Cheese...

...that's a good one! (That's what Rachael always used to say.) I finally got a good picture of Jaden smiling!

2010 Olympics

Rachael and her class were invited to meet an olympic athlete and see the olympic torch at the bank across from their school today.They met Sylvia Kerfoot, a freestyle skier, 2008 World Cup medalist and 2010 olympic hopeful. Every student got her autograph, and she showed us what the olympic torch will look like. I was hoping it would be lit, but it wasn't.

They got a group shot with their class, Sylvia and a wannabe olympic maskot. I think it was really a modified lion costume.

First Easter

Jaden and his big cousin Johnathan celebrated their first Easter together.

Easter Eggs

This is not the usual way to decorate Easter eggs, and they're not the usual eggs, either - they're cake pops the Aunties made for the kids to decorate. They took some corn syrup, painted it on the egg and then rolled it in sprinkles. They also made some to look like little chicks! Too cute!

Happy Easter

It was a little soggy for this year's annual Easter Egg Hunt. But that didn't stop us! This year we hunted for eggs in a park. Someone stole the Easter Bunny's eggs and if you found them for him then you would get a reward. So this year they weren't looking for their own stickers on the eggs, but any egg they could find because the eggs were empty.This is how Jaden participated in the Easter Egg Hunt. Maybe next year he'll be a little more into it.These are the hunters (plus Stephen). From 2 months all the way up to 18! Not that Jaden did any hunting.After the eggs were found Auntie Kendra set up a "store" for the kids to come and buy - a thank you from the Easter Bunny for returning all his eggs! Once again bug hugs and thanks go to Auntie Kendra for making this fun day happen!

Cute Pictures

I though I'd post some more recent pictures of Jaden. They grow up so fast! Here he is being a cool dude in his hoodie, just chillin'.Kaitlyn loves being a big sister.And a family picture of the five of us.

Rachael's 8th Birthday!

I'm a little behind on blogging - but better late than never!

Rachael had her 8th birthday party a few weeks ago - a Pokemon Party. It was on the last Saturday of Spring Break and unfortunately 4 of her friends from school couldn't come. But everyone had fun, anyway.Auntie Kendra made another amazing cake! At the bottom of the picture you can see a little paper drawing of this Pokemon guy (don't ask me what any of their names are!) that Rachael drew for Auntie Kendra to make her cake like. And she threw in a Bob and Larry "balloon" cake for me! Gotta love VeggieTales!

Darcy was in charge of the games this year. With a brand new baby, I just wasn't up for it! The first thing he had them do was split into groups and take a deck of cards and try and build the tallest tower with it. This was the winning team - Elyssa and Alex! We made this poster of this Pokemon guy that has a flame for a tail, and played pin the flame on the pokemon.

And they played drop the pokemon figures in a vase. And roll the pokemon balls in the opening (kind of a cross between bowling and mini golf). And of course there was presents. Rachael seems very excited about all these craft things from Auntie Kendra!

And of course a lamb for Rachael - her name means little lamb and every year since the day she was born Auntie Kendra gets her a lamb. Fun times!

10 Little Fingers, 10 Little Toes

I've been wishing lately that I took some close-up pictures of baby hands and feet when my girls were little, so I made sure that I took some of Jaden's.Isn't it amazing that this tiny little person comes complete with 10 little toes

and 10 little fingers?

Ears that hear every "I love you"

and a cute little belly button to kiss.

A perfect little miracle in every way.

Let's Roll!

Our little Jaden is getting strong. He can hold his head up pretty well, even when lying on his tummy.

And today, at just 4 weeks old, he rolled over from his tummy to his back.(Ok, so I staged the pictures, but he did it for real!)

It's Official...

Jaden got his Birth Certificate in the mail today - his one month birthday, so now I guess he has officially been born!

They have really changed the certificate. It no longer is credit-card sized - it's about 3 times that big now, and printed on thin plastic with "more than 20 security features." As long as it works!

Showers Of Blessings

Last night my mom held a baby shower for Jaden and me. I was amazed at all the people who came out to help us celebrate the newest member of our family!Kendra made an amazing cake (again!). It was way too cute to eat! She even put Jaden's birthday in blocks. Very creative!

We came home with a pile of clothes - which was great because most of the clothes I had were pink - which doesn't look too good on a boy!

Jaden even got a cute little baseball hat to keep the sun out of his eyes this summer. Isn't he handsome? (What are you guys doing to me?)

And shoes! I've never seen so many shoes at a baby shower before! They're very cute!

I know traditionally you're supposed to dress the baby in the new clothes and take pictures, but with a somewhat less than cooperative baby, and all the different sizes of clothes I decided to try on the shoes and take pictures.

"I don't like these, Mom! They're too big!" Don't worry - you'll grow into them!

These sandals actually stay on his feet already, even though they're too big. But then hopefully they won't fall off when he wears them this summer!

These ones did not stay on so good, but they are very cute, and too big so by the time he grows into them I hope they'll stay on better.

These ones even came with socks! They stay on pretty good, too.
Thanks everyone!

Jaden and Nadiya Sitting in a Tree...

..., well I guess they should learn to sit on the floor before they can sit in trees, but we'll start with carseats! (They're even almost matching carseats!) Our friends Chris and Nicole had a baby girl on Feb 7th, just days before our little man arrived. (They were both 5 days early!) So of course, they will get married when they grow up.

But first we thought they should meet. Rachael and Kaitlyn were chaperones.

Jaden looks huge compared to Nadiya. He was 8-11 and she was a mere 5-9 when she was born, so he's almost twice as big as her!

It's A Boy!!!

Jaden Christopher was born on Tuesday February 10th at 11:02 am.

He weighed 8lbs 110z and was 23 inches long.

Big sisters Rachael

and Kaitlyn were glad to have a name for "the Bump"

and were extra glad to finally bring him home on Friday.