Belly Kisses

Dear Caden,

Yesterday you wanted to kiss Baby Jacob so you lift up my shirt and leave a slobber trail on my tummy like normal. Later while Daddy was playing with you, you wanted to kiss Baby Jacob again. Instead of coming over to me, you said, "No, Yacob's there!" and proceeded to lift up Daddy's shirt and tried to kiss his belly. Daddy doesn't have a Baby Jacob in his belly, his baby is due to his too much peanut butter and chocolate goodness addiction.

Love,
Mommy

Restless Nights

Dear Caden,

When your wife is pregnant (many, MANY moons from now) and cannot sleep for the life of her, please be kind and gentle. Wipe her tears, listen to her ramble about the grocery list that she's already told you about for the umpteenth time due to pregnancy brain, rub her back. . .and legs. . .and feet. . .and back again. Be willing to run downstairs for a cup of tea, draw a warm bath and sit beside her reminding her how much you love her. Walk beside her in the dimly lit hallways because her hips and legs are restless and whisper words of encouragement and tell her she's beautiful. New life isn't easy to grow and it should never be placed solely on the woman. And as the new dawn breaks and you hear the waking sighs of a busy 2 year old, be willing to start the day on the little to no sleep yet again. For it is in these moments that help forge a marriage, that makes your wife fall in love with you yet again. It is in these times that Mommy can't believe how truly blessed and loved she is by Daddy.

Love,
Mommy

Chop! Chop!

Dear Caden,

Mornings are always hopping and the clock seems to be our enemy as we race against time in order to make it out of the house. On your way out the door you grabbed your milk, your breakfast snack and throw me a look over your shoulder and call out to me, "Cop! Cop! Mommy! Cop! Cop!" Well, Ay, Ay, Captain! Mommy will get her bum in gear and will "chop! chop!"

Love,
Mommy

Beluga Whale

Dear Caden,

This morning you are sprawled out on the floor reminding me of a turtle stuck on it's back. You then start making these grunting noises, which were quite entertaining might I add, as you start rocking towards a side in order to gain momentum to roll over or get up. Finally you look up at me with your arms out and say, "Help Momma, I help." I assist you up, listen to you giggle and it dawns on me. . . you were totally reenacting what I do when I am laying on the floor while playing with you. I can't help it that I am currently resembling the body of a beluga whale as I near my due date with Baby Jacob. What's next?. . . Showing Mommy how you have mastered her penguin waddle, or as I like to say: really sexy, wide sashaying?

Love,
Mommy

257 Days

Dear Caden,

Today is one of those days. I am 257 days pregnant and I feel it. Every. Single. Day. of it. This evening you wanted to "hold Momma" so I let you climb on my lap. You then proceeded to push the side of my belly with all of your might saying, "Mooob Yacob! Mooob!". I hate to burst your bubble, but the belly housing Jacob is attached to Mommy, therefore Jacob cannot "mooob" out of the way. I understand there is less lap space and for that I am sorry. I promise to spend lots of time snuggling just you once baby Jacob arrives. Until then, do you mind holding off on mauling me?

Love,
Mommy

Radio On!

Dear Caden,

The other night you decided to join Mommy in the bathtub. Bubbles can hide quite a bit, and it became more and more awkward as the bubble dissipated. You never said anything, but I think you were noticing that Mommy was a little different than you. We did good ignoring it until you decided to say, "Radio on, Momma!" and reached out trying to tune into some imaginary radio station with my body. Yes, they look like little radio knobs, but they will never play music. I am sure in the next few weeks you will be even more entertained by their functioning once Jacob is born. Oh my.

Love,
Mommy

Boogie Wipes

Dear Caden,

They are called Boogie Wipes. Boogie as in booger, not as in musical boogie.

Love,
Mommy

Mommy's Leaves

Dear Caden,

We sit down to dinner and you lean over to inspect my plate. You ask me, "I bite Momma's leaves too?" Technically I suppose you are correct, they are lettuce leaves, but I prefer to just call it salad. I give a forkful to you in which you just lick it and state, "I no like leaves." Big surprise.

Love,
Mommy

Sleepover

Dear Caden,

It finally happened. I had my first night without you. We were doing a dry run at Aunt Jessica's house in preparation for when I go into labor with Baby Jacob. I cried like a baby and you didn't. Matter of fact, you had to be coaxed to give me and Daddy a hug and kiss goodbye. I am having severe flash forwards of college. . . something tells me that will be MUCH worse than a sleepover at Aunt Jessica's house. It's just that she lives SO FAR AWAY from us. . . I think 4 houses down is way too far for the first time. Perhaps we should have started with something smaller. Maybe sleep downstairs first, then camp out on the front lawn. That makes much more sense, yes? I hope you slept well last night, I only woke up 12 times. . .yes I counted. . . and yes it may have been partially because Baby Jacob was using my bladder as a trampoline. I don't know if I am ready for you to grow up.

Love,
Mommy

Empty bed syndrome

Pider

Dear Caden,

I love that you are now able to communicate.

This morning on our way to Ms. Vickie's I hear you softly whisper, "Pider..."
My heart immediately seems to do double time. Surely I am mistaken.

"What did you say Caden?!"

"Pider Mommy! Pider!"

I grab the steering wheel, knuckles becoming white as I try to glance at you.

"Spider? Where?! Show me!"

You giggle and point to me, "Pider! Right there!"

"Caden, are you serious?! Do you really see a spider?! Where?!"

I am sure I looked like something from the exorcist, my head turning completely around as I continue to try and drive, desperately trying to keep my car in ONE lane.

"Pider! Right there! Pider! Pider!", your finger points directly at me.

"Where?!? Caden?!?! WHERE?!?!"

"There! Pider!"

I continue freak out, repenting for all my sins, knowing that I am minutes away from meeting my maker as I get devoured by this "Pider".

I feel something! I am about to become all sorts of a Judo master as I frantically start swatting at my shoulder. I got it! I GOT IT!! I....got...a SPIDERMAN sticker.

Thank you Caden for leaving behind a "Pider"man sticker on my shoulder this morning after you hugged me.

Just know that this means war. Some day, somewhere I will get you back when you least expect it. And I apologize to all the fellow drivers out there who probably called in a drunk driver. It was just me, afraid of a sticker.

Love,
Mommy

Peanut Butter Cadenese

Dear Caden,

It's 6am, the day has barely started. I am around the corner in the living room and I hear you grunting and muttering to yourself. Suddenly I hear, "YEAH! Mmmmmm!" with smacking noises quickly following behind. I find you sitting on the kitchen floor spoon in hand and the jar of peanut butter opened. I ask if you are enjoying yourself and your mouth is so filled with peanut butter that all I heard was, "Momma! Num, num, mummer bummer nummmm!" I can only assume that in Peanut Butter Cadenese this means it is absolutely delicious.

Love,
Mommy

Birthday Wishes

Dear Caden,

One of the greatest blessings in life is that of a new life, belonging to you, being placed into your arms. It is one of the hardest blessings and can be very scary at times. Knowing that you are responsible for the happiness and safety of this precious being can weigh heavy on a parent and making decisions can be very difficult at times. When Mommy had to leave you with someone to go back to work it was not easy. Placing my most precious gift into someone else's hands was something that I cried over and prayed over. God definitely blessed us when Ms. Vickie opened up her doors and took you into her arms. When I pick you up after work, I see your face filled with grins, your shirt sometimes spattered with the day's fun events. Your happiness is palpable and your lively afternoon chatter and giggles fill me with peace. So tonight as we say our prayers, we will lift up Ms. Vickie and pray that she gets her ultimate birthday wish. We adore and love you Ms. Vickie and we know that God knows the desires of your heart.

Love,
Mommy

Waity Bits

Dear Caden,

This morning after you finished using the potty, I gave you toilet paper and told you to wipe your tinker. You looked at me and said, "No my tinker! I wipe my waity bits." Hmmm. Lady bits? Really? Monkey see, monkey do, monkey say. . . Mommy now feels awkward.

Love,
Mommy

Baby Kicks

Dear Caden,

I am sitting on the couch watching my tummy bounce from your baby brother kicking. I smile and wait for the next kick, loving the feeling of new life inside of me. You pop up beside me, see my tummy jump and quickly screech, "Ewww! No, nasty!" Way to change the mood.

Love,
Mommy

Clean Up

Dear Caden,

I know there are child labor laws out there, but that does not excuse you from helping Mommy clean up the mess that you made.

Love,
Mommy

Four Letter Words

Dear Caden,

Raising children provides many cringe worthy moments. We've already had several and I can only assume several more are following in their steps. Today it happened again. You did what every parent dreads. . .you said a four letter word. A four letter word that makes my heart drop and creates instant terror. I figured if I ignored you that you wouldn't say it again. This time you said it louder. . .and louder. . .and louder. I knew I needed to do something about it because if not it was only going to get worse and the situation would get really messy, really fast.
Wait, there is silence. Perhaps it is over. No such luck. You say it again. . .my heart thuds. . .
"I YUCK!"

Love,
Mommy

Bath "Toys"

Dear Caden,

One of these "toys" does not belong. You have plenty of toys to play with in the bath. There is absolutely no need to add anything else. . . and you've traumatized the frog.

Love, Mommy

Licking

Dear Caden,

Please stop licking me.

Love,
Mommy