Days with a 13 month old tend to be busy, hence the severe lack of blogging. This entry is rather random in content, both literally and photographically.
Halloween came and went in the blink of an eye. Cadence was the cutest ladybug I've ever seen, while Matt and I were super in our own ways.......
Ladybug, Super Woman, and a detective from the 70's....
Cadence has really enjoyed playing with her birthday presents, particularly her scooter car, bouncy horse, and kitty piano.
Cadence has really made strides in her attempts at communication recently. She babbles in what sounds similar to pig latin and will point or clap at what she wants, as well as nod or shake her head if she does or doesn't want something. Cadence has always been sensitive to the words "no" or "don't" and will often cry or lay on the floor is she hears them, even if in a normal, soft tone. I think she's been cutting teeth recently because she bites Matt and I, the couch too. We're trying to get her to stop by giving her binks, snacks, or gummy baby toys. One of our favorite things that she does is mimick animal sounds. She knows and will tell you that doggies go "woof wood". She LOVES dogs and will point and clap happily at them when she sees them as well as woofing at them. Because she's had limited exposure to other animals, she hasn't mimicked cow, cat, sheep sounds but we're watching Baby Einstein Animals and she's learning.
When she's not reading her books, a new favorite activity, asking for cookies, opening drawers and cabinets and emptying their contents, she's laughing and playing a ton.
Cade is also a huge hit at my office, where today she played with Nick's dogs, Lucy and Monte, as well as his daughter Maddie. My office and the company I work for is remarkably laid back and an absoloute blast! Cade even came with me on my informal job interview prior to my start as an administrative assistant back in August. My company, Ondine, is very family friendly and has been extremely accomodating when Cade's had sniffles or when babysitter issues have come up. They've welcomed Cade to come to the office anytime, something I truly appreciate. Nick, the CTO of the company, often brings his 2 dogs in and even has a baby gate for them to be contained in his office. After receiving a text that not only were the puppies spending the day at the office, his daughter was too, Cade and I took the opportunity to go for a social visit since I'm off on Fridays. Our social visit was a blast and eventually turned into a girl's afternoon. I felt bad that Maddie was stuck at the office so I offered to take her with Cadence and I to Gymboree and to the mall to do some shopping. Like any 12 year old, she eagerly took the opportunity and we had a blast.
Cadence helping Bryon work.
Cade's checking on Lucy.
Helping Nick "drive"
Starbucks with Maddie.... since when do 12 year olds drink lattes???
Its been a wild weekend for the Andersons! With all the action we've encountered in the last few days, I found it best to blog in parts.
Part I: THE birthday party.
Friday evening brought Cade's first birthday party. Each Friday we take Cade to Gymboree to play, but this Friday, I had an ulterior motive: tire her out so a post-gym nap was guaranteed! Mission accomplished. I don't typically arrive early to places anymore, but I have found that I never time the travel correctly from our house to Gymboree and ironically arrive early to class almost every time we go. Her class begins at 1:15 so getting her in at 12:55 gave her some extra play time. She was happy to be in her gym this week and eagerly climbed on everything and attempted some tough (for babies) obstacles. I hustled home so get her down for her nap so I could continue my own party preparations, aka, do my hair. She thankfully complied with my plan and took a nice long nap and woke shortly before we needed to go to Grammy and Grampy's house for the big party.
Details:
location: Grammy and Grampy's house (someday, we'll have our own house so we can use our own venue!)
Time: 5:00pm
Attendees: Cami, Michael, and Georgia, Randi, Landon, and Chase, Sophie and Christine, Joe, Jen, and Ethan, Betsy, Peter and Kelsey (who flew in from California for the weekend), Nannny, Grammy, Grampy, and of course, Matt, myself, and the guest of honor, the lovely, Miss Cadence Brynn.
Menu: veggies and dip, fruit, crackers, CHEESE, Mac 'n cheese, Swedish meatballs, and need I mention CUPCAKES!? Cupcake Royale's, of course!
Cadence was happy to see her many guests and behaved remarkably well given the amount of activity around her. The party had no structure and for a one year old, that was perfect. We all mingled and ate while oooo'ing and ahhhh'ing over how adorable Cadence looked in her tu-tu. Singing my baby "Happy Birthday" surrounded by our many close family and friends was a bittersweet moment. I still can't believe that a year has come and gone in the blink of an eye! While Matt and I have been working with her on the concept of blowing (we blow the butterfly mobile above her changing table so they move), and she does get it sometimes, she did require some assistance from Matt and I in blowing out her candle on her very own cupcake. Now, I should mention, or perhaps confess that this cupcake was definitely not her first treat. She's had cookies, ice cream, cake, soda, cupcakes, Ande's mints, you name it! This was however, the first one that she was free to devour, throw, face plant in, whatever she wanted. I was impressed that she daintily removed the sprinkles from the frosting and ate them first, before picking tiny pieces of frosting off to eat. She didn't have too much interest in the cake, (silly girl!) and only when she knocked over the cupcake and put her elbow in it did it get messy. I was anticipating a frosting in her hair experience. Shortly after we all had our cupcakes, we hit the presents.
Like many kids her age, she had more interest in packaging, paper, and plastic than the actual gift itself. She did help unopen things, though.
The loot:
a princess scooter that she can either ride on or push and walk behind with tons of buttons, lights, and sounds, a piano shaped like a cat that has many tempos, styles and yes, a microphone (yes, Uncle Bob, she will be musical), tons of clothes, bubbles (huge hit!), a rocking horse, a vibrating teether,another month of classes at gymboree, a baby cell phone, a sea animal spinner, books, and a backpack with her name on it. She's spoiled!
We loved spending the evening with close family and friends!
Fun with bubbles!
Attempted escape. Unsuccessful.
The "big" kids had fun playing outside
Happy Birthday Dear Cadence!!!
Uncle Pete and Aunt Kelsey
The hair-pull.
She didn't enjoy the hair-pull one bit!
Cadence adores Michael and gives him smooches all the time!
Partied out!
Videos! (if subscribing by email, visit andermr.blogspot.com to see videos!)
Part II: Pumpkin Patch!
I took Landon to the pumpkin patch a few years ago and I've wanted to go back ever since but didn't have the excuse to until now. Dr. Maze's farm at South 47 is just a few minutes away from our house and we decided that we'd go this year with Cade. When I took Landon, Betsy went with us and we made a day of it, doing fall themed things and that's what I envisioned for taking Cade. We (when I was with Landon) played at the pumpkin patch, went on a hay ride, went to Theno's dairy for pumpkin ice cream, and went to Minea Farms for fresh cider. Having a three year old was easy and fun to do this with and since Landon is now 5 and wasn't with me, Betsy supplied the three year old since she was watching her friend's little girl, Reagan, for the weekend. We weren't able to hit Theno's although we did have pumpkin ice cream FROM there that evening, and we didn't get to go to get cider, but there's still time. We did make a family activity of the day and Peter, Kelsey, and Grammy patched with us. Cade seemed to really enjoy looking around and seeing many pumpkins, various activities, and families. Matt wasn't thrilled by the crowds but they don't bother me. Since Cade isn't walking or standing unassisted, we all took turns holding her but she sat happily on bales of hay and played with pumpkins.
The evening brough dinner at Tropea for celebrating Grammy's birthday and Cadence was extremely well behaved and didn't fidget at all in the restaurant. She was very content looking around and observing the servers while she snacked on rustic Italian bread and of course, cheerios. After dinner, we went back to Grammy and Grampy's to play Catch Phrase and Scattergories and have dessert. Cade did well for the most part but she eventually melted down and we took her home and put her to bed.
It was a great, very family and fun filled weekend.
While some parents celebrate their baby's first birthday with toys and playdates and cake, we were the "mean" parents that took their kiddo to the doctor's. Since Cadence couldn't get one of her vaccines before she was one year old, we planned for her well baby check up on her actual birthday so we could get all of her immunizations taken care of at once.
Contrary to her other doctor appointments, she was very hesitant to be in an unfamiliar room in nothing but a diaper. She typically socializes and plays with everyone she encounters but she squirmed away from Dr. Ginsberg and was playing shy, all while fussing. We're told that this is a typical and age appropriate response even though she's such a happy and social kiddo most of the time.
Cadence has been growing like a champ!
Weight: 21.7oz, 50-75%
Height: 31 inches, 95%
Head Circumfrence: 17/5inches, 25%
Vaccinations: Hep A, Varicella, MMR, Flu
Dr. Ginsberg was very pleased to see her progress with her signing. Cadence was hungry during her appointment and she had a bottle and some cheerios "O's", both of which she asked for. One of the highlights of the appointment was Cadence saying "more O's please" in sign. She continues to use "more", "milk", "all done", "O's", "please", "poop". Cade is great at communicating her desires and is very responsive to directions most of the time. When prompted, she'll blow kisses, wave bye-bye, occasionally says "hi" and mimics words and sounds. I think I've heard something similar to "all done", and of course she "da-da's" all the time. Cadence has also recently began pointing at things so we name what she's pointing at. We've worked diligently on asking her "how old are you?", and 2 in 10 times she'll show us one finger.
Cade's still is at her best if she's had 2, 2 hour naps. This kiddo plays hard and sleeps hard! We typically end up having busy days between her days with Grammy and time at BSF and time with Auntie Cami and her down time with Matt and I. We try to go to Gymboree once or twice a week. She still has no interest in walking but loves to bounce and "jump". She cruises on furniture, pulls herself up on everything, crawls up, on, and through things! Just this week I was unloading the dishwasher, she pulled herself up on it, held the top rack and just stood there, on the dishwasher.........yep, that's my girl!
Walking is on the horizon for the next few months, as is expanding Cade's nutrition and food preferences. She's make a great transition from formula to whole milk and takes either with no major fuss. Cade is already sensitive and cries and has a mini-tantrum when we say "no". Precious.
We're really excited for Cade's first birthday party this coming Friday and we'll have lots of pictures and stories to share afterwards!
Its hard to believe that little Wee is now Wee the one year old, but we're so proud of our little girl and so excited to watch her grow into a happy, social little one.
