100th Post!

In one hundred posts, we've sure gone through a lot of changes! From Caleb in the tummy to Caleb pounding on tummies, from dog-proofing to child-proofing, from late nights playing games and watching movies to feeling like we're staying up late if we aren't in bed by nine. It's been an amazing time, and I wouldn't change a minute of it.

Caleb's doc appointment went very well yesterday - he wanted to make sure his ear infections had cleared up. And not only was Caleb given a completely clean bill of health, but he was given a Snoopy sticker for being such a good boy! He didn't even cry when Doctor Lewis had to use puffs of air to move his ear drums. Yay, Caleb! (He would have clapped along with me, but he's eating right now and can't spare the hands...)

After the appointment, I took him to school, and popped him in the middle of the kids while I unloaded his stuff. He immediately folded himself in half and started wailing. (That's a new trick I wish he hadn't learned.) Olivia scootched over to him, and he was holding out his hands to her. She took one, and he immediately calmed down and started playing with everyone. It's really amazing to see a connection like that. I always thought it was irritating when people said their kids had "boyfriends" or "girlfriends." It's like, why force a term like that onto an infant? You'll have to forgive me for taking us back to elementary school, but she's a girl and she's his friend, but not his GIRLFRIEND! That being said, however, Olivia IS Caleb's special friend, with whom he shares an attachment that Jonathan and I can't give him.

Last night he refused kiwi for the first time. He was having yogurt and kiwi, and I finally got to see him work his magic. He would take the spoonful, suck the yogurt all off, then spit the kiwi out. I tell you what, that kid will be tying cherry stems into knots in NO time! But I hope he doesn't decide to stop liking too many things. Oy!

Gotta go, my baby is trying to charm me, and I have to go succumb...

Monday morning...

This morning, Caleb woke up very early. I suspect he knows he has to go to the doctor. He's being very much clingy and overly cute, as if to persuade me to take him for ice cream instead.

He got to spend a good chunk of the weekend just with daddy! Friday night and Saturday morning, I went to the Women of Faith conference at the Pepsi Center before I was felled with a migraine the likes of which the world has never seen. So between the Excedrin I'd taken for the pain and the NyQuil to knock me out, five hours after I got home, I could open my eyes without hoping to die. Mister Bob came over to play with the boys while I was dead to the world. Caleb enjoyed "guys only" time, I think. There certainly seemed to be a lot of coordinated belching.

I think next weekend might be the time to do another cultural event. Mayhaps the zoo, mayhaps the butterfly pavilion or something. Caleb is just drinking in the world, and I want him to be exposed to as much of it as possible. It's a good thing he's still not too walk-y. I would tremble for the peacocks...

New use for Laundry baskets...

I shopped for groceries last night and Jonathan picked up the big boy. When I got home, he was holding the upper edge of the laundry basket, and using it to stabilize himself as he walked all over the kitchen! He would just slide it in front of him. It made me realize that we probably need to get him one of those "lawnmower" toys that help a baby walk, then convert into a little bike or something. (And wouldn't you know it, the camera was at Jonathan's work!) But it was so cute! The only concern came when I watched him push it right out the back door and fall down when it toppled. Poor bubba!

This morning, in what I perceived as payback for letting him fall, he grabbed the giant rock that used to sit in the fish tank and let it tumble gently onto my right foot, having already head-butted me and bitten my cheek. He's a rambunctious one, that's for sure! But he's slept through the night for the last week, so I'm sure he's just really feeling a lot better.

He's such a little peach! He's just looking at me know, blowing raspberries, talking to the puppies and grinning SO happily! It's a blessing to have such a pleasant and precious son!

Catching up!

Goodness gracious it's been a long time since I posted! We've been busy at the Fashbaugh household ~ Caleb's first ear infections, antibiotics, gal-pals, and an increased mobility keep us on our toes.

The little man had increasingly interrupted sleep last week, and I was starting to worry about him. Also, he was a little fussier and cuddlier than usual, so I knew something was up. But he maintained a pleasant attitude with no fever, so I tried not to be a neurotic mom, really I did! After a couple days of knowing something wasn't quite right, I took him to the doc. Ear infections in both ears! Shoulda been neurotic a lot sooner!

He also has a friend at school named Olivia who has become his partner in crime. They sit and talk and play and make each other laugh - and kiss. Niiice! When I first saw her, I thought she should be on the cover of baby magazines and has the personality of a peach, so he's already got great taste!

And he's brought about a change in his nursery ~ he can climb into the low window! No one else does it, but Caleb will move a toy over to stand on, then pull himself the rest of the way up.

And he got to master the stairs at Grandma and Grandpa's house this weekend. He went to spend Saturday with them so Jonathan and I could have a day to celebrate my b-day and just to play all day! It was fun, and we enjoyed ourselves IMMENSELY, but I didn't long for the old days at all. Caleb keeps us more focused on life - he enhances us, if you will. Rather than just being Jonathan and Amanda having a good time ALL THE TIME, we treasure our times alone, but love our time with him just as much.

You know what I just realized? Caleb didn't buy me a b-day present!

We had one more bit of a milestone this week - he's started taking steps holding onto someone with only one hand. He's been doing that with furniture for a while, but with people he seems less steady. It's so fun to watch him develop! He's also getting more and more vocal, still. We were at the park last night, and there was a birthday party for a little girl going on, and he was "talking" with the kids on the swings. I don't know what they made of him, but they were really pleasant. There was one guy who kept Caleb entertained by being a monkey on the swings. Caleb laughed, and I laughed, and then Caleb tried to eat a pine cone buried in the sand.

We left shortly thereafter.

So much fun!

Time is starting to pass me by at a dizzying rate. I don’t think it has anything to do with the fact that I’m getting older, I just feel busier than ever before. It’s hard to admit to myself that I can’t do the amount of things that I used to ~ but that realization is tempered by the fact that I don’t WANT to! I’ve got a baby boy to play with!

Said baby boy isn’t so much of a baby anymore ~ he’s getting to be a BIG boy! (Twenty three and a half pounds at his last appointment!) He’s never content to stay in one place – he’s always crawling, scootching, squirming or pulling himself up against anything that has even the tiniest grip. It’s the latter that makes me laugh the hardest. He’ll pull himself up on my pants leg, on the dogs, on the refrigerator door, or the dining room table leg – although he can’t quite figure out that if he pulled himself up on the OUTSIDE of the table leg, he wouldn’t get stuck underneath!

He’s also discovered the toilet, leading Daddy to a frantic rush to Home Depot for childproofing supplies! You’ve all seen how much he enjoys the dog bowl? Multiply it by about three. The other childproofing issue is electronics, but we haven’t figured out a solution. I know at Angela’s place, everything is hidden behind glass doors. But our big hand-me-down entertainment center isn’t equipped with such delicious things.

So! Other new stuff – we had our first camping trip this past weekend! Hooray! (Actually, as I type that, I’m saying out loud “Yay, Caleb!” which causes him to throw whatever he’s holding to the floor and applaud wildly.) He learned how to “high five,” and “high ten,” and had his first exposure to stairs! Since we don’t have any in our house, and at his Grandparents’ houses, the staircases are steep and terrifying, I’ve never seen him try. But in the RV ~ which makes tent camping look ludicrous ~ there were three stairs, and he mastered them on his first attempt.

Up, anyway. Down? Not so much. But that will come with time. Of course, I’m still not letting him near any full staircases, so it might come with a LOT of time.

He also had his first exposure to face melting sunburns. Yay, Caleb! His little left cheek blistered the next day with a sunburn that didn’t even look very bad. Gotta love that mountain sunshine! Also, he got to traverse Estes Park on Grandpa G’s shoulders, charming anyone who had the great fortune to cross his path. It’s pretty ridiculous how much that kid likes people, and how they respond in like.

What else? He loves fire, hates marshmallows. His sneezing trick is happening less often and is less impressive, but he still manages to keep people in stitches. And his kissing is still hit or miss – he starts with the kisses, and, well, now Miss Serena’s face has felt the full force of four and almost a half teeth. Oops!

Yesterday for the first time ever, he saw me when I came to pick him up from school and kept playing! He gave me a big smile, then turned his attention back to the toy he was pounding on. He’s SUCH a boy! Miss Isabella was crawling from me to Miss Sethanie, touching hair and offering kisses, and there was Caleb, pounding a butterfly toy with a hammer. Nice. Anyway, it made for a nice change – usually, as soon as he spots me, the waterworks and wails begin. Soon, maybe he’ll be pleasant in the mornings when I drop him off! (But I’m not holding my breath!)

Starting to think about his birthday! I think I’m going to do the full-on crazy parent party. I want to invite everyone who has put so much into his life, both while in utero and his first year. I want to show them what their input has meant, and let them know how much we appreciate it! I think we could have a very good time! Probably the planning will be three quarters of the fun, but I like it!