Christmas Week

Whew! What a week!!! As it is every year, Christmas week was very busy this year. It is always so much fun, but once it is over with, we are exhausted.

Tuesday evening we had our friends Katie, Brad, Aidan and Addison over for a pre-Christmas dinner. Aidan and Addison are twins that are 3 months older than Caleb. Here is a picture of Caleb and Aidan in Caleb's crib.



Christmas festivities for us began at lunch Christmas Eve. We met all (well, most of) Michael's cousins, aunts and uncles at The Brickery in Roswell for the annual Christmas lunch. It is always so much fun, and the family has gotten bigger and bigger each year. This year we added 3 babies!!!

Once lunch was over, we had enough time to run by Target (BIG BIG MISTAKE), get home and change clothes for church. This year we had EVERYONE from BOTH of our families at church with us. It was great! We took up 2 full rows. :)

From church we went to the Camuso Christmas at my Aunt Donna's. All of my aunts, uncles and cousins were there. We had a great time, and Caleb was able to see his cousin Owen again. Owen is his cousin that is 4 days older than Caleb and out weighs him by 4 pounds!!! He makes Caleb look like a shrimp.

Christmas Day we hit the road running. First we went to The Anderson's for presents and lunch. After lunch and a game or 2 of guitar hero we were off to my brother's house to do presents and hang out with them. Between The Anderson's and going to see my family we stopped by our house to unload some things. The plan was for Michael to run in and out, and I was going to stay in the car with Caleb since he was sleeping. Well, after sitting in the car for 10 minutes and Michael hadn't come back out I went in to get him. When I got inside Michael was standing there holding the Christmas tree. Buddy the cat had tried to climb the tree and knocked the WHOLE THING down. Ornaments, water, needles went everywhere. It was a COMPLETE mess to say the least. Just a little more excitement to add to the day....

All in all it was a great 1st Christmas for Caleb. We are sure next year will be even more fun!!

my cousin, Margie....

Our Christmas week did not start off that well...Monday afternoon I found out that my cousin, Margie, had died. While sleeping she had a seizure and either fell out of the bed and hit her head, and/or had a heart attack. They aren't sure. Her whole life she has suffered from chronic seizures, never being truly diagnosed. My whole family is in total shock, and no one knows what to think or say. Margie had a 17 year old son, Harrison, who lost his best friend less than a week ago. He is in so much pain right now; it is unimaginable. It is never a "good" time to loose a loved one, but days before Christmas is so hard. I can't imagine what Christmas Day will be like for her mom and dad. Margie's funeral will be Saturday morning at 11AM in Tucker. Please pray for my family, especially Harrison.

Pictures

All sorts of things....

On Sunday afternoon we dropped Daddy off at the airport to go to Richmond, Virgina for 4 days for work. Caleb and I were NOT excited about him leaving to say the least!!!! So on Monday night we headed over to Grandmommy and Grandpa's house to spend the night. It was nice to be there and have some help! Tuesday was Grandmommy's 39th (he he) birthday, and Grandpa's birthday was the 12th. So the whole family (minus Michael and my brother, Craig) all went to Provino's for their birthday dinner. Here are the birthday boy and girl....



Tuesday after dinner we went back to Grandmommy's house and it was bath time! My sister was there and gave Caleb his bath. She and Grandmommy thought it would be great fun to give Caleb a Mohawk...you can tell Caleb was not amused....



Thursday Caleb had his 2 month check-up. It is hard for us to believe he has only been here a month. We really don't remember what our life was like before Mr. Man came. Caleb was a perfect baby at the doctor. This was the first time he didn't spray a nurse or the doctor -- YEA!!!! Here were his "stats"...

weight: 11.05 pounds
height: 23.25 inches
head: 15.5 inches

He had only gained a little over 1 pound, which I was and wasn't surprised about. Caleb has been spitting up A LOT. At our last appointment we started him on a new formula because he was so gassy (he is going to love this comment in about 15 years!!). Anyway -- that formula has helped with his gas and fussiness, but the spit-up has been out of control. Some nights we go through 2 pairs of pajamas. Dr. D didn't like his lack of weight gain, so he is having us put 2 teaspoons of cereal in his bottle 2 times a day. He said he thinks this will help with not only the spit-up, but help him put on weight as well. After the appointment we headed to Target to get the cereal and bigger nipples (so it won't clog). So far, so good! He has had a cereal bottle 3 times with minimal spit-up!!!! We'll see how it goes....

Caleb also had to have 4 shots and one oral vaccine; he LOVED the oral one...just licked those lips and kept saying "mmmm!!" The 4 other ones (2 in each leg), he really didn't care for. It was the most pitiful thing I have ever seen. Caleb was laying there happy, talking, kicking when BAM! The nurse shot him. The look on that child's face was priceless...he looked at me, bottom lip out to Texas, with this look that said - MY BEST FRIEND JUST SHOT ME!!!! The nurse was great -- he did all 4 shots quickly and Caleb has 2 band aids to prove it. :) Here are some pics we took...poor baby...




And lastly...do you think Buddy the cat is having jealousy problems with Caleb? And yes, my cat is bigger than my child!! He's on a diet, OK?!?

I'm a dork, I know..

For as long as email and forwards have been going on, I have always been a sucker for these surveys about yourself. It was really bad in college, when I had no worries, and my friends made fun of me. It is sad how some things never change.

10 years ago: I was 16 and a junior at Parkview. I was dating Michael for about 6 months. Little did I know how that would turn out. You could find me at football games, at friends houses, with Michael or working at ACE Hardware. :)

8 years ago: I was a freshman at Georgia Southern. I had just pledged Phi Mu and was loving life. Michael and I were still together. You could find me out with friends, at a band party or out with Michael.


6 years ago: I was a junior at Georgia Southern. I was living in the Phi Mu house having a BLAST!!!!!!!!!!!!! Michael and I were still together (see a pattern?!?!). I had just gotten into the College of Education, and so my life had become consumed with lesson plans.

4 years ago: I was had just graduated from college! YAHOO!!! I had already accepted a job at RD Head to start in the fall teaching first grade. I was engaged to marry Michael.

2 years ago: I was a married woman, a homeowner and loving life.

Caleb is 2 months old!!!

I would like to go ahead and apologize in advance...this is an extremely long blog. I decided to do a few "events" in 1 entry rather than a few. Sorry and happy reading!

On Friday our baby boy turned 2 months old! It is so hard to believe that he has been here for 2 months, however, we don't really remember life before Caleb. So much has changed for our family in the past 2 months, but it seems more complete and how it should have always been. We are loving watching Caleb grow and learn about his surroundings. It truly is a miracle happening before our eyes.

At 2 months of age, Caleb is...
-really "talking" a lot. He loves to talk to himself, the person in front of him, the cat -- any object really. He is a TRUE Camuso!
-loving to look at you and the Christmas lights. Actually...he LOVES the Christmas lights!!
-liking to focus on your face and really listen when someone is talking to him.
-loving bath time and I think would stay in there forever if we would let him.
-loving playing with Daddy -- he can always make him smile and sometimes laugh -- and he loves cuddling with mommy.
-loving to suck on his hands and sometimes this thumb.
-rolling from his back to either side, but not to or from his back to tummy.
-grasping pretty much anything within reach -- hair, collars, noses, skin...
-napping and sleeping like a champ - Praise the Lord for BabyWise!!!!!!!!
-stealing mommy and daddy's heart on a daily basis!!!!

Even though Caleb loves most things life has to offer, I would be a liar if I told you he loves everything. So, at 2 months Caleb is not loving....
-tummy time and thinks it is a great time to sleep.
-being hungry, and will let you know as soon as the urge hits him.

I am sure I have bored you with all of the minor details about my child, but hey -- it's MY blog! :) Here is a picture from Caleb at birth -- in the hospital -- and Caleb at 2 months! I swear it is the same child!!!!!

Caleb hours old...


2 months old and ready for his first Christmas!



Also on Friday Caleb attended his first Christmas party of the season!!! My school had their party Friday afternoon. We spent the earlier part of the day at our friends house where they have 2 5 month old twins (they are 3 months, 9 days older than Mr. Man). It was Katie's birthday (that's the mom) and so we celebrated her special day too! Michael and I are so blessed to have such wonderful friends. We hope that 1 day Caleb is good friends with Aidan and Addison (the twins). Anyway, we didn't have a chance to take a picture of the babies at Katie's house because the entire time we were there 1 of the 3 of them was sleeping -- go figure! But we did get a picture of us with the babies at the school party.

This is a picture of me and Caleb, Katie(center)with Aidan and our crazy friend Terri (far left) with Addison...



As you can imagine as soon as we walked in the door the babies began their journey around the staff. I think at least 15 different people held Caleb. Here are a few..

Caroline and Caleb


One of my teammates, Regina, and Caleb


JoAnn and Caleb


This is me, Lauren and Caroline -- some of my friends at school


This week should be interesting...Michael is in Virgina for business and so Caleb and I are here alone. He will be back Wednesday. So tomorrow Caleb and I are headed to Grandmommy's house!!!!

Guess what Caleb found....

Caleb first "discovered" his hands about a month ago. Well since then he has decided they taste pretty good!. :) The other day I went o check on him during his nap, and this is what I found.

















Yep...Caleb has discovered his THUMB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He was truly enjoying sucking his thumb that I had to video him. If you listen carefully can hear the sucking sounds...too sweet, but not something I want him to continue...





I guess all Caleb wants for Christmas is his thumb, and he got it!!!

From Pops

Jennifer said I should put a post on "her" blog since I don't really keep up with mine other than putting pictures on it. Originally I started this blog back when she got pregnant and then she kind of took it over once Caleb was close to joining us. Caleb is an awesome dude and he can bring a smile to my face at any moment. The best thing he has done was on Sunday. We put him down in the nursery during the service at church and when we went to pick him up, he had the biggest smile on his face when he saw us. It was awesome!

Fatherhood is great, but not easy since I have to leave Caleb every day to go to work. Luckily, I have an amazing wife who is an amazing mom who gets to stay with him all day and take care of him. Jennifer is a great mom and she takes great care of both Caleb and me! We love her!

Here are some of my favorite pictures that we have taken of our little superstar....

Are you a blog stalker?

Yesterday I was told, by my loving husband, that I am a blog stalker. I will admit that I do enjoy reading up on my friends and their adventures. It keeps me up to date with their lives when I can't see them on a daily or weekly basis.

My blog stalking has gotten much worse since I have been on maternity leave. Since I am home everyday for the most part, I check my list of blogs regularly. I get excited when I see a new entry has been made. If you have children, this so called "blog stalking," is much worse. I find myself going to a friends blog, I click on their friends blog, find a friend from high school...and the clicking continues!!!

The other day, as I was reading someone's blog that never knew I was there, I thought to myself, "I wonder who reads my blog?" I thought I knew who read it, and even chatted with them about the newest pictures of Caleb. Then I would be talking to someone who I didn't think knew or cared about the blog, and they would say something like "Oh, I saw on your blog..." Wow, I had no idea.

So I am asking if you too are a blog stalker or a regular reader of my blog, please let me know! Leave a comment! Maybe we can go to Bloggers Anonymous together! :)

Update

Isn't this the most precious reindeer you have ever seen?!? This is Caleb's winter coat. His Grandmommy (my mom) got it for him and he LOVES it!!!! It does make him very snug -- it is an instant sleeping pill!!!

Sorry I haven't updated the blog lately. To be honest, not much has been going on. This past weekend we had a nice, relaxing weekend at home doing Christmas stuff. We got Caleb's first Christmas tree, and he LOVES it! He loves the lights and just stares at them constantly. It is so precious! Also this weekend Michael's parents got Caleb a swing (it was an early Christmas gift) and he LOVES it!!!! He just sits, relaxes and stares at the Christmas lights.

Here are some pics....

just relaxing


looking at the Christmas lights


so sleepy


A few week ago Caleb started smiling, but it was random and not everyday. Well, now is a smiling machine! His favorite things to smile about are the red letters above his changing table and the mirror on his new toy. Here are some pictures of my smiling boy staring at himself. I really wonder what is going through his head....





The first time he saw himself he freaked himself out. It was too funny not to capture...


Today Caleb and I headed over to my cousin Michael's house. His wife, Melinda, gave birth to Owen 4 days before Caleb was born. This was the 2nd time the boys had met. The first time Caleb slept through their visit, and Owen cried. Today was the opposite...Owen slept and Caleb cried. So, needless to say, we didn't get any pictures. Maybe next time!!! We will see Owen Christmas Eve and we are hoping they are both awake and happy!!!

Merry Christmas (a few weeks early)

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? wrapping paper unless it is too big

2. Real tree or Artificial? real tree

3. When do you put up the tree? The first weekend in December...we are doing that today!!!!

4. When do you take the tree down? Before New Years - my grandmommy told me that it was bad luck to leave it up past the new year

5. Do you like eggnog? yuck - no

6. Favorite gift received as a child? my American Girl dolls

7. Hardest person to buy for? my brother and father-in-law

8. Easiest person to buy for? my mom, my sister and Michael

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes...we are in the process of collecting all of the pieces

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? mail - with pictures and a letter

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I can't think of one....

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? A Christmas Story - hands down...it's a family tradition. My whole family watches it and my dad tells the same stupid story every year...it never gets old!

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? before Thanksgiving a little, but mom and I always go out at the crack of dawn the day after Thanksgiving

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? not Christmas presents

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? my mom's stuffing

16. Lights on the tree? white lights

17. Favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night and Santa Claus is coming to town

18. Travel at Christmas or stay at home? stay home and go to our parents houses (they live 20 min from us)

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen. Comet and Cupid and Donder and Blitzen. But do you recall the most famous reindeer of all...Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer!!!!!!!!!!!!

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? angel

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Since Michael and I have been together (10 years!!) we have always opened 1 gift on Christmas Eve and the rest on Christmas Day.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? people without Christmas spirit

23. What theme or color are you using? Well, I would use red and green, but I can't figure out how to change it!!!!!!!!!!!! I guess I am not as computer savvy as I thought I was!!!!

24. Favorite food for Christmas dinner? my mom's stuffing

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? I am so excited about Caleb's first Christmas even though he will probably sleep through it. I am just wanting clothes, perfume and time with my new family


Happy Holidays!!!

My "other" kids meet Caleb

Today I went to my school to pick up a Christmas present I had ordered. I hadn't planned on staying very long, but if any of you are teachers or know the teachers at my school, you know they like to talk and they LOVE babies! It was good to see some friends at school and show off our little man. :)

This was the 2nd time I had been to the school since Caleb was born. The first time I was taking care of some insurance stuff and didn't go see my "other children." Well, today the ladies at school made me feel guilty for not seeing them last time and not planning on seeing them this time. Well, you can guess that I caved and went and saw them. The secretary went down with me and went in first. She told the kids that she had a surprise for them and they all thought it was Santa. I walked in and they went nuts! They all started screaming and ran towards me with their arms open. It did make me feel really good, and I was so glad I went to see them.

As you can imagine, they all wanted to see/meet Caleb. I tired to explain to them that he isn't strong enough to meet them because of their germs. Anyway, we ended up taking the whole class to the front and they looked at him through the glass windows in the front office. They were all in awe of the baby. At one point Caleb sneezed and one of the kids said, totally shocked and questioning..."He sneezes?!?!" Too funny!!! I love the innocence of 6 and 7 year olds!

Here are some pics the secretary sent me...they were taken with her cell phone, so they aren't the best, but you get the idea!

We Elfed Ourselves!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

I have to brag...

In the past year, Michael has taken on a new hobby...photography. If I do say so myself, he is pretty good!!! Especially for someone who has taught himself, and has never had a professional help or teach him anything. Anyway, I wanted to post some pictures he has taken recently, and take a minute to brag on my husband!!!







My sister's Christmas card picture...


Michaels cousin's Christmas card




Those are just a few, and some of my favorites! Just wanted to share and brag for a minute!!!

Gobble, Gobble, Gobble 'til you Waddle, Waddle, Waddle

I hope everyone (all 5 of you that read this) had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Our first Thanksgiving with Caleb was great. Michael was home with us all week, and we had a great time. We had lots of family time -- time we all needed!

On Thursday we went to Michael's parents house in the morning to see them. Caleb was passed all around and loved on. He loved it, and isn't spoiled AT ALL!!!! After that we went to my parents house for lunch. We stayed there, ate and watched football for the rest of the afternoon. Caleb had a great time there as well - he was passed and loved on more...

Caleb with his Granddad and Grandmother


Caleb on one of my baby blankets at my parents house


Friday morning I got up at the crack of dawn (literally) and went shopping at the Mall of Georgia with my mom and sister-in-law, while Michael stayed home with Caleb. We were at the mall at 5:45AM!!! It is a tradition with us, and we got some amazing deals! When I got home, Michael was worn out...Caleb had made him earn his "daddy status." I think they were both ready for me to be home! :) That afternoon the 3 of us went BACK out and did a little more shopping. All in all it was a great day...shopping and time with 2 of my favorite boys! :)

Saturday was a sad, sad day. Michael and I went to Athens for the game. I was so excited because I had been trying to get tickets for Michael for a few months (he had no clue) because he had never been to a UGA/GT game. **For those of you who don't know, before Michael and I started dating he was a HUGE GT fan....I like to say I showed him the better side of GA!** Anyway - we should have known to stay home when we saw the weather. The forecast was COLD and RAINY...aka: MISERABLE. Anyway - we got to Athens, had great seats and UGA dominated the first half. The second half is a different story....UGA chose not to play anymore and lost to GT for the first time in 8 years 45-42.

The Anderson family before we left Lilburn...all in UGA red....


Caleb didn't want us to go (ha ha -- actually, he didn't like his hood)



Here are a few pictures from the game...notice the last picture we took was of the dawgs coming out for the 2nd half. The rest of the game was not worth photographing....



honoring Larry Munson...that was really neat....