The Lubster is ONE

Caleb George Hook is officially a one year old. He's twelve months old. I kind of like the sound of counting his age in months better.

There is something about the year landmark that seems huge. It probably has to do with the fact that a little person goes from this to this in one calendar year...

December 7, 2011

December 7, 2012

I could post a picture of myself on these same days and besides some weight loss, I'd look the exact same ;). It's unbelievable how time takes on a new meaning with little ones, babies especially.

This theme of time going by quickly is the same for parents everywhere. It went by fast during Clara's first year and it has every year since. Yet there is something altogether different about the swiftness of time with a second child, I swear to you (and I'm guessing with a third, fourth, etc.). Maybe it's the distraction of the older child - or the fact that her little life carries on (music classes, preschool, etc) and allows less time to sit and process? Or for me it could be the fact that those first few months were really hard and I kept waiting for us to "round the corner". This corner-rounding happened much later than I thought it would (around month 6 or 7) and I think any time spent looking ahead and hoping for something kind of gets in the way of living in the present moment. Thus the year went by even faster for me, it seemed.

Since we've hit our stride around here lately, I find myself getting sadder that our little baby boy is growing so fast. I adore this stage. Love it. I just don't want to blink and find another year gone by. Sheesh. I know it's just a reminder to savor the moments we have and live each day to the fullest - to the Glory of God! This reminds me of what my dad used to say to me each day growing up, "today is the only March 6, 2001 (insert date here) you'll ever have. Make it the best".

In the spirit of savoring, I want to sit down and document our little man on his first birthday (or around his birthday - I've been cheating by back-scheduling posts), so I can look back and remember him at this exact moment in time.

Here are some things about Caleb George, on his first birthday:
*He is content and laid back (his lack of motivation to be birthed into this world kind of foreshadowed his existence thus far). He just learned to crawl last weekend - literally when we were decorating our Christmas tree (the irony - just in time to worry about ornaments and pulling the tree down). He had quite the extended period of sitting and playing happily (six months!). During that period he loved watching his sister and checking out all the things in his environment - just contentedly, from the seated position. Now that he's getting the hang of moving around, we're starting to see new sides of him emerge!

*He laughs and smiles easily. He has the best belly laugh and it's pretty easy to come by. Clara's favorite tactic: having mommy or daddy swoop him towards her in the air for a mid-air tickle. Mommy's: pretending to eat his fingers or toes. Daddy's: blowing on his belly during diaper changes.

*He eats anything! This is such a welcome change from Clara, let me tell you. I remember periods of time where every meal time was a challenge. Not so with Caleb. He has literally never refused food (turned his head or closed his mouth). There are foods he likes more than others - that we've discovered by placing a variety of finger foods in front of him. But even the foods he won't eat with his fingers he will still eat if we feed him via spoon. It's a bit strange - but I'm not complaining.

*Like his sister, he loves books. He loves the interactive ones especially, like Pat the Bunny and the soft animal fur ones. Like his sister, he adores the book I Love you Through and Through. The bonus for Caleb that Clara never had= he has a three year old sibling to act it out with him (especially the running and walking parts).

*Verbally he's right on target (I think). He copies sounds well and says "mama" and "dada" (I usually only hear the mama's when he's upset in his crib, sadly). He also has a cute "uh uh uh" when he drops something. Otherwise, he hasn't said quite as many words as big sister. This was to be expected of course (and kind of celebrated - we want our kids to be different!). Also not surprisingly, he's most verbal when big sis is at preschool. I have a feeling he might let his sister talk for him here real soon!

*Even though he's been on the move for a shorter amount of time, he's already a bit more mischievous. I don't remember Clara gravitating to outlets and wires and stereos and printers. Calebo is pretty curious about these things - and he's also curious what his mama will do when he pursues them for the tenth time, after being told "no" every time). ;)

*In the category of sleep, he's doing well. He sleeps 11-12 hours at night and naps twice (morning and afternoon). Getting into a daytime sleep cycle took about six months, but I'm happy to say we're there. Or wherever "there" is until he drops his morning nap. It's the thing I love and hate about little ones. They are constantly changing. Of course I love this when we're in a bad place. But then I hate it when we're in a good place.

*One of my favorite things of all - which is so new this time around - is watching the growing relationship between Clara and Caleb. It's pretty amazing to witness. Clara absolutely adores her brother (especially in front of others, when she'll proudly claim, "He's my brother") and really does such a great job looking out for him and setting up his little world with everything he loves. Caleb lights up as soon as she wakes up in the morning. Occasionally Clara confuses him with her dolls and gets disappointed when her brother leaves the elaborate bed/home/school/pool/house she's created for him. And we have certainly had the beginning of sibling squabbles around here (I have a feeling this beginning will continue on for many years, in many forms). But on the whole it is just a huge blessing to watch them interact and love each other.

P.S. It was kind of fun to go back and remember his birth story and also to remember Clara at one. Oh yes, and my thoughts on motherhood after a year with Clara. It's so crazy to think I've been at this full-time mama thing for 3.5 years. What a challenge - and a gift. I truly am blessed beyond measure.