Cody, Amanda, Cade, Chloe, and Cora Rose

Seeing as Cade's birthday is super close to Christmas, we had his party a few weeks ago. We also had my cousins wedding Friday night, so things have been really busy for us. I was her matron of honor and Cody was an usher. So....I didnt get to post on his birthday because we weren't home. We stayed with my mom for 2 nights since the wedding was in Pasadena.
So, Cade turned 2 on Thursday. I honestly cannot believe how quickly 2 years has gone by. I know every parent says that, but it is so true.
Cade is certainly living up to his 2 year old expectations; tantrums and all!

Here are some things that Cade loves and is...

He is always eager to give us hugs and kisses.
He is 110% boy..RAMBUNCTIOUS!
He is a MAJOR show-off when anyone comes over!
He loves to call Cody and I by our names...When I am out of the room, I'll hear...."MEEENA!" (Amanda) Or he will say, "Cody, C'MON!"
He loves "pop-tops" AKA Popsicles....
He knows our route to church and when we exit off the freeway he says, "Church, church, crackers, Ella!"
He misses his best friend Grace and looks at pictures of her and says, "Gace. hug, hug."
His favorite words are Tractor, abbaga(excavator), dump truck.
He is so smart and when he knows Chloe is asleep, he says, "Co-e(chloe), nite-nite, play soppy(softly).
There is many many more things we love about you Cade Aaron! We are so blessed and thankful for you!! We love you so so so much!!!!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1285670830

Here is a little video of Cade and Chloe. They are too cute!

Miss Chloe went for her check up yesterday. She's not 2 months yet, but we went a little early. That girl is a CHUNK! She weighs 11 lbs. 1.5 oz. and is 22 inches long. That means she has gained 4 lbs. and grown almost 3 inches in 5 weeks. WHOAAA! Its no wonder she sleeps AND eats so much. She is starting to get much more curious and loves to be sitting up and looking around when she's awake. She is so aware of her surroundings, just like Cade was. People always commented to me how "alert" he was when he was a baby. I thought that was kind of wierd at the time. Maybe it means they will be smart! haha! She is also trying to roll over when she is on her belly! So, our baby girl is healthy and perfect! Praise God!
And Cade has added about 50 new words to his vocabulary since the surgery. Im sure he can hear us and himself SOO much better. I didnt think it was affecting his speech, but I was wrong! And the sweet thing is keeping us awake more than Chloe. He is going "nite-nite" totally on his own(which is a HUUUUGE step for us), but he wakes up at least twice during the night. Last night he woke up at 1AM and dragged Cody in the living room(cody thought he was looking for a stuffed animal to sleep with), but NO, he tried to turn on the TV and climb on the couch. Poor little guy thought it was morning! NOT so much....the doc said the anesthesia from surgery could make his sleep wierd for up to 6 weeks, so we are hoping thats what it is. If not, i dont know..Has anyone else had this problem? we have let him cry so much and he would cry all night. it doesnt work. Needless to say, we are tired. But God is good and this to shall pass, right?? I am clinging to this passage today....
Psalm 63:1-8
"O Lord, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.
Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul BE SATISFIED as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. On my bed I will remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me."

Cade is still pretty sweet to Chloe(YEA!) and she is still sleeping a lot...(another YEA!)

Pic 1-Cade and Chloe Pic 2-Grace and Cade, Pic 3-Chloe and Fisher...and Pic 4-Chloe girl

So, today was our first outing. Just me. Cade, and Chloe. I know, I am brave for venturing out this early, but Cade is BORED and Im just the kind of person to get out and go!
So, we went to the mall. I prayed the whole way there. When we got there I wanted to let Cade play in the play castle but I wasn't sure how I was going to keep track of him and watch Chloe. So, God had mercy on me and when I walked up to the play area I saw my friend Jenny from church and her son Caleb. So, we played with them for a while and ate lunch with them. Then, I did my shopping and just as I was almost done, Chloe woke up STARVING. So, we went to the car and yes, I had to feed her in the car. But, Cade was so good today and that was pure grace....
After I fed Chloe, we didnt even get out of the parking lot and both of them were OUT COLD!!
YEA!!!!
So, really, it was a good experience. Of course there WILL be bad days. And I just have to realize that it's really not that big of deal if they do misbehave. Its going to be ok. If worse comes to worse, you just drop your stuff and get in the car and go home. And if someone screams the whole way home; its OK! Everyone will be fine. Its not the end of the world. I just have to keep reminding myself of that!

God doesn't do things by coincidence. That is not his style. It is unreal to me that someone can not believe there is a Creator who has planned out every second of our lives. Maybe they just haven't seen His power in their own lives. I have. He is always very quick to show me my faults. I am thankful for that.
I am doing small groups right now for Sunday School. I wasn't even sure I was going to do them since I am about to have Chloe. But I just felt a tug at my heart when they announced them at church. So, we are doing John Piper's book, "Battling Unbelief". If you've never read Piper, you need to. God has given that man so many good words. The book is about things in our lives that cause unbelief and sin. ALL of them are powerful, but this weeks chapter just happens to be, "Battling Impatience". WOW. After all of my complaining and anxiousness about when this little girl is going to come, it is just what I needed to hear. I cant count on doctors or science or my body for an answer. All I can do is wait on Him and His PERFECT timing. He planned Chloe before the foundations of the earth, and I certainly don't and shouldn't expect Him to change His timing just because I am a little impatient. I want my will to be in line with His. So, I just wanted to share a couple of sentences that Piper says at the beginning of the chapter. I wish I could type down the whole chapter because it all spoke to me. He says...

"Impatience is a form of unbelief. It's what we begin to feel when we start to doubt the wisdom of God's timing or the goodness of God's guidance. It springs up in our hearts when our plan is interrupted or shattered. It may be prompted by a long wait in the checkout line or a sudden blow that knocks out half our dreams. The opposite of impatience is not a glib of denial of loss. It's a deepening, ripening, peaceful willingness to wait for God in the unplanned place of obedience, and to walk with God at the unplanned pace of obedience-to wait in his place, and go at his pace. And the key is faith in future grace. "

-Amanda
"The Lord is good to those who wait for Him." Lamentations 3:25

Mostly everyone around us knows all the drama that has surrounded us and the impending birth of Chloe the past month and a half or so....
The doctors and hospital have been our "best friends"....
I am VERY happy to be off of bed rest and able to move around again. Im sure Cade is happy his momma can pick him up again. We think he has been a little stressed by all that has been going on, but overall has been his normal, crazy self.
I am also VERY happy that it is safe for our baby girl to be born now. It has been tough emotionally and we Praise God for keeping her inside me through all of this! He has been so gracious to us in blessing us with Cade and Chloe and we are so thankful for their precious lives.
According to the doc on Wednesday, I am 2 1/2 cm dilated and 80% effaced, so now it is just a waiting game and we just pray that she is born healthy and happy and in HIS perfect timing!!

I never thought I would let my children wear "character" shirts because I look back and ask my mom WHY she let me wear the things I did?? Because we loved them, she said. And Cade loves his Cookie Monster and Elmo shirts. And as much as he might ask me WHY? one day...you have to admit...he looks darn cute in it!!!!