Alyssa's Big Day

We celebrated Alyssa's first birthday on June 14--exactly 3 months after Cade. She had a great beach party, and so we all dressed up in our finest beach attire to celebrate--me in my bikini and Chad in his speedo. Alyssa got a shiny new red wagon, which she and Cade rode in all over the neighborhood, and then Cade pushed back and forth up and down the street about a million times. And I am not exaggerating. Chad was a great sport and walked back and forth with him, getting the wagon turned around at each end.

My last day of work will be on Monday, so I am looking forward to spending the summer outside with Cade and relaxing a little more while we wait for baby. We took our first trip to the pool yesterday and went swimming with most of the cousins, which is still quite a pool-full. I know that it is a little sad that Cade had never been in a pool before, but after Isaac showed him how it was done he took to it like a fish and had an absolute ball. He loved everything, splashing in the shallow end, laying on his back, and kicking around on his stomach. I am worried after a couple more trips he'll think he doesn't need me. Sometime, when I can get another adult there with me I will get pictures, but for now he is a little too squirly to manage him and a camera!

Beach!

I finally found the camera, so I can post the pictures that we took in Newport. We spent Memorial Day weekend with Barb and Dave and had such an amazing time just getting away from Bend and relaxing and theWright Wranch. The weather was just perfect and we had a really hard time leaving!

As you can see, Cade had a great time at the beach. We all tromped around in the water, and Cade and Chad got pretty wet. At least we were able to put off the sandcastles until next trip!

In other news, we are trucking along and we have about 8 weeks left! At our last appointment the doctor said that I am measuring about two weeks big, but that he was thinking that I might just have a gigantic baby. I am hoping to be early, but trying not to get my hopes up too much. I know that with the heat and everything of August I will probably be ready to reach in and grab the baby myself if he is even a day late, but as for now I am trying to be realistic about timelines. I should be wrapping up my last few days of work here soon, so that will also help the summer slow down a little (hopefully!)

Cade and Alyssa

Cade has been having several playdates with Alyssa, our friends Bryon and Shawna's little girl. They have been getting along so well that we have all negotiated the number of goats and pigs for the dowry and I think that we are looking at a wedding on June 18th of 2030. So mark your calendars. All jokes aside though, since neither one of the kiddos are in daycare it has been really fun to watch them interact and maybe see how Cade will act with his new little sibling... Here are some pictures from their most recent 'date'.

In other news, just three more weeks of school for Chad until we get back to a more manageable schedule without all of the night classes and weekends. It will be a huge relief and great to get our weekends back! We take off for Newport for Memorial Day and so I am sure we will have plenty of beach pictures in the next few weeks.

Cade's New Favorite

Cade had his first real, un-assisted spaghetti meal the other day, and I think it goes without saying, but he really enjoyed it. Cade spent the morning playing with Alyssa, and while I am sure his manners didn't impress her too much we all had a good time laughing at him. He can't seem to figure out what is so funny in this picture, or maybe its the spaghetti sauce in his ears that is giving him such a concerned look...

And the husband of the year goes to....

I had the best Mother's Day yesterday. Granted, this is only the second time we've celebrated, but Chad did it up in a big way, and it was wonderful! Started out in the morning with Cade waddling up to me holding a little white jewelery box. Had it not been for my keen eye, carefully trained to spot such packages, I might have missed it because once he got to me he threw the box at the dog (one of his favorite games lately...). I quickly retreived it, instead of allowing the dog to, and found a beautiful diamond band inside!! Needless to say, I was shocked! We then spent the rest of the morning with my family at brunch, where Chad fed Cade, ran around after him, and pretty much made it so that I could eat to my heart's content (which is one of my favorite games lately...). It was a great day, and now I am stuck trying to figure out how to spend Father's Day. Any ideas?

Finally Downloading some pictures...

It has been a while since I emptied my camera, so here are some of the latest and greatest of the cute kid, and then there's us...

For a while there he always had his tongue hanging out. Not sure what Freud would say?
Dad and his Boy
This is a pretty typical face for him
Cade and Mommy
Happy happy kid

Family Photos

We went to Portland last weekend for some work and a long overdue family portrait session. I think I was five the last time we had an official picture taken. This one looks a little different, to say the least.