I’m writing this entry from our post-partum recovery room, and that can only really mean one thing. Yes, just like Alvin and the Chipmunks, Joshua couldn’t wait for his Christmas due date. He arrived December 13th, 9:28 PM at a pretty standard seven pounds, six ounces – and nineteen and one half inches. His full name is Joshua Boyd Johnson, the middle name coming from my mom’s father — and also from his cousin once removed William Boyd Stogner.
Last night was pretty quick. We were only in the hospital for an hour and a half before Joshua was born. Three hours before he was born we were shopping at Toys R Us.
Caleb is trying to take it all in, but he is warming up to his little brother. He is also growing up in a hurry, spending his first night away from mom and dad since he was born. What fun these two little spies will have as they grow up together.
A few weeks ago Caleb began to do something that I started to do at his age — cross his eyes. Both Jessica and I became a little concerned. No parent wants their child to have a disability or weakness.
After going to the eye doctor, we found out that Caleb is quite farsighted, just like me. (I guess you have to take the bad with good. <grin>) After checking around, we found that we could save a lot of money on the frames and lenses at Costco. We ordered his glasses 10 days ago and waited for glasses to come in.
The glasses came in this week and today we went in to pick them up and to have them adjusted. Initially Caleb did well, making it all around Costco, taking in the enhanced scenery, and most importantly, leaving the glasses on. We were relieved because we had natural reservations about an eighteen month old adapting to his first pair of glasses…
…Three hours later Caleb was adjusting to his second pair of glasses. While in his car seat he pulled of his titanium flexible frames and proceeded to rip them hinge from hinge. Fortunately Costco had an extra frame and treated it as a warranty issue. They had us all patched up in 15 minutes, and as of 8 PM, the second pair is still holding up. Looks like Caleb’s glasses wearing will only be under strict parental supervision for some time.
Caleb is looking more like his dad every day. It is a good thing that frame styles have improved since the 70’s.
It’s been awhile, but Caleb’s caterpillar finally morphed into a huge moth. We knew you guys had been anxiously awaiting the outcome of the life cycle of our little, well maybe not so little, caterpillar- how big would he be, what color would his wings be, what would we name him. Ok, we didn’t name him, but here are a few pictures from that pretty exciting day in the Johnson household.
Welcome to our new Family blog. With the arrival of Joshua in a little less than 7 weeks, we thought we would create a blog titled for the entire family. I can’t believe the last time we posted was a month ago. I guess that means this entry will be a bit long, so we can catch up on all the things Caleb has been doing. Don’t forget to check out the pictures and even a short video below.
Caleb enjoyed carving his first pumpkin. He’s all boy and really enjoyed getting his hands all mushy and dirty and covered with pumpkin guts. He loves being outside and really likes to wade chest deep in to a pile of leaves.
Several weeks ago, Caleb took a trip to the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia with seven of his cousins to see the fall foliage. Caleb watched his dad take off his shoes to wade in to a mountain stream… and followed him in with his shoes on!
While playing outside with dad, Caleb ran around the house, twice! Whether its riding in his wagon, throwing a ball, or just finding dirt, water, and mud, Caleb loves to be outside. When it is time to come back in, Caleb would rather stay outside. He loves the playgrounds at parks and now slides right down the big slides whether or not mom and dad are ready.
For the political season, Caleb had the opportunity to attend a stump speech of Pat McCrory (who didn’t win). He enjoyed watching the helicopter land and take off. The day of the election he spent a couple of hours working the polls with mom. His cute smiles won a few extra votes for the Republicans. He has the makings of a fine politician, right down to the crying and need for constant attention. On election night Caleb watched the early returns from the Salisbury GOP headquarters. He even took a picture with McCain and Palin… OK, so it was their cardboard cut-outs, but it was still cool.
A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachelweeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more. — Matthew 2:18
Today is a day of weeping and mourning in America. As Scripture warns, “the love of money is the root of all sorts of evil.” Americans have watched as hard economic news unfolded. Instead of turning to God, they have turned to government to save them. Even in light of perhaps the most radical pro-abortion candidate that this nation has ever seen, financial worry has trumped social injustice.
May every child of God who for reasons of finance, race, etc. has cast aside the weakest among us find their way to repentance and mercy. It is time for us to repent, weep, and mourn. God will hear us and yet save us.
Is there any doubt that we are living in the last days? Look up… our redemption draws near. (And I am not referring to Barack Obama.)
A couple weekends ago we took Caleb to the Rowan County Fair. He enjoyed eating cotton candy, riding the different rides, and mooing at the cows. I think his favorite ride was the Spinning Teacups. He almost won a bike, but our number was one off from the number called out. There are a few pictures and even a short video of his time at the fair below.
Last Friday evening we attended the Young Republicans meeting. Caleb was the youngest in attendance — except for Joshua — the Republicans at least acknowledge his human rights. He quickly warmed up to the crowd by running to and fro throughout the building. And when asked if he wanted a bite, he decided to share a donut with Ty Cob, a Republican running for the U.S. House of Representatives in our district.
Today he enjoyed an afternoon playing with his cousins at the Children’s Museum in Greensboro. He even played in the cockpit of a plane donated by Timco Aviation, the company where his daddy works. He loved all the different activities and was upset when it was time to go.
Kids are back in school. The political conventions are over and the campaigning is in full swing. (Go McCain — Palin!) The days, though getting shorter have been hot. Just the kind of days where you want to be cooling of in a friends pool or taking a spontaneous trip to Myrtle Beach — and that is what Caleb has been up to.
The day after hurricane Hanna came through the Carolinas, we picked up and headed down to Myrtle Beach for a few end of summer days on the beach. Caleb enjoyed the surf and sun, and even picked up a case of athletes foot from the pool.
We found a large caterpillar in our garage and we moved him to Caleb’s bug box. In a day he had made a cocoon for himself. Now we are anxiously awaiting the metamorphosis. Does anybody know what kind of moth/butterfly we have?
Man, we sure haven’t posted anything in awhile. Our apologies to our many faithful readers. Caleb has been enjoying the summer. He’s been swimming, swinging, sliding, playing in the backyard, going for walks, and catching fireflys.
In the slideshow, you can see Caleb at Dan Nicholas Park. at the Diaz (x3) birthday party at Boune-U, and engaging in his current favorite extreme sport, freestyle climbing. Caleb has a few words that he likes to use all the time. Almost everything is a da-da or bay-bay. He also likes animal noises, makes a pretty good attempt at “hello” and we even heard him say “indeed” once directly after dad said it.
Caleb is doing a pretty good job on the eating front. He ate his first whole corn dog at Cook Out a day ago. He also is learning to go to bed at night without being rocked all the way to sleep. Once he gets drowsy Jessica will put him in his crib and he will doze off listening to his lullaby CD.
We will try to keep the blog updated more as we get closer to the arrival of Caleb’s little brother. Stay tuned…
That’s right folks — just Google for “Caleb Roy Johnson” and our blog comes up in the first slot! I don’t know what else one might expect to come up, but I guess that is at least some notoriety — or an indication that no one sharing your name has achieved notoriety. Now we can sit back and bask in the glow of being on top.
Caleb found out that he is going to have a little brother. It works out nicely so there will be a Caleb and Joshua. Who knows what kind of trouble the two little “spies” will get in to…
Also, here are a few pictures of Caleb from the last month.
