Introducing #9
On August 26th
Caden’s 9th Cousin Was Born
Kaylie Brooklyn Kazmann
7 lbs 3 ounces
Proud Parents ~ Jordan and Maddie
This past weekend my camera and I went to meet her.
She is the first girl out of Colter and his two brothers.
Kaylie has two protective older brothers.
(JP is almost 4 and Braiden is almost 2 1/2.)
Not only is she my newest niece.
This weekend she became my Goddaughter!
That’s right…I now get to be a Fairy Godmother and you can just refer to Colter as “The Godfather” from now on.
Kaylie joins Caroline, Cate, Cathryn, Cameron, JP, Braiden and Locke in Caden’s list of cousins.
He is such a lucky boy!
Very Merry Indeed
An exciting, family filled, loving, memorable Christmas was had by all and I am tired. Am I supposed to admit that? I think I am still finding flour from baking in strange places too. Pockets…socks…you know, perfectly normal right?
I remember last year’s Christmas like it just happened; there I was waddling around thinking about how the little man who was having a party inside my tummy would be partying with us the following Christmas. Boy was I right. Party,
party party! Since the decor went up after Thanksgiving I have been so looking forward to Caden’s first Christmas. Not looking forward to it in the sense that he would remember it etc. – because he won’t, but looking forward to having a little family of my own to celebrate with. He may not remember his first Christmas, but we will. Christmas is truly magical with kids around, even when they are too young to understand or grasp the whole idea. Magical. Fortunately we not only had Caden, but his Cousins too: Cathryn, JP and Braiden were all in town with us!
In my completely biased opinion, Caden was the perfect age for his first Christmas. 
Old enough to love the lights, want to torment the tree, laugh at the music (Jingle Bells in particular)and snuggle his very own Rudolph but young enough to still let us dress him in ridiculous holiday get-ups and cuddle us to sleep. You know, the important stuff. 
Caden was spoiled by all (and we were too) and I can honestly say he has been using every contraption (which he unwrapped like a pro) that is causing our living room to look like Toys R’ Us with the excitement of well…a kid who has 
new toys. Funny how he is already bored with the old “junk”.
Dana hosted a beautiful Christmas Eve dinner complete with Cinnamon Corn Casseroleas I mentioned on the 12 Days of Treats and Eats. Christmas Eve is where we get to spend time with my side of the family and Caden loved w
atching Cousin Cathryn run around. I can already sense the trouble they will get into once he is off and really running! I know that my Dad, Jill and Grandma thoroughly enjoyed having kiddos around at Christmas again too. We had a real treat on Christmas Day with all the the Kazmann brothers in town!
Nonna and Pa Pa loved on our sweet boy and his cousins and showered him with all the necessary essentials a boy of ten months should have! We are so fortunate to be loved by so many and to have all of them want to love on us and Caden as well.
It is hard to believe that a baby boy who wasn’t even present 
Christmas was very much the center this year. As we weaved our way through the shreds of wrapping paper of stacks of boxes we realized that our holidays have forever changed and even with the impossible to get out of the box toys (we aren’t talking silly twist ties anymore people) we are grateful for all of our family and friends who made this Christmas so wonderful!
Now…if only I could find my way to the bed without stepping on a block or a car or a cookie monster doll or a….I think you get the idea.
Cousin to the 6th Power
Today, Caden was lucky enough to gain his sixth cousin. Count it, six!
Caroline (6), JP (3), Cate (2.5), Cathryn (2), Braiden (1.5)
And Now Introducing….
Cameron Michael Orr
5 lbs 10 oz
He was welcomed by his wonderful parents and a very proud big sister Cathryn.
My newest nephew is named after his two grandfathers, and although he arrived a few weeks early and is just a smidge smaller than his big sister was, he is a healthy and currently hairy little man! Congrats to Drew and Jess, we are thankful for our newest family member.
Add the Caption – Birthday Edition
My sweet little niece isn’t so little anymore! Miss Cathryn turned TWO this past weekend, TWO years old!
In honor of this occasion we will have a little Add the Caption contest with triple the chance to win! Below you will see three pictures of this baby girl…I mean little lady. You can add a caption for each picture, just one, two…you get the idea. The number of captions you add will be the number of times you are entered for a random drawing winner! (Be sure to label which picture you are adding the caption for!)
But wait….there is more. I’m feeling generous. It is birthdays, they just get me and make me want to give!
Giftcard #1 = Randomly Selected Winner
Giftcard #2 = Most Creative Caption for One Picture
Picture #1 – Cathryn’s BIRTH day on July 30th, 2008
Picture #2 – Cathryn’s 1st Birthday, July 30th, 2009
Picture #3 – Cathryn the Two Year Old!!!
Contest Ends Friday, August 6th at 4 p.m. – CONTEST CLOSED
Leave your captions in the Comments section or E-Mail them to lifeofthekazmanns@gmail.com
CONGRATULATIONS TO….
Kathy for being the most creative! Not only did I enjoy your captions but everyone else practically voted for you as well as they were entering their own. I have to say, Jess’ were funny as well. Knowing this little angel made her mother’s captions of what was going on in her head pretty priceless!
Our high tech random winner by drawing names out of a hat was….
Allyson
Your giftcards will me in the mail shortly, keep you eyes peeled for another round to come soon!
Swingin’ Weather
Thank goodness the weather has turned, which naturally means it is park time!
Cathryn is getting too big for words, but that girl could swing for days!
The Love in a Hug
She hugs now. Stuffed animals…pups…aunties…toys…grandpas.
Hugs. Real, squeezing hugs.
Umprompted hugs even.
Beat that.
My How She Has Grown
Oh, about a year ago (and a few days change if you’re that specific) I proudly took this picture.
A week or so after that there was this one…
And the next 50 weeks, or 360ish days were filled with about as many pictures of my beautiful niece Cathryn Marie.
This past week, Ms. Cathryn turned one and this past weekend we celebrated with quite a fiesta in her honor. As her big birthday approached even as her auntie I was filled with mixed emotions (Yes, I already know I’m sure I’ll be a wreck with my own, you don’t have to comment) because well, I Love Her…and I Love Her tiny.
First, I am going to try to keep this to the point and not get mushy because I don’t do well with mushy. I can only do mushy if I no no one will see or read it while I am around and even though I don’t sit with you while you read this, well I out it out there. To – the point. You see, I am blessed with two nephews and three nieces, but Cathryn was the first of these to be born near Colter and I (within 25 minutes)and so we have been even luckier when it comes to the time we have been able to spend with her. I missed so much yet I can say that I feel I saw most of the big moments within a week or so of their first occurrence. Exploding newborn diapers? Yup, check. Thanks Cathryn for that treat the first time we watched you at 2 weeks by the way. Scooting to crawling? Yup, one weekend to the next. Teethies? Two, down low. I know you love how I threw in the diaper incident as a major milestone, but trust me if you had been there, you would so understand. What I enjoyed most was watching her this year through my camera lens and documenting it how I saw her.
You have seen her grow as well through many posts about family visits and so forth and yes I am a biased auntie, but she is wonderful. The second part about this whole “watching her grow” sappy mumbo jumbo is the fact that I also got to watch Drew and Jess come into their own as parents and as a true team for her. 
Watching my brother with Cathryn is so sweet for me, it just hits that soft spot that makes you want to make baby noises at him as well has her. (Sorry Jess, its just because he is my brother not because you aren’t just as adorable as well! ) Its just that, I know my mom would be so proud. Jess has said it many a time, but he is a very hands on, want to hold and play and talk to her kind of Dad. Just how they should be. I’m sure there are plenty of times when my eyes aren’t watching that he won’t get off his lazy, video gaming behind but I’m not here to report on that…just good things from me. You know, sunshine and rainbows.
Cathryn was a champ at her party. She opened presents like she knew something exciting was in them and even pulled clothes out of gift bags to admire them, pet them…and them plop them on the floor. I must say her curiosity for what is in bags of any kind couldn’t have come at a more convenient time. I can say, she loves my arms but it is really only because I play the “hold me upside down again auntie” game with her whenever she wants for as long as she wants. What can I say, I am a pleaser. Jess wrote a lovely post about this milestone at www.orrkids.netif you are interested and well I have already weeped enough about her not just being a certain number of months old so I am going to leave you some money shots from the party to perk us all up!
Independence
Do it on your own and be happy that you can.
Child’s Play
Turns out, you CAN teach a new child, new tricks. 
Peek – A – Boo anyone?