Gloves and Books

Just like Caleb loves putting on our shoes, he loves imitating us in other ways too. That includes putting on the gloves I wear to do the dishes. He cracks up when he sees this video because he thinks the word "yucky" is pretty much the funniest word there is.

Caleb loves reading. Every morning the first thing he asks for is "books." We picked up this book from the library and it has been a favorite.

Tie and Nursery

Since we have 1pm church this year we have to put Caleb down for his nap at 11 and wake him just in time to get to church. As I was putting his church shirt on before his nap I told him we were going to church today. He automatically put his hand to his neck and said, "tie, tie." I told him we would put it on after his nap. He kept saying, "tie, tie" until I put him down.
When I woke Caleb up I put him straight in the car and just brought his shoes and tie with me to put on in the car. As I was putting on his shoes he said "tie, tie" and pointed again to his neck. As soon as that tie was on, he didn't say another word about it. How cute that he knows ties go on for church!
Also for a nursery update: Caleb LOVES nursery with a passion. He wants to go to nursery the second we get to church and by the end of sacrament meeting he is begging to go to nursery. We don't even have to walk him in the room, he just runs in and is happy. When we come to pick him up, he runs away from us. It is too funny but we are so glad he loves it.

Musically Inclined

Today we got the new Friend magazine in the mail and it has a picture of a snowman on the front. The magazine was sitting on the kitchen table and Caleb climbs on a chair and sees it. First he says "Snowman" then he raises his hands in the air and says, "Tall, tall, tall". I couldn't believe it. Sure, we've sung him "Once There Was a Snowman" before but I couldn't believe that 1. Caleb made the connection and 2. he said the words. He is so smart!
Sticking with the music theme, here's Caleb playing his guitar. He got it as a gift from our neighbor for his first birthday but didn't have interest in it at that age. I pulled it out a few days ago and he has loved it. It is so cute when he sings along with his playing.

Bean Bag Chair, sewing and "Go?"

We bought Caleb a bean bag chair because he needed somewhere to sit when he watches tv (I try to only let him watch it while I take a shower and while I make dinner). Caleb doesn't like the couches very much for sitting. He much prefers my lap and starts fussing when I take him off. Solution: a bean bag chair. He loves it!

I finished a denim dress, bloomers and a head band flower for our little girl:

Caleb does this thing now. Here's exactly how our conversation goes every time:
Caleb: "Go?" (he wants to know where something went, like a bird that flew away)
Me: "Where'd it go?"
Caleb: "Hmmmmm"

If I try to explain to him where whatever it was went he looks at me and asks again "Go?" So I just say "where'd it go?" He always puts his palms up in a questioning manner too. This has gone on for days now and he asks it about everything. I get such a kick out of it so I tried to take a video. After I say "Where'd it go?" for the 3rd time on this video you'll hear his "Hmmm"

We were waiting for some friends to come over so that's what he's saying at the end: friends.

In Dad's Shoes

Caleb loves walking in our shoes, literally. Here is one occurrence that happened yesterday.

Caleb has also learned a new trick that we aren't as fond of. He can now climb up on our tall bed. As soon as he figured out how to do it he was so proud of himself. The only thing is that he can't get down by himself. Let's hope we can keep him safe!
I also wanted to post about a Caleb characteristic. Caleb is friendly. He says "hi" to almost everyone he sees. Whether he's in his stroller on a walk, notices someone across our apartment complex or passes someone that looks at him in a store.
We went to Baja Fresh for dinner and Caleb was dancing in his high chair to the music playing. Two ladies at another table noticed him and Caleb said "hi". He kept dancing for them and smiling and just being adorable. As the ladies were walking out one said, "He has a great personality." I hope he keeps up the friendliness because I know it can be of great worth in the future!

Before I Forget...

One day this last week I wanted Caleb to just look a little nicer than a t-shirt and jeans so I decided to put a button-up-shirt on him. As soon as I put it on him and started buttoning Caleb said, "Church."
Caleb is right in that it is usually only on Sunday when we put button-up-shirts on him. I love that he made that connection and he knows we dress differently for church than we do on other days.

Shoreline Lake

I had yesterday off from work so we decided to make it a family fun morning. We went to a lake less than 10 minutes from our house and rented a canoe for an hour. It was such a beautiful day and I was so glad we went out!


Caleb did pretty good for the most part. He did try to get out of the canoe once or twice but after he realized I would not let him go anywhere, he stayed pretty stationary in front of me. I will say that the last half of the time on the lake Derrick did most of the rowing because Caleb was getting a little restless. The snacks we had for him did help though.

He's Nuts

We told Caleb one day he was nuts and it's been his favorite new word. He not only says it a lot but he says it perfectly. Here's a video from the first time we called him nuts and he was still getting a hang of saying it:

Painting & a Few More Christmas Photos

Derrick's Grandpa Rudy painted this picture. He made a copy of the original and gave it to us as a gift. We just got it back from the framers and we love it on our wall! Derrick has told me ever since we were first married that he would love to have one of his grandpa's paintings someday. Last year we asked about getting one, picked out our favorite and now we have it! It is so beautiful and adds so much to our rather bland living room.

Here's a few more pictures from Christmas that were on my mom's camera:

Christmas in San Diego

This outfit was one of Caleb's presents from his Gram. I love it!
Christmas day we had omlets for breakfast, opened presents and went over to my aunt and uncle's house for Christmas dinner. Caleb wasn't too into opening presents on Christmas morning but when we got home and had more to open from Grandma and Grandpa Isaacson he wanted to be the one to open every present (and of course we let him).

We also drove up to Huntington Beach and Caleb's favorite part was looking at the Christmas lights:

Caleb also loved playing Andrew's uklele. He kept calling it a guitar.

One day my mom and the three of us went to the San Diego Air and Space museum. Derrick was like a kid in a candy store because he loves planes and history. Caleb liked the helicopter you could climb in. I thought it was cool that they had the Red Barron's metals.


Caleb also was taken to the park a few times. He played on the playground, saw ducks and ran around like the crazy boy he is.


Derrick and I had a good time too. Our first day there we went to the temple together...our first time back to the San Diego Temple since we were married. It was very special.
We also went on a date for lunch and a movie. We saw Harry Potter and it worked out perfect because we finished reading the last three pages of the 7th book that encompassed the movie while in the theater. We loved having babysitters for Caleb!
It was a great vacation!

Sewing + Caleb Video

Here is my new Christmas present that came in the mail this last week:

I am so excited to get this because ever since we found out we are having a girl I've been constantly wanting to make things for her like dresses and headbands. I saw on a blog that you can make skirts on onesies. Here are the three I've created so far, the bottom one being my favorite:


Derrick, Caleb and I went to Chili's for dinner a few weekends ago and on one of the tiles on the table were the three colors: navy blue, white and bright yellow. I said to Derrick,"That tile would be so cute on a little girl dress. So, when I went to JoAnne's to get fabric for another onesie dress, I had my eyes out for those colors. That is where the idea for my favorite onsie dress came from.
I am thoroughly enjoying sewing and after one more onesie dress, I'm going to go for a real dress. Wish me luck!
For a Caleb fill, here's one thing he likes to do with dad because I almost never let him play at the sink:

Right now Caleb is actually sick with a runny nose, sometimes fever and we think ear infection. I'm going to try to make a doctor's appointment first thing tomorrow morning. Right now, the poor boy has been laying down for over an hour and a half and still can't fall asleep for his nap. It is so sad to see your kid sick!

Christmas Party, Treats and Presents

For a month now I've been hyping up Caleb for Santa. I got books from the library with Santa, found a video with Elmo and Santa and point out Santa pictures in all the stores. I though Caleb would be prepared for meeting him but I was wrong! Caleb was really nervous walking up to him but he would stand next to him and let Santa talk to him. See:

As soon as we tried to get Caleb close to Santa for a picture the situation turned from this:

To this:

Oh well, at least he made one friend:

That night I was a part of the entertainment. After leading the children in Jingle Bells and Silent Night I played a duet that I had played with my piano teacher in high school. My mom wanted us to film it so here's a little over a minute of the song. While Derrick was filming Caleb pointed to the screen and said, "Mom." He was excited to see his mom playing, which makes me happy.

Caleb got a nativity set in the mail from his Grandma Isaacson and he was so excited to get it open:

Caleb has also been enjoying the treats of the season. Here Caleb is sporting chocolate:

Things to Remember

1. Two weeks ago we were at the grocery store. Caleb waved and said "hi" to everyone that looked at him. In the checkout line Caleb said "hi" to the lady behind us:
Caleb: Hi
Lady: Hi, what's your name?
Caleb: Kay Kay (this is how he always says his name)
Lady: I'm Joan. Are you out shopping with your mommy?
Caleb: (pointing to my chest) mama

2. Yesterday I get a phone call around 5pm when Caleb and I are walking in the house from our last outside trip for the day. Caleb is never happy to come back home because he loves being outside so much. I turn on the lights put Caleb inside the house, close the door and I stand outside to talk on the phone because I couldn't hear over Caleb's crying protest to stay outside. After a minute Caleb is quiet but I stay outside. Then I see Caleb at the window. He looks at me, waves, and smiles really big like he was saying, "I found you."
Caleb disappears again. He comes back to the window holding the prescription hand cream box I had just picked up that day. Earlier I had told him not to get into the bag with the cream in it. When he held up the box he smiled really big again, shaking the box, it was like he was saying, "I got this even though you didn't want me to." Then he opens the box and pulls out the tube. Showing that to me too. The look on his face was priceless. That memory made me smile many times last night.

3. When Caleb wakes up, Derrick and I like to get him and bring him back into bed with us. However, Caleb is not very fond of sitting or laying still (I'm still waiting for a day when he will snuggle with me for more than 5 seconds). He will have us put him on the floor then he tells us "dow" for us to get down too. One morning when Caleb did this, Derrick sat up and turned to dangle his feet only inches from the ground. Caleb grabbed both of Derrick's feet and pushed them to the ground. Caleb means business when it comes to getting us out of bed.

4. Caleb loves this guy in our apartment complex named Doug. The things Caleb likes about him are: he makes funny faces at Caleb, plays peek-a-boo with him, does a funny dance for him that looks a little like an irish jig and says Caleb's name really deep. This morning Caleb saw Doug about 30 yards away on the other side of the parking lot. Caleb said, "Doug," then imitated Doug's dance and ran to him. It was so funny.

How in the world?

A few days ago we got a package in the mail: a beautiful painting that Derrick's grandpa Rudy did. After we took it out of the box and got the bubble wrap off we turned around and found Caleb decorating our Christmas tree with the styrofoam peanuts from the package. We didn't put any ornaments on the tree so we have no idea how he knew you were supposed to decorate a tree with more than just lights. I am always amazed at how smart he is for someone so young.

Thanksgiving Weekend

We celebrated Thanksgiving at Mark and Mary's house. Kevin, Mary, Lily and baby Sammuel were there too.

The food was delicious!

Caleb and Lily had so much fun together. They played in this room for a long time. Caleb couldn't do as much as Lily but that didn't stop him from trying or getting our help.

Whenever Caleb sees this picture he says, "Lil Lil."

Here's the pumpkin cake I decorated for dessert:

On Friday we drove to the temple. I went in while Derrick walked around the grounds with Caleb. Caleb loved the fountain and videos in the visitor's center. Caleb could have stayed there all day. On our way back we stopped at a mall to pick up some Christmas gifts. In Sports Authority, Caleb found the row of basketballs, footballs and soccer balls. We literally had to pick him up to get him to leave, he cried the whole way back to the car.
That evening we went to Rite Aid and got a 3' fake Christmas tree and lights. I really wanted just a small tree and Derrick, after a little begging, gave his approval. Caleb loves the lights and I am so excited to have a taste of Christmas in our house.


Also, after showing Caleb one or two times the picture of our ultrasound and telling him it was his sister, he now knows it's "siseh"

It's a girl!

Well, we've done it: covered both genders with our first two babies. For all technicality reasons I wanted another boy: hand-down clothes, same toys to play with, can keep their bedroom boyish and since the b-day's will be close it would make one birthday theme easier.
BUT, I am really glad that I will have a little girl to dress up, do hair (in a few years), and sew little girl clothes. We also have a few more ideas for girl names this time--though we still don't know the final name yet. Being at 20 weeks pregnant, we still have some time to go.
About the ultrasound: she was very active--stretching all limbs and constantly turning. The pictures they got weren't as clear as the ones we had with Caleb...oh well. Derrick and I still can't believe how completely formed babies are at just 20 weeks. Everything really is there from a beating heart to 10 little toes. Caleb sat in Derrick's lap for the full 40 minutes! We couldn't believe it, he was so good and for that, we are grateful. We can't wait to meet our little girl!

Sleep

Yesterday morning Caleb was a wreck. Unless we were outside he couldn't stay calm. Around 10am I laid down with him on the living room floor, his head on my arm, and I sang to him while stroking his hair. He eventually stopped crying and his eyes started to get droopy. After 5 minutes he was out. I was able to slide my arm out from under his head and he slept like this for a half hour:


I was at the computer with my back to him and when he woke up, he sat up, I turned around and he said, "Hi" with a slightly sleepy face and a smile. He has never slept on the floor like that before.
I also wanted to get a picture of our bedtime routine. Derrick or I will sit in the rocking chair and read Caleb books, then we turn off the lights and sing him a few songs. Precious moments.

Crazy Boy

There is nothing to compare to the energy level Caleb had on Sunday evening. It was crazy even for Caleb standards. He was running around like a mad man. At one point he did this over and over again, no less than 50 times (I am not exaggerating):

As soon as he would finish he would run back again to the first sofa and climb up. At one point I sat in the spot he used to get up and he started tugging at my dress and saying, "dow, dow" for down. I moved and he proceeded.
That night after dinner he also got up on the chair at the dinner table and started spooning the juice from our green beans into his mouth. He then started eating the beans and splashing in the juice. Then he stuck his head right in the pot and tried to get the beans that way. I tried to get a video but he wants the camera too much. So here's Caleb crying for the camera but it gives you the picture of where he was when he ate the beans:

Maybe this was all because of daylight savings time. He still is not used to it and he has been sleeping less than usual. I am hoping he gets adjusted soon.

Bravo!

I've been meaning to write this story down all week: On Sunday I had the senior primary sing my song, "We Give Our Thanks" for the special musical number during sacrament meeting. We sat in the second row (no one sits in the first) so I could conduct the kids from right there. Derrick was watching Caleb during the song and he said Caleb was hooked to those kids the entire time. He loved them singing. Then as soon as the song was over and I was gesturing the kids to go back to their seats, Caleb starts clapping his hands and said, "Yay!" He had a huge smile on his face. I at least have one fan!

Halloween!

We had two Halloween parties on Friday and I am convinced that Halloween is Caleb's favorite holiday. Caleb was a scarecrow, I was a farm girl and Derrick was a stock of corn.

There was a person in a dog costume and we are certain Caleb thought it was a real dog. He was in love with this dog:


Another funny thing that happened (which I wish we had on camera) was that I saw a two or three year old dressed up in a head to toe Elmo costume--hood and all with the eyes and nose on top of the kid's head. I knelt down and told Caleb, "Look it's Elmo." The second his eyes found Elmo he went running up to the boy, whose back was to us. When Caleb gets right up to him he's practically touching the boy as he circles around him to look right into his face. Caleb thought this was the real Elmo and he was ecstatic.

There was also a bouncy house there but it was always filled with big kids so we just held Caleb while standing next to the structure and we bounced up and down. He was smiling the entire time and he really felt like he was in there too. At one point a little girl came up to him from the inside and put her hands on the netting and let Caleb tap her hands. I always love it when kids older than Caleb make an effort to play with him because it makes him so happy.

We ate popcorn while we waited in line to get balloon swords. Caleb was going around grabbing every other kid's balloon, so we had to get one too.

After the work party we went to our church party. We ate food, talked to friends and did a little trunk or treating. Caleb quickly got the hang of reaching out his hand to take the candy and put it in his sack. We only let him get like 7 pieces or so but he loved it and ate a fun size bag of m&m's on the way home.
I made some yummy pumpkin cake for the party and decorated it like this:

With the extra pumpkin puree I had left we made pumpkin pancakes the next morning and they were the most amazing pancakes I have ever had. We used this recipe, in case you ever want to try them. I will certainly be making them again!