Halloween 2007

We all dressed up this year for one of our favorite holidays. We actually celebrated for two days. The festivities started at 4:00 as we started trick or treating around the neighborhood. Then we traveled to our church for the Trunk or Treat. The next night, we dressed up all over again to visit Beth's grandparents and sister. This was Caroline's first Halloween. Luke actually only wore a portion of his costume. He made a robot to go over his Buzz Lightyear costume then decided not to wear it. Anna and Beth were both in the cat family and if you can guess what Ryan is, he'll give you a big kiss on the mouth!

There's a First Time for Everything

The Bader family has been experiencing many firsts this summer. Caroline experienced her first bath, which she thoroughly enjoyed. Please avert your eyes as the photographer accidentally included her unmentionables in her bathtime photos.

She also enjoyed her first trip to the park and her first weekend with Gran while the rest of the family enjoyed a trip to Atlanta with Ryan's little league team. Anna and Luke had a blast with Mom & Dad at a Braves game and Six Flags.

Anna and Luke kept Ryan company while he fed Caroline one of her first bottles. Beth is back to teaching ballet a couple times each week, so Caroline enjoys some bonding time with Dad while Beth gets a nice break to dance and make a little cash to boot!

Anna is now a big time first grader, complete with two missing teeth. She is very proud of her accomplishments. She'll be six very soon and is anticipating a great birthday.

Luke is missing his sister and has filled the empty hours by having some play dates with his friends from school. He looks forward to starting at First Presbyterian Preschool after Labor Day, where he will be in a four year old class three mornings per week.

What a great summer of firsts it has been for the Baders. We look forward to many more!

Blogging Delinquent

So I'm proving to be a pretty poor blogger. I have no pictures to show you today, but I thought an update might be helpful to some of you living in places other than East Tennessee.

Caroline is continuing to make her mom and dad happy by sleeping and eating as well as a junior high boy. Last night she slept 8 hours through the night at just over five weeks old. When you wake up you're not sure whether to be thrilled with a full nights sleep or panic-stricken because your baby didn't wake up during the night. After three kids, though, it's a much quicker transition to thrilled. She's also smiling a lot now and showing us her pearly whites...or where her pearly whites will one day be.

Speaking of children with no teeth, Anna is about to loose her first tooth, and surprisingly, is quite excited by the entire enterprise. As of yet, she doesn't seem to know that loosing teeth requires ripping bone from flesh. I'm not going to be the one to tell her. She also started the first grade yesterday, which is enough to make her mom and dad a little nostalgic.

Luke is a trooper. He continues to be unfazed by being outnumbered by the girls. He is still a few weeks short of starting preschool, so he spends his days reading books, playing outside and missing his sister.

All in all, life is good. I'll see if we can't upload some pictures in the next few days.

Hey A Slideshow

Some of these pictures have already been posted, but I thought you might enjoy this slide show of Caroline's first day here with us.

Getting Reaquainted

The large break in blogging has been due entirely to my nine day trip to New Orleans with the youth group. It was a great trip but difficult to be away from the family for so long, especially with one member so new to us. Beth and the kids did great though. Caroline continues to adjust well to living outside the womb. She is eating, sleeping and growing very well. The "older" kids (as they've now officially become) are doing great in the big sibling role. I'll try to have some more pictures up soon so you can see evidence of her growth.

Happy 3rd of July

We took the kids to see the fireworks last night, that's right on July 3rd. But lest you think it odd to celebrate on July 3rd be assured that it is not. July the 3rd is National Eat Beans Day, American Redneck Day, and the anniversary of Idaho becoming a state, so grab some potatoes and a can of Bush's baked beans, put on some country music and go have a picnic.

Meanwhile, we thought you might like to see a few of the pictures from our Bean Day Celebration.

We took the kids to a carnival at Heritage Baptist Church in Johnson City before the fireworks. They had inflatable games, free hot dogs and lots of loud music. It was Caroline's first time out. Here are Caroline and dad getting used to the wild world.

Anna and Luke were feeling quite friendly while they waited on their favorite ride at the carnival.


The kid sneaking in the background insisted on being in this picture. Perhaps he had been infected with Anna and Luke's friendly pheromones.


Luke enjoyed playing while Caroline enjoyed sleeping. A good time was had by all (including mom and dad).



Luke had a firework tatoo painted on his face late into the evening so we let him sleep in it last night. If it's still on his face the next time you see him you'll know why. He was quite proud of his art work.


Gran joined us shortly before the fireworks to see her new granddaughter. Caroline was overjoyed at her arrival, just as she was at the fireworks. No really, look, she's overjoyed!

Baby Update

No pictures today; just an update on baby Caroline. She's been sleeping and eating unbelievably well. She lays down for every nap with no problems and she's only been getting up once a night to eat. So we're all thrilled and hoping the streak continues.

She goes for her first doctor's visit today.

We'll keep you updated.

And Baby Makes Five

It's my pleasure to introduce you to Caroline Jane Bader. She was born this Thursday at 9:49 am, weighing in at 7 pounds 14 ounces and measuring 18 1/2 (short and squatty). Baby and mom are doing great. We're heading home on Saturday after dinner, then things will really get interesting. Here are some more pictures for you to enjoy. Hopefully I'll be able to keep you updated a little more consistently over the internet. If you're bored check back in for more pictures and interesting stories from around the house.

This is me psyching myself up before delivery. Actually it's me freezing in the 58 degree operating room waiting for the doctors to finish prepping Beth.



I figured all kids would like to have a picture of themselves with thermometers put in compromising places


Here are a few of Caroline and the "older" kids (as we now call them). Both are extremely excited, though Luke was a little overwhelmed at first. We're lucky though, in that Caroline, like all children, is quite soft and there's nothing soft that Luke doesn't like.

Anna and Caroline taking a break on Friday evening

Luke's dealing pretty well with the fact that we Bader boys are now outnumbered.

Anna really likes her new sister.