I thought I'd take a walk

down memory lane. Back in time, almost two years ago. Me being 36 weeks prego and moving into our first home. We'll do a front yard/backyard walk...since this required the most work and has taken the longest of all our house projects, and continues to be a work in progress. All I can think when I see these pictures is...how did we not get scared off!

Before move in....

You could say it was a little overgrown in front...

Yes, those are weeds, and yes, they are taller than my sister. And a sponge bob.

Oh Bill. Sorry we had to say goodbye. You'll always be a Bill's garden to us though....

Hello tree on our roof. You can't scare us! We like jungle ivy and such.

Now for the after pictures. I like these much better.

Goodbye overgrown plants and hello green grass

In love with my hanging purple plant. So are the hummingbirds. This makes me happy :) Attempting grass on side 2 of the yard. Not happening so much.

Two fruit trees and some plants instead of that tree on the roof.
A tomato plant and strawberries are growing in the garden. Caleb likes picking and eating the strawberries. Hopefully next summer we'll have more fruits and veggies growing.
Saturday was spent picking out some new plants for our backyard and planting a peach and nectarine tree. There is still much to be done. Replace the fence that is falling. Finish the boarding where the fruit trees are, finish putting in bark chips along the back. Try and get our grass to grow on side 2 and try and get the grass to come back to life on side 1. Continue planting flowers to watch and enjoy all through the year :)
I'm feeling pretty content though. Happily remembering my last month of pregnancy with Caleb. Time was spent moving in, painting every single inch of the house, moving boxes and furniture, wearing a stuffy mask on my face to protect baby from the fumes, not being able to do much in the yard until Caleb was a couple months old. Preparing, nesting, and waiting....

I am happy though that baby L will be born in the summer and we'll be able to spend a lot more time outside in a yard not taken over by ivy and tree. We can be swinging and watching Caleb play in the mud. Because outside is where we're happiest.

Peas in a Pod

These two. I love watching them together. Auntie and her buddy C. Caleb is all daddy in looks, but in personality, he's got a lot of auntie in him.

To name a few....
'The stare'
This is a classic Jenny. I can still remember when we were younger and watching Jenny with her big blue eyes, and her 'blank look' although it wasn't like she wasn't thinking anything, so it shouldn't be called blank, but it was a solid stare. Caleb pulls this one out whenever we are in a new place or there are a lot of people around. He's soaking it up and always a little cautious. I suppose I may have had this look too when I was younger, but I remember Jenny having it especially because she was so shy, always airing on the cautious side, and a big observer.

'The grump'. The grump comes after sleep. Kinda weird. But it takes Caleb awhile to wake up and get happy. Much like his auntie.

'Strange body issues' Ear wax overload and eczema to name a few....

Love these two Pea Pods.

Thanks for a fun visit Jenny. I'm already missing our sister bonding time.

Almost to the finish line

36 Weeks and counting....

4 days of nesting....
5 newborn outfits held and swooned over
2 tubs of baby clothes taken out, sorted, and washed
1 dr. apt a week now
a lot of baby movement, kicks, and hiccups felt
2 pairs of stretchy shorts worn almost everyday
2 pairs of shorts that are too tight and 5 t-shirts that are too short for the baby belly
3 kisses given to brother from Caleb
4 weeks left!
Countless hours spent imagining that sweet baby scent, those sweet little lips, fluttering little eyes, and newborn baby yawns, tiny fingers and toes, and soft fuzzy newborn hair.
We are so excited to meet you little one

Recipe to a perfect day

Beach. Sun. My two favorite boys. Waves. Sand. Food. Fun.
Can't get enough of these two. A little boy who loves his Daddy, follows him all around. I Couldn't ask for a better father and husband.
Caleb, may you always experience the wonder, joy, and beauty of those crashing blue waves

May those toes travel and explore your world, always with wonder
May you always look at life with your own unique perspective

Never forget to be silly and have fun

Work hard and give your all at whatever you do

May you continue to seek and learn new things everyday

And know that wherever you may go, whoever you may be, your mama and dada love you always!

I spy

A little boy in blue. A sideways hat and some books too.

And a memory to always remember.

So I decided to sneak in a photo or two.
Something small, insignificant to most, but something a mama's heart will always treasure.
I will always remember your little feet following in my footsteps down the hall
of you putting on your favorite blue hat, all by yourself. Me running off to fold a shirt or two, trying to get chores done, and peeking in every few minutes to check on you playing, and then stopping and watching, and smiling. There you are, plopped on the floor, with your hat half way on your head and your chunky thighs sprawled out, t-shirt and diaper, and books all around you. You sitting there, leafing through each page. Completely absorbed. And me-completely in love, just having a little heart squeeze kind of a moment.

Sleep

"You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." -Winnie the Pooh

Hello sleep training all over again. It seems we are constantly fine tuning those sleep skills after our travels. This has by far been the hardest though. Last night it took Caleb 1 hour 15 minutes of crying at the door and check-ins and he finally put himself back to bed and went to sleep. (for the first time since our so cal trip in June! unless you count when Nani put him down and he didn't get upset at all and stayed in his bed. But for Dave and I this is the first time in a month!) Yay Caleb! Then 5am rolled around. It had only been 9 hours and to stay consistent we let him know it wasn't time to get up yet. So he cried at the door and we did our check ins for...one and a half hours! So brutal (and by we, I mean me. Usually Dave does them for me, but for some reason I was feeling like the strong one at 5am for once) Unfortunately Caleb never went back to sleep.....

Happy as a lark all morning though.

Nap time rolled around and poor guy was so tired. Only took 10 minutes at the door and he was fast asleep in his bed on his own! Yay. (First time for his mama since our trips)

A short nap, only 1.5 hours, but at least he put himself to sleep in his bed.

Bedtime tonight- 4 minutes. 2 minutes of blood curdling screams at the door. And then-silence and a few whimpers. Wow Caleb!

We're getting there Caleb!! So glad to finally be back on track and having you put yourself to sleep like you used to. We are proud of you and as much as it hurts our hearts to hear you cry, we know you sleep much better when you go to sleep on your own.

Thanks for those sweet bedtime kisses and hugs you give us before we leave. Thanks for the sweet cuddles you give me while Dad reads your bedtime prayers. Thanks for that sweet little hand of yours that holds tightly on to mine while dad reads your bedtime story. Thanks for being such an amazing little boy who we are blessed to call our son. We love you Caleb!

Lately

Lately, mowing the grass and walking your horses or circus animals, has become your thing.
Lately, mud has taken up residence on those sticky fingers and squishy toes.

Lately,
you've been surrounded with family. Down south and up north. Camping and hanging out with aunties and uncles, grandparents, and friends. This makes us so happy that you get special time with those who love you.
Lately, you've forgotten how to go to sleep on your own because you got to sleep with mom and dad in the tent camping for a week and mom helped you go to sleep for a week down south. This has caused some sleep troubles in your bed now that we are home. We're working on it.
Lately, you've become really interested in puzzles and can now do most of your puzzles independently. We love watching you figure them out and can't believe how fast you are learning!
Lately, you are learning so many new words and love repeating everything we say and copying what we do. You are always such a good helper too!
And lastly,
Tonight we finally had a breakthrough with you in your big boy bed. Since our trips you have not fallen asleep by yourself. (Unless Nani put you to bed. What is up with that Caleb? Much as we tried, you cried, we tried more, you still cried and stood at the door until we finally lingered a couple minutes too long and you closed your eyes and fell asleep in your bed, but with Nani, not a peep, and you stayed in your bed, hmmmm) Anyway we didn't weaken or cave tonight Caleb. Our hearts hurt but we knew you could do it! You were sleeping so well in your bed before our travels began last month. We just knew we had to be strong for you, to help you learn again. So we listened to you cry when we left the room, we heard you at the door calling mama and dada, we checked in with you and reminded you to go to sleep every so often, and after one hour 15 minutes, you figured it out. And for the first time since our trips-tadaaaaa, you went back to bed-ALL BY YOURSELF!! And I can not tell you the reassurance that gave me Caleb. I needed just one time of you going back to bed on your own, like you used to, to know that-YES. You can do it! You can sleep in your bed. ALL BY YOURSELF. No Mama, no Dada, in the room. And we can do it too.

Oh Caleb. We love you so very much. From those muddy little toes to those chubby little thighs, right up to that little buddah belly, and each little finger, we love your squishy nose and big blue eyes, those two dimples that light up your face, and your sweet scent of baby boy face. We love your silly side, your sweetness, your cautiousness, even your face scrunched in anger, and your rolling on the floor in a fit side, we love every little thing that makes you, you. Every worry, every stress, and upset, every bit of patience that has grown because of you, we love you for. Because you Caleb, have made your mama and your dada, a little big stronger, a little bit wiser, and a little bit more loving every single day. Just because you are you.

A little bit of mud and a little bit of boy

And a whole lot of fun!

Caleb, I love your sweet sense of wonder. Something as simple as mud and you are in heaven. I love watching your curiosity as you explore the sensation of dirt on your toes and water on your nose. I love watching you outside, in nature, where you are so happy and content with life. My sweet outdoor boy who needs nothing more than a little dirt in your toes to make your day. I love you so much-dirty toes and all :)

Swim Lessons

I am loving Caleb's swim lessons. He likes them too. But I think I might be having more fun than him. There's singing for every activity (Caleb's favorite) and in the span of 30 minutes (the perfect amount of time for a toddler in a swim class) Caleb does jumping, kicking, blowing bubbles, head under water exercises, and much much more. I love being in the water with my lil guy! I am appreciating this special one on one time I get to have with Caleb before brother joins us. Here are some pics of Caleb in the water ;)

A special treat to have dad at one of the lessons.
Right after Caleb's head went under. Still hasn't figured out how to not catch water in his mouth :)
1...2...3...dip

my sweet little guy
Singing songs

I love you so much Caleb Lincoln!