A Lot About Us

A Lot About Us

About Me

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We are the Caldwells. Justin, Nicole, our little guys, Grayson, Baylor, and Rowan, and our angel daughters, Faith and Avery.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

BAYLOR AT 6 MONTHS

Our little Baylor Boo is six months old! Where is the time going? No, seriously stop time right now. He is on warp speed traveling too fast from newborn to toddler before my eyes. I know I have plenty of baby time left before he is really a toddler but if the next year goes by as quickly as the last 6 months, then it will be too fast for me.

From month five to six Baylor did a lot of changing and developing. He is now sitting up really well. He starting sitting assisted shortly after he hit 5 months and at this point he is sitting really well. During tummy time he is starting to try to push up to his knees. We will see where that goes. He loves to chew on books and teething rings and still loves it most when his big brother pays attention to him. He looks for Grayson as soon as he wakes and give Grayson bigger grins and deeper giggles that anyone else gets. Baylor loves his bath and likes to splash around and sink down in the water like Grayson did when he was little. He is getting a little big for his baby tub, but we will wait to move him to the big tub until he is sitting a little better. Around 5 months Baylor moved from his infant carrier to a regular rear facing car seat. I forgot to post it at his 5-month update so I will include it here. We basically did that because we had to get a new car seat after our fender-bender and the rear facing made better financial sense than the carrier.

At Baylor's 6-month appointment he was 16 pounds, 6.1 ounces which puts him in the 30th percentile for weight. The doctor voiced a bit of concern about the lack of substantial weight gain since he was last weighed in her office. We will go back in 4 weeks for a weight check. She is the same pediatrician that followed Grayson's minimal weight gain during the first 18 months so I think she half-expected Baylor to begin trimming down at some point. He measured 27 inches in length which puts him in the 75th percentile for length. He is tall and skinny. Although I don't really think he looks skinny. He has some cutie patootie rolls on this thighs that are ADORABLE!

His gums were swollen at the appointment and she confirmed that he is teething although it seems like he has been teething for well over a month and we haven't seen a tooth yet. He hates orajel so we have been doing Tylenol when he gets particularly drooly, fussy, and begins tugging at his ear. We have had a few nights where he wakes up screaming and can't fall back asleep. It is a different cry than when he wakes and just needs to self soothe. He screams. We will try to 30 minutes or so to hold and soothe him, but if we are unable to calm him down it becomes pretty clear that he is hurting so we give Tylenol. Typically about 30 minutes after the dose he calms and falls asleep. Not the case on Christmas Eve. Baylor work shortly after Santa visited and stayed awake the rest of the night in what appeared to be teething pain. Well, I guess he did sleep in my arms for about an hour, but that meant I was sitting up and not sleeping. That made for a very foggy Christmas day.

Baylor received 5 vaccines at his appointment. Four shots and an oral vaccine. He wasn't too bothered by the pain, but did have a pretty rough reaction in the days following. He was generally fussy and ran a fever for about 36 hours. Good times!

When not hurting, he is sleeping well and is generally a very happy guy. We have started to see a little more development of his personality and I believe he may be a little more strong-willed than his brother. He loves to chew on any and everything and occasionally gets his hands on something that isn't made for his baby mouth (paper, the remote, Grayson's cars) and it has to be taken from him. He gets very upset. The bottom lip sticks out and he just cries and cries. It is almost funny to see that he already responds when he doesn't get his way. He has to learn that he can't have everything that he thinks his heart desires. Bless that sweet little heart!

Friday, December 24, 2010

MOTHER'S PERSPECTIVE

Justin and I recently volunteered for Christmas Unwrapped at our church. They call it an interactive Christmas experience. The best way I can describe it is to say it is like a Christmas carnival. We volunteered specifically for the Live Nativity. I felt like Baylor, although certainly much bigger than a new born, would make a good baby Jesus. I never imagined the opportunity to serve would be such a touching and spiritually moving experience.

The setting was just as you would picture the nativity complete with animals,sheperds, and wise men. Justin and I portrayed Mary and Joseph. At first it was interesting to take it all in and look around at the animals and all the people. Everyone, obviously, was excited and interested in the "real baby Jesus". After a while it got dark, colder, and it was harder to see all the people because we had bright lights shining on us.

I began to think about the scene and the very real people we were portraying. I couldn't help but look at my sweet boy while we sat in that stable and imagine how Mary must have felt every time she looked at her son, Jesus. Mary knew God's plan for her son. It began to weigh heavy on my heart what that job must have been like for her. She was unmarried when she learned she would give birth to the savior of man. She carried him, raised him, and loved him as only a mother can knowing that it would be her son, the son of God, that would be sacrificed for our sin. It was a humbling experience, to say the very least, to sit in a stable and imagine myself as Mary. I know if asked to do what she did today I would really struggle with the call. Yes, I would respond in obedience, but the challenge would be difficult for certain. Mary sets a great example for women of what it means to follow the call of our Father.

God, through Mary, sent his son into the world. That son was sacrificed on a cross to pay the debt for the sins of mankind for all eternity. He was born and died so that we can eternal life in Heaven.

What an amazing woman! What an amazing baby! What an amazing Savior?! What an amazing God! Merry Christmas!

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

CHRISTMAS CARD FAIL

I was super excited about our Christmas card this year. So excited that I totally messed up when ordering and only ordered about half of what I needed. Not only that, but I didn't realize I was short until late Sunday evening when I went to finish addressing them. Yep, finish them. I didn't realize that I only had half until I had used almost all of them.

The point of this post is that I don't want any of our friends and family who tyipcally get a card from us to be offended when one doesn't come this year. I didn't take you off my list, it is just too late to order more and get them out in time.

Actually, if you would be offended by not getting a card then I am surprised we are still even friends at this point because surely I have subjected you to a greater offense than not getting a Christmas card before now.

So, if you got one, Merry Christmas. If you didn't Merry Christmas just the same. If you got one and someone else we know sees it and says something like, well I didn't get one, refer them to this post and make a photocopy for them if you are feeling especially festive.

Friday, December 10, 2010

5 YEARS

Today I have been married to my wonderful husband for five years. It certainly doesn't seem like it has been that long. Actually Justin has been in my life for 1/3 of it. We met in 2000 and were married in 2005.

It doesn't really make sense to say that we grew up together because we have not known one another since childhood, but that is exactly the case. Justin and I have done a whole lot of growing up together since we met in college.

It has been a journey and I wouldn't trade a single minute of it. Justin is an amamzing husband, inspiring spiritual leader, the very best friend, and an amazing father. Although he almost never reads the blog. . .I love you always!!

Monday, December 6, 2010

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR

Yes, the Christmas season is in full swing. Our calendar is jam packed from now until after the New Year. I wouldn't have it any other way. Every event, evey occasion is an opportunity to gather with family and friends and celebrate.

This is my favorite time of year. That shouldn't be a surprise. I love birthdays and this is the most important birthday of all to celebrate. I love the buzz and the insanity that exits between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I love shopping, I love baking, I love Christmas music, I love Christmas parties, I love Christmas plays, I love Christmas movies, I love live nativities, I love going to see decorations, I love the buzz at the mall, I love looking for the perfect gifts, I love reminding those around of the real reason for this season, and I love spending time with the people I love. I guess you get that I love everything that comes with this most magnificant holiday. I also love that we get to do all of these things to acknowledge and celebrate the birth of our savior. The shopping, baking, gathering, and celebrating is all about the love for those in our lives and for our Savior. We do all of this fun Christmas stuff to show love to others the way God showed He loved us by sending His son. Who couldn't love this time of year?

Does it get crazy? Sure it does! Already this year we have been sick, I have several returtns to make from buying the wrong thing, and our tree has fallen over. Yes, fully decorated and all it came crashing down. None of that has taken away a bit of my cheer. This year especially I am loving that Grayson is really starting to grasp the story of Jesus and what Christmas is all about. Isn't that amazing!!! I can't wait to see his little program at preschool. It is going to be amazing. Also, little Baylor may be baby Jesus for live nativity at our church celebration. If it is too cold they will use a doll, if not Baylor will be sitting in as Jesus for an hour. Awesomeness!!!

As part of our holiday ritual we had our friend Kelly come by to take our family Christmas picture. Yes, I will send out a card to those of you I have addresses for. However, there are many of you sneaky readers that I don't know in real life and I don't have an address for. So for all of you. . .



MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE CALDWELLS!

This is not the pic we used for the Christmas cards so for those of you with one on the way, you will still have something to look forward to. If any of you local folks are looking for someone to take some family pics. Let me recommend Kelly. I think she did a fantastic job.