Boat Ride

In June, we prepared to welcome the new interns at work.  To do this, we, of course, had a party; this party was at the yatch club. 

It was hot but nice to be out near the water. 

The kids had a blast running around and playing with other kids and the ducks.

  After eating, we got to go out on the boat.  We took a nice little long ride. 

Caleb enjoyed it but was ready to be out of his puddle jumper by the time we got back.  '

Kate actually fell asleep. 

She had a small fever when we got home but was better the next day (thankfully, since she had camp the next week!). 

We are blessed to have fun little activities like this associated with work. And thankful for kids who enjoy it and enjoy being with other people.

April

We had a busy April.  I think we had something every weekend.  To start, Caleb had his 18 month well child visit and shots.  He did great. 

Of course, he wouldn't show off with all of his talking for Dr. Amy but we know he has SO many words.  He actually knows several colors, is starting to count, knows a few letters.  He's starting to make short sentences.  He is growing great - I mean, he is 90%ile for Everything, my BIG boy!  We are so blessed.

The next week, I got to go help at Kate's book fair a couple of days.  One day I was there when her class came.  It is rare when I get to go do something at Kate's school, so this was special!

Kate took tennis this spring, and actually liked it a good big.  Caleb got to play

 while sissie learned.  She got better each week and we enjoyed going with her. 

We enjoyed the caterpillar parade but forgot our butterfly wings. 

Oh well!  I think the kids had fun but we had one worn out baby boy by the time we got home.

The next weekend, we had our first swim of the season.  I think Caleb is going to be a fish!  He is already trying to make swimming motions and does NOT want to just be held or in a float.

 He wants to MOVE!  Kate loves it, too. 

Then we went out to eat Mexican (the first time in a long time, David was happy!) and Caleb had his first taste of chips and salsa.  YUM!!!

There was more tennis and Caleb making sure that Kate had enough water.

David got to go with Kate to her Natural Science Museum field trip.  Another treat for us to be able to go.  She had a lot of fun.

The weekend that Kate got baptized, we got to go to Kate's music program at school.  It was fun to see her with her classmates. 

She did a good job and really showed out on the motions.  :-)  She had a great year and loved Mrs. Gallaway ("Miss Chapman")

and Mrs. Hannula.

The next week, Kate had her end of the year choir program. 

She did a great job.  We are so thankful for our church and the investment they make in our children.

The last hoorah for the month was going to "Miss" Courtney's wedding.  Caleb wasn't feeling great but he did get some hugs from Mrs. Melissa. 

And Kate got to dance! 

We tried to find a sitter but they both did great!  It was a busy but a great month!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!  I pray that you are able to spend the day with family, whether a large group or just a few. 

Today, we give thanks for a happy, healthy family.  I'm thankful for a daughter filled with so much joy that she makes everyone around her smile.  I pray that turns into a joy so unquenchable from God that He uses for His glory! 

I'm thankful for a son who loves to explore and share love.  I pray this turns into an adventurous spirit and desire to give God's love!

I'm thankful for a husband who is generous with His time, abilities, and resources. A husband who seeks to lead in God's will and looks for ways to serve Him and grow in Him.  I pray that He continues to grow in His love for God and desire to serve Him.

I'm thankful for my God who loved me before I knew Him.  Who continues to pursue me when I don't pursue Him.  Who loves me even when I fail Him.  Thankful that He sent His Son, Jesus, to be the all sufficient sacrifice for my sins, to redeem me to Himself.  To be the Great High Priest who is familiar with all my needs and temptations and who died (but now lives) to now set me free!  I'm thankful for His great provisions in my life.  I pray that He grants me humility to seek Him and depend fully on Him; that I would be alert to His Spirit and follow Him daily.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hats Off to Caleb - The Party

Y'all, I just have absolutely no time to post these days!  By the time my day stops, I'm so tired and only have about an hour until bed time.  Anyway, we decided to have a hat theme for Caleb's party.  We have thought about dinosaurs or trains but since we think he looks really cute in a hat, we settled on hats. 

Oh my!  There is NOTHING hat themed out there.  I found some examples of hat cakes (which I used) but no themed snacks or anything.  Oh well!  We had the party the weekend of his birthday; I was on service at the hospital, so had to work. 

But it ended up being fine.  We just had family, some close family friends, and one of Caleb's school/church friends over.  It was simple and fun!  I did a little decorating with chalk banners. 

The one for the door said "Caleb is one."  Then I put a picture for each month on the other one and hung it over the fire place (it's still there! HA!).

 I thought it turned out cute.  For the snack table, we just put several of Caleb's little stuffed animal friends around wearing hats. 

Everyone snacked and then we pulled out the cake.  The big cake was a two layer cake that I carved into the shape of a hat and decorated with fondant (this is actually a pretty tasty buttercream fondant). 

I thought it turned out really cute!  His smash cake was a "party hat" that I baked in sno cone cups.

  First we sang to him (and he tried to grab THIS cake). 

Then, when I gave him his smash cake, we had to put the first bite of cake in his mouth but after that he was a fan...and at the WHOLE thing!!!

He just kept going and couldn't even stop to take a picture with Doc and Allie!

 :-) 

Can you tell he wanted more?

We opened presents after that.  Caleb did a pretty good job but had a short attention span...and ended up doing this:

  He liked the hammer toy the best but has since branched out to some of the other toys as well.

 We had such a fun afternoon and are so thankful for all of our friends helping us celebrate. 

I can't WAIT to watch these two grow up together.  :-)

9 Months

So much has happened over the past month.  9 months seems to be such a milestone month.

 Caleb is still my baby but he's starting to do things or want to do things independently.  He started waving just after he turned 8 months old and it is THE CUTEST THING!!!!

He has also started shaking his head.  You ask him any question and he almost always shakes his head no.  Ha!  He's started clapping and is a great little sitter.

 He took his first bath this month and LOVES them!  He just kicks and splashes in his little duck. 

He went swimming in the big pool for the first time.  We tried to put him in the float and he was NOT having that.  He screamed and wouldn't calm down until I held him close.  He calmed down and was putting his face in the water by the end.  We have started letting him ride sitting up in the stroller.  He really enjoys that. 

Next step is the convertible car seat.  Not sure were ready for that!  Another first was swinging the big swings at the park.  He had great fun with his daddy!

Stats:
Weight - 20 pounds (a little less actually) 55%ile
Length - 28.75inches 65%ile
HC - 18.6inches 95%ile

So, he is right on track with a big head.  Hey!  He's got to keep his brains somewhere!  :-)

Food:  He decided that he does like to eat. 

He's been eating great since the beginning of June.  He LOVES yogurt, it's probably his favorite. 

He also eats sweet peas, green beans, avacado, sweet potato, pears, apples, carrots, oatmeal, and lentils.  He has eaten whole strawberries and mandarin oranges as well. 

He is a GREAT little eater. Now I have to figure out how to balance that with bottles/nursing so we can wean when it's time.

He can hold his own bottle, so now we need to work on a cup.

Clothes: He really it right on schedule for clothes.  It kind of makes getting things pretty easy.  He is pretty much outgrown 6-9 month stuff except for shorts and some onesies.  He's in his 9-12 month (and a couple of Mud Pie 12-18 month) outfits.

Sleep:  He is doing so much better on sleep.  He mostly sleeps through the night from 730 or 8 until about 6-630.

 Sometimes he still wakes up a little earlier and he will wake up about twice a week in the middle of the night.  When that happens, he almost always wants to nurse.  At this point, I have just given into it because I can get back to sleep faster if I don't fight it!  Ha!

He's also napping better.  He usually will take a 30-40 minute morning nap and often a 40-60 minute afternoon nap.  Better, my son, better!

School:  He loves his little friends and his teachers.  He waves and smiles and dances for them.  The other day, he took a toy away from one of his friends and the teacher asked if it was nice to take toys from our friends.  Caleb shook his head "no."  Then she asked him if he needed to move to another spot on the mat and he shook his head "yes."  HAHAHA!

 I love watching him on the video system.  Most of the time he is sitting in the middle of the mat with toys around him, just playing.  He often falls asleep on the playmat. I wish I knew their secret!

Development: He is right on tract.  He waves and talks and smiles.  He is trying to pull up.

 He moves all over the place but hasn't quite crawled...but it is on it's way!  He can get on all fours but hasn't quite figured out how to get his legs moving.  He can feed himself with his fingers and is starting to figure out chewing some.

He has four teeth mostly in and two that are just about poked through.  Poor baby is worn out by those teeth!

Loves:  zerberts on his stomach - you can get him to stop crying by doing this, it's great!  Baths, yogurt, Mama (he's a pretty big mama's boy right now),

playing with his sissie (but not being held by her but to her chagrin).

We love our Caleb!  It's a joy to watch him grow...but it's going by too quickly!