Birthday week

It's birthday week in the Swayze household! Our sweet boy is turning the BIG ONE on Wednesday, with a party to follow on Saturday. This has been one fast year with Caleb. I cannot believe a year ago today I was (hugely swollen) pregnant.

He is not a still baby, by any means.. and although he is not walking yet, he gets by with crawling everywhere, and cruising on walls and furniture when he gets a chance. He still has 6 teeth, but I felt one coming up on the bottom this morning. He has been sick this past week with some sort of tummy virus (or, that's what I'm going to call it) and not once had a fever and continued to be a great sleeper.

This picture above is not of him sleeping.. although, that would have been nicer. It was his first big fit and he was upset with me because I didn't pick him up. Poor guy.. so hard being one! ;)

Lauren Lou has been great such a big ham lately, and loves to be silly. We have been re-painting our house, so she has gotten to watch more than her fair share of movies, and it is hilarious what she takes away from them. She said something about Bambi earlier at the zoo today. (I don't remember the comment, though, because I was trying not to melt.)

She was the flower girl for our friends' wedding. YAY for Chris and Melendy Jacobie! She was so shy and quiet (I almost didn't recognize her) until she wanted a cupcake! (Which, we snuck one early.. sorry guys.)

And, over the fourth of July, she played with her first sparklers. (Which, ironically, are from Mark and I's wedding reception 6 years ago.)

Water babies

Both my kids love water so much. In fact, I think if they had the choice, they would both be fish.

Caleb is attracted to anything water: dog and cat bowl, swimming pools, baths, kitchen sink. If it has water in it, he will be by it.

Lauren, the more cautious of our two children, takes a while to warm up to the idea of water, but once she is in, she is committed.

I can already see their sweet, yet strong, personalities at such a young age. How different they are, yet they are still so much alike.

One week...

.. from today, my sweet loving little boy turns 1!!!

I had these 'thoughts' built up in my mind on what I wanted to write on this bloggy-blog about.

Then, life happened.

I forgot, the majority of the things, and well, talking about my kids only goes so far.

But, don't you just want to squeeze him? Seriously?!?

Yesterday, I downloaded my first e-book to my i-touch. "I Will Carry You" by Angie Smith. I finished it earlier tonight, and loved it. No words to describe it, just yet. Afterwards, I went and squeezed this little one below a little tighter.

Plus, did you notice her super-cute new haircut. She calls it the "Princess Tiana."

Oh, did I tell you that she actually 'played' in her last soccer game? Yep, some good old fashioned bribery, and her Daddy being on the field with her did the trick. I told her she could pick where we got to eat lunch, and then I might of influenced her decision by reminding her that she loves Chili's chips and queso. Guess where we ate for lunch.

Caleb turns 10 months tomorrow. I can't believe it. Wasn't I just in the hospital delivering yesterday? These 10 months have flown by, and it, ahem, sort of makes me sad. He is still only army crawling, but I think he is about to be able to sit up on his own. He has 5 teeth, eats anything and everything that touches his hands, and loves his sister. His new favorite thing is mimicking Mark or I, and he gets so giggly when we praise him. He can say "mamamama," and do 'clicks' on demand. He is pretty darn stinking cute when he watches you click with your mouth and then follows. I also love love love the way he will move his head and body to find something or someone that has caught his interest. My sweet boy is growing too fast.

As for me, I have been getting into a few books lately, and have enjoyed reading when I have quiet time. (which hardly ever happens before 8pm.) I am reading the Circle Series by Ted Dekker, and also 'The Power of a Praying Parent' by Stormie Omartian.

The Circle Series is not my favorite, honestly, and I am only on book one, 'Black'. I am going to finish it, and then try and get the new book, 'Plan B.'

And, I am reading 'The Power of a Praying Parent' with a group of moms that I meet up with on Wednesday mornings for playdates. So far, this book has been eye-opening in my prayer life for my children. We are only on chapters 5 and 6, but we have had some good discussion about intercessory prayer for not only our children, but also in our marriages. Funny how it all works together. God has given me the gift of Lauren and Caleb, so I will pray for them, present and future... through hardships now and down the road, for not only love and acceptance, but compassion and a heart that will follow after His Will (even when they are stinkers.)

(this is for you.. Julie)

Today my baby turns 9 months old. He is such a sweet boy and so easy going. Well, unless you are feeding him too slowly.. and then.. well, watch out, or rather, put in earplugs. We go tomorrow for his 9 month checkup, so we will see how he is growing. He is a tall baby and is mainly in 12 month clothes. (almost 18 month for rompers) He has 4 big teeth, two top and two bottom, and is currently drooling enough to make a small river in his room, so I think he is working on some more. I also make Caleb's baby food, again, thanks Julie for the book recommendation, and it is going great. With Lauren, I made her food until I didn't know how... like squash.. well, because I don't know how to cook squash, but with Caleb.. I am impressed with myself. He loves carrots, peas, sweet potato and applesauce. He likes peas, peaches, squash, pears, green beans, asparagus, zucchini, potato, and bananas. And, I have a blueberry and turkey puree waiting for him this week.

My sweet, still boy has also started army crawling over this past week and our lives will never be the same. He was getting really good at rolling everywhere he needed, but now, he can go forward.. slowly, but steady. I used to be able to put him in his room with some toys and leave him for a good amount of time while doing other things around the house... but now, he comes out of the room, towards the books, towards everything that I am not ready for him to get into.

But, that is just my little boy.

Lauren Lou is getting to be such a big girl these days. She loves her little brother, unless he is trying to get what she is playing with, or coloring. She will run into his room, grab a handful of toys, and bring them to him so he will leave her stuff alone. Pretty mature of her, right? She is playing soccer now, and when I say playing, I mean it loosely. She has a friend on the team, and neither of them are very interested in the game. AND, get this... Our coaches decided that our team wasn't "getting it," so they added a Friday night practice. That means practice twice a week, and a game on Saturday. We have decided, for our family, that Friday is optional. I mean, seriously?? If she loved it and wanted to play, and was excited about practice, then we would definitely go on Friday, but she doesn't, so we don't.. most of the time.

Mark and I are doing well. We have been blessed with two great sleeping children, and count ourselves lucky since we both love to sleep. When we have free time, we have really enjoyed being outside in this nice weather. Mark has made a few raised garden beds and a trellis, and have started our own herb garden. It's been nice "going green" with our family, and Lauren definitely has a green thumb like her Daddy.

AND, finally.. GLEE is back on!!!! Sue Sylvester.. you are one offensive cheerleading coach, but, shame on me.. I LOVE YOU!!! Welcome back!