March 2: Caden in the Transitional Nursery

Aunt Lindsay comes to visit:)

Aunt Lindsay and Caden. What will Cate think when she sees this?:)
Our bright-eyed boy:) His eyes are dark blue.

Caden's Birth - February 14, 2011

We are so happy to welcome our grandson, Caden Zachary, to the world. He was born at 3AM. He weighed 6 pounds and 9 ounces and was 21 inches long. He is our Valentine's Day baby, our little love.

Spending the day with Gramma

This glamorous outfit was a Christmas gift from Great Aunt Diane. Cate loves the softness and let me take her picture before settling down for her nap.

Rick was working yesterday and Lindsay needed to pack in anticipation for their move next week. That's much easier to do without the "help" of a three year old. Jay was also at work at L.L. Bean, so Cate and I had Gramma Time. She spent the day with me and it was nonstop. We started with breakfast and then tried out the new carseat [at my request, Lindsay and Rick bought me a carseat for Cate as my Christmas gift:)] and headed off to the Farmer's Market. I gave Cate her own dollar to spend. After looking everything over carefully, she chose a huge carrot as a gift for Mommy to "make her happy." Then it was back home for lots of play. I was the Prince in Cinderella, a "doggie-Gramma" that she took to the store but made wait outside on the sidewalk, and a cow that she, being the "farmer," had to "rodeo." I discovered that meant being lassoed with a long piece of yarn:) We also danced to the Rockettes' Christmas DVD. She, of course, had to wear her dancing dress which required Gramma mending it on the sewing machine with the help of little hands. Luckily no little fingers were harmed in the process despite frequent exposure to sewing needles. Then there was lunch, working on her "daycare school" valentines and storybooks. FINALLY, for the first time ever, she crawled willingly into our bed and fell fast asleep for her nap. By the time Lindsay picked her up at 5:30, we had had a wonderful day.

A few odds and ends of life in Maine this winter

We have quite the wildlife in our backyard. Jay actually saw moose tracks just down the road but here he caught a barred owl outside our window. It hung around for about 4 hours!

And then there was the day wild turkeys found our bird feeder. They were huge!!!

Cate celebrated her third birthday on Jan 16.

After church on Christmas Eve.

My neighbor and dear friend Judy starting our Go-Out-For-Brunch on the Winter Solstice tradition:)

Snowy Days in Maine

The snow is getting very deep. Jay has even had to rake some of it off the roof with a long handled snow rake.

We're suppose to get even more this weekend. Not sure where we'll put that.

A Trip on the Candy Cane Train

As part of Cate's Christmas present we got tickets for the Candy Cane train which goes on a 90 minute round trip between Bath and Wiscassett. Cate was so excited to start her ride.

Cate and Lindsay are boarding the train.

The conductor gives Cate a warm welcome aboard.

Here we are ready to go. Cate also enjoyed the candycane decorated like a reindeer that she ate along the way.

Cate and Mommy

Gramma and Cate ...checking things out.

Wow! That's Santa going by down the aisle.

Santa's helpers give a little performance in Wiscassett.

One of those helpers stopped to talk to Cate. She was only shy for a moment.

Visiting with Santa

Giving Santa a high five.
Looking out the window as the wintry scene passes by.
Lots of ice on the rivers.
Hometown Bath in the distance.

What a fun ride!!!