Halloween

Okay, so the costume didn't turn out as cute as last year, but...hmm...funnier this year...at least on the practice run!  :)  Maybe it's just me, but these pictures crack me up.  We had a vest that Beth gave him from the Alamo, and spent two dollars for the gun and hat. 

 Where do I start? :)  Mexican?  No, cowboy!  :)  (am I allowed to say that?  PC?)  We just kept laughing while he ran around outside because he didn't look like we had planned.  I think it's the mustache and the cheap hat that kept unrolling on the sides to create a sombrero look.

 And the boots!  We couldn't find any real boots to borrow, so I figured I'd experiment with paper bags real quick to see if they even came close without much effort.  Nope!  SO funny!  I think it looks like he broke both of his legs and has casts on.

 This is fuzzy, but I think the most "Cowboy" looking picture of all.

 It was hard to even get pictures with his hat on since he kept pulling it off.

 Also a Dollar Tree gun with ammo in his cargo type jeans (very UN-cowboy as well).

 But he's cute! 

I think he's running back home to change. 

 My costume, for our church party, was a flop as well.  I was supposed to be his horse, but the ears I made at the last minute made me look like a donkey, so I didn't wear them. I just made a tail with a small amount of yarn that I had, wore brown and pulled my hair to the side.  I think people just thought I was supposed to be a cowgirl....and must have wondered what the yarn was for. :) LOL.  All for Caleb.  Oh well.

 Matt's costume DID work out!  Mad Scientist!  I loved it...and he won for best costume!

 Caleb had fun playing with bowling pins...and a few other kids.

 He found a cowgirl friend!  You can kind of see his scruff here, although some had already worn off.  I liked this look better than just a mustache.

 These aren't the best pictures but it was the best memory.  All the kids came into the room to do a parade, and as soon as they entered the room and everyone started clapping, Caleb got SUPER excited, started clapping, laughing and looking around at everyone.  No shyness here! :)  He LOVED it, as did his friend behind him (6 months older) who was a hobbit.  I liked seeing him enjoy being in a crowd and the crowd enjoying him.

When all the kids filed out, he wanted to stay, so I picked him up and galloped out.  Maybe people figured out my costume at that point. :)

Hopefully next year will be better.   At least we had fun and didn't spend a fortune. :)

Business Baby

You may think that I just play all day, but I'm a business baby.  

I have to wait for important phone calls...

 ...and keep track of important paperwork.  Sometimes I just carry it around with my phone to make sure I have it when I get the call I'm waiting for.

 I take my work very seriously.

I'm good at improvising with the every day fast-paced and changing demands.  You may THINK that having no pockets when I don't have pants on would cause me to lose my credit card....WRONG.  I just pop it in my mouth.  No hands needed either (My photographer wasn't fast enough and took this as I was about to use the card after holding it for a while in my teeth).  

 I'm committed to working even after hours.  As you can see by the fact that I'm relaxing without pants on (no questions about having no close on in prior pictures. Those were most likely taken BEFORE hours), it's already nighttime when I got this important package.  Do you see me waiting until the next day to get things done?  No.

And believe me, it's worth the extra focus and time...look what I got!  My new big-boy car seat!  All in a days work!

(Thank you to Grandma and Grandpa for my new ride!)

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! :)