5 months!

So, since we are getting ready to take our 6 mo pic, I thought I would put the 5 month pic up! I am a slacker! We have recently moved into a house in Clemson, school for me and work for Jermile has started back up, so we have been a little busy the past few weeks! Caleb started eating a month ago (well, single grain cereal) and is enjoying it! He is amazing us everyday with all the new things he is doing. He loves loves Beasley, loves to be outside, makes the funniest noises when eating, is talking (babbling) like crazy, is so content and easy to please, is "scooting" around, is a wiggle worm when you are trying to hold him, is laughing like crazy, puts EVERYTHING in his mouth, and is overall just a sweet sweet little boy. He reaches for whatever he wants, whether that is someone, a cup, a bottle, you name it, he reaches for it. He has found his little ear and is constantly playing with it. He is also putting his feet in his mouth whenever he has the opportunity! Well, that's all for now. More later!

Where did June go?

Is it already July? This summer has flown as they always do, but I feel like I am missing periods of time and then I look and my baby is 4 months old! I cannot believe he has been with us now for 4 months! We just had his 4 mo check up and he is doing great! He weights 15 1/2 lbs and is 26 inches long. We won't talk about his head circumference, let's just say his little brain must be growing and growing in there! You can actually see for yourself below! Caleb is doing so many things these days and I have said this so much, but I don't know how in the world you can see the milestones a baby can make and not be fascinated with our Creator. I love love watching him learn how to do things, get frustrated and then finally actually do what he has been trying so hard to do. He puts EVERYTHING in his mouth. I know this is what babies do, but holy cow. He tries to put his whole hand in his mouth, chokes himself and continues to shove the thing into the back of his throat. He is a thumbsucker! I know there is good and bad to this, but it is the cutest thing ever. Of course, not when he is 5, but we will cross that bridge when we get there. He is reaching for, grabbing and holding things in his hands, pushing himself up on his elbows, babbling like crazy and has been for quite some time, kicks like he is trying to get somewhere, and doing such a good job at sitting with a little support. I love this little boy. He brings us both more joy than we ever thought possible! The nap thief has been visiting us the last few days and I am ready for him to be gone! Caleb has been such a good little napper and now after about 45 minutes, he is done. He is not all that fussy though. He will just look up at his mobile, laugh, talk to it until he is bored and then is ready for someone to come and get him (any suggestions/advice???).

One of Jermile's friend's parents have a house up in the mountains and they were gracious enough to let us go up there for a few days. It was great down time and everyone enjoyed it, including Beasley! Thanks Jonathan! I have decided I am moving in up there, so they will have some surprises when they come on the weekends!

I haven't posted his previous "bear" pictures, but this is his 4mo:

His cousins' 1st bday party. Is he almost as big as they are?

Evidence of the nap time thief!

LOVES his mobile:

The view from the front porch (at the mountain house)

Beasley had fun!

Rocking on the front porch

Has to have that thumb in his mouth!

4th of July:

Please vote!

So, many of you have gotten my relentless emails, but if you go here, click on search photos and enter Caleb and the city of Seneca, you can vote for our sweet boy to be eligible for scholarship money! He had 51 votes the last time I checked and some other little baby has 194! You can vote daily!

Just some pics for now...

Too much information?

So, I really don't know if we have many readers and for those that we do have, I assume most are female. This post may contain too much information for some of you, but I am giving fair warning! Poor Jermile has had to deal with this subject so much from me, so maybe if I write about this, I can once and for all let it go and move on! So, for the mom's out there, who so desire to give their little ones something that no one else can, the question of this day is not "Are you breastfeeding?", it is "I assume you are breastfeeding?" or "You are breastfeeding, right?" Now, this is an innocent question, but posed like this, makes those of us that have just had trouble (i.e., are now bone dry), feel pretty inadequate as a mom. I have struggled so much with the fact that I just cannot for the life of me provide Caleb with what he needs from me. I never thought I would have what nice people call a "formula baby" and God has dealt with me so much on pride in this area, and I do. He got about 2 months of a little bit of the good stuff, but honey, I am all out. Caleb's pediatrician put me on anything and everything to produce more, because heaven forbid, he get formula, but nothing has seemed to work. So, sorry readers, this is my release! No, I am no longer breastfeeding and yes, my sweet precious little boy is being fed the evil formula. I am so jealous of those of you who produce like cows. I do not. So, there. But, all this being said, I do have a sweet, healthy, happy baby who sleeps through the night and smiles at us all day. There is nothing like being a mom. Thanks for listening.

Back home...

A lot of this post is simply for me to remember things about my little man that I just might forget, so I want to keep a record of everything. Caleb is growing so quickly, which I am so thankful for, but at the same time, it is so crazy (and a little sad!) to see him changing so much so fast. The last time we went to the doc, he weighed 11.9 (50%), which is a blessing because he was a tad underweight the time before, and he was 22 inches long (25%). We won't talk about his head circumference that was in the 75%!! Thanks daddy. Anyways, he is so sweet, laughs all the time, smiles like crazy, talks his own little talk, loves to lay on his mat and look up at just about anything, loves to go on walks in his baby bjorn, at times has this little thing where he pants like a dog, loves to give kisses (that's what I call them anyways), and has this thing where he puts his little thumb in between his first two fingers (picture below). He has started to find his hands and goes directly for his mouth with them, sucks his thumb all the time, and has teased us with a couple of times sleeping through the night. That is not consistent yet though, so we don't expect it at all! We just got back from an unexpected trip to Auburn and Birmingham to see my family. It was such fun and he got to meet my dad, his great grandparents and his uncle Ryan, Adam and Aunt Tiff. I didn't take a single picture with his Susu and Big Sam which makes me sad, because he is adored by and adores them! But, with Susu around, I actually got to get on the other side of the camera, so I do exist! I am so thankful I have this time at home with my sweet baby and the day I have to go back to school and leave him all day is a day I am dreading even now. I love him to death and just can't get enough of him!

With Mimi on Mother's Day

My parents have this swing in their backyard and he could have sat in it for hours. He was so fascinated by everything around him. We spent a lot of time on this swing!

Cuddling with Uncle Josh

Meeting my dad, his great grandparents, Aunt Tiff, Uncle Ryan and Uncle Adam..

So, we went to God's country (Auburn) and I thought it would be nice to have the same pictures he will be taking on his graduation day to compare to now. Unfortunately, it was graduation, so we didn't get to take pics in front of the Auburn University sign (a long line), but he got to see what it would be like on his graduation day!

He does not make a fist without doing this...

A Sweet Day

So, I know we all get forwards that we simply delete and roll our eyes at the cheesiness of them, and I got a ton of forwards last week having to do with being a mom, but the one below made me cry…bawl. Shocker, right? I hope every mom out there was as blessed as I was today! I am so thankful for the most precious little boy in the world and a wonderful husband to share him with! Jermile took the time to take Caleb to make a picture frame for me with his little footprint on it (bawled my eyes out, again, shocker) and a beautiful necklace with my baby's birthstone in it. Again, bawled. What is wrong with me? Enjoy! Happy Mom's Day to all the wonderful moms I know!

A Newborn's Conversation with God:

A baby asked God, "They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow,
but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?"

God said, "Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you."

The child further inquired, "But tell me, here in heaven I don't have
to do anything but sing and smile to be happy."

God said, "Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you.
And you will feel your angel's love and be very happy."

Again the small child asked, "And how am I going to be able to understand
when people talk to me if I don't know the language?"

God said, "Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words
you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will
teach you how to speak."

"And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?"

God said, "Your angel will place your hands together and will teach
you how to pray."

"Who will protect me?"

God said, "Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life."

"But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore."

God said, "Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach
you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you."

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth
could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, "God, if I am to leave
now, please tell me my angel's name."

God said, You will simply call her, "Mom."