Thursday, August 03, 2006
A few days ago you decided you were big enough to climb the hardwood stairs all by yourself. You figured out stairs at Grandma and Grandpa's farm a few weeks ago but were still intimidated by our great big hard stairs up to the second floor. We encouraged you on a regular basis to climb up to us but you refused. And on several occasions you climbed up a stair or two and then plopped yourself down and cried until someone came and rescued you. And then one day, you just did it--climbed all the way up to the tippy top of the stairs. Of course, you haven't mastered the art of coming back down those stairs and so, everytime you go up, so do I. And everytime you come back down, you insist on going right back up. Since there are other things on my "to do" list than playing on the stairs and since we don't have a safety gate at the bottom of the stairs yet, I tried building a barracade with a screen from a window and an ottoman to keep you from climbing up when I wasn't watching. Your brothers have tumbled down those horrid stairs and the end result is very bad indeed. For awhile the blockade worked and you were content to stay downstairs with me. But as soon as you discovered that your brothers were all upstairs you insisted on finding a way up those stairs. Awhile later I heard your hands smacking down on the stairs, the way they do when you climb, and you laughing hysterically. I left the dishes to see what you were up to and sure enough, you had moved the barracade out of your way and were very happily climbing up the stairs to find your brothers. When I tried to catch you, you laughed even more hysterically, proud of yourself for outsmarting me, I'm sure. Now there's never a time you climb the stairs when you don't giggle and laugh with glee.
You are presently covered in hives, from head to toe. Shortly after we returned from our trip to Utah you came down with an ear infection. The doctor put you on amoxicillin and you seemed to do fine with it until one morning you woke up with what looked like five or six bug bites on your arm. I thought maybe we'd let a mosquito in the house or that some bug had found you in the night so I tried not to worry too much. By noon you were covered in a million of those bug bite looking things. I gave you some Benadryl and by the time you woke up from your nap, you were looking quite a bit better. I tried to get your pediatrician to call me but to no avail. So, we skipped your penicillin that night. You were up until 3:00 am, fussing and itching. Daddy and I took turns rocking you and trying to soothe you and you finally fell asleep on my lap watching the Food Network. By morning you were covered in hives and there was no mistaking what was wrong with you. So we visited the doctor and he confirmed my suspicions--you're allergic to Penicillin just like Denver. But still. . . despite the massive amounts of hives on your tiny little body and the "excessive heat" we've been having you remain happy as ever. A real trooper.
You are working on cutting three teeth right now. Your teeth did the most interesting thing and decided to come in different from your brothers. You got your two front bottom teeth, like normal. Then, instead of cutting your two top front teeth, you started cutting the two teeth on either side. So, you currently have one and a half fangs and the beginnings of your two front teeth. I wonder if it has anything to do with your thumb sucking habit. Even if it does, there is no way I'm going to stop you from sucking your thumb--it's only about the most adorable thing I've ever seen.
Besides climbing the stairs you've mastered standing on your own, although you don't do it very often. It's only when you've discovered a new toy and you are distracted playing with it, that we catch you standing in the middle of the room like you've been doing it all your life. Or when you are so busy sucking your thumb and holding your silkie that you don't even realize you've forgotten to sit down. You've also managed to take a step or two on your own, but you are far from interested in aquiring that skill and prefer to crawl everywhere you go. You can now clap, drum and wave "hello" on demand. And just about anytime you hear music, you chime in singing a little tune of your own. You still love to jump and dance, but you've also discovered hanging upside down and once you get yourself there, you prefer to stay that way.
At ten months, Caleb, you are a joy. That's nothing new, of course. You're almost always content to crawl and play with your brothers and tear up an occasional magazine. The other day as I was getting ready for church, you were sitting on the edge of the sink, entertaining yourself with the faucet, the toothbrushes and the mirror. Your hair was combed (probably for the first time in your life) and you looked so handsome just sitting there keeping me company. And I found myself wondering why you have to grow so fast? I so desperately want to stop time and keep you just the way you are--your bald little head, your chubby little wrists, the sweet way you suck your thumb. And yet, it's so much fun to watch you grow and change--every day is an adventure with you--how could I ever hold you back? Here's to the sweet baby you are and the wonderful little boy you are becoming--may the moments last forever, even if they're only for a short time.
posted by Shana # 3:04 PM 
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