Horror Story

The missionaries were doing their laundry at our house this past p-day. Caleb had just started eating when they came in, so I am sitting on the couch, with a blanket over me so I can be as discreet as possible. Suddenly Caleb starts coughing pretty hard. With the missionaries right in front of me, I desperately try to cover myself up while at the same time get Caleb to an upright position. In the middle of this futile effort, Caleb begin spewing milk all over me. It was gushing out of his mouth like a fountain, and rushing out of his nose. I have no idea how well I was able to cover myself in this whole process. So there they are, standing around-- with a new mom and a child who is now screaming and dripping wet-- looking at me as though they have just seen an exorcism. I think I scarred them for life.

Short and, well... Fat

Caleb went to his four month check-up yesterday. Poor kid. He was told he does have a deviated septum, but there is no need to do anything about it at this time. His hernia is still there, the doctor said that she would have liked to see it heal up a bit more, but it's not getting worse so its OK (umbilical hernias are not usually fixed until the child is at least two... sometimes until they are four or five). He has a new vitamin to take and it smells awful. Caleb had to have four shots and he didn't cry at all. Tough kid. He has been a lot more cranky than usual though. He weighs in at 15 1/2 pounds and is 24.5 inches tall. That puts him in the 75th percentile for weight and the 25th for height. The doctor laughed and said, "Someone has some thunder thighs." His head circumference is in the 50th percentile, so the kid is doing just fine.

On a side note... I left Caleb home with Daddy for the first extended period of time last night! I went over to Kay's house for Girls Night Out. Both survived and will have many stories to tell later, I'm sure.

PA Primary

I'm sure that all of you who actually live in PA are totally sick of the primary elections already (I know that I have been called at least four times a day from various campaigns over the past week). That being said... GET OUT AND VOTE! You can check out who will be on the ballot (so that you can be an informed voter) by clicking here. Enter your address, zip code and political party and it will give you a list of all the candidates who will be on the ballot for your area. It will even tell you where to go to vote. Polls are open from 7am-8pm across the state tomorrow (April 22).

I know the Democratic Presidential race has been heavily covered in the news, but even if you are a Republican, it is still important to vote-- since there are candidates for state offices on the ballot. The Presidential race is important, but it's not the only thing that will be decided by your vote.

Hope everyone gets a chance to participate in this primary election!

Oatmeal in Philadelphia

OK... I'll admit, it's not as catchy as Jimmy Buffet's "Cheeseburger in Paradise" but it has potential right? Here are two videos of Caleb attempting to eat his breakfast. I know, I sound ridiculous in the videos-- you can just hit mute.


This is Caleb while eating his breakfast


Caleb after eating his breakfast.

Not the most thrilling videos... but they will be so much fun to show to his girlfriend someday!

So Domestic

Our Relief Society has been making quilts as part of the Quilts for Kids program. I figured it was about time for me to do something domestic, so I offered to make one. I haven't sewn anything since eighth grade "Family and Consumer Science" Class so this was definitely an interesting project.

Here are some pictures documenting the journey:

Peter was so shocked that I was using a sewing machine, he had to take a picture!

Top layer of the quilt

Finished product

Close up!

At first I was pretty embarrassed by how poorly sewn this quilt is, but I have come to the conclusion that a poorly sewn quilt is better than no quilt at all. I'm actually kinda proud of it :) Hopefully the child who receives this quilt will know how much fun I had making it and will be able to enjoy it as well. I don't know that this really qualifies me as being domestic, but I'm surely on my way!

To Suck or Not to Suck

I'm struggling with an age old parenting issue. Caleb has found his thumb. Now I have to decide. Do I fight it? Do I enjoy the peace and quiet? Is it worth the effort to try and dissuade him from sucking his thumb? Or do I just deal with it later? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I'm a Big Boy Now!

Caleb has a little trouble keeping food down. Part of the problem is his acid reflux. Not all babies have completely developed muscles in their esophagus, and the muscle isn't strong enough to keep all the stomach acid where it belongs.

He's becoming a real champ at taking his medicine-- which is impressive, considering it is flavored grape peppermint. (The medicine itself is peppermint flavored and the pharmacy adds grape to make it a little better). I wouldn't take this medicine, and for about a month, Caleb has fought us tooth and nail morning and night when he is due for a dose. But just this past week he has started just taking the medicine. He now gulps it down (all 1.5 mL) without batting an eye. The Zantac has really helped, he doesn't get the heartburn and the discomfort anymore, but he still tends to throw up a lot. The doctor said this is normal, since the Zantac only neutralizes the stomach acid-- it doesn't actually help the muscle in the esophagus, which is what would normally prevent someone from throwing up.

The big news, though, is that he is now eating cereal! Our doctor suggested giving him a small amount of cereal to eat, even though he is only 3 months. Here in the United States, it is recommended that babies start solid food around 4 months, but our pediatrician said that the solid food might "stick" better and help him keep his food down.

He still hasn't figured out how to keep the food in his mouth-- he still sticks his tongue out like he's nursing, but I'm determined to stick with it, even though nursing seems so much easier right now. He's getting used to the high chair, and he now even eats the whole bowl of oatmeal without crying. I just can't believe he's big enough to have solid foods.

But he loves it... I'm not sure how much of it he actually eats-- most of it just gets shoved out of his mouth. But he's learning and it's entertaining in the meantime.

A Cut Above the Rest

Peter has beautiful hair. It's thick and curly, has natural highlights, and best of all-- it can be picked into an incredible 'fro. (Really, you should see it sometime) However, he often gets a little too attached to his hair. This is hardly the longest his hair has been (one time he let it get so long he could pull it from his forehead down past the tip of his nose) but it is getting a bit out of control. I took this picture the day he walked out of the bathroom and said, "I think I need a haircut"

This summer Pete attended Officer Indoctrination School for the Navy and had to cut his hair really really short. When I picked him up from the airport, I almost drove past him because I did not recognize him with short hair. So I have to say, I am a little partial to the long curly locks.

That being said, he is scheduled to have it cut tomorrow. :)

Happy Birthday Uncle Hiram!

Uncle Hiram! When Mommy told me that today was your birthday, I started to sing to you!
Then Mommy made me hold a piece of paper again-- I'm not sure what that's all about.

Anyway, here are some pictures of me wishing you a very Happy Birthday!

This is me singing to you :) I'm still a soprano

I have no idea why Mommy makes me hold this paper, all I want to do it eat it. Yumm.


Well, I wish I could be there to drool on your cake, but maybe next year! Enjoy your special day!

Love, Caleb.

Update

Due to popular demand (OK, actually, only one person mentioned this...) the setting on our "Comments" section has changed. Now anyone can leave a comment, whether a Google member or not.

Caleb's Nemesis

Caleb has a beef. With his mobile. The other night Pete was holding Caleb while looking at the mobile and every time the orange monkey went by, Caleb would squeal and grab it. He would only let go when the mobile finally pulled the monkey out of his hand.
We laughed, and didn't think much of it. However, this morning, while he was in his crib, Caleb started yelling. I went in to check it out and saw that he only yelled when the monkey passed in front of him.

He's a strange kid. I'm still not sure what the monkey did to deserve Caleb's wrath, but the monkey better watch out, Caleb has some wicked nails.

Vendetta against the monkey or not, he is the cutest kid around.

Happy Birthday!

UNCLE TRACY:
I'm sending you Birthday Wishes!

Today is Uncle Tracy's 25th birthday! While Mommy really would like to jump on a plane and say Happy Birthday in person, that's just not possible right now, so I am sending you these birthday wishes myself.

I decided that I wanted a picture of just me--so I tried to destroy the paper.

Then I found that just eating the paper worked well.

Anyway, I wanted to wish you a very Happy Birthday. I'll have Mommy eat a cupcake for you!

Day Trips

One of the best parts of living on the East Coast is the easy access to the many cultural attractions in the area. In Philly we are surrounded by many historical locations right here in the city, but we are also only two hours from Washington DC and New York City.

Last week I went to Ellis Island and Liberty Island with my grandparents (Bala and Papa) and my cousins. Even though I have lived in the East my entire life, I have never been there myself, so it was a great trip! I learned a lot about the history of our country and the way it was established. Caleb had a great day-- he was held the entire time :)

I cannot imagine being an immigrant, coming all the way across the Atlantic in such deplorable conditions, just to get to Ellis Island and go through the long lines and health examinations. I am proud to be an American, and I love this country very much-- I couldn't help but feel for those poor immigrants who were turned away at the country's gate. Families were separated, loved ones died, friends were lost-- all in the hope for a better life.

I hope that in our day we can find room for those who are still seeking a better life in this country. I hope that we can learn from our past, that we can accept that a hundred years from now there will be Americans whose ancestors are those coming to our country now, seeking a better life for their posterity, just as our ancestors came through Ellis Island, seeking a better life for us. I hope that we can support people who make that very terrifying choice to leave all they know, and many people they love, just to come here in search of something for their family. I am so glad that my ancestors were brave enough to make such a treacherous journey; so glad that they were accepted in this country and able to make a better life. I hope that I can, in some small way, help those who are seeking this "American Dream" be they American, Mexican, Asian, European or African.

Sorry to get so hyped about this-- I was just so impressed by what I saw there in NYC--
I hope we live up to the words inscribed on the Statue of Liberty.

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles.
From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!"” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
- Emma Lazarus


Here are some of our pictures from the day!

Can you imagine getting off the boat after all that time and seeing that you were finally here?

View of the City from Ellis Island

Uncle Willy, Audrey Margaret, Kate, Bala, Papa and Hanna and I at the Statue of Liberty

David, Uncle Willy, Bala, Charley, Hanna, Aunt Audrey, Kate, Maggie and Caleb, and Papa

I love this picture! Charley and Bala on Liberty Island

The Statue- it was a beautiful day!

On a Roll

Caleb has been impressing us all with his new talent of rolling over. However, he is rather picky about when he feels it is necessary to share this talent with the world. He mostly saves it for when no one is looking. Stingy kid.

He first started rolling over a few weeks ago (besides the few times he rolled over right after he was born-- those were just freak accidents.) He rolled over once for Daddy. Then he went on a strike and wouldn't roll over when anyone was looking. I set him down on his belly once so that I could go finish dinner and when I turned back around not a minute later, he was already on his back. He looked at me and giggled, almost laughing at the fact that he outsmarted me behind my back.

And so it has gone, for the past few weeks-- he would only roll over when no one was watching. Finally today I had had enough-- I laid him on his belly and stared at him until I saw him perform. It took him long enough, but finally he consented and I got to see him roll over.

Hopefully sometime soon he will let us take a video of it and we can post it for you. Because I know you are all on the edge of your seats, waiting to see Caleb roll over.

Sigh... I'm a little obsessed. Oh well.

Living on the Wild Side

So Pete should probably be the one writing this, but he's a little out of sorts. Not because of the test looming in his near future-- no, he's suffering from side effects. Of cocaine.

I should explain.

Pete has had recurring nose bleeds since he was little. He tells the story of having to call time outs from the out field when he played baseball because blood was gushing down his face... not from the impact of a ball, just because his nose bleeds. I have had to change many a pillowcases because he was woken up with blood all over them. At first, this terrified me. Now, I'm slightly less than annoyed when he asks me for the box of tissues, but only slightly less.

As Pete has been studying for med school, he has found these nose bleeds (which happen a lot more in the winter time) very annoying. He has to lean his head back and hold his notes in the air so that he doesn't bleed on the paper. Finally he had had enough. I made an appointment for him to see an ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) doctor and he went in today.

The doctor dosed him up with some "medicinal" cocaine and wiped some silver nitrate in his nose. The chemical reaction actually "burned" his nose and will hopefully stop his nose from bleeding in the future.

The doctor sent him home with a few warnings. 1) Get some saline nasal spray 2) Get some neosporin and 3) Come back to see me in a month.

Oh yeah...

4) Don't take any drug tests in the near future

PS-
This sounds a lot more dramatic than it really is :) ... the cocaine only numbed his nose and the only real side effect is that he feels like he has a head cold. However, he has decided that cocaine is not the drug of choice for him.

Elephants...

I'm just wondering what legal ground I have to disown my brother... see, my brother Aaron (the crazy adventurous, "let's move to China" brother) just went to Thailand on vacation. Harmless, you may assume. You would be wrong. He rode an elephant. WITHOUT ME.

Now many of you may not be aware of my strange obsession with elephants (not sure how you could miss it, but you may have overlooked this small fact about me). To enlighten you more, "obsession" might be putting it lightly. I have a bracelet made out of an elephant's tail. I have an elephant loofa, elephant book ends, elephant bookmarks, elephant rings, bracelets, necklaces and pins. I have more elephant figurines and stuffed animals that I even have repeats of some of them. We decorated Caleb's room in elephants-- mostly because I had enough paraphernalia to decorate, well, A LOT of rooms.

Have I made my point?

He went and rode an elephant without me. Now, I must say, I have ridden an elephant. But it was an elephant in a theme park and looking back, I'm sure PETA had something to say about having an elephant in a theme park. Aaron rode an elephant in Thailand. Totally cool. Well, it would have been, if he had taken me.

Sigh. All right, I'm done with the tirade. I'm going to cry myself to sleep, green with envy. What was that line? Thou shalt not covet?

Oops.