Date Night

We had our first family date night since Caleb was born. Other than the baseball game a couple of weeks ago, we have not really gone out just to hang out. Whatshername had given Mom some shoppoing money, so we decided to head out to the mall tonight so Mom could do her shopping. I met Mom and Caleb at the mall on the way home from work. We started out by having dinner in the food court. I sat Caleb on the table in the crook of my arm so he could look around while we ate. I had my arm across his chest and Caleb started chewing/sucking on my wrist. He chews and sucks on things a lot and he drools. A LOT! It seems early, but Mom wonders if he is going to get teeth early.

After our dinner, we headed into the mall to one of Mom's favorite stores. Caleb and I sat out in the mall while Mom shoppe; Caleb in the stroller and I in a nice comfy chair I found. Caleb enjoyed watching all
that was going on around him. He kicked and gurgled while I read email on my cell phone. After a while, Caleb started getting fussy, so I got him out of the stroller and we headed into the store to find Mom. Mom was in the changing room trying on clothes. While she did that, I was able to rock Caleb to sleep. The timing was perfect as Mom wrapped up her purchase as Caleb settled back into the stroller for a short nap. We headed back down to the food court for something sweet. We took one short lap around the mall and Caleb woke up hungry. After a short snack, we packed Caleb up and headed home.

It was good to get out of the house tonight. As Caleb gets a little older, we are looking forward to being able to leave the house on a more regular basis. We are also looking forward to Caleb being old enough for a sitter so Mom and Dad can have some date nights.

Peek-A-Boo

Here's a picture of Caleb looking around the corner of Mom's desk at work. Mom said that he is starting to adapt to this new routine. Caleb had a very good day at work with Mom and she was able to get a lot of work done while he played on his blanket or in his bouncy seat.

Not a Talisman

Well, when Caleb was born, I had high hopes that he would be a good luck charm when it comes to my sports teams. It seemed to be working. The Lakers ended up getting the number one seed in their conference and they breezed through the conference championship. On the other hand, the University of Miami baseball team was ranked #1 just about all year. They earned the number one seed in the NCAA baseball tournament and had made it to the College World Series. Both teams stood on the precipice of my theory coming true for not one, but two of my teams.

Well, that all came crashing down this week. Last Thursday while we were in Naples, the Lakers blew a 24 point lead, one of the largest blown leads in the history of the NBA Finals. They finished things off last night be getting blown out by almost 40 which I think is the worst point differential in an elimination game in the history of the NBA Finals.

Not to be outdone, the UM baseball team opened the College World Series Saturday by blowing a lead in the ninth inning. Miami barely survived an elimination game against Florida State despite their number one draft pick closer having one of his worst innings ever.

Oh well. Caleb may not be my lucky charm, but he is awful cute, isn't he? He's also one of my favorite people. So I guess I won't complain too much. Besides, he's still got a good shot at being the good luck charm in a Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl run this fall.

Tidbits

Tuesday, June 17
Caleb continues to work on his ability to push up and look around from a stomach down position. He is getting stronger and stronger.

Tonight we went out to eat before our Tuesday night bible study. Mom usually feeds Caleb while we wait for our food arrive. Tonight, we got a big kick out of him propping his foot up on the table while he ate.

We've only been giving Caleb a pacifier for a little over a week now. He has a hard time holding the pacifier in his mouth when he's not actually sucking on it. After the bible study, we drove to my office to get something I forgot. On the way over there, Caleb was getting tired and fussy, so I gave him a pacifier. Normally, I have to hold a finger in front of the pacifier to keep him from dropping it. He had fallen asleep and was holding on to it pretty well when Mom dropped me off at the restaurant to get my car. Apparently it was still in his mouth when Caleb and Mom got home. His ability to hold on to it that long without assistance seems to be another small first.

Seats of Honor

As I mentioned yesterday, I put together a new swing for Mom's office. Today was her first opportunity to make use of it. I have been looking forward to see how it is going to work because the swing here at the house has magic powers in its ability to calm Caleb and lull him to sleep. I hope the new swing will have the same superpowers.

Mom tried it out intially today, and Caleb seemed immune to its power. But Mom was eventually able to get Caleb to sleep in the swing. I messed up though. I followed the directions precisely. For some reason, the directions had me attach the tray to the seat before I completed the frame and base. Mom suggested I not add the tray, but I am a literalist when it comes to following directions as I perform the required assembly. She was right. I could have waited on the tray, and now it is in place and I'm not sure I can get it off. As you can see, the tray is pretty bulky. Hopefully it won't bother him, but I am worried it is going to constrict his movement.

Of course, Caleb also has a bouncy seat at Mom's office. It's a wonder mom has been able to keep her desk in her office with all of the necessities required to take care of Caleb during the day. But she manages. The bouncy seat has an arch with some toys attached to it. It's not completely clear in the picture, but Caleb is intently staring at the toys in front of him. He is working on his ability to focus on inanimate objects directly in front of him. The problem is, he goes a little cross eyed if the object is too close to his face.

Well, Caleb has recently discovered his hands, or more precisely, his fists. He often stares at his fists. Because his arms are short, he holds his fist close to his face. The short distance makes him go cross-eyed. The short distance also proves to lead to another problem. Although Caleb is aware of his fists, I'm pretty sure that he has not figured out that his fists are attached to his arms which are in turn attached to his body. He also has not mastered control of his limbs yet. So, holding his fist right in front of his face has led him to smack himself in the face numerous times. On the one hand, I feel bad when he smacks himself. On the other hand, it's pretty darn funny.

Father's Day

The first order of business is to wish a happy Father's Day to all the dads out there.

Of course today was my first Father's Day as a father. I got to spend the day with Caleb and Mom and that's all I can ask for. However, many people made a special effort to wish me a happy Father's Day on my first one. It was very special for people I care about to make me feel so loved today. Mom made a special effort to make sure this day was meaningful and I am truly grateful to her for that. But to me, and I know this will soundy really cheesy, but it's true, every day with Caleb is special. It is a tremendous blessing to be a father. That little boys is so sweet and cute and he has captured my heart. I love to listen to him, I love to watch him and I love to hold him. If this day had never been created, or we did not acknowledge it, I would still think, to borrow a phrase from Lou Gehrig, that I am the luckiest man on the face of the earth.

Of course, this day began pretty early in Naples. We left in time to be at worship here in Miami. Caleb did much better than Friday night and slept all the way to the church building. After worship, we had a nice lunch with friends from church. In the afternoon, I got a taste of what it must be like to be Santa Claus as we went over to Mom's office so that I could put together a new baby swing which was given to Mom for her to use this summer. We spent the eveing with our life group before coming home and getting ready to face another workweek.

This picture of Caleb is not of anything significant. I just wanted to show off some new pajamas he has been wearing and the dog on his rear end.