What A Guy!

Cale loves to swing, so we got him one and hung it on the tree in the backyard.  It’s his new favorite thing in the world.

Cale has also been learning to swim.  He’s so cute!

He’s learning to float and do “fishy arms.”

Oh how I love this guy!

Growing Up So Fast!

This week my boy has changed so much!  He’s growing up and changing so much so quickly!

Two of my favorite things he says, “I need a hug!,” which is followed by one of the tightest and biggest squeezes ever!  And “I want a kiss!,” which means that he’s going to plant a sloppy, wet kiss on my mouth making me the luckiest woman on the planet!  What a sweet boy!

Today he helped his daddy mow the yard.

And tonight, after we kissed Cale and tucked him into bed, I saw his bedroom light come on.  Then it went off and then back on.  I thought, “Claire is sure going to be in trouble.  She’s supposed to be getting her jammies on and brushing her teeth.  What is she doing in Cale’s room?  She knows he’s already in bed.”  As I walked down the hall and turned into Cale’s room, I saw this:

The boy.  Out of his crib.  In his room alone.  Our baby has learned to climb out of his crib.  Oh my word!  Life will never be the same.

(And for the record, Claire came in when she heard Daddy and I exclaiming about Cale’s escape act.  She was just as surprised as we were, and she thought it was hilarious.  And she reached her 150 sticker goal yesterday!  We’re taking her to MOA on Tuesday for Toddler Tuesday to ride the rides.  She is SO excited!)

My Handsome Little Man

Cale is such a fun little guy!  He is growing up so quickly.

What a heartthrob!

When we picked Cale up from his class at church on Sunday, his teacher told us that he is so smart.  She said that he kept getting books and flipping the pages while “reading” to the other kids in his class.  He is also very polite and talks a lot.

Cale loves to sing.  While in Target last week, he started singing “Tomorrow” from the movie Annie at the top of his lungs.  (We had been watching Annie in the car.)  He also just walks around the house singing.  His favorite songs are from our church in Tulsa – I Obey and Jesus Is Alive.  He also makes up a lot of songs, which include words like “Mama,” “Daddy” and “Sissy.”  He’s so cute singing.  It’s one of my favorite sounds!

Cale loves to pretend.  He plays by himself and can stay entertained.  He likes to pretend that he’s a cat or a dinosaur by meowing and roaring.

Cale loves dinosaurs and roars every time he sees one.  His favorite snuggle toy is a beanie baby-sized Rex from Toy Story.  He calls him “Rawr.”

He loves books and wants to sit in someone’s lap to read every chance he gets.

He really wants to start potty training.  In fact, he has gone potty in the toilet three times in the last two days.  He insists that we take him, and he goes when we do.  We are still going to wait until he is 22-months-old to actually start potty training since we want it to stick with him, but that’s less than a month away!  Here’s hoping that it’s going to be as easy as this!

My boy loves to jump and loves his trampoline.  Enjoying a gorgeous Minnesota day…

Eighteen-Months-Old!!

Cale recently celebrated one and one-half years!  He had his 18-month checkup this week.  His pediatrician said that he is “so smart” and “absolutely perfect!”

Cale is 34” tall, putting him in the 87th percentile.  He weighs 29 lb 7 oz, putting him in the 88th percentile.

Apparently, according to the pediatrician, my child is unusual because he sleeps all night (12-14 hours) in his own bed and still naps for one to two hours everyday.  (Yesterday he slept for almost three hours during his nap!)

Cale is wearing some 2T and some 3T sizes.  He has completely outgrown everything smaller than a 2T and has even outgrown some of those.  He wears a size 7/8 shoe.

This week Cale has started pointing out everything in his environment.  He pointed to a butterfly and very clearly said, “Mama, look!  Butterfly!”  He’s also pointed out and named Claire’s bike, trucks, cars, balloons, balls, etc.  When you ask what he wants to eat, he can clearly tell you.  Today he wanted a “sammich.”  Yesterday he wanted “piece-a” a/k/a pizza.  He says, “I’m thirsty!” any time he wants a drink.  When he’s hungry he simply demands, “EAT!”  He also says, “IwannaSNACK” when he just wants a snack.

He has named his pacifier “pappy.”  We used to call it a “paci;” but he started calling it “pappy,” and now we all act as if pappy is its name.  “Where’s pappy?”  “Does anyone know where pappy is?”  “There’s pappy!”  And from Cale, “I want pappy.”  Pappy will sadly be departing our household shortly after the move.

Cale is very skilled at riding a big wheel toy.  I’m going to have to get him one.  (He rides the one at the gym.)  He is a little monkey with mad climbing skills.  There is nothing he can’t climb.  (I think he might turn out to be like Ozzie on Survivor.)  He runs very fast.  He can and will throw anything with skill and perfect aim.  He can kick really hard.  He’s extremely strong and very active.

Any time he learns something new or is proud of himself for an accomplishment, he claps wildly and exclaims, “Yay!  I did it!”  I am so proud of my boy!  He is absolutely amazing!  I am so blessed to be his mama!

Happy One and a Half, Little Mister!

Milestones

Cale has been so sweet about Claire’s birthday.  During her party he sat on the floor next to Allie and watched Claire open her presents, clapping and cheering as she opened each one.  Every morning he sits and waits to see what she got and then cheers for her new gift.  He is just so sweet!

Although, as if not to be outdone, he has begun a few new tricks.

The first, and perhaps the craziest, is that my son is potty training himself.  At the ripe ol’ age of 17-months, he tells us when he has to potty.  No one has ever asked him about it.  He just announced about a week ago that he had to go potty.  He’s been pretty consistent with it ever since.  How crazy!  And I kept hearing stories about how difficult it is to train boys.  Apparently not my boy!

Secondly, my boy has learned to eat with a fork or spoon and a plate or bowl.  He still makes a little bit of a mess, but it’s really not too bad.

 

I am one proud mama!  Way to go, Boy!

He’s All Boy

Cale is a boy.  He’s a boy’s boy.  It’s so much fun to be the mommy of a boy!  Especially this boy!  He is the source of endless joy!

On Sunday, we went out to eat after church.  The parking lot was dry, or so we thought.  Our son managed to find the one mud puddle in the whole place and jump right in it.  We are attributing this trait to his Uncle Matt who can always find the mud puddles, even in the midst of a drought.  :)

Another perfect example of Cale finding mud.  After many safe and clean slides down the slide, he found a way to land on his face in a mud hole.

Cale loves tractors and big trucks – basically anything with wheels that can go in the mud.  They’re clearing more land in our neighborhood to build more houses.  This little tractor was parked for the evening, so we used it as a prop for pictures.

After getting muddy, he loves a good bubble bath – complete with sea plane, boats and bath books.

My boy loves “cheesing” for the camera.

He recently got his second hair cut.  He still didn’t enjoy it.  Although, again, it wasn’t really the haircut that bothered him.  It was having to be held instead of being allowed to run around.  He thought the clippers tickled and laughed a great belly laugh the whole time she used them.

Cale has started talking a lot more.  Today, while watching Clifford, he said, “Mommy!  I want a doggie.”

His vocabulary is growing daily, and his comprehension amazes me.  He’s so smart!

He can’t say “Claire” yet, so Claire has told him to call her “Sissy.”  I love the way he says, “Sissy.”  They are so sweet together!

He loves to sing.  He doesn’t know the words to any songs, but he has learned the tunes and “sings” along as loud as he can.  When he and Claire sing together, it’s my favorite sound in the world!

Today he learned to do somersaults.  He must have flipped 30 times in a row.  He flips and then screams, “Yay!”

My “all-boy” boy certainly keeps me busy.  He climbs on everything, runs into things, falls off of things, gets into things, makes messes, gets dirty and makes me laugh.  He is sheer joy!  I am so very blessed to be his mommy!

15-Months-Old Already?!

Wowsers!  Our boy hit the 15-month mark on March 1st.

Cale Facts:

He is getting so big!  He is now 32.25” tall (82%) and weighs 26 lb 3 oz (75%).  He’s actually changing from a baby into a little boy.  It’s unreal how much he’s learning and how much he’s changing.

He can and does climb everything.  I don’t own a single piece of furniture that he does not climb on.  I’ve walked in to find him standing on my dining room table more than once.

He can escape every type of buckle and restraint except a 5-point harness.  (No restaurants in Tulsa have highchairs with 5-point harnesses, so it can make dining out more of a wrestling match than a dining experience.)

He can reach all of my countertops and is constantly reaching for things.  Aye aye aye!  Last week (March 14th), I watched him stand on his teepee toes (what Claire calls tippy toes), reach for the edge of my countertop and pull himself up so that he could see the tops of my counters.  I am determined to get this on video as I cannot believe that my 15-month-old is doing chin-ups on my kitchen counter!

He runs very fast – super fast – faster than I do.

He loves to scream – especially in public places.  He thinks it’s hilarious to have everyone stop and turn to see what’s going on.  It doesn’t bother me.  If you happen to be with me, and he screams; don’t freak out if I don’t seem to notice.  I’m used to it and have learned to tune it out.  He’s fine – just having a bit of fun with people he doesn’t know and enjoying the echo of his voice.

He loves to run around sans clothing.  He refuses to wear socks or shoes – EVER.  He takes them off within seconds of our putting them on him.  (And yes, every stranger, especially women who are grandmothers, comment on my poor parenting for allowing him to run around barefoot.  Most of them say it to him in that syrupy-sassy voice, “Your silly mommy didn’t put shoes on you today, did she?  I sure hope you don’t catch your death of cold, you sweet little thing.  You tell your mommy that she needs to buy you some socks and shoes so that your feet will stay warm.”  I have started handing these wonderful and helpful strangers Cale’s shoes so that they can show me how it’s done.  Before they can get the second shoe on, he’s already kicked the first one off.  Most of them will try two or three times before they tire of his little shenanigans.  I politely smile, thank them for their assistance and depart.)  He takes off his shirts and pants constantly too.  So far he has only taken his diaper off once during naptime.  (Hopefully that won’t happen again!)

His curls are back.  His hair is growing out, and the back is very curly.  The top is still straight, so he seems to have a natural mullet – business in the front; party in the back.  Yeah, Buddy!

He is super strong.  If he gets something you don’t want him to have, you’ll have to wrestle him for it.  Chances of your winning are slim to none.  Have I given birth to Superman?!

He is so cuddly and affectionate.  Almost daily he puts his hands on my cheeks and kisses me.  He loves to be rocked and loves to snuggle.  He gives the biggest hugs.  He is so sweet!

He has the most infectious laugh.  He’s a generally happy guy with the most winning smile.  His laugh is truly amazing!

He loves to sing.  Anytime he hears music, he sings.  And dances.  He has some great moves!

He says, “Cheese!” and smiles hugely when you point a camera or cell phone in his direction.

He has learned to turn doorknobs and open doors.  There is no more privacy for anyone in our house.  He also has learned how to open the latches on the gates.  We have had to install locks at the tops of all of the gates to keep him contained.  He is definitely an adventurous kid.

He says “uh-oh” A LOT!  He keeps me very busy.

He likes to throw things – food, balls, toys, clothes.

He has started saying, in a very sing-songy voice, “O-Bey, O-Bey.”  I’m guessing he’s learning this at church.  (Several months ago, Claire came home from church chanting, “I obey right away!”)  I LOVE that our church is teaching this to our kids!  If they learn to obey their parents, they will have a much easier time obeying God.  I’m glad they’re starting early.  It will make their lives so much better!

He responds to questions with “Yeah” and “No.”  Once in a while we get a “I don’t want that” or an “I don’t want to.”  Yes, my 15-month-old can express his opinions in full sentences.  While those phrases are not my first choice of first sentences, they are indeed complete and correct.  Way to go, Boy!

Cale loves to play peek-a-book a/k/a “Where’s Cale?”

I’ve spent the last 23 days creating this post.  I don’t have nearly as much free time as I used to.  But I don’t regret one second spent with my children.  We are making some wonderful memories together!