Ode to Caleb

A few weeks ago, Caleb had his first birthday. We had the whole Virginia family over for cake: Aunt Cassie, Uncle Chanson, Aunt Bunky and Uncle "Rich", Cousin Zuri, and then of course Daddy, Mama, and Joshua. I doubt Caleb understood what was going on, but he loved eating cake and getting toys. Although Josh quickly confiscated the toys and still thouroughly believes they are his. Both Zuri and Caleb stuffed themselves with cake, Zuri looks a little like she is in a cake zone. :)

Oma and Pop Hardy sent Halloween cups and plates and cute Duplo toys that the boys love.

More cake...

The cake was supposed to be a puppy, but that didn't work out, hehe, so I just called it a cake monster and they liked that just fine. I just don't think I will do any profession cakeness anytime soon. :)

Mom and Dad Cooper sent a fun pop-up toy and little books. He still hasn't figured out how to pop them up, but Josh has and Caleb laughs and laughs whenever they pop up. Simple pleasures. :)

Tyson was awesome and took all the pictures, so sadly, I am in most of them and he is in none. :(

But he got this one of Cassie, Chanson and me, I think our faces are all pretty funny. But I am also slightly sleep deprived right now, so everything is a little weird in my head.

Probably telling Josh to leave Caleb alone. Hehe

And...Caleb is walking! (most of the time-ish)

So happy birthday little Caleb! You are still so cute and tiny and squeezable. I am so glad you are feeling better because we sure missed the happy Caleb. :) Hooray for being one and thanks for giving us this wonderful year!

Psalms

This morning I finally finished reading the book of Psalms in the Bible. I have never been very good at reading scripture at a quick pace, it takes me months to read each book. I have really enjoyed Psalms, I find each chapter fascinating. I find little verses that seem to apply to me, like having a quiver full of children, or how the Lord blesses grass to grow, which He has, our lawn is growing beautifully. The Lord is incredible. I love that every chapter acknowledges how great God is and how infinite His mercy is. The last verse in the last chapter is my very favorite, "Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord."

It is far too often that I complain about life and how tired I am or how much I have to do. There is so little I recognize the Lord for, when really He is blessing me immeasurably each second. So I am writing this to praise the Lord. I know He has given me everything I have, and I am so thankful for Him. It is hard to write what exactly I am feeling, but I just had to say this to as many people as I could and this was the best way I could think of. I love the Lord, I know He is real and He loves each of us more than we can even believe. So, look around you, and praise the Lord.

10-10-2010, a day to celebrate

I LOVE birthdays. I have a really hard time getting excited about them when I am not around the person for some reason, but when they live near, I feel like it is my birthday. I'm not sure why.

But as of 42 minutes ago, it is Caleb's birthday. I can't believe it was an entire year ago that I was laying in a hospital bed, so thankful for epidurals and watching my mom almost freeze as she slept sitting up and Tyson laying on such an uncomfortable couchish thing. I kept thinking about Josh and wondering if he missed me, worried that he would feel lonely or hurt that I wasn't there and wondering who the little creature was when I brought the other kid home. I was so worried about having another c-section, just thinking thinking thinking, and not sleeping like I should have.

But that little guy came, and we were both fine, and of course Josh didn't even notice I was gone he was having so much fun with his Grandma and Aunts and of course, Kelso. And now my little boys are just getting bigger which means I am older which I don't feel that way. Maybe someday it will catch up, but I hope not. Caleb is not a baby anymore. He is a toddler, with lots of little teeth, and a happy grin, and he plays peek-a-boo and eats all kinds of foods, and loves to dance, mimic words and watch Josh do whatever he is doing at that given moment.

I love that song "Don't Blink," I think it is called. It is true, you blink and you might miss something huge like a first step or rolling over, or falling off the couch or the bed or drawing on the couch or on the bed. :) I love my kids.

I am so excited that in a few hours I will wake up and "wake up" Caleb, although I know he will already be awake, poopy and crying because Josh is throwing toys on him or screaming in his ear or something horrible. I am still so excited. I can't wait to celebrate the little guy all day. I am so grateful he made it here, that he came to my little family, that he shares his little grin with me everyday. I am so thankful for birthdays. It is a day that says, "I pick this day to celebrate all the days of this year that I got to spend with you and gotten to know you and I just want you to know, I'm glad you are here for this birthday."

Elephant Slippers

Caleb and Zuri

I'm a Burrito!

Random Photos and a funny video

Kenni and I discovered that if I kept going at the rate I am with children, this is what I would end up with: 7,5,3, and two 1 year olds. Well not really, I would probably just have a 9 year old to add to the mix. But we had all these kids over at our house yesterday and it was fun. I'm looking forward to the future...I think. :) I love Josh.

And of course Caleb.

And little Eleanore too. We have been unusually social lately, I think it has been really good for the boys, and for me. Eleanore is so cute, I hope she picks one of my boys. Hehe

I don't know what face this is, but it is great.

Tyson had extra receipt paper from calculators that they no longer use, so Josh and Caleb had great fun with unwinding them. Then Caleb was terrified of them, so Josh would chase him around with it, poor little Caleb. That is Jack in the background, just so you know. Like I'm saying, unusually social.

My Dad was so cute and sent presents for us. He got the boys these little finger puppets and they LOVE them. Josh is sporting the hat for Tyson/Chris and showing the finger puppets, so cute, thanks Dad!

Josh loves to sit just like Tyson, it is so funny. They are just like each other, except Josh has my emotional side. He cries all the time, Tyson doesn't do that.

And of course there is Uncle Chanson and his German vidoes that the kids love. Shnappi the crocodile is so cute, I don't blame them.