Healthy and Happy

We had Kaleb's 2 month (at almost 3 months) doctor checkup today. He is a healthy 13 LBS 6 OZ and is 24" long. The Dr. said he's dead center average for his age, his head is a tiny bit on the small side. I'll take that over a cabbage patch proportion sized head! He seems pretty well proportioned to me so I'm not too worried. The only odd thing the Dr. noticed is he hates his ears touched...ha ha ha...who knew (Jake is the same way). It all started with the nurse taking his temperature through the ear, he screamed. Dr. then tried to look in his ears and he threw an absolute conniption...come to find out, his ear canal is a bit narrower than normal, so that might be why, there's not a lot of room for sticking foreign objects in there (Jake doesn't have such an excuse). We hope his ears catch up to normal or else he'll have a problem the rest of his life, but hey, there could be worse problems! One of the funny things the doctor commented about was that we would have no problems worrying about autism with Kaleb. He is very social and happy, he just babbles away and is always smiling. Smiling until the doctor gives him shots that is. That didn't go over too well getting him vaccinated. He really screamed like I didn't know he could scream. He's been sleeping ever since we got home so I'm hoping he goes the route of sleeping it off rather than freaking out and being fussy about things. That's all the updates I can think about writing at the moment, I'm coming down with a fun cold that I think Kaleb might also have (unless there is another reason for his runny/stuffed nose and major drool) I'm going to go sleep it off now.

Boys and Their Toys

I would say it is a boy thing, but I know plenty of girls really enjoy finding sand in body crevices they didn't know existed as a result from riding the dunes. Yesterday was the Sand Sports Super Show at the Orange County fairgrounds. I wasn't into duning until I met Jake and his family, I didn't know such a thrill existed. When I first pushed my thumb on that throttle and started accelerating across the sand I was instantly hooked. Yesterday was the expo, I couldn't let Jake go by himself, besides, it would be more fun than sitting at home all day by myself with Kaleb. Might as well get Kaleb hooked, and started early even though the revving engine really startles him. This was our first all day excursion with Kaleb and he did so well, I think there was too much to see and too much going on since he didn't really take a nap, but, that didn't hit him until at the end of the ride home. I don't really care about the technical jargon of the machines, I just want to know two things...does it go fast? Does it come in blue? Some day I hope we can make a dream a reality and own our very own sandrail and fourwheeler toys...but first we need a place to store them, and a trailer to haul them, and a truck to pull the trailer. This is a very expensive hobby. I used to think girls were expensive until I met Jake! Here's just a few pictures of us out enjoying the sun

And now for what is going on in Kaleb land. Kaleb seems heavier and bigger every time I pick him up. He is growing so fast! He is just getting into the 'everything goes in my mouth' faze. He is a lot more exciting and intersting as each day goes on, he's more fun to play with now. He doesn't just sit and blob as much. He actually responds to us and the world around him. So far he'll only laugh for Jake and it's not very often but that too comes a bit more each day. He smiles so readily now and it's such a joy to see his face light up when we walk in the room. And when that smile cracks across his face it makes you realize why parenting is so awesome, and so worth it, despite the times I feel like my motor is burned out. He really is a pretty melow kid, I think we got lucky with a good one! I am so excited to show him all the things there are to do in this world. And to explore the beauty of each new day with my two favorite boys my side. Welcome to the world kiddo, now let's go ride!

Pure Mirth.

I will tell you that there is nothing more pure sounding than a child laughing. This sound just brings the largest grin to my face. It is truly a sound from heaven. But even more moving is hearing it from your own child for the first time. Kaleb laughed for the first time two days ago. It moved me in a way I have not experienced before. It is great being able to experience these first hand. I am truly blessed, although with less sleep, to be home during the day when he is awake and active.

-Jake

Legacy

I received an email from my mom and dad (they are serving their mission in France) They sent me this picture of my dad and grandma. I figured out who Kaleb looks like and where he got all that hair from! My dad still has really thick hair, so I'm hoping that means Kaleb won't go bald like his daddy. No offense Jake, bald is wonderful in it's own way, maybe God just thought you had such a perfect head it didn't need to be covered by hair, who knows. (I'm trying to back-pedal and cover for myself after typing that, I hope it worked) I absolutely love this picture! Looking at this picture got me thinking. There is no way she could have know what was ahead of her as a new mom. I look at this picture and see a new mom with this new little baby on her lap, she's probably full of a lot of the same worries I am experiencing now, the same thoughts and questions. Will I be able to teach him what he needs to know to be successful in life? I am a young mother, experiencing what so many young mothers before me have experienced. The same trepidation of being the 24/7 caregiver for this helpless baby. I am constantly anxious to know what hobbies Kaleb will have, what interests, what career? What will his personality be like? Will he follow the paths of righteousness and also marry for eternity? My mother had 8 kids: 2 boys and 6 girls. Jakes mom had 5 kids: 2 boys and 3 girls. They didn't know the end from the beginning; they experience life one day at a time. They obviously learned patience and optimism. They are amazing women, and I am grateful for them. I look at myself and realize I need to relax and stop trying to control everything that happens. Neither one of these women could have foreseen the joy that would be theirs as they raised their families. Likewise, I am young and have so much to look forward to. I know that life and parenting will not always be easy or fun. As a beneficiary of the sacrifices my mother made, I want to say "Thank You. It was worth it". I am so grateful to Jake's mom for the amazing job she did raising him, he turned out pretty well in the end, if I do say so myself. I want to follow in the footsteps set before me, of all those amazing mothers who tested the waters before me. I want to follow with faith that what awaits me will far exceed my expectations. The proof is in my past, so here's to the future that is still unknown!
Wow, all that just to show you a picture...sorry...don't know where that came from!
Everything is about the same around here. We've had to pack up our kitchen (for the second time) for more roach spraying that got done yesterday. They didn't go away when it was done two weeks ago, so, I hope it works this time. Doesn't seem like it did though, I woke up at about 2:30 AM to hear Jake with a roll of paper towels squishing babies (bugs) that were running all over. Ha ha ha - I'm just grateful it's CA bugs and not South America or Philippine ones!
We're still just twiddling our thumbs, (okay, re-phrase, we're still just praying hard) waiting to hear if Jake got this job in San Fransisco. In the meantime we came to the realization that we were praying for a miracle and not expecting it to happen. We need to pray for the miracle, and expect it to happen! We're going to start boxing up non-essential items (too bad we can't leave our kitchen packed) and we've been searching for rentals in the San Fransisco area. We're preparing for a move that we don't really know if it is happening, or when it's happening, or where we're actually going!
So, life just goes on, one day at a time. One foot in front of the other.

Good Times

Thank you to everyone who could make it to Kaleb's blessing day. It was a perfect day, temperature wise, and spiritual wise. Jake did an amazing job blessing Kaleb with those things he needs, and will need later on in life. I am so grateful to have a husband who honors his Priesthood and was able to give our son a name and a blessing, it is such a blessing to have the Priesthood in our family. We had a really good time with Jake's family. They drove from UT. arriving Friday morning at about 5 AM. On Friday we just hung out here, went swimming, we went to Jake's work and got to watch a movie on their big projection screen, while Jake was working (how nice is it to get paid to watch a movie with your family!?)
Saturday we spent most of the day at the beach. Kaleb really didn't care for the ocean, at least he wasn't too happy with me when I stuck his feet in.
Sunday we met at the church and Aunt's Cleo, Jan, and Jill also met us. Okay, so technically they are really our cousins, and like once removed since they are Jake's mom's cousins. Don't get me trying to figuree out how they are related to Kaleb. They have been, and always will be Aunt to us. After Sacrament Meeting the family left to join back up at a park for a BBQ - it was the perfect sunny, not too hot (at least in the shade) day.
Sadly the family had to leave Monday morning. But, thank you again for everything, we had so much fun!

Hanging out with my boy.

It is time I add another post to our blog. Since Kristen started working for a couple of hours a day, it has been very rewarding to spend a couple of hours each day with Kaleb. I love to hear how much more vocal he is getting. He is smiling much more and becoming more and more like a little boy. He is growing so quickly and becoming quite entertaining. I really love seeing how much he develops every day.

-Jake