tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91141319365020512472024-03-13T01:05:36.887-05:00The Pate Family ChroniclesJust us. Composing our life song, one note at a time.Kaceehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366977712556011977noreply@blogger.comBlogger139125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9114131936502051247.post-23190563810882079902012-07-01T00:26:00.000-05:002012-07-01T00:26:49.331-05:00Heartsticks and HeartstringsHi, there. Let's just pretend like my absence from cyberspace never happened, and we'll pick up right where we left off, k? You didn't miss a lot, even though it was a lot. We moved. It <strike>was</strike> <strike>is</strike> was stressful. And other stuff. Had an amazing women's retreat that was a lot of work for me but super worth it because it was a fabulous weekend with wonderful women and God was so good to us there. So for the past few weeks I had to devote myself strictly to studying and preparing for that (when I get the pictures from the person who took them I'd like to do another post about that event, so we'll see). All in all, it has been a packed couple of months for us with good moments and hard moments, long, drawn out stories and short stories, but now we're moving on. So, moving on.<br />
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The Pates are spread out at the moment- spread out as in different parts of the earth spread out. Chris is on a biblical study tour in Israel (which has been amazing, although I have only gotten bits and pieces), and the kids and I loaded up and came out to the country for a bit, aka Granna and Poppy's house. Although we're apart, and we miss Daddy terribly, this was a timely getaway for us all. As I drove away from the city I love so dearly, I could feel weight peeling off and flying out of the window. It's hard to explain, but when God gives you a city to serve, love, and labor for, it's heavy stuff, a thick mantle. And although we love what we do, wouldn't dream of doing anything else, and have deep, deep rooted love for Houston and the people in it, sometimes you need to lay that very heavy mantle down to take a breather in order to be the best you can be. Liken it to a soldier leaving the battlefield to be refreshed, replenished, and rested to be able to go right back to the front lines of battle with tireless and gutsy resolve. 'Cause love is a battlefield, y'all. Thank you Pat Benetar (yeah, I did that).<br />
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So for me, coming here is very timely because it's just about everything that my life in the city is <i>not. </i>There's just something about the wide open plain out here that clears space to let my heart and mind breathe. The nothingness of the pastures that disappear into the horizon with the fullness of family is just right. Plus, let's face it- almost two weeks of being home alone with three kids didn't really sound as appealing as braving the road trip solo and spending some time with family. And I'm happy to report that although it was a long trip, my kids were traveling champions. An angelic anointing came over all three when we hit the road and they were perfect. I'm sure that's what we like to call <i>grace. </i>Anyway, among some other things, I hope to be able to get back to a little writing while I'm out here. This is the first step :) I still have every intention of writing a lot more, even though I hit that little bump in the road recently. I need to turn it in for the night, but here are a few pics of our time so far:<br />
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There's usually a new animal or two around when we come, and these four kittens were the new barnyard companions. Don't think they will all be staying around, though. Although I'm not a cat person, even I can't deny that kittens are pretty cute. Too bad they grow up to be cats.</div>
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Quintessential Elk City experience- going to the city park to ride the carousel, the train, and get a salty frog snow cone. This was Jaxon's first trip to the park.</div>
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We got a visit from my aunt, uncle, and sweet cousin and her little baby boy. He was a sweetie! So good to see them for a brief moment.</div>
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Cadence is busy from sun up to sun down on the farm. Not that this is much different from home, except that she has a lot more to do around here! She picked these leaves off of a tree, found sticks, and called this little project "Heartsticks" (hence the post title). She is her mother's daughter- got the crafty gene for sure :) Thought this was too sweet!</div>
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When it's over 100 degrees around here, cooling off is essential. Makeshift pool from a horse tank seems to get the job done. And provide hours of fun, too, of course! And in the background is Granna's awesome garden. Can't beat fresh veggies for dinner!</div>
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Oh yeah, he's having himself a good time around here.</div>
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Wide open plain. Tugging at my heartstrings.</div>
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Be back for more soon! I think I need Chris to hack this blog when he gets home to share some of his incredible pictures from Israel, too! <br />
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Peace out from the Pate house.Kaceehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366977712556011977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9114131936502051247.post-86272741189985959042012-04-30T13:58:00.000-05:002012-04-30T13:58:13.497-05:00One for the record!Just had to throw this on here so I can look down at my sidebar and at least see a number 1 beside April posts. I'll be back shortly with an explanation of why the last several weeks of our life have been missing from cyberspace. I did not forget about you. There's good reason, friends. Let's just say that when I put up the next post, it will be from a different address then I'm at today. That's right, and this one's permanent. God is good. And that's all I can say for now.<br />
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Can I make up for it by posting some extremely cute pictures of my children from Easter (that most of you have already seen) in the mean time? I thought so. Thanks for being gracious.<br />
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Peace out from the Pate house.Kaceehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366977712556011977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9114131936502051247.post-62989414230437921912012-03-05T21:46:00.000-06:002012-03-05T21:46:10.038-06:00Hellooooooo Kitty.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We had a lovely little Hello Kitty party in our home for Cadence's birthday. So. much. Hello. Kitty. I'll admit- she's the only cat I will tolerate. For the love of my daughter. But we had fun with our friends, little and big. Here's a little photo recap of the afternoon:</div>
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The party girl <strike>is forcibly stopped</strike> stops for the obligatory in front of the cake party pose before the festivities began. She's been waiting to turn six for months now, and believe me- she's going to be a busy girl because everything has been "Well, when I'm six....". Six is really important.</div>
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Decorations. My favorites are the circle mobiles I threw together and the rainbow fruit kabobs Addison and Cadence assembled for me.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYFhzDa0EoVUit9VBVONqfSg9WS6s6MoYRK5OUEOIjxgQ6EMISx6QJjxlt9kW3zC9XydV7w1c5mAkopYIC5fkaAlse-HMmJrEhKETzSGnSFces7ulXkfGLRyxbBGuzPln493UrpTk1jTT/s1600/IMG_2381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYFhzDa0EoVUit9VBVONqfSg9WS6s6MoYRK5OUEOIjxgQ6EMISx6QJjxlt9kW3zC9XydV7w1c5mAkopYIC5fkaAlse-HMmJrEhKETzSGnSFces7ulXkfGLRyxbBGuzPln493UrpTk1jTT/s640/IMG_2381.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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And the cake pops. This was my first attempt at cake pops. While these kitty ones were a bit tedious (and we had some "oopsy kitty" outtakes in the fridge that didn't make the cut), they were really fun to make. I always love trying new things!</div>
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Two of the party games: the traditional piƱata and pin the bow on the kitty. Our big friends even joined in the fun!</div>
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Pensively awaiting the birthday song. </div>
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Probably everyone's favorite activity: make your own cake pops station. So fun!</div>
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Some of our beautiful and tasty creations!</div>
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Cadence. Oh, Cadence. The best way I can think of to describe my daughter is that.... she is Cadence. Her own person- beautiful, colorful, affectionate, strong of mind, quirky, passionate, creative, sassy, and a blur of motion and energy. So smart and reading and writing well already in kindergarten. She trips, falls, busts, and crashes about one hundred times a day because she can't slow down, and one of these days we'll miss the little lisp she has when she talks because those front two teeth will finally come in (surely!). She loves anything artsy and gives things away from her room when friends come over. There's lots of love in that tiny little body. Our little blue eyed daughter, in a sandwich of brothers. Love her so.<br />
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Hope six is everything you imagined it to be and more.<br />
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Peace out from the Pate house.<br />
<br />Kaceehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366977712556011977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9114131936502051247.post-90604482581899767902012-03-02T00:07:00.001-06:002012-03-02T00:07:10.909-06:00Travels.Greetings. We have returned from our week of travels, but this week has been a long recovery because right after we got back in town we had a big birthday party and then sick kiddos (mostly one baby). So things are slow going this week. But we wanted to share some of our travels with you. <br />
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Our first stop was Boerne, Tx, by San Antonio. Chris was the main speaker at a Disciple Now youth event with three different churches coming together for the weekend. We stayed with some friends and enjoyed our visit. Chris also was amazing, of course. It was a lot for him- he preached five times in three days! The last day he spoke at the First Baptist Church (pictured below during the D-now event), which was well over a thousand people in two services! The whole event and that Sunday morning went really well, people (young and old) were saved, and it was so great to see so many young people passionate and fired up!</div>
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After the weekend was over, we headed out to Sea World Monday for a family day. The entire experience was perfect. Perfect weather, no crowds whatsoever, kids were great, and just an all around fun day. We so needed a fun day like that together, no stress and relaxed.</div>
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Here's some of the awesome sea friends we saw.</div>
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Addison rode his first roller coaster. Couldn't believe he did it, and not only did he do it but ended up riding it three times. That's the one on the right. The one on the left Chris and both the kids rode. Cadence thought it was a lot of fun.</div>
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On the way to our last stop, Austin, we went to a drive thru Safari outside of San Antonio. The kids especially enjoyed the little petting zoo, as you can see. The picture on the top right here is really special, not only because you can see how thin my hair is postpartum (I'm hoping it will go back to normal soon?) but because as I was watching Jaxon playing with the baby goats, one of them was behind me eating my cardigan. For real. Holes and all, totally destroyed. Not cool, little baby goat. Not cool. But how precious is the baby llama?</div>
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Austin was a quick day trip for a worship gathering of Every Nation worship leaders in Texas that Chris spoke at and we were a part of. Being the tail end of the trip and all the kids were a little road weary, but considering they had to sit there all day and behave they were still troopers. We rolled back into town a little before midnight, totally exhausted. A busy, full, but good week.<br />
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Big Hello Kitty Birthday post soon to follow. Peace out from the Pate house.<br />
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<br />Kaceehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366977712556011977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9114131936502051247.post-34447847720932308012012-02-15T23:14:00.000-06:002012-02-15T23:14:44.911-06:00Fast Lane February!February is most certainly living up to the expectation we had for it- fast and furious! I'm kind of liking the iPhone dump system I've had lately, except that I'd like to do it more like once a week instead of once a month! I've been pretty good about taking pictures because of a sort of, semi-scrapbook project that I'm doing offline, so it makes sense to dump them off my phone onto the ol' bloggity blog as an "our week in pictures" type of thing. (What was that we did again before the iPhone? Yeah, I don't remember, either.) I'm still fleshing out the format of the blog, what's doable and realistic for me, how often, the different focuses, etc., so bear with me through it you faithful, you members of my family plus about three that read this.<br />
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This has only been the past two weeks. And I don't have a picture representation for everything that's gone on, so fast and furious is accurate!<br />
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One of the great perks of living in a big city is that there's always something really great going on you can be a part of. Right down the street from us Israel Houghton and the New Breed recorded their new live album and we got to go. The atmosphere was absolutely electric- it was such a blast! The kids were so into it. There's hardly anything that touches my heart more than to see Addison worshiping. He gets so into it. I would have loved to snap a pic of him but I didn't want to embarrass him!</div>
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A few days later we had a Super Bowl party at our house (after the Saturday of a church wide service project and friend's birthday party). It was massive- there was undoubtedly more food than Thanksgiving or Christmas, probably combined. Prizes for who called the score and yards for half time/game, half time paper football tournament, tons of people, and did I mention all the food? </div>
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These feet are shuffling together 24/7. Check out those little chunky legs, would ya? </div>
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Random school picture. Fractions and shading fractions. Oh yeah.</div>
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After a another record attendance this past Sunday (we're bumping up against 150!), we had our New Comer's Dinner in our home. We push the limits of how many people we can cram into our dining space every time we have one of these, and this time there were over 20 new people there. City Life Church is a fast moving train, and sometimes we feel like we can barely hang on to keep up but it's an exciting ride!</div>
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Not only has our home been perfect for all of the many things we have going on in it, but I keep finding surprises planted in the landscaping. I can't tell you what this is (because I don't know), but it's making an appearance in our front yard and it is the best. smelling. plant. ever. Ever. I wish this picture was scratch and sniff so you could see for yourself. It's like something that would be a fruity lotion smell. </div>
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We received some really hard news about a family member who is beginning her journey battling cancer this week. Her faith is so strong and inspiring, and she has such a courageous spirit and we know God is strong with her and is our Healer. Janet, if you're reading this we love you so much and are praying for you! (and I promise I'm getting these sweet cards Addison and Cadence made in the mail!)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOdhWPF5X4rRYZ6en2kc42WrqRWAxI6SszJKda1BBtXXZjzkR9Vyy6AjuV93Fe1_-FTAiYW-_X8lBeYWMMhBPsFStYkr_CZ5ZGI-91pUMe4PfoYgnO5xbfmE9yLbsBK4uAqlgX1eJ2eYsn/s1600/IMG_2164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOdhWPF5X4rRYZ6en2kc42WrqRWAxI6SszJKda1BBtXXZjzkR9Vyy6AjuV93Fe1_-FTAiYW-_X8lBeYWMMhBPsFStYkr_CZ5ZGI-91pUMe4PfoYgnO5xbfmE9yLbsBK4uAqlgX1eJ2eYsn/s640/IMG_2164.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOdhWPF5X4rRYZ6en2kc42WrqRWAxI6SszJKda1BBtXXZjzkR9Vyy6AjuV93Fe1_-FTAiYW-_X8lBeYWMMhBPsFStYkr_CZ5ZGI-91pUMe4PfoYgnO5xbfmE9yLbsBK4uAqlgX1eJ2eYsn/s1600/IMG_2164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;">Of course Valentine's Day happened yesterday. Chris and I actually went out last Friday to celebrate early because we had babysitters! That was one of the first times we've been out alone since Jaxon was born, so needless to say we were happy to be out and about! That will be happening more often now!</span></a></div>
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And finally my little hearts. I call this my little Valentine's Day miracle, because you know the process behind getting this final product. I am always amazed when I can get a picture where everyone is actually looking in the same direction and making a non-strange expression. My little babies are so beautiful, if I do say so myself. And yes, it appears Jaxon's hair is red in these pics. It doesn't always look like that, but it seems like every time he has a picture taken it comes out like that. Time will tell, I guess! If you look really hard in his picture you can see a bottom tooth poking out. Yeah, that one is costing us some!</div>
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Peace out from the Pate house.Kaceehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366977712556011977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9114131936502051247.post-18061283912970569632012-02-09T16:36:00.000-06:002012-02-09T16:36:33.355-06:00On writing, disciplines, and snotty noses.I've been thinking a lot lately about writing. One of my goals in the new year is to write more. Not sure where it will lead, what form it will take (songs, blogs, etc.), or why I really feel such a fire in my bones to do it, but I've done all my wrestling with that and now I'm just going to figure out how to make it happen. I'm afraid I won't have anything to say that matters, I'm afraid nobody will care if I do or if I don't (which shouldn't matter, but just being honest), and now my pride doesn't want to do it because Mommy blogging...well, blogging in general I guess, is taking over the universe right now and <i>everybody</i> is doing it. It's that teenager independence thing, that I can't do what everybody else is doing, thing. I know, mature. But guess what? The latter is my own fault- I mean, I have been blogging for over three years now, and if I'd been cranking out more than the obligatory catching up, look how cute and brilliant my kids are posts every now and then (which I will shamelessly continue to do, btw), as was my original intention, I would have been cool like that. And I would have been obedient to my convictions. But I digress.<br />
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As much as I love to write, feel like I <i>need </i>to write, I've struggled with penning what's in my heart and ultimately sharing it. Here's one of my problems. I think there's this misconception about having a desire or strong feeling to do something. We think that just because we are inspired or called to action that it will magically just happen for us. That inspiration will hit us in just the moment we need it- and when it doesn't we just shrug our shoulders, go on about our business, and think maybe we weren't supposed to do that after all. The misconception lies in the process. Because sometimes I think we forget there<i> is</i> a process. I've heard this process described many times before, cleverly packaged into three D's:<br />
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<b>Desire</b>....<b>Discipline</b>....<b>Delight.</b> <br />
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They are somewhat self-explanatory, so I won't insult your intelligence by going into great detail on all three. But I will say I think we typically want to go, or feel as it should go, straight from desire to the delight stage. Getting the idea, desiring a better relationship, wanting to change those habits, do something in your heart etc. and then wanting to immediately reap the delight of having accomplished the desire through a wave of inspiration. Bam. <i>Done</i>. Desire is so noble, so fueled by motivation, so right, and delight is...well, delightful! But discipline is so boring, so unglamorous, and so. much. work. It takes all the fun out of what you wanted in the first place. Like we've bought into this lie that if something is meant to be we won't have to work for it because it will just happen, while your perfect soundtrack is playing behind you in your perfect moment. Lots of people feel this way about relationships, trust me- we've talked to them-, but that's just one example out of many. What I'm talking about applies to about anything worth doing you can think of.<br />
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But it's in the trenches of discipline, in the wrestling around and trudging through the consistency and work of it, the every day stick-to-itiveness that something tangible is born out of the intangible desire. It's through the discipline that we <i>become. </i>We <i>become</i> what we desire and it's to our ultimate delight.<br />
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Because, really, the delight at the end of the tunnel (oh wow, unintentional cheesy pun) is all the more delightful, carries so much more weight when you work really hard for it, no? <br />
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I know that, yet I still struggle with the discipline stage of the process. I'm not really known to be the most disciplined person to begin with. I'm a live in the moment, love to be surrounded by inspiration kind of person, so to me the idea of doing something <i>even if you're not inspired</i> to do so, just because you should and need to, is a hard pill for my artsy little soul to swallow sometimes. Maybe that's just me. Being disciplined and focused actually seems to be custom built into some personalities, and I'm a little jealous of those. But if anybody that happens to read this is like me, let this be an encouragement to you, as it will be an accountability to myself, to press through and keep the discipline of consistency. I've learned to embrace discipline through the years, not because I like it, but because I know the transformation taking place inside of me because of it. Keep on doing what you need to do, even if you don't feel like it. Don't let the desire die. Do it if it feels like drudgery.<br />
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Because one day you might look up and the drudgery might have turned into delight and you're doing what you wanted to do.<br />
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This is where I am with writing. I have to change the way I think about it and approach it. I need to be in the trenches with it more, as a daily (or almost daily) discipline rather than looking at it as something I will sit down and do when "inspiration" hits. I've learned that doesn't really happen and consequently the non-writing happens as a result. Rarely does inspiration hitting and me having a moment to sit down and go with it fall into the same space. Part of discipline is making a plan for yourself instead of just waiting around and thinking things will fall into place the way they need to. They won't. I am going to make some space on this blog for my thoughts. And I will continue to write about my family and overload your cuteness capacity with pictures and quotes from my precious children. And I will try to make it a little predictable, as in certain days having certain themes. That way if you don't want to read about snotty noses or first teeth (both of which I have in my home currently) you don't have to. Maybe, just maybe one day I will have another blog. But let's face it- some days it's a big deal if I can get a shower before 5:00, so I've got to take baby steps, people. Just gotta start where I'm living, you know?<br />
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Finally, a quote I heard from a book I think I want to read: "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Our stories affect one another whether we know it or not. Sometimes obedience isn't for us at all, but for another." I'm hoping on the inside that will happen, because it's the only way I won't feel silly and self-promoting in sharing. Because what do I even have to offer- who am I kidding? But that leads me to the part two of what keeps us from doing what we </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">need to do, based on something else I read:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><i>Don't compare your behind the scenes to someone else's highlight reel</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">." Yep. To be continued...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">Peace out from the Pate house.</span>Kaceehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366977712556011977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9114131936502051247.post-66707660503263931052012-01-31T23:34:00.001-06:002012-01-31T23:34:21.562-06:00Happy New Year!Oh, what's that you say? It's almost February? Ooops. <br />
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We've been a little busy around here trying to launch the Pate Family 2.0 upgrade for 2012, riding the wave of motivation and focus that comes along with the beginning of a new year. Only problem is that we literally <i>rode</i> the wave into the new year- as in, if we had to walk on our own two legs into the new year we would have crawled and then collapsed when we crossed the finish line of 2011. Since I have yet to convince our sweet Jaxon that he will not miss anything at 3:00am, that <i>the rest of the world is sleeping and so should we</i>, we are trying with all our might to keep up with the pace the new year is bringing but truth be told...we're <strike>kinda needing about a week straight of uninterrupted, taking sleeping pills kind of sleep</strike> a little tired. He's slowly, and I do mean slowly, starting to get better. I know it will come. And he just so happens to be about the cutest, most charming thing you've ever seen and pretty happy at all other times, so he's sort of saving face right now. Literally, with his face. But in the meantime, we are probably maxing out our grace allotment for each day! It's amazing how not getting proper rest affects everything you do. And considering I had sleeping problems in pregnancy (he got an early start), it's been almost a year since I have had much sleep worth writing home about. So, I'm trying to forge on the best I can, trying to stay thankful (and I truly, truly am) for a healthy, beautiful baby and cherishing him in this phase of life, while trying to figure out how to get it all done in the current state of...well...this current state! We have great ideas, great goals and vision, both personally and for our family, and we're implementing them a little at a time. So to say that we shot out into January with a bang? Not exactly :) But we're getting there.<br />
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That's one of the reasons I haven't posted much. Haven't exactly been teeming with inspiration and extra time and energy. I also got sick over Christmas and it hung around for entirely too long. And I have also had computer issues which has made it almost impossible to post, so I had that going for me as well. So there. Just kidding. I've at least solved the computer issues so we're back in business! <br />
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Here's a little of what we've been up to this month...<br />
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One of the first things we did to start the new year was to join the Y. I cannot tell you how awesome this place is! I need to try to get more pics of it, but it's a massive three story complex, with a huge workout area, women's only workout area complete with monitors to see inside the nursery, multiple studios that house the group fitness classes (the programs I used to teach, to be exact, which was a huge draw), racquetball courts, two swimming pools, batting cages, basketball courts, and the kids area has a huge playground and rock climbing wall. And a huge bonus is that the nursery and child care area is full of wonderful people that take great care of the kids. The whole family looks forward to going there every week, and we are so excited to be members!</div>
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Another great thing about the Y is that Addison got signed up for karate and he really likes it. This will be week three, and it's going to be so great for him. Have to get a better pic of him in the uniform, it's pretty intimidating :) So the Y is like a one stop shop for us- drop off Addison at karate, drop off Cadence and Jaxon to play, and mommy and daddy go work out (and watch karate some). Can't beat that!</div>
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Our one big Christmas present to both big kids was an Xbox 360 with a Kinect. As much as we have loved the Wii (and it's about to bite the dust on us), this really puts it to shame. You truly use your body, no remotes (if it's a Kinect game anyway), and it's quite a workout! I mean, not to name names or anything, but some people that might be pictured below were majorly sweaty and sore after playing some of the games! It's a lot of fun. The picture below is them boxing. </div>
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In response to the aforementioned present, Addison wrote us this. It was so sweet. In case you can't read the handwriting (we're working really hard on our penmanship cause as brilliant as that dude is it's one of the harder things for him), here's what this says: "Hello mommy and daddy I loved the xbox so much that I wanted to give you this card. It has money on the other page. Cadence wanted to pitch into it. I love you guys so much. Love, Addison." And the second page, complete with a pile of change (that included Chuckie Cheese coins), "This is all we have. Sorry we couldn't give more." Yeah, pretty cute stuff.</div>
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We had our annual prayer and fasting week. We had prayer meetings at our house every day that week, and it was really good. We had at least 20 people show up every night. It's always good to start the year out like this to get focused. Even the kids participated on their own accord- they fasted dessert for the week! </div>
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Jaxon has made the cross over to the big boy world and is eating baby food now. Got this awesome machine for Christmas that steams the food and then blends it up right there. I'm really enjoying making my own food this time around. It's pretty easy and I feel good that I'm giving him the best nutritional start! Wish I would have done it with the other two, but fortunately they're good eaters anyway :)</div>
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With the new year brought a new curriculum change for us in school. I have switched everything but math to the A Beka curriculum, a very popular but trusted and proven one. I feel better about this switch, and I love that it's written from a Christian perspective. We are enjoying it very much so far. Addison really seems to be enjoying History.</div>
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The new year also brought some new changes to our bedroom. For the first time in eleven years of marriage, we have purchased our first bed! Of course, we have always had a bed but just always been blessed with some great hand-me-downs over the years. I will wait for another post to reveal the finished product of this monstrosity, but it's quite the bed! The good news was that a lot of it was assembled already inside these boxes. </div>
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Cadence is also having a good time in school. She created this little diorama one day and she got to name the city whatever she wanted so she picked this. Of course she did. This is just the kind of city Cadence would live in.</div>
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Chris's birthday fell on a Sunday this year. God is certainly moving at City Life Church! He preached a great message, followed by a birthday lunch at one of our personal favs, Grand Luxe! Man, that's some good eating!</div>
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And what does a six month old do all day long, you ask? Well, he plays and plays, with hopefully a little rest in between. Pictured is the bumbo seat, new high chair, and jumperoo play thing, all which he loves. He also loves just rolling around on the floor, eating his toes. We have a little cushioned mattress topper on the floor for now, since our first floor is all hardwood. And he has also moved to his crib in his room. He has been in our room with us, and I was hoping he'd be sleeping through the night when we moved him upstairs to his room. But he's not and it was time, so oh well! But really, can he be any cuter??? I think not.</div>
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So there's a <strike>little</strike> big snippet of January. And I had to get this in today because I just couldn't live with myself if I looked at that side bar and next to January there was a big, FAT zero. The month was here and it was gone in a breath. And February will be the same- lots going on, but hopefully with a little more documentation this time :) <br />
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Peace out from the Pate house.Kaceehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366977712556011977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9114131936502051247.post-9838304935230872052011-12-30T00:45:00.000-06:002011-12-30T12:24:29.350-06:00It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I truly do love the holidays. It's probably the time of year I take the most pictures. You would think that would correspond with more blogging. You would think. Yeah, I would, too. Or I could face the reality that this is also one of the busiest times of the year for us and my track record seems to prove that blogging tends to get a little sparse when we have a lot going on. In fact, looking back on the number of posts I have had this year I would venture to say that 2011 was not the year of the blog. My blog, anyway. This makes me sad, considering what an eventful year it was in our little corner of the world. But Chris says that I always talk about how much I don't write and that I should just stop apologizing. Guess he's right, it's just that I think I'm mostly apologizing to myself because I disappoint myself in this area. But I should be happy that I am writing at all, considering before 2009 documented memories existed only in pictures. I will say that this is something I'm determined to work on in the coming new year, though.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">But enough about that. Now get ready for the photo blitz of your life. A whirlwind tour of the month of December, if you will. Actually a little bit November and a lot of December. The quality of the pics is not great because they're mostly from my phone. I can actually get pretty good pics from my phone, but not always in low lighting. This is pretty long, so just kick back your feet for a bit and enjoy!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">First off, a little visit from our Abilene clan. This was the little bit November part, because this was before Thanksgiving. We had a lot of fun at the Aquarium. Definitely one of our fav spots in Houston. It was their first time to meet Jaxon, and we had a great weekend. We also had a big 2 year celebration for City Life that weekend which was also awesome. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> Putting up the Christmas decorations. This actually happened before Thanksgiving. We knew we would be gone a lot in December so we wanted to enjoy the tree. Jaxon was very fascinated with the sparkles and lights. This time next year it might get a little interesting because he'll be big enough to probably be pulling the little sparkles and lights </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">off </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">the tree...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Our annual making Christmas cookies adventure. This year we tried a new thing Granna sent us that made this super cute tree. I didn't take an aftermath picture, but this tradition is definitely a most messy one. I picked up little green dough bits that looked like playdough for days and probably still have flour in the cracks of my table! Jaxon was rocking the bumbo seat all this Christmas- he loved being in on all the action and sitting like a big boy.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Missing photographically from this timeline is a quick visit from G-ma, G-pa, and Aunt Jordo after Thanksgiving. They came to get the kids to spend the week in Arkansas while we spent the week in Washington DC. It was a pretty hectic weekend with us all getting ready to travel. G-ma and G-pa if you're reading this, I need some pics from you if you have them! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Soooo... the DC trip. I had a lot of anxiety preparing for this trip because we were taking Jax with us and I was really nervous how he would do on the airplane and throughout the week for all the events we had. Here's how the trip got started: after two and a half hours of sleep we stumbled out the door in a hurry at 5:00 am to head to the airport. I was so focused on making sure I had everything for the baby I left my phone behind and didn't notice my makeup bag had fallen out of the diaper bag. We get to the airport and I also forgot that my driver's license had expired, and they almost didn't let me fly. So I was so thrilled/relieved that Jaxon was </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">perfect </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">for the flights there, despite the rocky start on my part. He was a trooper and actually did great the entire week. But since I left my phone at home I didn't get a lot of pics. I had my real camera with me, but since he was either strapped to me in the Baby Bjorn carrier or I was pushing him in the stroller, it was difficult to capture too many pics. And I'm really sad about it because there were certainly a lot of photo ops. I'm sure we'll be back there one day so that made me feel a little bit better. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">These pics below are from Mt Vernon, the home of George Washington. It was a really cool place where you could tour the old homes, see where he was buried, and then there was an awesome museum there. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We ended the touristy day at the historic Ford Theater in downtown DC where we saw A Christmas Carol. Got a picture of "the" booth. Jaxon was a champ again and did really good. He was just charming all of the sweet little old ladies that worked at the theater, and they said he was the best baby they had ever seen. Well, how about that!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Although it was hard to fully unwind and relax with a baby, and we didn't get a whole lot of sleep, it was still a great trip. We are always very encouraged and refreshed when we're around other pastors and leaders in Every Nation. It's a blessing to be a part of such a great movement. And that part of the country is so beautiful- I'd love to visit in the fall when all of those trees are showing off their color!</span></span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">So we return home from that trip and have exactly one week to pack again and hit the road. And to have our huge Christmas party and me to help host a baby shower before we leave. Whew! The Christmas party was a blast, as always. Whenever our church gets together it's always a good time. I don't have good pics at all from the party, but I'm sure most of you saw the ones on Facebook that someone else took. The kids stole the show with their dancing and craziness! And we got a little crazy, too! Oh yes, I sure did dance with Jaxon strapped to the front of me! Do what you gotta do!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">And as soon as that wild weekend ended we were on the road again to begin the tour de grandparents. First stop, Abilene for a quick visit on the way to Elk City. We did get to go to church on Wednesday night to visit some of our friends and Chris ended up speaking in youth that night. We took a day trip a couple of days after we got to Elk to Apache, OK, for the Darnell side of the family Christmas. This picture is of Grandma Darnell with all of her </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">great-</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">grandkids. Must be really cool to live to see that many great grandchildren. That's the first time we have all been there, because we hadn't seen that side of the family in quite some time. Grandma looks so happy and cute there, and she looked so happy to have everyone in her home together. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This being Jax's first Christmas and all, of course I took a ton of pics of him. Look at that cute little elf. Ah, that face. He was having a great time at Granna and Poppy's house.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Just a few pics from hanging around. Uncle Bryce enjoyed the Bjorn, and of course the kids were happy to wrestle and play around with their uncles. And Cadence was Poppy's companion. Every time the door was open and someone was doing something, she was a part of it. This picture is of her idea to plant pine cones in the river bed. She's always on the move, that one! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Something that was new for our Elk City adventures was having </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">girls</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> around this year. My brothers had their cutie girlfriends at the house, and they are both very sweet. A glimpse of the future and the changing times, perhaps...I'm glad we took these pictures because we hardly ever take a family pic! (This applies to all of our families- gotta make a point to do it more often!)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Next stop, Lubbock to see T, Nannie, and more uncles. We had a visit to Santa Land, which is something from my childhood for the holidays. The goal was to see Santa and get a pic, but when we got there and saw the line was 2+ hours in the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">cold</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">, we changed our mind and just walked around and stayed a little while. Mom, I need all of those great pictures you took of us with Nannie, the boys, and you! I have none!! </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gHn_ebGi1b4/Tv1Gpx83OlI/AAAAAAAABME/1NYSVCsTcQg/s1600/IMG_1880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gHn_ebGi1b4/Tv1Gpx83OlI/AAAAAAAABME/1NYSVCsTcQg/s640/IMG_1880.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">And speaking of not having any pictures, we did </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">not </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">take the cousin pic we all talked about in Abilene when we were there. Boo to that, everyone! I think with all the kids running around, it's harder to remember to stop and take pictures because they're too busy playing and having fun! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">And finally we landed back home the night before Christmas Eve. Logging almost 30 hours of road time and three different destinations, we came home pretty tired and the boys and I got a cold. But it's always good to spend time with family- just wish everyone was a little closer! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Here's my Christmas Eve babies after our special service that night. Aren't they the sweetest thing you've ever seen???</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GXq2IfTiQP8/Tv1LGF9mtvI/AAAAAAAABMw/AQGTVWFkufw/s1600/IMG_1856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GXq2IfTiQP8/Tv1LGF9mtvI/AAAAAAAABMw/AQGTVWFkufw/s640/IMG_1856.JPG" width="628" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">And here's our Christmas morning shot. They of course were well taken care of between us, our generous families, and Santa! Cadence got this little baby play set with a bouncy seat, play pen, stroller, etc. It was so cute because I found all of the little baby toys next to the real baby toys, as seen in the pic below. So funny! </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Just a few more pics from the sights of Christmas around the house. Yes, it got cold enough some nights to have a fire. And yes, this fire in the picture looks like it's about to jump out and consume the stockings along with the whole house- that was the very beginning when it was really big! And Christmas breakfast was waffles made on our new waffle maker, which we love! We also had oranges fresh from our tree in the backyard. It was nice to have a quiet day together after all the commotion of the last few weeks. It also gave us some space to reflect and talk about the true meaning of Christmas and have some special time with the kids.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I think we fit just about everything you could possibly cram into one little month! With us being gone a lot of the month, it really flew by and is over as soon as it began, it seems. Aside from getting sick and not having as many pictures of everything as I wanted, it has been a lovely holiday season. Thanks for hanging in there with me through this long post. Peace out from the Pate house.</span></span></div>Kaceehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366977712556011977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9114131936502051247.post-15688576747596279672011-12-19T14:47:00.001-06:002011-12-19T14:47:47.269-06:00But Merry Christmas AnywayBack-slidden. Fallen off the wagon. Gone to the dogs. And any other phrase that comes to mind along those lines. Yep, that's how I would describe my current status with this blog. And during the most wonderful time of the year, nonetheless. It should not be so. I'm coming back to you, I promise. I'm currently traveling sans computer so I cannot access photos to put on here from our adventures of late. But we are still here, trying to enjoy our holiday and embrace the season.
There's a great irony in life that things, left unattended, tend to drift towards complexity. It is a more difficult battle in which one must be fully engaged to try to keep it simple. Working harder to keep it easier. It's a strange thought. And that's where we're living right now, trying to embrace and adopt that for the holidays as well.
I hope you and yours are simply enjoying the season. I have some fun pictures and adventures to share with you soon!
Peace out from the traveling Pate house.Kaceehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366977712556011977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9114131936502051247.post-36951395720553189362011-11-06T22:30:00.000-06:002011-11-06T22:30:55.570-06:00These Are The Moments.Even though the first couple of days (for me) were a blur of drug-laced consciousness and pretty much a wash as far as productivity goes, there have been some real gems extracted from this week. Here are some snapshot moments:<br />
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<li>Waking up in the morning to the sound of Addison reading to Cadence on the couch. <i>The Bible</i>. They decided not to come and get us that day when they woke up (but we heard them anyway), and they were in full blown discussion/devotion. We of course just laid there and listened in amazement with pride swelled hearts. </li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguAPj5tJalp3YdLHG-g4HwZ9v1mh_d3Fk1znZx8NFVw8J8_KaUUsbdBSh2bM9rGnTu2CfUl7QsLiT_Xzs-FBpV8pSVpbdrgXWmkSy49qa2Oja3xKMyr1jyeTg306_Dl11enk4F2kZ0dTf3/s1600/DownloadedFile" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguAPj5tJalp3YdLHG-g4HwZ9v1mh_d3Fk1znZx8NFVw8J8_KaUUsbdBSh2bM9rGnTu2CfUl7QsLiT_Xzs-FBpV8pSVpbdrgXWmkSy49qa2Oja3xKMyr1jyeTg306_Dl11enk4F2kZ0dTf3/s400/DownloadedFile" width="400" /></a></div>
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<li>My backyard. Happiness is in my backyard. There is a tree hanging heavy with little miniature oranges almost ready to pick, a deck freshly adorned with little twinkling lights wrapped around big trunks, and these beauties pictured below. Cut them right off the bush, and they are the sweetest I've ever smelled. It was a pleasant surprise because I thought our rose bushes were beyond repair. We have some work to do from the summer that almost killed it all, but there is so much potential to have a fantastic outdoor space. Oh yeah- also my birthday present from Chris that I've wanted for years, a hammock. Yessssssss. </li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWHqo02k2vk1Au1uSsVGcVQD3Q-9afWGP-rsVafHIGIw2A2HsREs3_GODwWqg7L_B1xxGpZKlELbNTUiA9IBBQ3ghBOEWtFqR_LC5BKIe4T0lzxu0hFdZRL7Rg0I-8BZa04JEn4mHLtm3J/s1600/IMG_1602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWHqo02k2vk1Au1uSsVGcVQD3Q-9afWGP-rsVafHIGIw2A2HsREs3_GODwWqg7L_B1xxGpZKlELbNTUiA9IBBQ3ghBOEWtFqR_LC5BKIe4T0lzxu0hFdZRL7Rg0I-8BZa04JEn4mHLtm3J/s320/IMG_1602.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<li>Complimenting a great outdoor space is the amazing weather in which to enjoy it in. This week was the kind of weather that you could feel the cool in the breeze and warmth of the sun at the same time. The kind of weather that makes your coffee taste better. Perfection. We spent a lot of time outside and look forward to doing it more. And it turns out that snuggles from a warm, cuddly baby on a cold morning is like wrapping in a big, fuzzy blanket. Only better.</li>
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<li>Conquering a longstanding battle- For whatever reason, it's been such a challenge for Addison to tie his shoes. Sometimes the simplest of things confound our little smarty pants boy, which can be a good thing because it teaches him patience and persistence. Well, this week he finally got it figured out with much help from Daddy! </li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUDaHHT2LgT-1bCeLIApVwRoAvqN82u4Ify4N6FipmEWSDU-l50AXZvWs0TAzQiQxED8-rfBe6xIcFfkaJ90UbiCcUIVqGH0cVkokPACE11olwy1FYClZ8GgU0Y9bsyptaFwHpUuvqefO4/s1600/IMG_1601.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUDaHHT2LgT-1bCeLIApVwRoAvqN82u4Ify4N6FipmEWSDU-l50AXZvWs0TAzQiQxED8-rfBe6xIcFfkaJ90UbiCcUIVqGH0cVkokPACE11olwy1FYClZ8GgU0Y9bsyptaFwHpUuvqefO4/s320/IMG_1601.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<li>This guy has been playing hard. Found him like this the other day- just played himself out! It's very exhausting to be a baby.</li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIlOuA1AODorJ6ba9Pys4bIHRoXlm_cRhYoUMv08phQB_E-0FmpGqncpjaa04Bwsr6kmud_t_V2IfZGNl-DZeY2hIJ-2TZuroq0fhjHQww56DQfys5rxRgKDXt-k9bSsq21vQ546EHYv6f/s1600/IMG_1596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIlOuA1AODorJ6ba9Pys4bIHRoXlm_cRhYoUMv08phQB_E-0FmpGqncpjaa04Bwsr6kmud_t_V2IfZGNl-DZeY2hIJ-2TZuroq0fhjHQww56DQfys5rxRgKDXt-k9bSsq21vQ546EHYv6f/s320/IMG_1596.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<li>Learning to tithe. Our precious Kids Church teachers have been talking to the kids about money on Sunday mornings, and today they marched into church with their pockets jingle-jangling ready to be a cheerful giver. Love that.</li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrXISRGArxv7-DHWEzKX9pzl_DmYrfyUk2OAU66aVSWCh0ZT-gqrj5bHLluCE2o4gj_wXfxT0mEV_iWxGij8auoXrdZ0sajWTKP7BuadVkvVsceCzEzMFq6X4DiNbCVTgR3I_IzTNYZ4k7/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrXISRGArxv7-DHWEzKX9pzl_DmYrfyUk2OAU66aVSWCh0ZT-gqrj5bHLluCE2o4gj_wXfxT0mEV_iWxGij8auoXrdZ0sajWTKP7BuadVkvVsceCzEzMFq6X4DiNbCVTgR3I_IzTNYZ4k7/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a><br />
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Yes, these are the moments. Just a sampling of the moments that fill my days with life and joy. Peace out from the Pate house.<br />
<br />Kaceehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366977712556011977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9114131936502051247.post-20837322313435554892011-11-02T16:10:00.000-05:002011-11-02T16:10:46.717-05:00The Force is Strong With UsI have this <s>insatiable need</s> wish for my children to coordinate their theme when we dress up for Halloween every year. Now that we have three the challenge is going to be even more difficult. I got lucky for this first year. Everyone just happened to be happy with the idea, and I was able to find an adorable baby costume to boot. This does not always happen (the everyone being okay with my suggestions part), so I was thrilled. So prepare yourself for some extreme cuteness if you have not already seen these floating around on FB. I did include some extras not posted there, though :) <div>
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(cue Star Wars music...it's much better if you imagine that in your head while viewing these)</div>
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This is the money shot of the group. I consider myself very lucky to have captured this one. I still giggle every time I see this because they're just so darn cute. Look out, dark side- these guys are coming after you :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF7G0Qsv4yHZ0uo03UTrsqoRYzcnwS5yS_XTDysjiGPWNUKEh08Jo7FxHG2x4VWOOdVEiJ9sm_hKQypkpcqMvWrvvy1Bsmp5VCyKhWOxf9NVOpt7gYOVkhRDE38sckhO0F7UAcq-C1ObS7/s1600/IMG_1593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF7G0Qsv4yHZ0uo03UTrsqoRYzcnwS5yS_XTDysjiGPWNUKEh08Jo7FxHG2x4VWOOdVEiJ9sm_hKQypkpcqMvWrvvy1Bsmp5VCyKhWOxf9NVOpt7gYOVkhRDE38sckhO0F7UAcq-C1ObS7/s640/IMG_1593.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
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And here are a few out takes in the quest for the money shot...</div>
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Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker.</div>
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Lovely Leia. I am proud of this costume. This is the first time I have attempted to sew a piece of clothing. It did not turn out perfect, but for a first try it wasn't too bad!</div>
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Had to get a shot of the sleeves. This was actually an angel costume pattern that worked perfect for Princess Leia. </div>
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Our handsome Jedi Luke Skywalker. Fortunately we already owned that light saber so it worked out.</div>
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And finally my little Yoda. I know- there are hardly words for this. Just take in the extreme cuteness. (Wish I would have creatively camoflouged that rubber band holding his light saber to his hand :) </div>
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Very happy and cute Yoda I am.</div>
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Our actual holiday festivities were pretty difficult to pull off. The Monday before Halloween we went to a party at the Children's Museum that was for members. Chris got really sick that weekend, barely made it through church, and crashed. So I took the big kids by myself to the Museum and left a sleeping baby and sick daddy. Then over this past weekend Chris shared his cold with me so I was the one who crashed hard after a long weekend. And I barely pulled it together so we could all go to one of the really big churches' carnivals here on Halloween. It was fun but really chaotic. Didn't even get any pictures because I was too out of it. But here are a few from the Museum outing:<br />
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Mommy and Daddy are still on the mend but it's a lot better than it was, especially Chris. Addison had a small version for a few days, but nobody else so far. Still much catching up to do around here. Hopefully I will be getting to that soon. My vision for the amped up version of this blog is still there, but with sickness and busyness I haven't had the chance to execute it yet. But I am determined. Peace out from the Pate house.Kaceehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366977712556011977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9114131936502051247.post-55740538844234294742011-10-12T16:50:00.000-05:002011-10-12T16:50:07.424-05:00Space CenterLast week we got to visit the Space Center for the first time. It was closed to the public except for homeschool families. We enjoyed it very much. Definitely educational. The only thing we didn't get to do was take the 90 minute tram ride that went to where they were actually working, and we've heard it's really neat to see so we'll definitely go back to check that out sometime. The kids had fun, and Jaxon was a little champ. He does really well on outings, and I'm so thankful for that! Since we're so used to living in Houston now, I was reminded how awesome it is to be here because things like this are in our own backyard. So many cool opportunities for us as a family to experience. <br />
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A few of our photo ops. Of course <i>every</i> picture couldn't be a serious one :)</div>
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Just some of the cool stuff we saw. The bottom right pic was our souvenir- space ice cream and strawberries (freeze dried). Pretty yummy!</div>
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This was a presentation from the inside of a mock space shuttle to see how astronauts live in space. She showed us the toilet and bathroom area and how they used them (top left), the kitchen and how they ate their food (top right), and how they slept (bottom right). It was a really cool little presentation.</div>
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Some fun stuff. There was this station that showed the weight conversion of what you would weigh on the different planets. Top left Addison would weigh 232 lbs on Mars and bottom right Cadence would weigh 115 lbs on Jupiter. Some of the planets they would weigh way less than what their normal weight was. The <s>germophobe</s> germ-cautious mother in me was trying not to freak out when Cadence put on that helmet...And of course Addison will find any kind of trivia or facts out there- he loves that stuff!</div>
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They had a massive play place (like so big you couldn't see them inside of it so they had monitors to watch from) that of course the kids loved romping around in. </div>
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Some samples of the suits they had all around.</div>
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What is not pictured is a session we went to with a retired astronaut (now a Southwest Airlines pilot) who talked about his time in space and had video footage of his trips there. We got a signed picture from him at the end. He let all the kids ask him questions about being in space and his stories were really cool. We also saw a short film about training to go into space in this imax type theater that had the largest movie screen in Texas, or so they said. Like five stories high or something. I believe it- that thing was <i>huge. </i> It was a great day indeed! </div>
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Peace out from the Pate house.</div>Kaceehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366977712556011977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9114131936502051247.post-56098358551867692372011-10-04T12:47:00.000-05:002011-10-04T12:47:09.969-05:00Brothers.As we were looking through our pictures of Addison as a baby, we have found a striking resemblance to Jaxon. Of course there are differences I can see, and I know he will be his own little person, but take a look at these pictures- there's no denying they were cut from the same mold!!<br />
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They are both around four to five weeks old in this one. This is the closest I could find to Jaxon making the expression Addison is making. I have seen that<i> exact</i> face, though!</div>
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This is the one that's just killing me- same hands up sleep position and everything!</div>
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My sweet, handsome boys. Just a little visual entertainment for you today. That's all. Peace out from the Pate house.Kaceehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366977712556011977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9114131936502051247.post-57745659581751118132011-09-28T20:02:00.001-05:002011-09-28T20:02:34.311-05:00First Sleepover.Well you heard about the birthday boy, so now you get to hear about and see the birthday party. For his eighth party, Addison really wanted to have his first sleepover. We thought about it for a while, knowing we would have a new baby, and wondered if we could pull that off. We concluded that we're not really sleeping a lot anyway, and it would only be a few boys that are super sweet kids, so we decided to go for it. <br />
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I'm happy to say this event went down in the books as a big success. The kids had fun, we had fun and enjoyed visiting with the parents while they were there, they actually slept (with only a small threat from Chris finally at about 2:30am), and the baby cooperated, mostly :) Except when we were trying to clean the house before the party- he must have sensed this event was not about him! Actually, I think Jaxon slept as much as the boys did, in a different time frame! Of course, after the fact, Addison informed us that he and another boy did in fact stay up until 4:00. His big thing the whole time was that he was going to stay up all night. I let him know that it was indeed called a "sleepover", not a "stay-up-all-night-over". It was laid back and enjoyable. The only parts that weren't laid back were self-inflicted (as they usually are), because the aforementioned (in the last post) perfectionist parents stressed over details such as planning and executing excellent party activities (Chris), and decorating and making a from scratch character cake (myself). I have unintentionally set some kind of precedent for myself with making the birthday cakes now... I think it started with Cadence's third b-day party and I made a rocket cake for her Little Einsteins party. I haven't looked back since, and now I just can't bring myself to get one made at the store, even if I just make cupcakes. It would certainly be easier not to do that, but now that's just <i>too</i> easy, isn't it...<br />
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Enjoy the party in pics!<br />
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My party boy, all dressed up in his Phineas and Ferb t-shirt to match the party.</div>
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The set up...It was a Phineas and Ferb theme- a cute cartoon about two brothers that make elaborate inventions and creations during summer vacation.</div>
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We had a create your own sundae bar and the test tubes made fizzy flavored drinks- the bad guy on the cartoon is an evil scientist so we went with that theme.</div>
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Is that the biggest pizza you've ever seen?? And yes, Cadence did come to the party wearing a crown and fairy wings (seen in the above right pic)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbr3KLR7Y_PpUL_xVNWM6XXleNsc-YlJ0r6iLDBWCKUpy30RgAjv4A8yr8Ub0fnGyTTc0YHizTMbevLuaUG44lULVRhIE5cUgTcM_YYXWbqMHeUHRlq04PN2InDZWm8sQYejecSxMpTalA/s1600/IMG_1384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbr3KLR7Y_PpUL_xVNWM6XXleNsc-YlJ0r6iLDBWCKUpy30RgAjv4A8yr8Ub0fnGyTTc0YHizTMbevLuaUG44lULVRhIE5cUgTcM_YYXWbqMHeUHRlq04PN2InDZWm8sQYejecSxMpTalA/s640/IMG_1384.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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And here is the Perry the Platypus cake. In the cartoon, he is the boys' pet who does nothing except make animal noises and has this goofy boxy look to him. But the boys don't know that he is really a secret agent known as Agent P who fights the evil scientist. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTzGOhHve-CpgHfra42rTp4QjzaKmM3KtAktyuZSEpTDQd1TAlEcnI5Rwel1DfuS1jp6sQfhptvDreISVDzKlprzFYVo24cH1w6OKtrMq7kG7ucOfMKgr_zIFvq88PN02l4-NXyxWlzYR/s1600/IMG_1383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTzGOhHve-CpgHfra42rTp4QjzaKmM3KtAktyuZSEpTDQd1TAlEcnI5Rwel1DfuS1jp6sQfhptvDreISVDzKlprzFYVo24cH1w6OKtrMq7kG7ucOfMKgr_zIFvq88PN02l4-NXyxWlzYR/s640/IMG_1383.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Chris, the grand master of ceremonies, put the kids in two teams and they played bean bag toss tic tac toe in the backyard and then came inside for a "Where's Perry?" Scavenger Hunt. The kids really had fun with the hunt- they were running all over like crazy!</div>
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The last part of the hunt included finding these items and then coming together and building an invention out of the materials they found. As you can see, this team got some help from little sisters :)</div>
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This was around 11:00 ish or so, after some hard play and fun. The two little brothers went home after the party activities. We settled them down to a movie in the hopes they would fall asleep. Well, the one on the far left, Liam, went out (He was the youngest). For the others, it was the threat at 2:30am that got them to quiet down :) But really, how cute is that- all in their little sleeping bags. My son's face looked very happy all night. So my face was happy all night. This is the stuff of being a kid.</div>
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Peace out from the Pate house.Kaceehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366977712556011977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9114131936502051247.post-53535406672222135552011-09-27T23:28:00.002-05:002011-09-28T21:49:23.510-05:008 is Great.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yes, we now have an eight year old, as of September 17th at 3:23 in the afternoon. I'm swallowing eight about as well as when you have to take one of those huge horse pills and it gets stuck right in the middle of your throat. Yep, it's going down hard on me. Don't know if it's the juxtaposition of having a new baby, the hormones (for me) that come along with having a new baby, that we had to give Addison deodorant already (what on earth will adolescence smell like- yikes!), or that we had our first sleepover this past weekend to usher in a new era of parenting, but eight just seems a lot older than he should be. That's my baby. The son of my youth. Half of the time I still feel so young myself it doesn't seem possible that I'm seeing this guy grow up before my very eyes.<br />
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But he is. And as sad as I am that time is stealing away my little boy and slowly replacing him with a little man, I am also looking forward to this next season of life for him. I am so proud of the person he is already at a young age that I can't wait to see how that will continue to unfold and develop as time and maturity begin to be poured onto the foundation that's been laid. I think one of the reasons I am having such a hard time with it is my own fears and insecurities about that foundation we are helping shape and build for him. I am not far enough along in this process to know if I will always have those I-hope-I'm-doing-right-by-my-kids moments, but I imagine you probably always will as a parent. It seems the older he's getting those moments are feeling weightier with the responsibility of making sure we're being good stewards of this great gift God has given us in our son (and all our kids for that matter). The good news is that it's not really all about us. God has written his book of days before he had his first breath, so ultimately I know His grace covers our shortcomings and I believe He is merciful and faithful to lead and guide Addison in that path. And that He will guide us as parents as well.<br />
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I know, I know- it sounds like he's about to be a teenager or something. I'm aware that we still have some precious years of boyhood ahead of us to celebrate, but with this one we have lots of moments that feel like he's older than he is. We are trying to slow him down more than speed him up most of the time in many departments. But that's also part of who he is that we love so much. Here's a snapshot, literally and figuratively, of Addison at eight:<br />
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<ul>
<li>He is becoming a voracious reader. We love that he loves reading and are amazed at the level in which he does so. When I tested him back in the spring, he was reading between a 6th-7th grade reading level. He reads chapter books and will sometimes finish one in a day, depending on the book. He loves Hank the Cowdog, Loud Boy, and Captain Underpants to name a few. He reads the Bible a lot also, which is really awesome. Readers are leaders, buddy!</li>
<li>Still all up in video/computer games. He really likes what he calls "strategy games" that he has to think about. Currently the cool thing is to download games on Daddy's iPad. </li>
<li>Daddy has gotten him into Fantasy Football with him. Being a guy that loves stats and such, he is having fun keeping up with the games and how well Daddy's team is doing. He is into pretty much anything with Daddy these days, as a matter of fact. He's really identifying with "guy" stuff, and he has been desiring and requesting more and more "quality time" (as he will call it) with his Daddy. Daddy is happy to oblige. </li>
<li>He is a sponge for trivia and general knowledge. He loves to "quiz" anybody and everybody on any and every topic. </li>
<li>Still hasn't outgrown the famous Addison hand shake- anything exciting from a game to something on TV, he shakes his hands and sometimes his whole body! I wonder how long he will have this trait. We still get a kick out of it, even though he's done it for years.</li>
<li>He is such a good big brother. Always has been, but we've been seeing it even more since Jaxon has been born. He has helped so much with his sister- sometimes I think he's more patient with her than I am! There have been days when I go upstairs to tell them it's rest time, and he's already helped her get into bed (because he's been watching the clock) and turned on her music. We have heard him go and comfort her at night when she's gotten out of bed. And of course they play together and will have their moments, but for a big brother with a little sister, he is so tender and caring with her. <i>Like I said, they do have their moments of course :) </i>I am looking forward to seeing him with Jaxon as he get older and takes him under his wing as well. </li>
<li>Still a super hero guy through and through. When we moved earlier this year, I asked him if he wanted to redo his room into something else, thinking maybe he would want something cooler and older. But he was very adamant that he wanted the same super hero room he had and didn't want to change anything. I think part because he still loves superheroes and part because he doesn't change things up very often. He's very much a stick-to-what-you-like, vanilla, plain cheerios kind of guy :)</li>
<li>His heart for God continues to grow and grow. He has shed tears over things like worrying that he loves his parents more than God to mention one specific example (which at his age we certainly didn't want him feeling bad about that so that was a little tricky). His concern with loving God and people is very genuine, and it's always so touching to see that manifest at different moments.</li>
<li>He has strong convictions. And I mean <i>strong</i> convictions. If he is convinced and has concluded through reasoning (that sometimes makes sense and sometimes doesn't) that the sky is green, good luck trying to persuade him that it's blue. I am certain that when he takes the Strength Finders evaluation one day Belief will no doubt be one of his themes. This is and will probably always be a blessing and a curse in his life that he will have to wrestle through and sort out. Of course at eight years old, it can prove to be a challenge to us as parents because he can tend to think he is the expert on things and can have a hard time with being teachable on something he thinks he already knows. But when it comes to convictions about Kingdom things, this will be a wonderful thing because he will not be easily shaken or persuaded. </li>
<li>He has, and has always had, perfect pitch. Love to hear him sing. He has also inherited my ability to hear a song like once and know the words and how it goes. This will come in handy, from personal experience :) </li>
<li>Something that he has also seemed to inherit, from both Mommy and Daddy, is that little bit of perfectionist streak. The good side of that is that if he does something it will be done well and exactly how it is supposed to be done. The dark side of perfectionism is the tremendous fear of failure. We are really working through this right now, because he will want to quit too quickly if he thinks he is not going to be able to do something. Or be instantly good at something. We're trying to really encourage an adventurous spirit to try new things. And always remind him it's okay to mess up, be wrong, and even not succeed at something right away and try, try again. He's way too hard on himself!</li>
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These are just a few of the many things that make up Addison James Pate right now. I'm sure eight will be just as grand of an adventure as seven, because life is just fun with our sweet firstborn son. Peace out from the Pate house.Kaceehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366977712556011977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9114131936502051247.post-1174437929104015602011-09-13T13:42:00.000-05:002011-09-13T13:42:33.022-05:00Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes<br />
You know, like the David Bowie song, just in case you were wondering why I was stuttering...<br />
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*<i>I actually wrote almost all of this post last week and something terrible happened and I lost all of it except the first few sentences. So it's taken me this long to sit down and recreate it and it's not nearly as articulate as I was feeling in the moment when I wrote it. Plus, the heat is rearing its ugly head at us again this week, so the remarks about the weather make no sense in the context of the current temperature. But it was nice while it lasted :) Hopefully summer will get just a few final jabs at us and then be gone</i>!*<br />
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I think if you listened hard enough you would hear all of Houston (and probably all of Texas for that matter) letting out a big collective sigh of relief today. The oppressive, relentless heat of the hottest summer on record has felt like everything's been on hold, just surviving, waiting for it to be over. You can almost feel the dry, cracked ground and withered trees with their backs bent over in oppression breathing in this cooler air. Like coming up for a breath of air after being trapped in sinking sand. Life. Hopefully this is a sign that we're entering into a new (cooler) season.<br />
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<i>We</i> are entering into a new season. As cliche as it sounds and all, since this time of year is associated with change and transition with a new school year beginning and the changing seasons. There is always a natural momentum that comes with this time. But our feeling of change transcends backpacks, colored leaves, and pumpkins. Our transition has more to do with the <i>lack</i> of transitioning, actually. For the past year and a half we have been adjusting and transitioning- pretty much every life category there is had some changes. New city, new job, new house, new church, new friends, new puppy...then when the dust was settling from all of that came the news of a new baby followed by another move, dealing with our first broken bone, adjusting to a growing belly, and surviving <b>the</b> epic, one-for-the-books heat to end all heat. While all of that has been wonderful and exciting (okay maybe except the broken bone and epic heat part), it's been a lot of new. So now it feels like we're settling in, sinking our roots in deeper, building on the foundation of everything that's been laid. Growing into our skin, if you will. Although I'm sure we will continue to have constant movement and will have to adjust and make changes along the way, we're not having any major life transition while we're <i>doing</i> life.<br />
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I'm really excited for the days to come. This is going to be one of the most challenging seasons I've had personally as well as us with the church, but I think it's going to be one of the best too. Homeschooling two kids with a new baby and keeping up with the activity of a growing, thriving church and all that entails is a lot to say the least. As overwhelmed as I feel about it, I'm also excited because I know that God's grace will equip us to do everything He's called us to in order to go to the next level. It's His power, not my own, working through me to accomplish it all anyway. It's definitely time to step it up around here in many areas. When you're dealing with a lot of transition and constant adjustment, unfortunately what happens sometimes is going into survival mode, simply maintaining what you have, and keeping your head above water so to speak. Inevitably you become a little too comfortable with some things that might not be ideal but don't have time to work on because it's working good enough at the moment. This became especially true towards the end of the summer when I was so very pregnant and we were basically prisoners to the indoors because of the heat. But now that we're getting the feeling of settling a little we have the opportunity to go a little deeper and fine tune some things. It's time to shorten the gap between the potential of what we can be and what sometimes ends up playing out. That is going to require two things: Number one making sure I don't have unrealistic expectations for me and my family and number two making some realistic changes in order to carry out the vision we have for our home. Both are definitely needed. It's going pretty good so far- I just have to go with the flow a little more because some days the best laid plans fall to the wayside, driven by a tiny little human that doesn't always feel like fitting perfectly into the plan I have made :) And that's okay. We're at least moving in the right direction with vision and direction.<br />
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And in keeping with making some changes, I am also planning on changing things up a bit on the blog- as in, actually try to write more. I am thinking about compartmentalizing it a little more in order to be able to post more often and cover more topics. More on that to come. But for now, I leave you with a quote that describes pretty well the lens in which I'm attempting to view our days:<br />
<blockquote>
This is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you will. You can waste it or use it for good. What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever; in its place is something that you have left behindā¦let it be something good. Author Unknown.</blockquote>
Peace out from the Pate house.<br />
Kaceehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366977712556011977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9114131936502051247.post-89000883829482997322011-09-06T23:49:00.000-05:002011-09-06T23:49:40.065-05:00Labor Day.Considering today's holiday (I started writing this yesterday), I thought it would be ironically appropriate (and a clever play on words) to take this opportunity and share Jaxon's birth story since I haven't really yet. Sorry, this might be a little long.<br />
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As most of you know, it was already quite a journey making it to the point of scheduling the induction. My plan was to go to bed around midnight since that was the last time I could eat anything, wake up at 4:00 am to have a glass of apple juice (as per the recommendation of the doctor) because there was <b><i>nothing</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> after that, not even water, not even gum, then go back to sleep for a couple of hours before showering and calling <i>promptly</i> at 6:00 am in hopes of getting in to have the induction that morning. What actually happened was that I was up almost all night long having sporadic contractions that prevented me from sleeping. I was quite irritated, honestly, considering I was going in for an induction that day. I had accepted the fact I wasn't going to go into labor on my own, so all I wanted to do was get some rest before we went in! Oh well. I made the call at like 5:58, just to make sure I would get in. I had serious butterflies and apprehension, hoping I would not hear I couldn't get in that day, and was delighted to hear the nurse at the hospital tell us to come in at 7:15. We had Alethea come to the house to be situated with the kids, and off we went. </span></b></div>
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My last picture pregnant, on the way to the hospital. Wow, just wow. </div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Got to the hospital, checked in and got everything ready. We met our L&D nurse Liz, who was completely lovely and I wish I would have gotten a picture with her. She was by my side through the whole thing and was so sweet and pleasant. Took three tries to get my IV in, which was really painful. Dr. Cowan came in around 8 to check me and said she was going to just break my water to start. I was kind of surprised that she was going to do that instead of let the antibiotics get in my system first, since she knew what happened with Cadence (and how she was born like 30 minutes after they broke my water). When she checked me I was 4 cm dilated and 90% effaced- halfway there! It was kind of funny, because after she broke my water, we all just kind of sat around for a minute, half expecting everything to get really dramatic. Well, it didn't so she left and said she'd be back around lunch time expecting to deliver a baby. I had decided not to get an epidural right away, and just thought I'd see how quickly everything went and take it from there. I liked being able to move freely and go to the bathroom, etc, instead of being strapped to the bed. And I went for a couple of hours with the contractions getting more intense. After one of my trips to the bathroom and I was shaking and could barely stand because the contraction was so crazy (those contractions on pitocin are no joke- much worse than natural ones), I decided to end the misery and get the epidural. I was a 6 at that point. So they came in, poked me in the back, and voila- magic! It was just so crazy to go from such intense and crazy pain to feeling <i>nothing.</i> It felt like cheating, like I wasn't doing any work. I kept asking Liz if I was still having contractions, because I had heard sometimes getting the epi slows down labor some, but I was still trucking along. </span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Shortly after I was pain free and in happy land, my parents and (one) brother came into town and the hospital. We sat around and visited, got checked periodically, and (I) had an orange and cherry popsicle and ice chips. At one point I started feeling the contractions only on my left side, and all it took was a little click of a pen thing I had to up the medicine and then it was back to feeling nothing! I looked out the window and saw at one point that it was raining, which was so strange because rain was such a rarity. At around 1ish the fam headed out the door to catch the cafeteria before they closed and the doctor came in to check me. I don't really know what I was expecting since I felt nothing- I think I was just planning on it taking a while. So when she checked and said, "Oh yeah- you're done. Let's have a baby!", I was kind of in shock. Chris and I just looked at each other in disbelief that it was already time for him to come. So he had to call my parents right back to let them know that I was pushing already! We had Hillsong United playing in the background, and I'll always remember Chris pointing out that the song that came on at that time was the song, "Go". We thought that was ironic and perfect! </span></b><br />
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Ready to have a baby!</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">So basically after about 30 min, give or take, (I have no idea how many pushes, but not that many), out he came! 1:39, to be exact :) I basically laughed him out because the entire experience was so surreal and it all seemed too easy, especially considering how dramatic the other two birth experiences were! Start to finish, I was in L&D about five hours total. Of course, I had done so much of the work in the couple of weeks leading up to that there wasn't much left to do! </span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">He definitely came out crying! And crying, and crying. I probably should have tried to comfort him more, but all I could do was laugh because he was so cute and sweet and I just couldn't believe it was all over. He immediately stuck out that bottom lip in the famous "Pate pout", something his brother and sister both did. They laid him right on me, which was different than my other two, and I loved. I had him to be enamored with and distracted by while they finished up the labor process (with the really unlovely but necessary things, including a few stitches for me) so that was nice. And then it was over. Just like that. My doctor was so encouraging and great through the whole process. I remember her telling me I did a great job and kissing me on the head before she left. I ordered some food and they began the process of getting me transfered over to the recovery room. I was so tired and out of it!</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">They took the baby away for a couple of hours to do their tests and get him all cleaned up, and by the time he came back into the room the family was there, and he got to meet his brother and sister. As I shared in a previous post, Addison was more than happy to hold him and study him, and Cadence didn't really want to have anything to do with him. I'm happy to report that she is much better now- she was just a little afraid at first. The kids stayed at the house with Granna and Poppy while we were in the hospital, and they came to see us a lot. </span></b>I had some moments in the middle of the night that first night, with a rain storm bending the palm trees outside of the window and Chris trying to sleep on the very unforgiving styrofoam couch-bench-thing, and I just sat there in the bed holding Jaxon close and taking the moment in. I would just look at his precious face and wonder if I remembered how to do all of this, this newborn thing. I felt nervous and anxious like it was the first time. I didn't sleep much those nights while we were there. I find it extremely difficult to sleep in a hospital bed when people are coming in to check on you and sounds are happening all around. We stayed two nights and got released Sunday, which was longer than we wanted to be there. By Sunday morning we were more than ready to leave, and we sat around for about three hours, everything ready to go, only waiting on the pediatrician to come and check Jaxon to leave.<br />
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The OK crew left when we got home from the hospital and took the kids with them back to Oklahoma, and then my mom came in that evening and stayed for a few days. It was so nice to have help around for those first few days and while we were in the hospital. It's mostly a fog, that first week and a half or so. You don't remember too much due to sleep deprivation and your body recovering. I remember eating lots of Jelly Belly jelly beans (courtesy of my parents going to the factory in CA and brought a bunch back) and watching endless episodes of Arrested Development on Netflix (courtesy of my husband) while strapped to the couch nursing. I remember taking turns sleeping on the couch holding a baby who was trying to figure out what the heck was going on in this new place. He hated his first "bath"and screamed when we changed his diaper. I had major swelling in my feet, ankles, and hands for about a week afterwards which totally freaked me out. My feet looked like marshmallows, and I could literally feel water sloshing around on top of my feet. Ew. We were so blessed to have meals brought to us from our amazing spiritual family at church for almost two weeks! Chris's parents came through that next week and brought the kids back with them, so we got to enjoy company (and help) a little longer.<br />
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Believe it or not, that's the shortened version. I don't want to drag this thing out too long, and hopefully I documented enough here to jog my memory when I revisit this later on and have already all but forgotten all of this. My last Labor Day. I can say it was nice to end the childbirthing era on such a pleasant, albeit surreal, note. Now after trudging through two days of trying to get this post up, I'm done- a little baby boy needs a bath and we need some sleep! Peace out from the Pate house.</div>
Kaceehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366977712556011977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9114131936502051247.post-56331531951217123942011-08-26T20:05:00.000-05:002011-08-26T20:05:36.074-05:00Anatomy of a Photo Shoot...I have a lot of catching up to do. Sadly, I knew this would happen with my fried, sleep deprived brain and all. Putting together an intelligent sentence to carry on a conversation is considered a win for me right now. But I am determined to get some more output on here recounting these first days, and I will...<br />
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But not today. Today is just for fun. Trying to photograph my three children is as challenging as I thought it would be. First of all, there are only small windows when Jaxon is actually awake so if I want to jump on it, we literally have to jump on it! Add to that the <i>interesting</i> expressions I tend to get from Addison and Cadence, getting one good smile out of maybe ten tries...well you can imagine. I thought I'd bust out the cute shirts and give it a shot today. I was going to wait until Jaxon started smiling to take them, but I figure it will take several tries so why not today! I thought it would be entertaining for you to post our attempts in a behind the scenes anatomy of a photo shoot. And we even managed to get some keepers in the mix!<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">First shot- pretty cute. Jaxon looks a little afraid of what's going on...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHpDte0HgN298NJV6nNEUDhgmNYzbQOkyVYF5g_PFzNV2Q2UttVLOM_r8j5drXP_-jvuZv02fBdKcAFsunyEqAE8CghYweeX63v4gPMhsqtFjQ_j7magxTEUjQ1ilXcYVf2ubfbbbeS9K/s1600/IMG_3224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHpDte0HgN298NJV6nNEUDhgmNYzbQOkyVYF5g_PFzNV2Q2UttVLOM_r8j5drXP_-jvuZv02fBdKcAFsunyEqAE8CghYweeX63v4gPMhsqtFjQ_j7magxTEUjQ1ilXcYVf2ubfbbbeS9K/s320/IMG_3224.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The cutest shot that almost was...I looked at this one and was so irritated that Addison was doing a fake smile, because Jax's little face is so adorable on this one!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV46J-T0dzmV9pcIS3Rt-pzWSQ82fdMndsCM5hpsK3Zrlm0pEXOqLUle-KcsDH9k1FSOOdBhZkxCn4b50qdLWYgVrbFhvDUi-8uUoVkaDVpRpx2VIYSrrgKQI3I2AVgs65VEeOOYT_Rnej/s1600/IMG_3225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV46J-T0dzmV9pcIS3Rt-pzWSQ82fdMndsCM5hpsK3Zrlm0pEXOqLUle-KcsDH9k1FSOOdBhZkxCn4b50qdLWYgVrbFhvDUi-8uUoVkaDVpRpx2VIYSrrgKQI3I2AVgs65VEeOOYT_Rnej/s320/IMG_3225.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cute shot that almost was #2...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmgA8WGUSqRhE4uKdyLahU01Gx8_QoC6M8drGcqY9n5ti2BC4rVXc3vMwjlWecFnNgckSIkticADpfrozlZjZvN6uYT01RQ0JQc0Hnz0SojbH2GuLMmO3fTQGczLxXBEFfXsAjeQCu5aTE/s1600/IMG_3228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmgA8WGUSqRhE4uKdyLahU01Gx8_QoC6M8drGcqY9n5ti2BC4rVXc3vMwjlWecFnNgckSIkticADpfrozlZjZvN6uYT01RQ0JQc0Hnz0SojbH2GuLMmO3fTQGczLxXBEFfXsAjeQCu5aTE/s320/IMG_3228.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Baby boy looking out the window. But still cute</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Wprf5Sf7LYKN8d0vxTqn9NFAbSzxeL46Lw-PdFKEm8i_oyLRNuZz0kv3adYTdCskcYHJXtWCkZ-bjBPI6s0ij5Zeg1ThWX3Y8z_CtHG2E_83ub0r8-Ysm6tWvHVJBk3-T6Ko36Ob3KkI/s1600/IMG_3226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Wprf5Sf7LYKN8d0vxTqn9NFAbSzxeL46Lw-PdFKEm8i_oyLRNuZz0kv3adYTdCskcYHJXtWCkZ-bjBPI6s0ij5Zeg1ThWX3Y8z_CtHG2E_83ub0r8-Ysm6tWvHVJBk3-T6Ko36Ob3KkI/s320/IMG_3226.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Baby boy falling over. Notice Daddy's hand coming into the picture. Cadence was suprisingly consistent (for her)!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLwtJtt6Ikncp-35Kw3BqgLB42QbQmQ7OSzyDZPkCDFsO9a51bxqc8hwVsir2I1W6qxiX61gfOYNTK-zKTn_5hkC5ffviw3Y1JsP-yL30t9sypaL-TFbiNjAq50rn3gXSXGIQXTxZNSdJA/s1600/IMG_3238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLwtJtt6Ikncp-35Kw3BqgLB42QbQmQ7OSzyDZPkCDFsO9a51bxqc8hwVsir2I1W6qxiX61gfOYNTK-zKTn_5hkC5ffviw3Y1JsP-yL30t9sypaL-TFbiNjAq50rn3gXSXGIQXTxZNSdJA/s320/IMG_3238.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Baby boy falling over again. Beginning to not be amused.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1V9c4lfeFRQcF4d4D801pIiDzx2HFrZdaGyG0FVXKXLN40SCOSMeKZ2PqpXa4cqAZLTtbsosD587m0r1v4N_F7AQsYFKwiY58eBFSHEx0BZe5PRrgvaOSHnuyjxkrDetpZ5TPPibt335/s1600/IMG_3227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1V9c4lfeFRQcF4d4D801pIiDzx2HFrZdaGyG0FVXKXLN40SCOSMeKZ2PqpXa4cqAZLTtbsosD587m0r1v4N_F7AQsYFKwiY58eBFSHEx0BZe5PRrgvaOSHnuyjxkrDetpZ5TPPibt335/s320/IMG_3227.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Now he's just flat out not having it. Other two are tired of smiling.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrrd8oY1zd9c-e-_r-gq8AcMSAx6R7d7hmcWDBOMdKKAF8zP_bGxENHKtuf77-Eay3lIzuSBQ4E4aJwiopN1oHEonUYiJLFiPxuUlTuJQZC433_UjXbtrqkrWpf7u0t6E_b7j7swfqpLqN/s1600/IMG_3237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrrd8oY1zd9c-e-_r-gq8AcMSAx6R7d7hmcWDBOMdKKAF8zP_bGxENHKtuf77-Eay3lIzuSBQ4E4aJwiopN1oHEonUYiJLFiPxuUlTuJQZC433_UjXbtrqkrWpf7u0t6E_b7j7swfqpLqN/s320/IMG_3237.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All better now. Probably one of the best ones.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTiJJ3QFjSypNRyBqEowV3MSYu-pNaZ35_7XMe56TEonpf8lCJxS3YLjIu5aEU7MNASztjdOCRuULICpCHcU8qWrGvnl6vv8R_-SMQmp5akDM6V6Jb45E_sbk4zJfHSPvyN8iacrTk7VEe/s1600/IMG_3233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTiJJ3QFjSypNRyBqEowV3MSYu-pNaZ35_7XMe56TEonpf8lCJxS3YLjIu5aEU7MNASztjdOCRuULICpCHcU8qWrGvnl6vv8R_-SMQmp5akDM6V6Jb45E_sbk4zJfHSPvyN8iacrTk7VEe/s320/IMG_3233.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Addison seemed to be very tickled most of the shoot. I blame Daddy, although he was helping a lot.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA_Rkbk72M8g24tNluoVg2wzmUkIz1C_M3Fz4QRhdxLSwER6kntpLKqNAZNSXowHiN3AAFKDmrCw9bG21O-czs3CXjC48Kvt2conLAScD0k3kgKJt5YjL_JwTr3B0YxWMAy0kfBFKas22h/s1600/IMG_3232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA_Rkbk72M8g24tNluoVg2wzmUkIz1C_M3Fz4QRhdxLSwER6kntpLKqNAZNSXowHiN3AAFKDmrCw9bG21O-czs3CXjC48Kvt2conLAScD0k3kgKJt5YjL_JwTr3B0YxWMAy0kfBFKas22h/s320/IMG_3232.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Also pretty cute.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgssTH2BwQsvqexZuJyy0A1KltZEYJB03VrocyOoOypo2Am4v_OhmK2w_rjuUpPYl7XnGxVRwXn28f3JVqY87mDaW1IQPXEDa5Fp1mGhTSm6a7D3n-FoAGyqBTZyT2EZPv83UgWpL0UqyFR/s1600/IMG_3235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgssTH2BwQsvqexZuJyy0A1KltZEYJB03VrocyOoOypo2Am4v_OhmK2w_rjuUpPYl7XnGxVRwXn28f3JVqY87mDaW1IQPXEDa5Fp1mGhTSm6a7D3n-FoAGyqBTZyT2EZPv83UgWpL0UqyFR/s320/IMG_3235.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">See, we had some good ones after all!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-8yfzTi_Zu7CfkJkk2digwstQWdrURiEwUG8YrcEp7r0PnwgvKU10_O1XjDelH6gXe2L6Rguzd22ixTdqJxIgC-w_P56nPUYbfAaewXfaP86w1s7HwLrK6IcKj4cWm4AETEunahLiU9Un/s1600/IMG_3234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-8yfzTi_Zu7CfkJkk2digwstQWdrURiEwUG8YrcEp7r0PnwgvKU10_O1XjDelH6gXe2L6Rguzd22ixTdqJxIgC-w_P56nPUYbfAaewXfaP86w1s7HwLrK6IcKj4cWm4AETEunahLiU9Un/s320/IMG_3234.JPG" width="256" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> Switch positions. Baby is squished and kind of looks like a monkey.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxpTwvqV6ezG0Q5h0EDYaeqV8bNT63zg-ZsESC2KeYhVvB2KmM6UcJ5TKtUThmwpgHMCS-MXg45ZLrWebAsER1PfSFw3ph_x7mwcpTaqxswGUWdjJNzAxeDsX-na9StDB6frAMiBwQ_weA/s1600/IMG_3230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxpTwvqV6ezG0Q5h0EDYaeqV8bNT63zg-ZsESC2KeYhVvB2KmM6UcJ5TKtUThmwpgHMCS-MXg45ZLrWebAsER1PfSFw3ph_x7mwcpTaqxswGUWdjJNzAxeDsX-na9StDB6frAMiBwQ_weA/s320/IMG_3230.JPG" width="256" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Another cute one, although I can tell everyone is tired of smiling!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKFJP92vc7ddReUFD8PCq2kBssl4GfwLzIbEEvhtIpqFd82qA8-yOnZGQvI1nYBe5Aqw0gpHONd2Kud4HZ109sTJus-bP_8pWIRUp_OO2Rm_lIITY7SAAHhC0a9ww9ksQLe4cRqZF3-oDd/s1600/IMG_3229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKFJP92vc7ddReUFD8PCq2kBssl4GfwLzIbEEvhtIpqFd82qA8-yOnZGQvI1nYBe5Aqw0gpHONd2Kud4HZ109sTJus-bP_8pWIRUp_OO2Rm_lIITY7SAAHhC0a9ww9ksQLe4cRqZF3-oDd/s320/IMG_3229.JPG" width="256" /></a></div><br />
And here are a few from earlier that day before I got the idea to put on the shirts. We were trying to get baby kisses.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I love the hand- he's like, no kisses, please...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitkBN60zCJ_qPdPX-iGleRAx4RBHbzBY9N5pUvjXw9kAzYERMfeygcd1O8wHHbWPGBJcOyuwvuZ68ssJC4hD9Y2PyFELIGjHgthDkTDwwovNnTgc_4flQzkRxMQshphyricowHuqOpeovj/s1600/IMG_3217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitkBN60zCJ_qPdPX-iGleRAx4RBHbzBY9N5pUvjXw9kAzYERMfeygcd1O8wHHbWPGBJcOyuwvuZ68ssJC4hD9Y2PyFELIGjHgthDkTDwwovNnTgc_4flQzkRxMQshphyricowHuqOpeovj/s320/IMG_3217.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Jaxon is rocking the cool baby hair today.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbFbx_DhoVwU15z3hZfz0wPIYJ24PaH6pH_MCksDTplWCBNz8BDI6z9yDosJGg0cVyds3TmNTD6kOfBMyzEnLkSQlQon22igDE9tMRdb1w60yrEbVvIoLRUU9iBH7EfFQ7rW2muEjnFTEB/s1600/IMG_3214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbFbx_DhoVwU15z3hZfz0wPIYJ24PaH6pH_MCksDTplWCBNz8BDI6z9yDosJGg0cVyds3TmNTD6kOfBMyzEnLkSQlQon22igDE9tMRdb1w60yrEbVvIoLRUU9iBH7EfFQ7rW2muEjnFTEB/s320/IMG_3214.JPG" width="256" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I actually really love this one. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKUGmW-EkqsXTsfNl8PzQHqauTWOuEWK8KEWViGVO9Dn0FPDMq4rWFrKGudyFB6h5Aq-ZXKzl89C-BTtaOmdy4og0SJ4xxWAbc3SfxhDiUyb7FkdONtQYsi1MqpGZnTwhZKyRl315OXHEW/s1600/IMG_3212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKUGmW-EkqsXTsfNl8PzQHqauTWOuEWK8KEWViGVO9Dn0FPDMq4rWFrKGudyFB6h5Aq-ZXKzl89C-BTtaOmdy4og0SJ4xxWAbc3SfxhDiUyb7FkdONtQYsi1MqpGZnTwhZKyRl315OXHEW/s320/IMG_3212.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">My handsome boys. Too bad my mail's in the background!! Obviously this was a spur of the moment decision!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ZQJl_XthsfgfvEOZqInUcOZQqraxY-2STK0O4GQ8c7WN4NattSky5H5XQkSkkChc5Vh0e72QUYS9PUucBkvnkntQKWekJUcwrJR1iJtA-IZQgWNDCZMPfE3CPWDPzN5EAhChQkrzeJbv/s1600/IMG_3209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ZQJl_XthsfgfvEOZqInUcOZQqraxY-2STK0O4GQ8c7WN4NattSky5H5XQkSkkChc5Vh0e72QUYS9PUucBkvnkntQKWekJUcwrJR1iJtA-IZQgWNDCZMPfE3CPWDPzN5EAhChQkrzeJbv/s320/IMG_3209.JPG" width="256" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">And a color one of the cool hair and trendy baby onesie. Really though- he must get a thousand and one kisses a day (and that's just from me, not counting anybody else!)... I kinda think he's just the sweetest.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2pO_Sjapl9pZBbMlXyyum6JfRqiqppoJ-sWP85DvGZ2hL9yJm_UsuIv9tTxzhGHYCij36-jIs56ZiakGM-k9ZHK2UY8SjxnOtu6qUF9lUEMnRS1RX3ZlwAG58fBKC9H2t_6muxHCQLkLm/s1600/IMG_3208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2pO_Sjapl9pZBbMlXyyum6JfRqiqppoJ-sWP85DvGZ2hL9yJm_UsuIv9tTxzhGHYCij36-jIs56ZiakGM-k9ZHK2UY8SjxnOtu6qUF9lUEMnRS1RX3ZlwAG58fBKC9H2t_6muxHCQLkLm/s320/IMG_3208.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>Peace out from the Pate house.Kaceehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366977712556011977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9114131936502051247.post-11699696138923107792011-08-09T23:29:00.000-05:002011-08-09T23:29:53.217-05:00Hello, World.So I'm a little behind (and I actually wrote this text two days ago but just got the pics downloaded on my computer today), but at 1:39pm on July 29th, Jaxon Christopher Pate came to join us weighing 7lbs 11oz and 20 3/4 inches long. And a good set of lungs :) <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Fresh to the world, and totally perfect.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIaJrjqjwk7SXsQsBiOZDPVR0k1u-HGC7mOzv-UIKY4z2Sr66rAje1qImLCoLi0OEPVaGDmMB_Ir7kC_o7QXbiLguOrk4cVSB6ct8gnvcNbR1bEMwd_zv4ZDQn1WxVDLkDOHLlA67DcZGh/s1600/IMG_0925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIaJrjqjwk7SXsQsBiOZDPVR0k1u-HGC7mOzv-UIKY4z2Sr66rAje1qImLCoLi0OEPVaGDmMB_Ir7kC_o7QXbiLguOrk4cVSB6ct8gnvcNbR1bEMwd_zv4ZDQn1WxVDLkDOHLlA67DcZGh/s320/IMG_0925.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The labor and delivery experience was so surreal that I still just shake my head in disbelief when I recall the day's events. I think I will make that a separate post to not overwhelm this space here, seeing as how I'm about to drop a major photo bomb on you!<br />
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So today, little man is nine days old. I tell you, I can only imagine the journey those little guys go through to get here and then adjust to this new life on the outside. A little overwhelming, confusing, and tough to say the least! So, all things considered, he is doing pretty good. Had his one week checkup a few days ago and he was right on schedule looking good. We're still working out some nursing issues/tummy troubles, but time will tell if it's just him adjusting to everything or if there's something else going on. Addison and Cadence both ended up being lactose intolerant and had some reflux issues, so I'm hoping not to repeat that but at least I know what to expect if we find ourselves there again.<br />
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He is so sweet and tiny and extremely <i>cute.</i> He was doing the dreaming/gas smiles in his sleep at just a day or two old and we discovered a huge dimple on one side (possibly on both sides), so when he starts flashing those smiles for real in a few weeks, it's over with. He will slay us all with his extreme cuteness and charm. I am cherishing the tiny fingers and toes and snuggles and taking it one day at a time. I am going to break up these posts, like I mentioned above, and I will share further thoughts/feelings so far from the road to recovery. I mostly just wanted to share some pics, since I know there will be many, many more- gotta keep up! I apologize for the low quality of some of them- these were mostly taken on my phone so they're not all the greatest. And some of them I used my cool iPhone apps Instagram and Camera + (which I highly recommend) to play around with them.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">He definitely has the signature "Pate pout" bottom lip that all three children have. And they all stuck it out the day they were born. Cadence still occasionally does the same pout :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2uu1ZqC0jUH5Uc3PAcLZ1UztwNnvyRL1Z2TIYVoC68suqINXs4S1wGCRyH8KikBfPPyxKPxe1qEHcM9KeqUp-VwmuhVe6or9b-zkY9QMbHyx68hwhpyt488qZM5-bk_ZoU47EpsuoX_DO/s1600/IMG_0961_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2uu1ZqC0jUH5Uc3PAcLZ1UztwNnvyRL1Z2TIYVoC68suqINXs4S1wGCRyH8KikBfPPyxKPxe1qEHcM9KeqUp-VwmuhVe6or9b-zkY9QMbHyx68hwhpyt488qZM5-bk_ZoU47EpsuoX_DO/s320/IMG_0961_2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">This was shortly after they cleaned him up and brought him to the room. He was quiet and calm.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5tDUZcjYPq0m0r7Mto1GgahSwcHry17p1SnNzc2StwExOa6gnLrF2D-Pmd2FSJFA3kstLS7lVi9nw_CHHnJ6j3-u-oynCWquQnB4kgotok5eRNlQTukZiaH-7T3Eiz1NzT37CUvSyRjza/s1600/IMG_1008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5tDUZcjYPq0m0r7Mto1GgahSwcHry17p1SnNzc2StwExOa6gnLrF2D-Pmd2FSJFA3kstLS7lVi9nw_CHHnJ6j3-u-oynCWquQnB4kgotok5eRNlQTukZiaH-7T3Eiz1NzT37CUvSyRjza/s320/IMG_1008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI82XWyNm8H1jg-8rKWyHdceebtCzMfZK9yqVn9kKeAn5pVrtDZ7GaIW4AYjZUN8C7lt50Sp9GoyFsahGhmjT2Pl8qrAR5_8IjZVUzB-9YnCTe78BwJ5jXHseouTDEtopNej-vrIhemO4C/s1600/IMG_1007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI82XWyNm8H1jg-8rKWyHdceebtCzMfZK9yqVn9kKeAn5pVrtDZ7GaIW4AYjZUN8C7lt50Sp9GoyFsahGhmjT2Pl8qrAR5_8IjZVUzB-9YnCTe78BwJ5jXHseouTDEtopNej-vrIhemO4C/s320/IMG_1007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Such a sweet, sweet moment. My parents brought Addison and Cadence up to see us a little later in the day to meet their baby brother. I love Addison's expression here- so tender and full of love. When they went back home that night, he walked over to the little hospital bassinet, leaned over and said, "Bye, little buddy." My heart turns to mush every single time I relive that moment. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFgIsX8qJvHghtQCbtECT7MTZIfQUFxR6ivz23b4g83z-hMWPsgRelIleBerWFzDrhTtORkXvctcqhaN_i-8gUjxAUSsTv3ohHS6Rjr48EEsHUWne63tslCRMtNXj2_TizgSfsPE1AhdY1/s1600/IMG_1099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFgIsX8qJvHghtQCbtECT7MTZIfQUFxR6ivz23b4g83z-hMWPsgRelIleBerWFzDrhTtORkXvctcqhaN_i-8gUjxAUSsTv3ohHS6Rjr48EEsHUWne63tslCRMtNXj2_TizgSfsPE1AhdY1/s320/IMG_1099.JPG" width="244" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We actually do not have a big sister holding baby brother picture. Cadence was a little unsure of the whole thing. I think she was mostly just scared of him being so tiny and a little overwhelmed with it all. She did not want to hold him, and that was okay. She'll just have to ease into her new role. She's checking it all out in this picture.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Day 2 in the hospital. I can't even take all of the cuteness and sweetness in this picture. And light hair. The jury is still out on exactly what color it will be- it's different in different lighting!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp42I_d5rrmYHsfQ_mW6l1YpRZLdoETjpM4R6UImXs4wsLXwepzX0jSBznLeRCVi5N0RMMHWmOUm9Bebbjo8daFKc4NzAyZxC8SDxI0n2kupJM83nk0y_yz-lM-c60R5DvO_IatD05Fg_Q/s1600/IMG_1013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp42I_d5rrmYHsfQ_mW6l1YpRZLdoETjpM4R6UImXs4wsLXwepzX0jSBznLeRCVi5N0RMMHWmOUm9Bebbjo8daFKc4NzAyZxC8SDxI0n2kupJM83nk0y_yz-lM-c60R5DvO_IatD05Fg_Q/s320/IMG_1013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">The hospital did this cute thing where they brought a little birthday cake for the siblings to celebrate the new arrival. While I'm talking about the hospital I should say that we had an awesome experience there and really liked the hospital and staff a lot.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Yt_WhXv1C66YS-RTC2GiCm0ugzBKwrK-61tdnGLztP8g8RNpLjvxGy8GXnc8_7RtF1nWL4wo7H5p2TFPaBDBxEVGJGju5xJCXcBiz1XzpEeRQKz5Lm4ASkHoQnOxvFP7zK0m5opRC4sM/s1600/IMG_1021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Yt_WhXv1C66YS-RTC2GiCm0ugzBKwrK-61tdnGLztP8g8RNpLjvxGy8GXnc8_7RtF1nWL4wo7H5p2TFPaBDBxEVGJGju5xJCXcBiz1XzpEeRQKz5Lm4ASkHoQnOxvFP7zK0m5opRC4sM/s320/IMG_1021.JPG" width="238" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">And morning number three. Waiting to go home. He was getting sleepy in his "going home" outfit. We were<i> all</i> sleepy and really tired of being in the hospital at that point. We waited and waited to get discharged, and it felt like forever!</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Night number one being home. And this is exactly how he felt about getting a "sponge" bath. Can't have a full bath until his cord comes off, and he is not so much a fan of being patted down with a wash rag and getting cold. If there was a sound effect to this picture it would be <b><i>loud.</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> This is usually the reaction we get to changing his diaper, too. </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSpe5tX3IXIDlazVp5hyTpO-gvupxT2wtq9TY3a5F_j1RWrYXoulx_APoTtwmPt5zuK40ToY2uyjlxXtvyyPfsTw7Kt1kIv2SuVsmPobr0dla6bQmC2icJFnccAJpOh37x49pHFdMZaWN9/s1600/IMG_1060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSpe5tX3IXIDlazVp5hyTpO-gvupxT2wtq9TY3a5F_j1RWrYXoulx_APoTtwmPt5zuK40ToY2uyjlxXtvyyPfsTw7Kt1kIv2SuVsmPobr0dla6bQmC2icJFnccAJpOh37x49pHFdMZaWN9/s320/IMG_1060.JPG" width="269" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">During one of his brief awake times in the morning a few days old. He found his face in that mirror and it was so cute!</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZscCXm9lEUIk4Oy3ARcmroJqzQO-0XS57F5Sf1DDxlWDKD0kzTGIksA5rc88Ds9KrALyqMWNnm9947LjNxswFYKHTtLVL5mi08skfgk2TKfYoqfnfysWj2xfnJGP8-zXnZd2voL5cHDS/s1600/IMG_1078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZscCXm9lEUIk4Oy3ARcmroJqzQO-0XS57F5Sf1DDxlWDKD0kzTGIksA5rc88Ds9KrALyqMWNnm9947LjNxswFYKHTtLVL5mi08skfgk2TKfYoqfnfysWj2xfnJGP8-zXnZd2voL5cHDS/s320/IMG_1078.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> He smiles <i>all of the time</i> while he's sleeping. Can't wait till those are for real and right at us!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqfW4V1nprDm-vvUBll3D6d7Gff0lzl9DGLSGvAGr0l88VCGE6LDKwmttkhiXPzQmdB63iP3YgRUDcpSE8coYYAj1pCDZlibTdG0ILbZRxuPJBnwsfQQ7xny2YvNc72GZm2AN83tpKgEwe/s1600/IMG_1098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqfW4V1nprDm-vvUBll3D6d7Gff0lzl9DGLSGvAGr0l88VCGE6LDKwmttkhiXPzQmdB63iP3YgRUDcpSE8coYYAj1pCDZlibTdG0ILbZRxuPJBnwsfQQ7xny2YvNc72GZm2AN83tpKgEwe/s320/IMG_1098.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is my view a lot, sitting on the couch and he's happily passed out after a full tummy :) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmJvmjDA_Zblnf_-o81sDo5nXpC9u3KFuSmgkUwIMPYeY6jV0sDpAuKV0lql1HJxUAj6rmjs8aw3OR0GE5O3PzBKGL4StJtG3y5obuOl9HoxXdgPfbFDoIBnKBT5tW9fBD5G7ULE6yWf6/s1600/IMG_1083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmJvmjDA_Zblnf_-o81sDo5nXpC9u3KFuSmgkUwIMPYeY6jV0sDpAuKV0lql1HJxUAj6rmjs8aw3OR0GE5O3PzBKGL4StJtG3y5obuOl9HoxXdgPfbFDoIBnKBT5tW9fBD5G7ULE6yWf6/s320/IMG_1083.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> Yep, this is what we mostly see for now. Not a lot of awake time in the first days. He really likes that little bouncy vibrator seat and spends lots of snooze time there.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXOuTQXQw7X5c98nVXzDcC7im6jReYqOyDQgpzSbbldPkp4PcFF2a97lzXnVHVVkLXTOnQRQvhI-WHP2Uq7gMUmZA9pXsdrboO33OLNizwHFIZzpODPqJN8xIKTKNCQjBJIOuZpjNhkxx/s1600/IMG_1066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXOuTQXQw7X5c98nVXzDcC7im6jReYqOyDQgpzSbbldPkp4PcFF2a97lzXnVHVVkLXTOnQRQvhI-WHP2Uq7gMUmZA9pXsdrboO33OLNizwHFIZzpODPqJN8xIKTKNCQjBJIOuZpjNhkxx/s320/IMG_1066.JPG" width="254" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And <i>there's </i>some eyes. This is the most recent pic, taken yesterday at 10 days old. He likes to look out the window. I love looking at that little doll face :)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlCmPjhLwlWcqJbrKaLejMkUnXUkuW7QDvRPo_-bkATIqwz8AS_Rr66nIfpHTraiJGhZkn982fjzY2oqM0IxUtTCVEmAD7S6ciszgfACxdKxIwxLH6Dvuxq5EyfMy6RcnuLppUAmn-Eqe5/s1600/IMG_1111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlCmPjhLwlWcqJbrKaLejMkUnXUkuW7QDvRPo_-bkATIqwz8AS_Rr66nIfpHTraiJGhZkn982fjzY2oqM0IxUtTCVEmAD7S6ciszgfACxdKxIwxLH6Dvuxq5EyfMy6RcnuLppUAmn-Eqe5/s320/IMG_1111.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Here we are with Daddy. He loves Daddy and his silly songs and voices. Look at the teeny tiny hands in the grown up hands.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYuz2R4y-uij20NtX3GEkgAiMUOj2uE-nbsBWmT-xhk9Ie_HNaSnzYJ-ThSATAJpHC3DqwcM6lec3DpU-p5KjCTSdbJu6msWryprEzDwKgAsrysIxklFp7KfubP1ul9LpaqdXGYwOdxtAd/s1600/IMG_1112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYuz2R4y-uij20NtX3GEkgAiMUOj2uE-nbsBWmT-xhk9Ie_HNaSnzYJ-ThSATAJpHC3DqwcM6lec3DpU-p5KjCTSdbJu6msWryprEzDwKgAsrysIxklFp7KfubP1ul9LpaqdXGYwOdxtAd/s320/IMG_1112.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Many, many more to come! Addison and Cadence come home from Grandparent camp tomorrow so we're looking forward to having the whole family together again. I must say though, it has been a real blessing to have this week (and a half) to just adjust, try to rest as much as possible (ha!), recover physically (for me), and get lots and lots of tiny snuggles and cuddles. Thank you, thank you to the grandparents responsible for loving on our kids and giving us a little break. We are so thankful for this time, and we're very excited to have them back tomorrow! Peace out from the Pate house.Kaceehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366977712556011977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9114131936502051247.post-7354079317369317572011-07-22T12:15:00.000-05:002011-07-22T12:15:11.054-05:00The End is in SightThought I'd give another update on where we are. Sorry if you're tired of hearing about the status of woman parts- that's just kind of where we're living right now :) And I have to add that this blog is not only for the enjoyment and entertainment of friends, family, and the random person who comes along from cyberspace, but it is for me and our family. This is a record of our days, many details of which I will not be remembering down the road. I know this because of the many times I have desperately scoured the filing cabinets in my brain trying to pull up things that at best end up with foggy details. <br />
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But don't worry- I'm not mad at you or anything (because that could kind of sound like a rant or a hormonal response to something that was said). I think I said that mostly for my own benefit for the days when I feel like I'm only regurgitating facts on a page and wonder why I'm even bothering with it/wondering why anyone would even care about that.<br />
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So moving on. As stated in my title, there is an end in sight to the very interesting past few weeks of our life. Had another appt yesterday in which I found I am still 3cm dilated but have moved to 80% effaced. So I have had movement and progression every week, and every time I move closer the more it means it really could be any moment. But I'm not going to lie- I was kind of hoping for the hollywood-ish scenario of her checking me, being amazed that I was practically about to have the baby without me even really being aware, and immediately sending me over to the hospital. That would have been a fun story, but I honestly knew that was not going to be the case. She still stands by her story that it could be any time, but then she started the conversation of what about this time next week and I'm still pregnant. And then she asked me if I would not like to be pregnant anymore by this time next week. So of course I said that would be nice. The problem is that she is going out of town <i>again</i> tomorrow and will not be returning until Thursday. She actually said she usually doesn't have that happen where she's gone like that. I guess that was supposed to make me feel better. So not only does that mean I am facing delivering without her again if I go on my own between now and then, but if she was here I could have probably gotten this show on the road like Monday (I'm assuming you all know I'm speaking of induction here) instead of waiting until Friday morning. Oh well. I don't always think induction is the best idea and there's always that thought of feeling like you're forcing your body into something it's not ready for, but in my case where I'm already progressed like I am it's more like a nudge things along instead of creating something out of nothing. I did ask her about it, telling her I was assuming she thought I was a good candidate for induction since she was bringing it up, and she said oh yeah she thinks I'll have the baby in like four hours or something. And it's going to be like three days before my due date anyway by that time. So, by all technical standards it is <i>still</i> before the due date and "early", but three weeks ago when this excitement began getting stirred up I really didn't think it would be this long. But, as I stated, no matter what happens between now and then we know by this time next week he will be on his way if not already here.<br />
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It's funny that scheduling an induction brings such closure, as if I was going to be pregnant forever and this was a great escape or something. The reality is the end is in sight regardless of the scenario! But, for whatever the reason, it does bring closure and a little ease of mind. Much easier to plan life around also, I might add! But honestly, I would still love do go on my own between now and then. We'll just have to see what happens! Like I said before, I know and am trusting that God's timing is perfect even if I'm getting antsy and grumpy about it and am holding onto the fact that He knows best for all of us right now. So we're just going to let things happen the way they're supposed to and enjoy the week. Trying to keep perspective on it as well, because I'm sure for most of you looking at us it's going by so fast and can't believe it's already here. We definitely have those moments, but the anticipation has constantly threatened us out of rational perspective making us feel like it's been an eternity! But we know that's really not the case at all. And I'm so grateful that there's no medical reason or health issue for either myself or Jaxon that's made us have to go get him early. As much of a pain (literally) this pregnancy has been at times, I have been healthy. My doctor always praises me for my ankles looking so good because I don't have any swelling, even though as my history would prove my pregnancy fate had me gaining more weight than I wanted to! (It will go down in the books that I will just never be a small person pregnant, for whatever reason.) Definitely feeling thankful for those things. And definitely so excited and so happy to be meeting our little man, soon. <br />
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I know most of you saw this already, but I ordered these shirts for the kids and I can't believe how cute they are. Can't wait to take their pictures in them!! <br />
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That's all for now. Thank you for walking through that cycle of emotion with me. I feel better after counting my blessings and thinking about the positives. There will be other topics someday outside of having a baby; however, I do not expect the subject matter to wane anytime soon :) Peace out from the Pate house.Kaceehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366977712556011977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9114131936502051247.post-36113087045074234112011-07-17T23:14:00.000-05:002011-07-17T23:14:00.003-05:00Holding Up in the Holding Pattern"How are you holding up?" and similar inquiries are coming now daily from friends and family anxiously waiting along with us. So I thought I'd give everyone a brief breakdown of the past couple of weeks. I certainly have no inclinations or inspiration to wax eloquent right now, so short and brief descriptions are about all you're going to get out of me for the moment :)<br />
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Check-up at 36 weeks: Found out I'm 1 1/2 cm dilated, 50% effaced (you may or may not have any idea what I'm referring to here...), and baby has definitely moved down. I was not surprised at this beginning of progression, because I had started having little bouts of contractions and felt that some movement was happening. Just started to feel "different". Though not surprised, this is a new experience for me seeing as how with the other two I really didn't have movement this early on until 1) full blown labor with Addison almost at due date and 2) basically no movement at all before being induced with Cadence, although it moved super fast once it got going! After that appt, I felt like maybe he was going to come a little early after all and it wasn't just <s>desperate</s> wishful thinking on my part :) Unintentionally sent Chris into a small panic mode, like an alarm clock of reality going off screaming "This is really going to happen!" Lots of those moments happen for us all towards the end, weaving in and out of the surreal and real.<br />
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Went on about the week that week, but the "this could be happening any day now" seed was definitely planted in our minds, and legitimately so. Had some more start/stop bouts of contractions, enough to further grow that seed of thought in our brains and make it increasingly more difficult to focus much or want to make many plans. Feeling totally blah, with some days better than others. Had our big brother/big sister sibling class and tour at the hospital that weekend (pics and funny quotes at the end of this post). Middle of the night Monday/Tues morning after the weekend had me timing contractions wondering if this was it. Fell back asleep, so apparently it wasn't! And let me clarify, these contractions are uncomfortable enough to be the real thing and not the "fake" (Braxton Hicks) ones, but definitely not near as bad as they'll get!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Check-up at 37 weeks (Wed): Have moved to 3cm dilated, 60% effaced, baby same position, not down anymore or back up. This business of having babies is very tricky- there are women at my progression in full blown labor and screaming for pain meds at this point. There are women walking around more progressed than I am at the grocery store feeling nothing. Unfortunately there's no formula. My doctor says to me, "This is going to be quick and easy." Should you say things like that? Trying not to make too much of that statement, but I also know that being this progressed already does in fact mean some of the work is done, which means less is left to do when this thing goes active. Which also makes me nervous because I do know it could also mean really fast. I'm so so glad that in a huge city we live ten minutes from the hospital. Then she tells me she's going to be out of town from Saturday to next Wed, so he either needs to come by like midnight Friday or wait until Thurs. Nice. Yeah, I'll work on that.<br />
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And that about catches us up to the present. Obviously, he did not come Friday night, which now complicates the situation because it would be nice to not go another week but don't really want a stranger delivering the baby. It is what it is, though. So to answer the original question of how we're holding up... Not gonna lie- this past week has been kind of hard. Day to day life is growing increasingly harder and more strange being stuck in this strange twilight zone time warp where the minutes seem to be like days. We have kept our schedule pretty open, and that's hard on all of us because we like going and doing and being with people. Obviously, it's growing increasingly more uncomfortable for me! His little bottom stretches so high I can barely breathe, and his little head is down so low I can barely walk- that doesn't leave a lot of room left!! So I'm not physically capable of a whole lot. When I drove to church this morning, I barely crammed myself into the seat and then barely reached the petal because my tummy was hitting the steering wheel and I had to move back- yeah, awkward. We're trying as hard as we can to just carry on about business as usual, but focus and productivity are ever elusive and slippery. This is especially hard on poor Chris who has so much to do and in the midst of all of this, God is tremendously blessing the church and we're randomly in a burst of growth and momentum here in the middle of summer- talk about grace, grace!! I think we are operating in like a triple dose of it right now!<br />
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With all that being said it's still a very exciting time, so I hope I'm not whining too much. It's just very hard to articulate and explain the nature of these days. I think that's one of the reasons we're all having such a hard time, because we're ready to meet our new little man and ready to move on to the new challenges of life with a newborn, a growing church, and all of the other things going on in our lives. And I'm trying <i>so, so</i> hard to keep my peace, remember that God is in control, constantly turn over my anxieties, fears, and restlessness over to Him, and that His timing and plan are perfect. So, basically- the bags are packed, the arrangements for the kids are made, and we're trying to be ready on a moment's notice but <i><b>not think about it</b>.</i> Yeah. So maybe the next post will be a birth announcement and story, or maybe the next post will be more of the same. One day (and sometimes one hour) at a time. <br />
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Here's our pics from the sibling class...<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">They learned the proper way to hold a baby and had little practice babies... Addison's baby was bigger than the one Cadence had! Proud siblings!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiskEcVaEDVO9ARjaY6dmnw31q6pHpK-TYJA5WgjJbI7M_M3r63ecrAJeZ92T_c2DWzV8XODswAEmFp9UaN7tBA4y7UH6GtjyhAgouW8UsxtyJIt4oEB7oJIAlBdF2G3vdUpQ7liGFqTmKf/s1600/securedownload-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiskEcVaEDVO9ARjaY6dmnw31q6pHpK-TYJA5WgjJbI7M_M3r63ecrAJeZ92T_c2DWzV8XODswAEmFp9UaN7tBA4y7UH6GtjyhAgouW8UsxtyJIt4oEB7oJIAlBdF2G3vdUpQ7liGFqTmKf/s320/securedownload-2.jpeg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKCeoKy3QxoR3eYrIFaMeeC_emNUL8e0ax9VNbWI1ycKQ5F39dFzIVeQNWRJXSx9EzoraNYoQtlYjaA107SOHk1NB4KkGigYvt94uN1I7dPLRR-t203W-_Kc48RvIYsCkG0yJTREu-V7_/s1600/securedownload-4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKCeoKy3QxoR3eYrIFaMeeC_emNUL8e0ax9VNbWI1ycKQ5F39dFzIVeQNWRJXSx9EzoraNYoQtlYjaA107SOHk1NB4KkGigYvt94uN1I7dPLRR-t203W-_Kc48RvIYsCkG0yJTREu-V7_/s320/securedownload-4.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Annnnd this is what <b><i>not</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> to do when holding baby. Let's try not to pick our nose and hold Jaxon at the same time, son.</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggs2h_JV33pmM4SQos5zkBzGw_UEQrqMReCVL5_u68oge1gq026CUw90sPcy9yLjEczmG6zDvN1WhrrzdLzGmkejmdHzYTTG1JLvBo6l7OdwDriejJ06zFrXI9ADai6hSLCUe1bmTZcDFB/s1600/securedownload-3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggs2h_JV33pmM4SQos5zkBzGw_UEQrqMReCVL5_u68oge1gq026CUw90sPcy9yLjEczmG6zDvN1WhrrzdLzGmkejmdHzYTTG1JLvBo6l7OdwDriejJ06zFrXI9ADai6hSLCUe1bmTZcDFB/s320/securedownload-3.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Then they moved on to learning how to swaddle the baby with the blanket, followed by changing a diaper. Cadence was very confident and really did not want any help from me on this. <i>So surprised.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8P64GeW9iF2dUAI6H_8HFjvYeUzF7nyJ1jQTEa0TxzAjhlxZu_OupU3we5MhEdPjFwnH_h1RFZlttt0eMPTH23XpxxB9xm9RNpbT8U6lkqoYryh_jK4k_18InxfGKLQrr22Vsm78ZHJQe/s1600/securedownload-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8P64GeW9iF2dUAI6H_8HFjvYeUzF7nyJ1jQTEa0TxzAjhlxZu_OupU3we5MhEdPjFwnH_h1RFZlttt0eMPTH23XpxxB9xm9RNpbT8U6lkqoYryh_jK4k_18InxfGKLQrr22Vsm78ZHJQe/s320/securedownload-1.jpeg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">This is my favorite one. Addison's baby was an anatomically correct baby boy, and his face is so classic Addison. He does this expression sometimes when he raises his eyebrows at things like, "whoah". This would be one of those moments. Don't know what about the moment caused the face, but I was laughing! We also assured the kids that they will not really be responsible for changing the diapers, maybe just helping :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6IzFXKU6t7H7YM0dcLyWHQ9KQuFSiE4GWrSs6_ea-95rqIV8oBRytOhWkMbDFigO8Bv2lv0z0KDqoT8UYs-zkGxDnCvQTh_4XQsn_pRl5yoWCeNn2KvmRDnhLk5QcpsWZn-5B57AtQvE5/s1600/securedownload.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6IzFXKU6t7H7YM0dcLyWHQ9KQuFSiE4GWrSs6_ea-95rqIV8oBRytOhWkMbDFigO8Bv2lv0z0KDqoT8UYs-zkGxDnCvQTh_4XQsn_pRl5yoWCeNn2KvmRDnhLk5QcpsWZn-5B57AtQvE5/s320/securedownload.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">In the middle of talking about babies only drinking milk when they're born (aka do NOT feed your baby your snacks and drinks), Cadence raises her hand and proceeds to tell the class that babies also like tomato juice. Hmm. Have no idea where that came from.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">When we were touring the l&d rooms, Addison raises his hand and asks what happens when the mommy is having the baby and she really needs to go to the bathroom. He's really thinking through this process. Tricky, indeed! Actually, most of his questions/comments had to do with the mom which is sweet because he has recently shown some concern/interest with me and my well-being. I keep trying to assure him that I'm okay and that even though it's not going to be a lot of fun for me that I'll be just fine. He's aware that birth is messy and yucky and has no desire to be anywhere near that room!! They know that they will be coming to see us ASAP and when Jaxon is all cleaned up ready to hold. They also got big brother/big sister shirts from the class which they can proudly wear!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">One of the funniest things said was at the end of the tour when we finished. Cadence raised her hand and asked if we were now all going to take turns having the babies!! It got a laugh out of everyone. That's about her level of understanding of it all... sort of but not really!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">And if you didn't see the pics on Facebook, I finally finished decorating the nursery. Now to put the finishing touches on the other kids' rooms!! It's such a happy and bright space- just how I wanted :) Here's a link to the rest of the pics here: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150713578940430.710753.596870429">Nursery</a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3xcF4adU1RmF2uZUkzplkOo-tqKSMU3Mk5CS8fbGvNYkscT6xxG3MJD-eCPQFIS5jTPNPrXvZE9vCFLTybDSPadOVpHjTP2zVqvD0vHx-BKoZ06j3dMyR-P_HMblI77QQAnNKgJ8t9X19/s1600/IMG_0898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3xcF4adU1RmF2uZUkzplkOo-tqKSMU3Mk5CS8fbGvNYkscT6xxG3MJD-eCPQFIS5jTPNPrXvZE9vCFLTybDSPadOVpHjTP2zVqvD0vHx-BKoZ06j3dMyR-P_HMblI77QQAnNKgJ8t9X19/s320/IMG_0898.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(got a sweet app on my iPhone that lets you take a bunch of pictures and it stitches them together to make a panoramic picture- love it!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMlB97Vcj3t0jQj_ohqCLSozRk1o27OatQcbsriQFVS31h9eiEXurbty7wrdURa__iQS_WxeVtT4M8OYeFMqWnDPP3mjRnFmd2SnmNyqwgDcamF3AAN3eND4TDOE3WQQeOus-gabHmjCSB/s1600/IMG_0895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMlB97Vcj3t0jQj_ohqCLSozRk1o27OatQcbsriQFVS31h9eiEXurbty7wrdURa__iQS_WxeVtT4M8OYeFMqWnDPP3mjRnFmd2SnmNyqwgDcamF3AAN3eND4TDOE3WQQeOus-gabHmjCSB/s320/IMG_0895.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
And that gets you all caught up. Sorry it's kind of long. Now back to patiently waiting... peace out from the Pate house.Kaceehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366977712556011977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9114131936502051247.post-13059378475777833702011-07-03T19:22:00.000-05:002011-07-03T19:22:59.604-05:00The Beginning of the End and the BeginningI was thinking of that title and its appropriateness, and it felt familiar, like I had used that phrase before. Sure enough, I looked over the archives and I did use that phrase to describe the period of time right before we came here to Houston and there were so many things ending and beginning all at once. <br />
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And I find myself feeling many of those same feelings today, sitting here all alone (the kids have been gone all week and Chris is currently in transit to bring them home- my house is begging for familiar noise :). July is the beginning of the end and the beginning for us. We are now entering into a holding pattern of sorts, preparing as much as we can but pretty much just waiting. The beginning of the end of nine months of housing and growing new life. The end of monthly doctor's appts, hip pain, waddling and sleepless nights (okay, so those aren't going anywhere actually, just the nature and cause of the sleeplessness is changing). The end of the term "Pate family" being four people. The beginning of the end of a season of life. This probably being the last time I'm going to be pregnant, there is definitely a finality to it all, like the period at the end of the sentence. And as much as I am going to be glad not to be pregnant anymore, I'm certainly sensing the ebb and flow of emotion about it. No matter how much of a pain (literally) it can be, there are probably not many things more amazing in this life than partaking in carrying and bringing into the world a child and all of the guts and glory that go along with it. And I definitely feel the finality of this being <i>it</i>. There will be no more diapers to change after this one. No more nursing, first smiles and first steps, baby rolls and cheeks and smells. No more "well the <i>next </i>time around..." My role as a mother will move out of child bearing strictly into the business of child <i>rearing.</i> Definitely an entire chapter and time of our life closing. The end is met with a mixture of feelings of closure, impatience (let's do this- like <i>today</i>), anxiousness and if I'm being totally honest a little fear (oh wow- I <i>am about to do this</i>), and...<br />
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<b>Excitement</b>. <i>Because the beginning of the end means the beginning of the beginning.</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
The beginning of a new year in our life. We just celebrated our first year of being here in Houston in June, so very literally a new season in not only our personal lives but also ministry is upon us (And we give God major props because our first year has been a great one). And a physical new season around the corner, which means the beginning of relief. Okay, okay, so we technically <i>still</i> have the hottest portion of the summer to endure and Houston doesn't get the memo to change over into fall until well after most places, but still- there is one big difference for me. <b>I will not be huge and pregnant anymore</b>, so I literally feel like I can endure anything after this June and July have a little more patience to ride out the rest of the heat. So I know it's only the beginning of July, but let the huge and pregnant lady have my moment of dreaming of cooler (even if it's just a little cooler) times to come. Eventually.<br />
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The beginning of new life and <i>our</i> new life together. The new Pate family of five. The beginning of Cadence's transition from baby to big sister, which I might add I think she'll take to the new role splendidly- she has a natural gift of <s>being able to boss people around</s> helping people find their direction and place and I think she'll be thrilled to have someone "under" her to do so :) The further cementing of Addison's place as <i>the</i> big brother. But in all seriousness my children have humongous, loving, caring hearts and Jaxon is so lucky to have them as his older siblings. I'm looking forward to seeing their interactions and how they will love on him and help us take care of him. It's the beginning of tiny baby snuggles and cuddles. We're ready to meet him, to hold and smell him, see what he looks like, and to introduce him to the rest of the world. Life with a baby, though exhausting and overwhelming at times, is like learning to live and appreciate the world all over again. Seeing through those innocent, new eyes in which everything is a discovery, a brand new world full of wonder and possibility, is so much fun. My heart is happy thinking of that. The new beginnings headed our way are going to be pretty wonderful.<br />
<br />
But today, it's waiting. It's the limbo between the two worlds, the tossing between the two extremes of emotion, the packing the bags and settling down and getting comfy in the waiting. But I can tell you, it's not all that comfy, especially if you are in this skin right now!<br />
<br />
And so begins July, the beginning of the end and the beginning. You would not waste a prayer on this little family during this time. Peace out from the Pate house.Kaceehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366977712556011977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9114131936502051247.post-15086463304856580132011-06-20T22:27:00.000-05:002011-06-20T22:27:33.225-05:00One last hoorah as a party of four...Last week as I was in the shower getting ready for us to go out of town, I was hit with a wave of emotion. I was thinking about it being our last out of town trip as a family of four, and I got a little sad. Not that I'm not excited or looking forward to adding another member to our family, because I certainly cannot wait on so many levels to meet the little wiggle worm in my belly, but because I realized a chapter of our lives was coming to a close. It made me see that in the last five and a half years we had grown quite comfortable, like a warm blanket on a cold day or an old friend. It made me realize that our kids have grown into a pretty self-sufficient place in life, as far as kids go. There are no diapers and bottoms to wipe, they can feed and bathe themselves, and though growing up is presenting its own challenges and trials, five and seven can be really fun ages. I realized that their life as they know it is about to be turned upside down, as excited as they are about it.<br />
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Now of course, knowing the depth of joy and love unspeakable each of our children has enriched our lives with, I can only imagine how much deeper, stronger, more beautiful, and really, more fun the next chapter will be with another child. There are days I cannot contain the joy I feel about having another baby, and I daydream about tiny fingers and toes and walk over and smell the Johnson and Johnson's Honey Apple lotion awaiting the sweet skin to lather onto. But I've noticed about myself that when change is approaching, it throws me into this introspective spin cycle that can become really dangerous. As good as it is to reflect, which I love to do, nipping at the heels of reflection for me can be regret. And then I think about all of the things I wish I was, wish I would have done, time that was wasted, and this general overwhelming sense of please-God-don't-let-me-screw-my-kids'-life-up gloomy cloud. But the good news is that I'm working really hard on letting go of the expectations I put on myself, because I'll never live up to them, and I know deep down inside that it's only by God's grace we are doing anything worthwhile anyway and He more than covers my imperfections and short comings.<br />
<br />
So in short, I just wanted to enjoy our time, enjoy our children, and forget about all of the things I just said above. And I really did. We had a lovely time. They had their age-appropriate moments, but mostly everyone got along, had great attitudes, and we just had a lot of fun. The Great Wolf Lodge ended up being the perfect solution for us, considering I was pretty much outlawed from the doc to be out in this wicked extreme heat, and who really wants to be anyway! It was all right there in the hotel- waterpark, food, and other fun things to do. I think because I had been feeling so crummy before we left that I imagined myself mostly sitting poolside with a cold drink and a good book, maybe occasionally sneaking up to the room for a nap and enjoying from a distance. But that really wasn't the case at all. I was right there in the middle of it, and I'm so thankful I felt pretty good for those few days and had the energy and physical ability to keep up with everyone and splash around in the fun. That's what I really wanted to be doing anyway :) I even tried a water slide when we first got there that looked pretty innocent, but let's just say that was the <b><i>one and only</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> time I did that...</span></b><br />
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Before this gets too long, here's some of our pics from the trip. We also took along our waterproof video camera that we've always been too nervous to put in the water, but I'm so glad we did because it was awesome! That part will have to come later, though, because I have a lot of little clips to dump on the computer and sort through. Good stuff, though.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Our room was SO cool- this was the front part for the kids- bunk beds! And two TV's, which was a non-necessity but definitely a luxury we enjoyed!! The entire hotel was made to look like you were in the woods in a cabin.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg57b8Z8O9aJZWmlj-yHevwul5p5oJ6AEc_Gh5dghzUl7EfgTitxYfCcWKwt1qZ6JAmszLLXCSH2OBjTZJsTNJVhACf0CmcuNDIpwcYEoQP507bhOqEHzX3BSG6Kiw1BusXE1_n9yXb3gTy/s1600/IMG_3020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg57b8Z8O9aJZWmlj-yHevwul5p5oJ6AEc_Gh5dghzUl7EfgTitxYfCcWKwt1qZ6JAmszLLXCSH2OBjTZJsTNJVhACf0CmcuNDIpwcYEoQP507bhOqEHzX3BSG6Kiw1BusXE1_n9yXb3gTy/s320/IMG_3020.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj45OtTyiQvBS2h0JccJvQGGihK_sDRxvG3geixEEwf2N1hv3GTMoEgL_ChpTsdD6MPGKtH8wTRrOCc03QSV8GMmpcnaZQLOBnKfHhckw3cH9kNIunDz1cdVGAd1UO3SD2W7W9R1IaFGztC/s1600/IMG_3021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj45OtTyiQvBS2h0JccJvQGGihK_sDRxvG3geixEEwf2N1hv3GTMoEgL_ChpTsdD6MPGKtH8wTRrOCc03QSV8GMmpcnaZQLOBnKfHhckw3cH9kNIunDz1cdVGAd1UO3SD2W7W9R1IaFGztC/s320/IMG_3021.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">A couple of pics of the outside part. Not as much going on out there, but still some slides and other fun stuff. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF-GeTHzpXV_IVZNH1x6iQ42CFYG3j7GaQtfO7G4oLcwHjXwfr5sSEqzd8fDlfP_-RwKUWFdOSnutZOo7_nuy_FSeqFBBrl3zW3bKrBl8zYCxbVlZ4TzsR0gVp30g4iej8Vpjfq1cRsLpG/s1600/IMG_3019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF-GeTHzpXV_IVZNH1x6iQ42CFYG3j7GaQtfO7G4oLcwHjXwfr5sSEqzd8fDlfP_-RwKUWFdOSnutZOo7_nuy_FSeqFBBrl3zW3bKrBl8zYCxbVlZ4TzsR0gVp30g4iej8Vpjfq1cRsLpG/s320/IMG_3019.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQDWYWw03r_gk_GYLZjrr8unraWhzeQiCLBk2ub0AzOQS1yvs5XO06DKh76rm09IoEWRKvGpps8pWvarH3QFflKWdd2xBRxLIBB-XK23K0Q8lonMLRCwMUDIcJp-bHaFUv7U-ep3fc38Tl/s1600/IMG_3018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQDWYWw03r_gk_GYLZjrr8unraWhzeQiCLBk2ub0AzOQS1yvs5XO06DKh76rm09IoEWRKvGpps8pWvarH3QFflKWdd2xBRxLIBB-XK23K0Q8lonMLRCwMUDIcJp-bHaFUv7U-ep3fc38Tl/s320/IMG_3018.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was what you saw as you entered into the inside part. There were also huge glass windows throughout the lobby, so you could see all of this the minute you came into the building. These guys are ready to go!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcYCQHEPBIZkMhywU4-ZvSEp8aE2FA3E43-_9GJ5s2H2Qxq5Q6J0Ya0XbM7YApd-sp1JSVZFez_a5ffkltpr9xRC_sEgVYhgMCSFS89jOpndleA3N0GD_2wOLJuoEguESuTLHhCrxbRZsC/s1600/IMG_3012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcYCQHEPBIZkMhywU4-ZvSEp8aE2FA3E43-_9GJ5s2H2Qxq5Q6J0Ya0XbM7YApd-sp1JSVZFez_a5ffkltpr9xRC_sEgVYhgMCSFS89jOpndleA3N0GD_2wOLJuoEguESuTLHhCrxbRZsC/s320/IMG_3012.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">This was more of a little kids area. Behind that was a big wave pool and lazy river.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9bS8bvBa98FIVlop6XDCiHyxZju2tC1db65J6hWonQJJF8sk2cp1sWglJlRj99Wm6Lnl7JMuX5iE6R2noL5jjuKVn6x9mvHS3GVAZodh-4BkMop9ekYW7vQ80QIexflkRxoAMV0fCbk9k/s1600/IMG_3017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9bS8bvBa98FIVlop6XDCiHyxZju2tC1db65J6hWonQJJF8sk2cp1sWglJlRj99Wm6Lnl7JMuX5iE6R2noL5jjuKVn6x9mvHS3GVAZodh-4BkMop9ekYW7vQ80QIexflkRxoAMV0fCbk9k/s320/IMG_3017.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">More slides. One of these (I think) is the Howling Tornado which Chris and Addison rode. And tried to capture on the video camera, but it ended up being so crazy there wasn't much footage! From the sound of things it was pretty intense!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGjcYZYUW2-RnL7-kqafeZ5osUCf2YTNu8CBgFXcGH6-E35ocbHH_R1RjrmWctPeYiLx-3hqYvsLG3GX81bb_0cj0EP9pzIWrQXoZ4KH-U0EZmR4JaR8fp8ULclioc8LzUdxyDCKz4pSTk/s1600/IMG_3014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGjcYZYUW2-RnL7-kqafeZ5osUCf2YTNu8CBgFXcGH6-E35ocbHH_R1RjrmWctPeYiLx-3hqYvsLG3GX81bb_0cj0EP9pzIWrQXoZ4KH-U0EZmR4JaR8fp8ULclioc8LzUdxyDCKz4pSTk/s320/IMG_3014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggYz088V3FB1GhoVqCO6T7AuyJQnlOoiveAN669HxlEpaBKLlWNR8Qt4g0MgG9lAKXCPx7aNVM8-phBfohVzCUvtYDh8VN2DXNV40i4e1uQJ76hZ2OGoeu0dnhCKVbFNvKA7uTc8cyc5M2/s1600/IMG_3013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggYz088V3FB1GhoVqCO6T7AuyJQnlOoiveAN669HxlEpaBKLlWNR8Qt4g0MgG9lAKXCPx7aNVM8-phBfohVzCUvtYDh8VN2DXNV40i4e1uQJ76hZ2OGoeu0dnhCKVbFNvKA7uTc8cyc5M2/s320/IMG_3013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> This might have been Addison's favorite part. There was a thing called Magiquest, and it was like a big game. You had a wand and used it to unlock things all over the hotel, giving you quests and adventures. It sent us (mostly Addison and Chris cause I couldn't handle all of the stairs!) all over the hotel, up and down floors, waving wands at treasure chests, pictures, and talking things that interacted with you. He was <i>so.into.it.</i> It was almost all he could talk about!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKYTxeWkPOyDYD4P5x4dvNcR2xnnhmxlyIMmLAj3ztmSz9fX3Yx_O61fjTiZ04-zagjYjI5zoKjHIyWEDJboznK1XR-87Yh9o6jMIi4cfAzwXRQcqVK2yFr3liDcVgy101pPI01MQSRA6F/s1600/IMG_3008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKYTxeWkPOyDYD4P5x4dvNcR2xnnhmxlyIMmLAj3ztmSz9fX3Yx_O61fjTiZ04-zagjYjI5zoKjHIyWEDJboznK1XR-87Yh9o6jMIi4cfAzwXRQcqVK2yFr3liDcVgy101pPI01MQSRA6F/s320/IMG_3008.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Here he is receiving a new quest!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ0hGfKVkZDDbO2DvCA1i1pIZ7KJ4BSWeMW7KG2WpkWe9MWeHe1-NIk1m2p9n_dn0zSR0qkeX4gPpEIJGOsRGIhfKMLXUFfX6-xsxeV_hAKgPedE5mZJ1PD_fvFzoV591zk8hFLcVMugph/s1600/IMG_0816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ0hGfKVkZDDbO2DvCA1i1pIZ7KJ4BSWeMW7KG2WpkWe9MWeHe1-NIk1m2p9n_dn0zSR0qkeX4gPpEIJGOsRGIhfKMLXUFfX6-xsxeV_hAKgPedE5mZJ1PD_fvFzoV591zk8hFLcVMugph/s320/IMG_0816.JPG" width="238" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Every evening in the lobby they had story time/a little animated show. Think a la Chucky Cheese moving and singing little character machines....Cadence and I went here while Chris and Addison were on wild quest adventures all over the hotel! You were supposed to go in your PJ's.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilL5LMR1Wk6-qgbhYKxyB7rkel3l8c0whFDu9lm_aeVz-Inhyphenhyphen1iIFroUj15nyZSv7O0zQ6USVK2-_KdMNeTv8Ts31_jdn0BgfBjxLX79p7Nxczwg6lM8KVq1g0Z0ohYAdIFx7MHeu7mzdK/s1600/IMG_3006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilL5LMR1Wk6-qgbhYKxyB7rkel3l8c0whFDu9lm_aeVz-Inhyphenhyphen1iIFroUj15nyZSv7O0zQ6USVK2-_KdMNeTv8Ts31_jdn0BgfBjxLX79p7Nxczwg6lM8KVq1g0Z0ohYAdIFx7MHeu7mzdK/s320/IMG_3006.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She looks a little tired after a long day, but before the story time started she was turned around facing the other kids, and I couldn't hear her but she was telling all of them stories of her own. From what I could see of her, it was something very important and dramatic. Of course it was :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-KolG-SiEeDuFjA4lkBxWovRSs0cCJAp1xYM3tfBWpjY1fDFY537mnSdC6IxnT4CNsnZ-9fHglx7dsT-CIdz0wgh8yn8Swi4aNUCvg4crvf9ABydl610v2UgbiUfGkYeqSFOZVJotQ-3h/s1600/IMG_3003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-KolG-SiEeDuFjA4lkBxWovRSs0cCJAp1xYM3tfBWpjY1fDFY537mnSdC6IxnT4CNsnZ-9fHglx7dsT-CIdz0wgh8yn8Swi4aNUCvg4crvf9ABydl610v2UgbiUfGkYeqSFOZVJotQ-3h/s320/IMG_3003.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">And she just LOVED meeting Violet the wolf afterwards. Please note the wolf ears in the picture :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_W5tQZUOdgjKD516uRXYkMetNLI26II66UB0Z7FHF2IH3PNwHbEd2VGtBAPwaHZPl2VEZlj7cYRJyPdltvzqnDwbD3m8OjHnUP0NgA6rIBzid2gx8UtDQwAWfAUVIsyfPzDzaF9ti0C_c/s1600/IMG_3007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_W5tQZUOdgjKD516uRXYkMetNLI26II66UB0Z7FHF2IH3PNwHbEd2VGtBAPwaHZPl2VEZlj7cYRJyPdltvzqnDwbD3m8OjHnUP0NgA6rIBzid2gx8UtDQwAWfAUVIsyfPzDzaF9ti0C_c/s320/IMG_3007.JPG" width="240" /></a></div> Don't have many water pictures because, well, I didn't want to ruin my camera or my phone! But I'll try to upload some of the little videos soon. Oh- what's that? You thought you would see pictures of me waddling around in my maternity swimsuit? Ha- nope! I do have a few just for documentation's sake, but I feel like a whale as it is, and I certainly don't want to have that permanently cemented in cyberspace- in a bathing suit, none the less! Just had to get over it while I was there, but it didn't matter much to me because it wasn't like I knew anybody :) Like I said before, it was a great trip. It wasn't Disneyworld, our first choice that got cancelled upon finding out I was pregnant and will be due when the trip was scheduled, and it wasn't Sea World, our attempt at second best closer to home, but you would have thought our kids were at either of those places the way they were so excited and having so much fun. That's the beauty of kids, and our kids specifically. They don't know any better and just had a blast right where they were. We'll do the big trips one day, but I celebrate our time for what it was and it was just perfect in that moment. It was more than just about the cool place. It was just us, being together and having fun as a family. The Pates are a party wherever we are :)<br />
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Peace out from the Pate house.Kaceehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366977712556011977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9114131936502051247.post-49636516622227779672011-06-03T18:03:00.000-05:002011-06-03T18:03:42.072-05:00Jaxon in 4DThis experience was so crazy- it is really hard to describe or do it justice. We have always wanted a 3D/4D ultrasound, but we've never had one done with any of the kids. This probably being our last, we decided we were going to just do it. <br />
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This was an especially unique and memorable moment for me. I have mentioned this before, but unless you are a fellow mother who has carried life inside of you it's hard to understand or try to imagine and picture the feeling of another small person moving around in your belly. It's a very intimate and specific thing, a constant reminder and connection, and no other feeling, as in the <i>literal, physical</i> feeling can be used to compare or describe it.<br />
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So when I laid on that padded table and that image came on the screen, it was extremely surreal. 4D means we saw everything in live time, not just still images. Every movement, every turn, kick, expression, and action was happening as we were seeing it. It's a strange thing, having your insides projected on a huge television to watch. And the fact that someone else is occupying your space. The room that used to be yours with a bladder, stomach, ribs, and everything else that is now being <s>aggressively taken over</s> shared. I'm still bewildered by the thought that everything still fits in there. Barely.<br />
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Oh, so <i>that's what is going on in there. That's what I feel all day and night.</i> Hello, Jaxon.<br />
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The technician seemed particularly impressed with the clarity of the picture, and more specifically, him. She commented on his really long eyelashes and huge lips. We sat in amazement as we saw him open and close his mouth, grab the umbellical cord (and even stick his tongue out to touch it), turn, touch his toes to his head, and many other things. At one point he <i>opened his eyes. </i>I have to admit, that was a little freaky- a little too real! He gave quite a performance- about everything cool that you could see from this experience he did. And then at the end came the most amazing part- he started smiling. Now, granted it's probably just reflexes or something, but that didn't matter to anybody in the room. Even the technician was freaking out! He brought the house down! It was so sweet. He just looked so happy and peaceful in there. And he just kept doing it.<br />
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It made me think of all the scriptures about God knitting us in our mother's womb and how He knows us before one of our days is lived. I always like to think about my children being in the presence of God inside of my womb, being comforted and protected by Him while they grow. Honestly, in that moment of that sweet smile, that's what it felt like. Not a reflex or coincidence, but a small, tiny person so at peace and joyful, tucked safely away and blissfully enjoying the perfect environment for the time being. I felt like we got to know him a little in those moments. And it definitely makes all of the <s>misery</s> discomfort of the days of late worth it. The sleepless, painful nights. The constant pressure and bearing down on my pelvis. The waddling. The exhaustion. The emotion. The residing on top of my bladder (and I mean <i>on top)</i>. The "fake" contractions. My unrecognizable figure. The constant cracking and popping of my hips awkwardly expanding in preparation of what's to come. Just to name a few. I know it's going to be over soon. <br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">And when those long eyelashes and big lips are in my arms and we're all lovingly gawking over the newest member of our family, it will be but a memory. But until we can all meet him, here's a little glimpse of what we got to see:</div><div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">This is the reason they can fit inside of there- that's his foot touching his head! And right below the foot is his hand.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1tfnqa6BxXKTAyzQQ3NTl5CFOKpfHTdxkfUaf3eHQ5Jvw_95h1SSL_L_edgtjoCDHGIMTIgc8aHCSn9mNGNvtNOXuVEEm7rxV7LzKQo0tRFkGRc-C0cLNvvTfFqLHcl0cFWOCaul1yu1h/s1600/IMAGES_8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1tfnqa6BxXKTAyzQQ3NTl5CFOKpfHTdxkfUaf3eHQ5Jvw_95h1SSL_L_edgtjoCDHGIMTIgc8aHCSn9mNGNvtNOXuVEEm7rxV7LzKQo0tRFkGRc-C0cLNvvTfFqLHcl0cFWOCaul1yu1h/s320/IMAGES_8.JPG" width="272" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Baby foot! So clear! Actually, the original images we have are even more clear, but these still turned out pretty good!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxbckvZTndaKUpbUv8qWdx_Aar7neDlnbxqGlckNtUL2qvEYnRs-EIbZR7CvM-qx3-L7oKKUOo2fjUOUKZI8l7DaIbBrxrBWTF_EkU_NPSLcLnx_FWYrcWVUv3W9v9rEDVFWKtm-2eQfVR/s1600/IMAGES_10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxbckvZTndaKUpbUv8qWdx_Aar7neDlnbxqGlckNtUL2qvEYnRs-EIbZR7CvM-qx3-L7oKKUOo2fjUOUKZI8l7DaIbBrxrBWTF_EkU_NPSLcLnx_FWYrcWVUv3W9v9rEDVFWKtm-2eQfVR/s320/IMAGES_10.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Doesn't this face already look so sweet??<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqdGnzWGM2er-YnLkzeBd50VWsH0NDlWft3sz5IkJDGQxMMSpxD3wQIZjf9X90XOOJ25j7uQlBNNGZiGarhY2SAIk8yH03HUJ3IJuMS47LnuRve2g9bW91k5d6-9q3GNBfj0S-xBVy28r4/s1600/IMAGES_17.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqdGnzWGM2er-YnLkzeBd50VWsH0NDlWft3sz5IkJDGQxMMSpxD3wQIZjf9X90XOOJ25j7uQlBNNGZiGarhY2SAIk8yH03HUJ3IJuMS47LnuRve2g9bW91k5d6-9q3GNBfj0S-xBVy28r4/s320/IMAGES_17.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Smiling. So awesome! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhkj_JI6NCCOZZ3jYPInyYCxShuaK2ByH7vbNXD-Ixsf0QmgnVamfKaqiN3LRs0V-0c-uvcQBrKhLmI3CggMfKYPMr6JxR1NSgZp-ajUkAsfKcpIICeT7x47AmWz5ONgToJNAIfw8qLu9/s1600/IMAGES_18.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhkj_JI6NCCOZZ3jYPInyYCxShuaK2ByH7vbNXD-Ixsf0QmgnVamfKaqiN3LRs0V-0c-uvcQBrKhLmI3CggMfKYPMr6JxR1NSgZp-ajUkAsfKcpIICeT7x47AmWz5ONgToJNAIfw8qLu9/s320/IMAGES_18.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We got more, but those are the best ones. I have to say, the funniest moment goes to Cadence: the technician would write words on the screen sometimes, saying what the body parts were or cute little phrases and Cadence exclaims, "Look! He's saying something!! What is he saying??" It was truly hilarious. And with that,</div><br />
Peace out from the Pate house.Kaceehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366977712556011977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9114131936502051247.post-18210855794456526832011-06-01T13:30:00.002-05:002011-06-01T13:33:05.476-05:00Doing Life- Through Pics*Okay, I confess- I started the blog below <b><i>last</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> Monday but never finished putting the pics on there. But, this Monday evening I feel much the same so it applies! It has been a fun but tiring few weeks as we've had company for the past three weekends in a row. Two weekends of family and one weekend of friends. It's been glorious. So wish all of our family was closer. </span></b><br />
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As you know, Mondays are the days when the fog clears, the dust settles, and what remains are two people (myself and my husband) regrouping and putting themselves back together after a long and eventful weekend. And I must add, my recovery time is getting longer and longer as my very pregnant body is massively rebelling, kicking and screaming, to the demands of our every day life and schedule. Oh boy. That's another story. Let's suffice it to say that I've been praying a lot lately for a triple extra measure of grace to run through the tape with this little guy. I actually took <i>two </i>two hour naps today. Wow.<br />
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So, just like always, a lot of nothing and everything has transpired since the last post. I thought it might just be best to do an update through pictures, taking you on a little tour of life at the Pate house lately. So here goes...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3lYW7tDlcMN4fj9wftDm_IKuXSugNNG3h1ipypeKDwvije65IEH0gmulJrPfqX7iOUGgb2IRL4pCxo3GlZo84grQyf5afHUwdJ95cDurixy0MZCh2Zbq9bCE9an2YOE4GTcPm9R2-NtE/s1600/IMG_0779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3lYW7tDlcMN4fj9wftDm_IKuXSugNNG3h1ipypeKDwvije65IEH0gmulJrPfqX7iOUGgb2IRL4pCxo3GlZo84grQyf5afHUwdJ95cDurixy0MZCh2Zbq9bCE9an2YOE4GTcPm9R2-NtE/s320/IMG_0779.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">This guy has been one of the main stories lately- most of you that read this know about what happened, but the week we moved in (which was just not a great week altogether, hence one of the reasons it has not made mention here) Addison fell off the swing set and broke his right clavicle (collar bone). Our first experience with a broken anything. He has been in a sling the past five weeks, which in the time perspective of a seven year old has been an eternity not being able to play, climb up into his new loft bed, and having to use his left hand for everything! We took him in last week (after some drama and frustration dealing with insurance and having to go more than one place) to reveal in another x-ray to reveal his bone has healed- but it has healed crooked, or not flat. You can feel it when you touch his collar bone. So where does that leave us? Not sure, exactly. The doctor who looked at it didn't seem overly concerned since he wasn't in any pain and has his range of motion back. She assured us that it is healed and stronger than before. The takeaway is that there is not an urgency to do anything about it for the time being, unless something starts to bother him. We're in the process of getting some opinions and advice. For now he is just happy to be rid of the sling and have a normal kid life back :) </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnlAa-eYC5ykIrqhUAYFhzynyN-n_PdVntq_9LgGA_0Kx_BRKWU8IJas_XtVHEQC00toVnIMpHmejHB1efojgSqmQmX58axyM3q12jpDpko8QR19pUAhy5cOihv92ECfxa67ZLKxSDhTUi/s1600/IMG_2755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnlAa-eYC5ykIrqhUAYFhzynyN-n_PdVntq_9LgGA_0Kx_BRKWU8IJas_XtVHEQC00toVnIMpHmejHB1efojgSqmQmX58axyM3q12jpDpko8QR19pUAhy5cOihv92ECfxa67ZLKxSDhTUi/s320/IMG_2755.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Easter. Yeah, it's been that long since I've caught up! Unfortunately, I didn't get a photo shoot because the broken bone incident occurred three days before and it was a feat enough to get Addison dressed Sunday morning, so I wasn't going to push it with a photo shoot. Still toying with the idea of trying at some point, just cause they looked cute :) Look at those hams.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglWVslLXV4Z2uZAOVpt1hzMRp63q_ZGMkVlZi7dmYcVlQh69b4SJ-luPNkIOUyVIYbf9SthuGSew9AIrRSBEGsLry354aM0gb6uvbh4QGBMI78UlG6DKMjcBaEuLJvCWMsR995DDtmGAr0/s1600/IMG_2752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglWVslLXV4Z2uZAOVpt1hzMRp63q_ZGMkVlZi7dmYcVlQh69b4SJ-luPNkIOUyVIYbf9SthuGSew9AIrRSBEGsLry354aM0gb6uvbh4QGBMI78UlG6DKMjcBaEuLJvCWMsR995DDtmGAr0/s320/IMG_2752.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We took a trip to the Museum of Natural Science. There's a cool part inside that is dedicated to insects of all kinds, and then there's a massive live butterfly exhibit. It's a huge, enclosed, glass tower thing with a rainforest like environment (think really hot and humid) where literally <i>hundreds </i>of all kinds of butterflies are flitting and floating about for you to see. This pic below had tons of butterflies flying through the air, but you couldn't see it unfortunately. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicBdL-SJlVmR2B1-oOa8SEMcwVhqK_gtktWqUUnG6Go-pQJkFcnPrkMi-PxAq2jUHe0UKhNANWfA1oaOmtD8TaUyDs9V8zQWbqa89wq7YbILpPQp4O9nYgOjK1bEIGvwpHxrc1lXwTxTtG/s1600/IMG_2815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicBdL-SJlVmR2B1-oOa8SEMcwVhqK_gtktWqUUnG6Go-pQJkFcnPrkMi-PxAq2jUHe0UKhNANWfA1oaOmtD8TaUyDs9V8zQWbqa89wq7YbILpPQp4O9nYgOjK1bEIGvwpHxrc1lXwTxTtG/s320/IMG_2815.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Inside the museum part was a display of hundreds of different kinds of chrysalises. We thought it was just a display at first until we realized live butterflies were hatching out of them. They then took the butterflies out of the case and released them into the rainforest part. It was super cool. Can't see too close here, but we were amazed at some of the chrysalis shapes and colors. Some of them looked like 24 carat gold- nature is truly such a masterpiece of God. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwF1bVD3D7pFrXV25gzHq7fq0GVkpK-98Mnam310WEoIj-SsekUJAzETbDfztNN_Jzhxvo836Rvpit21MXKi6D11yCxSbqa8wsxRl3B7ZvakjTKV21CUUGI1SkN60anvpmNog6kluMVGR/s1600/IMG_2777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwF1bVD3D7pFrXV25gzHq7fq0GVkpK-98Mnam310WEoIj-SsekUJAzETbDfztNN_Jzhxvo836Rvpit21MXKi6D11yCxSbqa8wsxRl3B7ZvakjTKV21CUUGI1SkN60anvpmNog6kluMVGR/s320/IMG_2777.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmS_8GLNJsHyfqQhtY6qoKrqVrLz1cHO3WMbtYQlxZV90a6DT2zfIrQq7UjGd4pCklioPfNmkVvX0t-QPkS3JUmS4swhjZ8DfyMrlAd14c2E7gLchNAhEo-z3HA0TAaOFiwQ1hpqiLaxlQ/s1600/IMG_2781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmS_8GLNJsHyfqQhtY6qoKrqVrLz1cHO3WMbtYQlxZV90a6DT2zfIrQq7UjGd4pCklioPfNmkVvX0t-QPkS3JUmS4swhjZ8DfyMrlAd14c2E7gLchNAhEo-z3HA0TAaOFiwQ1hpqiLaxlQ/s320/IMG_2781.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Just a small sampling of some butterfly shots I got. The pic on the right has like 8 in it, just an idea of how many there were all around. For a total lover of butterflies like me, it was heaven. Cadence also squealed with delight at seeing them so close all around, some even landed on you. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Addison, well...interesting thing about that....he had a surprise reaction to the butterflies. As in, as soon as we stepped in there and saw them flying all around he started <i>freaking</i> out. And I mean, hysterically freaking out. As in, Chris had to remove him from the habitat and they waited outside until we were finished. Not so sure what was so menacing about the butterflies. We all had a long talk about it and he thinks he'll be better next time. It was really weird because he loves animals and insects and was really into the museum part before where we were learning all about them. Hmm...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIk8xldfMcoUv4ZEg7aq01AydvtzPWJMfP_EB_KpWst3TO5iIrtIVi0WgymYMFxDScMXCbE8mvgEW59cwtuo4PDo_vyZbPPUb1XZr3h0yTKkcAbbrUqC6d3dVdr8Z_xWAvL6jTmxYQjF7X/s1600/IMG_2799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIk8xldfMcoUv4ZEg7aq01AydvtzPWJMfP_EB_KpWst3TO5iIrtIVi0WgymYMFxDScMXCbE8mvgEW59cwtuo4PDo_vyZbPPUb1XZr3h0yTKkcAbbrUqC6d3dVdr8Z_xWAvL6jTmxYQjF7X/s320/IMG_2799.JPG" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZIWMYdNlZk4GgfyMGxt0p0F8R7dWbeqES_l2_nJX_dkAda1aUlSgX6OAfOrvZqMFbAY_VL4w9tmHFpZYdoTgr9x8eDAXMQ3esObKDu-PUY8lDSC0BU-_iWV6Q6nCyidxf8krqEUMnW2Qe/s1600/IMG_2804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZIWMYdNlZk4GgfyMGxt0p0F8R7dWbeqES_l2_nJX_dkAda1aUlSgX6OAfOrvZqMFbAY_VL4w9tmHFpZYdoTgr9x8eDAXMQ3esObKDu-PUY8lDSC0BU-_iWV6Q6nCyidxf8krqEUMnW2Qe/s320/IMG_2804.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"> A little photo op outside of the museum. No doubt one of the last pics of us as a family of four. It's hard to gather my true size from the pictures. I'm really huge, people. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqdv7Lx9CPRobOBLIqfaw2w0JEXKckovoIsHu8eUmB3PUvBGZT5EeLsK1BsMagmQVLAEsphoMRMnusY7K0MpM9tyQj3faox4NYEV0yhi4MpQiePIzyTvcl-2HQLazmaX3s6R5ixywZz9tW/s1600/IMG_2768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqdv7Lx9CPRobOBLIqfaw2w0JEXKckovoIsHu8eUmB3PUvBGZT5EeLsK1BsMagmQVLAEsphoMRMnusY7K0MpM9tyQj3faox4NYEV0yhi4MpQiePIzyTvcl-2HQLazmaX3s6R5ixywZz9tW/s320/IMG_2768.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">T was in town for the weekend and got to have fun with us. It was great to see her, because it had been a long time. This is such a good picture.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_w_U3ZqLBFCOQSham1EA6UpLK6lDlBol4w9c6cwNpLLgIIM71yZo17wSaBKi_v4kZbhwXehRa1raeWzRnJOXBzK_IOoCJv9lstgV0KnMeY-dO4fK4t9wtSo54T1vITOzF1vKFODF6k4b/s1600/IMG_2764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_w_U3ZqLBFCOQSham1EA6UpLK6lDlBol4w9c6cwNpLLgIIM71yZo17wSaBKi_v4kZbhwXehRa1raeWzRnJOXBzK_IOoCJv9lstgV0KnMeY-dO4fK4t9wtSo54T1vITOzF1vKFODF6k4b/s320/IMG_2764.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">*I apologize for the wonkiness of the following pics- I was trying to make them smaller and fit better, and I cannot seem to get them to do anything else so it's all wacked. And as a reminder, click on the pic for a bigger version of it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The following weekend there was something called the Art Car Parade. It's apparently a big deal in Houston, and all of these really crazy decorated cars are on display and then there's a big parade. We went to the preview to look at some of the cars. They were crazy! This is only a few of the many pics I have!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">So if you look closely on the right,this</div><div style="text-align: center;">car is made of peeps. Like the candy.</div><div style="text-align: center;">This one is worthy of note, because I </div><div style="text-align: center;">later found out that my son was </div><div style="text-align: center;">"pretending" to lick the car...well you</div><div style="text-align: center;">can guess what happened. The germaphobe</div><div style="text-align: center;">in me tried not to completely lose it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rkhSxCIhf3D7ckXmQJDEBK-uS7Mrq5N4drFOt7-oCplsZaHvVZCJrzeRsbh1Wt6RVCRRY4r0a88c1ZtEK02UccUYO7b-JEcrgfz1YHEK3pMdCyktF7k71hZtZeGxY3U-AXJ5gf4L_XVn/s1600/IMG_0810.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rkhSxCIhf3D7ckXmQJDEBK-uS7Mrq5N4drFOt7-oCplsZaHvVZCJrzeRsbh1Wt6RVCRRY4r0a88c1ZtEK02UccUYO7b-JEcrgfz1YHEK3pMdCyktF7k71hZtZeGxY3U-AXJ5gf4L_XVn/s200/IMG_0810.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1tkjwEvSsLRhahL07iiSyKxV6aQcXFSu6tQvlueT9o1o9BuBkVOi_qj9TaRX-Oxv9Aj7VJGY-my6YGP2MI1cJyKEOiAs5WGI37fptUGgI5hB4INP-XMTb9JR0tEK_yASt7KSiRHeUaunR/s1600/IMG_0801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1tkjwEvSsLRhahL07iiSyKxV6aQcXFSu6tQvlueT9o1o9BuBkVOi_qj9TaRX-Oxv9Aj7VJGY-my6YGP2MI1cJyKEOiAs5WGI37fptUGgI5hB4INP-XMTb9JR0tEK_yASt7KSiRHeUaunR/s200/IMG_0801.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFdMiKHQ5Z8Do6nG5cc36wK8XmVrTdKhTOUZb9AvTJ9sCQ3_dv3lVFTWcDjeuPR1EUVJ7-AdAW-VQgly8D9cBshe2ZTJNATmTDGywSP41aA5_BizWJMT5DP18z2Pm7n87my3eebrVWOLz/s1600/IMG_2876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFdMiKHQ5Z8Do6nG5cc36wK8XmVrTdKhTOUZb9AvTJ9sCQ3_dv3lVFTWcDjeuPR1EUVJ7-AdAW-VQgly8D9cBshe2ZTJNATmTDGywSP41aA5_BizWJMT5DP18z2Pm7n87my3eebrVWOLz/s200/IMG_2876.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw109SDRcMXaNV2_0Zh_3k8pI2Kmvn3gAP6xfRHvOWUoVZG3JmNVYdrPFqMe1h05XV-sm0_bzF4hx8zpelRpkGc8SZnm_r_CXo3h_q4JZyeRTP3_VVW-iGmaEslF-gaBlsBBvoMRweXhpR/s1600/IMG_2875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw109SDRcMXaNV2_0Zh_3k8pI2Kmvn3gAP6xfRHvOWUoVZG3JmNVYdrPFqMe1h05XV-sm0_bzF4hx8zpelRpkGc8SZnm_r_CXo3h_q4JZyeRTP3_VVW-iGmaEslF-gaBlsBBvoMRweXhpR/s200/IMG_2875.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">All of the fish on this car moved and sang with music. It was a major hit with the kids. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The car below on the left is made of teeth, toothpaste, and all things teeth related. Very interesting and very creepy at the same time!</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXzGsjFhH-pLHn7D2VUgfjP3DtZA50T7PIjmdCEFst5KIqR0GtM44tgzJ-aTSIZZKBb9oTjm0KTcuW6QqpSLDLMV4WWKqvcNaxdthySRv-dYeVvBp0c7AFeUXgsGLnDkhHyQ5KoOvT_3c/s1600/IMG_2869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXzGsjFhH-pLHn7D2VUgfjP3DtZA50T7PIjmdCEFst5KIqR0GtM44tgzJ-aTSIZZKBb9oTjm0KTcuW6QqpSLDLMV4WWKqvcNaxdthySRv-dYeVvBp0c7AFeUXgsGLnDkhHyQ5KoOvT_3c/s200/IMG_2869.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQLEO-JSU1BXNn9E9Tp-jq1k7ClViPS5AkGBFcOgMZTzLP1BAeGhjQ1B6kSZJOKFsnp5sMroOZK8KyteTJJuerSIDvhkibpO24rQsjFeOtHupCkWY0US7vwgdw31JtOuD_HCmCF2WRaZO/s1600/IMG_2845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQLEO-JSU1BXNn9E9Tp-jq1k7ClViPS5AkGBFcOgMZTzLP1BAeGhjQ1B6kSZJOKFsnp5sMroOZK8KyteTJJuerSIDvhkibpO24rQsjFeOtHupCkWY0US7vwgdw31JtOuD_HCmCF2WRaZO/s200/IMG_2845.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPHTAERKnhjNJi2WIt_4ksjaMUgo7Bf3mu1cYpOmU7gPkNhBkKkM0xs124lw4feoXVPnhKIU0O4GqsrVVviIV52I2zXo4n1MKg1-ofYDjIvDK_Kz69tlzp966W_3LHkMsR-uqIcMI4OBw/s1600/IMG_2841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPHTAERKnhjNJi2WIt_4ksjaMUgo7Bf3mu1cYpOmU7gPkNhBkKkM0xs124lw4feoXVPnhKIU0O4GqsrVVviIV52I2zXo4n1MKg1-ofYDjIvDK_Kz69tlzp966W_3LHkMsR-uqIcMI4OBw/s200/IMG_2841.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDGIlp4AjtA7AgIYEVMV730IcuteM6Wycfu02UNAh5chEkgCloCwfJ0gyRN9y6FymhKESFoVDI000H2NcOgDocrHUQZmTiDXbrntDyYUewo189XO6jOgRlYiczTRmk8c9cD89MFwC65S0/s1600/IMG_2833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDGIlp4AjtA7AgIYEVMV730IcuteM6Wycfu02UNAh5chEkgCloCwfJ0gyRN9y6FymhKESFoVDI000H2NcOgDocrHUQZmTiDXbrntDyYUewo189XO6jOgRlYiczTRmk8c9cD89MFwC65S0/s200/IMG_2833.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
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This car on the right was made of chalkboard paint. Cadence in particular enjoyed that one.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">So this was probably the coolest part for the kids- they had this huge foam party going on right in the middle of the park. Oh, to be a kid! The expressions on their faces are that of pure, kids having a blast, joy. I love seeing those kinds of faces :) And afterwards the same park has a big splash pad so we got all rinsed off!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">I definitely have so many more pictures and things to share, but I think this little post is about to get overloaded. Thus the tragedy of being so far behind. But I wanted to put these on here at least, because we have some fun things coming up that will have their own space! This past weekend the Hargis side of the family came to town, and we had a lot of fun as well. Silly me- I didn't bother to take one picture the whole time which is highly unlike me! But it was all of us- my two bros were able to come too which was a special treat! I said it earlier, but I really wish our family was closer. We so enjoy seeing them, but it's always a little sad when everybody goes home...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I so badly want to show you pictures of cute kids' rooms in progress, but I'm close to finishing so I'll wait. We even have the nursery going which is so exciting! I am DYI'ing a lot of the baby's room and kids' rooms, so it's been fun. I recovered a glider/ottoman yesterday, and I must say I was pretty proud of myself :) My goal is to have most all of it done by this weekend, but we'll see how it goes. Sometimes my pregnant self has other plans so I have to just go with the flow these days :)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">This weekend is going to be all about baby. It actually started last weekend with an unbelievable 4D ultrasound (that I will share pics in it's own post). This Saturday we enrolled in a big brother/big sister class at the hospital where the kids will talk about and learn about life with a newborn, and we get a hospital tour out of it which I was wanting. Then Sunday afternoon our awesome church is throwing us a church-wide baby shower that will be more like a party! It's a family/co-ed event, not a traditional shower with just women, so I know it will be a lot of fun! It's such a blessing for them to do this, especially since we are starting all over and have no baby gear/stuff whatsoever!! I know God will provide :)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Well, sorry this was pretty long but I needed to get it out there. And you'll notice it took me three tries to get this thing sent out- it's obviously not Monday anymore :) Oh well! Peace out from the Pate house.</div>Kaceehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366977712556011977noreply@blogger.com0