Discovery

Caleb is enjoying discovering new toys. This is his newest, the Jumperoo. He got it for Christmas from Grandma and Poppa, but has just recently been able to begin using it. He is really experimenting with his legs.



As you can see, he and the dogs are beginning to discover one another as well. They didn't pay much attention to him when he just laid around and slept, but now they are very interested in this little guy. At least twice a day I catch Mollie running away with one of his toys. I think it will be a never-ending battle to keep their toys separate!

The Light of the World

I've been studying the Old Testament Tabernacle lately through Beth Moore's study, A Woman's Heart: God's Dwelling Place. It is incredible, and I highly recommend it. Something I studied today really struck a cord about how we are supposed to be the "light of the world" (Matt. 5:14-16).

"...we are the light that must be kept continually burning [like the lampstand in the Tabernacle] to allow others to see His presence in this age. He is no less present even when we hide our lamp under a bowl or a bushel. However, when we do this, we make it harder for those walking in darkness to see. God has ordained that others may see the reality of His presence by the illumination our lives shed forth! We are the heavenly lampstand of this dispensation to show Jesus to a dark world."

"What were God's first recorded words? Let there be light (Gen. 1:3)."

May I be a light in this dark world. May everything that I do and say bring light. Whether I am worshiping with my church family, raising my precious son, hanging out with my friends getting pedicures, loving my sweet husband, or standing in line at Wal-Mart, may my life shed light in a dark world.

"Let there be light."

Five Months Old

Caleb is 5 months old today. I can hardly believe it! The time has flown by. We are so blessed to have a healthy, happy boy. What a tremendous joy he is in our lives. God has truly brought happiness into our lives through Caleb.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!

Fussy

This has been one of the longest weeks I've had in a long time. Caleb has not been resting well, not too thrilled about eating cereal anymore, and is waking up in the middle of the night (which he hasn't done in such a long time). I'm so tired. I have no idea what is going on with him, but he has been much more fussy than normal lately. He's not running a fever and isn't cutting any teeth that I can tell. I've chalked it up to being gone all last weekend and disrupting his normal pattern, but I'm ready for things to straighten out. Right now he's crying in his bed because he doesn't want to take a nap, but he's been up for hours and I've already tried to get him to nap twice. *Sigh*

Any advice out there?

They Change So Fast!

I was looking through our pictures and it amazes me how much Caleb has grown and changed. He used to look a little like me, but now he looks so much like Justin. (I think the eyes prohibit him from looking anything like me! Plus his hair used to be dark brown and is slowly changing to blonde). Here's a look at Caleb when he was a few weeks old and now at 4 1/2 months.

Sports

It looks like Caleb will be a sports fan just like his Daddy. This basketball was laying in his Pack-n-Play, and I'm not sure how he got a hold of it, but he did. We also have a picture of him watching Aggie Football when he was 2 months old, so I guess it's in his genes!

This Weekend

This weekend Caleb spent his first night away from Mommy and Daddy! While we were at a church retreat, he spent two nights with Grandma and Poppa. They were only too happy to keep him. Since our retreat was only 5 minutes away :-), I was able to see him a couple of times on Saturday for feedings. It was wonderful to see him light up when I walked in the room. He is finally at that stage where he recognizes us and rewards us with big smiles when we go in to get him after he wakes up. Thanks Mom and Dad (and Kimberly & Kurt) for taking such good care of Caleb and allowing us the time away! We love you!

cutest thing ever...

Does every mom think their child is the cutest thing ever? Probably. I'm so in love with this cute little boy! :-)

My child's hair...

Sweet mullet! This is a shout-out to Uncle Kurt and Aunt Kiki. Caleb has rubbed the hair off the back of his head until just a "mullet" is left. Uncle Kurt thinks it's about the best thing ever, so I had to take some pictures before all the hair grew back in. Good times!! :-)

Blessed

I walked into Caleb's room the other night to check on him, which I do many times between the time he goes to bed and when I go to bed, and I watched him sleeping. Looking at him brought tears to my eyes because I love him so much. I never could have imagined a love like this before I had a child. I love my husband more than I ever thought possible, but the love of a mother to a child is different than that. He is my own flesh and blood. He lived inside of me for months and I didn't even know what he looked like. But I loved him from the start. And now I love him more than words can say. He is precious to me.

As I lay in bed that night, still teary-eyed, it hit me like never before...God loves me infinitely more than I love my child. How is that possible? We cannot even fathom the extent to which our Heavenly Father loves us, but I am eternally grateful that He gives us glimpses of it here on earth. My precious Caleb allows me a window into God's heart.

I am so blessed.