Half Birthday?!?

Is it really his half birthday already??  I always thought time went by fast before we had Caleb but I swear it goes by even faster now.  Did something happen where there are only 12 hours in a day now because I swear it seems like it can't be 6 months already!!

So Spring arrived last week and I thought MN was showing very little sign of Spring.  I believe I've always had a pretty positive spirit about winter...I love snow and come on if it's really that bad I have the choice to move, right?  However this year, this momma is ready for Spring and Summer!!  I feel like we've been cooped up because the first few months with Caleb we didn't want to take him anywhere because we didn't want him getting sick and it seemed like EVERYONE got sick this past winter.  Praise the Lord he survived winter sick free!!  The past few mornings I've heard the birds chirping! YAY!  One of my favorite sounds because Spring is on it's way!!  Every day Caleb and I look out the window and I ask him what he sees out there.  He's already taken a few stroller rides outside but excited for it to be a daily adventure instead of just peering out the window. :)

The last month has been yet another great month!  We love you Caleb, you bring so much happiness and laughter into our lives!  Happy 6 months handsome!

6 month milestones/likes:
He's sitting up by himself and he loves it!!
He got his first haircut...just a trim around the ears
When he's doing tummy time he scoots backwards just a little bit (I have yet to see this but both my mom and Dave have seen it)
He absolutely LOVES his jumperoo...he's starting workouts early to improve his vertical for basketball
He loves eating his feet.  Apparently they taste good?
He just tried oatmeal for the first time he took it down like a champ!
Still loves bath time and he still loves when we sing to him

 

March Madness

It's bracket time!  Every year Dave and I fill out brackets because it makes watching the NCAA tournament that much more fun.  Whether it's rooting for underdogs or number one seeds or teams that you've never seen play before, you all of a sudden become their biggest fan.  I remember a couple years ago I was extremely frustrated with my bracket so I crumpled it up and threw it in the garbage.  Not even five minutes later I walked over to the garbage, pulled my bracket back out and started unfolding it.  I clearly don't like losing and I don't apologize for that. :)  We heard this from our friends but I thought it was hilarious and pretty much sums up my attitude....How do you spell fun?? W-I-N :)

Dave and I both have very competitive spirits, we grew up playing sports and watching our favorite teams.  I believe having a competitive drive is important and it doesn't just have to be in sports, it could be in music or theatre or science, etc.  It's what makes us want to be better and do better!  The most impactful people in this world didn't just play for fun or play to tie...no they played to WIN!  I was very blessed to be a part of an amazing volleyball team growing up and now to be a part of an awesome business team.  I believe both have helped shape me into the person I am today.  Each team has helped me understand how to work with different types of people and their personalities.  It's taught me how to take responsibility for my part but also taught me the importance and meaning of synergy.  I've learned about goal setting and having big dreams!  That it's okay to fail as long as you get back up, learn from it and try again.  It has also brought me a LOT of laughter, fun and friendships!  The attributes I learned from being a part of a team have carried over into all areas of my life and I'm forever grateful for that.

I know not everyone enjoys sports but we certainly do and we have some big dreams and goals that revolve around sports.  Just a few are to go to the Olympics, watch a Wimbledon Championship Match, and to have season court side tickets for the T-Wolves!!  We are excited to accomplish those dreams!!  Caleb, I just want you to know that being a part of a team is a blessing and we encourage you to DREAM BIG!  Only God knows, but we could be watching you in the NCAA tournament in the future!!  Until then, you'll be a Gophadger fan!

 

Haircut

Caleb was born with an abundance of super adorable hair.  His hair has definitely gotten longer and even though I didn't want to cut his handsome locks we decided it was time.  One of the reasons is because Dave said he was starting to look like a Hobbit.  Maybe God thought we'd appreciate that since we are big Lord of the Rings fans.  Maybe Caleb is destined to destroy a ring to save the world!!  Hmmmm, not likely. 

Another reason is because I was pushing Caleb in his stroller and a lady was like "oh my goodness how cute!  A boy or a girl?"  I was not offended by this at all because I know when they are young it's sometimes hard to decipher the gender, plus he had a neutral outfit on.  So I gave her the benefit of the doubt and my response of course was "A boy" with a big smile on my face.  She then proceeded to say...."Oh well he would make such a pretty girl".  Wasn't quite sure how to respond to that so I just did the awkward smile and laugh thing.  Thanks lady, I'll be sure to pass that along to Caleb when he's older, I'm sure he'll appreciate that. 

My next immediate thought was....we're getting out the clippers!  So big day/milestone for Caleb with his first haircut!!  He did great although he wanted to keep looking at me while I cut his hair so Dave had to distract him a bit.  I just realized in the after picture below that I didn't even get the top of his head in the picture.  Fail.  Oh well it was actually just a trim around the ears anyway. :)

Before:  Hobbit/Girly Man

After: Clean Cut Handsome Young Man

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Hope everyone had a Happy St. Patty's Day!  Dave and I are both a little bit Irish but we have no idea how much so we like to say we are 100% American! :)  To celebrate we went over to our friends Donny and Shaleen's house to meet their 3 week old little boy Drake!  He is so handsome and oh. my. goodness. he's tiny!  I said to Dave I don't remember Caleb being this little but he obviously was!  It's amazing how fast they grow because it seriously felt like all I was holding was a blanket.  That moment of already forgetting how little he once was (he's not even 6 months old!) made me want to slow down even more and soak up EVERY moment of his life!  Anyway, we had a great time eating lunch, chatting, meeting the new bundle of joy and seeing which teams were locked into the NCAA tournament.  Donny and Dave have pretty high hopes for the Gophers...yeah we'll see.

So clearly the tradition on St. Patty's Day is to wear green.  Well according to Dave, Caleb despises green since it's associated with the Packers.  So instead, Dave celebrated the day by welcoming Greg Jennings to the Vikings and dressing Caleb in this.  Barf.  Ok even I have to admit that picture is cute.  Sorry about the picture quality...but what do you expect, we're talking Vikes here so quality isn't expected! ;)

5 Months!

With February being the shortest month out of the year, we didn't officially know what day Caleb turned 5 months since he was born on the 29th of September.  Regardless, now that today is March 3rd he is officially a 5 month old and very good at it.  Although Caleb has always been a great little boy and for the most part very happy, he has clearly turned a corner.  Over the past 2-3 weeks I feel like he hasn't had one bad day.  He is constantly smiling, giggling more often, and extremely interactive.  I think the only time he cries is when I feed him at 5am in the morning after he has just slept for 10 hours.  And I don't blame him.  As a grown man if I go that long without eating I am probably just as immature and I am 30 years and 4 months older than Caleb.

With all that being said, my love for my son grows stronger all the time.  As Carissa and I raise Caleb each day, it constantly reminds me of all the sacrifices/investments that my mom and dad made for me and my brother.  Being a father is probably the most gratifying thing I have ever done with my life outside of my relationship with God and Carissa.  With all the being said, he are some of his 5 month milestones/likes: 

-Ate cereal from a spoon for the first time
-He understands his first sign language word "Milk" (when you do the sign language for "Milk" his face lights up like a Christmas tree and all is right in his world!)
-His hand/eye coordination continues to improve and he is great at moving things from one hand to the other and reaching out his hands when he wants to grab Mom or Dad's face
-He loves grabbing his own feet
-He's getting more sturdy and close to being able to sit up on his own
-His hair (especially side burns) has gotten so long that we are considering giving him his first haircut
-He loves stroller rides outside with Grandma Patty
-He loves playing peek-a-boo

Thank you God for giving us the best son we could have ever asked for!