We Love This THREE Year Old

Caden's birthday is Saturday, but we already had his party...so for all purposes, he's three now.

Birthday friends: Gabriel, Caden, Asher, Caleb

Happy Party, Caden!

Instead of saying "birthday party" or "happy birthday", Caden refers to it as "happy party". We had an Elmo-themed party (thanks to Gamma and Nanna for the great decor!) complete with friends, games, presents, and cake. Even now, he continues to ask about his party...I think he wants another one. Sorry, buddy, you'll have to wait a whole year.

Pin the "nose" on Elmo game

Dorothy's Goldfish Bowl: the object was to pass water from cup to cup and fill Dorothy's goldfish bowl in record time.

Birthday cake with a "3" candle

Elmo cupcakes for the kids

...and the presentsReeves: ABC scripture book, The Lord Is My Shepherd
Millers: bean bag toss game (homemade...Caden loves it!)
Family: Bob the Builder shirt, Mr. Potato Head, big-boy bike

Caden_bike
Uploaded by emersonstogo

A few more...

Here's a few more of my favorites from our time with my parents:


Can we say tourist?!We took these last ones just before my parents left...

Hellos and Goodbyes

One of the blessings of living in Africa is having people in our homes for extended stays. Although some people are fearful of being a burden on us, it is actually quite the opposite...we LOVE it! The part we don't like is having to say goodbye and send them home. We have done more of this in the past two weeks than we prefer. We enjoyed our first group from GracePointe (our sponsoring congregation from Montgomery, AL) and then April's parents arrived just as they were leaving. We are now saying goodbye to them and our hearts are full. Our boys might go through a social withdrawal when we arrive back home. So where does this leave us? Treasuring the memories we have made and looking forward to the new ones on their way with the next set of visitors. Come see us, we love it!

Oh, Caden....

It's the story that every mom tells...



It's the story that every mom dreads...


He smashed his finger in a screen door. His fingernail immediately turned purple. Now, he has no fingernail. Caden enjoyed showing everyone his "puwple feener" while it lasted...but this momma is just glad it's healing.

It's the picture of the 2nd born thrown in just for fun...

I Used to Make Fun of My Older Brother For This...

...but now I do it, and so does my first born...Let's face it people, crossing your legs like a woman is actually quite manly!

Marty, Louise, & 4T's

Here are a few pics from our time in Tabligbo with the Koonce fam. It was truly blessed in so many ways! We prayed together, worked together, had fun together, and basically just lived together for 4 straight days. Even with 4 boys and a somewhat regimented routine (uh, Marty), we very easily integrated into their family and work.
Here are Caden and Trevor being silly. They are the closest in age in our families (almost 3 years and 7 years), but light years apart in practice. Trevor had a classic quote when he told April: "There seems to be alot of stress in your family". Don't we know it little dude! We'll just wait patiently for our little friend to be the married father of two little boys traveling for a week straight before we issue our rebuttal :)
Tucker is great. Smart, funny, loving and self-aware; this kid has it all. Here he is playing with Corban which he did alot over the 4 days. We loved having the extra set of hands, thanks Tucker!Here is Tan the Man messing with Caden at breakfast one morning. Tanner is hilarious and a joy to be around. We were struck by the depth of his personality and his relationship with and understanding of God. He also made fun of Brett when he fell off of Marty's bike (a funny story), which is oddly endearing!

We somehow came away without a picture of Taylor, but we will just say this: There is a chance that you have never heard of this kid, but it won't last. He will be famous for something one day, and it's gonna be fun to watch him decide what it is. The look on Tay's face when he is determined to do something is seriously intense! Here is sweet Louise with our second born strapped to her back. Louise is an easy friend; never assumes, always loves, and makes anyone and everyone feel welcome. She loved having Corban around, and we were glad to have a few minutes here and there free from a clingy 9 month old! As for Marty, well, what can we say? Doesn't the plaque on the wall announcing him as Outstanding Young Alumni from old HU say it all? Seriously though, we love Marty. We've come a long way relationally since 2003 when we were interns, and we are better people for it. He is inspiring to be around, and the life he leads points everyone he comes into contact with towards relationship with God. Forget the fact that he counts peanuts and is obsessive about being exact when measuring kilometers; Marty we just love you man, and your family along with you. Thanks for a great week guys!

To Tabligbo We Go

Just wanted everyone to know that we have been in Lome' and Tabligbo, in southern Togo, for the last week. Internet is limited, and we will be back in contact sometime next week :)

We are being incredibly blessed by our time here with the Koonce family and we are so thankful to God for their true friendship!

Here's the video...

Friday Funnies

OK, so there's nothing really funny about this first picture (except maybe his huge cloth diaper bottom, ha!)...just wanted to show you what Corban can do. He unlocked that cabinet and opened it by himself.

Here come the funny pictures of Corban's new face....

What's even funnier is that Caden can get him to make this face better than we can. It's hilarious when they are both sitting at the table making these faces and then cracking up laughing at each other. I can only imagine we have years ahead of us with these kind of dinner table experiences....can't wait!

Labor Day Weekend...2001

We were here...What a wonderful 7 year journey this has been with my best friend. We're still writing our story, and it's getting really good!

Let It Rain!

I was in the back of the house as it started to rain this afternoon. I heard Caden whining, "No, no!" A few seconds later, Antoinette (our houseworker) came to tell me, "Caden just ran outside in the rain and refuses to come in." I told her it was OK as long as it was just rain and no thunder/lightning. I, being the good blogging mommy, grabbed the camera and ran to the door.
If only we all had Caden's attitude about rain...run and enjoy it before it's gone!Within a few minutes, he was completely soaked. Love it!

And a few more reminders of why I chose to be a stay-at-home Mommy...
I love that I am at home to catch these moments exactly as they happen. It's hard work that is rewarding when you witness the joys of childhood!!!

9 months

smiley Corban

laughing Corban

typical Corban

Our blue-eyed baby

At nine months, Corban is...
crawling like a champ
a jumping maniac
pulling up on everything
cruising
trying to do everything by holding on with just one hand
trying to be as tall as he can with his reaching skills
taking toys from his brother
never meeting a stranger
smiling at everyone
19.47 lbs. (8.85 kilos)
29.5 in.
50th percentile for weight & height
nursing and eating lots of baby food
still sporting 4 top teeth and 2 bottom ones
always chewing on his fingers
saying dada and other fun sounds
waving bye-bye & signing "all done"
(using the same cute opening and closing of hands)
scrunching up his nose for a funny face
simply a joy!

MOV01629
Uploaded by emersonstogo

"Teddy Bear Drink"

Well so much for not being able to share life as it happens. Just tonight, maybe 30 minutes before this is posted, Caden walked into the living room with his teddy bear, which is affectionately and appropriately named "Teddy Bear". April was in the boys' bedroom nursing Corban, and Caden walked from that room to the living room where Brett was and declared, "Teddy Bear Drink!" while holding Teddy Bear up to his chest in a ridiculously accurate nursing position!!!I guess we've got a few years to teach about gender differences, right?!?!

So Much For Life As It Happens

3 weeks after lightning struck our house and fried the phone lines, we are finally back online. Depending on your perspective, that's either a really long time or just about right; whether or not you live in Africa is the variable :) We usually try to update as life happens, but being a few weeks behind will have to suffice. 3 weeks is a long time on the life of a 9 month old!So we'll get the 'ol blog updated with some new pics of the boys, which is what we know everyone stops by for. Here's a recent one of Brett with his pride and joy. Pride is on the right, joy on the left, and vice versa :)

Corban - 8 months

That's right, our little baby is EIGHT months old and closer to one than I would like. Although he is just one month away from my favorite baby stage (9-12 months), I still feel like he is too much of a baby to already be 8 months. He's wearing 9 month clothing except when he has on a cloth diaper(...those things can give a baby such a ghetto booty), in which case he can't wear anything smaller than 12 months. He seems super long (just like Caden) but has more to him than Caden did at this age, which is nice because we don't have to roll his waist bands over to keep his pants up. He is making more and more sounds and even has quite a cute fake laugh. He gets frustrated/upset when he can't accomplish something he has set out to do and will protest when things are taken away from him. He's a fairly good eater and although he doesn't always like what we put in his mouth, he doesn't spit it out (I wonder how long that's going to last). He doesn't quite have the hang of sippy cups since he's rarely had a bottle. And, as you know he has 6 teeth...so biting occurs occasionally, but he is learning what "no biting!" means. Oh, and he loves to put anything and everything in his mouth, which can be quite a problem when thinking about Togo germs. When he gets up from his nap, if you show him a new person, he will lay his head on your shoulder in a cuddling manner...I love this trait! He loves Antoinette and will smile at her the moment she pays him any attention...but he loves it when she talks to him in French or Kabiye.

And he still thinks Caden is the most hilarious thing...in the world!

Love you sweet little boy!