More Columbus Fun!

Hi Caleb,

The weather stayed beautiful for your first Columbus Day Weekend.  We had to get out and enjoy it, so Sunday Daddy and I took you hiking in the Blue Hills.  We drove over to the skating rink and picked up the trail heads there.  We wandered around the Skyline trail for a few hours, had another picnic and all in all had a great afternoon.  Daddy wore you in the Jeep carrier and you loved every minute of it.  You laughed, squealed and kicked your feet the whole way!   You really liked to watch the wind blow the leaves on the trees.  It was so pretty with all the colors in the trees!

By the end of the hike you fell sound asleep on Daddy's chest.  Worn out from all the fun.  What a great day!

In 1492...

Hi Caleb,

It is your first Columbus Day weekend! That means three days off from work for Mommy and Daddy.  The weather is incredible- about 70 degrees and sunny in October!! We intend to make the most of it!

Today was such a great day.  We had a lazy morning around the house, then went to Weymouth to the condo where Mommy used to live.  We spent a little time there, cleaning up (which you did not like) and then went to Webb State Park.  We had a picnic, you rolled around in the grass for a while, then went for a walk around the park.  The leaves and the ocean were beautiful.  We took lots of pictures.  It was the perfect spot to spend time today!

After the park we went by Nana and Granky's for a bit.  Everyone was there- Auntie Erin, Uncle Sean, Cousin Dillan, Cousin Andrew, Uncle Pat and Auntie Fallon.  It was Andrew's first visit to Nana and Granky's house.  You looked so giant next to him!

It was a great first day of your first Columbus day weekend.  Two more days of fun to come!

Oh, yeah, you got your first tooth today too! It is not all the way in yet, but it is there! Such a big boy!

Octoberfest!

Hi Cal,

Today was a great day.  It was the first Octoberfest in Q center, so you, Daddy and I walked over.  It was a beautiful day and we had a lot of fun.  There was music, lots of food, animals, pumpkins, all kinds of fall treats.  We brought your lunch and sat outside, then walked all around.  You were awake most of the time and you really seemed to like looking around and seeing all the people and activities.  It was a great family day and we can't wait to take you back next year! It is so much more fun to do these kinds of things now that we have you to do them with!

Ouch. And please stay still!

Dear Cal,

You have developed a few new habits.  Things that you really like to do, but that Daddy and I don't enjoy as much.  First, you love to pull hair. And Daddy's beard.  You are really good at getting a big handful and not letting go.  You also like to pinch my face.  Ouch!! 

The other thing you now like to do is anytime you are put on your back, you flip right to your belly.  Then you reach for anything that is nearby.  This is fine most of the time, but you do this when you are getting dressed or getting a diaper change.  This makes things a little tricky.  Sometimes, a diaper change can take WAY longer than it should.  You think its pretty funny.  Silly boy!

So busy!

Hi Cal,

Wow, the month of September flew by.  It was a very busy time! So many things going on. I couldn't write to you about each one, so I guess I'll just do a month in review.

You have changed and learned a lot this month.  At your six month appointment, you were 13 lbs, 10 ounces.  Still the 5th percentile, but up two pounds in a month.  Annette was so impressed by how strong you were and how well you rolled and moved.  There was a student nurse in the room with her and she couldn't stop raving to her about you.  I was so proud.  You did have to get a few more vaccines this month and you took them like a champ.  You cried a bit but got over them fast.  All in all, a good appointment.

You are talking a ton now. Lots of noises that are starting to sound more and more like words.  You day ma ma and da da.  At first, we thought you were just making noise, but now you look right at daddy and say "da da."  He loves it!  You also move more on your own.  You can get any where you want by rolling and you are very close to crawling. You are trying so hard to get going!

You really like to play now.  You can sit on your own and love to be on the floor surrounded by toys.  There is one toy that Abba gave you that you really love.  Its got Sesame Street characters on it and it spins and makes a lot of noise.  When it lands on Oscar it says "I love trash." You spin it and laugh.  Most toys end up in your mouth.  You are still working on getting some teeth, but nothing yet.  You drool a ton, though.  Some days I have to change your shirt because you get so soaked.

A few big things happened this month.  Probably the most exciting is that you now have a baby cousin.  Auntie Erin had a baby boy named Andrew.  You haven't met him yet because he's been a little sick and had to stay some extra time in the hospital.  He's home now, though and you'll meet him soon.  Cousin Dillan is so happy to have a baby brother.  You three are going to have tons of fun playing together!

We also went to Cousin Jake's christening and first birthday party this month.  Daddy is his Godfather! It was a great day at their house.  You spent a lot of time playing with Jake and his cousin Cameron.  It was at this party that you really sat by yourself for the first time.  You got pretty jealous, though, when Jake got his piece of cake.  He put his face right in it and I could tell you wanted to dig in with him.  Not yet, though!

You do still love to eat.  By now, you have tried most of the fruits and veggies and the only thing you don't like is green beans.  You get pretty excited at meal time and don't like to see anyone else eat unless you have something too.  New treats this month have been puffs and zwieback toast.  You do a really good job feeding yourself the toast, but you make a HUGE mess! In your hair, on your shirt, sometimes even in your eyes.  Messy, but you love it.  You have also started drinking a bit out of the sippy cup.  You haven't mastered it yet, but you are getting close.

You are turning into such a big boy.  You are learning so many new things and you are so much fun.  Daddy and I love the time we spend with you and you make us smile everyday.  Six months have gone by so fast and we have loved every minute of it!

Off to daycare...

Hi Caleb,

This week, I went back to work.  I know I'm very lucky that I got to be home with you for almost six months, but that didn't make going to work any easier! I'm only working part time, so I am away from you from about 7 until 11:30.  Its not that long a time, but it feels like forever.  I know you are in good hands while I am gone, though.  Somedays, you are with Nana and Granky, the other days you are with Abba.  They are all so happy to spend the time with you.  Abba takes you for walks all around her building and you have made lots of friends with "the ladies."  You are quite the popular guy with them!  On Nana and Granky days, Dillan is usually there to keep you company. He likes to push you around the house in your walker and he really likes to sit in the chair with you while he watches television.  

So while I am off teaching the high school kids, I know you are having a great time.  Being back to work isn't so bad, but I'd rather be with you!