Cutest Lion

Dear Caden,

You are by far the cutest little lion that ever, "RWAURRED!" I apologize for the dumb kid that thought it would be funny to jump out and scare you just two houses into trick or treating. Needless to say it went downhill from there. He is lucky you didn't eat him, I know that your lion-self really wanted to. Thank you for restraining yourself.

Love,
Mommy

My cute Lion

I am under duress, please save me...

Must I do this Mommy?

I am non too thrilled that you did this to me

Houdini Jr.

Dear Caden,

Apparently you have been studying Houdini in your spare time. We are at a red light and a Police Officer pulls up beside us. He waves at you and you yell in your deep throated, silly way, "Hiiiii!" and wave enthusiastically. I turn around to look at you in the backseat and you have completely taken one arm and shoulder out of your car seat harness. Fantastic. Apparently I need to duct tape you down.

Love,
Mommy



Dear Officer,

Thank you for just giving me a warning when you pulled me over. It's nice to know that you understood because your wife told you that your little one did the same thing two weeks ago.

Love,
Mommy to Houdini Jr.

May 2013

Dear Caden,

We decided life was not chaotic enough. You are going to be a big brother.

Love,
Mommy

Coming May 2013

Tech said baby was blowing kisses

The Perfect Pumpkin

Dear Caden,

We took you to the pumpkin patch yesterday. You were so intent on finding THE pumpkin. You would go up one isle and down the next, tapping on some and trying to pick up several others. You found a white one with lots of bumps and stood there for several minutes eyeing it, wondering why it was so different from the other smooth, orange ones. You finally touched it saying, "Noo! Nasty!" and this elicited several laughs from people who were watching  you. You looked around and there they were- the Caden sized pumpkins. You scamper over to rows and rows of the tiny pumpkins and begin to study them. You pick up one and put it back down just to pick up another one. Suddenly you lift one up above your head with a huge smile on your face- you found it! The perfect pumpkin is in your hands! Daddy picks you up and you lean over to tell him something and begin giggling.

I want to freeze this moment. Watching the pure unadulterated joy on your face while finding your favorite pumpkin, the whispers of love in Daddy's ear, the squeals from touching the bumpy pumpkin, the smells of fall in the air with the colorful leaves slowly falling off the trees. An airplane flies overhead and you gleefully point to it, "Airpane!" and just like that, the moment passes.

I know that just as the seasons must change, so must you grow up into who God intends you to be. And while I have no doubt that you will be amazing when you are older, you are just as amazing now...as my Caden, my dear little Caden. One day, I will be taking pictures of my grandchildren while they search for THE pumpkin. And we will be able to see a fresh, whole new world through those little eyes and hear once again, the squeals of joy and you will be the Daddy getting whispers of love. But until then Caden, I promise to try and slow down and capture every moment, as fleeting as it may be, to watch you grow and find the world through your eyes.

Love,
Mommy

So many pumpkins!

Running down the isles

Airplane!

Searching for the perfect pumpkin

Secrets and giggles with Daddy

Trying to pick up the pumpkin

"Noo! Nasty!"

Bouncing

Dear Caden,

This past week you have learned to jump. You love to "bow, bow, bow!" (bounce) around the house. Watching you and Daddy bounce around the house is quite entertaining, it looks like a bunch of jumping beans. Just please stop "bow, bow, bow"-ing around the dinner table, the edge looks awfully close to your head; and I know our cat, Tiger's,  name is close to Tigger, but trust me, he does NOT want to bounce with you- it will not end well.

Love,
Mommy

I Like Big Butts

Dear Caden,

Lately we have been teaching you opposites such as, big and small and short and tall. The other day as I was bending over to get something you decided to grab my tush and excitedly say, "Big! Big!" While my tush isn't my favorite example of something large, at least I know you understand the concept. Now we need to work on learning to put a filter on your thoughts.

Love,
Mommy

Breathing Exercises

Dear Caden,

I finally figured out that the breathing exercises they teach you for childbirth really isn't for that at all.  "Whoo whoo! Whee, whee! Whoo, whoo! Whee, whee!" Instead, it is for moments like right now. Moments for when your sweet angelic child has turned into this unrecognizable, red faced screaming mini maniac with snot swinging from their nose and tears streaming down their faces. All because Mommy forgot the 'nack' (snack) container. I pick you up and you instantly turn into this limp, wet noodle able to slide out of any grasp that Mommy tries. Those breathing exercises don't seem so silly now...THIS is the marathon, I see the light at the end of the tunnel and it is called bedtime.  "Whoo whoo! Whee, whee! Whoo, whoo! Whee, whee!"

Love,
Mommy

Veggie Puffs

Dear Caden,

This past weekend we had the honor of seeing Miss Stacey become Mrs.Wittenberg. In order to keep you from officiating the ceremony with the minister, Mommy had the bright idea to keep your hands and your mouth full of veggie puffs. What Mommy didn't realize, is the hysterical knack you had for making those puffs crunch crazy loud, and in the quietest of moments.

Love,
Mommy

Performance Art

Dear Caden,

If you need to extract dried mucus from your nose, please use a tissue or a boogie wipe. The living room and kitchen walls are not the place for them. This is not considered performance art. Thank you.

Love,
Mommy

Hair Accessories

Dear Caden,


You have always been fascinated by the flowers and bows that little girls wear in their hair, often trying to tell me that you want one too. I've tried to explain to you that you are a handsome little boy, and that boys wear hats. Tonight you decided to show me that boys can be cute and have hair accessories too, although I am thinking this one isn't going to catch on...

Love,
Mommy

Yummy Ravioli!!!

But Mo-om! Don't I look adorable?!

Brown Bear

Dear Caden,

As you sit in my lap, turning the pages of Brown Bear, you like to point to the pictures and call them by name. You point to the bear and say "Bear, hair!" I proudly smile and say, "Yes! That's right! The bear has hair! Good Job, Caden!" You rub your head exclaiming, "Hair!" I swell with pride, you are so smart. You then promptly rub my leg and say, "Mommy, hair!" Ummm, yeah...

Love,
Hairy Mommy

Baa Baa

Dear Caden,

I listen as you sing to Mr. Seahorse. "Baa, Baa, Banshee..." Oh my.

Love,
Mommy

Cow Licks

Dear Caden,

I believe that every Mommy has limitations and that it is very important that said Mommy realizes these limitations. Apparently cutting and trimming is one of Mommy's limitations. I should have realized at the time, when I butchered the bushes outside the house, that this is not one of my talents. However, it took Mommy butchering your hair fully realize that I should not be allowed near hedge trimmers nor hair scissors. Thankfully both the bushes and your hair will grow back. Until then, I apologize for that awesome new cow lick that you are sporting.

Love,
Mommy

Just call me Alphalfa,
 all the cool kids have them

Why Mommy shouldn't play with scissors

My Sick Little Man

Dear Caden,

You started crying in the middle of the night, the type of cry that told me something wasn't quite right. We went to your room and you were burning hot. I took your clothes off and gut instinct told me that you needed to lay in bed with me. Mommy instinct is never wrong and I am so glad I was listening. You spiked a temperature of 102.6 and had a seizure. This seizure was only 15 sec long, nothing like the almost 4 minute seizure this past April. Still, a seizure is a seizure and my heart still hurt and skipped a beat. I immediately sat on the floor with you and started praying, the kind of prayer only a Mommy can pray. Five minutes later your fever broke. Your doctor said you are cutting a molar and have really bad allergies, but you were going to be just fine. I hate it when you are sick, you aren't your normal perky self, no Dear Caden-worthy shenanigans. But you give the best cuddles when you are sick. So today Mommy is going to spoil you rotten while nursing you to health. Waffles? You got them. Ice cream? You bet. Mommy loves you Caden.

Love,
Mommy

Sharing

Dear Caden,

Mommy loves it when you share. However, it is not necessary to share your dipped, licked, dipped, licked, dipped, licked, dipped, licked, soggy french fry with me. Ever.

Love,
Mommy

Elephant Trunks

Dear Caden,

This afternoon I read you a story about elephants and their trunks. You enjoyed running around the house using your arm as a trunk making elephant sounds. When I changed your diaper, you decided to grab your tinker and say, "Lelaphan!" While they may seem similar, your tinker is not an elephant trunk. This I promise.

Love,
Mommy

Your Nose

Dear Caden,

Your nose is NOT an appropriate place for the following items: crayons, beads, marbles, cheerios, pasta, peas, carrots, french fries, legos, Q-Tips, teddy grahams, celery, bananas or your fingers. Period.

Love,
Mommy

Tinkle, Tinka, Staaaaar!

Dear Caden,

I watch you cuddling your stuffed monkey, rocking him back and forth. You start singing, "Tinkle, Tinka, Staaaaaar! Tinkle, Tinka, Staaaaaaar!" at the top of your little lungs, rock star style. Loud doesn't even begin to cover it. You start rocking the monkey, patting him on it's bottom. "Shhhh! Night, Night! Shhhhh! Tinkle, Tinka, Staaaaaar!" Watching you interpret life and imitate what you see is constant entertainment, you are awesome.

Love,
Mommy

My Little Driver

Dear Caden,

This evening you drove Mommy's car, while sitting in my lap, from our neighbor's house to our home. During the 15 foot drive, you decided to make sure Mommy's car was working properly. Cruise control on, check. Hazard lights flashing, check. Defroster blowing hot, sticky air, check. Bum warmers on high, check. Moon roof open, check. Windshield wipers full blast, check. Spraying the windshield fluid and getting Mommy all wet because the windows are down, check. Laughing uncontrollably in delight at all the controlled chaos you are creating, check. Letting you have the keys to the car when you are of age, not happening.

Love,
Mommy

Life's the Pits

Dear Caden,

I give you a plum and you gleefully attack it, juice running freely down your chin. Mommy turns to wet a washcloth to clean the aftermath of your snack. "Mmmmm! Mommy! Mmmmm!" You inhaled that plum, it never had a chance. Apparently neither did the plum pit which is now in your tummy. According to google and the pediatrician, this is completely normal and ok. Your next diaper will be interesting.

Love,
Mommy

Tootsie Rolls

Dear Caden,

Upon entering the living room, I see you hunched over, poking something on the floor. "Tootsie Momma! Tootsie!" On closer inspection I see a disgusting hairball left so lovingly by one of our cats. I assume that hairballs and Tootsie Rolls do not taste similar, however please do not try to confirm this for Mommy. I will never again look at Tootsie Rolls the same.

Love,
Mommy

Dolphins

Dear Caden,

Every weekend we pick an animal and teach you all sorts of fun things about them. This weekend we read books, colored pictures, watched videos and ate sandwiches which Mommy cut in the shape of dolphins. I realize that imitation is the greatest form of flattery, however, keep in mind that you do not have a blow hole. There is no need to continuously take in mouthfuls of liquid and spray it E.V.E.R.Y.W.H.E.R.E. Next week, we take on rhinos...this may prove to be interesting.

Love,
Mommy