNvMGKjTzaI/AAAAAAAABXc/jz0Kuvm4Jxs/s1600/22.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aeTLwzpK3cc/UNvMGKjTzaI/AAAAAAAABXc/jz0Kuvm4Jxs/s640/22.JPG" width="584" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">While Sydney hung out poolside with mommy.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HqIwDf0OOM4/UNvMyG7QktI/AAAAAAAABXk/QhtoMfKEBhk/s1600/19.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HqIwDf0OOM4/UNvMyG7QktI/AAAAAAAABXk/QhtoMfKEBhk/s640/19.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Kaden learned how to play classic video games like Pac-Man and Galaga . . . </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O3wYDLG4I9o/UNvNjwXjzbI/AAAAAAAABXw/pigoFaFndes/s1600/3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O3wYDLG4I9o/UNvNjwXjzbI/AAAAAAAABXw/pigoFaFndes/s640/3.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And Sydney perfected drinking from a straw all by herself like a big girl.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hS54HoBDaWE/UNvOJ8_I4VI/AAAAAAAABYM/Nfagl2hypr4/s1600/13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hS54HoBDaWE/UNvOJ8_I4VI/AAAAAAAABYM/Nfagl2hypr4/s400/13.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Im0Rhnw3GNo/UNvOe30mdeI/AAAAAAAABYU/TJigtYDeB2I/s1600/14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Im0Rhnw3GNo/UNvOe30mdeI/AAAAAAAABYU/TJigtYDeB2I/s400/14.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And, of course, we spent a day at Disney World. They both love Disney Junior and know all the characters so they were thrilled to meet Donald, Daisy, Goofy and Minnie but one member of our party (a little girl who shall remain nameless) got a little overwhelmed when we got up close to the characters so we weren't able to get good pics of those encounters. Nevertheless, we had an amazing time!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And now we're home, comfy and cozy and looking forward to a great new year! </span></div>
Kaden and Sydney's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13816559072441489525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5655226106514498528.post-47994007349697278752012-11-22T21:51:00.000-05:002012-11-22T21:51:38.626-05:00Thanksgiving 2012<span style="font-size: large;">I am thankful for . . .</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5nsc0TsCPzM/UK7feuXyziI/AAAAAAAABUU/x38U_EhlUgE/s1600/Beautiful+Boy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5nsc0TsCPzM/UK7feuXyziI/AAAAAAAABUU/x38U_EhlUgE/s320/Beautiful+Boy.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">THIS boy and THIS girl . . .</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GAMoU3AnieM/UK7fgIN1tII/AAAAAAAABUc/OHosCB1tbDc/s1600/Beautiful+Girl.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GAMoU3AnieM/UK7fgIN1tII/AAAAAAAABUc/OHosCB1tbDc/s320/Beautiful+Girl.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">and the beautiful relationship they are building with each other.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qt3OtsZYu-k/UK7fiqA6v_I/AAAAAAAABUk/skCOxRMIKLU/s1600/Brother+and+Sister.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qt3OtsZYu-k/UK7fiqA6v_I/AAAAAAAABUk/skCOxRMIKLU/s640/Brother+and+Sister.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7donet2mPDw/UK7fkWom3gI/AAAAAAAABUs/i4taT7voAOI/s1600/Cutest+Baseball+Team+Ever.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7donet2mPDw/UK7fkWom3gI/AAAAAAAABUs/i4taT7voAOI/s640/Cutest+Baseball+Team+Ever.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qijz91YMgtw/UK7fmIpXTRI/AAAAAAAABU0/u57iWk4oel0/s1600/Watching+TV.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qijz91YMgtw/UK7fmIpXTRI/AAAAAAAABU0/u57iWk4oel0/s640/Watching+TV.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Very thankful indeed!</span>Kaden and Sydney's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13816559072441489525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5655226106514498528.post-91658883302001005692012-10-31T15:15:00.001-04:002012-10-31T15:15:27.738-04:00Happy Halloween<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KVxo0bZCQvM/UJF2UeLGUJI/AAAAAAAABTQ/v2P4zqIc1Uk/s1600/House+Call.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KVxo0bZCQvM/UJF2UeLGUJI/AAAAAAAABTQ/v2P4zqIc1Uk/s320/House+Call.JPG" width="240" /></a>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dr. Syd, Medicine Girl
</span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bClR_feIhIQ/UJF2bbGs6fI/AAAAAAAABTo/IIDQ2LBA28c/s1600/Serious+Doctor+Face.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bClR_feIhIQ/UJF2bbGs6fI/AAAAAAAABTo/IIDQ2LBA28c/s320/Serious+Doctor+Face.JPG" width="240" /></a>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ejjhx1hl_W8/UJF2Psrcn3I/AAAAAAAABTA/7EjUW6U0OyA/s1600/Firefighter.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ejjhx1hl_W8/UJF2Psrcn3I/AAAAAAAABTA/7EjUW6U0OyA/s320/Firefighter.JPG" width="240" /></a>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fire Chief Kaden
</span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pHtGZAfd1bY/UJF2XX_YFcI/AAAAAAAABTY/H3woSQysIRo/s1600/My+Hero.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pHtGZAfd1bY/UJF2XX_YFcI/AAAAAAAABTY/H3woSQysIRo/s320/My+Hero.JPG" width="240" /></a>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QJaS0O_C1Ro/UJF2SkDmVII/AAAAAAAABTI/oUgN8oRM8g4/s1600/Hard+Days+Night.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QJaS0O_C1Ro/UJF2SkDmVII/AAAAAAAABTI/oUgN8oRM8g4/s320/Hard+Days+Night.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And then there's the ultimate . . . Dr. Fire Chief Sydney Girl.</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's tiring. She needs coffee.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Happy Halloween, Everyone!</span>Kaden and Sydney's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13816559072441489525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5655226106514498528.post-30284839372468528932012-10-29T02:43:00.001-04:002012-10-29T02:43:05.859-04:00I've got sunshine . . . <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5OtB0x0r7SE/UI4lQbcv8CI/AAAAAAAABRc/ihtVUVik2GE/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5OtB0x0r7SE/UI4lQbcv8CI/AAAAAAAABRc/ihtVUVik2GE/s640/photo.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
On a cloudy day ;o)Kaden and Sydney's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13816559072441489525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5655226106514498528.post-63810360090905217052012-10-27T22:19:00.000-04:002012-10-27T22:19:02.746-04:00Just because . . . <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B-9_GQbng0I/UIyV1VaLfyI/AAAAAAAABRA/DyjH0PhIW-w/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B-9_GQbng0I/UIyV1VaLfyI/AAAAAAAABRA/DyjH0PhIW-w/s640/photo.JPG" width="496" /></a></div>
Kaden and Sydney's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13816559072441489525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5655226106514498528.post-43225650419607310142012-10-11T21:11:00.000-04:002012-10-11T22:51:03.178-04:00Kaden UpdateI finally captured video of Kaden strutting his stuff. He's getting stronger and more confident everyday. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/kgkRwcF1Ejg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
We're extremely proud, of course, and very, very excited for him.<br />
<br />
Kaden's been a busy bee over the past several months. He's been getting almost daily ABA therapy and is doing a great job with shape sorting, puzzles and matching. He's not a big fan of coloring at this point, there's just a little too much motor planning involved, but it seems he's turned a corner when it comes to persevering on tasks that are hard for him. This little boy works harder than I can even comprehend. In just four years he's taught me more about strength and grit than most people will learn in a lifetime. I am in awe of you, sweet boy, and I feel so incredibly privileged to share this journey with you.<br />
<br />
It's with that in mind that I want to share that Kaden recently received an official autism diagnosis. It doesn't change anything and it doesn't define him. It just gives us a little more clarity on what we need to do to help him reach his full potential. For that, we are thankful.<br />
<br />
Finally, a few weeks ago I noticed Kaden kept watching a new video on YouTube. I have no idea how he found it but when I actually sat down to watch it myself, I cried. You might too. Check it out.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/cyVzjoj96vs?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />Kaden and Sydney's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13816559072441489525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5655226106514498528.post-62269649124702890242012-10-05T02:16:00.002-04:002012-10-05T17:12:29.469-04:00Sweet Silly Sydney<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This little girl LOVES LOVES LOVES to laugh and play. She's silly, sweet, daring, inventive, curious and just about a million different kinds of cute.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qaovWB8jpDo/UG51nfYXVII/AAAAAAAABP0/4QHhROmQq5U/s1600/yellow+bucket+smile.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qaovWB8jpDo/UG51nfYXVII/AAAAAAAABP0/4QHhROmQq5U/s320/yellow+bucket+smile.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
At 19 months old, Sydney is a jokester. She currently loves to pretend that various toys are hats. For example, her latest trick is putting a bucket on her head and marching around like a robot or putting it on my head and saying "haht" with a sly smile that says "I know it's not really a hat, mommy, but isn't that SOOO funny?" Yes, my sweet girl, you are so very, very funny.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w2S6Z6GnExo/UG9MiekDRYI/AAAAAAAABQk/8cAVpkUl02c/s1600/saucepan+hat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w2S6Z6GnExo/UG9MiekDRYI/AAAAAAAABQk/8cAVpkUl02c/s320/saucepan+hat.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BrsHuc4i-E4/UG51geLfz1I/AAAAAAAABPk/er-VzgUA2P4/s1600/Hat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BrsHuc4i-E4/UG51geLfz1I/AAAAAAAABPk/er-VzgUA2P4/s320/Hat.JPG" width="240" /></a>And by the way, my angel, you so ROCK a hat!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Sydney's other big pastime is eating. She's a food lover. Her current favorite breakfast is french toast sticks and yogurt. As you can see, she savors every bite. It's adorable to watch.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QydOzUHydIs/UG51rlcZNSI/AAAAAAAABQE/bqBaoTM-5pY/s1600/yummy+french+toast.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QydOzUHydIs/UG51rlcZNSI/AAAAAAAABQE/bqBaoTM-5pY/s320/yummy+french+toast.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A38ojW4Rf4E/UG51owDZw2I/AAAAAAAABP8/Bdx4XA5b3Vo/s1600/watching+the+rain.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A38ojW4Rf4E/UG51owDZw2I/AAAAAAAABP8/Bdx4XA5b3Vo/s320/watching+the+rain.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
Not even a rainy day can bring this little one down. She recently passed time on a dreary day eating snacks and watching the rain, no doubt plotting her next trip to the playground.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
You're a non-stop ray of sunshine, Syd, and I am so, so incredibly lucky to be your mama. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
Kaden and Sydney's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13816559072441489525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5655226106514498528.post-40685348105740387342012-08-22T00:02:00.001-04:002012-08-22T00:08:48.333-04:00Magic<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kaden has magic glasses . . .</span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c7s-rjbKpqM/UDRGX2vp-4I/AAAAAAAABLg/8CulYvamFaM/s1600/smile+in+glasses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c7s-rjbKpqM/UDRGX2vp-4I/AAAAAAAABLg/8CulYvamFaM/s320/smile+in+glasses.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've posted here before that Kaden's been practicing wearing frames and I have to admit that for a long time it didn't seem very promising -- he was up to only about a minute of tolerating frames on his face after months of practicing with his ABA therapists. Several people assured me it would be different once he got real lenses because he'd realize that he could see better and that would be all the motivation he'd need to keep wearing them. I didn't really believe them because, well, because Kaden is stubborn and because the lenses in question are prism lenses which his developmental optometrist swears by but his regular opthamologist dismisses as "unproven" and "ineffective." So I didn't know what to think and the speed and decisiveness with which Kaden invariably ripped his practice frames off left me skeptical. We were determined to give it a try but I can't say we expected very much.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am so glad to tell you that we've been blown away. Kaden's been wearing his new glasses for HOURS at a time, through entire ABA sessions, while he plays on his iPad and watches TV, while he eats and plays with toys and, most importantly, WHILE HE WALKS and explores EVERYTHING, often unassisted.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's my handsome boy after breakfast this morning . . . just chillin', wearing his glasses, no big deal.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ldzVT5Z677Y/UDRP2yhYrgI/AAAAAAAABMs/FyJYOhxxnXo/s1600/handsome+boy+in+glasses.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ldzVT5Z677Y/UDRP2yhYrgI/AAAAAAAABMs/FyJYOhxxnXo/s320/handsome+boy+in+glasses.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And my heart just SOARS!
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
From my perspective, they are absolutely magic glasses. From the first day Kaden got them on about 2 weeks ago he's been standing up, cruising around all our furniture and taking 5 and sometimes 10 independent steps around the house as he explores, looking around at things as if he's seeing them for the first time. Now, Kaden's been taking independent steps for quite a while but it was always with lots of prompting and guidance and cheerleading from mom and dad on the sidelines. It is completely new for him to get up on his own initiative and try to walk from one room to another and he did it as soon as I put those glasses on his face. MAGIC! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And it's not just different at home. In the past, Kaden always seemed content to stay in his stoller when we went shopping or around town doing errands. Not so much anymore. We went to the mall last weekend and Kaden made it very clear that he wanted to get out of the stroller and look around a toy store.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s3o9Xr40B7c/UDRIuhagg-I/AAAAAAAABLw/6tzG4seP0fE/s1600/checking+out+toys.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s3o9Xr40B7c/UDRIuhagg-I/AAAAAAAABLw/6tzG4seP0fE/s320/checking+out+toys.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wpeUzZWNZGU/UDRGaxybWBI/AAAAAAAABLo/6_NBztmRIVQ/s1600/Toystore.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wpeUzZWNZGU/UDRGaxybWBI/AAAAAAAABLo/6_NBztmRIVQ/s1600/Toystore.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wpeUzZWNZGU/UDRGaxybWBI/AAAAAAAABLo/6_NBztmRIVQ/s320/Toystore.JPG" width="240" /><br />
</a><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wpeUzZWNZGU/UDRGaxybWBI/AAAAAAAABLo/6_NBztmRIVQ/s1600/Toystore.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><div align="left">
</div>
</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Let's just say I've had happy tears in my eyes many times over the past few weeks. I still don't truly understand how prism glasses help people with perceptual impairments actually see the world better but if given a chance I would testify under oath that it's been totally game-changing for Kaden. And I will be forever grateful that people who are way smarter than me (than I? Well, that just proves the point!) have devoted their lives to figuring this stuff out for the rest of us.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And not to be left out . . .</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZbBeKRpi0qM/UDRY9-PqYWI/AAAAAAAABNk/2zfaHdGK04Q/s1600/IMG_4626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZbBeKRpi0qM/UDRY9-PqYWI/AAAAAAAABNk/2zfaHdGK04Q/s320/IMG_4626.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A beautiful little girl I know just inherited a pretend pair of eyeglass frames.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Good times!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
Kaden and Sydney's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13816559072441489525noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5655226106514498528.post-20892979342071972112012-06-28T22:40:00.001-04:002012-06-28T22:53:47.990-04:00Birthday at the Beach!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KiXLXBGR6IM/T-0OqpnNZTI/AAAAAAAABIE/mmKKBoVueGg/s1600/16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KiXLXBGR6IM/T-0OqpnNZTI/AAAAAAAABIE/mmKKBoVueGg/s320/16.jpg" width="302" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">It's a well established fact that Kaden's a junior beach bum but did you know he was born on the same day as the extremely unique </span><a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/06/080619-solstice-facts.html"><span style="color: yellow; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">2008 summer solstice</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">?
Despite any skepticism I may have about astrology, there's absolutely no doubt in my mind that his spirit aligned with the cosmos that day. He loves the beach, from the splashing of waves on his feet to the warm scratchiness of sand through his fingers (sensory defensiveness be damned!) and even the taste and smell of pizza from just off the boardwalk. I love it and find myself wishing we could live in a perpetual summer at the beach. With just one little (okay, big) caveat - Sydney sorta hates the beach at this point.</span> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ACzZ-i8Wwfg/T-0O9wtpzeI/AAAAAAAABIQ/YMEtq8Qcrtk/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ACzZ-i8Wwfg/T-0O9wtpzeI/AAAAAAAABIQ/YMEtq8Qcrtk/s320/9.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">So there's that to consider. But I'm sure that will change . . .</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Anyway, our beautiful boy turned 4 on June 20th. We celebrated for days and marveled at how much he's grown, how fast things change and how wonderous our journey has been so far. Little boy, you constantly amaze us and we're profoundly grateful that we get to share this life with you.</span> </div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5awQcHgr90w/T-z9kDhsh2I/AAAAAAAABGU/xUSbp5cn1pk/s1600/37.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5awQcHgr90w/T-z9kDhsh2I/AAAAAAAABGU/xUSbp5cn1pk/s320/37.jpg" width="284" /></a>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4_89a4osmyk/T-z9kfF6vaI/AAAAAAAABGg/alv7_WeG7ig/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4_89a4osmyk/T-z9kfF6vaI/AAAAAAAABGg/alv7_WeG7ig/s320/7.jpg" width="240" /></a>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cAxAmL1Hp2Q/T-z9KgUZx3I/AAAAAAAABFw/DcarJyo7m6s/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cAxAmL1Hp2Q/T-z9KgUZx3I/AAAAAAAABFw/DcarJyo7m6s/s320/8.jpg" width="240" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">We played at the beach</span><br />
.
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YpTjYA-g_FI/T-z9LIiA2TI/AAAAAAAABF8/pJ6zARptx6g/s1600/15.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YpTjYA-g_FI/T-z9LIiA2TI/AAAAAAAABF8/pJ6zARptx6g/s320/15.jpg" width="246" /></a>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cKFGFpwDGjw/T-z9LS6-boI/AAAAAAAABGI/9JhsCoeoHZY/s1600/36.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cKFGFpwDGjw/T-z9LS6-boI/AAAAAAAABGI/9JhsCoeoHZY/s320/36.jpg" width="240" /></a> <br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And at the park</span>.</span></span><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8JSPt7zaFGo/T-z-rFTcTcI/AAAAAAAABHE/SyEMea5W6kA/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8JSPt7zaFGo/T-z-rFTcTcI/AAAAAAAABHE/SyEMea5W6kA/s320/2.jpg" width="239" /></a>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4YAoPjD08So/T-z-ruo4OMI/AAAAAAAABHQ/qPVuX3gPVyY/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4YAoPjD08So/T-z-ruo4OMI/AAAAAAAABHQ/qPVuX3gPVyY/s320/1.jpg" width="239" /></a>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Sydney even managed to have a little fun too!</span><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NWPlPE_ss48/T-z8WuM2eJI/AAAAAAAABFM/RNi3_pPXKRs/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NWPlPE_ss48/T-z8WuM2eJI/AAAAAAAABFM/RNi3_pPXKRs/s320/4.jpg" width="229" /></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Happy Birthday, Sweet Boy! This is gonna be a great year!</span>Kaden and Sydney's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13816559072441489525noreply@blogger.com1