Caleb. {two}

TWO! You're two today, and somehow that just seems so big to me. (I know I'll laugh at that statement when I look back on this in 20 years...) 

There are so many things about this exact age that we want to bottle up and remember forever (you'll notice tantrums are not included in this list!)::

At two years old, you are FULL of personality. As a baby, smiles and giggles and cries and fusses were all rare. You were so serious and didn't express many emotions. But at two, oh boy, has that changed. You feel things so deeply and laugh so hard and smile so big (and get really, really mad). You easily tell us what you're thinking these days, even if it is just in one or two word phrases or grabbing our hand to lead us to whatever it is you want us to see or help you with.

You are currently in love with books and nature walks (aka how we pass time before dad gets home from work) and Curious George and trips to the park and 'fixing' things and coloring and berries of all kinds. Also, cookies. You'll do almost anything with the promise of a cookie. 

You are fiercely attached to your Monkey and are just starting to learn to leave him behind and be brave without him in your hand when we leave the house. You also use your oversized stuffed husky, Joe, as a pillow each night in your crib. And you prefer to take all of your animals and blankets out of the crib with you every time you wake up and march with them around the house.

At two years old, your best friend is Owen. You two are always so excited to see each other, but quickly fight over toys or forget about each other after a few minutes. You often wake up asking for him or excitedly shout his name when we drive past his neighborhood, church, the zoo, or Chick Fil A (all the places you play together). You also love seeing Mia, Scarlett, Sam, Brady and Bailey these days.

You like Tyler. Ha. 90% of the time you forget he's around (he's still so little and you're sort of a toddler tornado), but every once in a while you stop with serious concern about where he is or wanting to give him your monkey or his paci. Or just wanting him to give you whatever toy he has. You love to burst into his room when he's sleeping and shout HI in his face to wake him up or NIGHT NIGHT just to show me that he's sleeping (well, was sleeping).

These days you love to mimic whatever it is you see others doing and sweeping alongside me is one of your favorite things. You love to shave with dad, help me cook, give Tyler a bath, and pretend to fix things. You also love to play fetch with Murphy and Jersey, but I'm not sure that feeling is mutual.

The big thing you're learning right now is kindness. Hitting has become your go-to expression of frustration, so we do lots of hugging and timeouts and reminding to be kind. You'll figure it out! (hopefully!)

You aren't really close to potty training yet and its pretty hilarious that you insist on finding a table to hide under while you poop (every single morning, no matter where we are- you'll find a table). 

We go to the zoo every week and it seems as if you have a new favorite animal each time. If I had to pick though, I think the dolphins are your all time favorite (just like mom!). Sometimes you're more interested in the rocks and mulch than the actual animals, but you love exploring the entire place.

You are still working on your colors and numbers and letters. You think everything is either blue or red and any written words you see you just scream "a-b, a-b!". You can count to three, but you almost always refuse to do it. 

No one makes you laugh as much or as hard as your dad. You excitedly watch for him every evening and ask for him almost immediately each morning when you wake up. Weekends are your favorite because you have so much time with him and you crash hard each nap/night because you play non-stop. You love to put dad's shoes on, shave like he does, and shout DADDY every time you hear a lawnmower or see a white car coming down our street.

We spend all of our days together and I'm currently your most favorite person (I promise your dad would agree!). We have fun and play, but you don't laugh nearly as much with me as you do with your dad. Instead, I'm your safe person (and you regularly remind us of that since 'mama' is your go-to cry for everything). You always come to me for help or when you're sad or when you discover something new. You love to explore and adventure, but almost always check to make sure I'm nearby and call for me if not. I'm positive it will not always be that way and I won't always be your most favorite person (that's ok!), but today, on your second birthday, I'm thankful for these sweet days we have together!

Caleb, at two you are wonderful! I'm certain I will say that every year on your birthday and it will be just as true each year. Right now, I find myself praying for you to grow to be strong and kind and always rooted in Jesus. You are so fun and curious and passionate and we love you so much! Happy birthday, buddy!

Caleb. {16 months}

  I just want to bottle this age up. Caleb has so much personality and energy and is just a little sponge.  He was such a calm, easy going baby and didn't express his opinion much. That's changed! While he's still easy going and happy to entertain himself, he is so vocal and busy as a 16 month old. Its a fun {and exhausting} stage that I love.

So I don't forget {and can copy into his Project Life book one day}, here's a snapshot of Caleb at 16 months:

-intentionally says a ton of words {no, go, car, Mia, book, dog, night night, bubbles, baby, belly, Boom Boom-for Chick Chicka Boom Boom book, duck}, even though Justin and I are the only ones that understand most of them

-LOVES reading. I can't emphasize that enough. He brings book after book to my lap, backs his booty up, and plops down to read them one by one. Over and over. {we need new books}

-Understands so much! If I start reciting a book from memory, he will go find that book and bring it to me to read.

-has a little imagination! He's started pretending to eat from things he's holding in the grocery cart, drinking from cups/bowls, and just in general playing with dishes {we need a play kitchen, right??}

-points to his belly, tongue, and {sometimes} nose

-his favorite books are Where Is Baby's Belly Button, The Napping House, and Thomas: Crack in the Track

- favorite people are his dad and cousin Mia. Both can get him to laugh at anything and put him in a good mood every time he sees them

-so much more outgoing! He used to be very reserved and shy, especially around strangers. A very serious baby! No more. We can't go anywhere without flirtatious smiles and a million Hi's/Byes to everyone we see

-takes one nap a day

-more and more of a picky eater. But still a big eater! {clearly, he's not skinny}

-still loves his Monkey, but can sleep and be soothed easily without it

Thursdays with Caleb. {first birthday}

Nearly 4 months ago {!!!}, Caleb turned one. Since he's still basically a baby and has no ability to remember/care too much about the actual celebration, we purposefully kept it low key. We only invited a handful of people and truly tried to keep it small and simple. 

  We reserved a shelter at the park a couple of blocks away, put up a few simple decorations, and called it a party! Since it was late Sunday afternoon, we had a few savory and sweet bites and a little trail mix bar for people to make & take their own mix home. 

  After the kids played and the adults chatted for a bit, we sang and gave Caleb his little cake {which he clearly LOVED}. Then we just kept playing and eventually cleaned up just in time to escape a huge downpour. 

double-fisting the cake...

Totally my kid. I close my eyes when I eat delicious cake, too...

  Looking at these photos again reminds me of a little sidenote. We are in such a sweet spot of life right now, and God has seen fit to purposefully bless us with friends in the same season. I have a handful of friends who have kiddos Caleb's exact age. Watching them grow together over the last year was really fun and I'm so excited to watch them have more and more fun playing together as they get older! Each subsequent birthday party has been more fun than the last as they play better together {and I'm pretty sure Owen is happy he's not the only walker anymore...the others can finally keep up!}. 

Thursdays with Caleb, {first haircut}

Before! Look how mullet-y it was!!

...and after. Baby buzz cut!

So, so much hair! We cut at least 2 inches, which is crazy.

  So I'm super behind on summer posts. Here's your forewarning that there will be lots of random summer recaps over the next few weeks! 
  Let's start with Caleb's first haircut, mkay? It was so precious/hilarious that I can't even handle it. Caleb never lost any hair as a baby, so the little blonde hairs he was born with had gotten really long over the last year. I had been wanting to trim it for a few months, but Justin all the sudden became weirdly attached to Caleb's hair. {I don't get sentimental about these types of things} Looking back, it wasn't that long, but seriously, I was getting daily comments about his mullet/rat tail. Not okay or cute! 
  So one random Sunday in June, Justin just offered to cut Caleb's hair out of the blue. Let me preface this: I know zero about cutting hair, but Justin cuts his own. So I blindly trusted him...and it turns out he wanted a 5 blade {??} but could only find a 3 {!!} which is MUCH shorter than a 5. Resulting in our one year old having a buzz cut. Hilarious. Precious. Not to be repeated...
  It's grown back so quickly and differently! He's still a complete blonde, but all that soft and fine baby hair is gone. It looks like he's going to have Justin's texture {thick and coarse} and my straight strands. Perfect mix! Now if I can just convince Justin that the buzz cut was a one time thing and we only need trims from here on out, we'll all be on the same page.

Caleb. {15 months}

  

  We had Caleb's 15 month check-up this week and if there was ever a doubt that he's growing {there wasn't!}, I can confidently say we have a big kid on our hands. Literally and figuratively! Caleb is the 93% for weight and 26% for height and is right on track for all the developmental milestones he should be hitting right now. {I realize none of this is exciting to anyone but me, roll with it mmkay?}
  We don't go back to the doctor until December for his 18 month visit, and by then he'll likely be a big brother already! If these past few months are any indicator, Caleb will have grown leaps and bounds by then. Since his first birthday, he has started talking, walking, following simple commands, interacting with us more, and playing independently. So many changes and milestones in such a short amount of time!

  At 15 months, Caleb loves: milk, fruit, walking everywhere, talking in the car, playing with Dad, Murphy, monkey, older kids, reading, Daniel Tiger, swimming, riding his CAT truck, saying No for fun.

My favorite things about this exact age are: how much he loves and anticipates when Justin's home, watching him explore on his own, how he repeats a new word over and over as soon as he learns it, our morning snuggles {they don't last long..}, his wobbly walking, the excited sound he makes and arm flapping he does when he thinks something big is going to happen {before supper, when he sees Justin, etc}, how serious and reserved he still is with new people and then how goofy and loud he is once he warms up!

Thursdays with Caleb. {22}

{no picture until I can capture our little guy in motion! Which is harder than you'd think...} 

 Two weeks ago, I was sitting on the couch upstairs and out of the corner of my eye I noticed Caleb had let go of his little chair and took 4 wobbly steps to his box of blocks. All on his own! I immediately started clapping and encouraging him to do it again. He was so confused/annoyed with me. But ever since that day, he's been taking more and more steps on his own and is now officially a walker!
  In keeping with his low-key, somewhat stubborn nature- he only walks when he wants to. Usually when no one else is looking and definitely not when you try to encourage him to. He pretty much always squats to the floor if you start cheering him on. We're nearing the end of those quirks though, since by now he really does love walking and does it all day long! So so cute and wobbly with his chubby belly sticking right out to help him balance.
  And, since strangers asking me why he doesn't have shoes on every time we go grocery shopping wasn't motivation enough, we finally bought him some real shoes! Turns out our child has really really small feet {but chubby!} and we had to order them online because most shoes in his actual size aren't meant for walkers. Oh, my chubby and disproportionate child, I love you.
  And mostly I'm just excited that I won't have to carry him across the stage at his high school graduation {I was starting to worry...}, let alone once this new baby comes! You guys. Carrying a nearly 30lb child while pretty seriously pregnant is quite the feat. If I ever doubted it, all the looks and unsolicited comments I get from strangers confirms it.
  But yay! Caleb's walking!

Thursdays with Caleb, {20}

 Caleb just gets more and more fun everyday! Here are some fun facts about Caleb at {nearly} 15 months::

//can say Mama, Dada, Dog {dah}
//since vacation, he points to all moving vehicles and says 'dada' {after seeing his dad out on the boat/jet ski}
//has zero schedule and is this close to moving to one nap a day
//is a crawling/cruising champ and haze zero interest in walking. Zero.
//loves to play independently!
//wakes up extremely happy every morning
//thinks hitting the dogs with his toys is hilarious
//lights up every time he sees his dad
//...but is starting to become more and more attached to mom
//growing so much! He's into 12-18 month clothes all of the sudden
//his appetite is slowing down. Finally! He eats a normal amount of food these days {as opposed to teenager sized portions}
//knows where his tongue is and is learning to find his belly {but has no problem pointing to mama's growing belly}
//has about 8 teeth!
//has a love affair with doors. Opening, closing, banging, all of the above bring him extreme joy.
//loves play dates, especially with older kids!

Thursdays with Caleb. {19}

{I'm embracing the blurry photo phase of life right now}

  We have a word! Caleb's first word! I'm sure I could argue that he has been saying 'mama' and 'dada' for months now, but really- he hasn't. He says them all the time, but assigns no meaning to them at all, so I don't count them as actual words. But anyways. He really truly has a word now. DOG! 
  I know. Could my dog-loving heart be any happier? He not only loves our dogs, he made it his very first word! He points at them or looks around for them, exclaiming 'DA!'- he's very clear interpretation of the word 'dog'. IT IS THE BEST THING EVER. 
  Every morning and after every nap, I let the dogs into Caleb's room before I go in and he loves it. He stands right up, points and reaches to pet them, and screams DA!  You can hardly tell from these photos {turns out dogs and toddlers don't cooperate for photos. rude}, but it is adorable. I usually make Murphy stand close to crib so Caleb and pet him and I can shake his fluffy tail for Caleb to giggle at. You'd be right in assuming Murphy hates it, but totally tolerates it.
  So that's it. you can resume your Thursday activities knowing that my life is 100% complete because my child's first word is DOG! :)

Caleb. {twelve months}

  Last monthly photo update! You won't see any tears from me about that. And better late than never, right? Man, have these things become exhausting!

  Caleb is SO fun right now. {And large! Did you see how big he's gotten??} Around 11.5 months, he mastered crawling and has just taken off since then. Crawling everywhere, cruising, pulling up on anything, and walking with his walker. He slammed all those skills into a few short weeks and life at our house has changed drastically! He plays games with us, loves his cars and trucks, and gets so excited about his favorite books these days. So much of a little boy!

  We go to the waterpark a least once a week and Caleb loves it. He crawls around in the water until his face goes under, loves to splash, and watch all the other toddlers. We had a play date yesterday with his friend Owen, and by the end of it Caleb had learned how to climb up onto his Anywhere Chair! So crazy to see him growing like a little weed.

  Another sign of being a little boy? Having real opinions and mini tantrums when told no- a word he hears a lot of these days. So we're working on teaching him yes, too!
  

New this month:: crawling, cruising, walking with walker, starting to say Mama, learning to climb, down to one bottle of whole milk and two naps each day, 1st birthday party

Ps. See his how he's grown over the last 12 months or just pop back to see how tiny he was at only one month old!