Between Brothers

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Saturday, July 16, 2011

To see Winnie the Pooh at the movies. (Caleb's first cinema experience) Hence little piglet there, and the overalls (we were trying to theme it up a bit with Caleb) Caleb sat-eyes as big as could be- and soaked it all up. It brought back my Winnie the Pooh days with their voices. It was a cute movie. And short! Thankfully. Not sure Caleb could have lasted more than an hour in there!

What day is it again?

(Prepare for a major unleashing!)It seems like the days have blurred together and I am going backwards in time to months and months ago when we used to rock Caleb to sleep and he would take 30 minute naps and not sleep through the night. The difference this time is that he is not in a crib-he's in a bed. And we aren't rocking him to sleep we are just in the room. He is not 6 months old, he's almost two. And he's only waking up once a night (so far) and taking one hour naps or two hours (if I'm lucky). And this silly little cycle we are on, has once again brought us to 'sleep training' although it seems like we are always having to do 'mini' ones after travel. But this time it is different. It seems that after a week down south with my family and a week up north with Dave's, Caleb has forgotten (or has become quite stubborn) how to go to sleep ALONE in his big boy bed. As in he won't walk himself back to bed from the door after crying awhile like he used to, and he won't stay in the bed and he definitely won't fall asleep unless he is in the bed. I almost wish he would fall asleep at the door from exhaustion. This kid has become resilient. We have tried many different tactics- of which none of those have worked. And so for the past week or so we have gone back to the basic CIO with check-ins. But Caleb still has not gone back to his bed on his own, and he has not fallen asleep on the floor. Each check in he walks back to bed lays down and after a half hour to an hour of this Caleb stand at the door cry/us check in/walk to bed/ leave/ caleb run to door, cry/ repeat... he finally closes his eyes as we put the blanket over him. Now our problem, I think, is pretty obvious, since we are in the room doing a check-in, when he finally closes his eyes so quickly the whole purpose is defeated. We need to let him go on and on and on I suppose, continue the check ins, and let him keep crying till he gets it. And leave even if his eyes are closing. But I'm not sure my heart can handle more than an hour of him crying at the door! SIGH. BIG SIGH.. I am beyond frustrated and emotionally depleted. Hence-the BIG BLOG BREAK. Now should I even mention the ironic part? He is so happy! Like, all day. TTs? Not too bad. Fussy? Not really. Silly, smiley, and happy? Almost all day. I don't get it. Can we just have everything working well at one time? Great sleep, great health, great teeth? Those three things are NEVER ALIGNED I tell ya! If he's sick he's sleeping fine, if he's sleeping great, he's fussy, if he's teething, he's sleeping fine but fussy. I don't get it. But then again I think I realized that the day we brought him home from the hospital and life took on a whole new meaning of the word, HAPPILY UPSIDE DOWN. So, we're upside down right now, and I'm hoping we figure out this whole sleep situation before brother comes along. But even if we do figure it out, I laugh. Because I know next month- we'll be upside down all over again. But happily upside down. And more sleep deprived than we are now, so I'll take what I can get!!

Caleb on his way to swim lessons. I guess the thought of water makes him sleepy

Friday, July 8, 2011

Happy Friday

Ready to relax with my boys :) Hope everyone has a great weekend!

21 Months

Sweet Caleb-

The months are flying by.

Here is what you have been up to this month:

You love music and singing. Your favorite songs are:

the ABCs, you sing along with 'abc skip the d and get the e'

The itsy bitsy spider

Row row your boat (row row row is what you say over and over)

Slippery Fish and Baby Bumble Bee (you do the hand motions for both and sing bebe or baby)

You love watching the big trucks on our walks and pointing out flowers. You especially love the garbage truck and street cleaner. When you start to get fussy on our walk pointing out cars or trucks or flowers proves to be a great distraction! When cars drive by with music on loudly you start bouncing your head and dancing in your stroller. Oh how you love your music!

You are such an outside boy and are so happy digging in the dirt and picking flowers and helping dad out in the yard.

You love playing with your blocks and putting them together as well as your hippo stackers. You really like sorting things and putting together different blocks.

You understand so so much and are such a good helper for us.

You are doing so great eating with a fork and spoon and are so proud of yourself when you use them.

You love saying your prayers and holding our hands at the dinner table as well as your bedtime prayers. It is so sweet how you fold your hands together and listen as we say your bedtime prayers.

You are really into copying us right now, especially at the dinner table. When dad and I are talking, you sit and watch and then we catch you in the same pose as dad usually. You copy every 'action' we do and still repeat and try and say almost everything we say.

We can't believe how much you are growing and learning everyday! We love you so much Caleb Lincoln.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Our Annual 4th of July Camping Trip

We are home and happy after a wonderful camping trip up in Oregon at Fort Stevens with Dave's side of the family. I was actually really sad to have to leave and wish we could have stayed longer! (Never thought I'd hear myself say that being 7months prego, with a toddler, and driving a total of 28 hours there and back! And sleeping on the ground, big belly and all) But yes. This camping trip was probably the MOST relaxing trip we have been on with Caleb. EVER! I can't believe I just said that either. I knew once we got through the drive we would have a good time, but I didn't realize just how good it would be. It was beautiful, gorgeous, green, and perfect weather. Not too hot and not too cold. The ocean and lake were both walking and or short biking distance away. Really does it get much better than that? This was Caleb's 3rd camping trip and now that he is mobile, it was just a ton easier. He was so much less fussy. He slept better, and was just all around a much happier 'camper' than last year. So, yes, It was worth our horror hotel experience on Wednesday night (we drove to Redding, got to a hotel, Caleb partied till 3:30. Slept a total of 4 hours Wednesday night. Dave got a total of 2hrs of sleep, and somehow we made it to the camp sight Thursday late afternoonish all of us in one piece.) Friday we spent the day at the beach and the lake (Caleb digging and playing in the sand, Dave and I relaxing) Saturday we all rode our bikes to the historical area and explored around there. Sunday we did some more beaching and laking and Caleb went in a little sail boat for the first time and loved it. And Sadly, Monday we packed up and went home. And I may have shed a tear or two when Dave left for work that afternoon. Our family camping trip is over, but the pictures and memories remain! Can't even imagine the double fun it will be with two boys in the future. ;) Here is my picture overload from the trip....

We have finally arrived at our destination! Ready for a bike ride