6 months already

Sweet Aiden. Right now as I type this we just had to do the cry it out method for you to go back to sleep. That is so hard lisetning to you cry, but it only took about 15 minutes and you were out again. Sleep is an issue right now our sweet little baby boy. You did so well with being a newborn that we feel like we are now regressing. Not sure what is going on, but we are thinking maybe teething or that the rice cereal that you are eating is causing an upset stomach. There truly are days that I wished there were a manual to help us make the right choice with you to help you. We are praying this less sleep stage quickly ends-sleep would do all 3 of us some good. You have 2 bottom teeth now. You got your first tooth on 11/23. You also started rolling over at the end of November and are getting stronger in sitting up-still can't sit on your own, but are getting there. You make the funniest noises-you have started this animal growl that is sometimes your way of talking and it's hilarious. It sounds like a roaring lion! You love to bounce and are constantly bouncing when I have you in my arms. You have mastered the skill of moving an object from hand to hand and at this point most toys still just go in your mouth to chew on. You still sleep in the pack n play in mom in dad's room until sleep starts to get a little better. You won't take a pacifier for the most part, which is ok except on long nights like tonight! Your smile-you have the sweetest dimple, oh my, I can't stop kissing your cheeks! You have an easy going personality (except when not sleeping :) ) and smile most of the time. You love to lay and kick, you adore your big brother and just light up when he comes in the room. You like to babble, love to be tickled, and love your bath time. Mom and dad are totally head over heals in love with you and your brother kiddo! We love watching you grow and can't wait to continue to watch you grow!

3 years old

Cale...let me just start off by saying you are a delight! You are 3 now. Mom and dad can hardly believe it! What a blessing you are. You amaze us as you explore and question your world more, how you just figure stuff out, how you just get things and say things out of the blue. Things we haven't taught you-things you just figure out on your own. You are so smart kiddo! And you are starting to draw shapes-how cool is that. You draw lots of circles for train tracks on your magna doodle and can draw squares and triangles too. Your vocabulary continues to increase. You love to cook-especially on daddy pancake night when you and daddy stir and make pancakes together. Your imagination is amazing-you can make up a story for anything-your trains, your cars, animals, Toy Story characters. I love to listen to you as you play. You still love to snuggle which I love! I know there will be a day when you think that is no longer "cool" so I am going to soak it in as much as possible for now! You do this cute little thing where you say "hey mom" and I look at you and you squint your eyes and get the most adorable grin on your face and just smile at me. You are great with and adore your brother-I love watching your relationship with Aiden develop. I am proud to be your mommy my sweet boy and am continually amazed by you!

Polar Express

Cale excited to ride the train!

Inside the train was all decorated for Christmas

The Conductor punched a "C" in Cale's ticket-so cool!

and an "A" in Aiden's ticket

Hot chocolate and cookies. Cale wore his Thomas PJs for the occasion

Aiden checking everything out

The smile says it all

Santa bringing Cale his bell from the Polar Express

Aiden got one too

My boys

Cale turned 3 on December 2 so for his birthday we went to Branson and rode the Polar Express train on December 1. We had a blast! Cale loved riding the train and they did a great job representing the book and the movie with hot chocolate and cookies, Santa giving each kid a bell, reading the book during the train ride, and having characters from the book and movie. Cale could have stayed on the train all night. We stayed at Big Cedar lodge which is always fun and the weather was nice enough that before the train ride we were able to walk around outside as a family. Aiden enjoyed looking around on the train at all that was going on. Here are some pictures from the ride.

Thanksgiving

Turkey with homemade dressing


Cale loves to cook and had fun helping me with the stuffing


Making the stuffing


Great grandpa Faust with Aiden


Uncle Andy with Aiden


Judah at Thanksgiving


Hanging at mom and dad's the day after Thanksgiving

This year we hosted Thanksgiving for Jeff's parents, brother and grandpa and I made my first ever turkey, homemade dressing, mashed potatoes, and sweet potato casserole. I have to say it turned out great! It was a little nervewracking, especially with the turkey, but everyone seemed to enjoy it. We went to my parents the day after Thanksgiving and enjoyed a meal there with grandparents coming in town and Krisiti coming in town. Here are some pictures from Thanksgiving day.

Family Photo Shoot Fall 2011

Craig Myers, our wedding photographer did a photo shoot for our family earlier in October. This was our first shoot of us as a family of 4. We went to Tower Grove park and downtown St. Louis and got some great shots. Here are some pictures of our family. Thanks Craig for the great photos!

Halloween 2011

This is the first year that we went trick or treating with Cale and Aiden tagged along also. We went with our neighbors Gina, Kelly and Payton and had a great time. The weather was nice and lots of kids were out. We hit just one street, probably about 10 houses then headed back home. The kids got some good candy! They both couldn't wait to eat it so they ate one as Gina pulled them back home in the wagon. Cale caught on to going to a house and saying trick or treat for candy real quick. By the end of the night he was saying "let's go to another house and trick or treat!"


Our little penguin

Kelly, Gina, Payton and Cale

Payton and Cale chilling in the wagon

Friends!

My train conductor and penguin

Cale was so excited to be a train conductor.

Too cute Mr. Penguin!

We had a harvest party the Thursday before Halloween that I took the kiddos too. Cale enjoyed playing games and getting candy!

Annual Pumpkin picking with the Salvatierras

We love October each year because that means we get to go pumpkin picking with some of our favorite people the Salvatierra's. This has been an annual tradition for us to go for at least the past 6 years! We headed to the pumpkin patch a few weekends ago and had great weather and a great time! Cale and Anna had a blast together and Cale picked out our pumpkin. You could just see the pride on his face when he brought it over! It was awesome. Here are some pictures from the afternoon.


Cale searching for a pumpkin

He found the perfect one-he was so proud of himself!

Showing Anna his pumpkin

Beth, Dave and Anna

Checking out the ponies

Aiden and momma

Cale and Anna in the tunnel

Playing in our car trunk-have no idea why they wanted to play in here

Art Feast

Food trucks are all the rave right now! Today we went to Crestwood Court (the old Crestwood Mall which is now closed) and they had an event called Art Feast where they showcased some work from local artists and had about 10 food trucks. The kids and I went with our friends Susie, Tyler and Ella and had a blast. Great food and the kids had so much fun playing together. Cale figured out for the first time how fun it is to roll down a hill. He just started by running up a hill and then just started rolling. I didn't say anything to him about it, he just started doing it and man the smile on his face was priceless. It amazes me how he just figures stuff out or just ventures out and tries new things on his own! So cool to watch. Cale-you amaze me everyday kiddo. Momma loves you lots!


Cale showing us his hotdog from the hotdog truck