7 Months Old!

7 months old!

6 months old

 
 5 months old

4 months old

3 months old

 2 months old

1 month old

2 weeks old

Dear Calvin,

This month zipped by almost without my noticing! We had a happy whirlwind of Christmas celebrations, travels, and colds as we entered the new year.

Nevertheless, this month was busy for you:

- You are now a traveling roller, which means that you merrily tumble over and over in one direction until you hit a wall or some other obstacle. You are, however, predisposed (compliments of that nagging torticollis) to move only one way, so we're working on becoming an "equal opportunity roller."

- We've muddled through many more nights of 3 hour feedings, but since you currently tip the scales at 20 lb 10 oz, Mom has at last gained internal resolve to let you make it to at least 2am before a midnight snack and then somewhere past 6am for an early morning breakfast. I'm pretty sure that once I can kick this cold, that schedule is going to make me feel really perky.


- You are working in some cereal and baby food peas at mealtimes. Not real frequently (since I still kinda forget that you're in that phase now), but little by little. Wouldn't say it's your favorite thing ever, but we do get some down pretty much every day.

- You have the most delightful grin, and you're normally ready to share it. I love the sweet little dimple at the corner of your mouth.

- You sit to play for a while with cushions behind you (your new gear toy from Grammy and Grandad is a favorite). Still occasionally tip over sideways, but you are getting stronger.

I've been meditating on John 10 lately.

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.

Little son, you are in need of a shepherd. You need saving, not just from the wolves and lions of the enemy, which would seek to steal, kill, and destroy, but from the sin which dwells in your own little heart.

There is only one Good Shepherd, my son. One who would lay down His life for His sheep. He is our precious Savior, our ransom and King.

May you hear, know, and follow Him all the days of your life. And may it become the pursuit of your heart to call to others, other sheep that are not of this fold, so that they too may listen to His voice and join the one flock, with one Shepherd.

I love you, sweet Calvin.
Momma

-

7 Years Old!

 7 years old!

 6 years old

5 years old

4 years old

3 years old

2 years old

18 months

One year old

11 months

10 months

9 months

 
8 months

7 months

6 months

5 months old

4 months old

3 months old

2 months old

1 month old

2 weeks old

Dear Victor,

Happy 7 years old! Our special celebration for your birthday this year included a fun family swim with the Katterson cousins and a big spaghetti and meatball dinner. It was a good time!

And now you are 7 years old—a first-grader, which is a staggering thing to realize!

We're continuing with homeschool work, and this year we started attending Beacon Homeschool Co-op, which has given you a chance to take science, physical education, and an etiquette class already. Even though it's a group of new people for you, you have enjoyed being with others and learning pretty cool things about volcanoes, scooter games, and the proper way to eat soup (among many other things)! At home, we're studying the Pilgrims' time in Amsterdam, learning our weekly Fighter Verses, delving into division, reading some adventure books, along with spelling, handwriting, and sundry other activities.

You blessed my heart greatly when you told me you've decided to read out of your Bible to yourself each morning. Right now you're in 1 Samuel, working your way right through. You are also a big help to read a Bible story to your brothers after lunch while I'm putting Calvin down for his snooze. There is no habit I would rather see established in your life than consistent time with God in the Word and prayer. May He flourish that time into a daily joy that shapes your mind and heart as you grow to know, love, and trust Jesus more.

You've received and been spending lots of fun time playing with Lego sets. Sometimes you experiment with your own creations, but more often you will carefully follow the guidebook to make the whimsical little designs laid out there.

I so appreciate your help most every day to put away the silverware. You are growing and picking up additional responsibilities, and I appreciate your faithfulness to finish a job that you start and your willingness to serve our family in many ways.

You have many opportunities to fill your big brother role among the younger three boys, whether it is helping someone pour milk on their cereal, taking off Elliot's boots, reaching something from a high shelf, singing to Calvin to help him feel happy, or giving wise words, reminding brothers about the instructions Mom has given. We have to remind you sometimes that you aren't the parent, but you certainly do have an important role to influence and set a good example for your brothers!

This year you began in the children's choir, practicing Wednesday nights before Connection and singing before the congregation on a Sunday morning near Christmas. How I am praying that you will grow to love singing to God and joining in worship with the other believers! It's definitely fun having your buddy Ezekiel in choir with you as well.

Your afternoon rest time is normally spent listening to some Boxcar Children mysteries, while you work on your workbooks. You love mysteries and got your own detective kit for Christmas, which has offered lots of fun activities!

A highlight of the (every other) week is small group, where we get to enjoy a meal together and have a long, fun evening playing with some of your very best buddies. I'm praying that those friendships might be lifelong pointers to Jesus among you all!

You're getting so tall, you are learning so much, and you readily put together so many ideas. We love having you as a part of our family!

Right now I am studying John 10, including these precious verses:

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one. (John 10:27-30)

How I pray that you will truly hear and know the voice of Jesus. May you follow His leading—even if others choose to go another way. May you believe in Him and know the very greatest joy of eternal life, secure with your Good Shepherd, the very Son of God.

We love you so much, Mr. Victor!

Mom

Interview with Victor at 7 years old (1.7.19)

1.      What is your favorite color? Red

2.      What is your favorite toy? Legos

3.      What is your favorite fruit? Pear

4.      What is your favorite video to watch? Wild Kratts

5.      What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Grilled cheese or cheese and crackers

6.      What is your favorite thing to wear? everything

7.      What is your favorite game? Uno

8.      What is your favorite snack? Pretzels and cheesy fish

9.      What is your favorite animal? Lions and cats

10.   What is your favorite song? My God Is So Big and Jesus Loves Me

11.   What is your favorite verse? Genesis 1:1 and Joshua 1:9

12.   What is your favorite book? Boxcar Children

13.   Who is your best friend? The Lees

14.   What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play

15.   What is your favorite drink? Lemonade and root beer

16.   What do you like to sleep with at night? Duck

17.   What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Cinnamon rolls

18.   What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Spaghetti and meatballs

19.   What do you want to be when you grow up? A bush clipper and gardener and teacher

20.   What was one of your favorite things that you did this year? Christmas and my birthday

21.   What is your favorite place to go? Grammy and Grandad’s house

6 Months Old!

6 months old!

 
 5 months old

4 months old

3 months old

 2 months old

1 month old

2 weeks old

Dear Calvin,

Happy half a year, big boy! How the time does fly.

This month has held some big milestones for you:

- First roll (front to back). I mean, you have lots of rolls, but it's the first time you have self-propelled from one side to the other.

- Got your helmet (sporting a cool blue camo look, which is very fetching with your blue eyes). In impressive fashion, we learned that your head grew a half a centimeter in two weeks at your first adjustment! (That's half of the distortion!)

- Trying to cut back on middle of the night feedings, with several weeks of not-so-much-sleeping to inspire us. You've been keeping it lively, with a few hour-plus crying stretches, but the past few nights have brought some marked improvement, and you blessed my socks off last night by sleeping from 7pm to 4am! Perhaps it was because you are coming down with a bit of a cold, but regardless, I will savor that as a bit of hope for the nights to come.

- You ate your first rice cereal yesterday, and I have video footage which is currently stuck on my phone. Good job, big boy!

- You are cheerful, animated, and smiley, as long as it isn't encroaching on naptime or bedtime. You still enjoy your exersaucer, and your brothers keep it stocked with all your favorite toys for grabbing, slobbering, and eating.

- You are not a fan of tummy time. This is pretty much the last part of physical therapy to wrap up, so let's make it a great month of growth and be done by next update, okay?

- What with the helmet and all, you are extra warm all the time now! We have bumped the thermostat down 2 degrees so you don't overheat. Probably helps our gas bill, good buddy.

We are just a few days from Christmas and in the thick of all the preparations. Christmas is a sweet time of year--a first for you--but it didn't have a flashy start. It's good to reflect on that first gift, given in the dark and dirt of a stable. Another baby, not so well sheltered as you, made His entrance. It wasn't a photo op moment; it was bloody and painful. And His life was short, hard, full of conflict, and in some ways, unimpressive.

Why did the life of Christ lack so much of the glamour and glory that we'd expect in the advent of the King of kings?

It's because, little son, He did not come to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many. It's because He didn't come as a triumphant warrior to destroy His enemies (that time); He came as a good shepherd to die so that He might make His enemies a part of His flock. The world was lost in heavy darkness when the light of the world was born. We groaned under slavery to sin that we could never escape on our own.

A thrill of hope
The weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks
A new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees,
O hear the angels' voices,
O night divine,
O night when Christ was born.

This is the meaning, not just of Christmas, but the meaning of all hope that there is in the world.

Worship this Savior, my little son. He is our precious Lord.

I love you, Calvin David.
Momma

-

5 Months Old!

 5 months old!

4 months old

3 months old

 2 months old

1 month old

2 weeks old

Dear Calvin,

I am going to exert myself not to begin this letter by expressing surprise that we could possibly be at 5 months old already. (Hmm, that didn't work.)

My big boy! You are delightful, little one. You are getting very social, handing out smiles to all the ladies at Bible study, at the grocery store, the 8th graders at Bible study, and so on.

You are clearly growing and learning, exploring your world in so many ways! And you are *ahem* getting mama up at night on approximately the schedule of a newborn. Let's work on that, k?

We just had an evaluation at the plagiocephaly clinic (kinda rolls off the tongue), and now we are preparing to get your own cute little helmet like big brother Josiah. Can't say that I'm excited about the trip to Minneapolis every couple weeks for evals, but I know you'll be pretty adorable in a blue camo helmet!

You're doing great in physical therapy. Now you have full range of motion and are just working on strengthening your neck more fully.

You're still happy running most errands in the Baby K'Tan, spending Wednesday night Bible study half being held by a friend and half in my arms, and getting a little catnap during the first service of church and hanging out with the sweet ladies in Middle School Sunday school for second service. You get to snooze at home on Friday mornings during homeschool co-op with Daddy (and then he delivers you to me), so all in all, I feel like you have found a good groove in this busy family season.

Your big brothers love you, and you light up for them too!

We had the special joy of dedicating you at church on Sunday. It is the true prayer of our hearts that you will "belong wholly to Jesus forever"!

We are in Iowa now for a few days, to celebrate Thanksgiving with Grammy and Grandad and the family. I've been reflecting about how much God has given us through Jesus. What treasures for this life and hope for life to come! I pray that you will be a joyful boy, whatever circumstances may come, because you have the unshakable love of God!

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! (1 Chronicles 16:34).


I love you so,

Momma