My Dress Is Here

As you might know, I am going to be the Matron of Honor in my little sisters wedding in August. (I know Matron sound like I am an old maid). Well, my dress came in the mail yesterday. I tried it on and it looks great. I am really excited for the big day (I love weddings).

Here is a picture of the dress (obviously I am not the model wearing the dress).

Sleep Training is NOT for the Weak At Heart

So, Braden and I have embarked on the task of "sleep training" (better known as listening to Caleb scream himself to sleep at night).
I KNOW, we are really late in doing this but I have to admit that I was not ready for this stage yet (I am still not ready). I have always enjoyed the bonding time I have with Caleb each night as he snuggles close to me while I rock him and read a book, sing some lullabys, drink a bottle, and he falls asleep. I KNOW, I should not have ever started this trend but I did and now I am paying the price of having to listen to my baby scream himself to sleep.
So, I don't have the heart to take the bottle and the rocking him to sleep away at the same time.

Night 1: Sunday, May 9th
We started with giving him a bottle and then I put him down in his crib still awake. He fussed a little and I just patted his back and told him I loved him and would see him in the morning. He was ok until I reached the door then he started to scream. I left the room and wanted to cry myself. I went back in about 5 minutes later and he looked at me like I was a horrible mommy for leaving him. I picked him up, comforted him, and then put him back down. He was ok until I reached the door then he started to scream. I left the room and wanted to cry myself. I waited another 10 minutes and repeated the routine.
[NOTE** While I am doing this, Braden is on the computer researching how to get your 1 year old to sleep]
Finally, I can't take it anymore so Braden takes a turn. With the same outcome - - screaming hysterically. But this time we let him cry-it-out and I try to occupy my time with doing laundry and cleaning up. It took about 20 minutes but Caleb finally started to give in and fall asleep.

Night 2: Monday, May 10th
We gave Caleb a nice warm bath. Then we got him ready for bed while I made up some fun night time songs. Then we gave Caleb his bottle, I read "Goodnight Moon", rang him his favorite song of "Hush Little Baby," and I put him down. With no hesitation, he started screaming. I told him I loved him and would see him in the morning. I left the room, started my stopwatch on my phone, and was going to wait 15 minutes before going in. But, we never made it to 15 minutes because he gave in and fell asleep somewhere around 14 minutes.

We are praying for less of a struggle tonight. Hopefully this will be as easy as "training" Caleb to sleep through the night.

Painting Fun

Last weekend Caleb wanted to make his PaPa a "Get Well Soon" sign to hang at home so he will feel better each time he saw his sign. So, we stripped Caleb down to his diaper and let him go to town on the sign. It was a big mess but I know Caleb loved it and so did PaPa.

Don't eat the paint!!

After painting, Mommy scrubbed Caleb clean.

Fun With A Little Boy

Last weekend Braden was working in the yard so Caleb and I went outside to keep him company and swing.

After Caleb's nap he wanted to walk around with no pants on.

Silly boy!

Caleb loved to watch Braden plant flowers in our flower box outside the window.

Such a cute little hiney!

Saturday evening The Howell Trio went over to some friends house, The Slades, for dinner.

Caleb had a great time playing with his friend James.

Like Father, Like Son

We were having our house painted on Monday. When we got home from work/school the house smelled so bad that I had to feed Caleb in the garage.

First we had Black Beans.

Then we had applesauce.

Then Caleb wanted to show me how he was a Big Boy and could feed himself.

Just Precious!

I took these two pictures in honor of my clean freak bro-in-law (better known as Unc Unc).

Caleb would not put down the dust buster!

Every day that I wear my sunglasses, Caleb likes to take them off my face and try to wear them himself. So, I finally remembered to put Caleb's glasses in the car for him to wear on sunny days too.

Tired Baby

Missing One Sock, But has those sunglasses in hand

In the Dog House

Yesterday we bought Lexi a new dog bed. I threw away her old bed and cleaned out her cage. Before I could get the new bed and blanket in the cage, this is what I found [thank goodness it was clean].

Caleb Does NOT Like To Wear Sock/Shoes

Caleb and I have a battle each and every day. I put his socks and shoes on - then he proceeds to take them off. This picture is of me telling Caleb to leave his sock on and Caleb fussing because he wants to take his sock off.

Needless to say, by the time we got home, both socks and shoes were off.

I have learned to pick my battles with this little man.

My Little Trouble Maker

Caleb is at the age/stage where you can not turn your back for one minute or he is causing trouble. This morning I was doing my hair and Caleb was going through my drawers. Then he got quiet and I realized he had moved over toward the shower. When I turned around ... this is what I saw.

He is SO cute so I couldn't get mad. But I made him help me roll some of it back up so it was not all wasted. Caleb is a handful but I LOVE HIM!