Giggles

This will warm your heart on a cold winter night! Enjoy!

Things I've Learned

During the last five months of fatherhood, there have been things that I never would have known before becoming a daddy to the most special little boy in the world. I'd just like to share a few with you:

1) When your child laughs, it can make even the worst days wonderful. When he's laughing at you, it makes you feel like the funniest person alive, even if you are just making a dumb face that would get you thrown out of most restaurants.

2) When reading a story, it makes no difference what words are spoken. What matters is how many different voices you can use. In one book, I use seven different voices...that is the current record.

3) Cover the sprinklers....always (you parents of little boys will understand).

4) After you have a child, your plan of attack in Target changes. Instead of hitting electronics first, it's always a swing through baby clothes and supplies. And you know what...it's a whole lot more fun to buy toys that make a lot of noise for a five-month-old than it is looking for furnace filters.

5) The diaper genie is the most ingenious invention ever.

6) "6 Month" clothes can fit a 3 month baby. A 5 month baby can wear 18-36 month socks.

7) Who knew that the Babies-R-Us clerk would know me by name?

8) You can never have too many diapers.

9) A baby can be just as entertained watching you perform a 50 minute workout as he can be playing under a $60 activity center.

10) My wife is the most devoted mother any child could ask for. She will forever put Caden's needs in front of her own. It amazes me to see her take care of cleaning the house, doing the laundry, managing a career and taking care of our little man. I'm exhausted just thinking about it.

I know there is a bunch I'm leaving out...these just came to mind. Merry Christmas to all of you and a blessed New Year!

by Mike

Catching up!

Yikes -- I am completely behind in posting pictures of Caden! Can you believe he's 4 months old already? Having a child adds new meaning to "where does the time go?"

At Caden's 4 month check-up on November 22nd, he weighed 16 lbs., 4 ozs. (76%) and was 27.5 inches long (99%). He is so long/tall that he is essentially 'off the chart'. He is currently wearing 9 month size clothing due to his length! As you can tell by the picture of Caden snoozing on Mommy, he definitely gets his height from his Daddy!


Here's a few other highlights from the past two weeks:

Grandma & Grandpa Plaetz come to visit



Caden eyeing up Daddy's yummy birthday cake


Caden's 1st Thanksgiving


Bathtime with bubbles


Favorite pasttime - reading books


Kisses from Mommy & Daddy


Caden sporting his Christmas party outfit

Happy 3rd Birthday Cousin Evan

Do these two boys look like trouble in a couple years?

Our little Winnie the Pooh!

Caden went trick-or-treating to Aunt Marcia, Uncle Casey and Cousin Evan's house tonight. He must have been really excited about Halloween because he didn't take much of a nap (oh yeah - that's EVERY day for Caden). As you can tell by the pictures, he was a sleepy bear! Happy Halloween and Happy Birthday to Grandma Nancy!

Back to day-care

Caden's first week of day-care went very well. Some of the comments on his daily log included:

"Caden loves snuggling."
(What? This is not the baby we dropped off...)

"Caden enjoyed watching the bigger babies play."
(Well, maybe not BIGGER babies, but rather OLDER babies, as Caden holds his own at 14 lbs. 1 oz. He is so tall/long that he completely fills out the length of his 6 month size sleepers. A basketball player in the making!)

"Caden was flirting with his teachers today. We are suckers for his giggle."
(We are suckers for his giggle too!)

Unfortunately, after the first full week of day-care, Caden caught a stomach bug, so he spent Wednesday and Friday at home mending with Mommy. Grandma Donna to the rescue on Thursday as Mommy and Daddy had meetings they couldn't miss. Luckily, he finally started feeling better over the weekend and was ready to head back to day-care for yet another week...hopefully a germ-free week!

Now, what you all really logged on for - some recent pictures...

How Caden felt about having to get out of bed to go to day-care on the first day:



Bath time


Happy time



Hanging out with George the Giraffe

Video: Caden...The First Two Months