ONE YEAR!!



As I am writing this...at exactly this time last year (7:13pm) we heard the first cry of our
sweet new baby boy, Caleb James Lowe. He came into the world
screaming, which, because he was meconium positive, made us both cry
in relief right away.



 I remember thinking that the whole thing wasn't real until that
moment and I could not believe he was really HERE!

Garrett couldn't stand waiting til they brought him over, so he went
to meet Caleb himself -- and when he came back to me he just kept
saying "He's so CUTE!" I know he's biased, but all the nurses kept
saying it too, and since he "baptized" them all thouroughly as soon as
he came out, I know they weren't biased!
 


From the moment he was born, our precious boy was sooo loved...he was
even famous all the way in Washington -- his name was on the reader board at Groccery Outlet the night he was born!

Everyone told us that we wouldn't know just how much we could love a
child until he was born and wow were they right. I remember him waking
us up in the middle of the night, and Garrett going to go get him from
the bassinet (because of my C-section). He would just stand there a
second and look at Caleb, even in his super-tired state, and say "he's
just so CUTE!"


As much as I'm going to love this Christmas and the Christmases after,
as Caleb gets older and can appreciate everything more, that first
Christmas was so special. It was just the three of us and we were
soooo tired but sooo happy -- I'll never forget it.
 


Well, I totally wouldn't have believed it, but 12 months later Caleb
is that much cuter, and we love him that much more! The more of his
adorable, precotious, hilarious, sweet, curious personality comes out,
the more we love him!
 
 

Garrett calls him a pinball, because he just bounces off
everything...the couch, the floor, the dog...and just keeps running!
Exhausing, but so so much fun! He laughs constantly, cries almost
never, eats constantly, sleeps almost never (during the day). He wakes
up smiling and giving hugs, spends the say bouncing around the house
smiling, laughing, eating, playing peek a boo and "all fall down",
eating, chasing the dog, climbing, talking in his own personal
language, eating, and painting himself with his food. After an
exhausting (or at least you would think so) day, he falls asleep
smiling with his thumb in his mouth. Seriously, could we ask for a
more precious, sweet boy?!?
 

To clarify, we are certain he has a sin nature, because he does
occasionally throw the tiny temper tantrum, or keep on and ON trying
to climb in the fireplace or on the Christmas tree even after multiple
"no-nos" and hand spanks. But, always at the end of these episodes, he
cries and gives hugs....and it is a little hard not to laugh.
 
 


Well, I can't believe its been a year -- its gone SO fast, and yet I
don't really remember life before the Bubster. Seriously, it must have
been REALLY boring. We are having a small birthday party on Saturday,
so more pictures to come, but for now, heres a sweet face:
 


Never understood this passage completely until Caleb:
"I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are
Your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from
you when I was being made in secret, intricately woven together in the
depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book
were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them." -- Ps. 139

11 Months!!

Well...sorry this post is so late -- I think I'm in denial that Caleb is 11 months!


OK seriously what happened to the last year?! Caleb is 11 months, and as much as I hate to admit it, he is now a TODDLER. Scary word, that is. Garrett has been saying it for a few months (since he started walking) but I've been insisting that he must be walking AND be 1 yr old to be considered a toddler.


However, he was officially mobved to the OTHER side of the nursery at church last week-- the toddler side. He's actually been over there for awhile now -- the nursery workers say he cries on the other side, probably because it only has the lame, not-walking-yet toys, and the little babies who are SO not as fun. Sooo I think I need to admit that he is a toddler. He toddles. However, he does not walk any more -- he runs. He runs full-tilt through the house all day, looking for the most fun (usually meaning most off-limits) things to pull out, or down, or just bang on:


He always runs with his arms out, so he looks a little like "Franken-baby"...just kidding.





Caleb gets more and more fun every new stage! He is starting to say a few "for sure" words now. (We are pretty sure he was talking before, but didnt want to be THOSE parents). He says "Dada" and "Mama" (never on command of course), and "Do-Dee" for Doggie, and he can Moo like a cow when he sees one in his books, or growl like a tiger (umm guess who taught him that...). His very first word was "No-no" though...and it was quite hilarious. Caleb's most favorite off-limits place is the fireplace, and every time he tries to open the doors he gets a "No-no" and a spank on the hand. Usually it just takes once, but he likes to test his limits around bedtime. A couple weeks ago, he had gotten spank after spank and just kept going for the fireplace. About the 4th time, before Garrett could walk over, he looked right at him and said "No NO" and spanked his own hand! I wanted to be excited that we were sure he said his first word...but seriously?! Did that have to be the first?! Oh well, I guess that means he understands what No means!

(Getting un-stuck from inside the corner cupboard)

Caleb is also getting alot more intentionally playful, which is super fun. If we make a pile of pillows he likes to "fall" on them -- totally thinks he is hilarious. Then, if he's not getting enough attention with his stunts, he tries to stand on his head:



Yea, he did this a couple weeks ago out of the blue, and I could not stop laughing -- I mean, where did he learn that?! I couldn't get a great picture, but he looks at me from upside down and just laughs and laughs! He is just a nut -- he spends the day tearing around the house with one toy or another just talking and laughing to himself. Meals are even more fun:


He also learned to "throw" (more like drop) a ball the other day, and both he and Maya are very proud of that accomplishment.

Caleb also had his first Thanksgiving, and though he didn't do great with the Illinois time-change, he was definately the cutest member at the table:)


Oh, and he voted this month:



Well, we sure are enjoying our little boy. He is such an incredible little person -- what a blessing and privilage it is to be entrusted with him and get to watch him grow up!