Life seems extraordinarily busy these days, which often times for me means a very busy mind. A mind divided by work and family, projects and events, from what seems like morning to sundown. This month I have several side projects I’ve committed to doing in the web design front along with the full time job, a one year old son to run around with, and we’re in the midst of trying to purchase a small townhouse as an investment property in the local neighborhood which has meant paperwork and more time. Also dealing with some medical tests and trying to get a fun little flag football team together in the midst of it all…(Gotta have fun too right?)

Yet as the crazy cloud swirls about me I feel a deepening need to get back to the basics. I’ve come to realize there is no great nobility within busyness, activity, and the like. Though this culture would demand such from you or expect such from you, you can slow down. You have that ability. Jeremiah 10:23 has always been one of the passages of scripture that has gripped me. It reads “I know, O LORD, that a man’s life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.” This world is determined to facilitate a self-indulgent-self-centric-self-interested person in us, one that does not “settle” for anything but accomplishment and a driven nature to succeed by it’s own standards. At what point can we step back? At what point can we slow down? One has to pursue silence to find it, and within such focus upon the basics every once in awhile, to realize that the steps before you were placed there before you walked them. That God is in control and it is his causes, purposes, and glory that is to be pursued with the driven nature that cannot be satisfied in anything else, no matter how hard we try.

I’m so priveledged to have a little assistant to help me in my daily chores. Just look how he expertly folds the laundry…:

…and delivers it to it’s destination:

Caleb can now say, and use in the correct context, the word “no”

Lord help me.

I found Caleb climbing into his toy basket. Here’s the rest of the story:

He likes sharing his cheerios and germs.

Exactly one year ago, we met this little guy for the first time. That same little baby  has blossomed into a playful, spirited little man who is constantly winning the hearts of everyone he meets.

Yesterday was his birthday party and everyone who has been a part of his life came to celebrate his first year. There were lots of cake, piles of gifts, and about half of the graduating class of 2027. At the beginning, Caleb loved greeting his friends at the door (especially little Jason and Jersey girl). But then as the day wore on, he busied himself by defending his toys from baby invaders and watching the grown-ups play ping pong and basketball. He was kind of a grouch toward the end but this was due to a new birthday molar coming in (we didn’t find this out until today).

He loved opening his gifts (well, mostly just playing in the gift wrap):

The cake smash took a little getting used to:

He even showed off his new walking tricks:

I would defintely say the party was a fun success. By the end, Caleb was tuckered out and thankful for bed. This morning, we had our own little family birthday party and opened a his gifts from Mama and Dada.

Many people have asked Andy and me what it feels like to have a one year old. I don’t really know how to reply to that. I think Andy put it best: It feels like forever since I’ve been pregnant, but just yesterday since Caleb was born. This year has been full of  anticipation, miracles, utter exhaustion, smiles, little giggles, terror-filled hospital visits, sweet moments, exciting milestones, learning curves, baby boogies, and furry friends. I couldn’t have imagined when I was in the hospital about to deliver this little miracle, that my life would be full of so much joy, that Andy would come home and immediately run to his little boy and give him a big hug, that family gatherings would now consist of everyone in a circle around the living room watching two cousins play on the floor, or that my heart could even contain all of these emotions all at once. I don’t know what I did in my life to deserve such a wonderful little person. This is just a taste of God’s magnificent grace.

Happy birthday Caleb. You are a much-loved little boy.

I didn’t think we’d be able to see Santa this year. I wasn’t going within 50 feet of those atrocious, germ-infested lines at the mall. But fortunately, Andy’s mom had a Christmas party at her school where Mr. Kringle paid a visit. When we got to the party, Caleb wanted nothing to do with any non-famly member. Any stranger got the evil eye right away. Visions of a screaming, petrified child in santa’s lap were forming in my mind. I don’t know why, but I was so nervous to put him in that bearded man’s lap. I really didn’t want a scene. But I swallowed my apprehension and handed my wide-eyed son over to Santa.

At first, he stared at this man intently, I’m sure, looking for some sort of human under all that hair.

“He has a present, so he can’t be all that bad.”

Then, something amazing happend:

Santa got Caleb’s seal of approval!

Looks like this little boy is on Santa’s good list this year.

Here are a few other’s with cousin Kaiden, who wasn’t as fond of Santa

Afterwards, Caleb hung around the set trying to get Santa’s attention. He was really taken with him. All my worrying was in vain. Let’s hope next year is the same.

Photography by Chris Kwant, a very talented local wedding photographer.

On the way home from church on Sunday, Caleb fell asleep in his car seat. I can count on one hand the amount of times he’s fallen asleep outside of his crib or our arms so each time is a momentous occasion. In this instance, we noticed he drifted off with some toy keys dangling from his bottom lip. We had to take a video of it because it was so darn funny.