Easter

A little late, but here are some Easter pics. Unfortunately, Caleb would have stuck out like a sore thumb in this "suit" at our church, so he wore this for the Easter bunny and got to change in to something a little more comfy for church and his Easter egg hunt! He was precious in both though! My friends Janet and Alyss got to come to Clemson for Easter and enjoyed an amazing service with us at Newspring. Happy Belated Easter!

Caleb's Birthday Party

Well, it might have been two weeks late (had to wait to basketball was over so daddy could be there!), it might have been raining, I mean pouring, outside and we may have had over 20 little ones running around our house, but we are so thankful to everyone who came to celebrate our little man turning one!

Happy Birthday Caleb!

Sweet Caleb,

Happy Birthday little C! I can’t believe you are turning one. It seems like yesterday that I felt you kicking around in my tummy. I know when you are older and you read this, you will think it is cheesy and you might think I am strange, but I just want you to know how much our time together this past year has meant to me. I can tell you in all honesty, not a day has gone by that I have not cried when I have to leave my sweet little boy for the day (I am a softy now). I treasured the time I was able spend with you when you were tiny. Every morning, we would read out of your devotional book that daddy got for you. Then you would sit on my lap and just listen to me sing or talk. Now, you are walking all over the house, laughing when we tickle you, waving, giving 5, giving kisses (mostly to Beas), turning on/off lights, practically running with a huge smile on your face on your way to leap (fall) into my arms, repeating things we do, cuddling only when you want to, and developing your own sense of stubbornness (that, you got from mommy).

You have such a sweet and calm temperament, thanks to your daddy. I pray we will lead you gracefully toward Jesus, our Savior. I pray we model for you a home filled with mercy, forgiveness and discipline. I pray you will always have a sense of who God has made you to be and what His purposes are for you here on this earth. I pray you will move in your God-given gifts and your path would become clear. I pray you will surrender your life to the Lord and recognize your complete dependence on Him, you would always walk closely with Him and not miss out on anything He has for you. I pray you will receive the special touch from the Holy Spirit over your life. I pray you will always know you are the Lord’s, trusting where He takes you. I know I will make many mistakes, but I pray I will teach you how to forgive quickly and obey the Lord consistently. You have touched our lives in a way I never could have thought possible. I am grateful for every day I have with you and thankful, that, for now, you are mine to hold.

Love,

mommy

Time Flies

Here are some updates from the world of Caleb: He is walking! Holy cow. Overnight. This little booger is growing so much. Just some things he does and likes these days: he loves blueberries, I am talking would eat one of those enormous bags of frozen blueberries in one sitting, he has this habit of taking one sock off and leaving the other one (picture below), loves cheese, yogurt, banana, rice cakes (I know, Jerm says they are styrofoam, but my boy loves them), loves looking at himself in the mirror and smiling at his "friend," will put anything and everything his mouth, still loves his shoe, has 6 teeth, always has to have something in his mouth when he is on the move (Jerm attributes this to Beasley always having a ball in her mouth and Caleb is copying her), is testing the waters and throws his sippy cup on the floor while looking at you with a face that says, "I am about to do this and it is going to make you mad, but I am cute." He turns 1 in a stinkin month. Time flies. Ok, that's it for now on Caleb.

On to my sweet Valentine. So I have started student teaching this semester and am about to lose my mind. Along with HATING being away from Caleb for 9 hours a day, I am just too old for this crap. But, without my husband to love on me the way he does, I simply would not make it from day to day. I have known this man for 10 years and have never met anyone so kind- hearted, gentle, non-judgmental, forgiving and serving. I am humbled to serve alongside him in this lifetime and love him more than he knows. His heart for people is incredible. He lives on purpose and has truly taught me what it means to trust the Lord. Gosh, I love him. He rocks. Happy Valentines Day my love!!

Caleb loves looking out the window at the cars...

Caleb and I went to Auburn for the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP celebration. We went to the basketball game afterward to meet Aubie. I know he doesn't look too thrilled, but he was about to pass out! I was just thankful he wasn't screaming!

This is the best I could do for the 10 month pic. It is already time for his 11 month picture! Have I mentioned the fact that time flies?????!!!!!!

Caleb Rocks! War Eagle!

So, I have always realized that Caleb rocks, but as I look at what has happened in his first year of life, it just amazes me. Just a couple of things, his first Christmas was a white one, and we had a huge winter storm yesterday and actually had multiple inches of snow, AND…another drumroll please, Auburn not only WENT to the National Championship game, but WON the National Championship game. Am I dreaming? Someone pinch me. Did Oregon wear those socks on purpose? I am still in la la land. Caleb does not realize the significance of all that has happened in his life, but one day, I will explain that with his birth and first year of life, came some miracles!

Our winter "storm"

Caleb was not impressed at all with the cold white stuff

Beasley loved the cold white stuff

Caleb loves to stand on the couch (with someone making sure he doesn't fall of course) and beat on the window. This is what he did as Beas and I played in the cold white stuff.

He likes the view better from the inside the front door! Dressed in his Auburn attire awaiting the most exciting game in history. I am biased.

Just in case anyone was wondering if the shoe still exists. Yes, it does.

Our child is using this little lion to walk around the house. Soon, very soon, the lion will be no longer and we will be running around the house chasing this little guy. Love him so much.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Merry Belated Christmas! Hoping everyone had the Christmas we had! Boy was Santa good! This post is probably just for me because I am so not good at writing this stuff down and am forcing myself to document what our little one is doing these days. He has 3 teeth and cutting 2 more. He is the happiest little child ever, loves to gives kisses (well, when he wants to), lets anyone rock him except for me, LOVES blueberries, banana, and really anything edible, weighs 21 lbs (I said he loves anything edible, didn't I?), is bouncing and standing on everything, walking along the furniture, sometimes crawls on his hands, but prefers to army crawl when he really wants to get somewhere, is saying mama and dada and has been for a while (he sooo knows what he is saying, at least that's my story and I'm sticking to it), is needing a new car seat because he is outgrowing his infant seat (more on that in a minute), has the sweetest laugh I have ever heard, still loves Beasley and opens his mouth wide open so she can give him kisses, does not like to be held at all, is into EVERYTHING, loves magazines, loves our end table and pulling anything and everything off of it, thinks he can do more than he actually can but tries anyways, and is starting to imitate sounds we make. Gosh, I know there is so much more, but that's what I can remember right now. Ok, so I really don't like getting on blogs that are about parenting/advice/should do/know hows, etc. because they make me feel unfit, but I just want to ask ya'll something. By ya'll, I am talking to the 3 people that read this. So, as I said before, it is time to buy Caleb his toddler car seat and a while back, I read my friend, Bridges, blog on the debate between rear vs. front facing seats for toddlers. Click here to see it for yourself. So, I have so been looking forward to the day Caleb turned 1, so I could turn him around, but that ain't happening. I didn't even know there was a debate, but now that I have read and seen that video, Caleb will be facing the traffic behind me until he is 12. What did ya'll do? I'd like to know. And, I know I am an awful parent, but below are the first professional pics we have had taken as a family since Caleb's newborns.

Santa

So, the basketball team here hosted some underprivileged kids last week and gave them an awesome Christmas. Basically, these kids were paired up with one of the guys and were able to give a list of anything they wanted. They got whatever was on their list. It was such a fun experience to watch these kids faces light up…kids that aren't accustomed to receiving a lot. They were getting Wiis, clothes, DSI's, you name it. So, all this to say, Santa was there! Little man really didn't have a whole lot to say to Santa. He just kind of stared at him. We got some decent pics. He looks terrified but really wasn't, just not very impressed. We are getting so excited to spend our first Christmas with this precious little man. We got a little taste of it last night with having our Christmas with Jermile's family. Caleb was absolutely the center of attention and ate it up. He got a fun riding/walking toy that sings. This thing sings if you look at it wrong. We just love that. Anyways, Caleb loved it and just wanted to bounce on it. Ugh. I could just eat him up. Couldn't you just bite those little cheeks all day long? No? Ok, maybe its just me.