First cheesy belly self portrait!

The belly is popping out sooner, so you get a picture sooner! :)

This is from my phone, but nonetheless, it's documentation.

17 weeks with number 3!

I felt the baby move for the first time about a week ago, while snuggling with Jon after the boys were in bed. I've missed that feeling.

Lucky Boys (and Me)

Many times, we've still been up late, and we'll hear Jay wake up crying and then hear Cade sit up, lean over the bunk bed and say, "It's okay, Jay. You're okay, buddy. Go back to sleep." In such an understanding voice. Jay will usually always find comfort in that, and go back to sleep. It is so fun to witness their loving, brotherly relationship at such young ages.

We put our boys to bed like normal Sunday and went back in to check on them and found them like this. :)

But even more than that, I couldn't help but watch Jonny soak up this moment...I had to snap a picture. This is so typical of him.

Sometimes, when I see moments like this, I stop and realize how incredibly lucky these guys are to have a Dad who is gentle, kind, sensitive, and loves them more than life itself. I see it in his eyes so much when he gets to spend time with them hitting a baseball, snuggling, playing games, or whatever it may be. I hear it in his voice when he's away and talks to them on the phone, or hear it in his laugh as I relay a cute thing Cade or Jay did that day. Many times Jon will look at me while the boys carry on playing, and give me a smile that says it all. Also, he makes sure they always show me respect, and I respect him for that. I LOVE being married to a man who LOVES being a Dad.

I fall more and more in love with this man every day.

Our Family

Cade was drawing yesterday and showed me yet another finished picture of our family. As I said, "Cute, Bud!" and went to hang it on the fridge, he said, "And look, Mom, there's the baby." (the tiny person in the top right corner). I also noticed that Dad's arms wrap around everyone.

He melts my heart sometimes.

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

You know the song, "It's a beautiful day" by U2?

That song describes this day in December perfectly.

VIKINGS and DRAGONS

Cade's 4 and Jay's 2!!!

Where does the time go?

We love both these guys so much and are amazed how fast they are learning and progressing.

Cade and Jay's birthday (Jan 14th) came and went while we were on our cruise, so we had their DRAGON party at our place a little belated.

The cake: (Burke and the ocean)

The party started by watching "How to Train your Dragon" movie until all of the guests arrived.

Then we played a game where we tossed swedish fish into Toothless' mouth:

Nana Gatten and Cassie

And luckily, Jon showed up with lunch!! Mmmmm...

Cade, Roni Bastedo, Kiah, Beckett, Austin Simon, Ella, "bubba" (Isaac Holding)

Jace Robison, Jay Jay

Andrew and Cooper Larson

Beckett, Sara Bastedo and Jay's crush, Dani Bastedo

2nd game: pop your balloon!

AND FINALLY, CAKE TIME!

Cade blew out most of the candles, but there was one left we let Jay blow out. It took him a while and he was so cute! Then, we didn't even have to tell them; they went straight in for their bites! (Gatten tradition)

Cade's buddy, Austin.

The boys had LOTS of help opening their presents. :)

Jay still had a firm grip on his candy while trying out the new trike. :)

Cade with his first real bike!

2 & 4 recap

1/14/11

{Jay 2}

"Jay jay", "monster", "sweetness" "jj boy"

-loves nursery

-enjoys mommy/Jay time while Cade's at school. (coloring, reading books, helping clean)

-has learned to fight...has a solid hit and leaves Cade crying sometimes

-still very submissive to Cade's playtime ideas

-his favorite chore is putting away silverware

-still wakes up happy

-a light sleeper. loves when daddy comes in to re-tuck him in after-hours, and always squeaks out a "night night".

-Saying full sentences and talking a lot "um, yeah. um, no."

-starting to sing along to songs

-loves his IRONMAN and toy story toys

-self entertainer and loves imaginative play (sometimes cade's the baby and he's the big brother changing diapers. :)

-will sit through a whole movie and recently went to his first 2 movies in the theater.

-can name a few colors and count fairly well to 10

-always says the lunch prayer.

-starting to get defiant and thinks it's funny.

-Can put on socks and shoes by himself....and take off clothes. :)

-total daredevil...still.

-total snuggle bug and momma's boy.

{Cade 4}

"Cader", "Cader man", "buddy", "handsome"

-always found in his Boston Red Sox hat and "buzz lightyear" (not really) light up shoes unless mom lays out otherwise.

-is a huge help to mom.

(Loads and unloads dishwasher, washes the tables and t.v., picks up toys, grabs diapers, toilet paper and food from the garage, etc.)

-gets himself dressed and undressed (minus buttons and tying shoes)...even will pick things he likes to wear out of the clean laundry basket and put them in his top drawer. :)

- is ALL about the schedule. Likes me to lay it out in the morning, and makes sure we stick to it every day.

- likes to use mothering tactics on Jay (counts to 3, uses threats to get him to listen, and reverse psychology)

-talks about someday when he will fly and airplane, helicopter and drive a motorcycle. (and very matter-of-factly.)

- is social. loves parties, get togethers, and anything of the sort.

-adjusted to primary like a champ.

-favorite song: Praise to the Man. He could listen to it over and over in the car.

-is a Daddy's boy. Misses him when he's gone and clings to him like his BFF when he's home.

-loves sports

-is ALL about breakfast as SOON as he wakes up (favorite is oatmeal), and always says the breakfast prayer.

-enjoys coloring, and creating with playdough

-is doing great in preschool learning letters, can almost write his name, and can count to 20.

-thrives on family time.

-true boy. All about star wars, super heros, things that go and...

kissing girls.

Yep, there you have it.

Goodbye Glory, Hello Miami!

The last day @ sea:

We always had a yummy lunch, GREAT 5 course dinners, midnight buffets, 24 hr. soft serve ice cream....you name it! We enjoyed the vegas-style shows on board with dancers and comedians. We also loved the competitions and our family "devotionals"/meetings.

Here is our last formal night on ship:

Spike showing the girls at the next table what he's got! He always kept things interesting. ;)

Don't forget the incredible towel animals our room steward would leave us each night. :) They take such good care of your room. And the beds are so comfy!

Here is some of the group with the card magician, Chaz (back middle), playing Rook our final night.

We watched this South African guy a few different times and he taught us some tricks. He's OFF THE HOOK good at what he does.

We had an extra day in Miami to catch up before flying back to Portland to get our kiddos. Our hotel was right on Miami beach, so we ate lunch at a SUPER good italian tiki bar on the beach, then laid out, went for a run/walk on the board walk along the beach, watched the Patriots lose, and went to dinner. It was a nice, relaxing day, but we missed Cade and Jay!

What a great end to another fun trip!