Relationships

Caleb is just beginning to sort out the various relationships in his life—making sense of his connections to people and the significance of that. He definitely understands Mommy and Daddy . . . but finds the fact that his Mommy has a Mommy, who is also his Grandma, a little tough. That his Aunties are his Mommy's sisters make sense ("Just like Ella is my sister?" "Yes, just like Ella is your sister.") But Uncles are harder, as he has no brothers. He does however, clearly understand the difference in the importance of his relationships, and has even gone so far as to "rank."
• Mommy and Daddy and Ella fall in the "You are my honeys" category.
• Grammie and Grandpa, and Grandma and Papa fall in the "Can we go to Grandma's house today?" *everyday* category.
• Joshua and Annie (and Aaron's nieces and nephews) fall in the "They are NOT my buddies, they are my COUSINS!" category.
• The immense amount of people he knows and I don't (the kid can remember everyone's name!) fall in the "buddies" category.
• Everyone else: "HELLO PEOPLE!" category . . . as we enter Target, the grocery store, church, etc . . .

Caleb has an unbelievable memory. We can introduce him to someone only once and he will remember who they are upon sight the next time we meet. His ability with people (regardless of the relationship) continually reminds me that God has placed so many wonderful relationships in my life to both bless me and allow me the opportunity to bless . . . that we could all remember to shout "Hello People" in such a delighted voice every time we enter a public place! (Though somehow I think Caleb's greeting would always be better recieved.)

My Everything

Caleb and I have a regular tradition: dancing in the kitchen. If I will remember anything in the coming years, when my son towers over me, and I can no longer coerce him into holding me tight around the neck, or listening to me read aloud to him, it will be moments like this. Twirling with Caleb across the sun-drenched kitchen with nothing in the world more important to do.

Ella Marie, Seven Weeks

Making Faces

Our weekends generally begin much the same way. . . Daddy and Caleb rise for breakfast and early morning cartoons, followed by Mamma and Ella who like to lay-a-bed a bit longer as they usually spend some quality time together during the night. Once all are up, breakfast follows and Caleb often joins me in the chair as I feed Ella. Sometimes we spend most of Ella's breakfast just being silly. Daddy caught a few examples on film for the benefit of all.

Give me Jesus

Last night found me bouncing from one baby to the next until the wee hours of the morning . . . Ella because she is just a ravenous little thing, and Caleb because he caught a terrible cold over the weekend and was still feeling pretty lousy last night. I am feeling a little worn this morning, but also remarkably blessed . . . I know that sounds a little strange, considering I only got about three hours of sleep last night, but my time with my children last night was remarkably sweet . . .

Ella is growing. Fast. Yesterday she tried rolling over and she nearly laughed at her Daddy. I am continually surprised at how fast time flies when I measure it against the changes my children are experiencing. Most days I find that I am so busy with Caleb, that Ella, because she is so content to simply sit in her swing, does just that, and I don't get to hold her or play with her, save when I am feeding her . . . So despite being tired, it is often a pleasure to pull my smiling and hungry daughter from her crib in the middle of the night, cuddle her close to my heart, and feed her as we rock in her nursery until she falls back asleep.

Night time rendezvous with Caleb are a little more rare as he is a marvelous night-time sleeper and rarely wakes unless he has a bad dream, or feels yucky—as was the case last night. But usually he is delirious and emotionally distraught, and it takes quite a bit of time and energy to calm him down and get him back to sleep . . . Not so last night. Last night my son was lucid and utterly delightful. At 1am he called my name (Mommy), and when I stumbled into his room, he sat up in bed and said, "Mommy, I need a dwink. I am wiw-we firsty!" And when I obliged, he wrapped his arms around my neck and thanked me, planted a sweet kiss on my lips and laid back down. But before closing his eyes he reached for me. As I leaned over him he placed his little hands on the sides of my face and said, "Jesus? Pwease?" He wanted me to sing Jesus Loves Me to him. And so I did—of course. We repeated this exact scenario three more times throughout the night, and at 4am he asked if I would snuggle with him when I finished singing . . . I immediately complied. (For those of you who know Caleb, he NEVER cuddles; never has. He is a very "hands-off" sort of fellow, and I have learned that when he asks for a little physical affection, to make the most of the opportunity because it might be a while before he asks again!)

As I lay cuddled up with my little boy, his sweet breath on my neck and his arms wrapped around me, it dawned on me how sweet this gift truly was . . . and how delightful it was to hear him ask for Jesus when he was in need of comfort. While Caleb does not know Jesus as his savior (yet), he does understand that Jesus is his "rescuer" and a source of help. How good it was for me to be reminded by my son in the dark of the night that the name of my Savior is such a source of comfort—for both of us.

Caleb and Ella

I realize I have posted a couple of pictures of Caleb holding Ella, and that they are remarkably similar to this one, but this image is becomming such a regular sight in our home that i feel inclined to share it here. I keep thinking, Ella's novelty to Caleb is going to wear off any minute. And yet almost every morning he asks, "I hold my sister? I hold her? I'm the brother." This is such a gift to me! And while I know Caleb will eventually get "bugged" by his sister, (like when she is into his stuff), for now I will keep taking this picture, and posting it, so I can remind myself and my son when he is particularly irritated and frustrated by Ella, that he is "the brother" and that he loves that role!

All By Myself

While I knew this would be a necessary part of Caleb's adjustment, I never realized how much independence would be necessary on his part with the arrival of his baby sister. It concerned me a bit the first couple of weeks, as Caleb tends to be a bit needy and is continually asking for help . . .even with things he is capable of accomplishing himself (he is a smart little guy and quickly learned, "why do it yourself when someone bigger and stronger can do it for you!?")

With Ella's entrance into our family, Caleb's monopoly on our time and attention has had to be divided, and while that has been the most difficult battle we have faced in this adjustment, it has resulted in new found self-sufficiency on Caleb's part, as well as a few new skills he has quickly picked up—undressing himself (a good thing at home, not-so-much in public), "reading" stories to himself and to us, and most recently, putting a rather-complex puzzle together all by himself. (I am quite proud of this one!) As the puzzle is geared for ages 3 and up, and Caleb is only two and a half, I think I have reason to be pretty proud of my little guy. Regardless of what I think, he is pretty proud of himself as the look on his face in this picture clearly shows! One more sign of independence.