Christmas Cookies

I helped Mommy mix up the dough and frosting. We LOVE our Hobart mixer--thanks Daddy!

Ellis helped Mommy roll out and cut the cookies into snowflakes, stars and trees.

Then I helped frost the cookies!

Hands

Who knew hands could be so much fun?!?! Now, if I could only get them BOTH in my mouth! I try so hard. I even talk to them, but they just won't fit. Kaden doesn't chew on his hands, but he can sure pound a hammer with his hands. Here are a couple videos of us using our hands.

Quick Note

Just a quick note....... since I'm such a busy boy. All is great here. I'm starting to get this English thing down. Here I am making some animal sounds (and, yes, I say "boooo" for the cow but it's close enough for now!). I've also added some pictures of my not-so-little little brother. The Dr. told him he was the size of a 4 month old at his 2 month check-up! He's following in my footsteps of being a good eater!

Sounds Around Our House

Our house isn't a quiet house! Kaden and I both speak our own languages throughout the day, although Kaden is starting to say some words that mommy and daddy understand. I "talk" quite a bit softer than Kaden, but my "words" are just as important! Here is a video of me talking to mommy. Kaden's video shows his LOVE for tomatoes!

Pumpkin Patch 2009

The weather finally cooperated (and we were in town) for us to get out to the pumpkin patch this past weekend. Ellis was a little young to enjoy it, but I sure had fun. I saw lots of pumpkins, a big apple orchard, goats, tractors and lots of people. Here is a pretty decent picture of my family that some nice lady took for us. I am about 2 and 1/2 feet tall!!!

Here I am checking out the scenery on a hay ride. Ellis didn't see much because he was fast asleep.
I had fun walking through the corn maze. Mommy and Daddy had to watch me close because I blended in!

Caught on Camera

I started smiling a couple weeks ago, but I am VERY stingy with them. Mommy finally had the camera handy at the right times to catch me smiling.

Kaden wanted me to show you he's still smiling too! (And he loves all the toys that used to be his, like this Bumbo chair!)

When I'm in my smiling moods, I am also quite the talker. Here is a quick video of my sweet voice after I got out of the bath at grandma and grandpa's house.

I'll Show You!

My brother Ellis likes to lay under this toy that plays music for him. Here I am trying to teach him how to dance to the music. I'm such a helpful big brother!!!

Update

We have been thinking really hard about what to do about this blog now that I (Ellis) have joined the family. We have decided that we will keep it as is and Kaden and I will take turns writing. Mommy wanted to keep everything in one place and not make things more complicated for herself or others. Time is very limited around here these days! Here are a few pictures of what's been going on around here since I graced everyone with my presence! Do you think we look anything alike? It's hard to tell because Kaden had so much hair!

Kaden is waaaaaay too busy to sit still for pictures with me!

Can you find Kaden in the picture above?

I'm a Big Brother!

The day has come......I am a big brother to Ellis Paul! He was born last Tuesday, September 1st. Daddy woke me up in the middle of the night to go to the hospital. Auntie Ann and Uncle Tom came to get me there while Mommy and Daddy rushed inside. I had a fun time playing with cousins Paul and Ellie until Grandma Mary Ann got to town. Grandma and I spent a lot of time together this past week. She even taught me a new word..."gaa" which means gone and I put my hand in the air.

Ellis is a good little brother. I've been told to be "nice" and "gentle" A LOT since he's been here. I like to look at him and smile. I can even give him kisses! It's been hard for Mommy to get pictures of us together. I'm not so good at sitting still these days and I just want to grab Ellis! Here are a few pictures of us.

Zoo

My new favorite TV show is Planet Earth. I LOVE watching the animals and asking "What's that?" Mommy thought a trip to the zoo was in order due to my new found love for animals. Here are some pictures of Daddy and I checking out the lions and tigers (Daddy's favorite!)

**Special Note**
I realize I forgot to put up "after" pictures of my haircut. Here is the best one Mommy has.

Haircut Round 2

As I stated in my previous entry, I was long over-due for a haircut. We put it off because of how I handled my first one. Let's just say this time was MUCH better! After 45 minutes of playing and waiting (guess that's what happens when you go on a Saturday morning) I started to whine when they called my name. This made Mommy and Daddy really nervous of what was to come, but I proved them wrong! I sat in the chair like the big boy that I am and munched on my graham crackers. Thanks Crystal for making me look like a boy again! We'll remember you for next time!!

Go Vikes!

I went to my first Vikings game on Friday night. I wasn't so sure about all the noise and fireworks at the beginning...I just sat there with a concerned look on my face and a few occasional tears. Once the game got going and everyone settled down about Brett Favre being on the field, I was back to myself. I think my favorite part was the warm ups when there were lots of balls on the field. Every time I saw a ball (which was a lot) I pointed and yelled "ball!" You're probably going to notice how long and out of control my hair is in these pictures. A haircut was a MUST the next day. Daddy was afraid I was starting to look like a little girl!

And we're off to the game. Mommy and I played a little pre-game catch in the car!

Underwater World

I went to Underwater World with my friend Sylvia. I wasn't so sure about it to begin with. It was dark, musty, and it smelled weird. I clung to Daddy pretty tight! I was much more relaxed once we got to the aquarium part. I saw lots of fish, turtles, sharks, stingrays and more.

That's a BIG stingray!

Sylvia and I with our daddies. Sylvia's daddy told me that if I stay a nice, good-looking boy, I could date her when I get older!

Look at the shark above our heads!

Sylvia face-to-face with a shark!

Reading

I love books! I love being read to and I can even read on my own. I've been turning the pages of books for a long time, but now I am voicing what's on the pages. It might sound like a different language to you, but I know exactly what I'm saying! I'm so smart that the other night when Mommy told me to go get Goodnight Moon, I walked over to a pile of like 15 books and brought back Goodnight Moon. She and Daddy were so impressed!

Here is a video of me reading a book about colors. It teaches me how to say colors in 5 different languages, so maybe I'm picking up on those instead of English!

When Grandma Mary Ann was reading my Tractor book to me she showed me that there was a mouse on every page. I thought this was so cool that I search for him on every page now. Watch my face--it's no secret when I spot the mouse! I have the "surprised" look down!

Buds

The other day I went to a beach with my cousins Anika and Jacob. Jacob and I are only 13 days apart in age. We don't really know how to play with each other yet, but we're getting there. We are both really into balls and carry and chase them everywhere. Here are some pictures of us playing next to each other. I think Anika was busy burying her legs in the sand, so she didn't make it in any of these pictures.

"Hey, the ball went that way!"