Random Update

So here's just a few random life pictures...

 Caleb has several similar hand gestures which can mean, "please pick me up,"  "I'm finished,"  "All done," and other such things.  It's hard to remember to try and get them all on camera, but I remembered this once.

 Part of naptime routine is to read a few books in the blue chair.  Now Caleb sometimes asks to be put into the chair so he can read by himself.  Such a cutie (I think).

 Helping me with laundry is also a new favorite.  Not only does he LOVE rides in the baskets, but now he regularly asks to be lifted into the hamper, and then uses his hand gesture pictured above, this time meaning "please lift me while IN this basket and fly me around!"

 He stands up, sits down, stand up, sits down....so much fun!

 Finally, the liner falls down so then I get to lift him out and drop him onto the bed.  More fun! :)

 And of course the dryer has become a new thrill as well.  He loves to just sit and enjoy being somewhere new.   It's hard to get laundry done with this little guy around, but I'm not complaining. :)

 Just thought he was cute napping after church.   Time for a new car seat....gotta get that done. 

 This is from today.  He wanted me to pull this blanket out, which I did, and then he very happily sat down in the middle of it as though it was a new and exciting place to be.  Then he laid down and just enjoyed himself while listening to music.  It reminded me of when he was tiny and couldn't roll or crawl.  So I found a picture from around a year ago to compare.  Amazing how he's changed in such a short time!

Oma Judy Came to Visit

Matt's mom had the chance to come for a quick visit a few weeks back.  We were so glad that we were able to spend some mornings with her while she was here...and a bonus lunch on Saturday before she left town. :) 

I am always super happy when Caleb gets to spend time with his grandparents.  He took Oma on his morning walks...

 ....showed her some things he likes, like the neighbor kitty!

 One of his favorite books is one that she gave him last Christmas which has her voice recorded reading the story.  They enjoyed reading it together.

 I like this picture.  They look like they are deep in conversation catching up on life while he's eating some crackers for snack.

Time to share. :)  

Thanks for coming Oma Judy.  We love you and can't wait to see you again!

Sunday Afternoon

Here's a few pictures from our stroll around the new Palladio Mall after lunch with Matt's Dad.

 Yes, he LOVES rocks now...no matter how big.  He's always trying to pick them up...

...and carry them around.  This is right outside of Panera Bread, which has pretty much become our after church lunch spot with Chuck since it's his favorite place to eat.

 The stores aren't filled yet, but the grounds are beautiful.  There's a couple fountains with nice landscaping and seasonal decorating around the area.  Of course Caleb wanted to check out the water.  I wish I had taken a picture of the entire fountain.  Maybe later.

 A different fountain that we ended up hanging out by for a while.  Again, not sure why I didn't take a picture of the whole thing.

 Playing chase always brings some great laughs and smiles from all of us!

 A family came by while we were there and the kids ended up enjoying each others' company.

 Already chasing girls! :)

 I just like this one. 

A bit of CHEESE for the road! :)

i love going on walks!

I decided to post again instead of ma-ma.  I'm pretty proud of the fact that I can walk now.  I only want to hold someone's hand for help if I REALLY need it, which I don't think is very often.  the other night i even tried to run and scared mommy.  i don't know why she was worried.  the slope down the sidewalk is just TINY, and I've got SKILZ!!! :)

 Every morning before nap mommy and I go on a walk around our apartment complex.  Mommy and Daddy are really thankful for a quiet, pretty area without traffic or much to worry about.  I used to ride in the stroller, but now I just want to walk by myself.   Sometimes it takes me a minute to get my balance, but I just think it's funny and keep on goin'.

These pictures are from the 2nd day of cooler weather we've had in a long time.  Mommy put these new shoes on my feet, and when I first stood up I didn't know what to do.  I thought they kept me from walking so I just sat back down.  Mommy wouldn't help me so I finally tried to walk, and guess what....they are amazing!!! Once I got out the door I pretty much ran down the sidewalk and didn't want to stop! :)

 Long pant and long sleeves are kind of weird, not to mention socks, but I'll get used to them.  I already like taking my socks on and off and on and off (Mommy says that SHE does it, but I ask her to).  Look!  Do you see the little rock in my hand?  I found it myself!

 I not only like walking, but now I also like pointing out lots of new things all around.  I even realized that it's okay to walk on the grass and that if I get dirt on my hands, even though it feels weird, it's actually fun.  Do you know what THAT means?  Now I can also dig rocks out of the dirt, like this one!!! :)

Look, Grandpa!  It's a motorcycle!  Mommy says I can ride on your someday!

And here's a Doggy!  I LOVE doggies and even say "Dooo" when I see them!

 This is a different morning when we got to pet the kitty!  I also say "Keeee" in a high pitched voice when I see one of the kitties around our house.  One of them runs away from me, but this one and another orange one come and let me pet it.  I like to crouch in front of them and say "Hiiiiii."

 This is a Sunday afternoon walk when we all went together .  I get soooo excited that I walk with my arms in the air!

 LOOK!!!  More rocks!!  I can't seem to get these out though!

And STICKS!!! I usually find tiny ones and carry them around, but look at THIS one!!!  I also like leaves and barkdust!  

 Daddy takes me on long walks in the stroller a lot!  Then I get to get out and play and sometimes even eat dinner.  This is a park that we went to where kids were playing soccer.

 I can carry so many things now! :)  This is the camera case!  I like things with handles, like bags, flip-flops, and even water pitchers.

 Mommy laughs at me every time I just stand like this and look around.  I don't know why.  Maybe you can't tell from this picture what makes her laugh, but just in case she wanted me to post it.

Yep, I even get to eat snacks while I'm playing.  I got tired of Cheerios so I eat Oyster crackers and Goldfish crackers a lot now.

Walks are SO much fun!  I hope you can come on one with me soon! :)

Me Lately...

Mommy said that ever since I turned one I've kept her so buys it's been hard to have time to do blog updates.  Now she's trying to catch up on letting you know what I've been up to and I thought I should help. :)

Well this isn't me but it's my friend Clara.  She was born just 3 months before me so we get along pretty good.  Mommy said she thought that I was an active boy until she hung around Clara.  Sometimes she runs back and forth and jumps around so much I almost get scared.  I think I'm getting used to it now, though, and I even try to keep up with her.  Sometimes her mommy takes care of me, but this time we went to her house to take care of her.

 Mommy and Daddy wanted at least one picture with us, but it was really hard since we don't stand still for more than a couple seconds at the same time.  Mommy helped. :)

I learn a lot being around Clara.  I'm mostly used to being around grown-ups, except in stores and in the nursery at church.  Clara taught me some of her dance moves, which are fun!  I don't like it when she cries, though.  I get pretty worried and start crying too.  Mommy likes how I share with her... except I don't understand why she won't let me give her food I've chewed on or my sippy cup.  Hmm.  She says I also need to learn to share when I don't want to.  This just doesn't make any sense to me yet.  Good thing there are lots of toys that are alike. I'm giving her one of my crackers in this picture.  

 Ok, here's me back at home!  I really like books lately...even more than before.  I figured out how to dump them all out and sit in the basket!  It's pretty comfortable if you ask me.

 Mommy showed me her crayons the other day, which I couldn't figure out how to use the right way, but I just LOVE dumping them out and putting them back in the cup!

 It's a job I take very seriously!

 I also REALLY like the legos that I got for my birthday from the Parkins.  At first I would just watch people build but now I like to try to do it too!

Daddy sometimes tries to help but I tell him how it should go!  As you can see he's very serious in these pictures.  Actually, he's not really paying attention, which is why I had to show him he was doing it wrong.  He's listening to the A's on the radio!  They did REALLY good this year and even though his face doesn't show it here, he really enjoyed listening to the games and hoping for a HUGE win!

 Here's a better picture!  See!  He's pretty happy about how they were doing!  This is when I went to bed and he would turn the radio down so I could fall asleep!  He's a good daddy. :)  Sadly, they didn't get as far as he hoped, but he's still proud!

 Check this out!  We found a super discounted blow-up pool and slide since it was the end of summer!  We got it for next year, but I've had fun on the slide already!

 I drink lots of water these days.  Mommy is always handing me a sippy cup, cuz she says it will help my digestion.  I can finally poop regularly, but only because I have to take Miralax every day.  It's a relief for all of us to get better sleep now.  (hope that's not TMI)

 I really like sitting in chairs!  I get so proud and happy cuz I feel like a big boy!  I AM a big boy by the way!

 Have you ever tried sucking on your feet?  You really should!  The big toe is especially fun!

Mommy thinks I'm funny cuz I slurp so loud!  And, no, I still never suck my thumb. :)

Here's one of my favorite times of the week- right after bath time!  I get SO excited about getting on mommy's lap because I know she'll wrap me all up on a towel!  Then we look in the mirror, laugh and cuddle!  Time for bed! 

So that's a little bit about me lately.  Mommy will post soon with pictures of when we go on walks every day, and our Sunday walk with Opa Chuck.  I love you all and miss you too!