Why do we buy those fancy walking toys...

...when a chair will clearly do???

One Year At Home

Kaleb came home from the hospital exactly one year ago today. It was a wonderful day for our family....an answer to our prayers. I found this video on the computer earlier today, and it brought tears to my eyes. Anyway, I thought I'd share it--not to make you cry, but to make you smile. What a tiny little boy he was!!! It's amazing how much he had to struggle to open his eyes and now, just 12 months later, he's almost walking!

End of Summer Pool Days

We have been trying to spend as much time as possible at the pool while it's still open. We are lucky enough to live in a neighborhood with a waterpark! It has big slides for the adults, a splash park area, and a little kids' pool complete with slides and fountains. Sunday is the last day of the swimming season, and we are sad about that. Kaleb loves playing in the fountains and splash area, but he's a little confused about the (baby) slides. He doesn't seem to think they are fun. Oh well, I'm sure he will next summer! He enjoys the baby pool, though, because when he's in his crab float, he can "walk" around. He's very proud of himself.

First Year Stats

As we all know, Kaleb started out rather tiny. I went back through his files and made a list of all of his doctor recorded weights (just for fun) and thought I'd share them with you!

September 3, 2008: BIRTH day
4 lbs. 1.6 oz.
17" long

September 25, 2008: First doctor's appointment outside of the NICU, 3 weeks old
5 lbs. 8.5 oz. (25th percentile on the premature infant growth charts)
19 1/2" long (25%)
13 1/4" head size (10%)

October 20, 2008: 6 week check-up
8 lbs. 2 oz. (5th percentile on the full-term infant growth charts from here on out)
20 1/2" long (5%)
14 1/4" head size (5%)

January 5, 2009: 4 month check-up
14 lbs. 9 oz. (50%)
24 1/4" long (25%)
16 1/4" head size (15%)

March 3, 2009: 6 month check-up
18 lbs. 12 oz. (75%)
27" long (75%)
17 1/2" head size (75%)

June 15, 2009: 9 month check-up
23 lbs. 15 oz. (92%)
29" long (75%)
18 3/8" head size (75%)

September 10, 2009: 12 month check-up
24 lbs. 6 oz. (75%)
31" long (85%)
18 3/4" head size (80%)

Sorry for the lack of pictures in this post...we need to take some new ones!

Birthday Party!

Riding his new horse with Nanny!

Swim time fun with friends!

Yummy....cupcakes!

Kaleb picked up the bowl and just started licking the ice cream until it just about slid out of the bowl and down his neck! We didn't see his face for a couple of minutes. :)

In his new wagon surrounded by presents (and wearing his new backpack)!

Chewing on part of his new "little people" farm.

And finally....making his getaway from too much cake, ice cream, and fun!!!

Birthday Dinner

Kaleb's favorite foods: scrambled eggs with cheese and a banana!

Thanks, daddy, for making me an ice cream sandwich!

Kaleb found the ice cream sandwich funny. Shocking.

A big mess!

And to top it all off....formula, whole milk, and LITTLE bit of chocolate syrup!

Birthday Presents!

For Kaleb's birthday, we got him the All-Sports Climber. It has a rock wall, a slide, a basketball hoop, a soccer goal, and a football goal. We also got him a bag of ball pit balls to put in his old swimming pool. He absolutely loves these toys, especially when we put the swimming pool of balls at the bottom of the slide. He went down head first the first time we let him try it alone!

One Year Ago...

Those beautiful blue eyes!

Scrawny little arms.

Look how tiny his fingers were!

What a pout!

A year ago today, Kaleb was born! He has gone from a bruised little baby to a boisterous little boy in just one year! He is such a blessing.