Jingle All The Way for Caleb's Last Day of Daycare

Today was Caleb's last day at Rainbow Station, since we will be moving tomorrow. This is a bittersweet day for me, and I did shed a tear or few. Caleb has been going to the center since he was 6 months old and he turned 17 months old today. Over the past year, he was in the infant and toddler rooms, and he learned and developed so much under his wonderful teachers' care. 

Today was also their Christmas Program, and Caleb's class 'performed,' let me us that term very lightly, Jingle Bell Rock. And as a bonus, Nathan surprised me and came to the program. That totally made my morning to be there with him! It was hilarious, adorable, and so sweet to watch, and I credit all of the teachers for their patience with these cute little kids:). 

Caleb had what I call the lead role...you will see when you watch the video what I mean. He walked out in front of his class like a deer in headlights, and literally stood their most of the song. Pay attention around 1:00 for Caleb performing for the crowd:).

At the end of the song, he spotted Nathan, Ben, and I...and our cameras. He screamed when we took the camera away from him, so this was our picture.

After the program, his sweet teachers asked us to come back to the room to give us some crafts from the year and a gift he made for us. They also made him a great memory book of his friends and activities.

We did not put a Christmas tree up this year since we are moving, then going to Illinois for Christmas next week, but we will be sure to hang Caleb's wreath in our new home as soon as we move in tomorrow! 

His class made him this fantastic poster of his current and former teachers and friends. That was so sweet of them, and we will hang it in his new room so he can remember his teachers and friends at Rainbow Station.

We are really going to miss Rainbow Station, and we are so thankful for the loving, safe, and fun environment they provided for Caleb this past year. 

Ben is two months old!

The past two months with Ben have been wonderful. He is so easy going and just pure sweetness! Ben smiles often, is starting to coo, and he cries when he is hungry or tired. Most of the time he looks around at his surroundings as happy as can be. He likes to kick his legs when he is on the ground, and he enjoys tummy time. He is getting strong and has even rolled from his belly to his back a few times.

Caleb is very interested in his little brother. He likes to kiss Ben on the head, push him in his swing, and rock his car seat. Sometimes he even smacks him on the face, grabs, kicks or tries to sit on him!

Ben is outgrowing many of his 3 month onesies and PJs, but the pants still fit. He is in size 2 diapers, nurses every 2.5 - 3 hours, and he usually gives us a 5 hour stretch of sleep at night. He usually wakes up when Caleb cries to get up early in the morning, but he loves to cuddle and will go back to sleep for a little longer.

Here are the stats from his 2 month appointment today:
Weight: 12lbs - 50th%
Height: 23.25'' - 50th%
Head: 15cm - 25th%

And for fun, here are the stats for Caleb at two months old.

We love you so much Ben, you are such a blessing to our family!

Daddy's home!

Nathan went out of town this past week for work, so it was just the boys, our cat Twix, and I at home. It was the first time I was alone for an extended period of time with them, and I was looking forward to getting the hang of it. On Sunday after Nathan left, we went to the farm to see the animals. It's so much fun because each time we go Caleb discovers new things, or reacts to the animals in the new way. He laughs when he sees them, gets real close to the fence, and then runs away...it is hilarious. This farm is another place I will miss when we go, but Caleb and Ben will be learning about new animals where we are going! 

During the week, I had a plan to be very productive when Caleb was in daycare, to prepare for our small move next week. Let's just say my plan did not work out quite as expected. On Monday midday, Caleb's daycare called and said he had a fever, so I picked him up. I didn't think much of it because he is cutting a couple of teeth and figured I would watch it over the next couple of days. That night his fever got up to almost 104 and stayed high the next day too, so I called the doctor. Turns out the poor little guy had a throat infection, but thankfully not Streph.  My neighbor came over that evening to help because things were a little hectic around here.

The next couple of days, we were all home together. Between caring for Caleb and Ben and sanitizing like crazy so Ben did not get sick, I managed to get a little packing done. Caleb likes to help with everything, here is is packing and unpacking Elmo....for a good 15 minutes!

He loves to pull his alligator around the house, and his new favorite word is 'uh oh.' Check him out in action.

Caleb didn't have much of an appetite the first day at home, and I know he is not feeling well when he turns down mac-n-cheese. I had gone downstairs to get something and when I got back minutes later, this is what I found...

Even though he did not feel well, he still enjoyed going up and down his slide - thanks Grandpa Mark and Grandma Betty for the early Christmas gift!

On Thursday evening, my good friends Heidi and Erin came over for dinner and to see the boys. Caleb had fun with our visitors and he was on the go, go, go until he crashed for bed.

 

Heidi is coming to hang out with Caleb next week while we move, and she will be watching Twix for a couple of weeks for us - thank you, thank you for being such a good friend and helping us!

And this little guy is growing fast, he is a solid boy and so very sweet.

He is getting strong, and he has rolled from his belly to back a few times. He turns 2 months old today! Stay tuned later this week for a blog post, after his 2 month check-up.

Overall it was a good, but tiring week. Even when he is sick, Caleb is so much fun to be with. I am thankful he is feeling better and Ben was so laid back through it all. And best of all, daddy is home and we were all very happy to see him!

Missing The Manassas Battlefield

Next summer our family will be posted abroad for work, and we will be living overseas for the next 2-5 years. We are very excited about this opportunity and are starting with the preparations. We recently decided to move closer to downtown to accommodate our training, and we will be moving in a couple of weeks. Our home is full of boxes, and to be honest, I get somewhat stressed when I think about how much there is to do in the next two weeks, but I know it will all get done.

While we will not be moving abroad for several months, I am starting to get sentimental about moving out of our home, saying goodbye to people we have become friends with over the years, visiting places knowing it will be several years before we return, and enjoying our time here as a family. God has been so faithful to us during this transition, and we are very excited for what He has in store for our family.

To document some of our favorite things we like about Northern Virginia, over the next several months, I will periodically post about places or things that we hold dear. First up,The Manassas Battlefield.

Over the last couple of years, we have visited the Manassas Battlefield for walks, picnics, runs, viewing sunsets, taking family pictures, and showing visitors a bit of Civil War history. Last night, we went there so Nathan could run, and I walked around with the boys. Caleb has been going to the Battlefield since he was a few weeks old, and he is now at the age where he likes to run around and explore. I'm not sure he will remember it being so young, but we have lots of pictures of him enjoying this place.



They say that home is where the heart is, so I know where ever we are, I will be at home.

Serious and Smiley

Mr. Serious

 Mr. Smiley

Happy Thursday!

Thanksgiving Week with All The Randells

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and it is also a tradition for our family to spend it together. Just about every year (except for a couple when I was in college and had finals the Monday after the holiday), we have been together. I have countless things to be thankful for, one of which is my family. My brother flew to VA from CA for the week, which was a nice treat for all of us. Here are some pictures from the week.

Mom and Dad with their newest grandson, Benjamin ;) He's so laid back he slept right through this picture!

Caleb is such a good helper around the house, and he loves to sweep the floor after he makes a huge mess at dinner!

Uncle Aaron at the farm with Caleb. Aaron was great with the boys, and Caleb had lots of fun showing him around all week.

Caleb is such a sweet boy, he loves giving out kisses and he insists they are on the lips!

Fall is just about over, but they still had some pretty pumpkins on display at the farm.

Caleb loves animals and he even got a little 'love peck' on the finger from one of the roosters.

A few of the other days we went to Caleb's favorite playground at the grade school. He is so adventurous and loves to go down the slides and play on the swings.

Grandma took this brave boy down the big slide

And loved on her little boy...he's a little young for the slide.

One of the things we appreciated was grandma waking up with Caleb every morning and letting us (well me, because Nathan had to work) sleep in. Caleb was her morning buddy and they had fun sharing cereal, playing, watching cartoons, reading, and learning new things. Grandma taught Caleb 'How big is Caleb?' He is 'This Big!'

Another day, mom, Aaron, Ben and I went to Warrenton for lunch and to walk around downtown. It was a beautiful day to be outside, and Aaron really enjoyed the small towns after coming from big city Los Angeles.

On Thanksgiving morning, we took family pictures. First up, Grandma and Grandpa with their grandsons.

The kids and grandkids

The Randell Family

My 'big' little brother and I

The Purcell Family 

Caleb needed a hug break after so many pictures.

That afternoon, Tom, Erin, and Jenna joined us for Thanksgiving lunch. We were so glad they could come over and celebrate with us. Every year, my dad cooked the turkey. This year, Aaron took over the honor and dad make side dishes. The entire meal was delicious, and Erin topped it off with her home baked pumpkin and apple pies.

Benjamin smiling at Erin:)

Caleb and Jenna at the playground. He shared his wagon so nicely....I think that means he likes her:). Future wedding?

Then Caleb decided he wanted to get inside his brother's stroller...haha!

That evening, we took Aaron to the Manassas Battlefield to see the sunset, and Nathan filled him in on some Civil War history.

We were thankful my family could come to visit. We enjoyed spending time with them, and we really appreciated their help with the boys, doing our laundry and dishes, cooking, and for my dad painting Caleb's room. I know they will miss the boys (and us), and we will look forward to seeing them again soon, we love you!