2 Years Old!

(taken from cell phone camera still in the delivery room)

Two years ago today Caed was born about 3:30 in the morning. After hours of labor, we were happy to find out we had a boy and he was happy and healthy! Immediately after his birth he was taken for some extra testing because he was so long and big (22 1/2" and 9lbs 15oz!) but he turned out to just be a big kid! Not surprising if you know either side of his family. :)

He was amazingly alert from the first time I saw him, and is that way since then. My mom describes it that he wanted to know what was going on around him and why he was trapped in such a limiting body! We didn't know exactly what we were in store for when we took him home- but it's been amazing since!

To celebrate his birthday family came in from out of town for Sunday. We all went on a duck tour here in DC and enjoyed it so much. We had ice cream cake a day early. Today we had his two year doctor appt. and then tonight, his actual birthday, we had a quick dinner and celebrated with friends and with some cupcakes. Caed also celebrated this afternoon with a two hour nap time delay. Fun Stuff.

Sunday's Celebrations:

With Auntie Heather on the Duck Tour:

With the Duck whistles. a fun souvenir!

Monday's celebration:

Lots of chocolate!

Old Friends

Memorial Day weekend my youth pastor from my childhood was in town. Pete married us and his wife Cheryl played the music at the ceremony. Their daughter was my younger sister's age and they were friends. Pete and Jon happen to be very close in height, so Jon appreciated being able to talk to someone at his height! Looking at the photo reminds me of how tall Jon really is (he's 6'6") in comparison to Pete (6'8").

I had forgotten they would be here, and since they were with family I didn't think there would be time to see them anyhow. Well on Sunday morning I got a text on my cell phone and it was Pete. He and his family would be able to see us if we could meet up with them. So we got in the car to go see them for the two hour window we had. His daughter and family were with them too. It was so great to have a little relaxed time with them here in DC. Usually our time back home in Northport is spent swirling around to visit all our old friends (they all seem to still be there!). We felt especially privileged to have a chance for Pete's grandson and Caed to spend a little time together too. They briefly were both out of the stroller, and they ran with each other, ignored their parents and laughed too. What a treat.

Carnival!

Back in May before I arrived in NY, I stopped at my sister's home in PA. We went to the town carnival the night we were there, and we had a great time. It was a first for Caed! Caed actually rode the rides too! He loved all the ones he was allowed on (there were some that were fudged!) and did great holding on while on the faster ones too. Unfortunately I don't have much of Caed on the rides in this post, I loaded the pictures on differently this time, I've actuallyot to rotate them first. So rather then wait to get them on this post, I'll just do a second one. The whole K clan was there and it was so much fun, I can't say it enough! Thank you Uncle Jerry and Auntie Heather for so much fun!

Aden, Heather and Chantz


We were all on this train ride, that was actually closed the first bit we were there because of a huge fire they had from the generator. Luckily for Caed, they re-opened it. Is there something extremely scary about fairs like this?

The older boys on a spinning ride- Chantz rode every ride!

Self Portrait

Olivia on the cars, what fun!

In the dark!

This past week we had no power for two days. On Wednesday we had storms come through, and we made it through them. I went out for a run on Thursday morning and came back to my neighbors talking about the electricity being off. It was a hot day. My loving sister Kik suggested buying a fan.....unfortunately that doesn't work without the electricity! It made me chuckle though. Friday morning I got out to keep us cool, and keep mom and son happy. Finally at 3 am the electricity came back Saturday morning. Luckily, my wonderful sister April came over the night before to install the AC's in the windows (in the dark, nonetheless!) So we promptly but the air on when we could. It was an even hotter day on Saturday, so we felt really thankful.

Tonight I am still thankful I can turn on the light in the bathroom again! It's amazing how much you realize you need electricity when you can't use it!

Pictures from Memorial Day

Here are the pictures I took around Arlington when we went to say "thanks" to my dad. It was really nice to be there on Memorial Day and remember that it's really a day to celebrate with more meaning then a day off of work and picnics. I am glad that despite being turned away earlier in the day and a lot of frustration in the car as a result, that we went back. The view from JFK's spot (what the heck is that called, I can't think of it since that is what I call visiting my dad with Caed) was beautiful and it was so peaceful there too. Caed was so good because before we got there he was fussy (wanted to walk, not pushed in the stroller) and then we saw the sign to be silent and respectful, and we told him that the sign said we had to be quiet, or we would get in trouble and so he was quiet! Then at the changing of the guard (we didn't take the handicapped way, so it was a lot of stairs to negotiate with the jogger stroller!) he was silent the entire time too! What a good boy he's becoming, although the signs of the terrible twos ("mommy, stop talking!"- a new favorite phrase when I'm on the phone) are coming, at least there are glimpses of being well behaved!

JFK's gravesite:

The view:

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier:

Changing of the guards:

I don't think those green things are always there, but I do know the President was there earlier in the day (the reason for being turned around our first try) and thinking that's why, but don't know for sure:

Every single headstone had a flag at it. Jon said that one of the infantry divisions always puts them out and it only takes them 3 hours! There must be a lot of men doing it!

Memorial Day Weekend

We had a great Memorial Day weekend, and it really started as soon as Jon got out of work on Friday! We went camping! It was really great, and I intentionally didn't bring my camera because my card was full and didn't take the time to dump it before we headed out. I thought it was okay because if it was successful, we'd go again and I could focus more on taking pictures then making sure Caed was around.

We got to the campsite kind of late, we set up the site and then Jon grilled us burgers! Caed was so excited to eat on the picnic tables in the dark. We also had mac and cheese and beans. Then we dressed him and put him in the tent with a movie (scholastic books) on the DVD player. (we had to have a back-up-make-this-successful tool) He didn't go to sleep watching as I was hoping, but that was okay because shortly after we piled in on either side of him, we turned off the DVD player and then went to sleep quickly. There were even trains running nearby through the night, but it didn't wake him or us! He got up kind of early (6:30) but it was doable. We took a walk with Jon, saw a bunch of turtles, ate breakfast (yay! at the picnic tables again!). And then we went to tour a nearby fort. We really had a great time. We will definitely do it again this summer.

Sunday we went to church, and then we had the opportunity to meet up with my youth pastor and his family from back home on Long Island. Pete has known both Jon and I for forever and he married us too. Cheryl, his wife played the piano at our ceremony as well. They are a special family to us! They were in town visiting with family, but we ran down to meet them at the air and space museum literally walked around and then they had to head back to their hotel for dinner reservations. Their daughter, Janette and her husband and son were there too. That was a lot of fun to do, and unexpected.

Then Monday we spent with April. Visited my dad's spot at Arlington, and Jon, Caed and I took a detour and got to see JFK's spot, and the tomb of the unknown soldier. I've never been and it felt especially meaningful to be there on Memorial Day. I have pictures from this, but I don't have them off the camera yet. I'll post soon.

Catching up

Sorry for the long post of lots of photos. For my roommates who check my blog, these are mostly for them! I've been meaning to post these from our trip up north to CT back in April. These are from our visit to my roommate of 4 years and her family. We had a great time and Caed and H got along relatively well as toddlers can. Caed did get sick while we were there and so that put him out of sorts, but we had PERFECT weather and perfect company. We miss them. It's really funny because when I put lotion on Caed when he's on his changing table, he tells me the lotion bottle is "baby" H's! (they are only 5 months apart). But he definitely remembers parts of our trip and that to me is so cool!

We visited this little petting farm around the corner from them, and Caed loved the peacock. He actually was a little scared of the tractor that we got to see working.

We got to test our newish stroller with the extra seat. So much fun, and neither kid minded being in the back!

Too Heavy

Today Caed told me I was "too heavy to pick up". That's a confidence booster for this weight gaining momma. It made me chuckle.

We were gone in NY last week, and I didn't realize that I was actually gone as long as I was, until Monday came and I still wasn't heading home quite yet. Caed and I travelled alone for one of my oldest friend's baby shower. We had a great time and I was so happy to introduce Caed to some of my dearest friends for the first time.

I'll be back with more soon. This weekend should afford me some catching up! Although I think we're taking Caed camping for this first time this weekend (bye bye backpacking tent for two, hello huge family tent!!)

Mother's Day

Caed took me to one of my favorite restaurants for Mother's Day, Bistrot du Coin. It's a french restaurant that is really similar in ambiance to the restaurants we went to while in France 3 years ago. Auntie April came with us and we were there two hours and Caed did so great (minus a potty accident- thanks AJ!). No fussing and stayed in his chair the whole time until dessert time. It was a great time! I got duck, Jon got mussels, April got Hangar steak and Caed ate Haricot Verts and Mashed Potatoes. A pot of Beaujolais wine and a wonderful time!

Playin' in the rain!

We went to Arlington with one of our good friends from the Mom's group for my dad's birthday. The kids were too cute at the fountain, and I love the second picture with Caed's foot in the air while kissing. Too much. These kids are growing up so quickly. I know that parents always say it, but it's incredibly true.