18 Months

Julia took this picture one day in the van. Budding photographer perhaps?

Can it be? My baby boy is 18 months old today. There are so many wonderful things about Caleb Andrew Landes. I can not accurately describe the joy he brings into our lives, but I do want to take a minute to journal who my lil' Boo is at 1 1/2 years old.

His Laugh:
Caleb has a very unique laugh. It is this high pitched, hyena or monkey type laugh. You really need to hear it to truly appreciate it. He uses it when he is really excited about something, like when he climbs to the top of the play house out back, knowing full well he shouldn't. At least his unique laugh is a signal for me to go find out what he has gotten himself into!!

Look at that Smile! He was actually laughing at something Isaac was doing.

His Curiosity:
Caleb is very curious and a bit mischevious. At this age it is mostly curiousity but he has started to get into things that he knows he shouldn't. His latest fascination is climbing onto the top bunk in the kids' room or as I said above, the play house outside. He is definitely not afraid of heights. He has recently learned how to move chairs and stools to places so he can use them to get something he wants. He is in the habit of doing this at the pantry and bringing me something he wants to eat. May have to lock the pantry at some point. He is constantly into something. Bathroom toiletries, Julia's hair bows, kitchen utensils, the dishwasher, Oliver's food and water..... you name it! Caleb keeps me very busy. But since this post, I have to say that his stinkerness has calmed down a bit. He is learning boundaries and surprisingly obeying some of them.

His favorite of Julia's headbands - the pink, sparkly one.

This what happens when you leave Caleb and spaghetti alone together.

His newest fascination. He sat at the piano playing quietly for 30 minutes. Maybe he will be our musical one.

His Community:
He has started to learn to love his "gated community". This is just about the only time during the day when he actually plays with age appropriate toys. If I really need to get some uninterrupted school done with the older two, I will use the "gated community". He cries for a few minutes until he resigns himself to the fact that I will not be retrieving him for some time. Then he happily plays for quite awhile. It is bliss!

Watching his Praise Baby!

His Words:
Caleb is saying new words all the time. His favorite words right now are puppy, horsie, bear, and Ollie. He tries to say different things like drink, eat, or shoes. At this point I am the only one that can understand him most of the time. If he can't get you to understand him, he will just take your hand and lead you to what he wants, which is usually food. He has also started to babble like he is carrying on a conversation with you. So fun to watch his facial expressions as he carries on and on about something, all along thinking I understand him completely.Caleb still refuses to say Papa. I don't know why. He calls Gabe 'Mama' and he calls me either 'Mama' or 'Mommy'. He is capable of saying Papa, but he just won't.

 

His Animals:
The kid LOVES animals, especially dogs... in particular his dog Oliver. Yesterday we were at the park and we took Oliver with us. I left Oliver leashed to the stroller while we played. Caleb would stop playing every few minutes and go over to Oliver just to give him a hug. Then before bed last night I was having Caleb say his good nights to everyone. He was really fussy until we got to Oliver. Caleb immediately dried his tears and got down to love on his dog. Caleb is definitely Oliver's biggest fan.
He also loves horses. Of course, he calls all horse like creatures (cows, goat, sheep, etc.) horsie. And he loves to make animal noises. His pig noise is precious!

Boy and his dog

His Outdoors:
Caleb would spend the majority of his day outside if I would let him which I do if the weather is nice. Thankfully with the way my house is I can just open the back door and let him go. I am able to watch him easily. He will sometimes come get me by pulling my hand and will lead me to the swing.  He loves to swing. Isaac enjoys putting Caleb in the swing and swinging him really high. Caleb just giggles and squeals with delight. No fear! Those two are going to be a riot together!

He thinks he is so big swinging on the big kids swing.

Painting with water at the easel

His Stories:
In the last few months, Caleb has finally allowed me to sit and read with him. His favorite books right now are Brown Bear, Brown Bear, Little Blue Truck, The Bear Snores On, How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night? and Good Night Moon. He is starting to choose books on his own to look at. He obviously goes for the the animal books. I will sometimes catch him in his room looking at a book and making animal noises. So cute!!!

He is so silly

His Lovie:
DD is his all time favorite lovie. My Mom made this blanket for him before he was born. I even carried him home from the hospital in this blanket. Lot of sentimental value wrapped up in this cuddly blue blanket called DD. He giggles when he sees it and snuggles it close every chance he gets. He now wants to take it every where he goes, especially outside. DD is now apart of our family just like Bear and Baby.

He carries DD everywhere he goes

He even rigged up Julia's broken stroller so he could push DD around

His Snuggles:
Caleb is not much of a snuggler. When he is tired he wants to be put in bed. He has always been that way. Came in handy when he was an infant. I could just lay him down and he would go right to sleep. But as I see my baby boy grow I find myself holding on tighter wanting to just hold his little body. He gave me a gift the other night. Usually our bedtime routine consists of a few stories and songs, and then after we tell all his toys, books, and wall hangings good night (I kid you not, he wants to say night-night to everything), it is right to bed. Well, the other night he let me hold him and rock him. It was the most glorious thing to have his little head on my shoulder as I rubbed his back. He even reached his hand around my neck and played with my hair. He has also started to give random hugs. He will be playing, stop and come hug me just because. Melts my heart!

Sweet Caleb Andrew

I cherish these small, sometimes brief, moments with my children. These seemingly insignificant details of my children's lives.They mean the world to me. It is not lost on me how fleeting their childhood is. I never wish my days away no matter how difficult they may be. I know full well the blessings I have been given in my husband and my children and I will never take them for granted.

I know, I know I am getting all mushy. Can't help it. My baby is 18 months old. Won't be long and he will be 18 years old and  heading off to college. Sniff. Sniff.

Playing dress up

  

Falling asleep at lunch

Down for the count

 

 Happy 18 Months My Sweet Boy! I Love You!