Fishing with Pampa.

On Mike's last visit to see us in March we tried in vain to find a good place to go fishing. So this trip I was prepared. Caiden had found a spiderman fishing rod at Target that he was desperate for which really put this plan into motion. We went up to the Buford Fish Hatchery that has a catch and release family pond you can fish at. It took a while to find the perfect bait for the fish, but as soon as we did Caiden and Mike caught a fish on the first cast. It was the first fish Caiden has ever caught! He was excited until he fish started flopping in his lap. It kind of freaked him out a little. He liked to look at it, wasn't a fan of touching it. As Mike threw it back into the water Caiden said "bye bye fish" followed by "ok, let's go home." I guess one and done works for that boy.

Father's Day

Caiden and I decided daddy needed to be spoiled this year. I asked him what we should do and a huge smile slowly crossed his face and he said "cookie cake." I put him in charge of the cookie cake. I made it the night before and set him to work decorating it the morning of. He did that part entirely on his own. He also made daddy a very special "All About Daddy" book filled with pictures and paintings and some of the funniest and sweetest answers to questions about his dad. Ryder picked out some pretty sweet shades for daddy as well. The day started with breakfast, presents, and a cookie cake with candles because Cade firmly believes every holiday should be celebrated with candles. After we slowly got ready for church. I had 2 boys to make bow ties for this year which as pretty exciting and a matching tie for daddy. After church we barbecued steaks and asparagus and enjoyed a nice dinner. After Ryder went to bed the day ended the way any daddy day should end, playing legos together. 

Spaceships, Reading & Outfits.

Photos 1-4: Caiden got an idea in his head that he wanted to build a spaceship. He had been asking since before Ryder was born so when we bought some new patio furniture and it came in a few big boxes I decided to go for it and build him one. Ryder was not napping well that day. He was taking his sporadic 20 minutes naps and I was getting frustrated because I just wanted to finish the spaceship for an incredibly excited Caiden. Finally I gave up on getting Ryder to sleep and laid him on a blanket in the shade and finished putting it together. Caiden was thrilled when it was done. It was a huge mommy win for me.

Photo 5: Caiden loves to climb in bed with me in the morning and Ryder has started to join us recently. When I get up and start to get ready for the day Caiden likes to "babysit" his brother on my bed. Often he sings him songs or snuggles him under a blanket, but sometimes he likes to read him stories. We've been reading the same books for the last 3 years so Caiden has some of them memorized. He reads them to Ryder and I just think it's the sweetest thing.

Photos 6, 7 & 8: The weekend before the 4th of July we went up to the outlets to indulge in their big holiday sales. We got Ryder a few little RL onesie outfits and one just so happened to match a polo Caiden already had. After washing the onesie it looked like it might actually fit our tiny man so I tried it on him and Caiden ran to his closet and grabbed his matching shirt. Sometimes brother's just have to match, and sometimes their mommy just has to take pictures of it.

Photo 9: I love those sweet little feet. I love how they turn in like monkey feet, how they're so tiny that newborn socks won't even stay on them at 2 months old. I love his little toes and how he curls them around my fingers.

Photo 10: this marks a momentous occasion, our tiny peanut officially grew out of his first article of clothing. While it fits pretty nicely when it's on him, I feel like I'm breaking his arms to get it on. It's just too tight up there. I had to get a picture because it's just the cutest little outfit and I'm sad he only got to wear it a few times. No worries though, he's still exclusively in newborn clothes :)

Sue & the Neel's visit.

The day my mom left Miles' mom arrived. It was so nice because I was not ready to be on my own with two kids yet! We loved having Sue in our home. And as a special treat Miles' sister and her family drove from Raleigh to visit for the long weekend too. It was awesome. Caiden was so consumed with his cousins that I never had to worry what he was up to. (He has a huge map in his bedroom and every night he asks me where certain people live on it. He has added Sunny to his list of people, he loves her so much!) We had a fun filled time. We spent a day on a boat at Lake Lanier, played on the slip n' slide, stayed up late chatting, went for walks, had a barbecue, and soaked in the family time. Thanks Sue and Neel's for coming! You're welcome back any time!

Ryder's Newborn Video

Two weeks after Ryder was born we had Kevin Hursh come to our home and capture a family video to announce his birth. I'm obsessed with it. I watch it constantly. He did such an amazing job. My mom took a few behind the scenes shots for me as well and I treasure those photos. We had a lot of fun dancing and singing together. I love this little family of mine.

Granin.

My mom arrived to Atlanta the day that Ryder was born and spent a little over 2 weeks helping our little family transition from a family of 3 to a family of 4. I bawled when she left me after Caiden was born and Caiden bawled when she left him after Ryder was born. We sure love our Granin at the Heidorn house. Before she left we went on a nice long walk on the Greenway and stopped to snap a few pictures of Granin with the boys.

First Bath.

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At some point in the first 2 weeks of Ryder's life he took his first bath. His belly button fell off around day 4 so it was probably soon after that, but all those first days seem to blend together so I'm not really sure. He was not a fan the first minute or so until we found Mr. Turtle to keep his belly warm. Now at 2 months he love his baths! He kicks and squeals with delight. Caiden almost always wants to climb in and "baf wif brova."