Hello from San Francisco

We are safely here in San Francisco for a few days. So far, we are really loving this city (and surrounding area). When we got in yesterday, we made a beeline for the Pacific Ocean. It was sunny and 63 and the fresh ocean air was SO great. This weather is going to make it REALLY difficult to come back to winter in Chicago!!

We walked along the beach and were there just in time to see the sunset, which was really beautiful. I'm killing time today while Dan is at a conference. We're in a suburb and there's actually not much to do, so I'm sitting in a Starbucks getting my online "fix" and thought I'd post a pic or two. Lots more to come when we get back.


There were lots of surfers at the beach:



Beautiful sunset:



First glimpse of Golden Gate from the air:




More scenery at the ocean:

Caleb at 18 Months

I guess it's about time I posted an 18-month update for Caleb! I really feel like he's changed a lot in the last month or two and is really growing out of that baby stage. Maybe that's why I'm having such a hard time cutting him off of the bottle. Yeah, that's it. :-)

Here are some recent stats and developments:

He had his check-up on January 6. Sadly, I can't find the info sheet with all his stats....it's around here somewhere and when I do I'll post it. But I do remember her saying that he looked like a 2-year old and I know his height / weight / head circumference were all 90%. He also had his last installment of shots until kindergarten. Yay! When I talked to her about the ongoing soy / sleep issues she said we could probably go to whole milk as acid reflux issues should be over by now. So that's what we've done, but he's still not sleeping great. She mentioned that night terrors can start at this age? So I need to do some research on that.

I feel like his eyes are turning a different color, possibly green? I'm not sure if you can see it in the first pic, but they used to be pretty blue-grey, but now they seem to have some brownish and greenish specks. I feel bad because I'm not really sure what color to call them!

He's coming up with and saying more words all the time. He still loves his blankie and has started calling it his "day day." Some time he'll look for it, making his "where'd it go" sounds and hand motions. It's something like, "waaay go ? day day."

His #1 favorite activity right now is playing in the fridge. He takes whatever he can reach out (primarily the condiments), lines them up on the table, and then puts everything back. And repeats. I pretty much let him do it sometimes; not really energy efficient or good for perishable food, but it helps me get dinner made or the dishwasher loaded sometimes!

His #1 favorite DVD right now is this one we have called "Boz: The Green Bear Next Door." It from the makers of Barney and it has songs etc. It's a Christian program and focuses a lot on values, etc. Anyway, it doesn't have the humor factor that Veggie Tales does, but it's cute and colorful and he LOVES it. So every morning the first thing he says when we go to get him is "Boz." Except he has a little bit of a lisp, so it sounds like "both." Cute.

He's getting really good at singing. He loves to sing when we rock him for his nap or bedtime, and will even call out requests. His favorites are Veggie Tales and Happy Birthday (the version about being a monkey and living in a zoo). He always belts out the last note with enthusiasm, and gets a few notes and words in between, too.

He's talking more and more everyday, and is starting to talk "for real" on the phone. He'll say hi, bye bye, jibber jabber, whatever...but he loves hearing real voices in the phone now. He also loves having these little conversations where he'll come up to us and say "Ma ma." or "Da da." and then once he has our attention he'll proceed to jibber jabber about something really important and is not satisfied until we reply in some way, like "ohh, really?!" or "sure!"

He really likes my hairdryer and begs for it whenever he sees it, so sometimes I put it on the lowest settings and let him "dry" his hair.

He knows how to say "cars" (more like "cah") and really likes playing with the Hot Wheels and ramps.

Sometimes when you ask how he's doing he'll give a thumbs up "good."

He has never been as into books as Gabe was as a baby, but now will sit through them and really likes them, especially the flip the flap books and anything with fur or texture on the pages (like his kitten book from Mimi).

Somtimes he insists on wearing his shoes around the house and will bring them to me to put on.

He finally has all the incisors. I don't remember the exact dates, but I think he got all four between 17 and 18 months...about one a week.

Like his older brother, he has become a big fan of juice. I guess I shouldn't admit that, but whatever. He asks for it all the time. We've become much better and using concentrate instead of boxes and just adding double the water.

The other night Dan was leaning back on the couch with his hands behind his head relaxing and Caleb crawled up and did the same. He thought it was hilarious. Tonight he did the same thing...too funny.

Six Random Things

I always love to read these things when other people do them, and now I've been tagged by Amy Kate. I rarely get tagged. I'm not sure what that means, but here goes.


The rules:

1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.
5. Let each person know they’ve been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.


1. I have very little athletic ability. That all went to my sister. BUT, I did manage to get "co-MVP" of the volleyball team in 10th grade. The following year, a few of us ended up on the bench most of the time. To show our dissatisfaction and make a statement to the coach, we had a pizza delivered to us on the bench during our last home game. It didn't go over well and we were suspended for the rest of the season, which was one game. This is one of my favorite memories from high school...and I think not that many people believe that I would be involved in such a thing. :-)

2. I'm an extremely sentimental pack rat. Unfortunately for my mother, most of my "memorabilia" is still in her basement, which includes a toothpick from the breakfast buffet at the hotel where we stayed on our Florida vacation when I was in 5th grade.

3. I'm really becoming hooked on Guitar Hero. It's the only video game I've really enjoyed since Super Mario Brothers for NES.

4. I got to see France (Toulouse and Paris) with my friend Heather a couple of years ago. Amazing trip and one of the more adventurous things I've ever done (I was 5 months pregnant at the time). Really want to travel more some day.

5. I have always been really freaked out by the actual act or even thought of rubbing your teeth with tissue or something dry. I don't know why, but it really makes me cringe and lick my teeth. (OK, that one is really weird and a little embarrasing.) Thinking about the dentist wiping my teeth with those little cotton roll things gives me the chills.

6. I NEVER, EVER pictured that I would be a mom of boys. I always thought I would have little girls with pink little dresses and rooms (and back to aforementioned sentimentality, still have all my dolls, bears, diaries, charmkins, pretty ponies........). And, I NEVER thought I would not be a full-time stay at home mom. However, sometimes I feel like life is so much better when it doesn't turn out the way you expect, but the way God has planned it for you. I can't imagine life without my boys...all three of them. Each day is a new adventure!

Now for the 6 people I'm tagging:
1. Jamie: She's patiently awaiting baby #2 any day now and I'm sure she could use something to pass the time. :-)
2. Teara: She is one of my oldest dearest friends...and compadre in online stalking. :-)
3. Heather: I always love hearing from my friend Feather.
4. Christina: Love anytime she posts and especially when I get to hear about and see my nephews!
5. Holly: She's been MIA and I miss reading her blog!
6. Dan: I'm always interested in what he has to say to the cyberspace audience.

Can I just say...

....how proud I am of my sister? She is in the application process for the Rockford Fire Department and from a pool of 700+ is one of just around 50 left! She did the physical testing in the rain and still passed, completed all the personality and psychological testing and today had her interview, the last step in the process. While I'm not crazy about the thought of her running into burning buildings, I know she'd be great for the job. Fingers crossed! Love you, Beck!

Bad Dream

Last night, Caleb woke up around 11 (he's been having a rough week). As I was rocking him, I heard Gabe call out in a really sad / crying voice, "Mommy! Come! Hurrrrryyyy!" So I ran in, thinking maybe he was sick or about to throw up or something. When I got in there, he said, "I had a scary dream." And when I asked him what it was about, he said "about a scary monster." It was so sad - he was really scared, but went back to sleep.

Then today, when prodded separately by Dan and I, he told us both that his dream had been about the "little guy" from Ratatouille and that he had yelled at him, saying, "Liiiinnnguinnni!" which is what he says in the movie. He is a little scary looking:

Thanksgiving: Part 2

Thanksgiving: Part 2 was at my mom's house in Rockford. I'm sure I've posted about this in past years, but we always spent Thanksgiving at my dad's mom's and have tried to continue some of her traditions and recipes each year since she passed 11 years ago. My dad and I tackle the stuffing (which involves a pound of butter, dozen eggs and two loaves of bread - yum) and the turkey and mom handles the rest, along with some delicious additions from Joyce as well. My aunt Thea was able to make it this year, which was really nice, and Beck was there as well for the first time in a while. All in all a nice, relaxing day with lots of good food and family!

We also had a Thanksgiving: Part 3 with Sandi's family on that Saturday, but, believe it or not, I have no pictures from that get together! We had a great time with them, though. I've always been so appreciative of their flexibility in hosting holidays on a non-holiday-day...things are so nice and relaxed and we get a chance to spend more time with them than we normally would. Ruth did a great job hosting and it was great to see everyone on that side!

The table (and Dan) ready to go:



Caleb having some leftovers via "airplane:"



Caleb loves Oma's cranberry salad:



Dad and Thea:




Oma and Gabie:

My grandma's napkins and napkin rings (my mom made these for her - aren't they cute?)

Dad bringing the turkey to the table:

Mom:

My contribution was pound cake that turned into a disaster (NEVER use self-rising flour where it calls for all-purpose!):

Dad mixing the stuffing:

Thanksgiving: Part 1

I know you were probably expecting a post about Christmas, but I wanted to make myself do some catching up first, so I'm starting with Thanksgiving (and ignoring the fact that I still have posts from the summer that I never did - why can't I let those go? Anyway....)

The week before Thanksgiving, we hosted some of the mentors from Dan's program for a little "thank you" Thanksgiving dinner. I was a little worried...it was a potluck, but we were in charge of the turkey, and we had never made one. Maybe not the best time to try our hand, but after a little bit of internet research and a few helpful YouTube videos, I think we pulled it off. The only problem was that it was a little too small for the 14 people that were here!

It was really nice to have some of the mentors here. I have such admiration for these folks and the committment they've made to make a difference in the life of a youth. We had a great night. We couldn't fit everyone into one room, so we set up tables in both rooms and that worked out fine. One of the mentors' wife is a professional chef and brough the AMAZING almond rolls pictured below. If you ever want to order some, let me know and I'll connect you with her!

Dan and Emily, his colleague in the mentoring program (love her!):



Dan and the turkey:



At least it looks good?:

Ta Daaah!

The AWESOME almond rolls:

Table #1:

Table #2:

2008: Year in Review

It's been another great year - another FAST year - and I find myself looking back with gratitude and joy at all our many blessings. Christina and I put together some calendars for Christmas this year with pics of the boys, and picked out our favorite pics from each month in 2008. Since I had them assembled, I thought I would post them here. It's amazing to see how the boys have changed this year. I'm so grateful for them and have had so much fun with them this year.

I'm still contemplating my "resolutions" for this year, so maybe another post on that, but I'm looking forward to the year ahead and hope you are as well!

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December