HAPPY FALL Y'ALL!

This weather has been crazy the last week or so. Today it was down right chilly. It's a good thing I took the boys outside earlier last week on a decent day to get pictures in their Halloween shirts. Now to find a nice day to take their pictures in their costumes. Maybe I'll do indoor this year, who knows.

The boys are growing as usual. Isaac is now 34 1/4 inches long and Caleb is 31 1/2. They are wearing basically the same size clothing so in a way that's a good thing. We are gearing up for Isaac's birthday party on Sunday. My baby is going to be TWO just ask him!!!

We've been struggling to find out what is going on with Caleb. For the past 2 1/2 weeks he's been waking up every morning around 3:00 am and itching like crazy. We had switched to cheaper detergent and that's when I noticed some red blotches on his leg. It soon transferred to both legs, both arms, on his belly and over his rib cage. We were pretty certain it was a case of eczema as he had it as baby but nothing was curing it. We've been doing liquid benadryl 3 times a day, benadryl cream, eucerin cream 2 times a day and Tylenol at night. I finally took him in and now we think he's just having an allergic reaction to something but not sure what. I've rewashed EVERYTHING and have even gone and bought more dreft (I thought we were done with that months ago). The doctor also said he has a sinus infection so he's on zithromax and prednisone. He actually slept until 6:40 this morning so I hope we're on the mend now. Poor thing itches something fierce!

Here's a bunch of pictures over the past month. Enjoy!

Mommy & Caleb- self portrait


Cool shades!


Bye-bye Mommy!


Enjoying a fall day


Watching the airplane!


Playing in the leaves


Cool dude Caleb!


Check out my ride!


Anyone want to catch a ride with me?


Playing in Grandma's pumpkin patch


Brrrr...cold already!


Nice fall day


Boys and their pumpkins

Fall is here

It sure has been cold and rainy out the last week or so. I'm really hoping we have another nice day so I can get some pictures of the boys in the leaves in their Halloween shirts. I have Caleb's Halloween costume and Isaac's is on the way. I can't wait to get some pictures of them! They are too cute.

We've been battling sickness in the house again. We think both boys had a touch of the flu followed by myself and Ross. I've also been dealing with some IBS trouble and have had many tests done in the last few weeks to rule out other issues. Thankfully things are getting back to normal and I don't need a colonoscopy at least not right now. Now my sinuses are bothering me and Ross too. It is starting early. Thankfully we haven't had any ear infections to deal with for either Isaac or Caleb. Caleb has had a bad case of eczema so we're trying to get that cleared up.

We had family pictures, 2 year and 15 month pictures done a little over a week ago. I am anxious to see how they turned out.

I can't believe Isaac is almost 2. Time sure does fly. Isaac is growing fast and learning more every single day. His communication is coming around and the tantrums have decreased a little bit.

No pictures to post this time, but I hope to get some up real soon!

It's only September...

It's only September and we've had 2 pretty sick boys these past couple weeks. Isaac came down with bronchitis the last weekend in August. He ran pretty high temps around 103 for a few days, poor thing just layed on the couch with me and wouldn't eat a single thing in 2 days. I took him to the doctor and we got him a shot since he's not too good at taking medications. He's finally back to himself, eating and sleeping well again. Last week I think I got a call from daycare every single day that Caleb was there. He was running lower temps around 100 or 101 so I figured he had what Isaac had. Our doctor called in a prescription without having to take him in. Thursday he started getting worse and was have difficulty breathing well and had a hoarse voice and raspy cough. I received a call on Friday from daycare that he was wheezing quite a bit. I talked to our doctor and was instructed to watch him and if it got worse to bring him in. Saturday morning it was much worse. After many many tests it was proven that he had croup. I knew that going into the office but apparently they think they need to run all these other tests to verify. Anyway they sent us on our way with a nebulizer machine and prednisone. Thank goodness Caleb did so well at taking the neb treatments and we avoided a stay at the hospital. He's back to himself.

Sunday was the 1st day Caleb was feeling up to playing so we took the boys to the park and they had a blast. Caleb loves to do whatever big brother does which included the big twisty slide. I was nervous but he did just fine. Labor Day we spent in Milford with Grandma and Grandpa B and went to an auction too.

Here's a few pictures from our day at the park. I love the expression on Caleb's face...priceless!

Whoa...what a ride Isaac

Little peanut on the tire!

Teeter totter!

Playing on the choo-choo!!!

So serious Caleb!

Little bubsee!!!!

Wheeee...lets do that again!

Time to update again

Things are keeping busy as ever. I can't believe it's the end of August already! Summer really did fly by and we certainly didn't get to do some of the things we were planning on doing this summer.

Caleb is now walking. He took his first step the end of July and the beginning of August he started to take a few steps here and there. Last week he really started walking and now he's doing it pretty much all the time. His vocabulary is amazing and he's really imitating things now. He can do actions to some nursery songs, he's learning his body parts and animal sounds.

Isaac is doing better since getting his tubes in. He no longer has the nasally sound when attempting "truck, tractor or train". He has said more words since and his behavior is slightly better. I am hoping my Mom is right and that the odd years are worse, that would mean we'll have a good year with Isaac. I'm not real concerned about Caleb and the terrible 2's because he's so laid back. Isaac is a strong willed child for sure!!!!

Ross and I finally took a short vacation last week. It was our first vacation since the summer of '07. We went to Minneapolis. We were able to go to the Mall of America, a play at the Guthrie Theatre, Valley Fair, Stillwater to visit my sister in law and niece and nephew, and to a Twins game. We kept very busy and time flew by. Caleb spent the time with my parents and Isaac was with Ross' parents. Both boys did well and slept well. Of course since getting home Caleb is now waking up at 6 am again!!!!! Caleb was a bit ticked at me for leaving him but he got over it pretty fast.

Here's some pictures over the last couple weeks and a video too!!


Wild Thing


Power Shooter at Valley Fair


Steel Venom at Valley Fair


At the Twins game


Stillwater, MN



Behind the Guthrie Theatre


Downtown Minneapolis




Playing with playdough


Sitting outside in big boy chair


Caleb's new Batman pajamas


Goulash is yummy!


Caleb and Mr. Giraffe in the tub


Close in height!

2.2.2.

I can't believe my oldest son is 22 months. In just 2 short months he will be a 2 year old!!!! The terrible 2's are definitely in force but we're managing and time outs seem to do the trick when he needs it. We had a rough time last week with Daddy gone but things are better this week. We'll start all over again I do believe. Ross and I leave tomorrow and are going to the cities for a short vacation. We'll be back Tuesday afternoon. Caleb is staying with my parents and Isaac is staying with Ross' parents. Not only are they away from Mommy and Daddy they are going to be away from each other.

I hope they sleep well and behave well. Ross and I really need this time away. I don't believe we've taken a vacation since before Isaac was born. I don't even remember the last time we had a date.

In case you're wondering what the title of the post means...well 2 2 2 as in here's a picture of Isaac at 2 months and at 22 months. Amazing.

For the Grand Finale…

I came across this link and of course I signed up. Ross and I love watching the Vitamix at the Fair and how nice it would be to have one, but seriously $450, not something in our budget anytime soon.

For the Grand Finale…

The "I" Man

Mr. Isaac has been harder to photograph then Caleb so that's why my most recent posts contain mostly pictures of Caleb.

I did get a few good shots recently. He's such a ham. We got his haircut finally. He is a stinker and does not want anyone messing with him so needless to say it's a sad 15 minutes for me and I have to hold him down while he cries and fights. But the end result is so much better! I think he'll eventually get over it. I know he's scared of a lot of things right now but I also think it's his age.

Onto the photos...

What a silly boy


Playing outside before the big haircut


New haircut, what a big boy!


Sitting by Grandma Winter


Pushing Caleb in the stroller- fun times until it tips over
and Caleb is trying to crawl with a stroller strapped to him!


My beautiful 21 month old!

Caleb's 1st haircut

Well I finally bit the bullet and took Caleb into get his haircut. It was getting quite long and I finally decided it was time to part with the curls. Caleb did wonderful. He sat on my lap looking around and we got the whole haircut done before he got antsy. He's an adorable little boy now and doesn't look so much like my baby...awww.

Another brave boy

Isaac had surgery today. He's only had 1 or 2 ear infections that we know of so his ears haven't bothered him much like they did Caleb. Isaac is considered to have a speech delay because he's not talking as much as he should be. He is also having trouble saying words that start with "tr" and they come out quite nasily. We had Isaac's ears checked in May and they could only get a reading on one ear which showed there was fluid in his ear. We had it rechecked on July 1st and it was determined that the right ear was good and the left ear was bad. We visited with an ENT in Sioux Falls. He looked in Isaac's ear and agreed the right ear is fine and the left ear has some fluid in it. He thought it would be best to try and put a tube in his left ear and at the same time they would run a ABR test while Isaac was sedated.

We got to the hospital at 7:00 am and went to our room. I had been dreading surgery day because Isaac gets really scared of doctors and nurses so I figured it would be a tough morning for all of us. I was quite surprised when Isaac was fine sitting on our laps watching cartoons or playing with his new tractor I got him. They finally came to get him about 8:40 and wheeled him away in a little red wagon. The nurse came in during the surgery to ask if we were okay with the doctor putting a tube in both ears so we said that was fine. The doctor told us that he did see a lot of fluid in both ears so he put a tube in both ears and ran the hearing test. We'll get those results later on. Isaac had a little bit of a tough time coming out of the anethesia but not as bad as I expected. He was hooked up to an iv which he wanted out but we managed to get him distracted so he didn't try to pull it out. Isaac took about an hour nap and then woke up and had something to eat and drink and was fine.

Now we just wait and see if surgery will help his speech. It's so nice to have it done with.

On the way to Sioux Falls at 6:00 a.m.

Into hospital jammies

Watching cartoons with Daddy

Playing tractors with Daddy

Trying to figure out what's going on

After surgery, alseep on Mommy's lap

Not sure about the iv's hooked up

After eating...much happier

Showing Caleb new surgical cap

Caleb's 12 month check up

Today we went in for Caleb's 12 month baby well check. He is doing great. He now weighs a whopping 23 lbs 3 oz. and is 31 inches long. He is in the 50th percentile for weight and 75th percentile for height. He didn't grow much between his 6 and 9 month checkups but he sure did between 9 and 12 months, wow!!! Just for comparison I checked Isaac's measurements at 12 months. He was only 20 lbs 11 oz. and 30 1/4 inches. It's so funny because when Isaac was 9 months old he was 29 inches and Caleb was only 28 1/2 inches at 9 months. Now Caleb is ahead of Isaac on his 12 month measurements!!!

Caleb is cruising furniture like crazy and talking up a storm. He says quite a few words, sometimes I keep thinking he acts older then he really is. He's weaned off of formula and is off of the bottle. I never realized how easy that would be. With Isaac, weaning off the bottle was difficult and we didn't bite that bullet until 15 months. This time Caleb pretty much gave us signals that he wanted to be like his brother. He never once fussed or asked for his bottle. He went to the sippy cup like nothing ever happened.

I now have 2 toddlers, it's a bittersweet feeling I think.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CALEB BENJAMIN!!!!

Our baby is ONE today!!!! This past year has gone by so fast. It seems like just yesterday I was in labor. I really love the baby stage (aside from the sleepless nights) but I'm loving this age as well. Caleb's personality is really beginning to show. He is not walking yet, but I'm in no hurry for him to do so either. He is cruising furniture and pulling up to EVERYTHING so I doubt it will be long. I'm guessing 13 or 14 months. Isaac has already taught Caleb how to push buttons on the computer and tv and how to get all the cans out of the cupboards and the pots and pans out as well. These two are going to be partners in crime.

Caleb is still in the infant room at daycare but he moves to the toddler room next week to join his brother. I'm sure they'll be sent home with interesting stories from their day. Ha!!!!

Caleb is really talking up a storm. I'm hoping his ability to talk well will help Isaac along the way. He started talking about 9 1/2 months and has continued since. Most words he doesn't really know, he just copies us, but he does know the meaning of some. He's currently saying Mama, Dada, Isaac, tractor, truck, bubbles, more, doggy, nana. He makes the tractor noise and puppy noises. He's a character none the less.

2 years ago I would have never guessed in a million years that I would have given birth to a baby, let alone be a proud Mommy to 2 very special boys. God has really blessed our family and we are thankful every day.

It's hard to believe that Caleb was 8 lbs 3 oz. at birth and now he's weighing in at over 23 lbs. We'll get the official results next week.

Here's some pictures through the past year! We love you Caleb Benjamin.

Love, Mommy, Daddy & Isaac

1 day old

6 weeks old

3 months old

6 months old

9 months old

12 months old