Oh, how I wish I had documented every second, or every day, or every milestone... Well for that matter, who am I kidding... I just wish I had documented even the basic highlights of the boys lives up until now... but "we do live in a fallen imperfect world, now don't we?!" Thanks alot Eve... (GENESIS 3:7)
And I am far from a perfect mom... so I haven't kept up to date with the boys daily memories.
And I am far from a perfect mom... so I haven't kept up to date with the boys daily memories.
So, I am going to attempt to describe my Lil' peeps, my gray hairs, my noisemakers, my entertainment the last 10+ years, better known as "MY 3 SONS". This way, years from now I will not forget who, and how they were ... way back when.
As I am quite sure I might be driven to dementia at an early age :)
This blog entry will be describing the essence of our eldest... Caden. My 1st peep :)
Caden Lane Darby
Our 4th grade 10 year old! (going on 40)
Our 1st born... the first everything: child, son, the 1st grandchild on both sides, first nephew, etc. Caden was born to be a big brother! Years before either of his brothers were even a spark in our eyes God was preparing Cadens mind and heart to be an amazing role model. He is a major rule follower, and perfectionist... and always has been. That has its pros, and cons... Any and every teacher, leader, coach or authority figure have basically thanked us for letting them work with him. He is a fast, accurate learner with almost everything he does... from spelling and math, to computers and "blogging". He has never seen a "B" letter grade, and really seldom even needs assistance reviewing for a test, in fact sometimes even the insinuation that he needs to review can be viewed as an insult to his intelligence. :) The "con" in that one might ask??? Well, he has also mastered the art of tattling , or as he puts it "being an informant". You see... when you are this close to "perfection" it is very hard not to notice when others, especially brothers whom were raised in the same home under the same rules... are not following those rules (written, and implied rules) that both mom and dad set... as well as unspoken rules that Caden simply thinks needs to be a rule. :) He is very, very often reminded that he is not a parent, but a child... and that his brothers already have 2 parents, and need him to just be a brother:) The other pit fall would be his persistent persuasion to his parents, as to why he is right, and not in need of discipline, or change... or why his way is clearly the only correct way of thinking... :)
Caden is crazy handsome, and yes... I am under official authority of the United States of America to judge such things such as cuteness, handsomeness, and overall good looks for all boys ages 1-12years. And I officially would award Caden a gold metal for external appearance. He has this awesome golden glow about his skin... and if he even looks towards the sun he tans, and never burns... He has an adorable spark in his eyes, especially when he tries not to laugh, but finds something funny! His teeth and smile are amazing! He had some issues with his bite, so he had to get braces... yes, BRACES at the early age of 9! And he already has them off. If I may say so, he has the best teeth, and smile in the entire Elementary! And I am, and have always been a teeth person, so I would know! (a fun fact: When Caden got his braces taken off... The orthodontist brought in Cadens before and after photos to show him the difference, and as serious as the plague... Caden says to the Dr..." Dr. you just changed my life!!! This looks wonderful, I barely recognize myself.." LOL he is so serious! He looks more and more like his daddy every day... I think he might have been cloned! Since his dad was the best looking guy I ever set eyes on in my life, this is quite a compliment.
Caden is so very black and white... literal, and some times...down right (said in the sweetest mommy voice ever...) lacking common sense... :) If told to put the play room toy bin on the trampoline... one might/did find the toy bin on the trampoline alright, but not the play room mini trampoline right beside all the other toy bins..., instead the toy bin could be found outside in the rain on the outdoor large trampoline. His defense: "you said put it on the trampoline, I did as you said." Really?!? Soooo many literal examples then I can recall. Our goal for him this year is to develop the ability to become more self sufficient using common sense to his benefit. If hungry... eat, make food. If thirsty... get a cup and fill it with water... he literally will be starving or dying of thirst (his words) and yet he will not get himself anything because he is waiting for a mealtime so he can be served. lol... what are we going to do with him!?
Caden has succeeded at several sports. Although he is still a young age, he has been exposed to: Upward soccer, where he is a very strong kicker, and has made many goals over the years. He has played a few years of Upward basketball where he has made lots of lay-ups, free-throws, and has improved his defense as well. Caden is one of the best sprint runners in his grade. He prefers this over distance running. Although we have not exposed him to organized football, he can throw a mean spiral with his dad out in our culdesac! When he was younger.. toddler-ish he took gymnastics, and did well with that, and last year he excelled at taekwondo lessons which if it were not such a time and money sucker he would still be doing it, and we probably will again some day in the near future... Caden is also a very, very strong swimmer. His strokes are strong, and he has swims like a fish since he was one year old, literally! We started working on water skiing this past summer, and I feel it in my bones... this is his year to master that! Caden also has picked up the ability to roller skate, and his favorite... is the inline skating... you could never get me on a pair of those, its like ice skates with the wheels lined up... no thanks! He loves to ride bikes, scooters, skateboards, and is very, very good at this crazy hard thing called a rip stick... it is like a skateboard that the center of it moves and it only has 2 wheels instead of 4! The kid has balance, I'll definitely give him that!
Although as parents, we are always very proud to cheer him on at his games, and dude, do I ever "cheer" him on... the ol' cheerleader in this mommy only stops shouting cheers long enough to shoot a few photos, and then I start at it again. But anyway, although we do love a good game, Brandon and I are most proud of Caden for his incredible thirst for knowledge in a good book! The boy is seriously unbelievable! We are crazy proud of him for how amazing he is at reading, and for how much enjoyment he receives from it. Caden has always, and I do mean always... been a few years ahead of his grade level with his reading. But the kid is sooooo fast at reading, and soo accurate at recalling the information on all the accelerated reader tests, with 90-100% accuracy, its crazy! He goes through books soooo fast, the school library can not even keep up. And I am talking monster huge dictionary size, no pictures in them books!!! We go to the local library weekly, or more, and he always has numerous books on hold so he, heaven forbid... will not be without. We love it for him, and hope and pray he always has this thirst for knowledge! It surely is why his vocabulary is, and always has been enormous! I am sure it is also why he also won 1st at his school spelling bee this year! He also took 2nd at the state spelling bee, no thanks to the inherited skills from his mom or dad on those accomplishments. Those skills are all him:)
Caden, like his daddy, (and if we are keeping it real... his daddys entire family age 2-60!) is a techno junkie! He has mastered soooo many: wii, xbox, ds/dsi, and many, many ipod, ipad, iphone, and computer games that he spends hours researching "cheat codes" online to find new ways to play the games that he has already beat... just so it is somewhat of a challenge to him the 2nd time around! Maybe that is why the kid has bifocals?? Hmmm :) I know this cant be good for him, I'm sure he will have carpal tunnel wrist guards on his Christmas wish list when he is only 12... but its who he is... its who the Darbys are... What other 4th grader has his own blog, and has had their own email address since they were in 3rd grade?? I mean really??
Ok, ok, so now that you know all this "useless" information about Caden... now for the good stuff:
His HEART! ooooh, my favorite part!!! This lil' guy has such a sweet, sincere heart that it is hard to miss. When he goes to school, or camps, or church, etc... friends flock to him and he is so kind to them, why wouldn't they flock?! Even kids that others don't want to befriend... Caden is nice to... sometimes too nice, and has to have mommy gently decline sleepovers with:) Caden is not "too cool" for others. I love this about him! It doesn't matter if it is a younger kid, or a girl, or a brother, or what difference a person might have... Caden is sweet to them, and does his best to include them in on what he, or his friends, or brothers are doing... I love to watch him "lead by example". They have all heard me say this more than once:) The empathy department of his heart is ginormous! If the kid hears a prayer request, even for a stranger, he is on it! If he even watches a movie about someone whose feelings get hurt, or someone who is sick, or dying... it is hard for him to sit through it without getting physically sick for that actor... He empathizes and sympathizes... If he even thinks for a second someone is getting bullied he wont stand for it... he either sticks up for that person, or kindly and boldly tells the bully why it is wrong, or gets an adult involved. That's my lil' rule follower:) I love our relationship! He is such a good communicator. He is not afraid to come to me with "feelings" or thoughts, or stories, and examples of behavior and character strengths, and weaknesses in others he picks up on more than your average 4th grade boy... His morals, and values are quite high. And he knows right from wrong, and is not shy to let one know when it is wrong. But when that is socially not acceptable for him to do, he is soooo good to come to me later and talk about it. I cherish these moments!
Best of all... Caden is a man of God! Although, only 10... he is wise beyond his physical years. He knows more bible stories and could quote more bible verses, and could recite every book in the old and new testament with his eyes closed while riding a unicycle... well maybe not the unicycle part... but you get the picture... But more than just the book smarts. The kid believes, he really "gets it". He has a real personal relationship with his other "Father". He is not ashamed to pray publicly, and is confident with his quiet and personal prayers in his heart. He has given his life to God, in fact... several more times than most :) Due to his black and white, literal scholar side... he even had me look up the "official" way to give your life over to Christ on the computer and go through it with him.... just to make sure that he didn't "miss" a step :) btw Brandon and I had a big talk with him about "faith" and not just legalistic rules... after the fact. I am quite sure in his very near future that he will choose to be publicly baptized as well... He is still prayerfully deciding if he should do it in the river at family camp in May... or indoors in our church baptism pool... TBA.... I am so crazy blessed to have Caden in my life. I am so proud of who he is, and who he is becoming, and who God knows he is will be! I would say I cant wait to see... but, I am too busy enjoying the ride, watching it unfold before my eyes!
I am very, very, very sure that 99% of all people who might ever glance at this blog in NO WAY will actually read all this entire "novel" that I have just written. But in my eyes, and in my mind... I just wrote my 30 year old son Caden, a letter, telling him about the man he is... 20 years before he became that! This is just a small piece of my heart that Caden has captured, that is now recorded so someday he can read about what he hopefully will already know. As I tell him every single night of his life... "good night, sweet dreams, wake up happy, and Don't grow!!!" The truth is, I know he will do just that... I know he will in fact "grow" and oooohhh, how proud I am of who he is "growing" into!
So, for now... this is the essence of our eldest...
Caden Lane... My 1st peep :)
xoxoxo- mom (your #1 fan)
As I am quite sure I might be driven to dementia at an early age :)
This blog entry will be describing the essence of our eldest... Caden. My 1st peep :)
Caden Lane Darby
Our 4th grade 10 year old! (going on 40)
Our 1st born... the first everything: child, son, the 1st grandchild on both sides, first nephew, etc. Caden was born to be a big brother! Years before either of his brothers were even a spark in our eyes God was preparing Cadens mind and heart to be an amazing role model. He is a major rule follower, and perfectionist... and always has been. That has its pros, and cons... Any and every teacher, leader, coach or authority figure have basically thanked us for letting them work with him. He is a fast, accurate learner with almost everything he does... from spelling and math, to computers and "blogging". He has never seen a "B" letter grade, and really seldom even needs assistance reviewing for a test, in fact sometimes even the insinuation that he needs to review can be viewed as an insult to his intelligence. :) The "con" in that one might ask??? Well, he has also mastered the art of tattling , or as he puts it "being an informant". You see... when you are this close to "perfection" it is very hard not to notice when others, especially brothers whom were raised in the same home under the same rules... are not following those rules (written, and implied rules) that both mom and dad set... as well as unspoken rules that Caden simply thinks needs to be a rule. :) He is very, very often reminded that he is not a parent, but a child... and that his brothers already have 2 parents, and need him to just be a brother:) The other pit fall would be his persistent persuasion to his parents, as to why he is right, and not in need of discipline, or change... or why his way is clearly the only correct way of thinking... :)
Caden is crazy handsome, and yes... I am under official authority of the United States of America to judge such things such as cuteness, handsomeness, and overall good looks for all boys ages 1-12years. And I officially would award Caden a gold metal for external appearance. He has this awesome golden glow about his skin... and if he even looks towards the sun he tans, and never burns... He has an adorable spark in his eyes, especially when he tries not to laugh, but finds something funny! His teeth and smile are amazing! He had some issues with his bite, so he had to get braces... yes, BRACES at the early age of 9! And he already has them off. If I may say so, he has the best teeth, and smile in the entire Elementary! And I am, and have always been a teeth person, so I would know! (a fun fact: When Caden got his braces taken off... The orthodontist brought in Cadens before and after photos to show him the difference, and as serious as the plague... Caden says to the Dr..." Dr. you just changed my life!!! This looks wonderful, I barely recognize myself.." LOL he is so serious! He looks more and more like his daddy every day... I think he might have been cloned! Since his dad was the best looking guy I ever set eyes on in my life, this is quite a compliment.
Caden is so very black and white... literal, and some times...down right (said in the sweetest mommy voice ever...) lacking common sense... :) If told to put the play room toy bin on the trampoline... one might/did find the toy bin on the trampoline alright, but not the play room mini trampoline right beside all the other toy bins..., instead the toy bin could be found outside in the rain on the outdoor large trampoline. His defense: "you said put it on the trampoline, I did as you said." Really?!? Soooo many literal examples then I can recall. Our goal for him this year is to develop the ability to become more self sufficient using common sense to his benefit. If hungry... eat, make food. If thirsty... get a cup and fill it with water... he literally will be starving or dying of thirst (his words) and yet he will not get himself anything because he is waiting for a mealtime so he can be served. lol... what are we going to do with him!?
Caden has succeeded at several sports. Although he is still a young age, he has been exposed to: Upward soccer, where he is a very strong kicker, and has made many goals over the years. He has played a few years of Upward basketball where he has made lots of lay-ups, free-throws, and has improved his defense as well. Caden is one of the best sprint runners in his grade. He prefers this over distance running. Although we have not exposed him to organized football, he can throw a mean spiral with his dad out in our culdesac! When he was younger.. toddler-ish he took gymnastics, and did well with that, and last year he excelled at taekwondo lessons which if it were not such a time and money sucker he would still be doing it, and we probably will again some day in the near future... Caden is also a very, very strong swimmer. His strokes are strong, and he has swims like a fish since he was one year old, literally! We started working on water skiing this past summer, and I feel it in my bones... this is his year to master that! Caden also has picked up the ability to roller skate, and his favorite... is the inline skating... you could never get me on a pair of those, its like ice skates with the wheels lined up... no thanks! He loves to ride bikes, scooters, skateboards, and is very, very good at this crazy hard thing called a rip stick... it is like a skateboard that the center of it moves and it only has 2 wheels instead of 4! The kid has balance, I'll definitely give him that!
Although as parents, we are always very proud to cheer him on at his games, and dude, do I ever "cheer" him on... the ol' cheerleader in this mommy only stops shouting cheers long enough to shoot a few photos, and then I start at it again. But anyway, although we do love a good game, Brandon and I are most proud of Caden for his incredible thirst for knowledge in a good book! The boy is seriously unbelievable! We are crazy proud of him for how amazing he is at reading, and for how much enjoyment he receives from it. Caden has always, and I do mean always... been a few years ahead of his grade level with his reading. But the kid is sooooo fast at reading, and soo accurate at recalling the information on all the accelerated reader tests, with 90-100% accuracy, its crazy! He goes through books soooo fast, the school library can not even keep up. And I am talking monster huge dictionary size, no pictures in them books!!! We go to the local library weekly, or more, and he always has numerous books on hold so he, heaven forbid... will not be without. We love it for him, and hope and pray he always has this thirst for knowledge! It surely is why his vocabulary is, and always has been enormous! I am sure it is also why he also won 1st at his school spelling bee this year! He also took 2nd at the state spelling bee, no thanks to the inherited skills from his mom or dad on those accomplishments. Those skills are all him:)
Caden, like his daddy, (and if we are keeping it real... his daddys entire family age 2-60!) is a techno junkie! He has mastered soooo many: wii, xbox, ds/dsi, and many, many ipod, ipad, iphone, and computer games that he spends hours researching "cheat codes" online to find new ways to play the games that he has already beat... just so it is somewhat of a challenge to him the 2nd time around! Maybe that is why the kid has bifocals?? Hmmm :) I know this cant be good for him, I'm sure he will have carpal tunnel wrist guards on his Christmas wish list when he is only 12... but its who he is... its who the Darbys are... What other 4th grader has his own blog, and has had their own email address since they were in 3rd grade?? I mean really??
Ok, ok, so now that you know all this "useless" information about Caden... now for the good stuff:
His HEART! ooooh, my favorite part!!! This lil' guy has such a sweet, sincere heart that it is hard to miss. When he goes to school, or camps, or church, etc... friends flock to him and he is so kind to them, why wouldn't they flock?! Even kids that others don't want to befriend... Caden is nice to... sometimes too nice, and has to have mommy gently decline sleepovers with:) Caden is not "too cool" for others. I love this about him! It doesn't matter if it is a younger kid, or a girl, or a brother, or what difference a person might have... Caden is sweet to them, and does his best to include them in on what he, or his friends, or brothers are doing... I love to watch him "lead by example". They have all heard me say this more than once:) The empathy department of his heart is ginormous! If the kid hears a prayer request, even for a stranger, he is on it! If he even watches a movie about someone whose feelings get hurt, or someone who is sick, or dying... it is hard for him to sit through it without getting physically sick for that actor... He empathizes and sympathizes... If he even thinks for a second someone is getting bullied he wont stand for it... he either sticks up for that person, or kindly and boldly tells the bully why it is wrong, or gets an adult involved. That's my lil' rule follower:) I love our relationship! He is such a good communicator. He is not afraid to come to me with "feelings" or thoughts, or stories, and examples of behavior and character strengths, and weaknesses in others he picks up on more than your average 4th grade boy... His morals, and values are quite high. And he knows right from wrong, and is not shy to let one know when it is wrong. But when that is socially not acceptable for him to do, he is soooo good to come to me later and talk about it. I cherish these moments!
Best of all... Caden is a man of God! Although, only 10... he is wise beyond his physical years. He knows more bible stories and could quote more bible verses, and could recite every book in the old and new testament with his eyes closed while riding a unicycle... well maybe not the unicycle part... but you get the picture... But more than just the book smarts. The kid believes, he really "gets it". He has a real personal relationship with his other "Father". He is not ashamed to pray publicly, and is confident with his quiet and personal prayers in his heart. He has given his life to God, in fact... several more times than most :) Due to his black and white, literal scholar side... he even had me look up the "official" way to give your life over to Christ on the computer and go through it with him.... just to make sure that he didn't "miss" a step :) btw Brandon and I had a big talk with him about "faith" and not just legalistic rules... after the fact. I am quite sure in his very near future that he will choose to be publicly baptized as well... He is still prayerfully deciding if he should do it in the river at family camp in May... or indoors in our church baptism pool... TBA.... I am so crazy blessed to have Caden in my life. I am so proud of who he is, and who he is becoming, and who God knows he is will be! I would say I cant wait to see... but, I am too busy enjoying the ride, watching it unfold before my eyes!
I am very, very, very sure that 99% of all people who might ever glance at this blog in NO WAY will actually read all this entire "novel" that I have just written. But in my eyes, and in my mind... I just wrote my 30 year old son Caden, a letter, telling him about the man he is... 20 years before he became that! This is just a small piece of my heart that Caden has captured, that is now recorded so someday he can read about what he hopefully will already know. As I tell him every single night of his life... "good night, sweet dreams, wake up happy, and Don't grow!!!" The truth is, I know he will do just that... I know he will in fact "grow" and oooohhh, how proud I am of who he is "growing" into!
So, for now... this is the essence of our eldest...
Caden Lane... My 1st peep :)
xoxoxo- mom (your #1 fan)
I LOVE this blog! You have an official stalker...um, fan :) It's amazing A!
ReplyDeleteMy wife rocks! Keep'n it real!
ReplyDeleteLove this! Amazing.
ReplyDeleteThis is an incredible "love letter" to your first born ... my first born grandboy. Powerful!
ReplyDelete