Birthdays, Christmas, and other things

Cade is fast approaching his 3rd birthday. It's hard for me to believe that 3 years have passed. What a great 3 years it's been! He's definitely a wonderful and interesting child. He amuses us everyday with things he says or does.

I took him with me to the Jumperoo place that opened here in Neosho to schedule his birthday party. His birthday is January 22nd. I scheduled the party for the 23rd. I was paying and discussing how things work with the lady while Cade stood there. When I was done, I told him that it was time to go. He threw a fit and said "I want my birthday!" Then he proceeded to have a meltdown in the parking lot. I tried to explain to him that we had to have Christmas before his birthday. I'm sure all he heard was "blah blah blah". All the kid wanted was his birthday! :)

He's also started making a sound and motion that my dad does. It's very frightening to have Cade do this at such a young age. My dad watched the boys for a couple hours the other day. This is the mannerism Cade decided to pick up!

We have an elf Santa sent us. We've named him Christmas Steve. The reason behind that name is one evening I was explaining to Cade that Santa comes on Christmas Eve. He looked at me and said "We call him Christmas Steve?" So when we got our Elf on the Shelf we figured that was a great name for him. Steve is working to a point to keep Cade's behavior in check. But the wooden spoon seems to be the most effective.

Mason will be a year on February 5th. I can't believe he's already almost a year. He's walking some now. Not all the time, but he can do it. He's so funny. He likes to wrestle with his brother. He's saying bye bye, momma, dada (some but not as much as momma :) ) and uh oh.

I love everyday with my boys. Oh sure, they try my patience daily but I wouldn't have it any other way. Mike has even survived watching both boys by himself. Things are going good in the Spiva Household.

Santa and other things

Cade and Mike were getting a list together for Santa. We are taking Cade to Branson again this year. We've done this the last 2 years. We go down with Chrissy, Brett, and Michael. We stay at the Landing and go to Silver Dollar City. This is the first year that Cade really understands who Santa Claus is. I told him he would have to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what he wants for Christmas. At first, he told me I would have to hold him and he could tell Santa. But now, he's really interested in seeing Santa. I guess we'll see if he will sit on his lap when we get here.

Everyday he asks if we are going to see Santa. He also says he will ride the train at Silver Dollar City. We went there this summer and he got scared because the train whistle was loud and scared him. He said the whistle wasn't scary and he would ride the train. I hope he will enjoy it!

While they were making Cade's Christmas list, Cade was drawing on the pad. I started listening to what he was saying. He was saying "C a d e that spells Cade." Mike and I just looked at each other in astonishment. I had no idea he knew how to spell his name! Mike looked at me and said "he's not actually writing the letters, is he?" He wasn't. But I'm sure that's not that far away.

Mason stood for a few seconds over the weekend. I think he could do it but he knows he can get somewhere really fast just crawling. I don't know if he'll make it to a year before he's walking. I guess we'll see. Cade was moving around stuff pretty early and we were sure he'd be walking before he was a year old. But he didn't start walking until right before his first birthday.

Mason is babbling "bababa". Cade was also hollering the other day and Mason would holler. So Cade would holler and Mason would holler. It was pretty funny. They play pretty good together if Cade will be nice. And for the most part, he is. I remind him everyday to be nice to his brother because Santa Claus is watching and he won't bring him any toys if he's bad. :)

Talking back

Cade is into the talking back already! I thought we had a few years before this was going to happen. Here are some of the things he says now:

"Whatever"
"Don't talk to me like that" - he likes this one when he is getting in trouble
"Stop being bossy"
"You're being too loud"
"No"

He's also gotten ornery with his little brother. Mason does a good job of hollering out when Cade is doing something he doesn't like (like laying on top of him). And it won't be long before Mason can dish it back to Cade. I think I'll have my hands full even more then!!

On another note: Mason said "mamamama" today. I was so excited. Cade said "dadada" first.

Seed Ticks

I have to post this as a memory of Cade's toddlerhood. Although, I don't think it is anything I'll ever forget. Cade got into some seed ticks last night. Lots and lots of them. That was not at all fun. After soaking him in a bleach/water bath, I then had to pick the remaining ones off of him one by one. We've washed all the sheets, the car seats, any clothes he was wearing (and Mike). I do have to say that it is much easier to identify them on the young child who doesn't have hair or freckles/moles. Finding them on DADA was a harder task.

I hope to never have to deal with those ever again. Although, having boys, I'm not going to hold my breath!

First Trip to Dentist

I took Cade to the dentist for the first time Monday. He was such a big boy. He hopped right up in the chair, opened his mouth wide, and let her count his teeth. He also let her polish them. The hygienist kept saying she couldn't believe how good he was. She said that she has 9 and 10 year olds that refuse to open and won't let her do what she needs to do. I told her it could have gone either way. I was so glad he decided to be a good boy! He's growing up so fast.

Mason Milestones

Mason figured out a week ago how to pull up to a stand on Cade's Lightning McQueen chair. It's lower to the ground. In just one week, he figured out how to pull himself up on the ottoman and the couches. Yesterday, I was in the kitchen and looked into the family room. Mason was standing in the Lightning McQueen chair holding onto the back. He was so proud of himself! :) I didn't get a picture because I freaked out that he was going to tumble over the sides or fall backwards so I ran in to remove him from the chair.

Mason is definitely more curious than Cade was. Mason goes straight for the stuff he isn't suppose to be into...like the TV and the satellite box. Cade could be deterred towards other stuff and he wouldn't go back. Or maybe it's that I was so protective of Cade that I was right there with him at all times. I've let Mason have more freedom because I just don't have as much time to be right there with him at all times. Maybe that is why the second kids learn how to do stuff earlier....the parents aren't there hampering their dare-devil instincts!

We are working on trying to get Cade to eat "regular" food. By regular I mean, PB&J sandwiches, grilled cheese sandwiches (which he use to love), etc. It has been a struggle at best. He was sent to his room 3 times yesterday before we could finally get him to eat 3 bites of a PB&J sandwich! I'm hoping to won't always be such a struggle. He's one stubborn kid!

"I'm Big Enough"

Cade is a very picky eater. We can't get him to try stuff. Oh sure, he eats junk....chips, cake. He will eat pudding, yogurt, goldfish or cheezits. I can also get him to eat yogurt covered raisins. However, getting him to eat any meat is a chore. He won't even try stuff. He's never been interested in eating stuff off our plates. He just won't try anything.

Last night for dinner, I made him a plate with goldfish crackers and a little bit of hot dog. I really wanted him to try the hot dog. He wouldn't. I told him it would taste like strawberry shake...he still wouldn't try it. I told him that Coleman eats hot dogs and if he would try it he could get big and strong like Coleman. He told me, "I'm big enough." I guess I can't argue his point. :)

I really think at this point it's a power struggle. He won't eat it because I want him to. I try to be subtle. I just put stuff on his plate thinking he'll at least try it if he thinks it's his idea to do so. But he won't even do that. I'm guessing that Mason will be eating stuff Cade won't soon.

Mason is almost crawling on his hands and knees. He's been army crawling for a month now. He will also put his bottom in the air while on his hands and feet. He's ready to walk. :)

Don't take my thumb out of my mouth!

This morning, I went to check on Cade. He was still sleeping at 7am and that is unusal. I thought I'd kind of let him wake up on his own. Well, DADA comes in to tell him goodbye and gets him up. Cade wasn't quite ready. He's like me...he needs a few minutes to wake up and get in a decent mood. He doesn't really care to be talked to or messed with right away upon waking up. Anyway, I was carrying him in the family room and was talking to him. I was asking him a question and he was sucking his thumb and wasn't talking to me. So I popped his thumb out of his mouth. He then hollered, "Don't take my thumb out of my mouth!" I guess he might be getting too old to suck his thumb..... No, I forget he just talks really well for a 2 year old! :)

He must really be 5!

I think I may have been off somewhere on Cade's actual age. He talks like he's 5. He knows way more than most 2 year olds know. He's pretty much talking like a small adult. And I'm not sure where he gets it. His vocabulary has really exploded just this year. I point to pictures in books we read and he knows what almost everything is.

Yesterday, Mike was putting on a raincoat. Cade looked at him and said "you wearing your raincoat, dada?" We didn't know he even knew what a raincoat was!

Today, he was talking back. This has gotten to be a little bit of an issue with me and him. I told him this morning that he needs an attitude adjustment. He said "yep, I think so." I got a little bit of a chuckle out of that!

He has watched that Cars movie at least 1000 times in the last year. He now can recite every line in the movie. It's funny to hear. And he watches it with just as much enthusiasm as if he was watching it for the first time. I hope he never loses that.

Mason is really close to crawling normally. By normally, I mean on his hands and knees. Because he's been army crawling all over for a little over a week now. He's 24 weeks. He's starting to get on his hands and knees and rocking. He did that last night in the middle of the night in his crib. Much to my dismay, he wanted to do that rather than sleep at 3:30 am! He makes lots of noise but isn't really making any noises that sound like words yet. According to Cade's baby book, Cade was babbling DADA at 5 1/2 months. I guess what Mason lacks in vocals, he's going to make up in movement because Cade wasn't near crawling at 6 months. He was closer to 8 months before he moved anywhere on the floor. But he was talking much sooner.

It will be interesting to see the differences between them as they get older. Cade is strongwilled and stubborn. I wonder if Mason will be more laid back and mellow? I guess we'll see.

I'm the boss.

Cade was taking a bath last night. I told him it was time to get out and he kept telling me "no, I don't want to get out." I finally told him "You're only two and don't get to decide. I'm the boss." He looked at me as serious as could be and said "You're not the boss, I'm the boss." I really didn't know how to respond to that. Because he pretty much is the boss...we really try and he's a pretty good kid. But man is he ever stubborn! Go figure and stubborn Spiva.... :)

Cade has added lots and lots of words to his vocabulary. I'm surprised that he knows a lot of the words he knows and that he knows how to use them. He was sliding around on some water the dog had slobbed on the floor and kept saying it was "slippery". I didn't know he knew the word slippery.

He's also added a cuss word to his vocabulary. He's been saying da** it. I told him it was a bad word and he shouldn't say it. That may have been where I went wrong. I probably should have just ignored it. Because now he says it a lot and then looks at me and smiles. Sometimes I'm pretty effective with my "mean mom" face and tell him to stop. But every once in awhile that smile catches me off guard and I smile too. Then he knows he's got me. Who knew this parenting thing was so hard!! :)

new words

Cade's vocabulary grows every single day. He's always coming up with stuff that I didn't know he knew how to say or what it means.

Over the weekend, he told us "not really" and "whatever". I didn't realize a two year old could use the word "whatever" in the right context.

We were driving and a lady was in my way. I amazingly did not cuss at her but said "Stupid lady, get out of my way." Cade pipes up from the back seat "stupid lady, get out of momma's way." He made me laugh at that.

I think I've mentioned before how Cade likes to "squeeze squeeze" whether it be your belly fat, your chest area, etc. Last night he pinched my butt and went "queeze queeze". The s with the other letter is kind of hard for him to say so that is how it comes out. Very funny. I probably won't think it's funny when he's still doing that when he's older.....

Not ready to potty train yet....

I guess Cade isn't quite ready for potty training yet. He talks about it a lot and has sat on the potty at our house and at the sitter's house. But nothing ever happens.

Sunday, he went swimming with his Dad. I had to run some errands. Mike called me and asked me if there was a special diaper he needed to wear when he went swimming. I told him that I didn't have any and he should just put the swimsuit on without anything on. It was last year's suit anyway and I didn't figure it would fit with a diaper on. Mike told me he wasn't comfortable with that. I said that I didn't figure he'd poop...the worse he do was pee. And that wouldn't hurt anything while he was outside. I was kind of hoping he would figure out he needed to go and say something.

Well, I got home and they were still outside and Cade still had his swimsuit on. I told him he wasn't wearing a diaper so he needed to say something so we could get him to a potty or a tree if he had to go. Of course, he never said anything. We go inside and we weren't inside but a couple minutes. I was getting a towel and a diaper and shorts to put on Cade when I heard, "uh oh, I make a mess." I didn't think much of it at first. He was standing there watching TV when I walked back into the room. I proceeded to find a puddle on the kitchen floor. I looked at Cade and said "Did you pee pee on the floor in here?" His answer "Yep." My reply "Why did you do that?" His answer "I don't know. I pee pee on the floor."

My question is....why did he have to wait until he got inside to do that? Why couldn't he do that outside? I thought all guys like to pee on stuff outside! :)

I guess we'll get there. I'm trying not to push it much. But I have to say...I feel like all I do is change diapers. With 2 in them, we can create our own little landfill!

Where did "Baby Cade" go?

It dawned on me the other day that "Baby Cade" has been replaced with "Big Boy" Cade. I know that ordinarily being 2 isn't really considered a big boy. But this child is already talking like an adult....in full sentences. He actually has better grammar than a large number of adults I encounter daily! :) The other day I told him it was time to go lay down for a nap. He looked at me just as serious as he could be and said "I too busy. I watch TV." I didn't realize he knew what being busy meant! Now he's too busy a lot especially if it comes to something he doesn't want to do.

Mason is really making lots of noises now. Whenever he talks, Cade will say "Mason's talking." And when you ask him what Mason is saying he'll say "GOO". The other day, Mason was smiling at Cade and he said "I make him happy." I don't think Cade realizes just yet how happy he does make Mason. Mason is already infatuated with Cade. And I suspect they will be good buddies and worst enemies (whenever a wanted toy is involved) as they grow up. Mason loves to watch Cade.

Mason also is more in tune with toys than Cade was at that age. Mason can already grab onto the things hanging on his bouncy seat. I remember Cade didn't develop that skill until a little later. I think it's the difference in the first one and the second one. Cade rarely had a moment by himself in a chair. He was held and talked to a lot. Mason has had to spend more time in the bouncy than Cade ever did because it is difficult to tell a 2 year old that you can't do something for him because you are holding Mason. He's starting to get a little jealous of any attention Mason gets.

All in all, life with all the boys has been good! I'm very outnumbered but I wouldn't have it any other way! :)

"One Cheez It, Please"

Since Mason came along, Cade has been making huge strides in talking. He says something new everyday that I didn't know he knew how to say or what context to put it in. He entertains us daily.

This morning I drove through Sonic to get a drink before I dropped off the boys at the sitter. As I was ordering, Cade kept saying "I want cheezits." I told him they don't have cheezits at Sonic. As I pulled up to the window and the girl was taking my money, Cade said "One Cheez It, Please." I got a big kick out of that. And of course (thanks to dada) as I was pulling away, Cade said "I drive, momma." I think I have quite a journey ahead with him!!! Especially if he thinks he can drive at 2!

I forgot to also mention. Cade is speaking some Spanish....thanks to Dora. He will count to 10 in Spanish. He also will say open in Spanish. We suspect he says more because there are words he says that we don't know what they are....he's either speaking in Spanish or making up his own language. I can't believe how much he absorbs when he just sees or hears it once or twice.

Lickafish

This is what Cade calls licorice. I try to always say the proper name for words so that he will eventually know the right way to say them. But this word is too funny not to say. So Mike and I both now call it lickafish. This will probably be what we call licorice from now on!

Cade is doing so good with his little brother. He will occasionally "squeeze" him as he calls it by pushing on his belly. We try to watch him and make sure that he is gentle with him. I think Mason will have to get tough very quickly as Cade loves wrestling and doing the kind of stuff boys like to do.

Since Mason came along, Cade has just exploded with the talking. He talks in full sentences and can say anything you ask him to say. He carries on conversations and has started pretend play. We get a big kick out of hearing him play.

He's also into watching Dora the Explorer and as a result is now counting in Spanish and saying other Spanish words. The counting I recognize...the other words, I'm not sure what he's saying. I guess it's nice he's learning another language. But it's also bad as he can start speaking the other language and saying bad things about his parents and we won't have a clue!!!

And the best sound ever is the sound of Cade laughing. Doesn't matter what kind of mood your in, that will change it to a good one in no time.

Cade is a big brother

Cade's brother Mason came on February 5th at 5:42 a.m. He weighed 8lbs 10oz. Yeah, he was a big one.

Cade has done really good with Mason. He is already trying to share his cars and toys with Mason. He also tried to feed him a goldfish cracker one day when Mason was crying. He thought maybe he needed one to make him feel better. :) He has wanted me to carry him a lot more lately. You haven't seen anything until you see me carrying the 2 year old, the baby carrier and the many bags it requires to leave the house with 2 kids in diapers!!

Since Mason came along, Cade's vocabulary just exploded. He's talking like a big kid now. He says everything. And some of it is stuff I have know idea where he might have heard it. He's very funny and still loves to sing. He's very entertaining. Even Mason was watching him the other evening. I look forward to the day that Mason and Cade can play together. I think they will have lots of fun and be good buddies.

The Little Songbird

Cade loves to sing. And he actually sings in tune. He also likes playing the drums. Maybe he'll be a rock star one day.... Or play in the band. Dada says no band but I don't see anything wrong with the band, especially if he went to a big college and played in their band. I think it might be cool if he decided to go to The Ohio State University and play in the "Best Damn Band in the Land." Dada has other ideas. And I know he's just 2 so he might decide he likes something completely different than drums by the time college rolls around!

Back to my songbird. He loves to sing and has memorized several songs from Sesame Street (as well as certain TV commercials). My favorite lately has been to the tune of "Hey There Delilha". It is about the letter T and it is a letter T singing about being the letter T and others being the letter T. There is a part where he says "Ta ta ta ta ta taaaa." It is so funny. Cade will just be playing and this episode won't even be playing but he breaks out into the "ta ta" part. And he's in tune.

Who knew they were so smart at 2!!

Big Boy Bed

We finally got Cade's big boy bed. Saturday night was his first night. I rocked him and read him a couple books like we have been. Then when he was sleepy. I took him to his big boy bed. He didn't like that. So, Mike laid down with him first. Cade thought it was play-time. They talked and jumped and talked to his shadow on the wall. Then I went in and tried to lay with him. He talked some more, sang songs, anything he could to delay going to sleep. That first night took him 1 1/2 hours to finally fall asleep. Sunday afternoon nap time was more of the same. He wanted to jump in bed, talk sing, etc. That took him 1 hour to finally fall asleep. Sunday night was another 1 1/2 hours.

Last night, I waited a little longer before we finally went in to bed. My thinking was if he was just totally exhausted he would just pass out! It seemed to work because after milk, books, some singing and a few "momma, what are you doing"s he finally went to sleep after about 45 minutes. Once he's asleep he sleeps all night. It's just the newness of the bed and it is also a new room. I also think we made a mistake in making the bed a play thing...we kind of let him crawl up in there when it was bedtime and jump and play around. We now will only let him get up there when it is time to sleep until he gets the concept of this is where he sleeps now. I have to say that in just 3 nights he's doing well. I was worried about it. I thought I was going to be in his room forever and I wasn't sure how I could do that with the new baby coming.

We do have to lay down with him. He's not to the point that he'll stay in there and put himself to sleep yet because he knows he can get out. I hope that comes in time. Although I have to say, I really don't mind laying down with him. It gives me a little extra rest. :)

Other news:
Cade has become quite stubborn. I know with Mike and I as his parents...you can't even imagine. He's refusing to wear a coat. Most days I don't fight him on it. We are mostly going from the house to the car to the next house. So I don't worry to much about it. If he makes comments (and he has) about it being cold. I remind him that is because he won't wear a coat.

He also has become particular about his clothes. One morning I was putting jeans on him and he said "I don't want jeans." Yes, it was that plain. He also has said the same thing about this pair of boots he has. "I don't want boots." Most of the time he loses that battle. Like I said, he can be stubborn but I can be more stubborn! But lately he's decided he doesn't like 2 shirts on. I tried to put a t-shirt on underneath whatever shirt he was wearing because at least if it is cold outside he can be layered when he won't wear a coat. He told me the other day he was hot and didn't want to wear 2 shirts. The hot-naturedness comes from me....

I never knew that kids were so opinionated at age 2. Well, he's not even officially 2 yet!