Caleb has discovered he can squat and sit down on things like his little stool.

His favorite repetitive games involve opposites: in/out, on/off, open/close. Such games are played with the following items: hats, shoes, school bus, diaper wipe container, baskets, boxes, bins, blocks, legos, little people and animals, velcro, purses and anything found in the kitchen or bathroom (yes, that does include the toilet).

He has also adopted head shaking for both yes and no. However, sometimes illiciting a yes or no response from him brings about both yes and no head shaking. So, in such moments we simply decide for him. But if he really wants something, he'll firmly shake yes.

Example: He'll walk over to the bookshelf and reach up for the glass-framed picture. But before taking it down, will turn to me and shake his head yes, as if he's saying, "Mama, this is alright." And my correct response should be to mirror his approval, right? Sorry, Caleb, that's not the way of head-shaking. So I shake my head no, and he understands and begins a lower-lip pout, had thrown back in a whine. But does it stop him from reaching up quickly, taking down the picture and secuinge it in both hands before mama comes to get him?

No way.

Brian and I have been playing about one game of chess a day lately. Somehow, though, instead of improving (as I would think practice would help me do), I'm declining. Perhaps it's been the time of day we've been playing or I'm too distracted by Caleb. All I know is either 1) Brian will want to stop playing me from boredom or 2) he'll feel like a pro before this is all said and done.

For the first time ever I roasted stuffed pork loins for lunch today. And with much fear that they would turn out dry...Brian and I had a scrumptous meal of tender pork stuffed with homemade thyme stuffing, basil parmesan crescents, broccoli bake, blonde chocolate chip brownies and ice cream. Ummmmm.....

Tobias kicked (noticably) for the first time last night.

I just spent WAY too much time trying to update the look of this blog and I'm still not sure I like it.

Anyway...Caleb has had a couple of hard days...especially yesterday. If there was a known "no" he could illicit, he did. Unplugging things (no, Caleb, we don't want you to get electrocuted), putting things in his mouth he shouldn't (no, Caleb, we don't want you to choke), putting things in the vcr (no, Caleb, that doesn't go in there), crying when he wants to go somewhere he can't (no, Caleb, we're not going outside right now; no, Caleb, you can't climb into the cupboard; no, Caleb, stay out of the refridgerator).

It was a day full of no's until (drums) we went downstairs to his new playroom which is just a room full of yes's.

"Yes, Caleb, you can throw the ball."
"Yes, Caleb, you can scatter your legos anywhere you want."
"Yes, Caleb, you can go in any corner of this room and Mama won't shoo you away for fear of your climbing and falling."

Hooray!

I've realized that this pregnancy hasn't captured my every blog with details of weight gain, aches, body changes, etc. Amazing how those things don't have their original luster and intrigue when I'm chasing after a wily one year old! I suppose when my body REALLY starts to balloon, others will take notice and comment and the anecdotes will appear here.

Brian wrote a really beautiful blog this morning on his page. Sometimes I'm stunned by the gift he is to me. He, as well as delightful Caleb and tiny Tobias.

It's wonderful to call Tobias by name.

...we're excited to meet... TOBIAS EDWARD (!) sometime around January 18th.

Brian and I are completely thrilled that we're having another boy. Since Tobias will only be 18 months younger than Caleb, they will make for wonderful playmates growing up. (At least that's what parents with similarly spaced children have told me).

That's the biggest news we have around here. Brian starts school in a couple weeks and my weekly, fall schedule is starting to take shape. Still debating whether I should commit myself to working with the Kids Night at church again this fall. My heart isn't in it, really, and it's one of those things where I feel like if I don't have a passion for it, I shouldn't devote so much time. Instead, I should choose to spend efort and time doing things I either 1) enjoy or 2) feel like God is calling me to do. I really can't say I feel either of those for Kids night right now.

Two good books I've read recently: East of Eden by John Steinbeck and Byzantium by Stephen Lawhead

Tight tummy.

Men, you have no idea unless you have somehow distended your stomach in the throes of drinking ale or pop. It's a little like that.

Mine, however, has nothing at all to do with a drink. Instead, it is the growing babe within me that is pushing my tummy out to tightness and slight muscle aches. NO, take that back: occasional AWFUL muscle pain. I'll bend over to pick up a toy from the floor or roll over in bed and become incapacitated with the sudden, gripping side pain. Like when you run and have a splitting muscle pull. According to all the baby books, this is normal and no cause for concern, however, I'll gladly let that phase of pregnancy pass.

Tomorrow: gender day.

Caleb is walking all over these days, being QUITE a rascal. We're kept on our toes,that's for sure. He's figured out how to do all sorts of wily things: open up the toilet seat (but NOT how to flush it yet....THAT could prove disasterous), put things in the VCR (we've fished a spoon out of it already), climb up on the couch (in order to stand on the windowsill...THERE'S a great idea), climb into the pantry and so forth.

He says a few things: hi, nigh-night, all done, ball, hat, outside. But he understands a lot of things. You can tell him to bring you something specific and he will. You He's just so cute. He'll pick up the phone and say into it. He'll tell you when he's hungry by putting his hand to his mouth and saying "mamama" which is his version of "more".

He's a delightfully happy little boy, too. He's ready for bed about 6pm and stays down until 7am. A great little sleeper. I'm so thankful for that knowing another baby is on the way. He's quite social, too, so will delight in his younger brother/sister. We've had Brian's brother and sister-in-law here that last couple of days, and they have a 4 month old daughter. Caleb has been a little freaked out by her crying (he backs away staring) and really jealous of her pacifier, but otherwise gentle enough with her (when he sees her and doesn't trip over her when she's lying on the floor).

Be sure to see some recent pictures of him.

Friday we'll know.

That's right. What everyone has been asking, what everyone wants to know.

Is this baby a boy, or is it a girl?

We both want a boy, but will be delighted just the same if we have a girl. Healthy is the bottom line. So many say, "You already have a boy", as if that somehow makes sense to them that you get one of each. To that I say, "Right, and I know I like them".

Names. Well, we've thown out some serious contenders in the past and haven't really brought them up recently. I think we're waiting until we know what we're working with before we spend too much time on a passel of wrong-gendered names. But I have a pretty good feeling that no matter if it's a boy or a girl, we know what name s/he will have.
We have one for each that haven't really faded from out liking.

Stay tuned for further information in this matter.

Interesting thought for parents: You should never have more children than you have car windows.

Eons ago (or so it seems) we returned from Mexico and gathered Caleb and our lives back together.

Mexico was delightful:

The weather was hot, but bearable for sure....I was indoors a
lot working on VBS stuff. I know I cut and glued and painted about 500 little
pieces and parts before the week was out. Brian was outside building concrete
stairs to help a church add a second story on in the future.

The food was amazing. Heavy, yes, but wonderful. The difference between what you'd find here in America and Mexico is this: no
sauces, lots of beans, lots of chilis, and goat cheese. I'm committing myself to
making some of the things we had down there this winter (when turning on the
oven is a more attractive option....unlike now in the heat of summer).

I stayed with a couple of 60ish sisters (never been married) and Brian was with
a family that had two teenaged sons. We were only in the homes for breakfast,
mid-day showering and resting, and to sleep at the end of the day. Otherwise we
were out working or eating somewhere (at church member's homes) or in the city.

Wednesday was our day off, so we went hiking to the top of a mountain (I DID
NOT....pregnancy about killed me after the initial 350 ascending steps). I
stayed at the top of the stairs in a little covered platform while the rest of
the team and young Mexicans that were with us hiked to the top. We all went
swimming afterward and after showering in our homes, met up to do a bit of
shopping in the "market" area of the city.

It was a neat experience seeing the international church and its warmth and
passion for Jesus. I think they have a genuine love for brothers and sisters
that we have lost here in the U.S. because we're too afraid to just get down and
dirty and love people rawly. Too prideful or fearful or something.