Tate is growing like a little weed, and he's just been the most pleasant little thing. His lower lip is constantly out, he's started screeching just to exercise his lungs, and he loves to smile.
Tate's already been taking self defense classes. He's very advanced and has been compared to Chuck Norris.
Showing off his dimple.
Caden has forgotten how to roll over, so we do tummy time with him as well.
I know the next few pictures are pretty much the same. I just can't pick.
Caden has a love/hate relationship with food, so we try to distract him when he's eating. Most of the time it works.
It's been so hot that even Caden's shadow needs watering....
Along with the withered plants in the pots....and Caden, armed with his spray bottle, is just the man for the job.
I know there's some controversy about child piercings, and we decided that if Caden wanted a piercing, he could have one...no matter how old. Wouldn't you know he'd start with a nose ring. I think it adds a whole other dimension to his appearance.
In support of Caden, Adam got his pierced too.
Nothing like a little naked golf. He always hits left handed, whether he's playing naked or clothed. It'll be interested to see if that sticks around.
Sometimes when you don't have a ball, a sock will do.
One of my good friends decided to get married in North Carolina, and we figured it was high time Tate took his first real trip, so we made a good long weekend out of it. We flew into Nashville where we got to spend a couple days with Slappy and Cookie before hitting the road. Grape Juice popsicles are a Saunders specialty.
Caden is always very generous with his water hose drinks. He concentrates extra hard in order to place the water in just the right spot.
This is how Slappy waters the yard. Like grandfather like grandson.
We stayed at the Hemlock Inn in Bryson City, NC, and I would absolutely recommend it to anyone who wants a beautiful, peaceful, family style vacation in the Smokies. Here we are right before a little hike.
Caden loved getting to walk through the trees and hunt for bears and pick blackberries.
Tate stayed awake for the first half and then was lulled into a Baby Bjorn coma.
The view. Not too shabby.
Here's one of the few pictures we have as a family all dressed up. Tate was sleeping.
These two provided the reception music, and it was FABULOUS! He stood in front of them sooo patiently and asked in between songs to play the guitar. They finally let him touch the banjo, and then they gave him his own instrument to play. He was in heaven.
Caden is a GREAT helper with Tate.
Noelle and J.T. left in a haze of sparklers, and Caden was more than happy to light one up for them.
It was all fun and games till he had a spark to the eye.
Tate is such a content little thing, we can park him just about anywhere. Feel kind of bad sometimes, but...well, it's great.
Round 2 for the sparklers
We ended the weekend back in Nashville, and we had so much fun seeing Slappy, Cookie and Uncle Burster.
We've been trying hard to have nightly devotionals, and Slappy read the story our last night there.
Here's a sort of recent picture of a little Tate monster. Can't believe it's been 3 months already!
End of June we spent a day out at Camp Deer Run with Ty, Janelle, and Drayton. It was so much fun and a great introduction to future days and weeks out there. These two little cousins are going to have so much fun together as they grow up!
If you have a toddler and don't have a puddle jumper, you're missing out. I'm not kidding. Best pool floatie invention ever.
Uncle Ty has always had a special place in Caden's heart, and I'm pretty sure his love deepened with every meeting this summer.
For the 4th of July, we went out to camp again for quite an impressive show, if I do say so myself. Ever since, Caden will break out in random "USA! USA!" chants.
The Bowers rode out there with us, and we're so glad they're close enough that we can play together! Jed and Caden have no choice. They have to be friends.
