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 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.
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.
Here is the long awaited surf video of Caleb’s first beach vacation. As you can see, he looks like The Hoff bounding in to the surf. Now if he just had some bright red/orange trunks… maybe next year.
Caleb just returned from his first time vacationing at the beach. He loved it! The first day he was a little unsure about the water, but he quickly warmed up to it. Before we knew it, Caleb was running in and out of the waves and digging and rolling around in the sand. He always made time to give the older ladies on the beach a big grin and follow them for about 10 feet before running back to the surf. We couldn’t even take just a walk on the beach because Caleb wanted to play in the water. He also enjoyed having Daddy take him out in the big waves. We’re still trying to get all the sand off him.
He played with his cousins Hoyt, Aiden, and Meia, merrily alternating between chaser and chased as the three boys marauded through the bedrooms in our hotel suite. It could have just been SPF 9645 sunblock he was wearing, but he seems to be quite a bit more tolerant of the sunshine than his dad. Besides the beach and the pool, Caleb spent one afternoon with his cousins at Barefoot Landing.
Here are a few pictures from the beach and last month. Watch for video soon.
This is just a quick update to let everyone know that we had our first “sibbie” sighting today. Jessica is just over nine weeks pregnant, placing the due date for sibbie on [cue sleigh bells] December 25th! Sibbie was flailing its arm and leg sprouts, swimming around wildly for the ultrasound. This led Jessica to dub sibbie “flipper.”
