Caleb's Story: First Time in the Shopping Cart, Relatives Visiting, First 4th of July and First Swim!

Right after we got home from camp meeting, Caleb had another first - his first time riding in the front of the shopping cart instead of staying in his car seat! We were at Trader Joe's and he did quite well! I think he was quite happy with himself and was looking all over the place! That will make it easier for me, because there will be more room in the shopping cart for my food now!

My grandparents came for a visit and got her last Tuesday night. My Nana especially loves Caleb, so she is so happy to be able to spend time with him. Of course, Wednesday she got to spend all day with him, because my mom had him for the day. Here is a cute picture my mom texted me on Wednesday and she titled it "Who are you?" because it looks like Caleb is saying that to Nana. I think it is very cute!

My Dad's cousin Heather and her husband Preston and their two girls, Sierra and Marlee and my dad's 93 year old Uncle Earl also arrived on July 4 for a week and a half. They came last summer and had so much fun they wanted to come back again! On the 4th, we went over to Jeff and Dania's for a cookout/picnic and it was a lot of fun. Dania's brother David and his wife Luba and a couple of their friends are visiting as well and we were excited about that, because we became very close with David and Luba while we were at Walla Walla and we really miss them! I was so happy they got to meet Caleb. Here are a couple of pictures!

The Latimers live right on Lake Wequaquet, so we wanted to have Caleb go in the lake for the first time. We have a little float for him, and so we put him in it and he really loved it! We just floated him around for quite awhile and he was very happy and didn't get cold at all. Here are a few pictures of him in his bathing suit and a picture of his wrinkly foot after he got out!

We had a lovely meal and a lot of fun visiting with everyone. We opted to not go to the fireworks this year because it would be too late and too noisy for Caleb. I was a little sad we weren't going, because we have a really nice place to watch the fireworks. Well, apparently the fog really rolled into the harbor and they couldn't even see the fireworks, so it was a bust, but I guess I didn't miss anything! We stayed home and watched the Boston Pops and heard fireworks outside and Kylie was not impressed and jumped right up on Steve!

Here are a few more pictures from Caleb's first 4th of July!

Last Friday I worked again and everyone enjoyed having Caleb at my mom's house. He was there all day because Rad and Jen went to Martha's Vineyard to celebrate their 5 year anniversary, which was on Sabbath. My mom and dad and all the relatives took Caleb and drove to Chatham last Friday, which is not a quick trip. So, he was in the car seat for quite a while and although he only took a very short 30 minute nap, the reports were that he was soooo good! It is always nice to hear that your child is well behaved! Here are a couple of pictures from Friday!

We had Friday night supper at my parents' house so we could visit and then had to bring Caleb home for an early bedtime since he barely slept all day. That, unfortunately, is becoming more of the norm lately, only because of circumstances. He will usually take at least one 30 minute nap, but sometimes that is it because if he is at Grammy's, it is too hot or they are not in the right environment. He actually does not get real grouchy, so it ends up being ok, but I just hope he doesn't get too used to that! He is way too young to only be sleeping that much during the day. He is sleeping more at home, but sometimes it is still only once a day.

One thing I forgot to mention is that we also put Caleb in the stroller facing forward for the first time last week. Up until now, we have just been putting his car seat in the stroller since it fits in. We decided it was past time to have him go in as a big boy! Here are a few pictures! I think he really liked sitting up and being able to look out. The sunglasses didn't stay on because the earpieces are too long and don't stay on while he is sitting.

Last Sabbath was very, very hot! It was almost unbearable in our church. We stayed in there for awhile and then Caleb needed a nap. Usually I do that in the mother's room, but since it was so hot, I went into the church basement where it was a little cooler. Unfortunately, that meant I didn't hear the sermon, but oh well. We had a very nice potluck even though it was hot. Here are a couple of pictures.

After potluck, we brought Caleb home and gave him a cool bath, because he was so sweaty after being at the hot church! Then we fed him before going on a walk with our church.

Sucking on his big toe like it is his thumb

We went to Chapin Beach in Dennis, which is our favorite beach to go to on Sabbath afternoons, because at low tide, you can walk way out to the water on the sand bars and it is just beautiful. We tried to get Caleb to sleep in the car, because he was very tired, but the trip wasn't long enough, so we had to just give up. I took him in the baby bjorn and at first I had him facing front, but then he got really sleepy and so I turned him around and he leaned against me and finally fell asleep for quite awhile actually. So, I was happy that he at least slept.

Sunday I needed to work, so it was a pretty normal Sunday for us. My parents took the California cousins biking, so Steve and I ended up going out to Olive Garden for lunch with my grandparents and Uncle Earl. Caleb sat in the high chair again and did very well.

Caleb had taken an hour and a half nap in the morning before we went to lunch, so I was happy about that. He ended up taking an hour and 15 minute nap in the afternoon, which is very good for him, so it was a good nap day! Sunday evening, Caleb and I went to my parents for a little while because Deb Dawson and her boys had just arrived for a visit and they had never met Caleb. She was so happy to finally get to meet him!

Monday I worked for awhile in the morning and then fed Caleb and then we went to the grocery store and to Goodwill with Mom and Deb for a few minutes. Caleb had been awake for quite awhile, so I took him home for a nap and he ended up sleeping for 2 hours and 20 minutes! I was shocked, because I don't think he has done that since he was an infant! He is just not a terrific napper! After he woke up, I quickly fed him and then we went to the lake with my mom and Deb and the boys. Caleb enjoyed it very much again!

We went to my parents' house for supper, because Deb was making an Italian meal for us. It was very delicious! Before supper, Caleb sat on the couch with Kyle and Same for a picture and it was so cute because he was completely enamored with Kyle! Sam doesn't like babies, but Kyle does, and it was as if Caleb knew that Kyle would be nice to him and Sam wouldn't, because he kept staring and staring at Kyle. Every once in awhile, he would glance at Sam and then go right back to looking at Kyle. It was hilarious and so cute!

Tuesday my mom had to work, so Jen and I went with my grandparents and Uncle Earl on the duck tour in Hyannis. Neither of us had ever done that, so we thought it would be fun. It was all right, but definitely for tourists and very heavy on the lame jokes. I don't think I would go again, but if I was a tourist, I think it would have been fun.

Yesterday I worked and my mom had Caleb again with the relatives. They didn't do too much, except for go to a couple of thrift stores. Caleb took one 30 minute nap, so I wasn't too excited about that, but he was still happy, so I really can't complain. As I mentioned, my dad's Uncle Earl is 93 and he is so impressed with Caleb and said he is the best baby he has ever seen. Quite a compliment from someone who is 93 and has seen a lot of babies!