It's official - Deren can never disown Caleb! He's a little mini-Deren!

January has started off pretty busy. To the specialists we go. Last week it was to the developmental neurologist. This coming week to the eye specialist, the g.i. specialist, and an ARD meeting at Rachael's school. Not getting anything done around the house - just running around in my little hamster wheel. ..off to mop the floors or something..

Abby's teacher, Ms. Hoffman (Abby calls her "Hoffman"), sent home a Christmas card. The pic was from the Christmas pageant at the school. The inside of the card said "Thank you for sharing your angel with me." Awwww.. that was the sweetest gift we've received from the years of school. So here's a pic of our angel.

Just catching up a little bit. We had a quiet Christmas and New Years' here at the house. Deren & I took the kids to a kid-themed Christmas Eve service at church. It was great: 1) it was at 5 pm. Yes, midnight candlelight services are special and all, but I've always been one to appreciate an early bedtime (like when the sun sets) and 2) it was short, there were kids making whining, yelling, you name it. Like an episode of cheers.. where everybody knows you (g)ame! Though I think we had the only child, Abby of course, that was running sprints around the altar. Something about that child and church.. she always feels like she needs to get upfront and run laps around the altar. Everytime she goes it I think of the movie Exorcist for some reason..

New Years I was in bed by about 9pm. Had no desire whatsoever to stay up until midnight. Sleep trumps everything these days. ..and on that note I'm missing out on some, so Happy New Years to everyone, and blessings for the new year.

..ugh! I give up with the pictures already!

Abby wearing her Christmas shirt from Grandma

Okay. It's not ACTUALLY a puppy. Daniel loves puppies, and calls all animals puppies at the moment.

It's cold and flu season. We've had a sick kid about every day since Caleb's birth (the morning Caleb was born Jacob was up sick). Gotta love it.

Caleb is still fussy, but is also giving out more smiles and conversation now. I would post pics of him smiling, but I'm having problems posting pics today. No matter how I resize the pic, all you can see are his nostrils - hmph!

..and I still can fit into my maternity clothes (as opposed to my before-maternity clothes) - hmph!

Caleb is a total lap baby. He's passed out on my back at the moment. The first time Deren saw me swing Caleb onto my back to wrap him he started screeching "traumatic brain injury, traumatic brain injury!" Well I was walking with Daniel and Abby, while pushing the "back up" (aka, in case of tantrum) stroller, and nursing Caleb all at the same time. Thought I was THE THING... until I looked up and Daniel was off in the middle of the street. It's amazing how quick a good mommy moment can morph into a bad mommy moment. Keeps ya humble, I guess.

Puppy!!

There's a monkey on my back!

Sidekick Caleb (5 wks) at the Special Olympics

Jacob getting his medal!