Casa de Helwig

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The rest of the handful of dirt is in his mouth.

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Relaxing on the couch.

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Chad and Caleb. So cute.

As I was putting lunch away today, Caleb discovered he could use his shopping cart to climb on the couch. Soon enough he was across the room and this is where I found him seconds later.

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I am going to have to watch him very closely. Nothing is out of reach now.

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Well, Caleb took his first few steps last Friday. He loves to walk around the house (still with our help, or with the help of the walls). I will have the video of his first step up very soon (I hope).

Caleb is finally sleeping through the night again, and sometimes instead of waking up at 5:30 or 6:00, he sleeps until 6:45 or 7:30. I can finally get a workout and some reading in before he wakes up. I hope he keeps this up.

My wonderful, sweet, lovely, friend Lori let us have her old mac powerbook. I got it in the mail Wednesday. It will be a nice to have until we can get something more permanent. I have pictures. YEA. And videos. I still have some old pictures and videos to post.

I have a few patients during the week now. Things are finally picking back up.

One more tibit: I was thinking today as I was reading in 2 Chronicles, and I thought about the previous books of the OT I had read thus far this year. I was thinking about how so many of the kings did evil in the sight of the Lord by following after other gods, seeking advice from seers, necromances, mediums, other spiritual advisers or even friends, etc.  God just asks us to follow him (I know it sounds easy, doesn’t it), seek him for discernment in the direction we are to follow. This is something that I, and probably many out there struggle with: looking to the world for advice. Why do we do that? When the kings would seek the Lord after going astray, he would answer, and answer abundantly. Why can’t we get that through out heads. I wish I could. Seek Him.

Have a great week.

Here are some pictures from the last few weeks.

* WPG2 Plugin Not Validated * Climbing onto his shopping cart to reach the ipod.

* WPG2 Plugin Not Validated *Raiding the refrigerator for his yogurt. How he opened the refrigerator, I have no clue.

* WPG2 Plugin Not Validated *Walking along the walls.

* WPG2 Plugin Not Validated * Caleb and Lori.

* WPG2 Plugin Not Validated * A day at the park

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* WPG2 Plugin Not Validated *A day at the park with dad.

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* WPG2 Plugin Not Validated * Chad and Caleb before church.

After several cancelled appointments, a miscommunication on time, and some frustration on my part, Caleb finally got to see the doctor for his year check up. This is somewhat detailed and may be boring for non family members, but read what you like.

Weight: 15.6 pounds, >3 percentile

Height: 28 inches, >9 percentile

Head circumference: 46 centimeters

He got his blood drawn and 3 shots, but he took it well once it was all over.

All systems clear and working well.

Right now Caleb is:

• cruising with the aid of furniture, walls, randoms objects that happen to be just the right height, mom and dad
• clapping, waving hi and bye, points
• whenever he sees a phone he puts his hand up to his ear and makes a questioning, huh? sound
• signing more and done, also saying “duh”, for done
• occassionally says mom, and will only say “da” when he sees a picture of Chad
• drinking whole milk (but the doctor said to switch to 2%)
• eating: bananas and toast, crackers, graham crackers, yogurt, cheese, lunchmeat (turkey), apple, chicken, rice, tomatoes, cucumbers, any fruit (blueberries, raspberries, grapes, mango, cantaloupe), cereal bars….those are all his favorites, plus whatever we are eating he wants a bite of
• he dislikes any type of baby food (2-3 bites and he is through)
• he loves sonic ice
• he likes to drink water
• he understands: no, sit down, sit still, (although he may not always obey) the name of the foods he regularly eats, phone, cat, book, more, done, bath, milk, water, duck, what’s in your mouth? (he then proceeds to take the object in question out and hand it to us), go to sleep (or night, night)
• he uses his toys to climb to places he is not allowed
• he climbs in the bathtub
• he loves to dance to music
• he is getting two top, center teeth to make a total of four teeth
• he helps put his arms through the sleeves on his shirt and he helps take off his pants by stepping out of them (in preparation for a bath)
• he loves throwing the ball and reading his books
• he always asks for more vitamins (that stuff is disgusting)
• Size 3 diaper (he still fits into a 2 though)
• Size 9-12 month on the clothing (if I roll the waist down at least once so the pants don’t fall off)

Well if a really high electric bill ($478) won’t make you cringe, both of our computers crashed last week. As a result, I cannot upload any new pictures at this time. I had to drag out my old computer from college to even access the internet. Hope you enjoy the update anyway.

Chad has started his second accounting class and has added an ecnomics class in an effort to get his MBA. He is going to be busy. He still enjoys his job. He is also plannning to ride in a couple of long distance bike races. I know one of them is the MS 150, but I don’t know what the other ones are. He is excited about working towards that! Me too.

Caleb will have his doctor appointment this afternoon for his 1 year checkup. After 2 canceled appointments by the doctor’s office, hopefully when we show up this afternoon we can finally get seen. He still hasn’t been sleeping through the night. Ever since he had his ear infection on Christmas, he has been waking up 2-4  times throughout the night. I think his two top, front teeth are coming in finally. Maybe he will sleep through the night again soon.

My brother is getting married in 2 weeks. I think I am going to have to miss the wedding. I really wanted to go, but it is in Tennessee. A 20 hour drive one way, or a very expensive flight.

We had some visitors this past weekend. Chad’s grandparents stopped by and had lunch with us on Saturday. We enjoyed their company and some yummy hamburgers at a local restaurant.

Lori also visited this weekend. She got here Saturday evening, we ate super with Stepanie at Clear Springs (she lives in Midland….my college roommate. How did I not know that?). On Sunday we relaxed, napped, watched the Super Bowl, ate, etc. I really miss Lori. She just left 40 minutes ago. She is graduating in May, and will become Dr. Lori Stuart!! She is brilliant!

That’s all I can think of now. I will update on Caleb’s status when we get back from the doctor.

Have a great week.

This is a 3 year old picture of Lori, Stepahnie, Me, Beth (I found it on the old computer). What wonderful memories we shared. I love these girls.

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