Well, my friends, we are off to Greece! We'll be in Athens until Friday morning, at which time we head off to the island of Santorini until Tuesday, 5 June. I can barely contain my excitement! The downside is that I've been sick all weekend and am continuing to fight a nasty cold (hence it is 2.45 in the morning and I am unable to sleep). Please pray that my head does not explode on the plane and that this sickness passes quickly so that I can enjoy what I suspect will be our the last of our travels while we live here (and that neither Caleb nor Scott come down with this nastiness either). I doubt we'll have e-mail access while we're gone, but we'll post an update when we return!

Labels: Trips

Well, even though I haven't done a general developmental overview of Caleb, I feel like I've given most of the bits and pieces over the month as he's started new things. So, I figure it's time for another rundown of his little quirks to give insight into his personality these days.

1. Caleb continues to LOVE bathtime. Seriously, the kid thinks water is the most fun thing he's ever experienced. As soon as you start taking off his clothes for his bath, he becomes a bit spastic because he knows what's coming. As a result, he gets a bath every night so that he has time to play and splash. This, of course, means that Scott and/or I get very wet every night as he splashes and laughs.

2. Caleb is an excellent communicator with his pointing skills. When we eat dinner, he points at his cup when he wants a drink (if we leave the cup on his tray it ends up on the floor repeatedly, so it's easier to just let him point when he wants some). When we get to his nursery in the morning, he points at the keypad ouside the front door to indicate that I need to put in the code to open the door. When we walk inside, he points at his classroom. It's all really very cute because he always does it so matter of factly and he knows that we understand what he's saying. Seriously, smart kid.

3. He loves to bite Scott's nose. Just Scott's. We don't know why this is but he has done it for a few months now and he thinks it's very funny (as do we). He often grabs Scott's face in his hands and then pulls Scott toward him and bites down on his nose and then laughs.

4. The kid is destined to be a champ at all those "Church of Christ" games (ie: passing the lifesaver on the toothpick or an orange under your chin...you know the games I'm talking about). He has perfected passing his pacifier from my mouth to his (or vice versa) without the use of hands.

5. Because Caleb has never been much of a crier, he always looks very perplexed when he sees another kid crying and screaming. This is often evident on Wednesdays and Thursdays when another kid, Jethro, attends nursery with him. Jethro cries and screams every time the door to the room is opened (the kid has major separation trauma) and Caleb always looks at him like he's crazy. It's really a highly amusing expression that he gives.

6. The kid continues to LOVE playing games and he is constantly inventing new ones. The other day after his bath we were sitting on our bed getting him dressed. Caleb kept laying down on his stomach and pretending to go to sleep (he assumes this position with his arms tucked under his body). After about 5 seconds I would comment on the fact that he was sleeping and he would laugh hysterically and then look up at me. I would react appropriately and he would laugh again and then repeat the game. This is just one example of the many games that the kid comes up with every day.

7. He has a very independent personality and loves all the new milestones that he gets to and becomes very proud of himself with each one. However, if you try to encourage or help him do something new, he gets angry and will yell at you or refuse to try. For example, the kid it totally skilled in feeding himself with a spoon and will do it if it is his idea. However, if I ever try to suggest that he needs to feed himself or if I hand him the spoon, he looks at me defiantly and will just chuck the spoon on the floor and refuse to feed himself for the rest of the meal. Needless to say, we often leave him to come up with new ideas in his own time. So far it has worked well.

8. The kid pops out teeth like there's no tomorrow. This never seems to slow him down or put him in a foul mood during the day (though he does sometimes become a bit more clingy) and we often don't realise that he's even teething unless he has other signs, such as a runny nose and fever. However, once he lays down to sleep he becomes aware of the pain and will wake up crying (or often just cry in his sleep). It's so sad but the miracle cure is to put a bit of the teething gel on the back of his pacifier and he's asleep again within seconds.

9. Caleb thinks he's part Italian. Seriously, he LOVES Italian food: spaghetti, ravioli, pizza, lasagne... you name it. Because Caleb now eats only "big people food" and Scott and I also love Italian food, this works out well for us. Now we'll just have to make sure he develops this same love for Mexican food or we may be in trouble when we return to Texas!

Labels: Caleb

I got this from Micheal. Not a bad result for a quiz...


Which Action Hero Would You Be? v. 2.0
created with QuizFarm.com

After his family was murdered by the evil emperor Commodus, the great Roman general Maximus went into hiding to avoid Commodus's assassins. He became a gladiator, hoping to dominate the colosseum in order to one day get the chance of killing Commodus. Maximus is valiant, courageous, and dedicated. He wants nothing more than the chance to avenge his family, but his temper often gets the better of him.

I scored a Maximus. How about you?

Well, I figured that I'd post a miniature update on Caleb since we are fast approaching his 9 monthaversary and I don't know if I'll have time to do a major one the week (though I will try). This weekend Caleb has been popping out with all kinds of new skills, including:

- FINALLY pulling himself up
- starting to cruise around the furniture (though this still takes a lot of encouragement)
- feeding himself like a champ with a spoon in either his left or right hand (though he seems to prefer the left hand a bit more)
- clapping his hands all the time

Additionally, Caleb continues to go to the potty in the toilet on a daily basis. He pees EVERY TIME we sit him on the toilet, and he takes care of all his business about 40% of the time. Seriously, this kid is a champ!

Labels: Caleb, Milestones

In the past week, Caleb has cut 3 more teeth. This puts him at the grand total of 8 teeth now! Aren't they cute?!

Labels: Caleb

I just watned to take the opportunity to post a quick recommendation for Stranger Than Fiction. This is a quircky little movie about Harold Crick (Will Ferrell). Harold leads a rather mundane life as an IRS auditor (not a reason I was interested in this movie, I promise) until he hears his own life narrated in his head. Harold's story takes a rather unexpected turn when the narrator notes, after Harold's completes a seemingly simple task, it will lead to his "imminent" death.

This is a great movie and I heared good things about it when it was released last fall and was excited once I noticed it was available for rent. I was primarily intrigued to see Will Ferrell in a movie without him being a complete and utter moron (however Old School is great, Talledega Nights not so much). He does a great job as does the excellent supporting cast including Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson.

I recommend you check out Stranger Than Fiction if for no other reason than its something very different and unique from the standard action, romatic comedy, drama, sci-fi stuff out there. Its also a interesting story and the graphics used in the first half of the movie are very creative as well.

If anyone else has already seen it, what did you think?

Labels: Movies, Recommendations

Ah, tag. A game that I used to love oh so much as a kid. I have to say, cartoon freeze tag was my absolute favourite and I have countless memories of playing this with the other kids after church in the front yard. Considering that we were playing in the TX heat, I probably smelled great by the time I got into my parents' car to head home each week! In any case, a one Miss Sarah Chaffin tagged me about a week or so ago so I am "it" (along with a few others) and it's my turn to share facts and habits about myself.

Habit: I am constantly looking for deals for a trip or I'll be in the process of actually planning one. I am simply addicted to travelling. As one trip is winding down (especially when I'm on the flight home), I'm already thinking about where I should go next. I don't spend a lot of time just aimlessly searching for stuff on the internet, but when I do I'm always looking for cheap flights or vacation packages to places. If I have no vacation in the works or in sight at all, I get slightly depressed and sad. I love to be on the go and see new places and experience new things.

Fact: My toenails used to fall off. I say "used to" because it hasn't happened since my sophomore year in college so I'm thinking maybe I've outgrown that phase? But for about 5 years, I would randomly have toenails fall off, only to discover that another toenail had grown underneath it to replace it. So, the reality was that I was never WITHOUT a toenail...they just seemed to replenish themselves every now and then.

Habit: When I drive on the freeway, I always drive 5mph over the speedlimit. I don't know why. I don't know what I think that extra 5mph is going to do for me (and I hardly ever go more than that 5mph because I don't want to risk getting a speeding ticket), but it's almost painful for me to drive right at the actual speedlimit. I'm curious to see if this is the same when I return or if not driving for 2 years will just have me so excited to be behind the wheel again that speed no longer matters.

Fact: When I was working in Arkansas, I once did a home visit and found myself face to face with a 6.5 foot long, 250 pound albino python (similar to ones you see in zoos). Seriously, the thing was about an inch from my face and was slithering around the home as if that was normal. The family then brought out 3 smaller snakes and kept thrusting them in my face. To this day, I am not sure if this was because they were crazy or because they were testing me and trying to get under my skin. I suspect it was a little of both. I ended up working with that family for many more months and never saw any of the snakes again, so I guess I passed the test.

Habit: I get into a cleaning frenzy whenever I'm angry, frustrated, or stressed. Somehow scrubbing bathrooms, floors, kitchen counters, etc... helps release negative emotions in my body (and helps me be productive at the same time!). Really, I'm much like Monica on "Friends" in this aspect, though not QUITE as obsessed.

Fact: When I was a little girl (about 5 or 6) I had an imaginary friend named "Sue" who was only around when I rode my bike. Sue would ride on my bike with me and I would help her escape from her abusive parents. No lie. A freakish coincidence that I now do this for a living? Perhaps. Or maybe I just always had this calling in life. (For the record, this imaginary friend in no way reflected on my parents or how they treated me. I was simply helping somebody else.)

Like the others, I am not tagging anybody else, but feel free to do this yourself if you would like.

Labels: Cheryl, Surveys

So last night I got Caleb ready for his bath and took him into the bathroom where Scott was running the water. As it turned out, the water was a bit warm, so while he was cooling it off I decided to sit Caleb on the toilet just for kicks and giggles to see what he would do. And wouldn't you know it but the kid peed in the toilet! Scott and I just looked at each other and laughed. We were both pleasantly surprised but figured it must just be coincidence. After all, he's only 8 months old.

Well, tonight before his bath, I decided to sit Caleb on the toilet again to see what the chances were that he would repeat his behaviour. My child is clearly a prodigy because tonight he peed AND pooped in the toilet! Seriously! For the record, I would like to state that I'm not delusional and I have no plans of trying to potty train Caleb at this time (after all, he can't even walk yet!) but with this record I might start incorporating potty time before bath time. I figure it couldn't hurt!

Labels: Caleb

"I'm going home to the place where I belong
Where your love has always been enough for me
I'm running from you know I think you got me all wrong
I don't regret this life I chose for me
But these places and these faces are getting old
So I'm going home"
-Daughtry

Yes, my friends, we are officially returning to the States (Texas, to be more specific) this summer. I am oh so excited about returning to our life in Texas and being able to see my sisters and their families, the Chapmans (and meet Li'l David!), and all our other friends on a regular basis. And I'm excited that all these people will finally be able to meet Caleb and become key players in his life.

There are so many things in the States that I miss and I cannot wait to return to. I miss the friendships. I miss my family. I miss the food. I miss driving a car. I miss being able to shop for everything in the same place. I miss being able to go to a friend's house and it only take 10 minutes to get there. I miss having a church family that we're integrated into. I miss being in the same time zone as people. I miss my furniture and pictures that I left behind. I miss not having to carry my groceries for a mile after buying them. I miss air conditioning and central heating. I miss having a clothes dryer. I miss most of my kitchen gadgets. I just miss...

On the other hand, we have established a nice little life for ourselves here in England and I am sad to say goodbye because I know that we will never get this time in our life back. It's a bit overwhelming to recognise that our time here in England is almost over and I will miss so many things here as well. The reality, however, is that I will miss all these things no matter when we leave (whether it be next week or next year) and I will be sad whenever we go. And now is the time to go.

Scott and I have both officially given notice at our jobs and we are now in the throes of planning. As it turns out, moving back home from overseas is much more difficult than the move out here was. There are simply so many things to figure out and plan. We have to: sell furniture (as much as possible); figure out how to get rid of anything that is not sold; figure out time frames in which things can be sold; pack to return; figure out what to take back and what to leave behind; find plane tickets; make arrangments with our landlord; give notice to all companies that we pay bills to; close our our bank account; find an apartment to live in; figure out how and when to move all our stuff into our new place; figure out where to stay when we get back; figure out how to get everything we'll need for Caleb immediately; save money; figure out what all we still want to do in England before moving; figure out when and how and what car to buy when we return; make arrangements to sort out my car (which has been stored at the Chapman's home this whole time) upon return... it's simply an exhausting process.

The good news is that some of the major decisions have already been sorted. Scott is officially returning to AmeriCredit upon our return (which he is totally geeked about) and I am officially staying at home with Caleb again. I may look into some part-time work but nothing that would cause Caleb to have to go back to nursery right now. Plus, it will be that much more exciting to be a stay at home mom in Texas because I know so many other people who are also stay at home moms (my sister, Kristen, Driggers - old habits die hard, etc...) that I can get together with.

And so we're less than three months away from our return and we're already mentally exhausted in our attempts to make this transition as smooth as possible. And we are sad to say goodbye. But we are also SO HAPPY to return to the lives that we know so well and to the people that we love so much.

Labels: Moving

Okay, I realise that this is cheating a bit, but I've just been way too busy to sit down and post about anything spectacular recently. When I do have the opportunity, I find I'm just exhausted and my brain is mush. So I figured I'd provide a few new pictures to appease my loyal readers. If you look closely, these pictures offer good views of all five of Caleb's teeth (and, yes, he has a gap between his top two teeth). Hopefully I'll be able to provide a real post sometime in the near future - including a response to being tagged by my fellow blogger.

Labels: Caleb