Here comes Santa Claus

Our boys were fortunate enough to see Santa Claus not once, but TWICE this year. 

The first photo attempt Brock had just finished up swim class and his eyes were burning red.  Brian was not too keen on the way the pictures turned out.  And Cade looked frightened.  I can't blame him.  The photographer's assistant used this hideous sounding clacking things to get the kids attention.  I'm not a pro in the Santa picture taking department, but I was Santa's Helper in the 9th grade and I will tell you this - I would have never chosen such a toy to encourage children to smile.  Clack Clack Clack Clack Clack Clack - oh the noise!  It still haunts me.  But I digress...

Photo One

So, two days later, after selecting two more equally adorable outfits, I braved the mall again. This time, Brock did not have swim class in the morning so his eyes weren't blazing red.  Cade, however, needed to be woken up from a pretty solid nap.  He was less than pleased with me.  So again, he looks frightened (could be from the clacking toy again). 

Much to my surprise, Santa did not wear his hat.  Of course in the frenzy of fixing hair, adjusting sweaters, and focusing my camera lens, I didn't take notice.  That was until we were finished and reviewing the series of pictures you are forced get to buy. When I inquired about his hat, the charming teenager working the cash register simply said he gets too hot in his hat so you need to request that he wear it.  What the...????

Photo Two (Santa looking cheesy sans his hat)

Yo, Santa, if you can't hack the job, then don't accept the job offer.  Just sayin'...
Merry Christmas from the McCormicks!

Four Months

How did four months pass?  Geez, this kid is growing up way too fast. 

Overall, Cade is doing fantastic.  He is happy, healthy and an absolute flirt.  I am in big trouble in a few years, my boys are chick magnets!  Just this week, he started sleeping about 10 hour stretches in the night.  It might be a short-lived phase but for now, I will enjoy my 6-7 hours of REM. 

Coming in at 25.25 inches tall (62%) and 15 lbs., 4 oz. (45%), Cade is quite a love.  But what's not to love? 

I'll tell you what's not to love.  Vaccination shots.  Poor Cade had three shots in his thighs and one oral vaccination.  He didn't enjoy this - at all.  Poor thing wailed and wailed.  Fortunately he won't remember these shots and we don't have to return for two more months!

Our silly boys

Brock and Cade are both in stages where they are beyond adorable.  These boys are full of life and definitely keeping us on our toes.  A pure joy, indeed!

Brock is all about using his imagination.  "Hurry, run, the big bad wolf is coming!".  Or, during story time, which is a part of our bedtime routine, he drags out all of his stuffed animals and we have to incorporate them into some kind of adventure.  Naturally, Brock is the main character and these guys are his sidekicks.  Brian has become quite the improv story teller.  I'm still working on my character details.  I prefer to be the closer, and in our home, that is the person who sing songs to him (terribly off key) after stories.  That way I get an extra good night kiss before lights out.  :-)

 
Cade is a big fan of blowing bubbles and babbling on and on, as if he has something incredibly important to say.  Hmm, maybe he does and we just don't know it - yet.  Whatever he might be saying, I can't stop gazing into his big blue eyes.  This momma is madly in love. 

Three Months

Okay, we are almost two weeks late in posting, but Cade turned three months on November 17th.  Wow, time is really zipping by.  It's been hard to watch Brock be incredibly disappointed in having a brother (he hits, yells, tells him to go away...the list goes on and on) but we are confident in time they will be the best of friends.

Back to Cade, he is really cute right now.  Giggles, coo's, squeaks and he lights up when you greet him.  He loves to watch his big brother (maybe out of fear?), his eyes follow his every move.  Unfortunately, Cade also caught his first of many colds.  With Brock in preschool, we're preparing for at least one year of runny noses.  The only upside to Cade being sick was that we took him to the doctor to make sure he didn't have an ear infection and he was weighed.  He's growing fast - 14 lbs., 6 oz. and 23 inches.  Will he be taller than Brock?  Time will tell.  For now, we focus on his adorable smile.