5 months

Caleb,

You have gotten noticeably bigger this month. I know that you've never been on the light side, but I never considered you heavy until now. I get a workout from just carrying you around. Also, clothes that you were wearing at the first of the month are now way too small on you. It seems as though I'm always boxing up more and more clothes that you've outgrown for future siblings.

Your new thing recently has been squealing. You do it allllll the time now. You squeal in the mornings when you wake up, you squeal when I change your diaper, you squeal in your bouncy seat, you squeal when being pushed around stores, and you're beginning to squeal when put down for a nap or for bedtime. It is pretty darn cute to say so myself. People have commented on your squealing and your smile, and I have to admit they're right - you truly are one happy baby.

You are almost a perfect baby. Yes, I said almost because you began refusing a bottle this month, which your Gramma and I are determined to fix. I want to be able to have a bit more freedom and well your Gramma just wants to have more time with you all to herself. I've bought all different brands and have tried all different tricks that we've read to do, but so far none of them have worked. I'm not giving up though, so it would just be easier for all of us (even you) if you would decide to just cooperate and take a bottle!

In the past few weeks you have become Houdini himself. Your dad and I are amazed at your skill of getting out of your swaddle at night (or your straightjacket as your grandparents like to call it). We don't just swaddle you in a blanket (you were able to get out of that at just a couple weeks old)...no no...we use the miracle blanket. Amidst tucking your arms under with a part of the blanket that then goes under your back AND wrapping the blanket all the way around you AND THEN safety pinning the fabric together you are STILL able to get out of it. Your ability to do this is seriously astounding to us. If you wouldn't wake yourself up from hitting yourself in the face with your hands when you get out of your swaddle, it wouldn't be that big of a deal. But you wake us up a few times every night and your daddy has to re-swaddle you each time, and well, we're just tired of it! And so, you are currently being weaned from the swaddle.

You've spent weekends at both Gwynn's Island and Smith Mountain Lake this month. You are going to be so spoiled with having not one but TWO amazing places to hang out, swim, fish, and go on boat rides this summer. Which reminds me - you had your first boat ride last weekend and you loved it, despite your life jacket that annoyed you. Grandaddy said it well this week - you're going to grow up being a River Rat. I love that.

You also got to meet Dan this month - our team leader while over in Tanzania, who is a special person to your dad and I. You wouldn't know this, but he and his wife spent many a days praying over you while you were growing in your mommy's tummy over there. They prayed for your protection, for your health, for you to grow up as a man who fears and serves the Lord. Your dad and I were so thankful for their prayers and for the support they gave us while in Tanzania. Dan and his wife were actually the first people we told about you, and so it was special to me when Dan finally got to meet you in person.

Your daddy and I love you Caleb and we look forward to see what this next month brings!

I couldn't decide which picture one to post, so I decided to just post both of them: