Locomotion

Well, Caden officially took his first steps August 15th from his uncle David to the couch. Michael and I were around, but weren't paying attention (Michael was on the computer and I was making dinner)...bummer, huh? Oh well, nice treat for David - our gift to him for coming to visit us! :)
Since then he's been steadily working on his walking: sometimes getting mad at us when we won't give him a hand to hold, sometimes getting mad at us because we won't let go of his hand soon enough. A week or two ago we finally got some footage of this little man (who now tries to walk all around the place without us!). He's definitely improved a ton since even this video, but the kid just sits down whenever we video him so it's difficult to get anything half decent.

Skip ahead to about 30 seconds (he's all limp there and it's pretty funny...he'd been walking for a good half hour before we got this video) and 30 seconds to about a minute shows some walking. After that he's just not being cooperative. We'll get better video once I get video of him at the playground - he's all over the place there!

So with this walking kid we're having a blast, and lots of blows to the face, just playing and exploring everything! He's also started reading books to himself now. It's just fun to just walk in on him jibber-jabbering to himself, turning the pages of his book, telling his own little story to go along with the pictures. He also says "dog", "ball", "mamma", and "dadda" - looks like he's got all the necessities covered in his language abilities already!

Niner, Niner

Caden's well into his 9th month and the little tyke is doing great! He's 18.8lbs and 28inches long and has become very picky about his food - no more bland baby purees for this kid! He slept through the night for about a week and a half around 8.5 months - that was nice. He'll do it occasionally now-and-then (like 2 nights ago), but for the most part he's still up once a night (which really isn't bad, so I try not to complain). The true blessing is he's started putting himself to sleep! 7/7:30 rolls around and into the bath he goes. Then jammies and a bottle, followed by a quick song and prayer as I stand next to his crib, then I drop him on into his crib with his blankie tucked in around him and he just babbles himself to sleep within 5 or 10 minutes! It's truly a miracle and the biggest blessing I could ask for. No more hour and half crying sessions like we used to have that would leave both Michael and I frayed and worn to the bone. Thank goodness! He's such a good kiddo :)

And, just a little clip to show off his latest favorite activity to the grandparents (besides reading of course, this kid could read books literally all day if I had the patience for it!):

and another of Daddy playtime before bed:

We just love this little boy! 

Hours and hours of entertainment.

Ragnar

Caden and I returned from California at about 10pm on Wednesday, July 18th. I came home and had less than 12 hrs to unpack, do laundry, sleep, repack, (plus get Caden ready for a babysitter and 3 days of Daddy care) and get my buns off to meet my team at 9:30am Thursday morning. Never mind the fact that I went through 5 back-up babysitters until my 6th one was actually able to make it! That's what I get for trying to plan too far in advance and then leaving town for 3 weeks.

However, let's go back to the beginning before all the craziness began. This all started when I spoke in church at the end of November last year (yes, when Caden was 3 weeks old - not gonna let them live that one down). I introduced us to the ward and mentioned that I was an avid runner. After church a couple of the women came up to me and mentioned that they were all running Ragnar - Northwest Passage the following summer and they were wondering if I'd like to join their team. Um, YES! I always need more friends. And then going running with friends. Of course, I'm in. Fast forward 8 months later to me running through some random field in the middle-of-no-where Washington at 12:30am and I'm wondering what the heck I was thinking. But I'm getting ahead of myself. 

11 other women and I rented vans and decked ourselves (and the vans) all out and drove up to the border of Canada and the U.S. and ran, relay-style, 200 miles down the coast out to the point of Whidbey Island near Seattle. We started Friday morning at 7am. 

Friday at the starting line - still smelling fresh!

And ran...

Marcelle handing off to Diana after a wet and windy run!

...and ran...

Having fun!

...and ran!

Me handing off to Alicia

But a race is never complete without some adventure:

Lost waterbottles...

and

Sleeping on high school gym floors with hundreds of smelly strangers.

And a Ragnar is never complete without some:

Go us!

DONE! With my legs of the race at least...

While the van 2 was finishing their legs of the race, we cleaned up a bit and went out to lunch!

And then we went to the finish line to meet up with van 2 for our finish!

We did it!

It took us a little longer than expected, mostly due to a team member injury (one of the ladies had a torn meniscus) and us picking up the extra legs (which I was kinda happy about, I got to run more!), but we finished. Hallelujah. Overall it was more mentally difficult than I expected - almost more mentally difficult than a marathon. The thing is, in a marathon, you only need to do that "give it all I got to the finish/adrenaline rush" thing once. During the relay you had to do it three times (in my case, 4). Plus, in a marathon, you're done in a couple hours. Here, you go without any real sleep for 48 hrs and running off and on at odd hours. However, training for this wasn't nearly as intense as it was for a marathon. So, you know, pluses and misuses. But it was a cool experience; glad I can say I did it. Go team Runnin' from the Law!

Golden - Vacation part II

After our visit to the Beehive State, Michael headed back to work in the Beaver State, and Caden and I headed on down to the Golden State. After 10 days of vacation already under our belts, I was ready for a vacation from our vacation! However, once we got the actual traveling out of the way, we were pumped and ready to go.

Caden started on drum lessons with his uncle Jared right away:

"This is how you do it..."

"Look Mom! I'm drumming for reals!"

Serious about his drumming

Then he took some time to hang around with his aunt Alyssa:

After a week of fun around Grandma and Grandpa's house, we headed off to the beach for a couple days of beach camping: 

Hanging out around the campsite

What a beautiful sight! 

Snoozing on the beach 

"Mom, I'm eating the sand no matter what you say."

"UGH!"

Me: "Did you try it?"
Caden: "Yup."

Playing with friends Owen and Connor:

Ready to catch some waves!

"WAIT! I need more sand. Not sure I have enough."

Sand.

Sand.

Sand.

Sandy mom and baby!

"I'm a good camper Dad, I promise!"

 Overall we had a wonderful time visiting both sides of the family - I wish Caden could be closer to them. (Heck, I wish I could be closer to them.) He's just a happier kid when he has so many loved ones around (and Michael and I are too). For Caden, there's excitement, attention, always something new... It seems like he just grows leaps and bounds every time we take a vacation! For Michael and me, well we just miss being closer to family. But we sure are grateful that we're lucky enough to be able to visit them so much! See you guys again soon!

A Visit to the Beehive - Vacation part I

This last month has been quite the vacation. That's right, we've been living out of suitcases and sleeping places other than our own beds for nearly a month! While it's good to be back in several ways, I feel like a little piece of me was left with my family and friends and "home". It's funny, while growing up California was always "home". Even when I was away at college in Utah, California was "home". Now that we're in Oregon, California AND Utah are "home". That's right everyone, I'm admitting it: I miss Utah. Never thought you'd hear that from my mouth did ya? :)
Anyways, our first stop on our glorious month-long vacation was to Utah to visit Michael's family. We had a blast with them and I'm pretty sure Caden's got every one of his aunts and uncles and grandparents wrapped around his pinky finger. Oh and the dog. Caden LOVED the dog. Why did I not get a picture of Caden and the dog? (Probably because Michael can't stand her...)

Overall, we enjoyed our time fishing with the family (x2), visiting friends, and celebrating the 4th!

Here are a few pictures from our adventures: 

 (I'm a little concerned abt how hard she's squeezing this fish here...)

 1st introduction to fish - and he's not quite a fan. That's my boy!

 (I think this was our 6th take of the shot in order to get me to stop backing away from it and to smile!)

Our fearless boat captain - thanks Grandpa Root!

Caden and Grandpa checking out the garden.

Thanks for a wonderful time family - hopefully we can be back to visit again soon!

All He Wants To Do Is Stand, Stand

Playing = standing these days in Caden's book. The kid loves it. Forget crawling...he's not even trying anymore. He's content with his inchworm for the moment in that department. But standing: now that's what real people do.  

 

Michael and Caden a couple weeks ago...it was his favorite game for awhile!

(Again, sorry about the poor lighting.)

See-at-tull

Michael had a business trip/class that he had to take up in Seattle last week. We thought about him going for a week and me alone with Caden all day and all night with no reprieve and we (I) said, "No way, Jose-Michael" - so thank you Boeing for paying for Michael's room and board and letting me crash the party. It was my first time to Seattle; and, next to our honeymoon when we got rerouted from Mexico to Vancouver, Canada (yay for Swine flu!), it's the furthest north I've ever been. 

So while Michael slaved the day away in a required class for work, Caden and I tore up the city...or at least the hotel room. Michael got long lunches, so we were able to meet him each day for lunch, and when he got off in the afternoons we did our touring.

The gum wall near Pike's Place Market.

Choose the Right! 

 

 

Overall, it was a nice change of scenery and very nice to not have to cook or clean for a week!