Spoiled Milk

 Kaiden's two favorite things - being spoiled and eating!!!  I love that little boy so stinking much!!

We are starting to approach the two month mark.  It is so hard to believe!  We have accomplished a lot over the last few weeks.  We have determined that Kaiden has my blue eyes (we are secretly hoping they stay blue) but looks just like his Daddy.  I guess that means he is going to be one handsome little dude forever!!!  Watching him grow and change is such a blessing.  I still wake up every morning and think wow this is really my life.  I am actually a mommy!!  Ricky and I are so extremely blessed!!!

Recently at our doctor's appointment, we were told that we might want to introduce a bottle to Kaiden.  When I have to return to work, we need to make sure he will eat.  It was not a comforting idea for me.  I really enjoy that special time with Kaiden.  He always stares up at me while he is eating and I talk to him.  It is our time together just the two of us.  I must say though, it was really sweet to see Ricky feeding him his first bottle and having that same time with Kaiden.  Our goal is at least one bottle a week.  I know Ricky is looking forward to having that special one on one time with him.
Daddy and the 1st Bottle Feeding

Kaiden has started to smile and coo at us when we talk to him.  I don't know what the coos actually mean but in my mind it is a great conversation with my son!!!  He just melts my heart.  Kaiden will also laugh really hard in his sleep.  He does not do this when he is awake.  I guess he is dreaming about something really funny (probably his crazy Mommy).  My Sister said it is like a quiet conversation they have with God in their sleep.  He and God are laughing at how silly the parents are and loving everything that they are doing.

  Kaiden truly is our blessing.
Getting ready for Church with Aunt Chrissy

The dogs absolutely love him.  We were wondering how they would adjust to this new little person who gets all of the attention.  They both will come and check on him.  If he starts crying, Harleigh, our oldest dog, comes straight to me.  Poor thing cannot really hear but it  never fails, she always finds me.  Gabriel loves Kaiden.  He will bring his ball to Kaiden wanting the baby to play.  Every time I sit down with the baby, he has to smell him.  I told Ricky, he is trying to make sure we still have the right baby.  One of the kid's baby dolls was on the couch, Gabe went over, smelled the doll and looked at me a little confused.  It was pretty funny. 

While I was pregnant there were a lot of foods that I avoided.  Just so I can help everyone understand, certain foods were avoided to help with the babies development and growth.  My doctor and I both agreed that a clean pregnancy could only be beneficial to the baby and me.  One of the foods eliminated was deli meat.  I was not allowed any deli meat unless I went to whole foods for a special and expensive treat every once in a while.  I was very excited to have my first sandwich from Firehouse Subs since last June!  It was only the best and finest that you can get, a Hook and Ladder.  Mmmmmm, my mouth is watering right now just thinking about it.  I could eat there a lot!  If you have never eaten at a Firehouse Subs, try it.  They have one in Fredricksburg.
Me and the Kids Easter Morning

Kaiden got to finally meet his favorite Marine.  His Uncle Ben will be serving our Country this year in the Middle East.  We were hoping that he would get to actually hold Kaiden before his deployment and he did!  It was really sweet to see them together.  Kaiden was sporting a little camo for Uncle Ben and their pictures together!!!!  We love our military filled family and are so thankful that they are making such large sacrifices!!!!  Ooh-Rah Uncle Ben.  Thank you for keeping watch!!!!

Meeting Uncle Ben

Kaiden is not a military brat but he is learning what the word deployment means.  Ricky has been gone for about 3 weeks now.  His job requires him to travel for months at a time.  Just before he left, we purchased IPods to help us keep in touch.  They have really been a blessing for this deployment.  Ricky is in Canada working.  Trying to communicate by phone is very expensive.  The IPods have allowed us to use something called Facetime.  We can see each other while we talk and best of all it is free!!!!  Kaiden will stare at his Daddy while he is talking to him.  It is really cute.  We can't wait for Ricky to make it back home so he can enjoy how much our little guy is changing.  We really miss him!!!  While he has been gone, I have had the opportunity to see what single parents or military parents go through.  It is not easy and some days you wish you had a clone that cooked and cleaned.  We are learning as we go and doing a fine job!!

Daddy with Kaiden in the Sasha Wrap

To visit the Easter Bunny or not?  I had this debate with myself for several days before Easter.  Kaiden is so small and won't remember it but will I be disappointed to not have the infamous 1st Easter Bunny screaming baby picture?  I asked the lady at the mall how much it would cost ($22.00) and quickly decided that life would be fine without an Easter Bunny picture!!!  As it turns out, Wal-mart had an Easter Bunny that did pictures for FREE!!!  Low and behold, little man has a picture with the Easter bunny that not only will he not remember but he never laid eyes on the thing.  He was asleep the entire time!!  Thank you Wal-mart for the bargain!

Kaiden and the Easter Bunny

Just before Easter Service

For Easter weekend, we loaded up with Nana and Papa and headed to North Carolina.  My Sister and the kids were also a person short for this special holiday.  Kaiden did a wonderful job on the road trip.  It was his first and it was a five hour trip that took us almost eight hours but he was happy and fed the entire way!!  Ashlyn and Wyatt were so sweet to baby Kaiden while we were there.  They both took turns holding him and babysitting.  They are four and two years old and would help with just about anything.  We visited my Sister's Church for Easter Service.  It is huge and so much fun to visit when we are there.  Of course, they had a thirty minute wait to just enter the Church and standing room only for service.  God is working hard in Jacksonville, NC.  Just before we left Chrissy and the kids, Wyatt decided he wanted to hold baby Taiden, as he would say - it is so adorable to hear him call his name.  He sat on the couch like a big boy with Kaiden in his arms and my sister just a few inches away and sang to him.  It was the sweetest thing you have ever seen.  I just love that little rascal!!!  When we tried to leave, he put his arm around Kaiden's waist and said, "No Mommy, I hold him."  It was an awesome weekend!!!!

Wyatt Singing to Kaiden

Nana and Pops came to see Kaiden when we returned to Virginia.  This little guy is so spoiled and loved.  They brought him a really cute Easter basket.  It had an Easter Bunny and an outfit in it.  I cannot wait for him to grow into the outfit.  It is absolutely adorable.  They also got the opportunity to babysit Kaiden while I went to the grocery store.  Thank you Nana and Pops for helping out!
Nana & Pops Breeden
 
Kaiden is so blessed to have both sets of Grandparents live so close.  They are the best!  I know they really enjoy their time with him, especially the spoiling part!!!!

Happy 1 Month Birthday Kaiden James!!!

Kaiden at One Month

I have been trying to post this blog for 3 weeks, so here it is. - It is hard to believe that Kaiden has been in our arms for a solid month.  He has got to be the sweetest, cutest and best baby in the entire world.  We spend all of our time just starring at the little guy in amazment.  He is really ours and he is not going anywhere.  Thank you God for the best gift!  He is making us smile everyday.

Aunt Chrissy



Uncle Ben

 

We have so much to share with everyone.  It is hard to update the blog as much as we were prior to Kaiden's arrival.  It appears that he decides when we do pretty much anything and it is awesome!!  Let us start by saying: "Thank you to all who have made meals for us!".  You have truly been lifesavers.  We have managed to make many meals ourselves but it is so nice to know that we can just open the fridge and microwave real food.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!

Cousin Jennifer

Kaiden just had his 1 month check-up.  At his 2 week check-up, he had already gone from the 7lbs. 5oz, when we left the hospital, to a solid 8lbs.  At his 1 month check-up, he is weighing in at 9lbs. 11oz.  He has also grown to 22 1/4" long.  Our little man is growing and it is wonderful and sad all at the same time.  I want him to stay little forever.  I think that is every mother's wish!

Great Granny & Aunt Peggy

We have discovered that we are either not very good at the diaper changing task or he is testing our every ability.  We have had tons of adventures with this.  So far, we have totally watered down the changing room at babies "r" us (Ricky had to scrub the entire room), the changing table and floor in his room, the comforter on our bed, the couch, the stroller, Dad (Ricky) and Mom (myself).  I have also learned how to change a diaper on my lap in the backseat of a Chevy Blazer.  Let me just start by saying you really do not have enough room to change a diaper in the backseat of a Blazer but we have managed.  We tried to make a trip to Fredericksburg the other day and only made it 10 miles down the road before we stopped and feed Kaiden which resulted in me being covered in spit-up and pee, 3 diaper changes and 2 outfit changes.  Thankfully, Ricky and I have both found the humor in every disaster diaper change.  We have had plenty that go completely well but it is always when you think you have it covered that you realize maybe not!

Great Grandma Ward, Nana, Papa, Cousins Ashlyn & Wyatt

 

We have discovered that Kaiden actually enjoys a bath.  We gave him his first bath by us a week after we arrived home.  We were well prepared for the screaming baby but he actually never even wimpered!  He does really well.  He stays calm and even coos a little. 

We have had many visitors come to meet Kaiden.  I think everyone enjoys holding him as much as we do.  He is such a good baby and so beautiful and fun to look at.  We have also taken him to church and he has done really well.  We are waiting for him to let out a scream, burp or pass gas, all of which are very loud.  It would be his small contribution to Pastor Greg's sermon.  So far, he has taken his nap during that time.

Nana, Pops, Olivia, Aunt Amber and Uncle Ryan

Great Granny Breeden

Kaiden has had his first sleep-date.  I guess you could call it that.  Friends of ours came over for dinner and brought their littel girl.  Both babies pretty much slept the entire time.  So Sweet!!!  It was a lot of fun to catch up with each other after Kaiden's birth.  Laura was a wealth of advice for me prior to his delivery.  We are so thankful to have such wonderful friends!!

Pastor Denise with Kaiden

 Kaiden and Piper for their Sleep-Date

 David (Piper's Daddy) and Kaiden

 Laura (Piper's Mommy) and Kaiden

 We have also discover something called Giggle Bellies on Youtube.  For any parent with children, we highly recommend you give this little video a try.  Kaiden loves it.  He will be fussy and once we start the video he will go right to sleep.  The only problem we have with it is that we have a hard time staying awake ourselves. 

Please look for another update in a few days!  I am hoping to fill you in on many more of our adventures.