What a sweet boy you have grown up to be this past year. You are one gentle, tenderhearted, and happy little boy.
You have changed so much in these last 12 months that I don't even know where to begin. In this last year you've learned how to walk, run, climb on anything, say sentences (albeit they are short sentences), remember things that have happened days/weeks beforehand, summarize various Bible stories, use a fork and spoon, have gotten all of your teeth (who knew that was almost a 2 year process?!) and so much more! It's amazing to see how much and how fast you mature in just 2 years.
You are such a good listener. Even though you are a sinful child and do have temper tantrums and disobey, you are overall a very good listener when we tell you no. Disciplining you was a whole new world for your dad and I - we didn't really know what we were doing at first (and will continue to question our disciplining tactics I'm sure), but you've made it fairly easy on us so far. And I think it's really because of your temperament. You are just so tenderhearted, gentle, and sweet that when you know you've done wrong, you feel bad about it! For instance, just today I had your sister laying on a blanket outside and you were playing with your dump truck. I stepped away to go get your sister's pacifier when I saw you trip on the blanket that Berkley Grace was on and fall with your dump truck right on her face. She was covered in dirt and was obviously startled and began to cry. You also started crying - not because you were hurt - but because you know you had hurt your sister. In the midst of your tears you said "Bear gave Booker Dace bo-bo" and then later you wanted to kiss her bo-bo to make it all better. It's moments like those that I see your true self and I can't help but hope you continue to be a sweet big brother.
You have friends! It's so fun to hear you ask about or talk about your friends from church or Uncle David (really he's your cousin but you like to call him Uncle and we just think it's too cute to correct you). Speaking of Uncle David, you two had a bonding moment this year at the lake. Now that David's older and interacts with you, you guys LOVE to play with one another. Y'all aren't carrying on conversations or building forts together just yet, but seeing y'all play with your separate toys beside one another is really cute. Oh and if one of you starts chasing the other, that's really cute too. We cannot wait to see you two become best buds soon.
Your love for Blue has only deepened this past year. You still have him in your crib (yes, you still sleep in your crib because you love it so much) for nap time and nighttime. However, I sometimes let you have him outside of the crib - if we go on rides where I know your sister is going to scream the whole time or if you're not feeling well I'll let you have him outside of your crib at home. I bought another Blue - you know, just in case something were to ever happen to the real Blue - but unfortunately you are too smart for Mama to trick you into thinking 'Blue Two' is the 'Real Blue'. And so instead, you often allow Berkley Grace to play with 'Blue Two' if you're in the sharing mode.
You are a true boy. You love trains, trucks, bulldozers, dirt, planes, lawnmowers, and football. Your favorite thing to do every day now is to play in one of our raised garden beds and cover yourself with as much dirt as possible. You also love Thomas the Train Engine and Bob the Builder. Again - you are such a boy!
This is already gotten so long and I haven't even covered half of what I wanted to write about you. Trying to summarize this past year into one blog post is just impossible.
Caleb know that you are a special boy to your dad and I. You make us laugh so much. You give us joy even in the hardest of times. Our hearts overflow with love for you. It's hard to imagine that God loves you even MORE than your dad and I do. But believe me, that is the best news for you. Your dad and I pray for you, your heart, your future every day. Our prayer for you is this:
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:14-19
We love you,
Mama
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