Learning to Share

Saturday Caleb was out a friends house, and for the first time since he turned two, I noticed he did not start shouting when another child started to take away the toy he was using. In fact, he was nice and either gave it to the child, or offered a trade. Apparently, he was really great in the nursery at church this past Sunday too (not one shout they said), and today, Monday, we had another playdate and he used his words or asked me for help if another child was taking the toy he was using. Wow! They actually do listen to what we are saying and it actually does sink in after awhile... Who would have guessed a few months ago? :)

Just in time for Baby #2 if you ask me. :)

Speaking of Baby # 2... can two pregnancies be any more radically different? With Caleb, I exercised every day, felt great, ate whatever I wanted (while striving for healthy) and had no, I repeat no issues. Sure I vomitted a few times, but nothing too noteworthy, and yeah, I was tired in the first trimester, and a little emotional throughout, but nothing significant. I LOVED being pregnant with Caleb, and did not understand why other people complained about pregnancy. And then...February came around, and before I could even pee on a stick I was fainting, exhausted, and nauseated. When I finally did get a positive test, the symptoms just got worse (infections, hypoglycemia, anemia, varicose veins, sciatica, etc.). Now don't get me wrong, I am thankful that I am okay and baby is okay, but I just have to marvel at how different these pregnancies are. Some say it is because I am having a girl this time (which no one but the docs know for sure) others just say pregnancy can vary. Hmm... I guess we will know soon. The due date is 11/4, but I am hoping for a little earlier.

Stasi and Sasha

Caleb has two new best friends! We have been praying for our good friends, Andy and Jill, for a few years now. They had been in the process of adopting two children from Russia. Back in December, they received their referral for two boys. They went on their first trip to Russia in January to meet the boys, and then had the excruciating 6 month wait until late July to go back to Russia to bring the boys home. They arrived in the US with their sons, Stasi(3)and Sasha(2)on August 13th and we just can't get enough of them! Caleb made instant friends with them and we look forward to our Wednesday playdate every week. Here is some of the fun we have had:

First Playdate at Tucker's Grove



Monkeying around in trees



Playdate at the Zoo





Aren't they cute!

Oops

So Caleb is in his big boy bed. Every night I check on him before I go to bed, and three nights in the row, he was on the floor. Although, last night he was not. It is so sad, but weird and funny too. I am literally in the next room working before I go to bed, you think I would hear him fall out. And there is a railing 1/4 of the way across the bed. He would have to scoot down and then roll off. Maybe he is crawling out? Anyway, Christian comes in and puts him back in bed, then he seems to be fine for the rest of the night. Poor little guy.

Is it weird, that I kind of want him to do it again so I can talke a picture to post for you all?

Big Boy Bed

Caleb slept in his big boy bed for the first time Friday night, all night!





We gave him a little cow as a reward. He is quite pleased with the new bed, and the cow. What a big boy!







Saturday night he started in big boy bed, but at 1:30am decided the crib was a better idea. Sunday he tried to take a nap in his new bed, but then wasn't falling asleep so ended up in the crib. Sunday night he slept all night in his new bed again.



Today he took a normal nap in his big boy bed, and he is currently sleeping in it now. Woohoo! Perhaps the crib will be available for baby #2 after all.

Now if we can just get potty training to go this quickly. :)

Sound of Silence

The 7 month silence sounds like: Caleb turning two, Christian assuming a lot more work, more ministry for both of us due to the work Christian assumed (which is a good thing, yet busy thing), me discovering I am pregnant and: anemic, hypoglycemic, with bad sciatica, varicose veins, throw in a staff infection and an 8 week unnamed infection, as well as the normal pregnancy issues of sleepless nights and exhaustion.

However, I have been inspired to start blogging again as it truly is a great way to capture the memorable moments in Caleb's life. And I know I am not going to remember much of this time I am pregnant, as I have been so sick and tired, so I want to write it all down before it leaves my mind forever because Caleb is doing some cute and amazing things. Already kicking myself for the time I have allowed to pass (although physically I don't know I could have kept up with blogging if I tried!).

So, pictures to come soon, and I hope to back blog (is that a real term?) at least one entry a month for the months I missed. For now though...

I am 32 weeks pregnant and Caleb is going to be 2 1/2 on September 28th. Wow, time flies. Last night he slept in his toddler bed for the first time. Although he had a few needs as he was going to sleep (change PJ's, need water, need to go potty) he did fall asleep at a reasonable time, happily, and slept straight for 11 hours! I had to take a picture. You will see how cute he is sleeping in his big boy bed soon.

Speaking of potty, he is well on his way to being potty trained. He does well going pee pee on the potty and his pull ups are often dry these days. He is going poo poo on the potty most days of the week. That is a tremendous joy to Christian and I as 2 year old poo poo is not our favorite parenting moments.

Caleb loved VBS in June and on the day they explained the gospel, he seemed to get it! Now he had a love for Jesus and the Bible before that, and mostly by just being exposed to whatever Christian and I were doing, as we have been intentional to raise him up in the Lord, but not to press upon him the need to accept Jesus. He told us that Jesus died on the cross for us, and since then has told us that Jesus is in his heart. Soooo cute!Here he is working on a craft and standing up front during worship with all the kids. The cute girl next to him is Anna, one of his good friends.






He loves playdates with friends, the Zoo, the beach, sports with Daddy (and sometimes mommy too), swim lessons, all of his cousins, grandparents, aunties and uncles, all animals, tractors, music and singing. Most mornings and after naps he sings to himself for awhile before he calls me in to get him. I love to hear him sing!

He is also becoming quite independent and experimenting with that which is sometimes fun and sometimes not so fun, but I am learning how to work with it (Love and Logic baby).

Caleb, I am so proud of you! You are growing up so quickly. I sometimes wish I could keep you my little baby boy, but then I see your growth, your joy in growing into a "big boy" and am excited for all your adventures and accomplishments. Truly, you are a sweet boy, my precious son, and I am so thankful for you. Today, you had a hard time being without me, you haven't done that in awhile. I can't help thinking it was because you had so many big boy moments this morning (first night in big boy bed, pee pee and poo poo by yourself on the potty, putting on your shirt and shoes all by yourself), that you needed me to reassure yourself that I am still here for you. I loved holding you and reassuring you how much I love you and am proud of you. It does not matter how "big" you are, you are always my son, I am always here for you, and I love you.

Tonight as we were reading our Bible story (kids version), you were very troubled that the soldiers were mean to Jesus and that they hit him. Daddy and I talked to you about how Jesus has the power (VBS) and that the soldiers couldn't hurt him unless Jesus allowed them too because Jesus had a plan, and that Jesus wins in the end. We told you that Jesus is strong, stronger than those soldiers (and you said "Strong like Daddy?"). You were a little reassured, but you continued to talk about how you did not want the soldiers to hit Jesus. We prayed about it together, but you were still troubled. We were able to distract you before you went to sleep in the hope you would sleep with peace, but I had to tell you then and remember now that you are having a similar response to that story that I had. Grammy tells me that she told me about Jesus dying when I was three and that I cried and was very troubled by the idea. I know that Jesus is so central to my world and I love him so, that recognizing the similarity in our stories gives me great hope that you too will have a love for Jesus that carries you through all the trials and joys in life, and I pray that for you every day.

Silence is over... there are just too many things to capture from your life to not note them.

Why I haven't been blogging...

I am tired and nauseated. Yep, sick and tired. But the last three days I have been feeling better, so maybe I will get back on track and blog about recent adventures with Caleb. We have been trying to get him to say, "I am going to be a big brother. Mommy has a baby in her belly; due in November." And although we can get him to say it when the camera isn't rolling, he won't say it for the camera, and I am too tired to think of another creative way to share the news. Caleb is very excited though, and hugs and kisses "his baby" in my belly every day. Tells the baby about the jungle, and animals, and anything else he can think of. Pretty cute. Today he was telling baby that his birthday is Friday and his cousins are coming to see him turn two. This baby will definitely recognize Caleb's voice when he/she is born.

No!

Oh, do I hate that word right now! Yes, I know it has value, and can be important, but Caleb is going through a bit of a defiant phase, and it doesn't help that I am extra tired these days. Luckily, he is incredibly social, so when he shouts "No!" at me I just start ignoring him and he shortly after says "Sorry, Mama, for shouting you." And then, of course I forgive him because he is so cute when he says he is sorry. Really though, when does this stop?

Any creative ideas on gettting rid of the No Monster? Christian and I realized yesterday that we need to not say it as much ourselves, and think of more positive ways of saying what we do not want him to do, which seems to help. Any other ideas?

I do realize he will be two in less than a month and it is par for the course, but I do not play golf well, so something needs to give. :)