October 31

To compensate for yesterday's missing post, I will now bombard you with photos. I think this post wins for most photos in one post.

Chris was reading an article about Albert Pujols, when Caleb deposited himself in Chris' lap. At first, Caleb was content to just look at the pictures of Albie. But then he insisted that Chris read it to him. And he liked it. Any time Chris tried to stop reading the article, Caleb would fuss and sign more. The kid really likes his Cardinals!

We skipped church this morning to have family time and carve our pumpkin. Caleb wasn't interested in the pumpkin until Chris cut the top off. Then Caleb was curious about what was inside.

"Hmmm... what's in there?" (Note: he did not like pumpkin guts.)

Funny - Caleb's shirt features a mummy (and says "I love my mummy") and he currently kind of walks like a mummy. Or a zombie. Whatev.

Caleb kept trying to put his basketball inside the hollowed-out pumpkin.

Then Caleb went down for his morning nap. While he napped, I carved our pumpkin. When Caleb woke up, he got to meet the pumpkin. 

"Hi Mr. Pumpkin!"

Caleb was very curious, and eventually poked both of the pumpkin's eyes out.

In his costume, on his way to visit Grandmother and Grandad.

He was so happy to see Grandmother (and her remote). He really liked the costume she  bought for him!

What does the cow say, Caleb?

"MOOOO!"

We didn't take him trick-or-treating, but he was happy just to watch the little kids walk by while it was still light out.

He's so proud of himself when he walks!

And our pumpkin, with eyes re-inserted. BOO!



October 29

I love that my boys have traditions and routines. One of them is sharing a snack when Chris comes home from work. If you know Chris, you know that he is passionate about chocolate milk. Apparently, this passion is hereditary.

Either you're getting a preview of Caleb's Halloween costume here, or my child has morphed into half-man, half-cow. (I don't think such a creature has ever existed, even in mythology. A quick google search confirmed this... Should I sell photos to the National Inquirer?)

Chris used to give spoonfuls of milk to Caleb, until I suggested a straw.

(The blue thing on Caleb's shirt is a sticker from a banana that reads, "I love lunchboxes.")

Mmm... chocolate milk....



October 28

I took pictures yesterday, but was out late celebrating a dear friend's birthday so I was way too tired to post them. Maybe tonight.

As an apology, please accept this video of Caleb's vastly improved walking skills. Apparently, while Grandma babysat last night, Caleb learned to push himself to standing and announce, "WALK!"

p.s. Did the video work? I'm not sure if it worked.

Oh, and this one is old, but makes my heart melt. This is from the end of July. It gets boring after about 20 seconds, when Caleb gets stuck trying to climb over Chris' leg. But the first 20 seconds.... sigh.

October 27

I got to watch my nephew, Max, today.

Caleb alternated between being interested in and entertained by his cousin,

and being annoyed and confused by him.

He didn't understand that Max didn't need his milk, or that he couldn't hit Max with his drumstick, or that he couldn't have Max's bottle. And he really didn't understand why the baby was in the way when he wanted to sit on my lap and read.

But overall, he enjoyed his cousin! 

What a goofball. 

Max wasn't about to let Caleb get all the laughs, though. He was pretty goofy, too! 

It was a long day. Am I really going to be doing this in 6 months?

October 26

Can I just tell you that my child is hilarious? Oh, wait... I don't need to tell you. I can show you.

First, this slightly blurry photo. Sorry.

Caleb was playing in his room, and I was just folding laundry. When I looked up, he had made this "tower" and was so proud of himself!

Then, he started showing off with his hands-free headstands.

(Pardon the embarrassing outfit. The shorts were a spare pair in his diaper bag, that I was too lazy to remedy when we got home.) 

What you can't really see is the cell phone in his other hand.

See? Texting and tumbling. The dangers of this combination will be the next major public-awareness campaign, I'm sure. But Caleb had a great time until he crashed!

October 25

1. Caleb got a haircut today!

Doesn't he look snazzy? Just don't look too closely - they butchered the hair around his ears. But I'm pleased with it, overall!

2. Caleb got to play with his friend Cooper tonight! Cooper's family invited us over for dinner, and we had such a fun time.

Lest you forget, Coop is Caleb's friend who was born the day before Caleb. The boys have known each other since they were 2 weeks old! Here's a Coop/Caleb retrospective:

Their first meeting. I guess they were actually 3 weeks old.

A playdate at 7 months old (Sara and I were too busy running with the boys to take any pictures in the 6 months between this photo and the previous one.)

Swinging at 8 months old.

Afraid of the cow at 8 and a half months old.

Swimming at 9 months old.

Playing the piano at 12 months old.

It's been so fun to watch these boys grow up together! My only regret is that Sara is now sharing her awesomeness with teenagers in the classroom, instead of with me on the running trail. Caleb and I don't get to see Cooper and Sara as much as we'd like, but it makes me happy that Caleb has a friend from birth! 

October 24

I had the luxury of going grocery shopping without Caleb today, which was really wonderful. (Or, as wonderful as grocery shopping can be.) When I got home, my boys didn't meet me at the door, which is a little unusual. I opened the door, arms full of groceries, and was greeted by the sound of Chris' maniacal laughter. I turned the corner, and this is what I found:

(I have to show you a gabillion photos to capture the true hilarity of the event.)

Yes, that is my baby with a pumpkin bucket on his head.

He would put the bucket on his head all by himself,

and then reach

and crawl blindly all over the place.

He was having so much fun

and he thought it was all really funny!

The especially funny thing was that he kept doing it! He would put the bucket on his head, crawl around until he lost his bearings, remove the bucket, laugh hysterically, and then put the bucket right back on. Chris and I were both near tears from laughing so hard! 

As I unloaded the groceries, Caleb discovered that I bought a new pillow at the store (not at the grocer - duh!). He couldn't resist the pillow/bucket combo.

He dove headfirst into the pillow, saying "Pumba!" (his word for pillow)

Yep - it was a really funny afternoon!

October 23

Did you notice that I skipped a day? Because I skipped a day. Because I can do that now that my one-year goal is over. I didn't take any pictures yesterday, and when bedtime came around, I had the choice of scrambling to take a bathtime/bedtime photo, or just enjoying bedtime. It was so liberating to make the choice not to take a photo and skip the blog!

Right now Chris is hanging out with some friends watching UFC, and I put Caleb to bed about ten minutes ago. I can hear him talking quietly to himself on the monitor, and it is the sweetest thing.

I had a busy morning, and a headache in the afternoon, so no photos of the fun the boys had together this morning, or their fun visit with Grandmother at the park. All I have for you today is this:

Caleb and Chris were in the bathroom, and I was sitting on the floor outside the bathroom. Caleb thought it was so much fun to play peek-a-boo behind the door!

I love this kid. He's such a good bear!

October 21

Oh boy, what a long day!

We had MOPS today, and on the days that I organize a creative activity for the ladies, we don't get home until 1:00. That means poor Caleb totally misses his morning nap. Add to that Caleb's current separation anxiety, which means that when I drop him off in childcare at 9:15, he's crying and when I pick him up again at 11:40, he's still crying. Did he cry the whole time? Who knows.  Ugh. Regardless, it's exhausting.

But Caleb fell asleep in the car on the way home, and slept for nearly 3 hours, which meant that we had a lovely afternoon.

He gave his pumpkin a kiss

and was cheerful and wonderful!

We blew bubbles, rode his bike, danced in the living room, and read books and books and books. (At one point, he scooted from the living room into the kitchen with book in hand, saying, "Wee! Wee! Wee!" No - not little piggies - it's his way of saying "Read! Read! Read!" What a sweetheart!)

 

October 20

It's just a habit by now. I can't quit.

This has been one of Caleb's favorite games for a while, but I haven't gotten any pictures until now.

I was folding laundry and putting it away, when I turned around and couldn't find Caleb. Only mildly concerned (really - how far can he scoot?), I called out, "Caleb?"

And then the closet door slid open.

And he thought it was hilarious.

What a fun game!

Later, we visited Grandma and Grandpa. Caleb's major concern was Grandpa's motorcycle, which was parked in the driveway. As soon as we pulled up, all I heard was, "Papa. Papa. Papa." (Grandpa and motorcycle are the same thing in Caleb's world. I have no idea where the kid got this idea, but it's pretty funny. He has a book with a picture of a motorcycle that looks a lot like Grandpa's. If you hand him the book and say, "Caleb, find Grandpa." he'll turn to the page and point to the motorcycle.)

So Grandpa let Caleb sit on the motorcycle.

In this shot, it looks like Caleb is silently begging me to let him take it for a spin.

Grandpa even started the motorcycle up, and Caleb didn't get scared at all! He seemed to enjoy the vibrations.