All Aboard!

Yesterday afternoon, Caleb and I had a Daddy’s day.  We went to Travel Town Museum over at Griffith’s Park.  Now for those of you who know Caleb, there are certain things he likes.  He likes trains.  He likes trucks.  He likes dogs.  He likes ducks.  Pretty much, he’s interesting in anything he can get his hands on.  He’s now touched all these things now, except for ducks.  And I’m sure he would if he could chase the ducks down.

IMG_2613

IMG_2616

IMG_2621

IMG_2624

IMG_2626

IMG_2630

Updates! Sick Again!

It’s been a while since Yvonne or I last posted.  But hopefully I can catch you all up for those who don’t see Caleb as often.

Caleb started sleeping through the night at 12 and a half months old.  It was great getting a full night’s rest every night.  And then after mommy’s birthday weekend, he got sick, and those sleepless nights were back again.  On August 12th, Caleb started getting a fever (around 101-102).  He was so hot we had to strip him.  We’ve never let our son watch so much TV in his life.

IMG_2448

And it stayed that way for the next 4 days.  A few days later on Friday night, he was moaning and groaning and couldn’t settle himself to sleep.  He didn’t feel hot anymore, but felt cold.  Yvonne took his temperature and it was 96.5, which is much worse than having a fever if you didn’t know.

Yvonne called up the pediatrician and we were able to get his temperature up a little.  A few days in, we still didn’t know what he had since he had know other symptoms other than a high fever and general grumpiness/clingyness.  We went in to see the on-call pediatrician that Saturday.  She checked him out very briefly and diagnosed it as an ear infection.  And that was strange to us, since he had no other symptoms.  No cold.  No rubbing the ears.  No apparent ear pain at all.  But that’s what she said.  So she gave us a prescription for antibiotics.  We didn’t like this doctor by the way.

So that Saturday, I was in charge of taking care of him while Yvonne was off doing her servant auction team stuff.  His fever broke.  He no longer had a low temperature.  And his mood was much better since the previous day.  But we started him on antibiotics anyways.  Of course with antibiotics comes lots and lots of poop.

IMG_2466

IMG_2467

Later that night (or maybe the next day), we noticed on his body all these bumps on his body.  We thinking maybe he had an allergic reaction to something he ate or to the antibiotics.  But he didn’t seem to be itchy.  And he didn’t seem bother by it, which made it strange for us.  He just seemed normal, but with bumps all over his body.

IMG_2464

Here comes the internet.  After a little research, we narrowed it down to roseola virus.  His symptoms matched up with the symptoms of someone with roseola virus.  High fever for a week, and then abrupt breaking of the fever, followed by bumps/rash.  We called the pediatrician again and scheduled another appointment with our normal pediatrician that Monday.  Yup.  It’s definitely roseola virus.

After a few days, he got less and less clingy.  And went back to sleep again!  Full night’s worth!  Yay!

Well…  That only lasted a week, cause yesterday he got himself a cold.  Last night, he was having a miserable time sleeping.  Kept waking up every hour or so.  And then Yvonne sucked the snot out of his with her mouth in the middle of the night to help him breathe.  Yes.  He’s got a cold.  Second illness in 2 weeks.  Sucks to be Caleb.  Sucks to be us going without sleep again.

It’s my turn to watch him tonight, so I’m up writing this.  He hasn’t been bad so far.  Only needed us once.  But it’s early.  And he’s making a lot of noise tonight.  Can’t be comfortable for him.

Go away sicknesses!

Pictures (Things Caleb likes):

He likes eating mommy’s birthday cake (which he’s not allowed to eat.  He’s allergic!)

IMG_2369 

He likes the circus

IMG_2309

He likes mirrors

IMG_2374

He likes pointing (at water fountains)

IMG_2396

He likes pointing (at leaves)

IMG_2499

He likes pointing (at birds)

IMG_2481

He likes playing with stuff that he probably shouldn’t be playing with

IMG_2494

He likes playing with stuff that he probably shouldn’t be playing with (but he doesn’t like getting stuck trying to play with them)

IMG_2490

He likes reading books (by himself too)

IMG_2529

He likes cars and trucks

IMG_2503

He likes Cars

IMG_2444

He likes playing with Tommy

IMG_2523

He likes playing with Daddy

IMG_2208

And he likes playing with Mommy

IMG_2471

Recent Pictures

The AAP doesn’t recommend TV watching for kids until 5 years of age, but you know what?  Those “rules” go out the door when you quickly learn that your son sits still for at least 2 minutes when watching TV… just enough time for mommy or daddy to cut his fingernails and toe nails. 

IMG_2254

IMG_2256

 

Here’s a picture of Caleb in his forward-facing car seat.  He loves the view!  His index finger in his mouth has been a nearly permanent fixture for at least a week.  This boy is drool city.  He has all 8 of his incisors, his 2 top canines, and his four 2-year old molars.  His bottom 2 incisors are busting their way through the gums.  Caleb nearly has 16 of his 20 baby teeth.  Go Caleb! 

IMG_2258

 

Here’s a fun video of me kicking my beach ball around.

 

I love to imitate mommy.  She butters her bagel.  I try to too.

IMG_2269

 

Hold me, hold me.  “Bao-bao”

IMG_2291

 

How much can I stuff into my snack cup?

IMG_2292

 

Where’s Caleb?  Here I am!

IMG_2335

IMG_2336

More about Me before I turn 13 months old

I like to sit on stairs. 

IMG_2210

I still like to eat.  Aren’t I a cutie?

IMG_2197

I love reading, and I love my cat Tommy.

IMG_2231

I still love stacking… only higher now.  And, I like dumping things out for mommy to clean up again.  Sometimes I’ll actually put away my toys myself.

IMG_2234

I love to imitate mommy.  She cleans, I clean (at least I try).

IMG_2252

 

I have a new pair of shoes.  Well, grandma & grandpa bought them for me over a month ago.  These Stride Rite shoes are more expensive than any shoes mommy has ever bought (except for her rockclimbing or hiking shoes).  I didn’t like these shoes before.  They made me trip and fall.  This is a video of me trying on my 1st pair of shoes again a few days ago.  I like them much better now.

 

I still love music.  I used to dance by bouncing my butt up and down.  Now, I twirl/spin.

 

I’ve got 11 or more teeth now.  I got 3 molars in right after I turned one.  1 more waiting to pop out on the bottom left jaw.  My canines are coming out too.  Soon (maybe), I’ll have 16 teeth.  Almost done with getting all my baby teeth, and I’m not even 13 months old!

Baby Caleb Sleeps Thru the Night!!!

Yes, you read right.  Caleb slept through the night last night.  It’s a miracle. 

It all started when he turned 1 on 6/27/08.  We were at youth camp.  He slept 9 hours straight, but woke up at 4 something in the morning.  Despite the early morning wake up, we were ecstatic.  Then the next 2-3 weeks, Caleb just teased us… sometimes waking multiple times in the night, sometimes having trouble even falling asleep, sometimes staying awake for long periods of time in the middle of the night… or sometimes only waking up once or doing long stretches of sleep.  Then this past week, he started stretching out his sleep more consistently.  8 hours one night.  9 hours another night.  9.5 hours another night.  But he would struggle with going back to sleep after these long stretches of sleep, keeping mommy up with him from 4 or 5 in the morning. 

Caleb’s been occasionally resisting his morning nap… or taking shorter morning naps.  He started consistently dropping a nap this past week, which may be why he’s sleeping longer at night.  I think Caleb’s in the process of transitioning from 2 to 1 nap. 

Anyhow, 2 nights ago, Caleb slept 10 hours straight, from 8PM to 6AM.  we thought that was a miracle.  Then 1 night ago, he woke up once at 11:50PM.  He had a huge stinky poop.  I changed him, put him down immediately, and back to sleep he went in less than a minute or two!  He slept until 6am-ish.  Then last night… the momentous night that calls for major partying… Caleb slept from 7:35PM to 6:40AM.  11 hours!  He did wake up right before 5AM, but put himself back to sleep after 10 minutes of crying.  This is utterly amazing.  And now for the last 2 days, he’s back to taking his 2 naps again… 3 hours of naps per day, 11 hours at night….  it’s textbook.  My goodness… we have a textbook angel baby. 

For those of you who have not been on this sleep deprivation saga with us, you have no idea what joy it brings us to see our son sleeping.  We know this may not be the end of all the sleepless nights for Caleb.  But pray with us that it is!  Meanwhile, we’re praising God for what He’s given us so far.

 

IMG_2194

Uuh! Caleb’s Favorite Word

Ever since Caleb was born, he has been a loud baby.  He cries loud.  He talks loud.  He’s just loud, period.  He’ll fit in well with the rest of our family.  He must have picked it up from our families, cause Yvonne and I certainly aren’t loud.

Caleb has been talking bunches.  Well he’s always made lots of talking sounds, most of which we can not understand.  But he’s developed a new favorite word/sound.  And it’s not “ma ma” or “da da” which he likes saying both.  It’s a sound that sounds like “uuh!” or something like that.  I don’t know what’s the best way to spell, so maybe you can tell me.  This sound can mostly be interpreted as “give me” or “I want that” or it could even mean “get me out of here” or “help me.”  In this case below, it means “give me”.

Ever since Caleb started walking, he’s pretty much stopped crawling.  And when he’s stopped crawling, he’s pretty much stop climbing.  He even doesn’t like to climb up and down stairs anymore.  He’ll eventually do so, just cause he wants to get somewhere.  But lots of time if mommy or daddy are around, he’ll grunt his “uuh” sound and ask to be picked up.  It’s very cute, but if you’re going to be mobile, be mobile up and down the stairs as well.  2 stairs ain’t going to hurt you, son.  Of course if you have something he really wants, there is no stopping him.  Neither heights, nor depths can stop him from getting what he wants.

IMG_2112

Caleb likes his toys.  He especially likes his new ones.  Take them away when he’s not finished with them yet, and he’ll give you that “uuh” sound.  For his birthday we had bought him a toy lawn mower that blows bubbles.  He likes bubbles.  He likes to walk.  He’s going to love this toy!  Well he did love it.  Problem is is that it didn’t blow bubbles.  If adults couldn’t get this toy to blow bubbles, how does anyone expect a baby to make it blow bubbles?  So we decided to return it and get another lawn mower.  This pops balls.  Again he loves it.  All he needs is something to walk with.

IMG_2139

Happy Birthday

Happy 1 year birthday!

Caleb had his 1 year birthday party a week before his actual birthday.  His actual birthday was when we were at camp.  (By the way, who’s camera was used to take pictures at his birthday?  I have mostly video footage)

Caleb had a blast at his party.  Too much of a blast that he didn’t get much of a nap in afternoon (only 30 minutes).  Of course if that wasn’t enough, after his wild birthday party he goes another baby’s birthday party.  2 parties in one day.  Let’s just say that Caleb didn’t sleep too well that night either.  I believe he woke up 6 times?

Update:
My wife informed me that he woke up not 6 times, but 8 times.

IMG_1983

IMG_2012

IMG_2024

Caleb got some great toys for his birthday.  He had so many new toys he didn’t know what to do with them all.  But his favorite toy (now) has to be his trucks.  He loves those trucks.

IMG_2027

IMG_2048

IMG_2052

Of course sometimes he just likes plain ol’ boxes.

IMG_2038

And sometimes he likes Tommy in the plain ol’ box.

IMG_2036

His actual birthday was more laid back even though we were at camp.  He had a bunch of people play with him.  He got to play with his trucks around camp.  And then on the night of his birthday, he woke up once at 8:45pm.  He didn’t wake up again until 5:40am!  Almost 9 straight hours of sleep.  I must say I was amazed.  If he could do 9 hours every night, he would have some much more happier (and awake) parents.

 IMG_2058

Youth Camp

We came back from youth camp today.  Caleb’s very first youth camp was an incredibly exciting one for him.  He got to play in the dirt.  He had lots of people giving him attention.  He got scrapes from walking and falling down and getting back and then falling down again.  And best of all, he had his best sleeping night ever in his life on his birthday!  Praise the Lord!

Now only if he could sleep 9 hours straight every night.  That would be great.

IMG_2062

IMG_2075

IMG_2067

IMG_2069 

IMG_2071

IMG_2093

IMG_2080

Toilet Paper Fun

Here’s a picture finally of the result of one episode of Caleb’s toilet paper fun.  He got distracted by Ellie our cat… otherwise, the result could have been much worse!

IMG_1925

Food Allergies

Little Caleb has had multiple sudden reactions to food he’s eaten.  We finally figured out what he’s allergic to… MILK!  oh my.  I love milk.  I love ice cream.  I love yogurt.  Caleb can’t have any, for now at least.  His first reaction at the end of March was to Beechnut rice cereal.  We knew he wasn’t allergic to rice since he’s had it before from another brand.  But this rice cereal has “whey” in it… a milk product.  Then at the beginning of May, Caleb had banana yogurt.  He’s had teaspoons of yogurt in the past, but this time, he ate a whole cup of it. 

We still weren’t completely convinced.  Maybe it was some other ingredient?  We offered Caleb some cottage cheese with mango a couple weeks ago.  He got hives all over his face and neck.  Poor Caleb! 

IMG_1623

IMG_1625

Chris tried this fish dish (the fish was poaches in milk, but that was it).  He turned red around his mouth.  This Monday, I fed him a small piece of whole-grain chip.  I noticed that familiar itchy redness start around his mouth too.  The chips were sour cream and chives.  No more milk products for you, baby boy.

 

So, Caleb had blood drawn 3 weeks ago for the pediatric allergist.  We got the results yesterday.  Caleb’s allergic to milk, casein, egg whites, peanuts, and oats.  Well, all of them are borderline allergies on his labwork, and may not be true allergies.  But, for now, the allergist says no milk or eggs until Caleb’s at least 2 (after he gets his blood tests repeated).  And no nuts at all including peanut butter until he’s at least 3 (if his blood test then is clear).  Caleb can have oats in moderation since he doesn’t seem to have had any reactions to his oatmeal. 

And, Caleb showed a slight increase in his IgE’s to cat dander.  Oh no!!!  It’s not very high.  But, the doctor warned that Caleb may develop a worse allergy to cats… or it just might disappear as he gets older.

IMG_1594

IMG_1696