See Digger

See digger? See digger. Although we're not always sure if it's a question or a statement, this is a phrase we're hearing from Caedmon a LOT these days. He is so fascinated with heavy construction equipment like bulldozers, backhoes, and front-end loaders. We take out-of-the-way routes home from the grocery store to go by streets I know are being torn up so that he can see them in action. In fact, for the past couple of weeks, any time we see anyone, this is his first statement to them - he says it when Gramma Janet comes to visit, to our neighbor across the street, to complete strangers who walk past our cart at Target, and today - to our Pastor while Daniel carried him to communion. I think our Pastor was a little perplexed about what he meant, not knowing that Caedmon was probably still a bit in awe of our drive to church - past the Ft. Worth Water Department, which had dozens of different diggers all lined up, ready to go to work tomorrow! I wonder what amazing diggers we'll see this week!

Caedmon and Isaac are able to interact with each other more and more, which is really fun to watch. Caedmon gets a kick out of trying to help Isaac roll over (which he can do just fine by himself, but it tickles when Caedmon's little fingers push into his side, so he giggles and giggles.) I think Isaac's responses to whatever his big brother is doing will only encourage him to play and pay attention more to him.

A few nights ago we let Isaac hang out in the bathroom while Caedmon played in the tub. He's gotten so sturdy and able to support his weight in a standing position that Daniel let him prop himself up on the side of the tub, and he stayed that way for several minutes, soaking up (not literally) all that Caedmon was doing.

Our little guy is so jolly and has the best big, gummy smiles - it reminds me so much of the way his big brother would grin, holding nothing back!

We got out the jumperoo this last week and Isaac has been fascinated with the little toys all around it. He's quite serious about spinning the little clear ball and exploring the toy animals, and even tried to look up and grab the salamander hanging above his head. He's not jumping just yet, but I'm sure that day will come soon. Right now it's fun for him to have a place to play on his own in an upright position. He seems to enjoy that!

Caedmon has also enjoyed rediscovering the jumperoo - although he's MUCH too big for it, it's become an interesting jungle gym for him and he seems to get quite a kick out of trying to balance himself on top of it. He does occasionally get his legs in it and sits in it "properly" but that is not as entertaining as perching on top!

Isaac and Caedmon have had some fun interactions with the jumperoo. Caedmon likes to look through a clear plastic ball at Isaac, and spin it for him. He'll talk to him and occasionally sing him a song - his latest tune is "Humpty Dumpty," which goes a little something like this..."Humpy dumpy dumpy." I'm sure he'll add more words as he gets older.

Isaac is officially pushing himself up to all fours and holding himself that way, sometimes rocking back and forth before he falls onto his tummy. I think crawling is not far off. Caedmon demonstrates proper crawling technique for him from time to time, so hopefully he's taking notes! Caedmon continues to repeat anything and everything he hears, and lately, has even taken to saying "Oh, man!" all on his own.

4-month photo and extras

Is our little giraffe toy shrinking? Isaac was holding and waving it around during this month's milestone picture - he's growing so fast!

Caedmon's latest discovery has been climbing. Not just on the couch or living room chairs, but on the crib, dining chairs, Isaac's walker, and...trees. He can't get up in the tree by himself and I don't think anyone has ever showed him how to climb it - but I guess as a boy, he's hard-wired to know all about it and did his best to scramble up the trunk. He did ask for my help and I let him perch briefly in the fork, but know that it's only a matter of time before he figures it out for himself!


Not quite climbing yet, Isaac is making major breakthroughs in getting from here to there. He is able to push himself up on his hands and knees more and more frequently, and for longer. He's very determined and deliberate - this guy is going to be moving soon!

He's also had a great time lately, having discovered his tongue. He's sticking it out a lot, and thinks it's funny when we stick ours out at him too! What a cutie pie!

Farm Boys

In my last post I summarized our big trip to the farm, but unfortunately had no photos. Thanks to Grammy, we now have pictures to accompany my recounting of details - what a big weekend for our boys, and especially Caedmon! He's really into "diggers" right now, so was looking forward to seeing the bulldozer that's been working on a couple of tanks at the farm. He definitely had everything under control in the drivers' seat!

Caedmon later had the chance to ride in the big tractor as well. It was a big day!

He had his first up-close encounter with a cow, which is appropriate for him, as he's memorized their diet - cows eat "oats, grass, hay, cake." He was a little apprehensive at first but soon became more comfortable around the cows, with Papa and Dada's help.

Another big discovery that snags every little boy's attention at some point was throwing rocks in the water. He had a great time picking up little stones and dirt clods and tossing them into the tank. He probably could have done that all day, but would have missed out on the other fun adventures awaiting him!

After some practice with tossing rocks in the water, we moved to another tank and Caedmon played a key role in our very successful fishing trip. He helped throw the fish food into the water, drawing a good number of catfish to that part of the tank where I was excitedly waiting with my pole! We caught three nice catfish in no time at all. He wasn't interested in touching the fish but tossed in fistful after fistful of food, then proudly helped me carry my pole back to the truck.

This was a great first trip to the farm for Isaac, and as he grows and learns more, each trip will be more interesting and engaging for him! He's changing so fast, we caught this picture of him supporting his own weight in an upright position the other day and I thought it was precious.

At his 4-month check-up this week, he measured 27 inches tall (97th%) and weighed 16 lbs 8 oz (80th%). He's so amused by the things going on around him - he discovered how to blow out into his spoon when we're feeding him and make sweet potatoes and rice go flying. He enjoys having us sing to him and move his hands and arms, which Caedmon has learned to do as well. He grabs Isaac's hands and waves them as he sings his rendition of "The Ants Go Marching," and they both get so tickled. (Today, Caedmon did the same with Duck - buckling him into Isaac's bouncy seat and grabbing his little hands while singing.) Isaac also joined us in the bathroom tonight while Caedmon was playing in the tub, and giggled and giggled at his big brother's antics.

It's so neat to see Caedmon's imagination expanding and his sense of humor developing. While we were picking up his room to go to bed tonight, he grabbed his little toy laptop, opened it, put a little pillow inside, and mashed it closed, saying "Cook waffles. So hot!" What a creative little mind!

Time Flies!

How time is flying! It's already been almost a month since our last post, and we've had so many neat things going on in the boys' lives. They are amazing!

A couple of weeks ago Caedmon and his Dada had the chance to go to a Rangers game with a friend and his little boys. I'm convinced that Caedmon grew up noticeably while they were gone! He did great at the game, although it appears that more than anything, he remembers the fireworks - he still talks about the baseball game, and "fire works" are always the first thing he mentions.


Every day he says so many things that are just precious or hilarious - he is a little sponge and doesn't miss a thing we say! He is really putting together sentences now, it's so neat to have an idea of what is going on in that sweet little head! Some recent examples:

- (in the car, while looking at his hands) "five fingers...one, two, three, four, eight."

- (after trying my cranberry juice) "cran berry juice...soooo sour!"

He's also started repeating some of his songs here and there, but only in his own timing, never when we are singing them. He knows parts of Jesus Loves Me (his first to attempt solo), Itsy Bitsy Spider, and Happy Birthday, and we never know when he'll start singing them.

We visited Grammy and Papa and the farm this past weekend, and he had a fantastic time. He got to sit on a bulldozer, run up and down the freshly-dug tank dam, watch Mama catch some catfish, feed the cows, and pet the baby lambs. He got to spend a lot of time outside in the beautiful weather and loved his time with Grammy and Papa. When we ask him about the cows, he tells us they "eat cake, oats" and "lick elbow" (he did get licked!)

Isaac is growing up so fast, too. He's such a jolly little guy! He loves just getting to sprawl out on his tummy, but now can roll himself over both directions and scoot forward, so although he hasn't put those together yet to get himself to a particular destination, he definitely doesn't stay in one place for long! He can get his little knees and arms under himself and lifts his tummy completely off the floor, and we've seen him get all the way up to his hands and knees a number of times, also. Such a strong boy!

He exercises his voice a lot and seems to really enjoy "talking" to us. We've been giving him rice cereal, which when made just to his preferences, he will absolutely devour. Sweet potatoes are on the menu for him later this week!

Still, Isaac's favorite thing to do is watch his big brother. I'm sure he's taking lots of notes, he's so attentive when Caedmon is around! Or, perhaps he's just being on guard to prepare himself for any Ducks or toys about to be launched his direction, which does happen frequently too.

Both boys are blessed to be exposed to music at such an early age. They get a front-row seat to Daniel's playing the piano, guitar, and now even violin on a regular basis. Caedmon will ask for one of those instruments, and especially seems to enjoy helping strum the guitar. He'll say, "guitar! pick! pick!" He knows where Daniel keeps his extra picks and loses no time in grabbing one and strumming along with Dada.