Christmas Highlights From Virginia

1. Find Baby Caleb! He's hiding in the corner!
2. Family members exude the spirit of Christmas as they take turns trying to calm the crying child.
3. Grandma Inouye plays patty-cake with Caleb. 
4. Tin soldier or Michael Jackson impersonator? Ow!
5. It was fun to have Matt's girlfriend, Kim, with us this Christmas. Matt's holding the present we got him (check it out here, I was pretty pleased with myself).
6. Like Grandpa, like Grandson.
7. Our little family :)

Thanks, Mom and Dad, for a wonderful holiday! It was great to be home.

Happy Birthday, Aaron (the Rock)!

Aaron turned 28 last Friday! We celebrated in Virginia with Coastal Flats for dinner and some homemade Hostess cupcakes for dessert.

I considered making a list of the top 28 reasons Aaron is great, but decided for blog-ability to make a visual instead. I've said before that if I had to pick an advertising slogan to describe Aaron, it would be Chevrolet's "Like a Rock." So for the birthday blog entry, here's a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting Aaron with a rock. 

Roll, Baby, Roll (and Other Fake Milestones)

We're at the stage now where Caleb is meeting some of his milestones accidentally-- which is almost as exciting as meeting them for real. 

Milestone: Rolls from tummy to back (and off play area)

What really happened: Caleb got a little top heavy and unbalanced during tummy time and toppled over. 

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Milestone: Reaches for and grasps objects

What really happened: While swinging his arms about in his usual spastic fashion, Caleb's hands connected with the rings on his "gym."

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Milestone: Squeals in delight

What really happened: Caleb does this thing where he occasionally pants with pitch. Serendipitous timing with a smile = fake laughter. In the interest of full disclosure, he wasn't actually doing the laughing thing in this picture-- I wasn't able to capture that one on film. However, I believe the swanky angle of his beanie should make up for that.

It's All About Family

This past week was an amazing breath of fresh air and reminder of what life is really all about. After working 100-130 hour weeks for several straight weeks, Aaron took a week off of paternity leave that he had saved for when his family came to visit for Caleb's baby blessing (Aaron did a wonderful job). Both sets of grandparents came out and got to spend time with our little guy (aKa Mr. Chunkers). Spending time with the people we love reminded us of how in the end, family is what life is all about, and not much else really matters.

We are so grateful to know that we can be a family forever and that not even death can separate us.

After Caleb's blessing

With Grandma and Grandpa Purcell

With Grandma and Grandpa Inouye

Caleb's first trip to the beach (Half Moon Bay)

Sucking away

Happy boy in his blessing outfit (thanks, Grandma Purcell!)

Just hanging out with Dad

With Grandpa Inouye, sporting some Christmas socks

With Grandma Inouye

Our Little Monster

Little Caleb didn't go trick or treating, but we did put him in a little costume. The original idea was to swaddle him in a reflective emergency blanket so he could be a Chipotle burrito, but as it was just me, Caleb, and my mom at home to see him that day, it didn't really seem worth the effort. It's crazy to think that by his next Halloween he'll be walking!

 

And in case you were wondering, yes, I do still dress him in this in a regular basis.

First Bath

Caleb had his first bath a couple of weeks ago, and he actually seemed to enjoy (or at least tolerate) it pretty well.

Getting to Know You

"One day you will find that you have stopped regarding your baby as an unpredictable and therefore rather alarming novelty, and have begun instead to think of him as a person with tastes, preferences, and characteristics of his own."
- Penelope Leach, Your Baby & Child

For as exciting and wonderful as having a baby is, I have to admit I was wholly unprepared for how stressful and exhausting the first couple of weeks would be. But, finally, I feel like I am in "the baby groove," and my baby is my little buddy. I've learned a lot about Caleb and myself in the past month.

1. I really don't need eight hours of sleep. It turns out I can function just as well on three if I spend at least another ten in a state of mental vegetation while feeding/holding Caleb and watching TV shows on Netflix.
2. Caleb has a "done face" when he's full. He pulls his head up, closes his eyes, wrinkles his forehead, and purses his lips. He makes this face every single time he's done feeding if he's satisfied.
3. Caleb's happiness at this point really has two primary drivers-- food and clean diapers. He seems to tolerate almost anything (being changed, having blood drawn, getting a bath), as long as these two needs are filled.
4. Caleb loves having his head petted, for lack of a better word. I don't know what it is about this, but it seems to sooth him.

Hanging out with Dad

Oh, the Humanity!

Waving to the Camera

Sleeping on Mom