Oh how quickly they grow.

So our little boy Caleb is now over a month old. It is amazing to me how quickly the time passes. And despite the unbelievable volume of bio-waste that ends up in his diapers, he has grown a surprising amount. Here are some pictures for comparison.

















AMAZING!!!

Justin the Chef

Justin really likes the show Iron Chef. For those of you who aren't familiar with it, it is a show that allows aspiring chefs to challenge an "Iron Chef" (Of which there are 5). Both chefs have one hours to make scrumptious, attractive, creative dishes that all use the "secret ingredient" (like melon, octopus, fennel, etc.). It's really enjoyable...
And every now and then Justin likes to try out his own skills.

When we first got here, he grilled us some stuffed hambruger patties. They were quite good! so good, in fact, that the flames wanted to eat them, too.




Then, just recently, he decided to bake a cake for Dad's birthday (last Saturday, the 19th).
We put the actual number of candles that Dad was turning...and the happy cake became the porcupine man from X-Men. Amazing that he is still smiling.

Again, what a talented husband I have!! :-D

Pitchfork Sleeping

Caleb really does love to sleep with his arms wide open. We think he got used to that when he had the Bili-bed...he also hates to have his feet confined. We usually just cover them up so that he can still kick them around. I remember that.

Caleb's quirks and one month of JOY

So, I realize I have not updated on the post-Utah situation at all. I have more pictures but we are just every so busy, that I have not had a chance to get them uploaded to the computer.

Anyway, after one month of having our baby boy, here are some of his little idiosyncrasies:

1. He loves being clean...or hates being dirty. Anytime he poos/pees, he refuses to do the other until his diaper is changed. He will also refuse to eat if either of these has occurred. Once we change him, though, he finishes his business. Sometimes it takes two more diapers. He went through 50 diapers in 3ish days. CRAZY! lol But he hates baths.
2. He does not know how to cry himself to sleep: we let him cry for a good 45 minutes and he was going just as strong. He won't be happy until the situation is alleviated. Then he goes right to sleep.
3. He grunts. All the time. Usually it means he is waking up or he is going poo.
4. He loves to stretch. If you pick him up after he has been napping, he arches his back so that his bum is in the air when you hold him. It's adorable!
   
   
5. He loves to sleep with his arms above his head, like his arms and his head make a fork shape. haha, he gets upset if his arms are held down...and he'll always find a way to get them out during the night.
6. He whimpers sometimes when he's asleep.
7. When I put him in the wrap, he refuses to have his head held down for security. He loves to just let it drop backwards and look around at everything. Also why he does not like to be in his crib if he is awake. He prefers the swing or just laying on the floor. Then he can see things.
8. He likes to sleep with us in our bed. It makes him feel secure, I think.
9. He eats like a horse!! Sometimes draining me completely and then eating another 2 ounces of formula! (luckily, he takes formula/bottles no problem. and it doesn't affect how he breast feeds)
10. OH! and he is ticklish!! I love to tickle him while he eats!
    

Caleb is a wonderful little baby! I love being able to spend time with him and just see these changes and developments happen. He has such a personality! It's great!

Made with Love...

Justin worked for HOURS (and I mean, a LOT of hours over the course of a month or so) to finish this beautiful cradle that we plan to use for all our children. It's gorgeous!! It's made of made of ash and walnut. And it even rocks! Literally! lol

And then our beautiful baby got to sleep in the cradle after the Bili bed went away. He's so small! and I love the height of the cradle--it's really easy for me to pick Caleb up.
(And Grandma Hart made this blanket for him. It's an heirloom, too!)

Here he is again...I need to show comparison pictures! He's so much bigger now! We actually weighed him on some sort of scale here at the house (a meat scale maybe?) and he was 10.5 lbs! crazy!

I know I will treasure this cradle for years to come! I have such a selfless and talented husband! He is a great Daddy, too. :D

Baby Blessing

Caleb was one day shy of being 2 weeks old when he was blessed...
it was a small gathering with immediate family and a few friends. We loved it!




Caleb's little suit was adorable, if a little big for him. Thanks Grandma Hart!

And my wonderful husband gave a beautiful blessing. Again...I love my family!!

Home from the Hospital

a little behind...Caleb is almost a month old, but these are from when he just came home.


Caleb had no shortage of arms to hold him...
Uncle Spencer, G-pa and G-ma Hart, and of course, me--his Mama.



His Bili bed experience! so sad...so glad he is healthy now!

I love my angel!