Let me count the ways.

Ten Things I Love About Cade:

1. The way he tells me every time he has to use the bathroom. He will find me wherever I am to tell me he has to go. Telling me also means that he wants me to come inside with him (if he found me outside) and/or it is a warning that I might need to wipe. Telling me means just that, ME, not any other adult. Only I will do for this little matter.

2. When he goes inside to get a popsicle he always comes out with three. One for him, Cannon AND Landry.

3. The fact that he is thrilled to put on "church clothes". He loves to get dressed up. He will ask to wear them on days other than Sunday. And boy, does he get decked all the way out with a suit and tie as well as a sweater vest. Sometimes he say he has to go to work or that he has a meeting. Where does this come from? I could understand it if Corey was a business professional but, Corey is in workout clothes everyday. I don't get it.

4. The way he prays. We have tried to get Cade to pray his own prayer at the dinner table and bedtime instead of a memorized one. We told him just to talk to God. His prayer goes something like this each time (at the table and in the bed): "Thank you for the food. God is in the sun. Thank you for the birds that lay their eggs. Thank you for rain for the plants and flowers and the pinestraw so they can drink, drink, drink. Thank you. I love you. A-men. Ah-men." Corey and I tell him that his prayer is great. We do try to cue him on things he could also say but, this is what he sticks with. Praying out loud doesn't come easy to everyone. I want him to be comfortable with being able to pray out loud. I don't want him to be 20 years old and only saying "God is great, God is good..." and I don't want him to become nervous or uncomfortable if he is ever called on to pray.

5. The way he always asks "Is that an accident or on purpose?" He will ask this about everything lately and will also create scenarios and ask "Would that be an accident or on purpose?"

6. The way he calls an escalator a crocodile. I think this might be his thought process. Cade's brain: I can't remember the name. It is like an alligator but, it isn't an alligator so, it must be crocodile. He does it every time even though I tell him each time it is an escalator.

7. The way he puts everything in ordinal position. He is always saying things like " I was the first to get in the car, you were second, he was third...." or "Who was the first to wake up, second...?"

8. The way he can build with his blocks. Seriously, he is so precise and symmetrical. You would be amazed at what he can create. If I sit down with him to do it, I draw a blank (no creativity I guess) but, Cade can come up with some pretty amazing stuff.

9. The fact that he wants to wear the same jean shorts everyday. He will run to the dryer when it is time to get dressed in hopes that I washed them while he was asleep. Sometimes he tries to wait to get dressed in hopes of me getting them washed and dried for him immediately. Truth is I do love it about him but, it drives me crazy also. Some days to the point of almost throwing them away.

10. The way he will sometimes runs fast all the while having his head turned sideways to see his shadow run. Now, seeing this is precious and funny.