Give me 18 years Roy

Slam dunk. McDaniel for 2. Ahhh, the crowd goes wild.....

So here is our little man slam dunking on his very first basketball goal. In one of our earlier blogs you can see that Caden's room is totally decked out in UNC basketball gear. His Daddy loves it of course. It's fun for me to watch Jason add different items to this room over time. Just a month or so ago he came home with a basketball goal to hang on the door. Even though Caden can't walk, he has already put his goal to use. Each time we sit in his rocking chair he stairs at that goal most of the time we're there. I guess the colors draw him.

With Caden in the 75th percentile with his height who knows what will happen in 18 years. Roy Williams may really be visiting our home.

All the attention is mine

This past weekend we had the priviledge of hosting Grandaddy and Mema. What a blast Jason, Caden and myself had with them. We did all the fun things...played with Caden, went shopping, went out to eat and got dessert from all of our fav place, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. We love the apples they make there. What a treat.

Of course Caden thoroughly enjoyed all the attention he received from us four. He especially loved Grandaddy and Mema's hugs because he doesn't get those as often as he does Daddy and Mommy's. If you look really close on Grandaddy Randy's shirt you see the gift Caden now leaves on all those who hold him...slober. That's some sweet slober though if I say so myself. Thanks guys for the visit! Love you.

He's ten weeks old

Because so many of our family and friends get to see Caden so little we want to post as many pictures of him as possible. Here he is at 10 weeks old. He let me take these this morning with such a good attitude.

P.S. He rolled over for the first consistent time today. He did this at just two weeks old when he got mad during a diaper change one day. This today was however different. I put him on his belly for "tummy time." He hates being on his tummy so he showed his Mom today...he rolled over onto his back. Three times. We were fortunate enough to catch it on video camera. He's a go-getter. We love that.

Happy Birthday Noah

Today was Noah's 2nd birthday. Again I say "oh my gosh." I can remember very vividly the night-day when he was born. Angie labored Sat. night-Sun. morning. I can remember looking at Angie in all that pain and saying quietly to myself, "I will never have a baby." I probably really didn't mean that, but at the time it seemed like a better option...until I held that sweet little Noah. Then I fell in love and knew I must have a little one of my own one day.

So Noah's party theme was Mickey Mouse Club. Ryan and Angie are the bomb parents. She had that yard decked out with all sorts of Mickey Mouse Club stuff. Noah even had a beautiful MMC birthday cake and bone finger sandwhiches (Pluto snacks). The cutest thing, Noah had literally 30 or so gifts. He got sick of opening those things up and went to play with his friends. I love that. He said who cares, the gifts will be there later, but my friends won't.

I regret not getting a picture of the Tucker clan at the party, but I do have one of sweet Noah just last week playing with the little man! Sorry it's so small.

Happy Birthday Noah! We love you.

Two month snapshot!

On Friday, our son was two months old. Oh my gosh is all I can say. We've been having so much fun it seems like just two days. So we took him to Portrait Innovations to get his picture taken. Unlike last month, this kid was ready to pose. The photographer captured some incredible shots. He was the perfect little angel. He especially loved lying on his belly which is not what he prefers at home. We were thrilled and also very proud parents. Here are two of our cute little guys pics and also what he did after the modeling was over. He had to get his beauty sleep to stay that cute!

We will meet again someday...

Since November 2005 Jason and I have experienced the death of three very important people in our lives. Jason's mother, Linda, and my two Grandparents, Lib and Joe.

This past Thursday the three of us went to Snow Hill to help my mom go through and move out everything from my Grandparents house. She had been there all week alone, so we thought taking Caden there on a day off would be just the thing to wipe away the tears. And we were right. That sweet little one can make Gigi the happiest lady in the world. He received about 1 million kisses. I told Mom, her job for the day was to take care of Caden while I worked for her and she almost did just that.

The day was a little sad for me because I was constantly faced with the fact that my Grandparents are gone. They were two incredible people who helped my Mom a tremendous amount with my brother and I when my parents were divorced. At the end of the day, as I walked out the door I thought to myself, "this would be the last time I went to "Grandma and Grandaddy's"." Mixed emotions flood us all when we experience death. I feel tons of sadness at times, but also happiness because I know that they are with the Lord which the Bible says is much better than being on the earth. So until I see them again, I am content with knowing they are somewhere I long to be in God's timing.

Our Boy is Growing Up.

This coming up Sunday Caden Jase McDaniel will be 2 months old. I can't believe it. He's growing up so fast it seems. He's very active as he's been from the beginning. The arms are pumping with his fist balled up and the legs are kicking most of the time. Just the way he was in my belly. Funny how his personality has remained the same from the start of his life. I'd like to study if it's the same with all babies.

Caden smiled at me for the first time when he was one month old. What a warmth in my heart I felt. Definitely the best gift I have received since becoming a mother. Now his smiles happen on a daily basis and for others. His Daddy loves to make him smile. I love to watch Jason act like a goof to get those little lips to part. I have included one smile I was able to catch on camera today. You have to move fast to get them.

Caden also has a new favorite toy. He loves his little jungle gym. It's u-shaped with toys hanging from it and Caden lays underneath. His eyes can follow you anywhere you go now. If you want to peak at him in the crib, he's probably going to catch you. So he lays under his gym while kicking and punching to make the toy animals move. So sweet to watch.

One other development; Drum roll please..............he slept through the night for the first time last night! Thank you, thank you. Caden has been a wonderful baby from the beginning. From birth, he only woke up once per night between 3 and 4am and then sleep until 7 or so. I know, I am very thankful. It did seem great last night though for him to sleep through. Although, this morning I realized, I did miss him because it seemed like ages since I had last held him. I gave him extra kisses this morning I can assure you.

For the last two weeks we have been super busy with UNC and Meredith starting classes back next week. It's been interesting incorporating a baby into this lifestyle, but God and his grace has sustained both Jason and I. I would much prefer my life now even with all the craziness than before our little man was born. Jason is amazing. This is his first year being director at UNC and he's juggling family, ministry and grad school just fine. I am inspired each day watching him flow in his talents.

So that's all for the McDaniel crew. Can't wait to have something more to report soon!