Meet the Teacher

Yesterday we had Meet the Teacher for Cade's Preschool at CFBC.  Just the fact that we have now changed names from "Mother's Day Out" to "Preschool" is a hard pill for me to swallow!  Cade was great though and took it all in stride.  He was happy and had fun playing in the class with toys and seeing the other kids.  His teacher, Ms. Jodi, is one of my friends, thus we were SO excited to hear she would be his teacher this year.  I know Cade will grow so much this year and Jodi will be the primary reason.  She is such a caring person with a true heart for children....WE ARE BLESSED!  Her assistant, Ms. Ivana was also so sweet and immediately was helping in the class.  Cade warmed up to them right away.  I am so excited for Cade and cannot wait to see all the amazing things he will do this year!

Our Bedtime Routines

I have wanted to for a long time write down our bedtime routine for the kids to remember.  The other night, I realized the most important thing needed to be documented.  Cade has been saying his bedtime prayer for about 3 months on his own and we are so proud of him.  When Cade was born, Nonnie/Poppie gave him an Angel that when you squeeze it is says this prayer below.  We named the Angel Billy and we are so grateful for what Billy has taught us!  Here is a video of Cade saying his prayer...words below in case sound doesn't work (my computer is being silly).

"Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep,
the Angels watch me through the night,
and keep me in their blessed sight.  Amen."

I also wanted to document the normal bedtime routine.  Below is a sample of what our nights looks like!

• Bath
• Brush Teeth/take vitamins (vitamins are disguised as gummy bears)
• Get PJ's on
• Cade: Climb in bed for book time, prayer as above, then tuck in with a kiss and always a "Sleep good with Jesus"
• Caelin: Read 1 book in rocking chair (she can be a little squirmy...not the reader like Cade is yet), then we sing to her for about 5-10 minutes while rocking.  She is always awake when we arm her with 3 pacifiers (one in mouth and one for each hand) and place her in bed.  Once in bed we always pat her and say "Sleep good with Jesus."
• We are lucky that we have established a routine where bedtime is easy, no fuss, screaming, etc!  Let's hope that continues!

Now as for the songs we sing to Caelin while rocking (same ones as for Cade when he was smaller):\

• "Lord Prepare me to be a Sanctuary"
• "Amazing Grace" 
• "I could sing of your Love forever"
• "Trust and Obey" (this one is for Grandma Parks)
• "Little Brown Jug"/"Just one Rose will do" (this one is for Gangaw Watts)
• And Daddy likes to throw in the "Good Ole Baylor Line" (I laugh when I hear this one through the monitor...brainwashing takes talent folks!)

Big girl!

So, not only did Caelin get her THIRD tooth this week (upper left)...but look what we have been doing all day!  No holding her back now...

I got Mail!

I was so blessed earlier this week to get a SURPRISE in the mail!  My Best Friend of 24 years is getting MARRIED, and had texted saying something was coming in the mail.  I thought it was probably the "Save the Date" or something.  Well, I was SHOCKED when I opened the most thoughtful and BEAUTIFUL invitation!  Along with a heart felt card listing some of the highlights of our years was a note asking if I would be her Matron of Honor.  Honor is RIGHT!  I was overjoyed with tears and am so excited for her special day.  

I was blessed to meet Lizzy (everyone else calls her Elizabeth) sometime around the summer of 1988 when they moved in next door to us in San Antonio.  No one had any idea what would be in store for the two of us as life progressed.  God has shown me so much through Lizzy and I cannot imagine my life without her in it.  Here is a "short" list of my best memories with Lizzy.  I pray that everyone meets their "Lizzy" in life!  

XOXO, BFF "24"

Adventures with Lizzy:

• Homework after school at Lizzy's
• Watching Full House and Pageants on TV
• Little Ceasars Pizza and Homemade Ice Cream
• Slumber parties, slumber parties, slumber parties
• Choreographing dances on my back porch
• Hiding from Mendy when she would babysit us
• Racing during our Baths at night to see who would get in bed first (I think our Mom's might have started this one...hehehe)
• Dressing alike everywhere...or at least color matching
• Defacing the mailbox with keys and getting in SO MUCH TROUBLE
• Halloween (You as a Present and Me as a Punk Rocker)
• Playing in the front yard with Mendy, Richard, and Becah
• LOTS of LETTERS when you moved away (I still have some, which are very comical to read!)
• Visits when in High School
• Phone Calls and chatting long distance
• Attending Baylor U together
• College Roomates
• AXO Sisters (Pledge, SING, Crushes, and MORE)
• Spring Break in Vero Beach with Mimi
• Handing the AXO Presidency over to my Lil and BESTIE
• My Wedding and Kids
• Cruise together this past February
• and finally, opening my mail this week to find my SURPRISE pictured below!  I cannot wait to continue this list for years to come!  

Celebrating Under the Sea

We had a blast today celebrating Cade's 3rd BD with family.  A few weeks ago, we took Cade to Sea World for his BD as a family, so we continued with an "under the sea" theme and cake/ice cream.  Cade's favorite animal on his invitations was the turtle, so we stuck with the turtle theme!  Charles had a slide show of our Sea World pictures on the TV while everyone could enjoy "fish food" (chex mix), lots of sweets, and "turtle tea" (green tea/lemonade).  Gamee of course made Cade's BD cake which was a turtle coming out of the water!  I am continually AMAZED at her works of art!  Cade was so surprised and loved it!  His favorite part of the day was of course opening his presents!  Stephen's presents were a big hit with 25 hot wheels, 5 books, coloring pad, crayons, bubbles, and a boat!  Cade's face was priceless and he was bouncing around on his toes with excitement!  He also loved his new scooter from Nonnie/Poppie, and his outdoor water ball and snake from Uncle Christopher/Aunt Heather!  Cade continued to hop around when he saw the "I spy" book from Aunt Mendy/Uncle Chris/Mackenzie/Jax, although he didn't know what to do (YET) with the iTunes gift card!  Finally, as if he was not blessed enough, Cade opened his gift from Nana/Papa and Gamee/Grampee.  He was SO SHOCKED when he opened up his very own "PONE" (aka: iPod Touch)!  It was so special to see him so happy.  As everyone was leaving, we had party favors at "Cade's Candy Shop."  Everyone had their own bag and could fill it with whatever candy they wanted.  It was truly a day to remember.  Cade said it best when he told Grampee, "Today was a fine day."  I just love my little man!  

And Finally, I had to add this last picture courtesy of Gamee/Grampee!  After the party was over, they took Cade on a special trip to Walmart to buy a "suitcase" for all of his new Hot Wheel Cars from Stephen!  He was so excited about his suitcase and was adorable coming home.  I love this pic of him at Walmart!

Happy 3rd Birthday Cade Beatty

Cade,

I wish I could lie and say how happy I am to be writing this, but I just can't.  I can already barely read the letters on the keyboard through the tears!  My heart truly is filled so much with love and happiness since you have arrived.  It is hard to even imagine life without you.  3 years ago, we awaited your arrival at the hospital with the family.  I had NO IDEA what God had in store for us.  As the days and years have passed, our happiness has grown so much that our hearts hurt to even let go of you at times.  I love your "monkey hugs", the way you pucker to give me a fish kiss, your love for Caelin, the way you try to lasso Baylor and ride him while wearing your cowboy hat, the way you watch videos in Japanese as if you completely understand, the way you tell Caelin "I lub you, nighty night night", the way you help pick up around the house and do "chores" by cleaning your room, the way you smile at me when you take the first bite of dinner and you like it, and the look on your face when you and Daddy wrestle.  You had a busy year this past year with Mother's Day Out, Baylor FB games, Halloween as He-Man, Baylor U Homecoming, Polar Express Train ride, Christmas in Round Rock, growing Butterflies with Gamee, potty training, Family Vacations at the beach/Sea World, Caelin's 1st BD and so much more!
Words will never be enough to tell you how much we adore you Cade.  We have watched you grow into this intelligent 3 year old in the blink of our eyes.  That makes me the saddest knowing that time flies so fast and I wish I could slow it down.  However, I also know that God has so many more memories for us to build and that helps me let go a little in anticipation for everything ahead.  Please never doubt how much we love you.  We will always be here to pick you up whether it is a broken leg or a broken heart.  There is NOTHING we wouldn't do to ensure you love life and run your race for God.  This next year is going to be such a fun year with many adventures for you.  We can't wait to watch you continue to grow.  We love you all the way around the world and back again!

Mommy and Daddy

To celebrate your special day, Mommy woke you up with a cupcake in bed.  You thought it was sooo cool to eat a cupcake in bed!  Once we got Caelin up, we headed off with Gamee to the Woodland's Children Museum.  We had so much fun playing groceries, digging with trucks, fishing, playing with trains, etc.  You always have a blast there!  We then took you to lunch at McDonald's before heading home for a nap.  After nap, we had dinner with Gamee/Grampee at our house so we could open your present.  You were so excited when you saw your Pirate ship and pirate men.  In fact, you played with them until we made you go to bed!  Tomorrow will be another fun day with your BD party with family!

About You:

Height/Weight: 40 inches (96%), and 40 lbs (98%)...interesting that your Daddy was 40.25'' and 50lbs at the same age as you!

Your favorite things to do:  Watch a "show" on TV, Play on Gamee's "pone" (phone), play ball, read books, play fireman/policeman, puzzles, etc

Favorite Toys: He-man, Pirates, CARS/TRUCKS, superheros (batman, superman, etc), and any computer/iPhone/iPad

Favorite shows: Umi Zoomi, Dora, Go Diego Go, Dinosaur Dan, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Tom and Jerry, and Scooby Doo

Favorite snacks: Fruit snacks, strawberries, fruit loops, animal crackers, and chocolate milk

Favorite food places: Chick-Fil-A, Valley Ranch BBQ (AKA: train place), and Yogurt Works

Favorite Pajamas: Fireman or dinosaur

You can't go to bed without: A vitamin (you think it's a gummy bear...hahahaha), brushing teeth, and a book

Always by your side: MR. FROGGY (you sleep with him, watch TV, and take him in the car with you)

What you want for your BD (these are responses from the last few weeks): toys, firemen, bananas, phone like Gamee's, candy, Diego on TV, and balls for outside

Important things for others to know about you: you are a happy little boy with amazing manners, you are one of those who NEED a 2 hour nap still daily and 10hrs of sleep every night, almost done with potty training, you DO NOT like to be hungry and can become cranky FAST (just like Mommy), you try to be friends with everyone, you have high levels of energy and enjoy burning calories, and you love going new places.

From the lips of my 2 year old

I thought I better post before I forget some comments I have heard Cade say in the last few months and funny moments.  You never REALLY know what he is going to say/do, and he is becoming quite the little social talker.  Many times per day, we stop and laugh at some of his actions/words.  We love you Cade!

1- "Mommy, let's be happy and watch Nick Jr on demand!"
2- Laughs so hard when someone says "bless you".
3- When Caelin was crying in the car, Cade said, Help Mommy, she is fussin up a bucket!"
4- After helping me cook, he demanded that "Daddy say thanks to us BOTH for cooking dinner"!
5- "It's silly talk when people talk about sleeping in their underwear."
6- After being in bed for about 20 minutes, he yells through the monitor, "Mommy, Daddy, I am all done now, I had a good nap!"
7- When leaving his 3 yr doc apt, Dr. Kravitz was asking about his BD party.  Cade replied, "I have a tutle shit."  We asked several times startled and getting embarrassed before I figured out he was saying, "I have a TURTLE SHIRT."  Red faced I explained that he has a new turtle shirt he gets to wear to his BD party...and also that we would be working on our "r" sounds.
8- The most important thing he says is his bedtime prayer.  We have the food prayer down for a long time ("God is good, God is great, let us thank him for this food, AMEN!"...or Grampee's version ends with an additional "Hallelujah"), but the bedtime prayer is much longer and we are so proud of him for saying it by himself every night.  He learned this from a stuffed angel we named Billy.  Cade has listened to Billy say it for over 2 years now at bedtime and can now recite it.  It goes like this...

"Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep, 

the Angels watch me through the night,

and keep me in His blessed sight.

Amen."