The Elusive Smile

Caleb has been smiling since the day we came home from the hospital and it melts our hearts like none other. Whenever I attempt to capture his precious grin on camera, however, the little stinker takes after his camera-shy daddy and his smile becomes rather elusive.  But today I succeeded!  Here are some snapshots of our happy boy.  He was looking outside at the time... his favorite pastime :)

And just for your viewing pleasure...

“Oooo, look at the sunshine!”

“Mom, why are we stuck in here on this beautiful day?  Can't we go outside?”

“Hold on!  Something just came up...”

“Uffda...this is a little uncomfortable...”

“Wow, that feels better!  My pants may be heavier, but my belly is much happier!”

“Ugh, now I'm tired.  Maybe we'd better stay here awhile till I get my strength back.”

Outside

Caleb loves looking out the window.  We're hoping this is an early sign that he wants to spend lots of time outside.  Eli is already antsy to take Caleb on his first hike later this summer.  But we'll wait till he has some head control first :)

On Friday we got Caleb outside on a gorgeous day by taking him to Canal Park for the first time.  We watched a ship leave the harbor and he slept through the whole thing, including the blast of the ship's horn which was incredibly loud. We've got a sound sleeper on our hands!  (We're not complaining!)

Rolling Along

Our son rolled over last night.  At 11 days old.  That's right: our son has superhuman strength and we are enthralled!  Both Eli and I watched him accomplish this feat and we were shocked and giddy and proud.

Way to go, Caleb!!!

Tummy Time

We recently re-acquired a small sheepskin that Eli picked up in New Zealand while studying abroad during college (thanks, Meg, for passing it back!).  Eli had the brilliant idea to use it for Caleb's tummy time, and Caleb loves it!  It's incredibly soft and just the right size for him.  He kicks his legs a lot and turns his head back and forth.  Eli once observed that Caleb “based up” like a wrestler while on the sheepskin which, of course, made Daddy Horn extremely happy.

Mother's Day

Because of this little guy, I get to join the Mom Club!  We went for a walk along Lake Superior on this gorgeous, sunny day in Duluth.

Children are a gift from the Lord;

they are a reward from him.

Psalm 127:3

Moose Baby

When my belly bump finally started showing, it became fairly obvious that I was bigger than the average pregnant lady.  Okay, let's be honest, I was huge.  It was unbelievable how many people asked me if I was having twins.  Hardly anyone thought I'd make it to my due date because it looked like I was ready to pop long before that day came!  

Because of all this, Eli and I began joking that we were having a moose baby. Well we certainly did!  Caleb is our big, beautiful moose baby.  He's even bigger than his daddy was (who was nicknamed Moose when he was a big baby!)

We're in love!

Then There Were Three

He's here.  The love of our life is here: Caleb Clark Horn.  

We are delighted to be with our son, to know him face to face, and to realize anew that our family now consists of three people!  We are so in love with this little man (even though, weighing in at a healthy 10lb 2oz, he's not exactly "little")! Everyone says he looks like his daddy, which explains how handsome he is.  What a precious bundle of joy that just burst into our life!

When the three of us were alone for the first time, Eli and I spent time praying over our newborn son.  We named him Caleb because we love this name that means "wholehearted" and is the name of the man whom God declared had a different spirit than those around him and who followed the Lord wholeheartedly (Numbers 14:24).  We are praying that our own son will be the same: a wholehearted follower of God.

Thank You, Lord, for creating this miracle in Your image and for giving him to us to love and raise and teach about You.  May You watch over us and bless us as we begin this new season of life!

Due Date

It's May 5th and I am 40 weeks pregnant today.  I've been living with a miracle inside me for so long that sometimes it's hard to believe we'll finally get to meet this little miracle face to face!  Pregnancy has been such an interesting and life-changing experience for both of us, and it's strange to imagine that it will end soon with the birth of our child.  I've become so accustomed to my big belly and the extra snacking and the staring faces everywhere we go.  It's become a part of my identity.  But soon, very soon, that will change and I'll no longer be "the pregnant lady" but simply "Mom".  

I've said many times that the best decision I ever made was to marry Eli.  This has become even more evident as he's walked the road of pregnancy with me these past 40 weeks.  Eli has taken care of me, put up with me, been patient with me, been ecstatic with me, listened to me, and adored me.  Quite simply, he's loved me.  So well.  And so I will say it again: the best decision I've ever made was to marry that man!

"Where does the family start?  It starts with a young man falling in love with a girl - 

no superior alternative has yet been found."  

- Sir Winston Churchill