My rocking horse

Here are the pictures I told you about of me with my new rocking horse. The horse shakes it's tail, makes gallop noises and neighs. It's a lot of fun. I'm still not so sure about riding on it, but I like to play with the stirrups.

Merry Christmas!

This Christmas, Mommy passed along one of her traditions she did when she was a little girl growing up. She read me The Night Before Christmas at our Christmas Eve get together.


After I went to sleep Santa came and filled our stockings. This is also our new mantle that daddy built just in time for mommy to decorate for Christmas.

Mommy and Daddy had to wait until I went to bed to put anything under the tree.

I woke bright and early so we could have our first of 3 Christmas celebrations throughout the day. We start the day as a family, then go to my Grandma and Grandpa Harless for Christmas breakfast then to Grandma and Grandpa Cheney for Christmas dinner. Here I am with my stocking my Grammy made for me last year. I wasn't so sure what to think about it. I thought it looked familiar but it looked a lot smaller than I remembered.

Hmm. Maybe because a year ago I was a lot smaller. I could even fit inside my stocking last year.

I am now a professional present opener. If you have any presents that you need help opening, invite me over. I only charge a small fee.

My Uncle Anders got me a new KITCHEN!! It's so cool. (Look at my Christmas sweater. It didn't last more than the morning because I had a nice special Christmas blow out)

I also got to my Mommy's old blocks that she got when she was my age.

And I got a really cool sled. The best part was that it snowed Christmas afternoon so I got to play in the snow the next day. I also got a neat rocking horse. I have to wait until I get those pictures before I can post them.

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas. Mommy and Daddy told me that it isn't all about presents, but about the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. May everyone remember the true meaning of the season.

Happy Birthday Kadyn!! --a note from mommy

Happy Birthday little one. As I think back on the past year my eyes are brimming with tears. My baby is ONE! I can't believe how quickly this year has gone. Kadyn has changed so much. Just in the past month alone he:

• Moved from walking to running


• Mastered sliding down the stairs on his tummy and just today began walking up the stairs instead of crawling up them


• Has a new vocabulary-- outside "ahtsid", "dada", "mama", Boulder "Ba Da", Matea (Aunt Chelsea and Uncle Cory's dog) "Ta-ah", "Nana", woofs like a dog, says "ho ho ho"


• Expanded his array of food preferences to include birthday cake, spaghetti, taco meat, grown-up oatmeal


• Continues to play chase with Boulder...only now he waves Boulder's toys in front of his face, tucks them under his arm and then RUNS in the other direction squealing with delight.


• Is only nursing 3 times a day now...this will hopefully be cut to 2 times after this weekend.
  
• Heads straight to the bathroom door if I say "bath time"


• Has figured out how to open "child-proof" bottles


• Stands behind me, holds on to my back and peaks around my shoulder. As soon as I look at him he jumps back behind me and squeals.


• Plays peak-a-boo behind the tree.


• Had more firsts...first Thanksgiving, first Christmas parade, first time on Santa's lap, first birthday


• Continues to master any button, door, drawer, top, etc.


• Has grown to 20 lbs. 7 oz. He was weighed 3 days before his birthday because I brought him in to the pediatrician due to an ear infection. So in one year he gained 12 lbs. 5 oz. WOW!
  

I love this little boy so much. I spent much of the day (well, the time I wasn't working) just watching him. I'm still in such awe that he's ours. He has such an amazing little personality. I love that he is himself. When I see anyone else holding him, I can't believe how big he is and how much he's changed in this past year.

I remember kissing his little head for the first time, hearing him scream and snort...such a beautiful sound. I remember feeling him in my arms for the first time, smelling his sweet skin. I remember how tiny he was and how fragile he felt swaddled in the blanket.

Birth-days have such a new meaning now. Kadyn's birthday is a day I will always remember even when he exchanges his trike for a bike and a bike for car...because a year ago today...is the day my sweet little boy entered the world, and I became a mom.

My Party!!!

Today was my birthday party.

My Uncle Kyle and Aunt Sara even came from Portland for my big day. Uncle Kyle waited in line at the store to get me this monkey balloon.

I got lots of great presents...

I want to take this time to say thank you to everyone that got me such nice gifts. I am a very blessed little boy.

The hit of the party was a tie between my Radio Flyer trike and my wagon.

My friends Abby and Sam came for my big day too.

Here's my SMASH cake! I wasn't quite sure what to make of it at first. It was squishy between my fingers. Mommy said she'd have Daddy put the video on the blog soon...so pta.

Here is what is left of my cake. Don't worry...the grownups had their own cake. Mommy thought that I didn't eat that much cake so I wouldn't be too wound up to take an afternoon nap. NOPE! hehe. Little did she know that I made rounds around the coffee table taking bites of cake from everyone that would offer it up. Boy that stuff is delicious. No more veggies for this little guy. And no afternoon nap either.
Let's do it again!!

The best daddy in the whole wide world

I just wanted to share with everyone how great my daddy is. I have gotten to spend a lot of time with him lately which has been so fun. He plays with me (my favorite game is chase) and lets me ride on his shoulders. He takes me for hikes and runs and drives my cars on my tummy and legs which I think is so funny. Mommy told me that not every little boy is as lucky as I am which makes me very sad and she told me I am very blessed to have a daddy that loves me so much and does fun things with me. So here's to my dad. I love him so much.

**Just a note about these pictures. We went down to the Old Mill last weekend because mommy wanted my picture taken with Santa. Well, we got there only to find that it was DOGGY day with Santa. I thought it was great fun because as you all know I LOVE dogs. There were big dogs, little dogs, fat dogs and skinny dogs and it was a Petographer taking the pictures. My Nana said that it was only appropriate that my first picture with Santa was by a petographer. The only bummer was that it took over an hour for my turn even though there were only 6 people in front of me. Everyone wanted to dress their dogs up in these silly costumes and take multiple pictures of them. So, by the time it was finally my turn I was cranky (mommy wouldn't let me play with these dogs because she said we didn't know if they were nice or not), had a sugar high (they tried to distract me from wanting to play with the dogs by giving me a candy cane), and it was past time for my nap. I ended up crying the whole time I was on Santa's (or as my daddy called him when he was little...the big fat man in a red suit) lap. Bummer. **

The Christmas Parade

Yes, we braved the cold to go to the Christmas Parade. I put up quite a fight, but actually ended up enjoying most of it.


Okay, so the REAL reason I enjoyed it was because I got to have my first candy cane. Boy are these things delicious.

My Grandpa from Vermont came for the week so I got to show him all the cool stuff at the parade. Boy was it cold.

It was also my Uncle Drew's 21st birthday on the 7th. Happy Birthday Uncle Drew!


I was all bundled up and ended up getting cranky and heading home before I even got to see Santa and the fire engines. Did I mention yet that it was cold?



Just before we left though we got to see all the BIG Jeeps. Here is a picture of my daddy drooling...I mean, dreaming...I mean...looking.

'Twas the Cheney Family year in review----Our Christmas Card Letter

‘Twas 8 days before Christmas when Kadyn James was born
8 lbs, 2 oz, at 3:42 in the morn.
He entered the world with a scream and a snort
At 21 ¾ inches he was anything but short.
The dogs were nestled all snug in their beds
While we were in the hospital—Greta with epidural pain meds.
We fell in love with him right from the start.
We didn’t know there was so much room in our heart.

When we were out of the hospital there arose such a clatter--
Five adults, four dogs and a baby was the matter.
So away to our new house Ryan flew like a flash.
He hammered up the shutters and hung up the sash.
Ryan worked day and night to finish our house
And when Kadyn was 5 weeks old we moved in with the mouse.

When what to our wondering eyes should appear,
But wonderful friends and family from far and from near.
More rapid than eagles their coursers they came
They whistled, ooed and ahhed and called him many names:
Little Monkey, Monster, Pumpkin or Peanut
Tiger, Little Bugger, Stinker and Booger Butt.
Ryan remodeled everything from the floor to the wall.
So come again! Come again! Come again all!!

This was a busy year for us all
As we look back at the year trying to recall.
Greta is working as Student Life Director at College Excel—she got a promotion
Ryan remodeled our home and many others—each with great devotion.
But the most important event twinkled in our ear…
Our much awaited baby Kadyn finally got here.

We experienced his many firsts…from first cry to first smile, first giggle to first roll
Kadyn has filled our home—making us whole.
From first babble to first time sitting up, from first coo to first crawl
Our once little baby now isn’t so small.
From first trip east to first step, from first tooth, to first word
It couldn’t possibly get any better, but it does—so we’ve heard.
His blue eyes—how they twinkle! His dimples how merry!
His cheeks are like roses, his nose like a cherry!

And now here we sit a whole year later
Each day the fun growing ever greater.
Being a mom and being a dad
Is the greatest Christmas gift (or any gift) that we’ve ever had.
Kadyn has a chubby little face and a little round belly.
He loves sandwiches made of cream cheese and jelly.
He loves anything that makes music and noise.
He plays in the dirt and wears jeans like the big boys.
He’s a rough and tumble independent little guy,
But loves to cuddle with mommy especially if there is a cry.

We have much to be thankful for this year!
What does next year have in store—it’s so near!
So if this year brings you to Bend, Oregon,
Stop in at 61179 Trailblazer Lane and we’ll be sure you have lots of fun.
Spring to your cars, trains or planes, stop in--stay awhile,And if you can’t make the trip, call us up, give a dial.
And we’d like to exclaim as we finish this letter and turn out the light,
Merry Christmas, May God Bless You All and to All a Good Night!