Caleb

I needed to make a list of all things Caleb to help those that are helping us with Caleb while we are in the hospital.  Most of this list is more of a way to make the adult’s lives easier(help with frustration) than it is a must-do-list to keep Caleb happy.  Then I decided it would be fun to document some of the things that are Caleb at 22months.

*Disclaimer-if you are not keeping him you might want to skip this post as it will have A LOT of crazy details! Some are funny quirks and some are boring how to-do’s.

• Breakfast is baby oatmeal(mixed with almond milk or apple juice served cold), blueberries and a sippy cup(apple juice or almond milk). He is flexible with other meals and snacks but this is pretty much a standard.
• He feeds himself with a fork or spoon(does best with baby oatmeal and applesauce, but we let him start feeding himself and then help as needed.
• Watch out for his allergies. Remember: milk, egg and peanut. The epipens are in his diaper bag and laundry room. Benadryl is in his diaper caddy in his room and in his diaper bag.(Benadryl dose: 3/4teaspoon)
• Juice cups are half juice, half water.  Leave his cup where he can get it but offer it to him several times during the day and refill it as many times as needed.
• He will not tell you if he is hungry(or thirsty), he will start getting a little cranky.
• The schedule is on the fridge as far as times for when he usually does things.
• Bibs are up to you. Bib now or stain treatment later…your choice!(sometime we do choose the later for some reason.)
• “No” means “no” ,well and “yes” sometimes. Use context! You will know when “no” really means “NO!!!!”
• “Baa” means everything…have fun with that one!(it is even what sheep say). The more he is excited or dead set for something the more baa you get and the louder!
• Clapping means “yes”, “more”, “want” and of course “YAY”.
• He tries to say “pain”, you can tell he is trying to say it because it starts with a “p” sound but the real clue is he points his two pointer fingers together(or pinches the top of the other pointer finger). He will use it appropriately but he also has made a game of it. He says “pain”, you say “where” and he points either to his feet or his booboos that are on his knees. Just play the game!
• He also likes to pray A LOT! He will clasp his hands and say '”pray”. Pray a short prayer(other wise you will run out of things to pray-for I am not joking!) and then his favorite part is saying Amen together. (its more of a slow drawn out version like aaaaaaaaaaaaa(really quiet)-meeennnnnnnnnnnn.)
• “Barrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr” means “please play my Barney Dvd”! If you say “Barney?”, he will then really exaggerate it out and say “barrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr-y”. He will ask for this all the time. Please only let him watch it once/day! You might have to hide the remote controls because they remind him of it!
• Other words he tries to say: ball, go, bath, brush, book, buttons, Mom/momma, daddy(daa-e),juice, berry, back(as in the body part and as in put it back), splash
• If he throws a book at you(and maybe even says “no” at the same time) that means “please read this book to me!”
• If you ask him a question about what he wants and you get some chinese answer kinda like “ming ma ming” that means “yes” too!
• If you are out and about and its getting close to naps, change his diaper, take off his shorts,socks and shoes before you put him in his carseat. If you are trying to make it home with out him falling asleep don’t give him his burp cloth. But sometimes no matter what you do, he will fall asleep. Just be quiet when you get home, and slowly transfer him into his bed. He should stay asleep. This happens to me several times a week.
• Sometime late morning turn on the AC in his room. When you lay him down for naps turn AC off, floor fan on low, and ceiling fan on too. (we turn the ac back on in the late afternoons too to get ready for bedtime, if you think its hot and needs it. his room is the hottest in the house). Leave his door slightly cracked. Fans on for bedtime too. Curtains closed if AC off, curtains open if AC is on.
• If he holds something behind his head, he is asking permission to throw it. Sometimes he throws it anyways.
• He sucks his right thumb. He also like to hold something in that hand. Ideally it would be one of his burp cloths(no preference to which one) but will settle for any cloth, maybe even your shirt collar or sleeve if he is cuddling with you.
• Gate closed if he is upstairs!
• Bedtime routine is bath, brush teeth, lotion, pajamas, read a couple of books in chair, turn out light and rock and sing to him for a couple of songs. Once you are done singing, don’t make eye contact, just place him with his burp cloth in the crib and walk away. He will probably cry. Don’t fall for it, keep walking out and crack the door. He doesn’t need covered with a blanket.  If he is still crying after about 10minutes, go and try the rock and sing part again.
• In real life likes to point out every dog, balloon and airplane. Knowing that is what he is “talking” about helps out a lot.
• In books likes to point out moons, boats, dogs, airplanes and balloons. (again that just helps you understand him!)
• He likes to hide in the bathrooms(even if its dark and close the door), in our closet, or under Ansley’s crib and wait for you to find him.
• He is NOT allowed to touch the stairs with out us telling him it’s ok and being right behind him.  He is excellent at crawling up, but you have to really watch him going down “feet first”, he forgets what he is doing and will just sit down and fall. It might be easier to carry him down. (or you can practice his new skill of holding his hands and helping him walk up and down them)
• Bath time. He will either love it or hate it. If he is having a good time take a long time, if he is mad and/or crying go as fast as you can. You don’t have to baby him, he is ok/likes to have water poured on his head and loves to be splashed.
• Brushing his teeth. He does this several times a day on his own, yes we let him walk around and play with them!(There are two green toddler toothbrushes around, and there is an adult on in our bathroom(look for the frayed look!). When getting him ready in the morning and right after bath, we will sit him on either bathroom counter(add his baby paste) and attempt to brush them for him. Sometimes he lets you do it longer than others. (please focus on the top front ones the most!)
• YOU(yes, I am talking to all the grandparents here) can tell him NO. Don’t be afraid. Please say no to the whining!
• At home activity ideas: books, play doh, color wonder markers, window markers, crayons, hit the ball(more like golf), baby pool/water hose, sandbox, fort, playing with toys in his wagon, wagon walk, letting him just walk in the street and explore
• On the go activities: Parks, library, Children’s museum, errands
• All the books on the bookshelves(even adult books) are fair game for him to “read”.
• Physical therapy with Mrs. Kristy is Tuesday mornings at the house 8:15-9:15am. She might ask you for Barney DVD on, a kitchen chair in the living room,or a burp cloth(there will be tears and snot that need to be cleaned up)
• Education therapy with Ms. Kim is Monday afternoons at the house 4-5pm. She might ask you for the high chair(lowered) to be brought into the living room to strap him into so he will focus on her activities.

{I will update this as I think of more things that are Caleb! Check back before you watch him for the most updated list!}