Fun at the Zoo!

Last month we bought a season pass to the zoo so that we can take Caden to see the animals anytime we want. The zoo is close by, and they just opened a new elephant exhibit.

Here is a pic of April and Caden when we arrived at the park.




This 2nd pic is practically prophetic; we'll be saying this phrase in just a few months!

Graduation Day

The day we brought Caden home from the hospital, it seemed the car seat swallowed him.

Yesterday, Caden gratuated from his "baby" car seat to a "big boy" car seat. Once again, he looks too little for his car seat...but little boys grow.



We're half way through our first year with baby Caden...amazing!

Peak-A-Boo

Caden is learning to push up on his hands while playing on his tummy. In this case....he was supposed to be taking a nap. He was crying and I went in to check on him. This is what I saw: two little eyes peaking through the rails over his bumper pad. I started laughing, Caden smiled, and I went to grab the camera. It won't be long now and he'll figure out how to move those arms and legs and we won't be able to keep up with him.

Caden's 1st Easter

Caden spent his first Easter in Searcy, Arkansas. We took a trip to Harding University to see Spring Sing one last time before leaving for Africa. Although Caden missed out on the show (it was his bedtime and the noise level would have been disastrous for all involved), he had a great weekend meeting many of Mommy & Daddy's friends. He also did very well in the long car rides there and back. Thanks to Gamma for Caden's cute "My First Easter" bib. It completes the picture, don't ya think?!

Are you reading this?

If you read our blog...we want to know! We enjoyed our weekend in Searcy and sharing Caden with lots of friends. As we talked about our lives, so many times people responded with, "Oh yea, I read that on your blog!" Really?! We had no idea so many people were reading this other than our family and a few friends. So, I want to ask you to help us out... if you read our blog, please leave us a comment. You don't have to have an account with "Blogger".

Simply click on comments below, a new screen will open and all you need to do is write a comment or just type your name in the box titled Leave your comment. Then you have several options: 1. if you do have a "Blogger" account, sign in and post 2. click other and enter your name (no web page required) 3. click anonymous ...but be sure to include your name in your comment.

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Thanks for helping us! Each comment is always encouraging to us...feel free to leave one any time!

Happy Easter!

Caden enjoyed an earlier visit from the Easter Bunny. We will be in Searcy for Spring Sing on Easter Weekend. We posted these pictures in our team newsletter, but thought many of your would enjoy seeing them. If you'd like to receive our weekly newsletter via email, let us know, we'll be happy to add you.

1st Time on Daddy's Shoulders!

Yesterday was the first of many trips for little Caden on Daddy's shoulders. He went all the way from the car, up 3 flights of stairs, and into the living room of our apartment while perched behind Daddy's neck. Caden loved the view from way up high, and Daddy just loved the thrill of having his first born son on his shoulders. Just another of our little daily blessings...

Cousins Day!

Yesterday Aunt Betsy had to run some errands, and she left Owen and Dawson with April and Caden for the morning. The boys had lots of fun taking a walk, petting a duck, visiting the pool, and watching videos. This is a pic of the 3 of them enthralled by an animated version of "Tikki Tikki Tembo". A good time was had by all!

It's true...

babies will put anything in their mouths!

Chillin' With Daddy

Gotta love Saturdays. This is a pic of us just lounging around on a lazy Saturday in April. I actually get to see Caden quite a bit during the week between the 1 1/2 hour lunch I spend at home and the fact that I get home from school at 3:30 everyday, but there is just something beautiful about Saturdays. Slowly waking up, getting Caden in bed with us, layin' there playin' for awhile, and then spending the whole day just chillin' together. I don't know who dreamed up the 5 day work week, but I want to publicly thank them on behalf of myself and Caden and all of the quality time we get to spend together on Saturdays!

Ma & Pa Pip

Caden was blessed to spend some time with one of his sets of great grand-parents this weekend. Ray and Nora Pippin stopped for the night on their way home from wintering in Florida. He had alot of fun with them and we greatly enjoy their visits and their continued support. Praise God for our amazing families!

Yes, two pink lines means you're pregnant. We have a little secret of our own that we have been keeping from our friends and family. Caden will be having a little brother or sister in about six months, meaning our baby will be born in France during our time of language school. We are very excited about this new addition, but not nearly excited as we are to tell you april fools. Hope you enjoyed a little joke or two of your own. ;) By the way, this was the test we took when we found out we were pregnant with Caden...only, then he was just a "baby".

Babies in our plant

We have a new addition to our family. Brett bought me a hanging plant last month and the birds seemed to like it. Then when I was watering the plant before we left, I noticed a nest beginning . When I returned, the nest was bigger and there was a bird in my plant. Since then, I have yet to find a moment when a bird is not in my plant. Therefore, I think my plant is dying. My mom said I could water around the nest...but I'm fearful of being attacked by a bird. We have also witnessed the "changing of the guards" as mom and dad switched places. Spring is going to be fun around here as we watch the birth of babies in our plant.

Cereal Time!

Caden tasted rice cereal for the first time last night. At first, he wasn't so sure what it was that Mommy was putting in his mouth. But, he continue to let me give it to him. He did shiver a few times, but never cried. He ate from Mommy and Daddy. I think his favorite part was chewing on the rubber tipped spoon after each bite.

Oh, and in case you were wondering...no, he did not sleep through the night. In fact, it was just the opposite. I think his grandparents spoiled him last week because once I put him in bed with us, he went right to sleep...he's a cuddler!

5 months

Caden is now 5 months old and keeping us busy. He's not crawling or even sitting up on his own (although he's close), but he wants our constant attention. He also thinks he should be standing all the time, as you can see from the picture. His squeals seem to be getting higher pitched and his "talking" is getting louder. Sometimes Brett and I just look at each other and laugh. We love our little boy and cherish each day with him...even the hard ones.

Time To Move

This is where we found Caden yesterday when we thought he was taking a nap in his cradle. As you can see, he wiggled himself out of his sleep positioner and found the corner. Thankfully, my dad made the cradle so it couldn't be tipped over by an older child...who knew we would need it for the child in the cradle. I think it's time to move him to the crib in his room.

You can also see that Caden loves to play with his toes. He can now put them in his mouth and will soak his footed sleepers if we don't take his feet out.

My Boys

All is well in the Emerson home...my boys are home and asleep. One in the big bed - one in the small bed. I only wish I could take a picture for all of you. They both have one arm raised and the other on their tummy. Very sweet. All is well in the Emerson home...my boys are home and asleep...and I... I am a very blessed woman.

Caden's Great-Grandparents

Caden enjoyed a visit with his GrannyDot and Grandaddy this weekend. They drove all the way from Arlington, TX to Memphis, TN to play with him. I'm not sure who had more fun, Caden or his great-grandparents...or maybe his Mommy.

A Happy Family

This picture was taken for Brett to take with him on his trip to Africa. It was too cute to not share with everyone else. Brett leaves today and will be gone until Tuesday the 28th. Please be praying for us while we're apart. April and Caden will be traveling to Memphis and then to Nashville to be with family.

Little Lovey

I was scrolling through Caden's newborn pictures and find this one and thought, "Wow. That lamb looks really big." I decided I would take a picture of him sleeping with the lamb and compare the two. The first picture was taken when Caden was only two days old...the second was taken today (4 months old).

Enjoying Outside

The weather here in Montgomery has been unseasonably warm. We took Caden to the park next to our apartment complex to enjoy the pretty weather. Playing on the blanket next to the lake where the ducks and geese were made the experience one to remember.

the cuteness continues....

Angry Caden

For those of you who keep asking, "Does he ever cry?"....the answer is yes. Most of the time it is because he is really really tired or he really really wants your attention. I decided the world needed to see a crying Caden in order to appreciate the happy, smiley Caden even more. I definitely prefer the happy Caden....but he's cute even when he's angry, don't ya think?!

We've got ourselves a thumbsucker...

Caden has decided to latch on to his left thumb...often prefering it over his pacifier.

Well Baby Checkup

Our 4 month checkup went great. Baby Caden is "long and lean". He measured 26 inches long (80th percentile) and weighed 12 lbs. 15 oz. (25th percentile). He's right on track as far as skills go and the doctor seemed pleased with his progress.

Daddy & Caden Time

Caden loves his Daddy...I mean he really loves his Daddy! Brett can always make Caden smile and laugh. He has a special touch that is beautiful to watch. Mommy loves Daddy, too. I love watching Brett play with Caden and I also love the break I get when Brett comes home from school. Brett is an amazing Daddy (just like I always knew he would be) and I think I have his Dad to thank for that. Darrel has always been very involved in the lives of his children as well as his grandchildren. So thank you Darrel and thank you Brett for being wonderful Dads!

4 months!

I couldn't decide on ONE picture....he's just too cute!
Happy 4 months, Caden!

Caden Is Rolling Over!!!

Today I thought I'd try and bathe Caden in his little bathtub placed in the big bathtub rather than the kitchen counter. He did not like the sound of the water coming out of the faucet. So, I layed him on his towel on the bathroom floor and proceeded to move all the bath "gear" to the kitchen. When I returned, he was almost on his tummy. I ran to get the camera and the first picture you see is where I found him when I came back. I was able to get part of a video of him later if anyone would like me to email it to them. Quite exciting! Our little boy is rolling from his back to tummy! Amazing!

Caden's 1st Snow & a Visit With Uncle Allen

We were in Gatlinburg, TN this past weekend for Winterfest with our teens from GracePointe. On Saturday, our teens were very excited to awake to lots of snow falling from the sky. Most of them reported that they hadn't seen snow since the 5th or 6th grade. Caden didn't actually get to experience the feeling of snow because his loving parents were very careful to keep him nice and warm. You can see we used a poncho (thanks Winterfest!) to create a make-shift rain cover so Caden could stay dry in his stroller. The stroller made traveling to and from the Convention Center much easier as Caden enjoyed playing and sleeping in his stroller. We were also able to introduce Caden to some friends as well as spend time with Uncle Allen (he was there recruiting for Pepperdine). The teens had a great time, the chaperones enjoyed themselves (although very tired as we returned home) and the Emersons have conquered another adventure of being parents of a very well-behaved baby.

The Classic "Cousins Pic"

Ok, ok, so this is not the best picture ever. Owen is doing something wierd with his eyeballs, Caden is looking off to the side and is generally in a daze, and Dawson apparently doesn't realize that Caden's head is too small to hide behind.

So why this picture? Too often we post the "perfect pic" on this blog, the one where for a split second multiple small children manage to come together after being bribed with a treat of some sort for a fleeting moment of photographic harmony. The thing is, that usually takes about 586 takes to achieve. So today, for your viewing pleasure, is a little slice of the real world of photographing our boys!

Happy Valentines Day

Caden's Gamma made him this awesome Valentine's Day bib. We think he likes it, because he proceeded to drool all over it as soon as we put it on him. Of course, he drools on just about everything these days (including the Valentine outfit he's wearing that his Nanna gave him before the bib was put on). A little while ago he discovered his hands, and they seem to spend copious amounts of time in or around his mouth now.

Hope this makes you hungry for a big, wet Valentine's Day smooch!

Caden loves his cousins!

Owen was kind enough to share his sunglasses with Caden....ok, really he just wanted to see what Caden would look like with them on. Dawson jumped in the picture just in time for this shot. Caden loves to watch the boys as they sing songs, read books, or act silly just for him. It is quite a show sometimes. We look forward to Nate (his Nashville cousin) joining in on the fun soon...and also Mallory (the unborn Nashville cousin) :)

Daddy & Son

What do you think...does he look like his Daddy?

Mommy & Son

...or his Mommy?

The Looches Meet Caden!

Our dear friends Erik and Sonya Luchauer (The Looches) made a trip to Montgomery from Knoxville to meet and spend time with Caden. Here is a pic of Erik playing with him while April and Sonya sit and talk. We had a amazing whirlwind weekend with them here, and their visit was another reminder of how blessed we are to have so many faithful and true friends in our lives. We love you Looches!

Warning: Graphic Nudity

Betsy took Caden's 3 month pictures this past weekend. He was very happy and cooperative, and we got lots of good pics. We'll post some of them soon, but for now here is a candid shot of Caden modeling. As you can see he's not shy about letting it all hang out. That's my boy!

Cute Little Caden

Caden loves to sit and stand up with help. If you let him grab your hands, he will pull himself up to a standing position every time. His smile and "noises" (which are now turning into squeals) continue to keep us laughing!

Look At Me Grow

**Click on the picture to enlarge it.**

Happy 3 Months Caden!

It has become our tradition to take Caden's growing pictures with his teddy bear, Mattie. Caden was in a great mood for these shots as you can see by his smiles :) We couldn't decide on just one, so here are two good ones for your viewing pleasure! We can't believe its been 3 months already. Caden has blessed our lives beyond words, and we continue to grow as parents every day.