Birthdays

June 2001 – Danny and I anxiously waited the time that the test required in order to give an accurate reading. We sat in the living room, lost in our own thoughts. When it was time, we quickly, yet hesitantly, went to where the test had been waiting… It was positive. We were going to be parents. At that moment my emotions took over. Yes, I was excited. But included in the array of emotions I felt were nervousness, anxiousness, fear, and worry all at the same time. I had wanted a baby, but at that moment I wasn’t so sure.

Jump ahead four months – It’s a boy! I could actually see on the ultrasound with my own eyes his little tiny fingers, itty-bitty toes, and of course the all important sign between the legs that this baby inside of me was indeed a boy. Words can’t really express the kind of connection I felt to this little one when I saw him for the first time on the TV screen in the small exam room of my doctor’s office. He was real. He was so tiny. He needed me. And yet I had no idea how much I would end up needing him.

March 25, 2002 (1:00 am) – “Danny. Danny. Wake up, Danny. I’m having contractions.” Of course Kaden would not be early or late for his arrival into our family. He would be right on time, on his due-date, not before or after. That should have told us a little about his personality. Fifteen hours and many, many, many pushes later he was here – beautiful, sweet, and amazingly even-tempered.
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My little boy turned six this week. He doesn’t really like to be called a little boy anymore. To him, of course, he is a big boy.

It seems, at least for me, as we celebrate our children’s birthdays, we get the chance to look back at the years gone by. As I have, I remember all of the poopy diapers and occasional accidents on the floor. I remember time lost as I took him to daycare as a working mom, yet time gained as I enjoyed staying home with him. I remember trips to the park, to the swimming pool, to the movies, and of course to grandma’s and grandpa’s houses. There were occasional bumps and bruises, a lot of fevers, some colds and coughs, and even a stay at the hospital when he had pneumonia.

These are all memories now. Of course there will be a lot more bumps and bruises. There will be lots more sickness. There will be plenty more trips to take. In all, there will be many more memories to make. It’s just nice to have a reminder to take the time to make those memories. Time goes way too fast to sit back and just watch.

Again, I had no idea how much I would end up needing Kaden. His patient, loving, caring, sensitive and sweet personality has been the greatest example for me. I see so much of his dad in him – that would be where the patience comes from. He constantly reminds me of the kind of person I could and should be.

What an amazing job we have as parents/mothers to teach these children when they so often end up teaching us. In fact, I think that’s why Kaden was sent to me; because he is the perfect person to make me better.

Easter

I just wanted to share some pictures from the Easter egg hunt our neighborhood had on Saturday. The kids loved it. Kaden didn't get very many eggs, but Preston had plenty to share. We also went mini golfing and had a picnic. It was a beautiful day and we had lots of fun as a family.

Amazing Little Girl

I saw this on YouTube. She was on Britain's Got Talent and she absolutely amazed me with her voice. You have to hear it! She's only 6!

Sometimes You Have To Let Them Pick Themselves Up

It’s a mother’s instinct to run to their child when he/she falls down. Whether the fall is physical or not, we want to be there for our children – to pick them up, clean off the dirt, kiss the bruises, and tell them it’s going to be ok. It’s difficult to theorize, but for some reason it’s an involuntary response – some deep underlying force that fills you with a desire, or more appropriately, a necessity to instantaneously be at your child’s side when they need you.

The only problem with this instinct comes when it’s time for that child to learn, grow, or even just become their own person. Such was the case with Kaden this morning…

It was a normal morning in the Bradshaw home. By normal, I mean hurrying to eat breakfast, rushing upstairs to get boys dressed, enforcing the AM teeth-brushing chore, assisting our little kindergartner with his not-so-cooperative hair, running to get shoes on, and rushing out the door to get Kaden to school on time. As I said, it’s a normal morning routine.

We reached the school with just enough time for Kaden to run to class before the bell rang. We said our “goodbyes” and “I love you’s”. He jumped out of the car and started running. He caught up to a little girl that looked just about the same age as himself. He patiently waited like a true gentleman as the girl slowly meandered to the crosswalk. He even walked behind her through the majority of the crosswalk. Then he got impatient.

He saw his chance to pass and decided to take it. He passed on the right and ran to the sidewalk on the other side. But he miscalculated the distance needed to clear the sidewalk on the other side. His foot caught the curb and sent him sprawling to his knees, then his hands, then finally to his stomach.

On most days I watch Kaden from the car until he reaches the door to the school. Today was no different. I sat in the car, watched the whole display, and my heart jumped. It ached for me to get out of the car, run to my little boy and do all of the things that the “mother’s instinct” tells us to do.

I sat there, torn, watching as he got up, embarrassed. I sat there, desperately fighting the urge to run to him as he gingerly started walking, checking his hands and knees for scrapes and bruises. I sat there, absolutely hurting for my baby as he got to his classroom door and banged on it so he didn’t have to heave the heavy door open with his already aching hands. I sat there, telling myself, “It’s good for him to learn to be a big boy,” all while the instinct in me was screaming, “But he’s not a big boy – He’s my baby.”

Why? Why is it necessary to sometimes fight the natural urge as a loving mother to reach out for your little one? Why does it have to be so absolutely painful to have to watch as a child gets hurt, but know that it isn’t the right time to run to them? My only answer to that question is that it’s Heavenly Father’s way of teaching us. He’s trying to show us what He sees on a daily basis. And he’s giving us the ability to feel a portion of the kind of love he has for all of us. I guess if I look at it that way, I am grateful after all for these difficult incidents. They truly are teaching experiences.

More Of Kaden's Funny Comments

I was going through some of my old documents and this is what I found... I tried to keep track of some of the things my Kaden would say. These are just a few...

When Kaden is asking “What?” (3 to 4 years old)
“Wah You Say?”

Every night before bed (3 to 4 years old)
“Goodnight… I hope you sleep good. After I wake up I can play with you.”

Sunday, May 28, 2006 (4 years old)
“I really liked that dessert, mommy! It was yummy… Thanks so much for makin’ it mommy.”

Monday, May 29, 2006 (4 years old – Danny playing Xbox)
“Hey, daddy, you just drove that truck into that other truck and it just blowed up… That was way cool daddy!”

Kaden at 5 years old (Just out of nowhere)
“You are a really good mom.”

Saturday, April 14, 2007 (We were just sitting on the couch)
“You sure are pretty, mom”

Saturday, April 14, 2007 (Preston had a diaper rash… we got his diaper off and put him in the bathtub. Kaden went in and said this.)
“I know, Preston. It’s okay, baby.” Then, “Mom, I wish my baby brother didn’t have such a sore bum.”

End of April, 2007 (Kaden had received a doctor’s hat and mask from a preschool fieldtrip and was playing doctor at home. Danny walked in with the mail and said, “grrr, these doctor bills.” Kaden replied with this…)
“Dad, I’m not Dr. Bills. I’m Dr. Kaden.”

Kids Say The Darndest Things

We all know that kids can say the funniest things sometimes. The thing that always strikes me is that they are always so honest. No matter what, they tell it how they see it. Such is the case with little five (almost six – wow!) year old Kaden. Sometimes the things he says shocks me, sometimes it frustrates me, but more often than not I can’t keep from smiling/laughing at the things that come out of his mouth.

The other day my kids were snacking on marshmallows. Kaden has a thing lately about what foods are healthy and which ones are not. He continually asks if what he is eating is healthy and why. Well, we had already had the marshmallow conversation with him at some point. The why: well, obviously they have too much sugar to be much good for your body. The conversation went as follows:

Kaden: “Mom, marshmallows aren’t good for you, huh.”

Mardie: “Nope, not really.”

Kaden: “It’s because they have too much sugar, huh.”

Mardie: “Yep.”

Kaden: “And too much sugar makes your blood and brain mad at you and it makes you fat, huh, Mom.”

Mardie: “Pretty much.”

Kaden: “But I’m not fat, right?”

Mardie: “Nope, right now you’re not.”

He thought for a moment about this. After about a minute he said this:

Kaden: “I don’t know very many fat people.”

Mardie: (cautiously – I didn’t quite know what to say) “I guess not.”

Kaden: “Like Jill.”

Mardie: stunned into silence

Kaden: “She’s not fat.”

Mardie: trying really hard not to smile.

Kaden: “Or Tresa or Jodi. They’re not fat either.”

Mardie: can’t help but laugh now - “You’re right! None of them are fat.”

Kaden: “The only fat people are pregnant.”

Now, all of you should know by now that I am the pregnant one. I am almost 14 weeks along and yes, I am showing a little. And apparently Kaden notices. :)

The other thing that you have to know is that all of the names noted above are my sisters. They are the three of my sisters that are participating in a “biggest loser” competition between themselves and their husbands. I just have to say that a truthful little five year old boy thinks that you are all in great shape. So go ahead and eat all the sugar that you want because it seems that I’m the one who needs to watch what I eat. :)

Thursday

On Thursday, I told the boys that they needed to get out of the house and play outside for a while. It was such a nice day and I wanted them to get some fresh air. So after lunch they got their shoes on and were so excited to have an adventure outside.

As I watched them play, I was intrigued. I watched Preston and it was as if I could just hear what he had to be thinking. So I sat down and wrote out what I thought was Preston's Perspective...

Preston's Perspective

I ran to get my shoes from their usual spot in the basket by the front door. Mom said we could go play outside! It’s been such a long, cold winter being cooped up in the house all the time. This was my chance to run free – to follow Kaden and see what he could think of for us to do.

I took my shoes to mom, refusing to wait until Kaden was done eating lunch. After all, I had eaten my meal… It wasn’t my fault Kaden was being slow. Mom put on my shoes for me and insisted that I wear a jacket. I went along with the jacket idea ‘cause I figured I could take it off once we got outside and mom wouldn’t even notice.

Finally Kaden finished eating. He got his shoes on and we were ready. Here it was – our chance to be boys out in the great outdoors.

We started with racing. There’s nothing like running as fast as your legs can go on the soft, damp, grass then carefully jumping into the mound of snow that’s still left at the edge of the hill. Kaden would go first. Boy, he can run fast. And then I would follow, close behind (well, as close as I could get with my legs being so much shorter than his.)

Ouch! I fell. It didn’t really hurt too bad; the snow was just so cold on my bare hands. I complained to Kaden and he carefully wiped my cold, wet hands on his nice, white, dry shirt. Sometimes it’s nice to have a big brother to look out for you.

Uh-oh… Out came the girls of the neighborhood. I guess Kaden would want to play with them. After talking for a second, they decided they wanted to ride scooters. “Oh, good! At least I have one too; and I won’t be left behind.”

We got our scooters and started riding. “Wow, this is fun! Hey, wait up guys! Guys, I’m over here. Kaden, don’t leave me! Well, I guess if they’re going to go that fast, I’ll just sit down on my scooter and go as slow as I want.”

After I was done playing outside, mom got me some cookies and milk. “I guess I have an okay mom after all. I better show her my appreciation!”

When I was done with my cookies, I got down form the stool, ran to my mom, and gave her a hug and kiss. “I love you,” she said. I just replied with an, “I love you guys!”