It's EASTER?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

It's EASTER!!!!!???!!! Really!?!?!?!? I love Easter!! . . . wait, what . . ? What's Easter again?

Really? Rice cereal? That's a present? Says who? So what am I supposed to say? What do you say to someone who gives you, as a 'gift' mind you, rice cereal?

"Oh my gosh! Is that what I think it is? Is it . . . Is it Rice Cereal!!!?? [insert watery eyes here]. I really am speechless (no, really! I just make sounds - ask dad). Thank you for the Rice Cereal. Oh, and the other wonderful gifts too - I was just so excited about the Rice Cereal - alright!! A Mother Goose book - she's cool (just keep that on the down-low, I've got a rep to protect ok?)"

See everyone in a couple of weeks!!! I wish Dad would just hurry up already and graduate . . . come on Dad!! Love you all! Bye for now.

~ Love, Kaden

5 Months - Time Flies

Well, finally a moment to update the post. Here's our little man quite content after stuffing his face. We've moved to formula almost exclusively at this point - lots of reasons - but it suits him just fine (as the face indicates!)


He's very much like his parents - very very very talkative - brrrb, grrrrrrrrb, blaaaah, etc. He's smiling and giggling and smurking and playing with his red elephant. He like the swing, and the playmat, and when dad holds him up in the air like superman.


This is his submission to GQ Gerber! So cute!! This is picture is saved as my desktop on my computer. So when I'm using it in class everyone just gasps with "Oh, how cute!"'s, etc.


The Boppy - I'm convinced - was given to the human race by extraterrestrials as its uses are absolutely limitless. I wouldn't be surprised if it made my toast in the morning one of these days. It did so well helping Kaden keep positioned for his pictures!!!! He managed the hand to his chin - like a pro!


Kaden loves to laugh! We love to laugh with him!


Kaden really enjoys being photographed - definitely a plus for parents with a digital camera and video camera!


In March, when Kaden got back, Mom and Dad took him in for a regular visit to the Doctor's office since he got really sick the day of his blessing, and again on the plane ride home. He hadn't lost any weight from his last weigh in, but he hadn't gained any either - not good when your that little. So, he went on a strict eat-every-two-hours schedule for a week, and ate as much as he wanted - Mommy's milk and then as much formula as he'd take in. He gained 17 oz in that one week!!!! Then 9 oz more the next week. Since then he's bulked up considerably over what he weighed when we were in AZ. It is also very clear, that the majority of his "gas pains" were actually hunger pains!! :( What a stupid, stupid thing to miss - his parents are really sad and frustrated they didn't clue in. We were just so focused on treating what we thought were gas pains, we didn't even consider he wasn't eating enough. He would nurse forever so we thought when he finished he was full - he was tired, not full. Just a very frustrating experience. You'd never know it though looking at him. Chubby everywhere now!


It snowed here around Easter. Try finding your eggs in this!! Now I get the plastic egg option . . . hard boilded has nothin' on frozen eggs!!!!

We love you all, and long to be back with you. I graduate from law school on May 12, and we have plans to be back for good in Arizona the week of the 14th, and of the 21st. Till then!

Love - Mike, Erin, and Kaden

I'm Lame

This is an interim post to say I will post "for real" soon. I've been swamped, and this has been moved from the backburner to a quiet place far from the stovetop. Thanks for you patience.

My First Christmas

Hey there! Merry Christmas! We decided to take our family Christmas picture in front of the tree in our pajamas! I can't wait to open the presents...

Enjoy the rest of our Christmas Day pictures!!

Ha Ha Ha, nice. Dress me up like Santa. Go ahead. But remember what goes around comes around - one day I'll be dressing you!

Ok, this is plain ridiculous! Get me out of this thing!!

Who are you telling to lay off the eggnog!?! I'm fine...chrerry mismas...to you!

Mom and silk pajamas! Hot!

Mom wanted me to show off my five little fingers!

And, here's this picture of my ability to grab, hold, and hang on tight!

I guess that's all for now! More pictures will be coming as time goes on. I am so grateful for all my blessings, and especially grateful for My First Christmas! We should really do this again!

More pictures and fun adventurous tales to come! See you later!

Paparazzi Parents

Ok, so everyone has been calling my publicist for more pictures of me. Well, here you go. This is me the day after I got home from the hospital. The pictures to the right will stay for the forseeable future to remind us all of my arrival on 11/19/2006.
Me and Dad.
David Letterman called and asked me to come on his show to demonstrate my impression of a puffer fish. This is me practicing.
Dad and I are just talking about the usual - sports, food and sleep.
Yeah ok, so I'm small. So what!?
I can't get over how absolutely beautiful my mom is!! Everyone is saying that I got my good looks from her.
Can you say "Christmas Card"!!?
Or maybe this is the Christmas Card. If this one doesn't make it, it will definitely go in my portfolio.

Grandma Goldthorpe came to visit me! I can't take my eyes of her when I'm awake - she sings me songs, makes sure I burp, and helps me get back to sleep after I eat.

I also enjoy just resting in someone's arms - provided they love me!

This is fun - just resting with Grandma Goldthorpe.

So I am definitely part of the family with my ability to do the whole Spock-from-Star-Trek hand thing!
I have a spot on my chin - See?
Ok, no more pictures. The paparazzi have over-stayed their welcome. Enough!
My Mom likes to give me kisses, and I like getting them! Its nice to know you are loved!
It is so nice to be held - here I am with Mom.
Mom and Dad went out on Saturday to get a Christmas tree. They did a great job considering the tree would only fit on top of the car. They used something called "rope" to make sure the tree didn't fall off on their way home.
Mom and Dad put the tree in our living room, and will put the decorations on it soon.
I got a bath tonight.
I do not like baths . . . at least right now.
However, Grandma Goldthorpe makes baths tolerable.
Well, that's all for now. I'm going to eat again, and then go to sleep. Hope you enjoyed this latest installment of pictures. Please continue to direct your requests for photos to my publicist. Thank you.

I just want to say again how much I love my family - I know they love me. They were fasting for me before I got here! I love you all, and can't wait to see you. Bye for now.

Ta Da! Here I am!

KADEN VANCE DANIELS

I was born at 3:43am, Sunday, November 19, 2006 at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio. Please see my pictures included with this post.

I weighed in at 5 lbs. and 9 oz., and measured at 18.75 inches long. I am 4 weeks early, but healthy just the same. I am so blessed - there are other kids who have to sleep under blue lights ~ scary. It is so exciting that even though I came early, I still get to go home with mom (pictures to come).

I met my Pediatrician - he is a very nice guy! He said I'm perfect! He's the one who said I should be able to go home with mom on Tuesday. All of the nurses and PCT's here at Miami Valley Hospital have been so kind to me, and very helpful to Mom and Dad since they've never had a little one like me to care for before. Especially Doctor Kennedy, and Nurses Thelma, Joyce, Connie, Lori, Valerie, Angie, Tracy, as well as Carol, Mary and Laura who helped me get the food I needed, and many others.

My mom is amazing - she said her water (whatever that is) broke at 2 am, Sunday morning, and that I came out at 3:43 am. I know everyone has been praying to keep me inside mom since I tried to come even earlier in October! Thank you for your prayers and fasting - it worked!

Mom and Dad had a couple names picked out, and couldn't decide so they prayed about it, and slept on it (whatever that means). They decided on Kaden Vance. Mom has always liked the name Kaden, and Vance is my Dad's mom's maiden name. I am supposed to have more brothers and/or sisters to play with over the next few years so Mom and Dad should be able to use the other names they were thinking about!

I am soooo excited to meet all my relatives here on Earth. I met many others before I came here who said I was going to a very good home, with excellent parents, and becoming a part of a powerful heritage of faith, love and dedication. They wanted me to tell all of you here how much they miss being here with you, but that they see you each day and love you. Grandma Vance and Grandpa Young especially - they spent a lot of time with me.

I just want my large and loving family to know how much it means to me to know about all the sacrifices you made - money, time, energy, etc. - to help my Mom and Dad. Not just with preparing for my arrival, but for helping them to make it through law school and all their other challenges. I am so lucky to be a part of this family! I can't wait to meet my Grandma Goldthorpe in just a few days, and Grandma Mather is coming soon too! Hurray!

I'm also excited to meet all the friends Mom and Dad have who have all been waiting for me to be born. I could hear them all talking while I was inside Mom so it will be fun to put a name and a face with the voice. I am especially grateful to all of Dad's law school friends and the ladies from the ward who gave my Mom showers to celebrate and make sure I have what I need.

Well, as you can see I inherited my Dad's ability to talk it up! I love you all, am excited to be here, and can't wait to meet all of you.