Some Caleb Stories

It's been a long time since my last post...I haven't even written about our awesome Caribbean cruise! Guess that will have to wait for another time. I wanted to share some Caleb stories in this post.

One day not too long ago I was working with Caleb on the whole age thing and I said something about him being 2 1/2. So now he'll tell you he's 2 1/2 and can tell you his whole name too, usually leaving the 'n' off his last name. But sometimes he messes up when you ask his name and he replies "I'm Caleb 2 1/2"!!!

So whoever said potty training is easy is crazy. It has been an uphill battle with Caleb. He's been pretty good about going #2 on the toilet even though I had to bribe with M & M's to do that -- hey you gotta do, what ya gotta do and the kid likes food! But this weekend we may have had a breakthrough. He FINALLY started telling us that he had to go pee! He kept his pull-ups (half-underwear/half diaper things) dry all weekend. So after his bath this past Saturday night I was putting his pull-up on and in a sing-song voice sang "Keep your pull-up dry" over and over. Apparently, he didn't like it because he looks at me with this serious face and goes, "That's weird, Mama." I cracked up! That's the first time I've heard him use the word 'weird'. Plus, I figured it wouldn't take him long to figure out how weird I really am! HA! However, he now sings the pull-up song himself. In fact, he sang it after church yesterday for a few people standing in the foyer and they all cracked up! Maybe the pull-up song will help with this whole potty training thing after all.

As many of you know, Caleb is a rough and tumbly boy. He has no fear and feels no pain. It scares me a little that he feels no pain since little spankings seem to have no effect. We've had to use other punishments for more effectiveness. :) Another example of him feeling no pain happened a couple of weeks ago. He burnt his leg on the hot lawnmower exhaust and did not even cry; in fact, he acted like nothing happened. It was an odd looking sore and I discovered it shortly after it happened and he acted like it didn't hurt at all. I put some aloe on it and it actually formed a scab instead of a blister. Of course, being the rough boy that he is the scab fell off at some point while playing. I think it may leave a scar - probably the first of many.

Though he is a wild and crazy boy, Caleb has a sweet side to him. He has a cute way of giving compliments. One day last week he came over and laid on me and he said "You're pretty, Mama." And I said "Thank you" and he said "You're welcome." He also compliments me when I have a skirt or dress on for work or church. He goes, "Pretty dress, Mama!" and the same for jewelry that he likes - "Pretty necklace!" (again leaving the 'n' off). He likes to cuddle when he's tired or when he just wakes up. Sometimes he'll just come over and lay on Brent or I and there are times he'll give us random hugs and say, "Love you."


"Caleb 2 1/2"


Got his game face on


Laughing

Memories of Grandma D.

Earla Marie Dunlap

June 9, 1927 - March 16, 2008

Grandma D. passed away on Sunday morning after a long, hard battle with dimentia. I saw her last Friday before she died and said a final goodbye and kissed her head (there was a slight twitch of her eyes in response), and then went to hear the choir I accompany perform the Mozart Requiem. As I sat there and realized the irony of listening to a death mass as my Grandma lay there taking her final breaths in the nursing home, I was carried away by the etherealness of it all and tears came to my eyes. As the translation of the Communio states "Let light eternal shine on them, O Lord, and be with you forever. Amen."

I have many memories of times spent with Grandma. We would often spend days and nights at her house on the lake. Many, many summers were spent swimming there; she was an excellent and beautiful swimmer! Unfortunately, I did not get that talent! In the fall, we were over there raking all those leaves in that giant yard - ugh! And in the winter we would go ice skating on the lake and enjoy hot chocolate afterwards.

She let us kids be kids. We would often get into things that we weren't supposed to but she never got irate about it. We would spend hours and hours in her basement (especially when it was cold or rainy outside) and she wouldn't mind that it got a little messy or that we were loud and running around like crazy animals!

She had an innate "motherly-ness" and loved when the whole family was there and would make wonderful meals and delicious desserts. She had the biggest sweet tooth of anyone I know and would never miss dessert at any meal! I would always tease her at Thanksgiving or Christmas, and reading her mind would announce, "Grandma will have a sliver of each pie!"

She had a great sense of humor and loved to have fun and her laugh was infectious. If you really got her going, she would laugh until she cried.

Often when the whole family was over there we would play board games and I remember watching a game of Trivial Pursuit (when it first came out) and being mad that I was too young to play. But I remember thinking how smart Grandma was because she knew all the answers! Despite never attending college, she was an incredibly smart lady - I would daresay the smartest in our family. She had an incredible vocabulary (that she would put to use in her crossword puzzles) and would always teach me new words. She and I would often play this word game she had and I think she would let me win.

She loved people and animals. Her cat, Tigger, was her best friend during her last years. She had the kindest heart and would do anything for anyone. Her doors were open to anyone. I often took friends with me over to her house on the lake and she never minded one bit.

Though not a musician herself, she always was a big supporter of my music and attended almost every concert in which I played. I have heard that she was a good singer, though I have no recollection of hearing her sing. As with her other talents, she was very modest and never wanted to "show off."

Always the perfect picture of a lady, Grandma was the most elegant and sophisticated person I know, though without an ounce of snobbishness. She always said she and I would have a tea party with her Grandmother's china and while I was never a "tea-party" kind of kid, the fact that it would have been time spent with Grandma made it appealing. We never got to do that though...

I am very grateful that Grandma got to become a Great-Grandma in her lifetime and meet her Great-Grandson, Caleb! She loved him and even when she could not remember his name, she always talked about the "little guy" and tears of happiness would come to her eyes upon sight of him.

Grandma loved the things of God and had a personal relationship with Christ as was evident in her words and actions. She loved her church family and told us she prayed for her family every day!

So, Thank you, Grandma! Thank you for your cheekbones! Thank you for your thyroid issues (this is sarcastic)! Thank you for supporting me musically! Thank you for letting me be a kid! Thank you for instilling in me that sense of family that you had! Thank you for passing along that drive you had to always learn and to be your best! Thank you for your prayers! Thank you for always being there! And most of all thank you for your love!!!

Grandma & Grandpa on their wedding day - I love this picture!


Meeting her Great-Grandson for the first time!




Grandma and her daughters


Last picture of four generations

Taking Grandma to Applebees for her birthday in 2006


Having fun in the restaurant


Opening her birthday gifts


Grandma & Kim playing with Caleb

Video clip of Caleb & Great-Grandma interacting at her apartment

New Years and more!

Okay, so I'm a month behind! At least it's still 2008!
We had some friends over for New Years Eve! A tradition that we love! Spending time with friends is always a lot of fun!
Here is Caleb cleaning up on New Year's Day!

Bad boys sitting on the counter!!!

The chefs (AKA Brent's best buds - Dan and Chad) made breakfast!

Dan's beautiful little girl - Allyson

Dan's other little cutie - Emma

Caleb and Austin (Chad & Tracy's son) being silly!

And Sheridan (Chad & Tracy's daughter) looking really tall!
I can't believe you are going to be twelve next month!
I remember the day you were born - Poopie! :)

Caleb concocted this outfit himself! Probably not going to make it in the fashion world! He wanted really badly to go outside and help Daddy shovel!!!

Mean ol' Mama said "No" though!

This face is too funny!

And this one is too cute!

As is this one!

Caleb doing what he loves - climbing all over us!

Brushing his teeth (I wish this picture wasn't so blurry)

No more cameras!

Helping "Nama" blow out her birthday candles. Notice the drool on his chin...yeah, that's going on the cake...yummy!


Time is flying by! We have been really busy! Brent has been doing some traveling for work lately and I have been really busy with my MBA classes and Bay Chorale. And we both are really enjoying the terrible twos. :( No, Caleb is pretty good...but he has his moments!

One thing that is getting a little old is his nightly walks into our bedroom and into our bed. He is very sneaky. He usually comes in without even waking us up. There are nights when we take him back to bed a couple of times. One night I was awake when he came in and I watched him. He had his blankie and puppy and threw them up on the bed (without hitting us) and then actually made a second trip back to his room to get his pillow, another blanket, and a little toy he was playing with that night before bed. Then he snuck up and in between Brent and I and laid down - What a sneak! Of course, I wake up a little later when I get kicked in the kidneys, or back, or head!
On the other hand, it is cute and I know he won't be little forever. Reminds me of this great country song by Billy Dean...

Let them be little 'cause they're only that way for a while
Give them hope, give them praise, give them love every day
Let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle
Oh just let them be little

Christmas pictures -- a little late

Caleb helping Daddy with the lights for our tree.

A couple of weeks before Christmas we did some shopping in Midland, met Aunt Callie & Uncle Tony for dinner, and then went to the Santa House in Midland. It was cold waiting outside, but once inside it was pretty neat.

Inside the Santa House, as we unthaw from our cold wait.

The lady behind us offered to take our picture in Santa's Sleigh.

Caleb was more interested in that candy bucket beside Santa, than Santa himself! Once he got his candy he was ready to go!

We had better luck at this meeting with Santa


We spent Christmas Eve visiting my Grandma in the nursing home.
That's my mom on top, and Aunt 'Nette, and Uncle Steve with my Grandma.

Peeking in his stocking

I thought this profile picture was kinda cute.

Caleb wearing Aunt 'Nette's pink flamingo slippers!

Sitting with Papa N. and opening his "big boy baff toys"

Caleb and the tree!

Christmas at Alex and Monica's! And the dumb dog too!

Monica & Caleb! He liked that train that went around their tree!

Almost Christmas!

We've been busy lately getting ready Christmas! After Thanksgiving was when we got our first snow of the winter that "stuck" as I like to put it. :) Caleb rode in his sled around the yard. Then Daddy decided to pull him in it with the tractor! He likes sledding and he likes tractors so it was a fun combination!

The first weekend of December was the Dickens Christmas Festival. They had a lighted parade at night that was pretty neat. But it was very cold!!!

I wish some of the pictures of the parade turned out better. I bet these fish were cold!!! :)

Caleb had fun though!

Caleb playing "Mr Fix-it"

Caleb and Daddy like to wrestle.

We went and got our tree a couple of weeks ago at a tree farm. Caleb had fun looking at the trees. He wanted to be a big boy and walk most of the time instead of being pulled in the sled.

Sometimes he fell in the crunchy snow though! (And no, that saw blade is nowhere near him!)

We finally found one that we liked. It's a scotch pine, a little over six feet tall. They also had reindeer at the tree farm. Caleb liked them and they seemed to like him too!

Other notes are: Last week I was in a car accident. I was on my way home from work and the roads were very slushy and slippery and before I was even off of campus a girl came fishtailing around the corner in her big ol' SUV and hit me. There was no avoiding her. I was not hurt at all. My neck hurt for a couple of days but it already feels better. She hit me on the driver side front corner. The damage that I noticed was the headlight was smashed, hood was bent, side panel wrecked, and radiator was leaking. My car is totaled. We're still trying to work with our insurance company to get our money. Even though it was getting small for the three of us (sometimes 4 when the dog was with us too), especially on longer trips, I will miss my Honda Civic! It was comfortable, easy to drive, and the gas mileage was unbeatable! RIP Hondy!

Then yesterday I took the GMAT and passed. I can now officially start MBA classes at CMU (part-time while I still work). It was a 3-hour test! 1/3 Writing Essays, 1/3 sentence correction and reading comprehension, and 1/3 Math (we're talking hard algebra, geometry, statistics...well at least seemed hard to me!). I'm just glad it's over. Studying after the whole car accident thing and with Christmas around the corner was not easy.