Take Him to the Bars!

Quick, somebody take Caden out to the bars for a belated celebration of his 21 month “birthday”. Oh wait…that is 21 years.  Oopsy.

On November 27th, Caden became a whopping 21 months old. So close to two! Last month for Caden was obviously dominated by his new role as a big brother.  He is doing so well and is a wonderful helper!  So far, Caden has nothing but love for his little brother.  He seems to have taken to his new title very seriously and will search the house for blankets and/or burpcloths to bring us so we can “cover brother up”.  In the mornings when Caden wakes up he truly bounces into our bedroom to peek and point at brother in his bassinet (he also usually insists we get him up and out to go to breakfast with us which we are trying to break) before heading to the kitchen.  Likewise, at night he wants to give brother a snuggle and goodnight wave before he does us as he heads upstairs. In love.

There were a few rough days when we first came home that surely had to do with the new baby but not directly.  Caden wanted nothing to do with me but wasn’t jealous that I was with Everett.  He just wanted Colter all the time and some extra snuggles.  I’m talking wouldn’t look at me, play with me, let me feed him, put him to bed etc.  Fortunately the night before Colter went back to work he asked me to put him to bed and did so with hugs and kisses. Phew!

There have been many sweet, precious moments on his part as a big brother that I will have to grasp onto when Everett starts reaching for his toys and Caden changes his opinion.  Until that day comes I will relish in the sweetness.

In non big brother news, Caden went through a HUGE growth spurt last month.  I kid you not when I say he spent the entire day in and out of his chair eating.  It made me nervous for teenage boys because at toddler age he almost ate us out of house and home.  I am happy to say he is back to his normal eating which is still about as much as I eat. Porker.

He has two new obsessions. School buses and Mickey.  (notice the Mickey book he brought Uncle Drew to read to him when they were at the house) School buses came along with his truck and airplane infatuation (which is still going strong along with “the farm”) but we got him a school bus toy that he could probably play with all day.  He still points out the trucks and airplanes with excited “Ohhhhh”s but when he sees a school bus now he practically shreaks with joy and bounces excitedly.  Mickey isn’t so much of an obsession as an instant happy maker.  Caden doesn’t pay attention to the TV much, but really likes to see Mickey at the beginning and end of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  It is a helpful distraction if I need a few minutes with Everett because he will laugh and point to Mickey for a few minutes.  There is also a Mickey Mouse on one of his Crocs that he loves to show off too.  I can totally handle Mickey.  Colter can’t stand all of their voices but I told him that Mickey is the best of the cartoon voices so to just take it.

I think the fact that he realized his life is run by his parents caused him to enjoy controlling the dogs this month.  He will tease them, and push them out of his way just because he can.  While once best friends, he and Thrasher have been having their territory battles lately.  One minute they hate the sight of each other the next they are snuggling.  True best friends I suppose?  Caden has a new fondness for Bo which to be seems because of their sizes now.  He loves to lay down with him, get in his dog bed and give him pets, although they occasionally turn into smacks which lands him in timeout.

Ooooo, timeout! Yes, we started timeout last month but just for the big things.  Unfortunately, Caden kind of likes it.  Well, it is strange.  He knows he is in trouble, and he doesn’t like that but if you tell him now “No hitting.” which is something that lands him in timeout after a warning, he will take himself straight to timeout and sit down because he knows that is what happens.  So, even if you weren’t planning on that being a timeout he will take himself to timeout.  He is really good about giving a hug to whoever he was in timeout for (mom, dad, dogs) to say he is sorry when he gets out though and then he doesn’t repeat the behavior.  Progress!

All in all life for our baby boy (which I am not allowed to call him anymore) is still swell and full of love, food, and playtime.  Who could ask for anything more?