Baby Caleb. So what's he like? He's a cross between how Jacob and Joshua as they were as new babies. Jacob had all these gut issues - from the top down - reflux, colitis, and he was colicky. Joshua also had reflux, but not colitis. And one of my main memories (I've blocked most of that time out!) of Joshua as a new baby was that his face would be beet red and he would scream bloody murder, ESPECIALLY during car rides. He hated his carseat, and hated car rides. He would scream bloody murder until he vomited all over himself and his carseat. It was so very much fun going places (sarcasm inserted). Well Mr. Caleb, aka, Joshie Jr, aka Howler Monkey, is following in big brother's footsteps (and forgive me, Caleb, if you go on to read this one day. Let's just say your momma hopes you go on to father a baby just like you). I love my little man dearly, but it's been a wee bit on the stressful side. When little Caleb winds up we all cower!

On the bright side of things, he can be a huge flirty bird, and again, like his brother Joshua was as a baby, when he's in full flirt mode, he likes to stick his tongue out at you. He smiles, he chatters. When he's in flirt mode we all eat him up, especially his big sisters.

Caleb was born on the last day of summer, so we figure he will be a fall baby on some years. And we've decided to have 2 sets of birthdays each year: springtime (Rachael, Abigail & Jacob) and falltime (Caleb, Joshua, and Daniel). For our fall birthdays we really went all out. A lady from church had brought us dinner, and was nice enough to include cupcakes for the kids. I looked around the table, saw all the kids with a cupcake, and thought "THIS is an opportunity!" I started singing "Happy Birthday" to Caleb, Joshua & Daniel, and called it good. If that wasn't enough, the kids went to 2 (free) Halloween parties.. There ya go!! A redneck birthday party!

And I don't want to end without mentioning Jacob's first Special Olympics bowling tournment. It was last Wednesday (the 29th). Me and my sidekick, Caleb, went to cheer on Jacob. It was great. The crowd cheered everytime one of the kids made a strike. Everyone danced to the music playing. The volunteers were so nice and enthusiastic. I started crying at one point - I'm just so proud of my (big) baby boy, and all he's accomplished, what with all he's been dealt with in life. It makes my heart happy during moments like that. Anyway, Jacob looked over, saw me crying, then burst into tears himself! Poor guy! Here are some pictures of the tourney.