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Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Happy 2 Months Caleb!

Has it been two months already?!

Again, I am late posting this, but I have just accepted that will probably the case for a while. And I applaud all those moms out there still faithfully blogging with multiple kiddos! You all deserve a pat on the back and a gold star. For real! Also since I am a couple of weeks posting this, it is crazy how much bigger Caleb already seems to me since they change so much so quickly their first year of life!



His stats
At his two month appointment, Caleb weighed 11 lbs 15 oz (42%) and was 24.5" long (96%). He can wear 0-3 month clothing best right now though some of them are a little short. His eyes are still dark blue and I sure hope they stay that way (this brown-eyed girl always wishes she had blue eyes), but we won't know what color they will be for good until later.

He is still sleeping in the swing at night. We are trying to nap him in his crib or pack n play occasionally but he will usually only last 15-20 minutes. The longest time he has slept is 8 1/2 hrs but that was a one time deal. He usually sleeps in 4 or 5 hr chunks, which is a huge improvement and Mommy and Daddy are both thankful for more sleep!



Things Caleb likes
-Standing up
-Looking outward when being held (still)
-Smiling when we "tickle" him/ talk in a high pitched/sing songy voice- He really started smiling socially around 4-5 weeks and we sure love his smiles! He smiles a lot, especially after his morning feeding.



-He can hold things a rattle and stuff animals

-He still likes when we read to him
-the mornings are his happiest time of day
-His kick n play mat- he's seemed to figure out it makes noise

-According to Daddy, John Mayer ;)
-Looking at the lights/fan/ up in general
-the mirror


-He still usually likes the Moby wrap, but his legs stick out of it- he doesn't like to be curled up anymore :(
One night when Caleb was 6 weeks, he rejected the Moby Wrap at Bible Study. It had never let me down before and I panicked, until I realized it was because he didn't like being all curled up frog legged in it anymore (tear...he is growing up so fast!). So now he likes it again; his little legs just needed more room.

His Dislikes-
Mostly the same as 1 mo., but he has had 4 car rides where he hasn't cried! (this is HUGE!)

And he doesn't mind being changed as much as he used to, which we are VERY thankful for :)


Big Events for Month 2 of Life
-I am so thankful I know a couple of friends using cloth diapers, otherwise I probably wouldn't have ever thought to try them. We started Cloth Diapers when he was 6 weeks old. So far I really like them (Caleb wasn't so sure at first)! We are using Bum Genius 4.0. They are much easier than what most people think of when they hear "cloth diapers". They go on really easily with snaps and the clean up in the breastfed stage isn't hard at all. It feels so good to save money and help save the environment. Washing diapers every two-three days beats spending $50+ a month on disposable diapers in our book.

Caleb wasn't so sure about his cloth diapers at first, but now he is a fan...and he looks so small here. He has already grown so much in the last few weeks!


-Caleb visited a Pumpkin Patch with Mimi and Paw Paw and Daddy and Mommy
when we first got there, Caleb was very upset and Paw Paw tried to calm him down for pictures :(



5 weeks old


-Caleb dressed up as a cow for Halloween (sadly, he wasn't too happy about this). I am so glad I chose to make his costume this year rather than buy it, seeing as he was only in it for less than an hour and wasn't a big fan.
so easy and fun to make :)

his little legs were so skinny...he's got a little bit more meat on him now :)

a couple of farmers and their cow




-Celebrated Aunt Kayla's Birthday with his first ever trip to a restaurant (Natalita's)
my beautiful sister is now 25!

-Met Uncle Rocky and Aunt Linda (he wasn't in a super happy mood)
It was so great to see Aunt Linda and Uncle Rocky- they came in town for Cole's football game against U of H


-Spent an afternoon with Melissa :)
I am so thankful for this amazing friend of over a decade. She is so gracious and generous and so sweet to come and spend time with us on her day off!

-weeks 5 through 8 were really rough in general, but we did start Gerber Soothe Probiotics and they seemed to have help a LOT. The box said "clinically shown to reduce crying by 50%", and I thought, "yeah...right" I think this has been true for us or perhaps Caleb is just growing out of his colicky/gassy/refluxy stage. He is still fussy in the evenings, but he has much more predictable awake/happy times. I honestly think he is growing really quickly and when he goes through one of his "growth spurts" he wants to eat a lot- and doesn't seem content often. We still haven't put him on reflux meds....I did ask the doctor about them, but she advised holding off a little longer and seeing if he outgrows this stage/seeing if the probiotics continue to help.

What God is teaching me now:

Two words: LOOK UP. During his second month of life Caleb began looking up all the time. I know this is common for babies, this obsession with fans and lights, but God has used it to remind me to look up (at Him) and to Him for my approval and purpose. The transition to stay at home Mom has been a little rougher than I thought. I am so unbelievably thankful for the opportunity and blessing of being able to have this time at home with Caleb daily, but I do miss teaching a lot. I loved my 7 years in the classroom and getting to interact with my wonderful and goofy and crazy teenagers daily. The job of teaching mostly seniors in high school filled me with an immense since of purpose and joy. I know not everyone is blessed enough to feel like their job is a calling, tailor made for them and a place where God has placed them for ministry, but I truly felt like I was in my sweet spot at Cypress Woods.

Now I am learning how to be in this new place, this new sweet spot God has me in, and God is faithful. For now I have my little classroom of 1, and I sure do love my student. I am reminded to look up to God, for He alone is worthy to be worshiped (Revelation 4). He should be supreme in my thoughts and affections. I should prize my relationship with Jesus first, above all others- I should LOOK to Him and be saved....

John 3:16, do you know it?

I think if you have ever been to a church service for Easter you probably have heard it..."For God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever shall believe in Him shall not perish but have eternal life"...

Well do you know what comes before it?

John 3:14-15:
14 As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; 15 so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.

What is this reference to Moses lifting up a serpent?  In Numbers 21:8 we find: "Then the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard; and it shall come about, that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, he will live." 


The people were yet again complaining to the Lord about their life in the desert and God sent serpents to teach them a lesson. Many Israelites died but then after Moses prayed for the people God told him to make a bronze serpent and anyone who simply looked on the serpent would be healed (fun fact: this is where the medical symbol that looks like a staff with a snake wrapped around it comes from). This LOOKING to is an act of faith. LOOK TO is synonymous with HAVE FAITH, place complete trust in/confidence/hope. When you LOOK to someone to handle a problem for you, it means you trust them to handle it- you are letting them lead. This is what it means to have faith, to place continual belief in and live dependently on Christ- a looking to, saying Christ, you live your life through me. Not my will, but your will be done. No matter what this life brings I know I need to LOOK up and to the Lord, for He alone is who I want to please. I have Caleb to thank for this reminder. I am sure God will continue to use him to teach me many, many things through out this lifetime.