It's that time of the year....

For our annual Christmas Traditions!

Last week we took a nice visit to the Children's Museum to visit Santa and Jolly Days....the boys had so much fun.

Mimi and Caleb

Caleb is finally big enough to play in the playscape!

We rode the carousel twice, and Luke got to ride the ones that go up and down for the first time too! He loved it.

We also went down the Jolly Slide too...twice! Auntie Emily with Caleb...

And mommy with Luke....

and the trip isn't complete until you get to talk to Santa! Doesn't Caleb look so thrilled??

not what we thought...

Caleb does not have a Strawberry Hemangioma.

He has a Pyogenic Granuloma. (click on it and it will give you more info on what it is exactly).

It can follow a minor injury and can grow up to half an inch in size. And of course, he's did that before he ripped it off. His plastic surgeon said the best option is removal because he couldn't tell us it would go away on it's own. But he has removed several of these, and is more common than you would think. He will have to be put out for the surgery since he is such a wiggle worm these days.

We are thinking this came about when he was about 4 months old because that is when we noticed it growing above his eye. He had several scratches on his face around that time (and I remember I noticed them a lot because he had gotten his face pretty good with his nails) and the doctor agreed with us, that is probably when one of his scratches got infected and became this.

We do not have a surgery date set yet. But I am going to guess it will take place sometime in February. We have to wait to hear back from insurance to see what is covered. Our insurance does not cover plastic surgery unless it is deemed "medically necessary" so we will see if this falls under that category. I am guessing yes, since they usually don't go away on their own.

We will keep you updated when we hear of anything and we have a date set.

Thanks for the prayers. We got quick answers from the doctor, and he seems to really know what he is doing.

On a side note:

We have been keeping very busy these past weeks, and cannot believe that Christmas is here in 2 days! We've done all of our annual Christmas festivities so far, so be looking back for pictures!

how to get what you want 101 (and an update)

This is his new "I will try to look cute to get what I want" face.

How precious is it? and then usually in the midst of him tilting that sweet baby head to his shoulder, um, about 5 times or so, he will give one goofy cheesy little grin. By far the cutest thing this kid has done yet.

How can you resist?

Tomorrow this sweet face has an appointment with a plastic surgeon. Yes. You read that right. He has a strawberry hemangioma on his face right above his right eye. Usually something like this causes no problems and goes away on it's on in a matter of years, and it's fairly more common than you think. However, Caleb's bleeds. A lot. And actually if you look back on some of his pictures (like his 6 month photo shoot) you can see how big it really got. About a little less then the size of a dime.

However, just 3 days after that little photo shoot, our son, pulled his hemangioma off. YES. OFF. He bled and bled, and after about 20 minutes we got it to stop bleeding. But as you can tell from the top picture it is growing back. Just not as fast as it did before, and not as blood filled looking either.

We thought it was getting better, we were able to keep a bandage off of it for a few weeks, until this week. He hit it again yesterday, and it bled. Again. So, unfortunately he has a bandaid on again. (And even yesterday with it on, he made it bleed again.)

So, tomorrow we are heading over to Clarian North to meet with a plastic surgeon our pediatrician told us about.

Why a plastic surgeon and not a dermatologist you ask? ( I know you were thinking it!) because he will probably be able to remove it better than a dermatologist with less of a scar.

So, if you think about us tomorrow, please pray that things go well, that we like this guy, that he can give us the answers we need, and the advice on what to do next. We are really thinking removal will be best right now, just because of all the bleeding.

Hopefully we will know more tomorrow. Keep ya posted!

He doesn't stop!!

Do you see that sweet face? OH. MY. GOSH. I know a while back I blogged about how rough the "3" year is going. But, we are just loving this age. He is really becoming his own little man and it's quite fun to see him figure life out.

But the thing that has taken off the most is his speech! HOLY. MOLY. This kid doesn't stop talking!!! This time last year we were so worried he wouldn't be able to communicate his needs with us, and now he is not only communicating them, he is demanding them! :)

It really is great and some of the things he says are sooooooo hilarious. We were just talking the other day how we never want to forget his little voice and the things that he says. We have had our video camera out a lot lately capturing him and his non-stop talking.


There are some phrases he says most of the time and when in any situation. It makes us giggle everytime we hear them.

When he is really excited about something he'll say, "I like *insert whatever we are talking about here* ALL THE TIME!" Like, I will say, "Luke what would you like for lunch today?" and he will always respond with "I want Mac N Cheese. I like Mac N Cheese ALL THE TIME!" and with a little eye roll and head nod. We have heard that he likes, "mac n cheese, basketball, playdough, pictures, Diego, books, santa, baby doggies, candy, boom boom pow and many many many many more things ALL THE TIME. That is how you know he really loves something.


Anytime he messes something up on accident, or puts something in the wrong place, or forgets to do something he will always say, "uh, sorry" under his breath. sooooooo cute! and even if you have asked him repeatedly a gazillion times (okay, just a few times) to do something, he says that, and you just can't help but giggle and brush it off.


He is just talking sooo much and says a new word everyday I didn't even know he could say, (Like yesterday he said "see, I put my hands on my hip" When has he ever said hip?? I don't even know if I taught him where his hip was!)

His speech therapist at his new school (who we just love by the way, and the program seems to fit him soooo much better here than at our old school) told me last week that, and I quote, " He won't be in speech much longer." YAY!!!!

What a difference a year can make and we just love listening to his voice....even if it is the loudest, most non-stop voice you have ever heard!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

and we are feeling so blessed......

6 months in review

Because I did this with Luke, I wanted to do it for Caleb. A 6 month rundown of how much he has really grown. It's so hard to believe it's been 6 months already!

Happy Birthday Caleb Benjamen! 7lbs 7oz

3 days old one month 2 months

3 months
4 months

5 months

6 months! 18lbs 3oz!!! BIG boy!

6 months

These are a few of my favorites from our 6 month photo shoot at home. I can't believe he is 6 months old. Time is going way to fast and he is growing up before our very eyes.

He is sitting up on his own now.

But won't even attempt to roll over.

Loves to watch his brother and lights up whenever he comes near him.

But also gets very annoyed by his brother. And will grunt when he doesn't want him around him. It really is hilarious that at 6 months he can already get mad at his big brother.

He loves his blankie.

and his bottle.

and now his solids food. As long as it has apples or applesauce in it.

He will sleep in till 9am some mornings now. Mommy and Daddy are very happy about this.

He weighs just a pound less then his brother did at a year. Told ya he loves his food.

Has thee longest eyelashes ever! thank you to the Mayo genes on that one.

Could bounce all day in his bouncer.

or his exersaucer.

or on your lap when there is music playing.

He has such a deep voice. As does his cousin.

and he loves to use it too. Especially in high squeal delights or grunts.

Has 2 teeth with a third on the bottom making it's appearance soon. We all hope.

He will be one in 6 months. *sigh* You think time goes by fast when you have one kid. It goes by twice as fast when you have two. I can't imagine what it's like with more!

Caleb we have enjoyed every moment with you sweet boy. You smell so good and are so cuddly and sweet. And happy. You will always give a smile whenever anyone looks at you. You are exactly how we thought you would be. We love you so stinkin much Dubs!!!

Halloween

And Luke wanted to be a Race Car this year. Yes, a Race Car. At first, we were like, "how are we supposed to do this?!" But....I think we did a pretty good job...and he looked happy...and that's all that mattered!

Caleb was a cheetah. And probably the cutest cheetah we had ever seen...

Our first stop was Lala and Papaw's house. Where we most happily ran into the cutest monkey EVER!! Our sweet nephew also turned ONE that day!! Still can't believe he is now one. Time really does fly, it just means that Caleb will be one in 6 months....too fast!!!

The Monkey was more interested in trying out the Race Car then getting a picture.
We then headed over to trick and treat over at Mimi's house. And Auntie Emily greeted Luke ast the door. Then we walked the neighborhood. We are literally only houses down from my moms, (actually see my white car in the background?? that's my mom's house) and it took us almost 20!!! minutes to get where we are. That sucker was just way more fun then walking around in that race car. It was hilarious!



We were also able to stop by one of Luke's friend's house since he lives in the same neighborhood, and this is what we ran into....a very hilarious Dragon.( Isaac and Luke have been friends since there were Caleb and Asher's, (Isaac's brother) age.)Then we went inside to get a group shot and ran into the most adorable little lion.


It was a great evening of trick or treating. And Luke had lots of fun, but by the end he was very ready to get home and play a game my mom had gotten him. I think we still have enough candy to get us through till Christmas....well, if I can keep Brandon out of it.

so, where have we have been the past 3 months???

At the Grandparent's house! I tell you, it has been quite the journey getting to where we are right now. God has had a hand in it all though and has arranged us to be right here in our new house for this season of our lives.

Where (and when) did this all start?!? Well, we left our old house in a small, quiet neighborhood, and headed here....to Lala and Papaw's house, which is even more quieter! It was the end of July and this was a scene Lala and I looked out on a lot in the evenings. How peaceful! Luke got to play a lot outside and run around all day long. Oh, and this was the summer we officially declared "the one when Luke wore his sunglasses everywhere"

Caleb started to learn how to move around too....

And the boys took their first bath together there....
And got lots of good quality time in with the grandparents....

Like I said, Luke played a lot outside and Caleb learned how to use his Bumbo. See how happy he was about it?

But then, after what we had hoped would have only been 4 weeks but ended up being 7, we had to say goodbye. And moved in with Mimi and Papaw Jeff.

Lala kept the boys entertained as we switched houses (good thing Lala and Mimi literally live 5 minutes from each other!!)

Caleb was entertained by food, of course. The kid doesn't miss a meal these days.

And Luke played with his cars for several hours....All the while, mommy and daddy moved us. Yes, our mattress was on top of my car. And yes, it did try to fly off as we drove down the road.

Then we settled in nicely with Mimi and Papaw. Caleb started to kind of like Tummy Time and began really lifting his head up. Of course all the while Luke lays on top of him.
Luke got to sleep in Mimi's BIG boy bed and he loved it. We had lots of slumber parties and cuddle times....

But then, after what we had hoped would have been only 4 weeks but ended up being 6, we moved into our new place. Now this one was 25 minutes away from Mimi and Lala. So a little farther away, but I think we have all settled in nicely.

Caleb is enjoying his new toys that were stuck in storage and Luke most definetly missed his bean bag and books.

So, after a total of exactly 3 months, we have a home of our very own, and life is getting back to normal.

The question we get after we tell someone we have a new house is always, "how long do you think you will be there??"

To that we say, we don't know. Now that we are here, it's hard to say. Luke doesn't start school for another 3 years (since he has a late birthday), so we have at least that long to find somewhere new. *smile*

Seriously though. We don't know. But we do know that this house is not going to be our forever house. We wish we could pick this house up and set it down where we came from, but, of course that can't happen. So, we will wait. Knowing that God worked this out for us to be here, right now, in this season of our lives. He will lead the way.