From Newborn to Two-Year Old

In some ways it seems like just yesterday that we saw Cale's face for the very first time. I can remember the anxious feeling I had those first few nights we had Cale home. But in other ways, it seems like a vague, distant memory to think he was ever a tiny newborn. It seems like it has taken forever to get from newborn to two-year old, but then it also seems like it has totally blinked by. Does that make sense?

We spent the day spoiling our little two-year old. We took him to McDonald's for breakfast (which may not seem like spoiling to you and I but it's his favorite place and we don't really go there that often), played with him tons, let him open one of his birthday presents, and then took him to Playworld and Chili's in Conway. Cale loves Playworld and is getting pretty good at going through the maze. Carl still goes with him, of course, but besides one or two areas Cale is able to complete the maze without daddy's help. After playing for about an hour, we headed to Chili's for dinner. We asked our waitor if they would sing happy birthday to Cale, but he didn't seem too thrilled about the idea. So instead, he brought out a bowl of ice-cream and explained that Cale would 'probably cry' so he didn't want to sing to him and scare him. He obviously doesn't know Cale! I think he would've loved it! But, Cale was perfectly happy with the ice-cream. When he finished, he began looking around for our waitor and then yelled, "I'm done, little boy. I'm done". Well, that'll teach our waitor to not sing to him! I don't think the scrawny, college-aged guy would've appreciated being called 'little boy', but we thought it was pretty funny.

We are having Cale's birthday party on Thursday evening. We decided to wait a few days for his party since everyone has just finished attending multiple Christmas gatherings. We assumed everyone needed a little break! We did decide to let Cale open one of his presents, though. We weren't going to, because he got so many presents at Christmas, so it's not like he's hurting for new gifts. But, then a package was delivered to our door. It was actually Cale's party supplies that I ordered online for Thursday. Well, of course he sees any kind of package now and thinks it belongs to him. For several minutes, he argued with Carl that it was his present. Then, finally he got mad, opened the closet door in the play room, threw the package on the floor, shut the door, and said, "Mama, your mail is gone". So, for some reason that incident made us decide to let him open one of his small gifts. Go figure.

We are so proud of our little guy and how much he has changed over the past two years. He makes us laugh every single day and never ceases to surprise us with something he says or does. For example, on Christmas morning as we were getting ready to go out to my parents' house, Carl gave Cale some candy. Cale turned around and instead of saying 'thank you' he said, "I'm so proud of you, Daddy." Where does he come up with this stuff? We can't really remember what life was like before Cale, but we know it must have been pretty boring. He keeps us on our toes constantly and we wouldn't have it any other way. We are so blessed to have a happy, healthy little boy. Happy Birthday, Cale! We love you!

Christmas Eve

It's finally Christmas Eve! Actually, besides the last few days the month of December has seemed to fly by. Before school was out I was a little sad thinking that Christmas would come and go before we really had a chance to enjoy the holidays. But, this week, as hectic as it's been with my 10 trips to Wal-Mart and countless other stores, wrapping presents like a maniac (which is really uncomfortable to do with a pregnant belly), and trying to entertain a 2-year old, it has actually been a pretty slow week. I guess I should be glad it's gone by slowly because it's my break from work. And I never like time off to fly by. But, I guess I'm just so excited for Cale to enjoy his first real Christmas morning. He celebrated Christmas last year but even though he was one-year old he really didn't understand Christmas at all. And he really wasn't all that in to toys last year. He was totally in the "get everything out of drawers and cabinets because that's way more fun than toys" phase. Thank you Lord we seem to be past that phase (besides his sudden fixation with my pots and pans again)!

This year Cale is ALL about toys. Mainly just tractors, trucks, or trains, but he plays with those things all day. No kidding. I'm hoping that some of his new toys like puzzles and things will broaden his interests a little. But, he will probably pick a favorite one or two toys...like his big truck with a trailor or his new tractors and that will be all he'll play with for awhile. But, that's okay!

I think Cale is starting to get a little antsy about Christmas. It's like we've been talking about it for so long and how Santa is coming to bring him some presents, he's now wondering why it's never happening. And he doesn't quite understand, "in a few more days". I haven't put any presents under the tree yet. Partly because I've been putting my wrapping off until Christmas break. And partly because I have been afraid of how Cale will react. Will he try to open the presents? Will he have enough self-control to wait?

Yesterday, Carl decided to wrap my gifts while Cale was asleep. Well, of course Cale woke up part-way through Carl's wrapping process. And of course he wanted to "help". He helped Carl wrap a few and then placed them under the tree. He then brought back a bag that Carl had already put under the tree. Carl explained that it was Mama's present. Cale, in the most pitiful voice, began crying and saying, "I not get a present. Cale not gonna get a present." He cried for several minutes as he repeated that he wasn't getting a present. I must admit I was seconds away from going to the attic and bringing down one of his gifts. But, I managed to refrain and stay strong. I know it's hard for him to understand the waiting and seeing packages that can't be opened until "later". I'm sure "later" seems like an eternity to a 2 year old. But, it will be worth it on Christmas morning. I haven't been this excited about Christmas since I was a kid, believing in Santa Claus. I absolutely can't wait to see Cale's reaction when he walks in on Christmas morning, sees the presents under the tree, and finally gets to open them!

I'm not sure when the phrase "pregnancy waddle" became a term of endearment, but to some I think it must be. Too bad to me, it isn't! I can't tell you how many people have commented on my worsening "waddle". They always say it nicely, as if it's somehow cute (maybe in like a "so ugly it's cute" kinda way), but I know there's nothing "cute" about it. Just what I want to be brought to my attention at the end of a long day as I drag my swollen ankles down the school hallway to the bathroom and back, or to the copier and back, etc. (I really truly don't take it personal because I know nobody means it in a harmful way, and I know it's just a part of pregnancy life) It's just funny.

The other day, one of the teachers told me that she had a student ask her why Mrs. Kirtley walked so weird this year, but didn't walk that way last year. I don't know why but that really bothered me. I guess because kids are so totally honest! The whole rest of that day I tried my hardest not to do the "side-to-side waddle" but I think it's a lost cause. I'm going to waddle my way through Christmas and the month of January, but then hopefully after that I will waddle no more!

I can not wait to have Keaton here for so many reasons, skinny ankles and waddling just being a few of them!

Last night I was awoken by the sound of Cale's voice. It was a little eerie because he spoke so softly. He walked up to the bed and said, "Momma, I'm cold". So I pulled him into bed with us and he bundled under the covers. He was so still I really thought maybe he was going to fall asleep in our bed, which would be a first EVER. But, I knew it was too good to be true. Within a few minutes, he was asking to go back to his bed. He WILL not sleep with us...I guess because he never did as a little baby. I guess I should look at it as a good thing, but sometimes it would be nice. I took Cale into his room, which was actually quite cold. I guess he was telling the truth, poor little guy. I assumed he was making up an excuse to get out of bed.

It's so strange for Cale to be able to walk into our room at night. He's only done it a handful of times, thankfully. It seems like just yesterday that he was in a crib, unable to talk or roll over. Now, he gets out of my lap after we read a story, turns off his light, hands me his sippy cup for some more milk, and climbs into bed pulling the covers up under his chin. It's crazy how fast he's growing up. I actually don't like to think about it! I'm afraid he'll be 15 before I know it and I will long for these sweet toddler days. I will long for him to wrap his arms around my neck and beg me not to "leave him". I will long to be awoken at 5:30 AM by a smiling boy in pajamas who barrels into the room saying, "I wake up, Mommy! I wake up!" I will long to play tractors or trains just one more time (something that I get a little tired of lately). I will long to have Cale sit in my lap as I read The Little Engine that Could for the 20th night in a row. And I know I'll miss the way he grabs my mouth so I can't speak when it comes to a part he wants to say in the book. I know there will be great things about every phase of Cale's life, even his teenage years. But, I'm just trying to savor these sweet toddler moments for as long as they will last!

Laundry

I wonder if I'm the only one who has ever done this? The other night I reluctantly got the laundry out of the dryer and forced myself to begin folding and hanging things up. I don't know why I loathe laundry so much, because it's a relatively easy task. But, it's a never-ending cycle and I think that's what I hate. As I was folding clothes, I kept wondering why everything had so much lint on it. I mean the clothes were covered in rough, white specks. I thought it was because I had washed Cale's bathroom rug with the load. As I was getting to the bottom of the basket, I picked up...a diaper. A very clean, fresh diaper, but a diaper nonetheless. And then I found the wipe that accompanied this diaper. Yes, I washed a dirty diaper and wipe with a load of clothes by accident. I can only hope that the contents of the diaper were...ahem...number one and not two. Does that mean I can reuse the diaper? Okay, I guess I'm not that cheap. If this has never happened to you, beware. I pretty much had to rewash the whole load. You probably think, "Well, obviously." But, the sad thing is I didn't rewash the load because the clothes got washed with a dirty diaper. I rewashed the load because everything was all lint-covered! If not for that, the clothes probably would have been hung up in the closet, in hopes that no one would notice. Yes, seriously. Did I mention I hate doing laundry?

So it finally happened last night. I actually can't believe it took so long. We were sound asleep in our beds at about 1:00 AM, only to be suddenly awakened by Cale saying, "Hey mama" within an obviously close proximity. It's funny how Carl claims he can't hear Cale crying on the baby monitor, but he shot out of bed so quickly when he heard Cale nearby. For some reason, Cale decided to leave his room in the middle of the night. The crazy thing is, I never heard him crying or making any noise...which I always hear. I don't know what made him decide to get up. So, I tried to get the fussy little guy back to sleep, and of course he was very persistent in doing the opposite. About an hour later, and three trips to Cale's room in response to his yelling/crying for me, he was finally quiet. I was so relieved when I realized he was actually asleep. I rolled over, planning to finally drift off into a deep sleep, free of interruptions, when suddenly I felt it. A feeling I have come to dread with each pregnancy. The leg cramp. A pain that I feel, even though it's short-lived, is almost worse than labor pains. I stupidly stretched my leg out just a tad as I was rolling over and it was enough to cause the cramp of all cramps. (I have actually become very good at avoiding the cramps during this pregnancy, but every once in awhile I revert back to my old leg-stretching ways) My poor husband was awoken by my spastic flailing on the bed and he massaged my leg until it finally passed. I always feel a little silly when they're over because I wonder if I maybe overreacted. But, I can't help it. To me, they're unbearable.

I'm thinking this next baby, Keaton, is probably going to be a horrible sleeper and this is God's way of getting me ready for the many night wakings that are in my future because between Cale waking up several times, me having to go to the bathroom several times, and leg cramps...I can't seem to get a peaceful night's sleep!

On another note, we took Cale to the Christmas parade tonight and he loved every minute of it. Well, not the minutes leading up to the parade...he got quite antsy then. I think most of all he loved all the marching bands. He's suddenly become very interested in drums. His next love was definitely the fire trucks, which wasn't surprising! I hope to make the parade a tradition every year!