Super Caleb!!!

On our way to 2!

Caleb will be 2 in less than a month. I have been feeling so reminiscent of all how much he has grown up this year. Its been a while since I have posted a milestones update, so here goes nothing!

• Vocabulary! Caleb is pretty much a walking dictionary. He is SO proud of himself that he knows so many words. While we drive, I hear from the backseat "Bus! Bike! Car! Truck! Tree! Bird! Dog!" Around the house its, "Door! Chair! Vacuum! Cat! Kitchen! Window! Daddy! Mommy!" Its just adorable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  
• Caleb began talking in sentences a few weeks ago. He now says things like "Get up!" "More milk" "TV ON!" "Grandma's house" He also uses 3 word sentences, but I can't think of any right now.
  
• We're branching out on our TV shows. Caleb's favorites are Yo Gabba Gabba, Sesame Street, Blue's Clues, Dinosaur Train, Backyardigans and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. He knows most of the characters on the shows. It cracks me up when he bursts out laughing at a show.
  
• I went back to work full time in January. Caleb is with a babysitter about 20-30 hours a week. He is a little out of sorts being away from home so much. He's been waking up early and in the middle of the night, we think he misses us. I hope he adjusts soon.
  
• Caleb had about 4 ear infections in December & January. We were referred to the ENT for ear tubes. Caleb had a hearing test, which he did very well on but he was experiencing slight hearing loss. His hearing was below normal for regular toddlers, but on par with toddlers with lots of inner ear infections. Even though his speech is great, we decided we didn't want to mess with his hearing & having him always being uncomfortable with EI. He got tubes put in on 1/26. It was an easy surgery and I hope we are through with EIs!
  
• Caleb can recognize a few shapes including stars, triangle, hearts and circles. We are working on colors but he can usually pick out the color green.
• Reading! Caleb loves "story books." He has gone through phases being obsessed with certain books including "Green Eggs & Ham" and "If you give a Moose a Muffin." Caleb loves to point out items in the books.
• Caleb loves to dance & jump! He often points at us and says, "Get up! Jump!" He is such a crazy boy!
  

Crazy, Christmas & Cousins

Caleb was able to spend a lot of time with his closest cousins in December. We spent the weekend of Christmas with them, and then he stayed with Aunt Beth & the kids for a WHOLE WEEK! He had a blast. Beth sent me a few pictures of Caleb during his stay. He enjoyed a trip to the aquarium and his first time fingerpainting!!!



On Christmas Day we got all the kids together for a group shot, they were being characters! Daniel loves to make a silly face so all the kids joined in! I LOVE this shot! Check out their first group shot here.
The kids enjoyed opening presents together...


(Daniel's eye looks so strange because he had eye surgery just a few days prior)


Then a rare December snowstorm...

First Haircut!

Caleb's hair has been growing in thicker, longer and blonder. :) I LOVE his hair and have been dreading his first hair cut. It was almost down in his eyes and starting to get really knotty at the back. We took a trip over to Snip-Its in Brier Creek and had a great experience there!


Watching TV....
The tears came out in full force when the electric razor came out! But our little man has a handsome hair cut and looks so grown up!

Wordless Wednesday: We love Autumn!

Wordless Wednesday: Big Boy Bed!

18 - 19 months

Caleb is almost 20 months old. I have been meaning to post an update forever and just have not taken the time to do so. =( I'm so behind on his baby book so this blog is where I remember his milestones and cuteness!

Many of my friends have said that 18 months is a total change in their children. And they are so right, Caleb has just blossomed so much in the last few months. Let's see if I can remember all of his new tricks!

• We've had a vocabulary explosion! I don't think I can even remember all the words Caleb can say. A few of his new ones - drink, cup, hungry, pizza, pasta, train, car, truck, bike, plane, down, moo, quack, roar, BOMB!, , Elmo, Barney, purse, more, rain..... He also goes VROOM VROOM and Choo-choo when playing with his cars & trains. I really feel like we are able to communicate with him and it's so much fun!
• Caleb has a new fascination with music. We listen to a mix of preschool songs in the car and he really enjoys it. He likes the "Ants Go Marching" and "I like to Eat Apples & Bananas" best. He sings along with the BOOM BOOM; and signs/says eat. It floors me that he can comprehend that much!
  
• We've been doing a lot of reading lately, plus a trip to the nearby library. His favorite books are "Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can you?" and "Dinosaur Parade." He will carry book after book to us, sit on our lap and let us read a few pages before he grabs another one.
• We have settled into our new home in Raleigh. Caleb spent the first night at Grandma Kathy's while we set up his room. His first reaction when he got into his room was "WOAH!" I think he was surprised to see all of his things in a new place. He loves the new house and our yard that comes with it. We spend a lot of time outside, playing basketball, using chalk, riding the tricycle and the wagon. He would be outside ALL day if he could. (On that note, he can now open doors so we have to keep the doors locked to prevent runaways!)
  
• Since we moved, I have been trading off childcare with a friend/co-worker, Amanda. Her little boy, Wyatt is 1 month older than Caleb. The boys have fun playing together and I think its been good for them. Caleb can even say Wyatt! We also watch Autumn one day a week so Aunt Nancy can finish her degree. Caleb tolerates Autumn, but he does not like her stealing Mommy's attention!
  
• Caleb & I have been very active in our playgroup. We get together usually once a week with our friends. It's a great way to get out and I love the interaction. My "mommy friends" are a great support group for me and I am glad to have friends here with kiddos!

Alright, it's getting late. (Seriously 10:30 is late for me!) I'm signing off for now! I'll update again soon with his 18m stats.