So Old...

Caleb will have his first birthday next week! He is getting so big and doens't really seem like much of a baby anymore. He isn't the only one getting older though. My computer recently died (but we were able to resurrect it!), so I have been using a different computer. Of course, nothing is the same of this computer. So, I haven't done much e-mail or any blogging because it takes too long to figure out how to do it on this computer! I have some really cute video, but it must wait until my super smart, techno savvy husband is home long enough to help me. So, in the meantime, enjoy these pictures while I figure out how to do more!

We don't really have a doctor that we use here for check-ups. So, our friend at the local hardware store weighs Caleb on a regular basis on his scale. Caleb loves his wife and has fun playing in their store. It is nice because we can go in there and feed Caleb while we are at the market without having to run home. They treat him like their own son!

Caleb and I just got back from Delhi. The trip there was LONG (and our return was even longer). He loves to run in wide open spaces. He doesn't care if he can see us and he has never met a stranger. He ran all over the airport. Pulling on the pants legs of complete strangers until they picked him up (only to squirm so he could get down again). He found some friends to play. We have to be careful because he doesn't understand the meaning of the words softly or gently. He loves to grab ahold of his new friends and touch their cheeks. He looks so much bigger than these kids but he is actually the youngest.

This picture is for my mom. She got him this sweater before he was even born! I didn't think he would get to wear it, but I pulled it out this morning and it fit perfectly. It is starting to get cooler here, especially in the morning/evening. He had an entire box of toys to play with, but he grabbed the plug adapter and curtain ring! He much prefers to play with every day stuff over toys! He is pretty sweet and we can't wait to share pictures from his birthday!

Since We've Been Home...

A lot has happened since we came back from America.  We have been incredibly busy, and I haven't done much on the computer.  So, at the request of many people, here are a few photos of Caleb as he has grown and changed so much this last month!

Caleb was helping Dad get the bags off the belt!

He was so excited to get home.  We were surprised, but he definitely recognized our house and his room and toys.

We brought back some Cheerios from America.  He loved them!  I'll admit, I used them without mercy on the plane ride home because he was quiet and happy while eating them!  When we got home, he figured out how to get the lid off and was caught with his "hand in the Cheerio jar".

We have often talked about the two older ladies that run a shop across the street.  Caleb loves visiting with them and playing in their shop.  They love telling every single person that comes by that he is their little boy and he speaks Nepali!

Caleb's favorite place to be is outside.  We have to watch him really closely, or he will sneak out of the front or back door.  He looks like such a big boy here in his hat and jeans.

He loves to feed himself now.  He does really well with solid foods but he just likes to smash up his banana, cheese and other soft food.

He is a bit mischievous.  If he is quiet for more than 2 seconds, it is a pretty safe bet that he is eating something he shouldn't be eating!  He found my lip gloss one day and did a great job of painting his tongue, lips and cheeks.

He is walking now!  He thinks he is pretty big stuff.  He loves to toddle about, find something to play with and plop down beside it.  If he can't find something to play with, he likes to open and shut the door.  This often results in smashed finger and toes.

We recently celebrated Jared's birthday.  After waffles for breakfast, we gave Dad his gifts.  Caleb actually handed Jared this gift.  The next one was wrapped in shiny paper and he didn't really want to give that one up.

Where, Oh Where, Has the Little Boy Gone?

I'm ashamed! It has been nearly a month and a half since we updated this blog. I am sure I lost my vast audience long ago. In my defense though, we were moving, in Thailand, then America and just finely home and settling in. Here are a few pictures from our time in America. It was blessed to say the least. It brought us joy beyond words to see our family and introduce them to Caleb.




He had a great time reading books with his Nana.




He got to meet his cousin and play with Grandpa Bill.




He discovered that he absolutely loves to play in the water at a local indoor kiddie pool.





He got to wrestle and play basketball with his Granddad.




He discovered that he can climb stairs.




I can't look at this picture without tearing up! How many times did Jared and I eat pizza with these kids, at this same table but with one of THEM in the highchair? He got to meet our dearest friends in the world!




He loved to getting to play in the bathtub. I loved getting to bathe him without worrying about getting water in his mouth!




This is one of my favorite memories of our trip home. He got to play with his Greatgrandpa and loved every minute of it!

Family Picnic

On Saturday, we decided to pack a picnic lunch and head to the park. Caleb has never been to this park before because it has been too cold. We haven't taken a good family photo in months so we thought this would be a good setting for that. However, three things were working against us. First, we had to use the timer on the camera to take the picture for us. Second, Caleb had never seen grass before so we couldn't get him to stop pulling up the grass and trying to eat it! Third, the battery on our camera died after just two photos...so, we were able to get these two photos and then after shaking the battery, we got one last one. Even though our plans for family pictures failed, we had an incredible day at the park with our little guy!

Our family!

Caleb feeling grass for the first time (at almost 8 months old)!

One of my favorite pictures of all time! My two favorite guys!

Fun Times

I thought you might enjoy a bunch of pictures of Caleb playing! He is pretty easily entertained - as you will see from the photos.

Just lounging in his "own" chair while we eat lunch!





He LOVES to read books. We only have three that we rotate between but never seems to tire of them. He especially loves the sparkly caterpillars. He also likes to turn the pages for me.





I few weeks ago, I wrote about how he didn't really use his walker much...well, he runs/walks everywhere in this thing now. However, the little chunk was too much for this walker and he fell right through! I looked up and saw him sitting on the ground wondering what happened. He never did cry - just looked a bit confused. Daddy fixed it for him and now he is up and running again.





He also loves to sit in the laundry basket and play with toys. This is great when I am fixing dinner or showering and need to keep him in one spot. It is just the right size for him.





He also absolutely loves to drive the car with daddy. He also enjoys honking the horn as people walk by. Fortunately, he fits right into his culture honking the horn all the time!

Caleb's Big Sister

Ladli is a young girl that works in our house for a couple hours a day during the week. This allows her to have enough money to go to school in the afternoon/evening (she is only in middle school!). She absolutely loves Caleb and he adores her as well. One day she asked me if I could take a picture of her and Caleb. I said of course I would be happy to! She then asked if I had a hat. Silly me, I thought she wanted Caleb to wear a hat. So, I told her he had a hat in his room. So, she came back with Caleb's hat and Jared's hat. She put Caleb's hat on him and then put Jared's hat on her. Next, she asked if I had some glasses. Again, silly me, thought they were for Caleb. I said I didn't have any for Caleb but I had a pair of sunglasses. So, she put on the sunglasses and we took a few pictures. Then she asked me if she could wear my glasses! By this point she was probably thinking I was a bit slow on the uptake. You see, lots of Indian wear "fashion" glasses because they think it makes them look richer and more stylish. So, we took some more pictures with Ladli looking very studious in her school uniform and glasses and Caleb looking like he was ready for a walk on the beach! Either way, we love her dearly!

Mercy!

Caleb has already taken to wrestling with his dad!

Say mercy!