Extra Push

Caleb needs that extra push for his gross motor skills.  I was able to call a friend that specialized in development and she gave me some “exercises” to do with Caleb.  We have been working with him on the floor, in his booster chair, on Kristin’s bench and on the exercise ball.  The fun part of working with a child is that it’s really just play. They must be working already because when we hold him up he will stand and (like I said in the last post) he can finally roll both ways! We will continue to work/play with C and hopefully we can get his skill level up! Thanks Kristin for your expertise!

 

Here are some of the exercises:Sitting with pressure on his legs, sitting on his knees and playing toys on the bench(funny face and all).

Einstein Hair

 

Caleb with some “Einstein Hair” 

I have a friend that makes comments on her pictures every time her son has “Einstein hair”. Well, Joy, I think we are in the club!  This was on our way home from Russell’s 1st birthday party at the park. By the way…while we were there, Caleb ROLLED OVER from his back to his belly for the first time!

A Visit from the Chupacabra

Early on Sunday morning, Caleb and I went outside to pick up the paper.  As I walked outside, I turned to the right and what did I see?  A Chupacabra!

After some close inspection and visits to a couple of cryptozoology websites, I came to the conclusion that we had a possum.  To make sure it was asleep, I threw a stick at it (you can see the stick on top of the possum).  Knowing that the defense mechanism for possums is playing dead, I had to be cautious, so I made Caleb touch it first (just kidding)

Because it was a Sunday, I tried to call Guilford County Animal Control, but they were closed.  The website pointed me to 911, so I called them.  Of course, they said there is nothing they could do, so I just left it all day. 

On Sunday, I came back to a dead possum.  I really don’t know why he came to our house to die on Father’s day, but he’s gone now, so all is well.

Father’s Day

Josh celebrates his first Father’s Day by taking care of Caleb all weekend! Happy Father’s Day Josh! Unfortunately, I had to work both Friday and Saturday nights, so the weekend was full of some Daddy and Caleb time. On my way home from work this morning, I stopped and got Josh some breakfast at McDonalds! I would have made a yummy breakfast but after working all night, a splurge of the MCD would have to do. Tonight we celebrated by enjoying each others company. We went to Sunday Music in the Park. We grabbed a pizza on the way and had a little picnic in the park. Friends, Casey, Jeff and Scott met us there. We all had a great time. (You can click on the collages to make them bigger so you can see the individual pictures and all their cuteness!)

Daddy and Caleb writing their cards to Gdad and Papa. And Daddy and Caleb modeling Josh’s presents-paddles and lifejackets!

Caleb giving Daddy his first Happy Father’s Day card before leaving for church.

Fun at Sunday Music in the Park.

A cute shot of Little C we got at the park.

Haircut Collage

I know I already posted pictures from his first haircut. But again Katie, is coming to my rescue! This program is Picasa3. I had a little trouble figuring it out-mostly because I didn't realize exactly how to install the program but now it seems to be working fairly easily! I do love the collage effect.

Test: Microsoft Live Writer

 

View Full Album

 

 

Left to right:Caleb trying on his new sun hat before bath one night. Caleb trying to get a sock off his hand-I was trying to keep him from sucking his thumb ALL THE TIME!

A friend, Katie, told me about this program that you can download called “Microsoft Live Writer”. If you are a blogger you might want to download this program because it is supposed to make blogging a whole lot easier. I am writing this in the middle of trying out this program so I am unsure how to do all that it can do but so far it is pretty cool.  

Caleb is looking through the patio table.

I convinced Josh to take me on a date! Well kind of a date-He took Caleb and I to the Olive Garden.  I love this restaurant, he is not a fan.  Caleb did good great! What else would be expect. When we left I made sure to praise Caleb for his good behavior-although we do expect him to give us good behavior and manners, I definitely want him to get some positive reinforcement for it.

It is kind of hard to do captions for your pictures when you have them layered. But I guess if your patient enough or really know what you are doing it would be possible.

 

This is our living room after playgroup-6 babies can sure make a mess. 

 

 

 

 

I used different “borders” on all the pictures as well as selected different “heading” for some of the captions. I guess this is all I will play with for this blog post but be on the lookout for many more “creative” posts.

 

Momma has a new toy and it’s free-Microsoft Live Writer!

*Disclaimer-I am not getting any compensation from Microsoft or Katie!

A Family Outing: "Beach Music in the Park"

We went downtown to "Beach Music in the Park" last night, just the 3 of us. They hold this event every Thursday in May and June every year. We went with our small group a couple of years back(when only one of us was pregnant and the rest of us weren't even trying yet!) and had a great time. That is when I learned that I love shagging. I having been meaning to go back ever since but for one reason or another haven't until last night. I finally convinced Josh to take Caleb and I. We packed up our chairs and some toys(and pj's) for Caleb and headed downtown for some family fun. It was such a great night-the building were blocking the sun and there was actually even a cool breeze. Add some beach music, cold drinks and some free samplings of food(and of course 10,000 of our closest friends) and it was one AMAZING NIGHT! Although there was no shagging this time around, there was some good quality time spent with my two favorite boys. The music was very loud and it was precariously close to bedtime, but Caleb was such a trooper. We all had a good time.

Mommy and Caleb

Daddy and Caleb
(both looking so cute!)

Mommy's view: Daddy and the stage

Playing toys in Mommy's lap

Caleb sitting up like a big boy enjoying the night

The grass felt great-so soft.

Wordless Wednesday

Pool Day

We went to a park and pool today with some friends. Caleb and I got there at 11, ready for a picnic lunch. After we finished eating Kathy and Eliza joined us for lunch, followed by Devon and Parker. The pool didn't open until 12, so we enjoyed some "dry"play prior to it opening. Heather and Cole joined us just in time to go into the pool. Cole and Eliza left a little early but Caleb and Parker played until 2! They were such troopers-so happy playing the water. We spent some time in the big pool with the rafts but most of the time was in the kiddie pool under the shade. What a great day! I can't wait to go again. Next time YOU should join us!

One cool kid at the pool park!

Mommy and Caleb eating our picnic lunch in the shade

Lunch
Mommy: Subway, chips and Diet Coke
Caleb: Squash/Zucchini, pumpkin and Apple Juice

Yummy

Caleb, Eliza and Parker's "Dry" play time

Using the float in the kiddie pool
(Kathy and Eliza are playing in the background,
sorry Heather and Cole that I didn't get a picture of you two!)

Parker and Caleb relaxing!

Devon and Parker

Mommy and Caleb
*maybe next time I should bring extra swim diapers for the tot behind us*

All smiles at 2pm!
Better get dry and home for naps before breakdown.

Activities

He has no interest in actually eating these puffs,
but we were working on his fine motor skills.
It takes some serious concentration.

Caleb focused again-playing with the water faucet.

"Catching" water will occupy him for a long time!

Cate

Caleb's cousin (or cousin once removed or something) came to visit! Cate loves some Caleb. She is such a big help and loves to play with him. We went to the park and she even took him down the slide(or sent him down the slide by himself-oops). She always wants to hold Caleb. Caleb is almost as big as she is at 4! I scientifically (using my hands) measured their heads-the same! Thanks again Cate (and Nicole) for all your help and love! Come back soon...

Cate: "Can I hold him?"
Us: "Sure"

She didn't like holding him that other way.
So she just picked him up by herself!

Caleb just hanging out.
Mr. Content

The brother Cate never had.
We actually have several "sibling" shots of these two!

Cate posing with all of her "accessories".
Nicole made her some daisy jewelry with the beautiful weeds! ha.

No more tummy time!

Caleb has a new trick! He rolls (on purpose) from his tummy to his back. He did it a couple of times several months ago but when I told the doctor about it, I said I didn't think "it counted", but he said it did. But this roll counts! Every time that we put him on his belly within seconds he has rolled himself on to his back. We are so proud of our little roller! He has rolled probably 20times in just a couple of days!

Bringing up Boys

Josh and I got this book and we are going to read it together. We have gotten through the first chapter and it has already brought us to tears! Here is a poem that James Dobson closes the first chapter with-get your tissues:

That Little Boy of Mine
by: Grace Wolgemuth

Two eyes that shine so bright
Two lips that kiss goodnight
Two arms that hold me tight,
That little boy of mine.

No one could ever know how much your coming has meant.
Because I love you so, You're something heaven has sent.

You're all the world to me.
You climb upon my knee.
To me you'll always be,
That little boy of mine.


We love you, Caleb Anderson!

Goofy mornings

Caleb gets up really early. Ok, so it might be normal for a kid, but if you know me at all, it's REALLY early for me! Our normal morning routine(if I am not working) is that we let Caleb talk and "play" with his bumper until a more reasonable hour-6am. After that Josh goes and gets him, changes his diaper and then brings him to me. I then feed him in bed(dreaming of the days when he took an hour to eat so I could delay getting up, now it's only 5 minutes on each side). After that we just lay around, and give Caleb toys, well it's more of whatever we can find in our arms reach, like magazines, the itzbeen, or our cellphone. This morning after he was bored with his "toys" we started getting silly! Only our pictures can describe:

p.s. He is wearing a diaper!