Caleb's Baby

Today I took a workshop to learn how to make a "Heavy Baby", a Waldorf style doll, with the head and hands filled with wool and the bunting body filled with 4 1/2lbs of millet and 20 drops of lavender essential oil. I had originally intended to make one as a Christmas gift for Joya Claire, but lately Caleb has enjoyed playing with his sister's dolls and the dolls at school that I decided to make the baby for him instead.

I was so tickled with how my little bunting baby turned out that when Joya Claire fell asleep early this evening I got it out and gave it to Caleb(I have never been good at waiting to give gifts)! So much for Christmas, but it was sooo worth it though, to see how sweet Caleb was with the baby. He held the baby and said over and over "oh! he is so cute. isn't he so sweet?" "how did you make it mama?" "oh! thank you so much, mama". He was so happy, he told me I could be the dad and he would be the mom, he cuddled the baby, got it a blanket and a basket to sleep in! He also pretended to change the baby's diaper and gave it a bath and swimming lesson. His play was wonderfully joyful! Then he told me the baby was crying and wanted milk so I searched the entire house for the one baby-doll bottle that we have, but when I couldn't find it Caleb was content to lay down and "nurse" his baby. He continued to lay quietly and nurture the baby until he fell asleep with his arms wrapped around it. He was so tender and loving with the baby and genuinely happy about the gift that I know I made the right decisions in making it for him and in giving it to him early. Now he wants me to make a baby sling for him "just like Joya's". What a wonderful blessing it was for me to witness his beautiful play this evening!

Happy Birthday Joya Claire!

So today my precious little baby turned TWO! I am not sure how it happened so fast, one day she was a tiny infant in my arms and the next, it seems, she was running around copying her brother at every turn. Joya Claire is quite the amazing little girl now. She potty-trained herself(now if she would just wean herself)! She speaks amazing sentences, her own and she parrots everything Caleb says. She can climb up and down the ladder to Caleb's loft bed! She follows Caleb and walks along the curb balancing very well, she refuses to let me hold her hand while doing this! She can climb on most play equipment and slide down any slide that Caleb can, frequently she wants to do more than I will allow! She knows the ABC song and is well on her way to identifying all of the letters(thank you Fridge Phonics once again)! She can count to twenty. Joya Claire will now stay in nursery, all by herself, if Carrie Coleman takes her, bless you Carrie! Even though she is 32lbs. she will still sleep in the sling for an hour during her nap time if we are out and about!!! She will go for the day with Nana or auntie Robin and act perfectly angelic for them. She loves babies, real ones and dolls. She carries her favorite doll around in a sling I made for her. She loves books and will sit quietly for an hour before bedtime as long as I am reading! She is as much of a water-baby as Caleb was! She loves all animals and will cry tears to go and see my mother's dog! She wants to know about everything and asks tons of questions. She loves Caleb and always wants to be by his side, she will do anything he tells her and she laughs at all of his antics! She is beautiful and bright and she brings joy to us all!

Joya - Joy or in Spanish - jewel
Claire - French - clear or bright The given name of my maternal grandmother.