Wake Up Call

Well, that sucked.

Eight Months!

Dear Caleb,

They say time flies when you're having fun, and that's certainly proving true with us.  The last few months have just flown by.  Each day, you get a little more active, you learn a few more skills, and, for the most part, you're even more fun than you were the day before.

You've started crawling, although, to my surprise, it doesn't seem to interest you all that much.  You only really crawl when you see something across the room that catches your eye, and more often than not, that something is Mommy or Daddy's computer.  If those aren't available, you usually go for the remote.  Aunt Sarah says the expression "like a moth to flame" should be replaced by "like a baby to expensive electronics," and that's certainly true in our case.  We finally caved and gave you your mommy's old desktop keyboard for you to play with, and that seems to satisfy you.  Other favorite toys include your fishbowl, your soft blocks, and your musical dragon.

"I command you to live!  Liiiiiive!"

Instead of crawling, you're far more interested in standing, and even taking a few assisted steps (although most of the time, right now, anyway, you bounce instead of walking).  You love to pull up using Mommy's fingers, and you're starting to figure out that you can pull up on other things, too, especially your crib rails.  You and Daddy have a game you play where he sits you in your crib, then you pull up, jump and take a few steps while holding onto the crib rails, all while giving me this big, impish, proud-of-yourself grin.  "Look what I can do, Mommy," you seem to say.

"Look what I can do!"

Teething doesn't seem to be treating you very nicely at the moment.  You've still only got those two teeth on the bottom, but we're pretty sure you're working on at least one more.  You drool prodigiously and gnaw on everything in sight (all your little spoons and several of your toys have little Munchkin teeth marks on them!), so that third tooth can't be far behind.  Usually, though, the teething tablets we give you help.  Those teeth are helping you start to talk; you now say "Dada" frequently and "Mama" sometimes.

Daddy says you get this from Uncle Scott.

After eight months, you and I have finally figured out how to nurse lying down, which means that now, in the mornings, your daddy changes you and then brings you in, and you nurse while the three of us cuddle.  After you're done, we give you a toy or two, and your daddy and I play with you while still in bed.  This has become, I think, my favorite part of the day.  I can't think of a better way to start my day than by snuggling with you and Daddy.

Just chillin'.

Your grandparents are still beyond thrilled that you live so close now.  We see them two or three times a week (instead of two or three times a year, like we'd planned), and you love spending time with them (unless they try to give you a bath). 

Touchdown!!

Your grandma likes to hold you and read you stories, and your granddad likes to teach you about things like plants and rocks.  Your Johnny Jump-Up lives there now, so you get in some good bouncing time whenever we visit (your current favorite bouncing song is "Baby Elephant Walk," to which you jump in rhythm.  This greatly impressed your uncle Andy).  You also enjoy our trips to the park, specifically the playground, where you like to swing.  It's fun to swing you and hear you giggle and watch those little wispy tufts of hair you have blowing in the Kansas wind.

Currently, you seem to be experiencing quite a bit of separation anxiety.  You don't like it when your mommy walks through the room and doesn't pick you up, and you also seem less than thrilled when Mommy's gone, be it during the day or at night.  I'm not sure what to do for you on this one; I think it's just a phase you'll have to work through on your own.  I wish I could wave a magic wand and make you realize that I'll always be there when you need me, but until then, I guess I'll just keep faithfully showing up until you figure out that "bye-bye" is just a temporary state of affairs.

I love you so much, sweetie.  I love watching you discover new things and then looking back at me with an amazed grin to share your joy with me.  I love feeding you and taking walks with you and seeing the world through your eyes.  I've been told to treasure these moments, because they're so fleeting, and I hope I'm doing a decent job of that.  There's lots to treasure.

I love you, Munchkin.

Love,
Mommy

Mr. and Mrs. "Mr. Bill!"

"You were born to be together, and together you shall be forevermore."

                                                            ---Khalil Gibran

Congratulations to my friends Robin and Bill on their wedding yesterday!  It was a beautiful, intimate ceremony, and I was honored to be a part of it.  The most special weddings, I find, are the ones where the couple's personality shines through, and this one was definitely one of those.  From the Native American blanket ceremony to the Gibran poetry to the rockin' reception, every facet of it told the world how much Bill and Robin love each other, and how vibrant they are when they're together. 

Robin, Bill completes you.  He brings out aspects of you that have been long-hidden and which deserve to shine, and in so doing, he makes you an even more vibrant, fascinating, wonderful person to be around than you were already!  I've known you for sixteen years (!) and I've never seen you this happy, and I wish you nothing but the best in your new life as Mrs. Bill!

Bill, I don't know you nearly as well as I do Robin, but you have a zest for life and a sparkle to your personality that enlivens wherever you are.  You treat Robin like the queen she is, and the two of you are so adorably in love, it's almost ridiculous.  It's amazing to watch the love you two have for each other overflow to those around you.  I'm looking forward to getting to know you better now that we're all settled in Wichita!

Oh, and how many brides are cool enough to belly-dance at their own wedding receptions?  I can only think of one.

2-1