What a Difference a Year Makes...

Just got back from the annual Beach Week! It was awesome, and man, what a difference a year makes. Cade had his first Beach trip. He did great, although, like his dad, not a huge fan of cold water. So the Ocean was...interesting. Anyway, this year was so great, but sooooo much different than last. For example:



2010 Beach Agenda -

9:00 - wake up, go for a quick run

9:45 - breakfast, coffee, pack for the short walk to the beach

10:15 - crack open my first "grown up coke" and layout after unpacking

10:45 - I have had at least 2 "cokes" by now, and am ready for the water

11:00 - I am tired of body boarding and thirsty

11:05 - quickly open a new "coke"

11:30 - getting hungry, so find a little snack in the cooler. grab another "coke"

12:15 - after another couple "cokes" and lots of sun, it is time for the ocean again

12:30 - dry off, grab a "road coke" and pack up to walk back

12:45 - rinse off, dry off, go inside for lunch

1:15 - done with lunch, back downstairs for pool time...and more "cokes"

2:00 - yard game time; cornhole, ladderball, washers, lots of "cokes"

5:00 - disperse to shower and I get ready to cook

5:30 - showered, with a fresh "coke" i get ready to cook (filet, burgers, chicken, fajitas, fish, crab legs - all depends on the night)

6:45 - done eating, ready to relax for some card or board games

12:00 - 12:30 - many, many, many "cokes" later and a few games (that I dominate...ok not really, but I think I do), it is off to bed



2011 Beach Agenda (with Cade)

6:00 - wake up to change a diaper full of pee, bring Cade into bed with us (hope he falls back asleep)

6:45 - 7:30 - Cade wakes up, so do we. Make a bottle

8:00 - finish feeding Cade, put him in his "poop" chair

8:01 - quickly make and eat/drink coffee and breakfast

8:15 - change a FOUL diaper, get Cade in a onsie

8:17 - put Cade in his activity thing, go get dressed for the beach

8:30 - take Cade out of his activity thing because it now bores him

8:31 - play with Cade on the mat, on your lap, outside...

9:15 - get ready for the beach - pack the cooler, get Cade in his suit and lotioned up

- caveat here, packing for the beach is a whole new world with a 5 month old...tents, blankets, toys, passie, blankie, bumpo, utfit, extra diapers...

9:45 - get to beach and start unpacking/setting up

10:00 - finish unpacking/setting up

10:05 - put Cade down for a nap

10:06 - QUICK! lay out, drink "cokes", play in the cean, whatever

10:50 - Cade wakes up, not happy

11:00 - after trying to sooth him for a few minutes, head to the edge of the water and stick his feet in the water

11:01 - Cade screams because the water is cold

11:05 - hold Cade in a chair, play with his toys

11:20 - head back home, Cade is done-zo with the beach

11:30 - Change Cade's diaper, try to get another 30 minute nap in the pack and play

11:32 - QUICK! layout again, drink more "cokes", swim in the pool, ect

12:00 - Cade is up and hungry

12:05 - Feed Cade

12:25 - put him in his "poop" chair

12:26 - make your lunch and eat as fast as possible

12:38 - change Cade's diaper

12:40 - Play on the mat or activity thing with Cade

12:55 - sit outside by the pool (under the shade) with Cade, let him watch everyone in the pool

1:45 - Cade is getting sleepy, try to put him down for a nap

2:00 - Cade is asleep, hurry and layout, drink "coke", play in pool, ect

2:45 - Cade is awake, mellowed out

3:00 - try to put Cade in the pool a little, he loves it if you hold him

3:25 - Cade is done with the pool

3:28 - Change Cade, get him ready for his dinner

4:00 - feed Cade

4:20 - put Cade in his "poop" chair

4:21 - rest

4:28 - change a FOUL diaper

4:30 - strap on the Baby Bjourn and attempt a game of bags with a "coke" in hand - NOT easy

5:00 - take turns getting showered and get ready to cook (mst time dinner with the 6:20 nap)

6:00 - start cooking; Jess is getting Cade sleepy

6:25 - eat FAST, Cade is sleeping

7:00 - Cade is not asleep, go for a ride in the golf cart after changing his diaper again

7:45 - back at the house, get Cade ready for his bath

8:00 - give Cade a bath, a big bottle, fresh overnight diaper

8:30 - put Cade down for the night (after firming up the air mattress, filling up the humidifier, turning on the sound machine, turning on the monitor)

8:35 - have some "cokes", play some games, relax outside

10:00 - go to bed because you are exhausted



Vacation 2 was the best, I would not change a thing! Here are some pics from the week. Cade played with Aunt Ali, Aunt K, Uncle Brent, his best pal Carson, Grandma and Grandpa, and hung out all week with Mom and Dad. I do think Cade got into my "cokes" though...take a look for yourself

That is all for now!

Love, Tim, Jess, and Cade

Dad Swakin

Hewo eberybode, cents Dad is a swaker, I will wite a blawg update.  Wots and wots has been goin on cents eastir.  I done wolled ova, I eet big peeple food, and i wuv the big bathtub mommy and daddy call a wimmin pool. 


sumtimes i am sewious in da pool, soumtimes i is happy.  i git vewry sweepy aftur a day at da big baftub too.


and i wuv my big peeples food, not beans dough.  nannas, peeches, all dat stuff is yummy.

I hav bin twiin weel hard to sit up, and i am close.  but i cant do it just yet.  i weally want to stand up too, i twy to when dey gwab my arms, but my wegs is not stwong enuff yet.

Daddy twavels a lot and i miss him.  but he bwings me back shurts and showts and stuf so it is OK.  i hear we goin to da beech in a foo weeks.  i am cited for dat. 


i also hear we goin to ole miss webel game in some months, and i get to meet aubwy.  i am very cited for dat too.

i been sittin in my sawser too...i am a wittle unsure bout it.  i wike it but am not vewry stabel so i twy to focus on not fawin ova.

I also wuv dis peek-a-boo game on dads ipad.  it is vewy funny and makes me waugh and smile.  and da backyardagins, dey be good too.

hew r some oder pics since wast time daddy wote on da bwag:

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter everyone!  I hope everyone enjoyed time with family and remembered what Easter is all about.  We have had a busy month since I wrote last.  Cade is growing more every day, and you can see his personality developing all the time. 

He is holding his head up great, and will be sitting before long.  He wants to roll over so badly, it is pretty funny.  He tries and tries, and gets frustrated when he can't do it.  When you help him though, he smiles and laughs like he is so proud of himself. 

We had a great Easter.  We saw the Easter Bunny, got Cade his first Easter basket and Cade rocked his new outfit, and had a great day with his buddy Carson at Grandma and Grandpa's house.  He saw Aunt Ali, Great Aunt Cate, his Great Grandma and Uncle Brent and Aunt Kendra too.  We had some good food and enjoyed spending time together.

It is hard to believe that in 2 weeks we will go for his 4 month check up.  Time flies by...I am not looking forward to his next round of shots, although he did pretty well last time.  I am anxious to see how big he is, I try to measure him and weigh him on the scale, but it is not super accurate to say the least.  I am betting on 26 inches and 16 lbs.

 

Cade loves to be outside.  We walk pretty much every day in either the regular stroller, the jogging stroller or the baby bjorn, he is always a fan.  Funny story - We went for a walk a couple weeks ago to the store, about a mile and a half away.  Jess said we shouldn't do it because it was going to rain.  I said, nah, we will make it back in plenty of time.  We did not make it.  It started drizzling on the way, and by the time we got ready to leave?  Pouring cats and dogs.  So, I had to run home, get the car, and drive back to pick them up.  Lesson?  Listen to the wife and check the radar.

Well, that is it for now, we are beat from a fun filled weekend.  We hope to see everyone soon!  

Love,

Tim, Jess, and Cade

Big Weekend

What a great weekend.  Uncle Jake came to visit, Cade was baptized, we had folks over for a party, it was a big few days. 

It is amazing how much Cade changes every day.  He is getting so much bigger, so much more alert and engaged, holding his head up more and more, time really does fly. 

The Baptism was great.  Cade looked like a little stud in his outfit, the church was great, it was pretty special.  As we watched the first few folks go, I have to admit, I was a little worried how he would take it.  The priest doesn't sprinkle a little water on his head, he takes a sweat tea picture full of water and dumps it on him.  Water all in his eyes, down his face, everywhere.  I expected a major meltdown, but after being pretty startled, he just looked at me and smiled and everything was great.

Afterwards, we had a great turn out for his party.  All our close friends were there, it was a blast.  A big thank you to Chad, Kaye, Chad A, Evan, Morgan, Chris, Connor, Dean, Kirsten, Brent, Kendra, Carson, Gram and Grandpa, Great Aunt Cate, Great Gram, Aunt Ali, Jake, everyone who made this day what it was.  Cade got some awesome gifts, and very thoughtful cards.

 

The entire weekend was just great.  Cade was awesome, he played and smiled, and slept great at night.  I think he was showing of for Uncle Jake.  Let's hope it continues!

Tonight, we have the end of year basketball banquet, I can't wait for the girls to see Cade.  He won't even look the same since they have not seen him in a month.  I am excited to see the team too, and so is Jess.  The one award I am most looking forward to giving out is the Coach of the Year in the conference.  Jess earned it and deserves it, coaching the team to an undefeated conference season a week after Cade was born.

Well folks, that is it for now, time to enjoy the day, hang out with the bear, and relax from a whirlwind weekend.

Love,

Tim, Jess and Cade

Shot Day



Before



After



No, not like that, get your mind out of the bar.  It was shot day for Cade.  A quick before and after can say a lot more than I can with words:

 





Needless to say, he was not pleased.  3 pricks, right in his chubby legs.  But, he was a trooper...not 3 minutes after the sticks, he had calmed down while Jess was holding him.  The nurse was also great, I have never seen someone move that quickly, it took her maybe 15 seconds to prick him 3 times, and have all three band aids on as well.



He has been a little tired and a little fussy since, but we are so proud of how well he handled it, he is one tough little booger.  I am sure tonight will be a bit off kilter, but that is A OK with us, he has done great.

Two months have flown by...I absolutely cannot believe it.  You always hear people say how fast it goes, but you can never really understand it until you experience it.  I feel like two days ago we were in the hospital, trying to get him to eat just 1 oz of food...now he will hammer 4 oz like nobody's business.  He was 24 inches and 12.3 lbs today...growing like a weed. 

He has changed so much in so little time, he is bigger, stronger, more alert...becoming a little person right before our eyes.  He is making all kinds of noises, "talking" too us we like to call it.  He will smile, he knows our voice, the list goes on and on.  He has had a few play dates with his pals, Carson and Drew.  We also had his pictures taken for the first time, great folks over at Lundies Photography, anyone in the RDU area, I highly recommend them.

Although the Rebs are terrible, Cade is still a fan like his dad, he is hoping for a miracle in the SEC tournament.

I am trying to convince Jess that on St Patrick's Day we should put a little green food coloring in his bottle...thus far I have been vetoed.  But, I am a sales guy, I don't take "no" for an answer easily :)

We have a big couple month coming up...St Pattys Day, Baptism in a few weeks, Uncle Jake coming up, his first plane ride to Tampa, then Easter.  By the way, bomb.com Easter outfit for the little man.

Well, that's about it for now, things are great, I am the luckiest man in the world.

PS - There seems to be an entry in this bloig I did not write, that seems weird, but it looks like Cade got a hold of my computer...very odd....

Love,

Tim, Jess, and Cade