Christmastime...

Kade decided to play behind the recliner in front of the tree...just enough room for this little boy to play!!

Opening gifts with Daddy!

Opening gifts with Mommy

Cousins Bret and Hannah love the gifts they received.

Kade wanting to play with the windchimes... me... wanting the noise to stop! :)

It's been a while...

So... a lot has happened since the last post.... Kade turned one officially on December 1st. I can't believe how fast this last year has gone!! He had a fun birthday outfit (which when he turns 16 I wonder if he'll have a fun birthday outfit then!?) spent the day with MaMo (the sitter) and then had a fun evening at home with me and Lafe. Later that week we made the 7 hour trip to Houston for a dear friend's wedding. Carol Anne said "I do" on December 5th with the glory of God shining through her and her husband, David, and throughout their wedding. It was worshipful. Best kind!

Lafe and I both had some sniffles and coughs... but got over those... just in time for Kade to begin with it all 2 days before his surgery. He also woke up every hour Saturday and Sunday night... and totally wore me out!! My mom was here for Kade's surgery and she and I took turns holding him the recliner while the other slept...THANKS SO MUCH, MOM!!

Today, December 21st, Kade had surgery. It was minor and he did amazing! I cried when he left to go to the operating room, however, the nurse said that he didn't make one sound. He breathed in the gas, feel asleep, and 35 minutes later was in recovery. (He had a testicle brought down into the correct place.) I was allowed back in the recovery room, where he just cried, but not too hard for about 30 minutes. When I moved him to my shoulder... he got comfy and OUT LIKE A LIGHT! He slept and we went home. He slept most of the day, but was awake for about an hour in the afternoon and then woke up about 5:45 and stayed awake until 9:00. He did SO well! He ate some...not much, but has drank some milk and then some water and EVEN CRAWLED AROUND a little bit.

The Lord is faithful. He provides comfort and peace and healing. How blessed we are to have been able to become parents AND to have been blessed to have a successful surgery. All praise and glory and honor to the Lord God Almighty.

Kade's First Birthday Party

Birthday party boy... strolling along in the walker outside...before we brought the party inside due to the wind!

Kade's football cake...

My mom made the cakes for his party! THANKS SO MUCH, MOM!!

I frosted cupcakes and arranged them into a 1... my best efforts!

Opening gifts... he didn't know what all the craziness was about!

Oh... I can get the tissue paper out, Mom...does that help??

Yea!! Paper!!!

Kade did not know what to think about the people singing loudly in the kitchen... that or the fire that was in front of him!

What a sweet boy... didn't cry or fuss... unless someone was trying to take a new toy... he was very appreciative of new toys!

Looked at the flame of the candle...but did not understand to blow it out...

Mom shoving cake in his mouth... poor kid... he really didn't know what to do.

But... when Michalea (my cousin's daughter) gave him some..it's good!

Kade reading...

Kade read the book to me after I read it to him. Such a precious thing!

Kade's First Thanksgiving

I found this book in my classroom and it is so very appropriate for today! Kade liked listening to me as I read it to him... and then...

He read it to me! It was very thoughtful of him...ha!

He really does love books... I hope that the love he has for them continues is whole life....something a teacher would say...

He read it loudly to me and his daddy!

Playing with Papa...

Cousin Hannah wanted to take Kade on a ride...so he rode along behind her. It was fun...a little scary for me...but fun! He's getting so big!

Little Indian Hannah and Kade...

They played a lot together at Baba and Papa's house.... reminds me of playing with my cousin Adam, we are about the same age difference as Kade and Hannah.

Doors

Kade likes to play with doors... he has for a very long time. Now that he is crawling very well and very fast, he can get into a room super speedy quick and really doesn't get into much else. He just likes to push and pull them. Our doors don't shut all the way unless you push them hard so it's perfect for him. He's so entertaining... not only to himself, but to me and Lafe, too! I can't believe that in 10 days he will be 1 year old!!! Time has really gone by quickly!!

Talking....

Kade has a very unique way of talking... this isn't the half of his communication! We just love it. It brings a smile to our faces and we laugh sometimes because it is just so fun! Thank you, Lord, for such a blessing of this child!

What a GREAT day!!

So, Lafe and I BOTH received great news today!! Lafe passed the OGET (which I wasn't worried about at all!) and that is one less than to stress about. I'm so proud of him! He will take two OSAT (subject area tests) on November 14th and seriously has been studying more than I ever would...even in college! He will do just fine on those as well! Like I said...I'm very proud of him for all of his obedience and hard work.

My principal told me she needed to talk to me right before my lunch was over. At first I was nervous... what kid did what? is there a parent that is upset about something? what's wrong? .... she started off by saying that she didn't know how to tell me this so she was just going to come out and say it... a parent scheduled a meeting with her this morning. They discussed that the school's fund raiser earned enough money to purchase projectors and surround sound for each teacher at our site. Then the discussion moved to an interactive white board (AND SO MUCH MORE) called a SMARTBoard. They are about $1400-$1500. They discussed what was needed to order one and how to go about it and then............


the parent took out their checkbook, wrote a check and said to purchase one FOR ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will be getting a SMARTBoard for my classroom in less than 6 weeks!! I'm so excited!!!!!!!!!!! What a blessing this will be AND a huge instrument in the education of my kiddos! We're going to do so much with that thing!!!!!!!

Crawling...FINALLY!!

Halloween fun

Hunter and Kade at Amy's house... Hunter is a good friend!

Mommy and Kade having a good time together!

(left to right) Zach, Cheryl (MaMo), Kade, Kynadee, Grayson, and Corbin. Corbin was in my class last year and was the one that introduced us to our most wonderful babysitter! Scary costumes...but great fun together!

Cheryl and Kade watching Kynadee get her teeth on! :)

Our precious giraffe!! HOW CUTE IS HE!!?!!

Backwards...

I was unloading and reloading the dishwasher after Lafe's wonderful chili dinner that he had ready when I came home from work...Go Lafe!... when Kade started cracking up when I would watch him walk backwards....he laughed and laughed...which made me laugh! It was so much fun!

Just playin' at home!

Lafe has been working for my brother a lot lately (which is such a blessing) and so Kade and I have been home playing tonight together. He was saying "Momma Momm Momm" and then "Da..Dada ... DA!". However by the time I got the camera he stopped. He is working on getting on all fours, but that one leg will always get in the way. Oh well...when he is finally independently mobile, we will probably wish for the opposite! HA!

Kade's First Zoo Trip

Kade laughing when we first got there! He was ready to see some animals...or just excited to be outside! :)

Zebra...often facinated me... I mean, a horse with stripes...

Giraffes have a special place in our family. Kade completed a sleep study in April and the nurse ,that was awesome, gave him a stuffed one to come home. It was a hard night however, everything has been fine since. All that to say that he has loved the giraffe! We named it Jerry. Every time I look at it, I am reminded of how blessed we are to have Kade and what a treasure he is. It brings tears to my eyes just to write this.

Gracie and Kade checkin' things out!

I thought these were very pretty and interesting!

Big Bear

Alligator

Monkeys

Gracie eating ice...it was hot!

Aunt Chelsea and Kade!

Aunt Kari and Gracie time

It is a tradition for me and my nieces to paint nails! This was Gracie's first time!

She did wonderfully!

Cute nails!

First Football Game

BaBa and Kade yelling for the team!

PaPa, Daddy, and Kade on the field before the game started.

PaPa and Kade telling the team how to do it!

Jump Jump

Jumping is fun!!

Watching Daddy mow

Let me pet you...

Can you see him...

Let's go help Daddy...you open the door....

I need to touch your ear please

Where is he going now?

Daddy...I want to come with you..

Spitting is fun!

Really...where are you going??

I will keep watching...