December 31, 2014 - 5 Months 17 Days

I know the day isn't over yet, and we'll hopefully get a good photo from our New Year's Celebration, but this is just too cute so I couldn't wait.  Learning to eat is FUN!

Happy New Year!
We didn't quite make it til midnight, but Kadin got to see his first fireworks.  Even with the ear protection, he still wasn't too psyched about the sound of them, but liked watching the pretty colors light up the sky.  

December 30, 2014 - 5 Months 16 Days

A boring day of errands and chores during which I forgot to take a cuter photo of Kadin.   On a more fun note, in the evening, he was in his walker again and can now scoot across the room to reach a toy or dog that he wants!  I hope to get a video soon.

December 29, 2014 - 5 Months 15 Days

It takes us so long to get packed up and dressed and ready to play that Kadin often passes out just from the effort.

But finally, here we are, enjoying awesome ski conditions and heading to town to meet up with Danial for dinner.  The ski back in the dark was extra fun, with the doggies running up ahead, flashing their blinky collars.  

December 28, 2014 - 5 Months 14 Days

Tummy time isn't so bad anymore... especially if I get to be naked!

December 27, 2014 - 5 Months 13 Days

December 26, 2014 - 5 Months 12 Days

Danial made the most amazing gift for me ever — a wooden and metal baby walker for Kadin.  He's a little small for it still, but loves being amongst the whirlwind world of furry dogs.

December 25, 2014 - 5 Months 11 Days

Merry Christmas!!!

Thank-you White Spruce, for making room for our future house and providing us with a beautiful Christmas tree.  

I was actually feeling sick as a dog with a runny nose and a low-grade fever, and only made it about 5 minutes on this walk before returning home to bed.

December 24, 2014 - 5 Months 10 Days

Christmas Eve started with the best gift ever — a court date to officialize the adoption of Kadin Finn Pironis!!!  Of course, he slept through the whole thing.  

We now just have another 6-8 weeks to get the final documents in the mail... 

We closed the evening allowing Kadin to open one gift and he loved playing with the talking doggie Scout until a real doggie butted her way in!  Thanks Grandma Mary!

December 23, 2014 - 5 Months 9 Days

Kadin discovers Yoda.

December 22, 2014 - 5 Months 8 Days

December 21, 2014 - 5 Months 7 Days

Annie is happy to share her couch with Kadin, as he relaxes up against her and strikes a pose for the camera.

December 20, 2014 - 5 Months 6 Days

Kadin and I went over Wendy's house for a vet call and it was love at first sight between Luzy and Kadin.  Both were so gentle with each other, it was adorable.

December 19, 2014 - 5 Months 5 Days

Kadin is introduced to his second instrument this evening, the guitar.  Needless to say, he thought it pretty grand.

December 18, 2014 - 5 Months 4 Days

Kadin and I spent a long dreary day in Wasilla, shopping and doing errands.  We were both pretty cheerful in the beginning, when this photo was taken, but both grumpy and eager to leave by the end of the day.

December 17, 2014 - 5 Months 3 Days

Here Kadin is after a long day biking, first to the Squirrel, then out to dinner at the Pub.  He's half asleep but not quite ready to succumb until he had his before-bedtime meal!

December 16, 2014 - 5 Months 2 Days

Born to be messy is more like it!

December 15, 2014 - 5 Months 1 Day

Bookkeeping day means Kadin gets to hang out with Heather, who doesn't even mind if he accidentally (or not) pees on her!  She's a mom and a musher and is pretty used to it, I guess.

December 14, 2014 - 5 Months Old!!

Happy 5 Month Birthday Kadin!  Crazy how fast time flies with a baby growing in front of your eyes...
If I had to predict his adult personality based on his infancy so far, I would say he will be an easy-going guy who smiles and laughs a lot, prefers standing to sitting, is a bit of a talker, and loves to eat.  :-)

Big day out for Kadin - the whole family of 4 dogs and the 3 of us biked downtown to have our photo taken with Santa.  We unfortunately arrived a bit too late for Santa but had some family pictures taken anyway...  Then we biked out to the XY Lakes and the dogs enjoyed a bit of free running while Kadin mostly slept.  Fun day, but somehow, other than the non-Santa photos, I didn't take any of my own pictures!  Ooops.  I'll have to check Danial's camera too, but for now, here are two from yesterday with his teething toy, Kathe Kruse.

December 13, 2014 - 4 Months, 29 Days

Pizza night out with Will who was in town for a few days and finally got to meet Kadin.  Hmm, never did get him to hold Kadin or I'd have a picture of the two of them together... 

The obvious selfie...

December 12, 2014 - 4 Months, 28 Days

Our Christmas tree is up and lights are on it, now we just need a few more ornaments.  Kadin loves staring at the pretty lights!

December 11, 2014 - 4 Months, 27 Days

Kadin can now hold his bottle all by himself!

December 10, 2014 - 4 Months, 26 Days

Kadin is exploring new tastes with rice, banana, and apple sauce in addition to his old favorite, pumpkin.  He grabs the spoon with his one hand, guides it or my hand to his mouth, and then uses his other hand to shovel the food into his wide open mouth.  Yum!

December 9, 2014 - 4 Months, 25 Days

Our first Christmas tree ornament arrived from Grandma Baiba the same day Danial brought the tree over from her house.  (We had to chop a spruce down for our future home and are using the top of it as our Christmas tree this year.)  Kadin was fascinated by the shiny ornament and of course, had to see if he could eat it.

December 8, 2014 - 4 Months, 24 Days

I had to go to Mat Su College today for an EMT interview and Kadin came along, sporting the prep school look.    He wants to skip the class on crawling and go straight to learning how to stand.

December 7, 2014 - 4 Months, 23 Days

He is certainly not an amoeboid little newborn anymore!  

He's suddenly a little boy with so much to say and do... 

December 6, 2014 - 4 Months, 22 Days

First, Kadin and I had a social hour as we perused the Holiday Bazaar, chatting up all the local crafty people.  Then we met up with Danial at the Latitude for dinner - Kadin loved putting to use his new locally homemade bib I got at the Bazaar from Debski.

December 5, 2014 - 4 Months, 21 Days

Kadin got to spend the day with Momma D today, and was promptly entertained with a wrench, spark plugs, and an old engine.  Glad he was wearing his coveralls!

December 4, 2014 - 4 Months, 20 Days

Kadin got some nice snuggling time with Rivet tonight.  Rivet seemed to not mind at all, and kept her right ear cocked in his direction to keep an "ear" on him.