My little guy turns 6 today. We spent years trying to have another child. Years of heartache and loss. Years on our knees praying for a sibling for Jayda. In God’s perfect timing, He gave us Caleb. Though it was not my timing or the road that I wanted to walk to get him, it was ALL worth it. Caleb amazes me daily.

From his first summer til present, he’s always loved sticks. He collects them and has his favorites. Really, he enjoys anything that resembles a stick. Bats, spatulas, wooden spoons, dowels, rackets, clubs… you get the point. He will duct tape things together to make his stick-like things longer. For example, right now he has a small wooden Brewer’s bat taped to an old meat mallet. He also has a “hobo bag” that he made a few day ago which is a sock filled with bouncey balls duct taped to a dowel. He hangs random things around the house on curtain rods or a nail in the wall that has nothing on it. His mind is always creating.

He is also a climber. He climbs and climbs. I recall being at my in-laws house when he was 10 months old. Mom and I were talking in the kitchen. We looked over at the table and there was Caleb standing at the center of her table literally swinging the chandelier. I was mortified and began to tell him to get down. Fortunately, my mother-in-law said “wait let me get my camera.” This summer while in the garage he shimmied his way on top of the truck. Crawled on top of the open garage door to get to the tennis rackets that were hanging up in the rafters. He dropped the rackets to the ground and crawled back across the garage and down on the truck. I never would had known if I had not stepped out side and saw him on top of the truck. This is my boy!

He doesn’t sit still. Even when watching TV he’s playing something, snacking, bouncing, or assuming his usual position of head on the couch and bottom up in the air. I mean really, he’s all boy!

I love that he’s active and has a creative mind. I pray daily that he will survive childhood and become a person who loves the Lord, loves life, and is a positive leader. I pray that God will use all of his energy for good and that he will make a difference in the lives of others.

Soooo, here’s a little story behind the photo shoot for Caleb’s 6 year pics. I asked him when he wanted to take them. He kept saying “not today.” I suggested that we do it after his school pictures since he would already be dressed. He agreed! Fast forward to the day of pictures. He says “I want to wear a tie in my pictures.” (I recently purchased one because he had been asking for a tie and I figured he could wear it for a wedding we have in October). We head to his closet only to find that he had outgrown the shirt we had to wear with the tie. We run to Kohl’s found a shirt and a pair of brown Chucks (he needed shoes for school anyway . We dress him in the Kohl’s parking lot… casual look, untucked shirt, rolled sleeves, loose tie… just the way we wanted it. Then we head to school for pictures. The first thing the photographer says to my husband while I’m filling out forms is “Would you button him up and tuck him in?” My wonderful husband who ALWAYS has my back says flat out “No, this is the casual look we want.” (Got to love him). They snapped their 3 pictures and then we took Caleb out for my 10 minute shoot. I rarely get my kids to participate for more than 10 min so I have to work FAST when shooting them. Here are the images from that mini shoot. I love the fact that he picked out this fun outfit!

Ok, I’m just gonna say it… I have the cutest 6 yr old boy on the planet. I know I have my mom glasses on but c’mon… is he not ADORABLE!

I am so blessed to call this little man my son. I love you, Caleb John. Happy 6th Birthday!