Happy tears

The other night Steven took Caden and Joanna out to buy Caden's first pair of soccer cleats. He is such a big boy now! I cannot believe how big he looks when he chips the ball.

Anyway, I was going to be gone by the time they got home. And Caden and Joanna would be in bed before I got home.

So I left a note on Caden's pillow:



Steven told me that Caden saw the note, grasped it to his chest, then buried his head in his hands. Steven asked him what was going on, and he replied: "I'm crying happy tears."

It sure is the little things.

My babies

Joanna has been loving the exersaucer.



And Caden must fondly remember his MANY years in there as well:



Man, how I love my babies.

"I love my Daddy a million hundred thousand roads connected" - Caden

I cannot get over the heart of our little fellow. Steven has come home sick two days this week - and hurt his hand last night. When Steven yelled out in pain, Caden jumped to action. He brought Steven to the sink and proceeded to clean his hand saying, "Now this is going to hurt, but it will make it better." He went and found Band-Aids and dried Steven's hair with a towel and curled it with his fingers. (Steven had been in the bathtub.) I did not know any of this was going on until Caden came to me asking for our favorite blanket so Daddy could cuddle up on the couch.

Caden loves his Daddy so very, very much. Check out this picture of him with his sick Daddy. He was even trying to cock his head in the same way as Steven. My sweet, sweet boys.

She's ever so picky

Joanna doesn't like to eat food unless it's pears. She doesn't like to drink from a bottle unless it's just the right temperature. She doesn't like to sleep unless it's in my arms. She doesn't like strangers, and she doesn't like to be alone.
But I'll tell you what she does like: She loves to smile. She loves to laugh. She loves children. She LOVES her mommy and daddy and LOVES LOVES LOVES her brother. She loves her special doll Caden picked out for her for Christmas (even woke up happy with it in her bed). And she loves to be outside.
Her pickiness may be exhausting now, but if she can be this picky when she is grown enough to pick her life mate or career, I'll be happy.

There's nothing to do.

Some of my favorite days are when there is nothing to do. Today was one of those days, and it was perfect. Caden, Joanna and I had the day to ourselves. We only had one errand to do - and it was a fast one, getting money for the upcoming weekend! So we had time today for watching cartoons, watching "The Incredibles," playing Play-doh, eating marshmallows on the couch, making smoothies, playing the War card game (in underwear while eating an apple - Caden, not me), "camping" in Caden's room, tickling Joanna, and getting around to putting together some presents we received from Christmas. Joanna loved the new toy we assembled for her:



And Caden loved the box:

"It's a beautiful day. Let's run and play and punch." - Caden

One of my favorite times of the day is the first thing in the morning. These days I often wake up on the couch, so Joanna is already right next to me, sometimes awake and sometimes still snoozing. The day officially begins when Caden wakes and walks in - often with Lucky in hand - and climbs up on the couch with me. We snuggle up on the couch under the covers - sometimes for just a minute, sometimes longer. He can never wait for me to pull Joanna up on the couch with us. I'm often barely awake - just so so tired - but I LOVE this time. My babies are so snugly and cuddly in the morning. And so very, very happy. They love each other SO very much. Their faces just light up when they see each other.
This morning Caden kept singing, "It's a beautiful day, let's run and play. It's a beautiful day, let's run and play" over and over - a take on the popular U2 song. But then he added another version, "It's a beautiful day. Let's run and play and punch. It's a beautiful day. Let's run and play and punch." He's definitely my boy boy, but he's thoughtful enough to "play punch" with baby. So funny. Then he adds, "When will baby be able to run?" He just can't wait to play together with Joanna - my little angels, built-in friends.

Rainy Days

Alabama has seen its fair share of rain this year, which is a wonderful thing since we've been in a severe drought for many, many years. The rain is also wonderful for little boys. Playing in the rain is a fond memory of mine (I still have my childhood umbrella), so when it was raining today we went for it. There was plenty of rain and no lightning, and the mud was perfect for jumping.
Joanna wasn't so sure, as you can see.



My little boy sure knows how to play, and he sure knows how to warm up as well. He can cuddle up with the best of 'em.