Cousins

The little man and I spent some time over with Carla & the kiddo's today... it was so fun watching Caleb & Aliza play. She's quickly learned about sharing her toys, and he's getting big enough that they're actually able to do things together. He seems to get a kick out of everything she does, whether it's running around or trying to smother him with a pillow. Once he's able to really run around by himself, those little mischeif makers are going to have a lot of fun! And Josiah's not too far behind. He's only 6 months younger, so in the longrun I see those boys being good buddies-- once Josiah realizes Caleb exists...

My poor little sick boy :-(

Last night marked our 3rd straight night of Caleb hurling up everything in his stomach. Poor thing. After being up since 3:30 with him the night before, we were all hoping to go to bed early last night. But of course, as I'm on my way upstairs at 9 with hopes of getting comfy in my bed... the screaming and puking starts up again. Brian got the World's Greatest Husband award for sticking with us and being there for him while he was sick. I know many men who would've just let their woman handle it themselves and would've stayed in bed. Not mine :-) So, after everything emptied his poor little tummy, he ended up zonking out just moments later in the position shown above. We couldn't bring ourselves to wake him, so Brian sat like this (with puke chunks all over his legs) for at least an hour. Thankfully, that was the last of it, and he ended up sleeping the rest of the night.... & so far all has been well this morning. He was mad at me for giving him Pedialyte instead of his bottle this morning (what our nurse said to do), so I caved in and gave him a piece of toast too. Sick kids are tough though! I'm emotionally spent after these past few nights... I can't even fathom how I'll be able to take the years of sicknesses to come. Phew.

CAPTURED!

Two days ago Caleb took his frist steps down at Grandma & Grandads. Was I ready for this to happen? Definitely not. He's only 10 months... I was certain I still had a few good months of crawling left before we began to climb this ladder. I figured maybe it was a fluke. Then this evening, he walked back and forth between Brian and I trying to capture random electronics that we shouldn't have been tempting him with (ie: cell phone, remote, baby monitor), & I got a little of it on my digital:

Watching this video made Brian and I realize how desperately we want and need a video camera. My poor-resolution, 1 minute max, digital camera clips just aren't making the cut any longer. We decided we're buying one the day he sells the house he's flipping. In the meantime, isn't my little man amazing?!

...Oops

I've been cutting Brian's hair for about 5 years now, and for having no prior experience or skills in this area, I'd say I do a decent job. Today I decided to finally invest in some clippers to speed the process along...

All went well until I tried to buzz the sideburns and something went so incredibly wrong. I could do nothing to mend my error, and the only option we saw fit (other than walking around like a clown for the next month) was to shave it. So I put the #1 clipper on and cried the entire time. Hopefully it'll grow back some in time for Janell's wedding....

Caleb and I got our hair trimmed up this past week too! He didn't handle this haircut half as well as the last one, but we got through it with minimal tears on his part.

Oh and by the way, he's up to 6 teeth now!

Not quite the outdoorsman... yet

With all the beautiful weather lately, we've been trying to spend more time outdoors (which, as many know, is more of a difficult task for me). I don't handle bugs well, or heat, or dirt... etc...

So, Caleb had his first experience in a pool this weekend. Despite the hot, humid weather, he definitely didn't like how cold it was. He also still doesn't like grass, and won't give many expressions other than his 'outdoors' face. We're working on it... but much progress is needed.

Bright Lights, Big City...

There's nothing like being in The City.... and nothing like being able to return to my humble little abode. Caleb and I spent last week up in Jersey visiting family, which was filled with many wonderful, happy memories. Then last weekend Brian and a few friends came up so we could take a trip into Manhattan to see my Broadway obsession, Wicked. Yes, I just saw it in December, and yes, the tickets cost way too much money, but it was 100% worth it in my opinion. It downright poured the entire time we were there, my shoes were soaked, and I looked like a frizz-ball, but we made the trek from 51st all the way down to 43rd to see Times Square... and of course no trip into New York is complete without me paying tribute to my two favorite celebrities, Anderson Cooper and Matt Lauer. After Rockefeller Center, we puddle jumped up to 57th and went to dinner at Jekyll & Hyde Club, which I highly recommend if you don't mind paying the extra $3/person for "entertainment". We then made our way down to the Gershwin and I sat in awe of my favorite leading lady, Stephanie J Block, at her second to last performace on Broadway. I had tears in my eyes twice, and had to yell at Brian in the middle of it for taking a "$200 nap". My recap doesn't in any way describe the fun I had... or how much I miss living up there-- but it was wonderful.

(Song titled No Good Deed, sung by Stephanie J. Block)

The clock keeps on tickin'...

Today is Caleb's 9 month 'day', and after doing the math, I also realized that yesterday marked his 39th week post birth. I was pregnant for 39 weeks, so as of today he's been out of me longer than he was in me (sorry I couldn't think of a more appropriate way to say that). Maybe I'm the only one that this seems significant to, but I don't like how fast the days keep going by.

This afternoon we finally made it to the Salisbury Zoo-- which I'd chalk up as a great experience. Sure I had a melt-down in the car afterwards because multiple bugs had planned their brilliant escape via our clothing, but I can see myself taking Caleb back. He loved the flamingos.

Oh, and if you didn't listen to the song with my slideshow (see post below), I'd highly recommend listening to it. I still cry everytime I hear it, and I've found myself singing it during those times I'm just staring at the clock wanting the day to end.

"You're gonna miss this.
you're gonna want this back.
You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast.

These are some good times,

so take a good look around.

You may not know it now,

but you're gonna miss this."