chillin with nuggie

play.play.play.

I could definitely get used to hanging with my little man instead of working full time! soaking up these moments with him, and our lazy days at the park together. he is talking so much lately, and some of the words he says I feel horrible when I'm not altogether sure what he is truly saying. he loves for you to point at things and explain them to him...and then he likes to go back and review everything he has learned, saying the words back to me. he is just so thirsty to learn!

Right now his favorite things are all things choochoos, headbutting (BUMP! that's what he says) things/people, and all things Elmo. Poppy gave him an Elmo doll right before we left cali, and he now takes it everyone and anywhere, causing me to panic that he will drop it somewhere and it will cause a complete and utter meltdown.

There is this incredible park in Littleton called Bellview park. They have a great ChooChoo train that goes around the park, a little petting zoo/farm, a huge airplane that sits off the ground, two playgrounds and an amazing little creek that all of the kids wade in (some new little friends were kind enough to show us the little fort they were building for their crawdad friends.)


~a little skeptical about the ride on the choochoo





This is the coolest park right near Mamaw's house. Mamaw and i took him over there one afternoon, and he was absolutely smitten with the splashing fountains!





~straight up drinking out of the wading water.yum.



~for our rainy day adventures, we love the choochoo at the barnes and noble next door!


~the fun indoor kiddie pool at the rec center...we spent HOURS in there! This is the only pic i could get because my lens got all fogged up with the steam from the pools.







~lovely 4 hour nap on the floor with the little man.








~thanks to mamaw and papaw for watching the man so that chad and I could play and explore denver the proper way...happy hour!

much to be smitten with...

~trying to give big hugs to all of his friends

We spent this past weekend at mamaw and papaw's house and had such a good time! Chad's cousin David came down from Ft Collins with his wonderful wife Natalie and their sons Jack and Caleb. Jack and Kaden became BFFs and bonded quite a bit. We are looking forward to hanging out with them more now that we are so close!


~mamaw showing him how to fill up his bucket to help her water her flowers


~might need to work on your aim a little buddy


showing off his tushie after a diaper change outside






~papaw indulging him with his newest obsession, Trains. He would spend every moment he could with papaw's collectible trains if he could. He woke up in the morning and immediately looked at me and whispered "choo cho".


~jack having a heart to heart with kaden in the bath


~the amazing view from mamaw and papaw's porch


~happy birthday to Caleb!


~jack and kaden swinging around, not good quality pic, but I love the way the mountains look in the back


~saying byebye to his buddy/cousin Jack


~mamaw goin for a ride on bri's new toy


~yogurt finger painting on a hot day


~rockin cousins jake, nick and ryan's shirt!

We spent the day Saturday in the pool at Mamaw's place. Of course, I forgot all forms of camera, but luckily realized I had stashed the Flip away in the diaper bag to shoot this little diddy. In addition to this big boy pool, there is a baby pool that is one and a half foot deep. Kaden absolutely loved it and bounced around like a little fishie, until of course, mommy took his eye off him for one second, and was more than an arms length away, and some little boy cut him off and he fell forward, for what seemed like two minutes face forward. So scary! He was absolutely unphased but of course I was like, all done with the pool! As you can see from this video, he was right back in moments later having a good time with his cousin jack and daddy.




Kaden is just so in love with his Uncle BRAH. He gets so happy whenever you even so much as mention his name.


~sharing snacks



~checking out uncle bri's new toy









The sunset was completely unbelievable that evening, and sadly my little point and shoot camera could not capture it. Here's the best it could do...use your imagination.

Happy 17 Months Kaden!

~running at the park. you are learning to run, and have a body full of black n blues and bruises to prove it.

Dear Kaden,

this is your first birthday letter that i am writing to you in our NEW HOME! We have lived in Denver for almost an entire month, and even though we have hit a few bumps and curves in the road, our souls all know we belong here. raising you with so much love around you, in a world where nature is cherished and valued, and a place where kindness and authenticity are the norm...that is the world I have wanted for you, and now you are soaking it all up.

your sense of humor astounds me daily. you know exactly how to make others laugh, and I adore hearing that sweet little laugh of yours, it makes my heart smile like i never knew it could. no one quite makes you laugh like daddy, and it is melts my heart to watch the two of you together.

you amaze us daily by pointing out things around you and naming them. and even more so you love for us to walk around and point out things to YOU, if we stop you do your precious little hand sign and shout MORE, as if you are super thirsty for knowledge. you’re so smart. please always remember that being smart is cool, and you can be whatever and whomever you dream.

you insist that all cats are named Mike which we find hilarious. The one word you have not learned is CAT, and you simply refuse to believe that the name for these furry little creatures is *MIKE*.

your favorite things right now are throwing rocks and leaves into any sort of body of water (even the gutter with a tiny bit of water has been a hit) just to watch it float, dandelions, all things Elmo, the moon, rainbows (sound familiar? mommy adores the moon and rainbows too....someone has been brainstormed!), daddy's drawings (we have a collection of both of your drawings that we started when you were just 4 months! I may have to do a post about that later this week!), TRAINS....you are fixated after papaw introduced you to his amazing trains, and anything at Mamaw's house (Disneyland ain't got NOTHIN on Mamaw's house!).

while I do miss holding you in my arms as a tiny little baby, i love watching you learn and seeing through your eyes as you grow! i love when you take my hand when we go for a walk, the way you say MaMA so assertively when you are trying to get my attention, our storytime just before i tuck you in when you are cuddling with me in the rocker. you're getting big so fast and i am just so proud of you.

sometimes i can’t believe you’re ours. you are more than i could have ever imagined in a son and i hope you always know how grateful and honored i am to be chosen as your mommy.

happy birthday you amazing little boy.
i love you.

love,
your mommy



~brushing your teeth is quite possibly the highlight of your day.




~first try at spaghetti...i don't think you liked it one bit.




~your daddy and uncle bri showing you how to juggle


~kisses from TT Suzanne!










~you love to run from one end of the couch to the other...endless entertainment for all.






~petrified of Uncle Brian's pool...just look at that fear in your eyes


~contemplating mamaw's pool


~thanks to the invention of the noodle...you are a little fishie now. mommy has no pictures of you frolicking in the pool, because i was too busy wading in the pool up to my waist in my jeans.

random wednesday!