6 Weeks

Finally we are posting pics of Brecken! Many have been checking daily and patiently waiting. Where have the last six weeks gone? Well, there was Thanksgiving, Christmas, and all the craziness that goes along with getting ready for the holidays. Combine that with a demanding two-year-old and a newborn that has gas/fussiness issues, that wants to be held a lot and managed to catch her first cold and there's just not much time for blogging! : ) And she was usually sleeping, eating, or crying! Having two kids has pretty much turned our world upside down! But of course, it's all worth it.

A few notes about our lil' Miss Brecken...

*she was born on my Grandma Evans' birthday and my stepsister Cindy's birthday...my Grandma passed away in 1999 and I believe would have turned 86 on the day Brecken was born.

*her middle name comes from her two grandmas' middle names, Roberta Jo and Bonni Lee.

*she has had some stomach/gas/reflux issues (just like Cade), but seems to be getting better...the first couple weeks she would only sleep on her tummy on us...Cade slept in his car seat, but now the doctors don't recommend that...so finally we started using the papasan (probably not recommended either), but she has been doing good with that and will sometimes go up to 6 hours between feedings...she is going 3 hours between feedings during the day up to this point, but seems to be showing signs of stretching that out a little...she was eating soooo much at first, but seems to be slowing down a little now.

*is becoming more content to lay by herself for longer periods and just look around.

*is smiling sometimes, but you have to work at it!

Santa

Cade went to see Santa when he was in town last Friday night. Brrrr! It was bitterly cold that night, so Brecken and I had to stay in the car. As mentioned before, he asked for a helmet, shoulder pads, and football shoes. Not sure where Santa is going to find all of that for a two-year old! : )

Big News...Bye Bye Paci!

For quite awhile now, we have been telling Cade that if he throws his pacifier in the garbage, he can get a new bike and helmet. (No, we're not above bribery.) Last Friday morning, he came into our room and said he couldn't find his paci. The day before, Jim had noticed that the pacifier was starting to come apart and was probably getting to the point where it wasn't safe for him to have, so when he couldn't find it, Jim was quick to say, "I think you threw it away and it's riding on the garbage truck now." (This is what they do with their pacifiers at daycare when it's time to get rid of them.) So when Cade was preoccupied, I went to his room, found it and put it away. Saturday, we went and made good on our promise and he hasn't looked back! : ) When it's bedtime and he starts to think about his paci, he just tells us, "I got a new bike and helmet because I'm a big boy and threw my paci away!" Way to go Cader!

Vala's Pumpkin Patch

Yes these photos are over two months old, but I'm playing catch-up (story of my life!) Vala's is such a cool place with so much to do for all ages. We were there for about four hours and didn't even see half of the attractions!

Cade loves horses and finally got to ride one named JB!

Waiting for the train...

I had to sit the inflatable jumping "pillow" out as it's not recommended for pregnant women, but it was Cade's favorite and I think Jim enjoyed it too! ; ) Very nerve wracking to watch though! There were grown men jumping as hard as they could shooting little kids all over the place!

Cade the Master Pumpkin Picker thinks this looks like a good one!

And there's another one!

He insisted on helping Dad with the cart...

All I want for Christmas...

Whenever we ask Cade what he is going to ask Santa to bring him for Christmas his response is always the same..."A Helmet". Well, he is getting very anxious and has decided to come up with his own version of a helmet: