One Year

Happy Birthday to our sweet Caden!

(we made it through the first year)

Can't stop smiling when I look at this.

My good friend Maribeth Youngberg graciously agreed to taking Cade's one year photos. Don't quite think she knew what she was getting herself into. Caden was a nightmare! But by the looks of the photos you never would have guessed. Thank you so much Maribeth. You dealt with a lot of stress, crying, and Brandon and I trying not to scream at each other. :) I owe you. Who would have thought that taking pictures would be so stressful.

Here are a few things I love about my little guy:

I love how he never stops smiling. He even smiles in between sobs of crying. He is such a happy boy!

I love it when I open the door on Monday after work and he speed crawls over to me and won’t let me put him down for the rest of the night.

I love his giggle.

I love how he peaks through his fingers when we are playing peekaboo.

I love how he waddles like a penguin when he walks.

I love that he keeps me company when I run.

I love that he is always such a good tag a long. Wherever I go he goes and he’s always happy. I haul him all around the city with friends and he rarely cries. I don’t think outings with friends would be the same without Caden. I think everyone would agree.

I love that he calls his ball his “mama.”

I love his chubby belly. So cute in tight footy pjs

I love that his hair is always poking strait up (may be my fault I never comb it)

I love how he always claps when I sing.

And most importantly I love that he loves me no matter what.

"Excuse me, I'm trying to read my card from grandma would you leave me alone. "

Wherever Caden goes there is a smile. A smile on his face and a smile on the faces of those in his presence. I get butterflies in my stomach every Monday on my way home from work when I realize I’m going home to see him. We are so lucky to have him in our family. Happy Birthday Caden. We love you!

Party Animal

As I was running with Brandon yesterday (maybe the only time I spend with him as of late) I looked at him and said, "I think this is the best fall season I've had." And not just since we've been in New York but ever! I have thoroughly enjoyed it. A co-worker told me it was because I have a child, and to tell you the truth I think that may be part of it. That and not having to be stressed with work and school. I have absolutely loved these last couple of months!

I was thinking about what we've done this month and Caden has been a little, "party animal." First off my mom came to visit for a week which was absolutely fabulous! We decided to take advantage of the her company and the warm weather so we rented a car and had some fun. Friday night we went to something called the Jack o'lantern Blaze. It is a Halloween event that features more than 4,000 hand-carved Jack o'lanterns. You meander through this 18th century riverside landscape full of Jack o'lanters. BEEEEAUTIFUL! I was so giddy. So unfortunately I didn't get any good pictures (no talent on my end), but my friend Maribeth went a couple weeks after us and got some wonderful photos. If you want to look, check out her blog. Promise they'll put a smile on your face.

http://theyounglovebergs.blogspot.com/2010/10/blazing-saddles.html



Only photo I got that turned out at the blaze. Hence the link to Maribeth's blog. Which by the way, the 2 gals in that photo together, probably 2 of the most beautiful girls I know. Wouldn't you agree? And seriously they are both more beautiful inside than out. May sound cheesy but it's true, really amazing women!

Anyways, then we went apple picking the next day and it was just delightful. Mom, I know you have no idea how to access my blog but if you ever figure it out. Thanks for visiting, it made my month. :)


Apple Orchard


















Alright the rest of the month has been fun too. After tomorrow Caden will have attended 3 Halloween parties this month. Oh my goodness, I love little kids in costumes, they are so dang cute! On top of that we've gotten together with friends a lot just enjoying the weather and season. So fun. I'm sorry if this happiness is making you sick.






I've really noticed how good it is for Cade to be around other kids. He loves it. They may not love it like he does because he bangs on their heads and grabs at their eyeballs but it's fun to watch the little ones interact.

Caden and little ladybug Xela.

Okay couldn't resist posting this picture of the Xan man. Seriously amazing costume huh? Brandon left before they showed up so I had to take this picture to show him. Caden will wear that someday according to Brandon. He LOVED it, and so did I. Just look at him?

Well just thought I'd post my happy feelings towards Autumn and Halloween. Hope you've enjoyed it as much as the Mennears have. Have a great Halloween weekend!

My Little BIG Man

Kind of a picture overload. Gotta get my family off my back. Oh and Brandon's gone for a month doing a rotation in Houston, so he would love to see photos of his son. Anyways, family and friends, this is Caden. Can't believe he is almost 9 months old. I have a friend that will take some more professional pictures soon, but until then these will have to do. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do!


Cade with his Aunt Kris

This and That

I thought I'd give you a little update on the life of the Mennears. Here are some pictures and some explanations of what we do daily:

1)Well I am back to work(well have been for 3 months) usually just Mondays but I fill in every now and again for people going on vacations. I Love my job. Mostly because I love the people I work with. I have truly made the most amazing friends. We are all so different but have so so much fun together. So the struggle here though is Caden!! I need advice. The dang kid decided he won't take a bottle anymore. Grrr!!! He's taken one daily since birth and a month ago decided he was done. I've tried everything. He screams, gags, spits up, squirms. My poor babysitter thinks she's about to kill him he cries so hard. No worries though. He is spoiled. Andrea who watches him, walks him up to me at work EVERY Monday. We sit at a park. I feed him on my lunch break and then back to work I go. Now most would say when he's hungry enough he'll eat. That is probably true BUT I feel too bad to have the babysitter and the neighbors listen to him scream all day and when I'm not being consistent is it fair to do that? His schedule is only like this on Monday. So if there are any tips send them my way.Luckily oatmeal is starting to satisfy some of his needs. None the less I am so crazy about him.

2) Caden and I go on daily runs together. I grab my running stroller and off to the park we go. We both LOVE it. It might seem weird but I don't think I'd love running without Caden. He's good company.

3) We try to be home so we can see Brandon for 30 minutes at lunch and dinner. He is studying for the first step of his medical boards. Literally and I am not exaggerating in the least, he leaves the house by 8:30 am and returns at 11:30 pm. If anyone is interested in hanging out, call me I won't let you down.Love this picture. I needed Brandon to watch Caden while I fixed dinner. Apparently he had some reading to do so he multi-tasked. Whatever entertains him though right?

4) Play dates. Supposedly for the kids, but I think they are more for the moms. I always enjoy getting together and chatting. The kids here are all close to the same age. We had to keep them separated. They'd roll over each other then claw each other in the face. Very fun though. Seriously as all New Yorkers know, Central Park is a Safe Haven.
Hope this isn't a sign of things to come, Caden between the cute girls. Haha.

5) Last and unfortunately, cleaning. Cant avoid that.

Well that in a nutshell just about sums our life up. I can't even explain how much I love being a mother. So different yet so amazing! Kids really bring more joy than I ever imagined.