Half a year already!

So, I confess, I'm copying Angela's presentation of her little boy (thanks for the idea!)

At 6 months and one day Caleb weighed in at 18 lbs 13 oz (75th percentile) and stretched to a whopping 29 inches (99th percentile!). Don't ask me where he gets that length, but (thank goodness! haha) Elise assures me he will adjust to his "tinyness." lol

He certainly is a lot bigger...and he's a lot stronger now too! He likes to sit up, but he still topples backwards sometimes, so we put pillows behind him. He also like to lunge forward to try and grab things, but that makes him plop on his face, and he ends up on his tummy. And he hates it when that happens.

At the same appointment, Caleb also got a prescription for the rash on his neck. His pediatrician said it looked like a diaper rash on his neck: basically a yeast infection. Well, the prescription was making it worse, so we went back today for a second opinion, got a different prescription (same medicine, just powder form, not ointment) and an antibiotic. We're hopeful it will help clear up the horrid rash on his neck! It just looks...unpleasant, uncomfortable, and unattaractive. lol

So, that's the baby boy!! He's half a year old...almost out grown his infant carrier, sporting two front teeth, loves his veggis, but still adjusting to fruit, and LOVES his own sippy cup. He seems like less and less a baby and more and more a little boy.

He brings us so much joy and honestly makes us laugh...what a blessing!

Family Time

Justin works so hard and still takes time to spend with his son. I am so grateful for that. He always makes me feel so special and gives so much love to me and to Caleb. He's amazing! I wanted to just share a few Father/Son pictures...then a family picture. haha


This is at our Ward Valentine's Dance..Caleb was VERY tired...

And don't they look so cute together!! So happy, so handsome...and gratefully, so healthy!

One of us from the V-day dance. Do we see any of me in Caleb? Not so much, huh? oh, well, he's cute, just like his Daddy!
What a blessing!

Smiles are Contagious

Aren't they though? I mean, when you see someone else smile, you have to TRY to not smile too. Even if you don't smile at THEM, or anyone in particular, you want to smile.

Now, take that contagious reaction and make the catalyst a baby;
then, make that baby YOUR baby, and you can't even try to resist smiling back.
I find myself laughing out loud becuase Caleb is so happy, so adorable, and just so plain lovable.



I've been trying for a long time to get a smile caught on camera, but the flash always takes him by surprise and within a second the smile is gone. Well, one night I decided I'd try...and try...and try. and I finally got a few!!
This is the best one. It happened to be during bath time (and yes, that is a rubber ducky...he likes them about as much as his Daddy).

See...did it make you want to smile? haha, well, if not, you're trying really hard!

Caleb also likes to be lifted up high so he can see the world all around him. He wants to be big so badly! Well, he is big; he wants to be able to do so much more.

And just a bit of a collection. These are all from the pat few weeks.
(top left, clockwise)
1. He likes books. He loves the library books, but he can't eat those, so he settles for the 3 board books we have. :-)
2. During eating time. He eats everything. And grunts angrily if we don't feed him fast enough. It's funny. I just loved this picture of his eyes.
3. He enjoys tummy time a lot more now, especially with his new toys. We found this little wire toy in the attic. BUT, the star of this picture is the cloth diaper he is wearing. (I love them, by the way!! If you're considering it and have some questions, let me know!)
4. This is another smile I caught. I was squeezing another rubber ducky for him...and it made him laugh. lol.
5. I just like this face.
6. His feet are so cute! He loves them too, which makes them even more adorable!


Well, that's the update on the little baby boy! He's almost 6 months, eating solids, wearing cloth diapers, and we're pretty sure he's cut a tooth with many others working their way out. I can't believe how big he is getting (he's in 12 month onesies)...and yes,

He makes me smile everyday!! :D

Taking Small Steps

I love this picture.
I like how it truly illustrates how our goals feel sometimes: there's no way we can succeed, but we've got to try. We've got to start somewhere, because before you know it, each little bite has resulted in an entire beast of a task. It's amazing!!

Anyway...
I feel invigorated.

I mean, I've got a lot to do, and I don't have any more time, but I feel renewed intensity to make the best of things. Most of all, I want to learn and better myself; progress really is a blessing!!

Anyway, it's been hard living with in-laws sometimes. It's not our space, it's not my kitchen; I don't do the grocery shopping which means I don't plan the menus. That's tough. I often feel very confined...I can't spread out...


BUT I keep having renewed desires and commitments to make the best of this situation because we are blessed to have a roof over our heads. I keep having to remind myself ot really make the best of what we have. That can be tough.

My current initiative is to learn to cook more with beans. I decided on this through a number of events.

1. A few months ago we had a Relief Society activity all about cooking with beans: dried beans, bean soup, even bean pie. I was blown away, a little overwhelmed, but mostly curious.
2. Making a successful bean pie at Thanksgiving.
   
3. Realizing that we don't have much money, that meat is expensive, and beans actually have great nutrition.
   
4. After having a major success with one bean meal, I gained more confidence to continue experimenting.
   
5. I read my sister's blog post about Budget, and one of the comments from one of her friends described how they save money: they supplement their shopping with homemade food items: jams, jellies, breads, tortillas, etc. (Elisa, feel free to let her know...I don't remember her name, though...just read your comments!)
   
6. I played with the food dehydrator we found in the attic.
   

After all this, I decided

I want to be like that. I want to be "that" Mom who make things at home, who is frugal, who can make a meal out of nothing in the house. Most of all,
I want to be prepared.

I remember growing up, when my dad lost his job (a few times) my mother always seemed to be able to pull food out of the cupboards. Granted, this sometimes consisted of cracked wheat, wheat meat, and other not-so-yummy foods...but we had food. I want to be that creative, sufficient...whatever you want to call it.

So, I'm going to start experimenting with different bean recipes.
If you have any recipes, any ideas, I'd love to hear about them. I don't want to make JUST soups, and I don't want the meals to be boring...I'd like them to be made with other staples that I have around the house...I want to see what I can do.

It's a small start, but just like the kitty, I've gotta start somewhere. Wish me luck!

A Realization

It's amazing to me that no matter how much Caleb gets me up at night,

no matter how much I might get frustrated in a split second,
no matter how often he pees on me,
or joyfully spits out his food (which I think is hilarious, by the way!!!)...

I always seem to keep loving him.


And not just love him the same, but love him more.
How amazing is that?

What other relationship is so loving--so unconditionally loving--despite everything we might do?

Our Heavenly Father of course.

He loves us no matter what; He loves ME no matter what mistakes I make, no matter how frustrating I might get because of the choices I make, or the long road I take, or the strain I put him through. He loves me unconditionally and only ever wants the best for me.



It's funny how everyone says being a parent gives you a small glimpse, a small taste, of how our Heavenly Father feels for His children. I've always believes it...and today after 3 hours of sleep, when I look at Caleb and he still makes me smile and tear up with love and gratitude and joy...

I feel it. I love it. I feel loved.