Updates

Kaleb at 16 Months

**Kaleb keeps a growing and growing. We had to get new shoes (Size 7.5 Wide) a few weeks ago because his feet had grown a whole size since June. Yoiks!! I also got him a new outfit that was a Size 3T. The shorts were a little big, but the shirts fit perfectly.

**Kaleb has started to make some verbal advances. He calls me Mama (finally)... but then again most of what he says all day sounds like "Me" or "Ma" or "Be." He usually says "Ba" for ball or Bye and I've gotten him to say "Beez" for please a couple of times. That's a little tougher since he knows the sign language for Please. He continues to surprise us with what he understands.

**Over the last few weeks Kaleb has shown SERIOUS clinging issues. Any random person use to be able to come up to him and he's happy for any kind of attention. Now he takes about 20 minutes to warm up to practically anyone, sometimes even mom or dad.

**Kaleb LOVES babies!!!!! Anyone that is near his age or less he HAS to give hugs to a bunch of times before he feels totally satisfied. Below is a classic example of bestowing that love on his cousin. Unfortunately, he has also started grabbing kids' shirts with a vice-like grip which drives most kids (and his parents) a little crazy. My little linebacker is taking his role a little too seriously

Do the Zombie

**A friend of mine had a birthday party the other day with the theme Zombie Prom. Ammon can never do anything halfway, so here were our costumes. We had so much fun I can't possibly regret spending more time and money than we would normally for even Halloween!!

Gauntlet

**As for our diet, we are doing our best to stay as true to it as possible. It's difficult however when you're not supposed to have salt, sugar, wheat or milk... or anything processed at all. I've had to change mine up a little to include a few more calories (800 a day don't cut it for me). After two days of migraines and another of being nauseous a whole afternoon, I just couldn't take it anymore. However, the good news is that after 6 days, I lost 5 pounds and Ammon lost 10. We're excited to see if the results will continue! If they don't we may have to change it again to include cheaper food. Unprocessed meat gets expensive when you eat it five times a day!!

The Gauntlet Has Been Thrown!

Starting tomorrow, Ammon and my sister Jessica will be joining me in a weight-loss challenge. We will be utilizing the information of the "6-Week-Body-Makeover" to change our diet and create an exercise program. We decided to do this all together, not only for the peer support, but also for the reward. We are each putting $10 into a 'pot' so that whoever loses the highest percentage of weight gets the $30. We are all very excited about it, even though I'm sure Ammon will probably win (if he sticks with it.) Men naturally lose weight faster, not to mention the simple fact that Ammon has NEVER done anything DIET-esque EVER!!!!! My personal goal is 20 pounds. I will try to keep the blog updated on our progress. November 13th is our last day. Wish us luck!

The Answer to Prayers

Twice this week I have taken the time to say some very special prayers. One was for my sister-in-law to help promote labor and the other was for me to find peace with Ammon's long-haul job. I can't go into too much detail because I feel that both of these experiences are private and sacred, but I will say that both prayers were answered very quickly. The second was answered in the form of a phone call.

There was a chance that Ammon was going to be gone for 6 weeks during his training with Swift. That six weeks was bound to start some time this weekend. At about 10 this morning he got a phone call from the company he was working for when he learned to weld. They were looking for a welder for a few months. After a long pro's and con's discussion, we agreed that he should take this job and continue to look for a local driving or welding position. I am so grateful for this opportunity that we have as a family to spend a little more time together, if not permanently then at least for a little while longer. I'm also very grateful for the gift we have to talk with our Father in Heaven and ask Him for help. This is such a wonderful blessing!!

Smarter than I thought

I know this sounds awful... but I have always seen Kaleb as good-old-fashioned "normal." He seldom has been ahead of or behind the developmental stages, sitting up at four months, crawling at 7.5, walking at 11. I've just accepted the fact that he would probably be average in his learning and I think that's better than constantly hoping he will excel at one thing or another and then getting disappointed. Again, I see how that might sound a little... odd, but I think most mothers of average children can see where I'm coming from. Well, the other day, Kaleb totally surprised me by completing a puzzle all by himself. The video I was able to capture doesn't quite do him justice, but I still think it's pretty impressive. So here is my moment to brag about my little one, who is, after all, smarter than I thought!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHDuCd5djOY

Bam Bam

Kaleb smashed his forehead into a wooden toy one day and smacked his chin on the wall the next. I promise I'm a good mom, if not extremely talented at passing on my clutz genes.

Per Request

Photos and Videos of Kaleb:

"I make this look good!"

Group Hug

"I claim this playplace for all Tellers EVERYWHERE!!"

Urban Cowboy





Just before the picture above was taken I shot a video of Kaleb wearing Daddy's Shirt as well as the cowboy hat. It's just silly fun... as always here at the Teller Bear Cave!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbFxryopR4A

here's another one with Kaleb in a different shirt, just for a little overkill!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUUkMGlXnHs

UPDATE on Da Plan

Okay, I have had a lot of people asking lately, so it is now time to let you know how things are going with our aforeposted entry: DA PLAN.



AMMON: He received the state grant to attend truck driving school and has since graduated without a hitch. He officially has a CDL now and it's just a matter of finding the right job. He has been pre-hired to a few companies, however all of these specialize in long-haul, which means normally a "Two-weeks-on, two-days-off" type schedule. We knew the odds were heavily in the favor of Ammon being gone a lot once he got a trucking job, but he's going to look another week for something local. If nothing comes up, he has an orientation set up with SWIFT on Monday, the 27th. Obviously we are not looking forward to the separation, but having a stable income will be a welcome feeling. I'm so proud of the way Ammon has taken on this heavy responsibility in order for me to raise our kid(s eventually).



LINDSEY: Due to a lot of issues with financial aid and Ammon's probable out-of-town schedule, I've decided to put my photography dreams on hold for now and focus completely on getting a degree in accounting. This way I can take classes %100 online and not have to toss Kaleb around while I go to various classes. I've finally received the official notification that I got the Pell Grant to set up my classes, and now I can even get books!! Classes begin the end of October!! I'm sooooooooo excited for this new stage of my life!!

Kaleb-15 Months

Kaleb had his 15 month appointment last week. He was 32 inches tall (75th percentile) and just shy of 29 pounds (95th percentile). The doc suggested we try to give him a little less milk to see if his weight/height ratio will even out. We also had a discussion about his communication skills, primarily because Ammon and I aren't quite sure if he's really talking yet. He can say "More, Please" and "All Done" in sign language and he definitely understands things that we say (Mom, Dad, Hi, Water, Milk, No, Ball, Shoes, Kisses, Hugs, Dancing, Remote, Pieces [of a puzzle or toy], Put it Back, Can I have that, Change the Diaper, In there, Take a Bath, etc), but it's very seldom he says anything that actually sounds like another word. He often makes sounds that repeat what we're saying, like Ha for Hi and Ayaya for I love you, but he doesn't seem to even call Ammon Daddy or me Mommy. The doctor said she won't be too worried about it unless he's at the same level at 18 months. Thankfully, my sis-in-law is a speech therapist and I was able to get some professional advice and comfort. We'll focus a little more on speaking with him and see how things go.

Some more Kalebisms:

***He now flirts. He will give a little smile that brings out his adorable dimples and giggles in a high pitched-tickled-type-fashion like he's being coy. He does it randomly to anyone. More often with people he knows, but occasionally it's with an old man at the grocery store or a baby at church. I get a kick out of it cause it seems to make him happier just when he does it.

***Interactive Play. Since we've been spending more time with his cousins Christian and Ellie over the last few months, they've been opening up more and he's learning how to actually interact in play. Plus, he has been handing me toys to get me to play with him or show him how to play with them. It's so fun to see his mind grow and learn.

***Stacking Duplo Blocks. He's no expert, but about 60% of the time he can put them together. Small feat, but one I want to document.

***Baby Love! I don't know if I've mentioned this before, but Kaleb loves babies!!!! He's so gentle and has to be around them!!! There was a lady with a 3-month-old at the mall playplace and he gave the baby hugs and crawled up into the mom's lap to make sure he had his arm around the baby and could give kisses. It makes me so proud!! Thankfully the mom was understanding and enjoyed his attentions.

***Binky-free. Kaleb has been sleeping without a pacifier for a full week now. About a month ago we tried to wean him from it, but he got sick after the first night, so we decided not to give him extra sleeping stress. Big mistake because Kaleb got doubly attached to it after that. Thankfully he has done pretty well this week. It takes him a little longer to get to sleep and occasionally with a few tears, but nothing like the drama I was expecting.

Veggie Tales

Don't worry, I'm not talking about a religious talking cucumber. Just have some silly stories to tell involving Kaleb... and of course, (SARCASM, SARCASM) every child's favorite thing:

Vegetables

Story #1-Broccoli Sandwiches
Recently we have had a devil of a time getting Kaleb to eat his vegetables. Most other things he will eat with little complaint, but veggies "are like, so yesterday". Well, the other day Kaleb ate some baby-food type carrots without blinkin, so I figured that I would just serve all his vegetables in baby-food form for a little while.

Since baby food can be expensive, I had the AWESOME MOM idea to buy stuff at the Farmer's Market and make the food myself by boiling then blending. Carrots, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage and Spinach... and a horrible concoction I now regret that went straight to the belly of our chickens: Zucchini and Bell Peppers (don't ask)

Anyway, the next day I sat down to give Kaleb his Broccoli Goo and he absolutely refused to even look at it... turning away at every attempt I made. Then I had this brilliant idea: I spread the green jelly onto a piece of bread and voila: Broccoli Sandwiches. He ate four or five bites before I took the picture you see below. Eventually he wised up to the horror that I had served him, but hey, he got his vegetables!




Story #2-Daddy's Little Boy
Two days ago was I'M SICK OF MOM DAY. I wasn't sure that it was listed on your calendar. Apparently Kaleb is the creator of said day and celebrates it occasionally by throwing tantrums when I want to spend time with him. Well, lunch time on ISOM Day is no picnic of course, because anything that moms want to feed their children is and will be wrong.

Well, on ISOM Day, I tried to feed Kaleb a small bowl of mashed carrots. Again, without getting a taste he completely refused to let me feed it to him. And of course, Daddy came in and Kaleb had to reaffirm ISOM Day by crying and stretching out to Daddy in pleading motions. Daddy said, "No you need to eat," and he scooped up the carrots and held the spoon out to Kaleb. With only a second's pause, Kaleb took a good bite, swallowed and smiled at Daddy as if to say, "Such a good boy am I!" He then took two more bites before I tried my hand, literally, which resulted in a NO-like head shake and the evil eye from Kaleb. Ammon then fed the whole bowl to Kaleb with constant smiles. Cruel IRONY, but Hey, at least he got his veggies!



Story #3- Veggie Fork
Kaleb really likes to eat Veggie Straws. They taste a lot like really good potato chips, but they're made with spinach and tomato as well, so hopefully a little more healthy. Well, Kaleb thought they made some pretty decent skewers, so he started stabbing his little bits of ham to feed himself. Cute little video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhE734lohzg

Baby Shower

Last week, my sisters, mom and I threw my sis-in-law Kelli a baby shower. It was a lot of fun and I just wanted to share some photos:

I was in charge of decorations... which means I decorated the gift table... and that's about it! The theme for the baby's room is butterflies and flowers with a lot of pink, yellow, purple and green, so we went with the same kind of stuff for the shower. So glad we did cuz some of the stuff turned out really cool!

Like this gorgeous diaper cake made by Liz!!

And the cupcakes and brownie-cake made by Jess!

I had to get a picture of the drinks. That white stuff is a Pina colada Sobe that looks like milk. Freaked the guests out a little (like me) but definitely a conversation piece!

This is the only up-close picture I will post of Kelli since she isn't a fan of prego photos. This one was cute and showed off one of the many great presents she got.

I think everybody had a great time. I should add that my sis Alana made the beautiful invitations and my mom provided the rest of the awesome food. It was a great family affair!! Can't wait for the next one!...?