This past week I took Caleb for his 9 month checkup. He is a healthy growing boy! The doc made a prediction that my little linebacker would be 6'-6'2" tall. Here are some stats... Height: 29.5 inches Weight: 23.9 lbs. Head circumference: 18.75 inches At 6 months he was above the 95th percentile for height and weight, and around the 80th percentile for head circumference. Now he is at the 90th percentile for height and weight and the 95th percentile for head circumference. His body is finally slowing down a little, but his head is getting bigger!
Caleb is changing so much lately! He has learned how to pull himself up to standing in his crib and everywhere else, cruise along the furniture, and climb on top of the Rubbermaid container in his room (since we don't have a dresser for him here, we've been using it for his shoes and socks). He is so proud of himself! We're proud of him too, however it got really frustrating when he'd get himself up in his crib and then couldn't get back down. So he'd cry until someone came in to rescue him. Now he can get himself down, but it's still a bit of a problem. He was always such a good napper. Now things are not quite as smooth. He just wants to move and practice his new found skills all the time. He's still a really easy (and happy) baby overall...we are so blessed!
In early February, we went to the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo. We actually went twice, since we didn't get to see the pigs when we were there the first time. However, they were out of the barns when we went the second time too. Oh well...at least we got to spend lots of time in the cattle barn. We also saw Elsie and Beau (the Borden cows), a showing of dairy cows, other cows getting milked, goats, the Swifty Swine racing pigs, various vendors, a bull auction, and some girls practicing barrel racing. We ate a bunch of fried stuff too. The fried ice cream was the best ever!!! We never made it to see the rodeo because it was always at night with a concert afterward, and we just didn't want to spend the money on the show and babysitting. It was good just to see all the animals and dream about having a farm someday. But we want to do things so different from the way modern agriculture is these days. Maybe I'll elaborate in a future post.
In the 4H barn
Moo
Elsie, the Borden cow
Beau
Caleb having a grand 'ole time on Daddy's shoulders
We were thrilled to have a visit from our good friends the Kazmiers in late January. Even though both our little ones were sick, we were still able to go out and do some fun stuff. We took them to the Alamo and River Walk one day, and then did the Natural Bridge Caverns and drove through a safari at the Wildlife Ranch another day. We also took the kids to a nearby park and Caleb got to swing on a real swing for the first time! Allie was so cute with Caleb and even nicknamed him "Bub-bub." Our time with Joe, Andrea and Allie went by way too fast, as usual, but it was so much fun to catch up with them. Sadly, everyone ended up sick by the time they left (except me). I got sick the following week and have been battling it on and off since then. Andrea put together a nice slideshow that she posted on her blog. She said I could post it on mine too (thanks Andrea!). I will also add a few of my favorite pics that Paul and I took.
The Bookworms - I drove the babysitter home, and when I came back, I found the three of them reading (and talking) together before bed.
This one is in the slideshow too, but I just think it's so funny with the random guy in the background smiling for the picture! It almost looks like Andrea is bending down so he can be in it!
I don't think we were supposed to feed the animals from our hand, but we did anyway. They were so tame.
Are we really almost half-way through February? Yikes! Well, January was full of firsts for Caleb. On January 8, we noticed his first 2 bottom teeth popping through the surface of his gums. (Click on the picture to enlarge it so you can see them.)They are now about half-way grown in (and look so cute when he smiles, by the way!). Another first in January was Caleb learning to crawl! My baby is mobile now...and loving it. He crawls everywhere! We have learned that he has a shoe fettish (Paul hates it when I say that). Thankfully it's for athletic shoes, and not pumps. When Paul and I leave our shoes by the door, Caleb always spots them and goes straight for them. Paul's moccasins, which he wears around the apartment, are a big favorite too. The other day I caught Paul playing fetch with our boy - he was throwing his moccasin across the room so Caleb would crawl and get it. Then he'd take it away and throw it across the room again. It was a fun game that kept both of them busy for a few minutes. Caleb also loves the dog toys. And his latest interest is the water bowl for the dogs. I guess everything he's not supposed to have, he likes. Imagine that. He keeps me busy, that's for sure! Here's a video of the progression of him crawling over the last few weeks. It's in HD, so double-click on the video to view it bigger on my YouTube page.
Caleb and his "girlfriend" Savannah. She is about 3 weeks older than he is.
Texas Pride BBQ
Paul and the Picklesimers at Texas Pride. They just got stationed here a few months ago from Hawaii. John and Paul are old college buddies, and John was a groomsman in our wedding. You can't tell from this picture, but Michelle was about 3 weeks away from having her baby girl!
Opening a box from Gramie
Just playin'
Caleb and Savannah again
My tough little linebacker
Pressing his face up against the net of the pack 'n play
Caleb is changing so much lately! He has learned how to pull himself up to standing in his crib and everywhere else, cruise along the furniture, and climb on top of the Rubbermaid container in his room (since we don't have a dresser for him here, we've been using it for his shoes and socks). He is so proud of himself! We're proud of him too, however it got really frustrating when he'd get himself up in his crib and then couldn't get back down. So he'd cry until someone came in to rescue him. Now he can get himself down, but it's still a bit of a problem. He was always such a good napper. Now things are not quite as smooth. He just wants to move and practice his new found skills all the time. He's still a really easy (and happy) baby overall...we are so blessed!
They are now about half-way grown in (and look so cute when he smiles, by the way!). Another first in January was Caleb learning to crawl! My baby is mobile now...and loving it. He crawls everywhere! We have learned that he has a shoe fettish (Paul hates it when I say that). Thankfully it's for athletic shoes, and not pumps. When Paul and I leave our shoes by the door, Caleb always spots them and goes straight for them. Paul's moccasins, which he wears around the apartment, are a big favorite too. The other day I caught Paul playing fetch with our boy - he was throwing his moccasin across the room so Caleb would crawl and get it. Then he'd take it away and throw it across the room again. It was a fun game that kept both of them busy for a few minutes. Caleb also loves the dog toys. And his latest interest is the water bowl for the dogs. I guess everything he's not supposed to have, he likes. Imagine that. He keeps me busy, that's for sure! Here's a video of the progression of him crawling over the last few weeks. It's in HD, so double-click on the video to view it bigger on my YouTube page.
