Battle Wounds

A war has begun. Current battle standings: Caleb - 0 Snow Jacket - 2

We bought Caleb a snow jacket and pants that he could actually wear in the snow (I don't know why -- it's not like we're going to be sticking him in the snow much, or at all). Sometimes, it seems like a much easier idea to grab the jacket for him as we head out the door instead of bundling him up in his snow suit (featured previously on this blog).

Except that there's a problem with taking the easier route. The jacket likes to eat Caleb.

The first time he wore it, we buckled him into his carseat and he cried the entire time. We didn't think anything of it, till we got him out of the car and saw that the jacket had scratched his face. It wasn't too bad and the scratch was gone the next day.

The second time he wore the jacket, I was really careful when I buckled him into his chair, making sure that it wouldn't scratch him again. But then two nights ago, we put his jacket on and drove the two and a half blocks to the library. We thought we were being careful, but once inside the library, Brandon noticed a huge scratch on Caleb's face (same side as before). This time it was REALLY bad. So bad, that two days later, it still hasn't gone all the way away.

On the way home from the library, we didn't dare put the jacket back on, so Caleb got to wear my scarf instead and be tucked inside Daddy's jacket.

Poor baby. Looks like it's the snow suit from now on.

Up, Up, but not away

Caleb can pull himself up to standing now. It's been coming for a long time now. He loves climbing all over us. Since he was like a month or so, he loves to stand. So, only seven months later, not surprising that he's doing it on his own. Brandon thinks it means that we'll have a walker soon. I don't think Caleb will be walking for another couple of months still.

But I love to see him progressing. This morning, while the boys were hanging out together (and Mommy was sleeping since Caleb got up WAY too early for my taste this morning), Caleb pulled himself up using his bathtub. Not quite the sturdiest choice, but it worked for him. We're marking that as his first official pull up.

Later tonight, I did see him use Brandon's legs to pull himself up. It's so cute watching him grow and learn.

We've pretty much quit trying to feed Caleb baby food. Well, I've quit trying. Brandon occasionally still tries. As long as we give Caleb food he can feed himself, he'll eat. It takes an hour and he's still probably not getting as much food as he would if we fed him, but at least he's eating now. And we went to the grocery store last night, so Caleb finally has food to eat.

Tonight, for dinner, I made Kristy's Spaghetti Pie. Brandon loved it and was already on his second helping before I'd even made it halfway through my first. Caleb, it turns out, doesn't like spaghetti. He was eating a banana just fine, so I added the spaghetti to his tray. He picked it up, put it in his mouth, chewed for a moment, then spit it back out. It was rather funny to watch. I think it was probably just a texture that he wasn't used to. Kids are supposed to love spaghetti, aren't they?

Where's Santa?

I just got these pictures from my mom yesterday and thought they turned out really cute.

We were at Fashion Place mall the other day, waiting to go to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory, and found the spot where Santa is. Only, Santa wasn't there. Oh well. Caleb still had fun banging on the door.

With the prices they charge to take an actual picture with Santa, I think it's just fine that he wasn't even there. Although it might have been nice to have a picture with a jolly Santa.

Our Tree

Caleb's been really good with the tree. He hasn't attacked it at all. I thought he'd at least try and eat it. Maybe pull on it unintentionally. I was really worried about him knocking the whole thing over, actually. But we haven't had any problems. I wrapped some of the presents (which don't actually have presents in them) with ribbon, and occasionally he'll crawl over to taste the ribbon. That's about it though.

I've had so much trouble trying to pick which pictures to post. I can't decide. So, I know they are all really similar, but you get them all. (Well, not all. I take a LOT of pictures.)

A little miracle

It's unbelievable. Caleb just ate two and a half little containers of baby food for lunch. Without complaining.

Apparently, not having had much to eat for two days in a row finally took it's toll on him.

Hopefully he'll eat dinner tonight too.

Following the Star

Church was really good today. We had a Christmas-based sacrament meeting today. I don't know if they'll do more of a program than they did today. But today's was really good. The youth speaker spoke on the symbols of the Christmas story. Often, you'll hear things about how Christmas things (the tree, candy canes, etc.) symbolize part of the story, but this was about the symbolism in the actual story.

He started with the shepherds that were told of Christ's birth by an angel, relating them to God as our Shepard. But then extended it further to say that we too must be shepherds and look after God's sheep.

He talked about the wise men. That no matter how educated we become, we must still look to Christ and follow Him.

Lastly, he talked about the star itself. He related it to the prophets and how they guide us to Christ. But there are so many other things that can be related. The scriptures, for example, teach us of Christ and will lead us back to Him.

I don't feel like I'm adequately capturing the spirit of his message. I'm not even sure what I'm trying to say here. But I really liked the talk. Sometimes, during Christmas, it's so easy to get caught up in all the shopping and decorations and forget the true spirit of the holiday. I feel so blessed to have a testimony of the Savior. If there was one gift I could give to others, it would be to feel of His love.

Lost Angel

It's official. Caleb has gone on strike. Tired of being treated like a baby, he's refusing to uphold his job as our little angel until we meet a few of his demands. We're just not sure what his demands are.

Today was just another yesterday. Caleb refuses to eat. He will not let us place a single thing in his mouth. The silliest part about it is that he'll clamp his mouth shut if we try to stick anything in it, but if we offer him the same piece of food, he'll gladly take it in his hand and place it in his mouth himself. At least for a little while. Then he'll quit eating altogether.

It's definitely a good thing we started him on a bottle before his food strike since that's now the only thing he'll really eat (besides breastfeeding). Although, he still likes cheese a great deal. For lunch today, all we could get him to eat was cheese and a few bites of bread.

Maybe he really is teething this time.

Last night, my mom asked me if I'd love my baby less if he was ugly. Brandon and I thought about it and decided the honest answer is probably yes. Sometimes we get so frustrated with Caleb and then he'll smile up at us or do something else cute and it just melts our hearts and we love him again. He's an expert at getting out of trouble. (We figure we're doomed when he becomes a teenager. He'll get away with murder if he wants. I guess we better start teaching him now that murder is a bad thing.)

Today Caleb kept making this "angry" face. Although, I later changed my mind and said it was a stubborn face. He kept wrinkling his nose and making this weird expression. Somehow, still cute.