Just a Day Trip

My grandparents made the trip up from Claremore, Oklahoma earlier this week to meet Reese and spoil Cade with a shiny new fire truck. They insisted on making it a day trip and traveling the 8 hours it takes to get here and back in one day. Guess our guest bed isn't as comfortable as we thought...nonetheless it was a very fun day and we're so glad they came to visit.

Cade loves his new fire truck and he especially enjoys rolling it across the kitchen table for some reason.

Reese just smiled for Grandmama all afternoon.

It happened to be Papa's birthday so we celebrated in style. I love any reason to hang up the birthday banner. Heck, you plan to drive by our house on your birthday and I'll hang that thing up for ya.

This guy has a reputation for being a picky eater and pretty vocal with his opinions so I was pretty nervous to fix lunch and a birthday cake for him. But he must have been on his best behavior because he was very complimentary of my cooking.

What a special afternoon for everyone. Thanks for coming and feel free to swing by anytime!

Reese Girl

Our Reese girl is two months old and just as smiley as ever. She really is a sweet, sweet girl.

She has strong neck muscles and holds her head up really well.

I'm not sure of her stats as we don't go in for her 2 month appointment until June 8th.
She doesn't cry much at all but is starting to have some "real" tears. She still wears some newborn size clothes but they are getting a little tight, however the 0-3 months are often still pretty big. Sleeps a lot still, especially through most major outings. She's sleeping longer stretches at night too which is very nice. She is most awake and alert from 9pm-11:30pm. I think she must be a big fan of the NBA finals. Doesn't want to miss a game. She goes to sleep at 11:30pm pretty consistently and will sleep until 4:30-5am then wakes up again at 7:30 or 8am but goes back to sleep after that. It's all fine with me as long as I don't have to be dressed and ready to go anywhere before 10am. Otherwise I'm dragging a little.

She plays very well with Cade. He loves to love on her and talk to her in a sweet baby voice and call her "Reesie."

Had to intervene here as it started to look like he was putting her in a head lock.

What do you think? Do they look alike?

Road Trip

Look out, I'm getting brave. Last weekend Matt took his AAU team to Iowa so I thought, what the heck, let's road trip to the Bend while he's gone. Just Cade, Reese, and I. The idea of the four hour trek alone with them was a scary one. But with some strategic planning (aka using the DVD player and packing tons of snacks and toys) we made it just fine. Reese slept nearly the whole way and Cade watched movie after movie. He was in heaven. About 2 1/2 hours into the trip Reese did start to stir so I began to search for a place to stop. Wasn't sure what my plan would be...nurse in the car? Stop at a gas station? I randomly pulled into a Wendy's in McPherson and it ended up being the perfect place to stop. I brought in some books, bought Cade some fries, and we set up shop in a corner booth. About 20 minutes later we were all changed and fed and ready to roll again. I was thrilled that the kids did so well. Even with our stop we made it to the Bend in less than 4 hours. Woot, woot!
Celebrating Mother's Day. Now perhaps this pic should serve as my "motivational picture" for starting Insanity workouts. I feel like this screams "I'm a mom, I wear comfortable cotton outfits and I have fluffy, pale arms." Come on. You know you agree.

Cade had a great time playing with Gentry and The Kid. They always impress me how much attention they give him and how they never seem to wear out. Cade refused to swing in his blue swing this time, only the big swing for this mature 2-year-old.

Reese got to meet Grandma Sauder on her 92nd birthday.

Cade is obsessed with horns. I fear he will use antlers in all of his decorating one day.

Cade was Papa's right-hand man when it came to watering the tomatoes. "Papa, water 'matoes?" Cade would ask over and over.

So glad we talked Gentry into meeting us at the Bend. She always helps me out so much!

Cade has loved getting to hang out with his cousin Lukas so much lately.

They are a hoot to watch.

Then it was time to pack up and head back home. Luckily the return trip was just as smooth. Cade even fell asleep...right as we pulled into our subdivision. This kid NEVER falls asleep anywhere but a crib.

I can't see Reese because her seat is right behind mine and Cade just isn't quite old enough to help me out. Whenever I asked him if she was awake or asleep he would just repeat what I said. "Is Reese sleeping?" "Reese sleeping." "Is Reese awake?" "Reese awake." "Are her eyes open or closed?" Eyes open. Eyes closed." Thanks Cade. Then I figured out I could just snap a pic really quick to see for myself. It was safe, I promise.

Good trip, fun weekend. And I can't forget to mention that we returned to a spotless house and perfectly manicured lawn! He can be taught! Happy Mother's Day to me!!!!

Cade is TWO!

We celebrated Cade's birthday with a little BBQ at the park on his actual birthday, May 5th. Turns out when you're two you can start to grasp what a birthday is...because Cade was stoked about his party at the park and has definitely inherited the Keeley gene of wanting to celebrate his birthday all month long. Again, all the cliche things come to mind about how time flies and I can't believe he's already two and it amazes me how much he grows, learns and changes every day. I know he's my kid so you might not believe me...but Cade is one cool kid.

Not a great pic of any of us, but it's the only one with the birthday banner so by-golly it will be posted!

People we love traveled from near and far to join us! My Uncle David, Aunt Pam, cousin Nathan and his fiance Brooke made a day trip up from Tulsa to be with us! It was so great to have them with us!

The Lamar's, the Hepker's, Holly, Matt's parents, Cade's cousin Lukas, and my parents and sisters also partied with us.

Oh yes, and Reese was there too. This is what she did during the party.

I tried to serve food that Cade likes, since it was his party after all and he's one picky eater. You've got to practically trick this kid into eating anything. Thinking back, I'm not sure Cade actually ate anything at all at the party. We had pork burgers and hot dogs, mac & cheese, fruit, cheez it party mix, fruit snacks, and cute Cars cupcakes made and decorated by Holly. And yes, I should've snapped a pic before everyone went through the food line.

The grandpas did the grilling.

Matt says this is the last year I can put Cade in a "Birthday Boy" shirt.

Cade's small cake, which he ate none of.

He made quite the haul! Other than not quite grasping why he had to always move on to the next present rather than getting to continue to play with the one he just opened he was much more into opening gifts than he has ever been before.

Thanks everyone for being such a special part of Cade's life!

Testing out his new Super Man jammies. Complete with cape!

We've learned so much from Cade. He is teaching us how to be parents after all. It really is a privilege to get to stop and celebrate all that he means to us. I just can't even put into words how special he makes our day to day lives. Thank you, God, for entrusting us to raise Cade. He is my favorite active, smart, hyper, talkative, compassionate, polite, hilarious, strong-willed and sometimes disobedient little guy!

Just Growing and Growing!

I'm back! Where have I been? Well, no where actually. But the days have just been flying by and we're just growing and growing around here. I wish I could make time stand still...mainly so that my maternity leave would last forever!
Some random updates:
-I can FINALLY drive and workout and do all those things I couldn't before. I have worked out twice and concluded that while I really do enjoy working out (I mean everyone says they do but I think I really do!) I'm NOT ready to tackle "Insanity" like I thought I was. I've watched the infomercial at least 3 times...but since walking swiftly leaves me out of breath and sore the next day...I don't think I'm ready.
-All the sudden I feel very, very out of style. I haven't been shopping in SO long and being around "Sophomore Year Barbie" (AKA MaKenzie) makes me feel old and super un-hip. We took a shopping trip and she talked me into a few outfits that now whenever I go to wear them all I can think of is how NOT "Forever 21" I am.
-We celebrated Cade's 2nd birthday on Cinco de Mayo with a shin-dig at the park and had the best weekend ever! Details and billions of pics in the next post. Whenever that happens...

Now what you really want...more pics of the kids...

Our friends Megan and Scott Beahm brought their daughter, Emma, by to meet Reese while they were in town a few weeks ago. We tried to capture the moment...these pics crack me up.

Reese at 4 weeks, looking more and more alert and actually smiling a lot for us. Not for the camera of course.

Reese at 5 weeks, looking at us as if she's not sure we know what we're doing around here.

Started giving her a bottle of pumped milk a couple times per week just to make sure she'll take one come August. She's a fickle pickle, sometimes she'll take it and sometimes not.

I got a pedicure...was gone for less than an hour and came home to find the package of pacifiers had been busted into. Apparently they got a little desperate around here.

Her expressions on camera just crack me up.

See? Hilarious.