Travels with Mama

On Thursday, March 26th, Caden and Mama left for a 5 day trip to Oregon to visit with lots of family and friends. Caden was a wonderful traveller - staying right where Mama told him while we filled and unfilled about 5 tubs going through security, telling Mama whenever he needed to go poddy (fortunately never at inopportune times), and being pretty darn good on the 6 hour flight, even though he decided to only sleep ~1/2 hour.

First, we spent a night with Jenny and Marcus in Portland. Caden loved playing with Jenny's doctor 'toys' and the yummy pancake breakfast!Friday morning, we met up with Martha Mae, Sofia, and Conor just south of Portland for catching up, shopping, and watching the kids run circles around Gymboree.

We arrived in Corvallis to a sunny, ~60oF Friday afternoon, which got us all out onto the back porch, including one of Adad's first forays outside that didn't involve a doctor appointment!

Caden loved playing with Auntie Sally's remote control truck and sidewalk chalk (cheers!), while Mama and Adad sipped pinot noir, breathed in the blooming daphne and soaked in the sun.

On Saturday, we were hanging around the house when we were excited to see lots of family visitors, including Uncle Jerry, Auntie Misty, and - surprise! - cousin Meg, G'Uncle Tom, and G'Auntie Janet! The cousins cleared off the ping pong table and played some rousing games, and even though he barely clears the table, G'Uncle Tom took Caden down to play, too.

Caden spent the afternoon hanging out with the guys - while the girls went out shopping - and then spent the evening with Ama and Adad while the cousins went to Indian food and a local production of 'Chicago'. What a treat for all of us!

Sunday was another busy day, as we held a 'pea in the pod' shower for Auntie Misty. Caden dropped in and out while Ama, Mama, Auntie Sally, Auntie Misty, G'Auntie Janet, and cousins Meg and Lindsay all spent the afternoon lunching, playing games, and trying to lure each other into saying the word 'baby'.

During the shower, Adad celebrated his increasing mobility (with walker and crutches) by going on his first purely fun outing, to Hazelnut Hill and the toy store (where he picked up Rocky the Crane for Caden; Caden and Adad are both big Thomas the Train fans!). When the guys got back from their adventures, they took Caden out to the garage to climb around in the boat (and try out his new work gloves - he is still *really* into gloves!)

As always, Caden had a blast with his Uncle Jerry and Auntie Misty. How exciting that Caden will finally have a cousin in September!!

The trip felt far too short when we packed up to leave on Monday. We made one last visit - a night with Amy, Brian, and Owen in Portland. The boys got along swimmingly, as usual, and even tried to barricade themselves in Owen's room.

Mama and Caden got up and left before dawn on Tuesday, to catch a 7 am flight. En route to the airport, after having a snack and waking up a bit, Caden realized and was very upset that he had not gotten to say good-bye to Owen. Good-bye Owen! Good-bye Ama, Adad, Uncle, and Aunties! We look forward to seeing you during our next Oregon visit in August (if not before)!