Caleb Judson

Our littlest baby turned one on Thursday. Unfortunately, he woke up with a cold/teething issues that morning so we barely made it through dinner let alone birthday cake. After the first official Broome birthday party for Joshua in September, we've pretty much decided that parties aren't for us. From now on (at least in this stage of life) birthdays are pretty low key around here. Now don't get me wrong, birthdays are still a huge deal and we greatly celebrate in our home...just without all the hoopla of cleaning the house, sending invites, decorating...and so on. So Caleb spent his first birthday playing at home, eating lunch out, taking two good naps (poor guy was sleepy all day) sharing a spaghetti dinner with the fam, playing with the balloons that daddy brought home, and tasting a couple of bites of cake (before his head practically fell asleep in it!!!:)

Here are just a few descriptions of our little guy:

*Caleb Judson is pretty easy-going so far. (I say that, yet I'm remembering the little fit that he threw at dinner tonight when I was placing cheese in front of him when he'd already seen the grapes that I pulled out of the fridge and continued squawking until I got him the grapes!)

*He is definitely a mommy's boy at this stage. I think it's because with the third, I've 1. realized that this stage of having a baby is so fleeting and I don't have the feeling of needing a break as much and 2. taking just one to the store or out to eat is a break!!!!

*Caleb is a really good eater. I've mentioned in a previous post that we didn't do baby food with him. I did steam and blend some things at first, but he quickly got to where he could just eat normal soft foods like avocado, sweet potato, beans, peas, small pieces of chicken, bananas, peaches, and so on. Now, he's able to eat most anything and seems to enjoy most foods. I'm sure we'll hit picky stages with him, but I feel like he's off to a good start.

*Caleb is crawling, pulling up, cruising, and beginning to stand for a bit on his own. I would guess it will still be a few weeks before he walks, but once he does, he'll be all over the place!

*He loves his brother and sister. And they love him. Joshua is a big helper and very loving towards Caleb. There is no question that Anna Bell adores him too...she just has a more "hands-on" way of showing her affection-- like by trying to push his face into the carpet or attempting to pull his arms off. We're working on it. He loves his daddy too-- his face completely lights up when Fred walks through the door after work. He's also getting into the mix when Fred wrestles with Joshua. Probably like most younger siblings, he thinks he's just as big as his brother.

*Caleb is a good sleeper. Not fabulous but pretty good. He goes to bed around 7-7:15 and wakes at 6:45 to nurse then goes right back to sleep until around 7:45-8. I think that I could have stretched him to wait and eat at 8, but our house is pretty crazy by that time, so that routine worked for us. Now that we're weaning, I'll probably stretch him to drink his cup of milk with breakfast at 8ish. He still takes two naps at 9:30 and 1:30. The first is between 1-2 hours and the second is 2.

*Caleb is affectionate. He gives kisses, hugs and really loves to cuddle. It takes him longer than J and AB to warm up to people....which is hard when grandparents/aunts/uncles live far away (sorry grandpa--we will be talking to a picture of you everyday from now until Christmas!!:))

*He still rides in his sling when we are at church, occasionally at a store or somewhere that I need my hands free. People are starting to give me a hard time about it at church, but he's still pretty content as long as I keep moving. It works for us.

*Caleb's words are "momma" "dada" "bubba" (joshua) "dankdu" (thankyou i think) "bye bye" and "more" He can sign "all done" and "more."

*He has 6 teeth so far- two on bottom and just got all four on top in the last few weeks

*Like each of our children, our name for Caleb is intentional: a biblical hero for the first name and a missionary/modern hero of the faith for the middle.

Caleb

"Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, 'we should by all means go up and take possession of it (the promise land), for we shall surely overcome it.'" Number 13:30

"But My servant Caleb, because he has had a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land which he entered, and his descendants shall take possession of it."

Numbers 14:24

Judson

Named after one of the first missionaries to the people in Burma, Adoniram Judson. He was a man whose passion to share the love of Christ with people who didn't know Him was second only to his passion for Christ Himself.

Here's a little info on Adoniram from a manuscript by John Piper. (You can read the rest at desiringgod.org)

When Adoniram Judson entered Burma in July, 1813 it was a hostile and utterly unreached place. William Carey had told Judson in India a few months earlier not to go there. It probably would have been considered a closed country today - with anarchic despotism, fierce war with Siam, enemy raids, constant rebellion, no religious toleration. All the previous missionaries had died or left.
But Judson went there with his 23-year-old wife of 17 months. He was 24 years old and he worked there for 38 years until his death at age 61, with one trip home to New England after 33 years. The price he paid was immense. He was a seed that fell into the ground and died. And the fruit God gave is celebrated even in scholarly works like David Barrett's World Christian Encyclopedia: "The largest Christian force in Burma is the Burma Baptist Convention, which owes its origin to the pioneering activity of the American Baptist missionary Adoniram Judson"

Adoniram Judson "hated his life in this world" and was a "seed that fell into the ground and died." In his sufferings "he filled up what was lacking in Christ's afflictions" in unreached Burma. Therefore his life bore much fruit and he lives to enjoy it today and forever. He would, no doubt, say: It was worth it.

Caleb, We pray that you would be bold and have a "different spirit" that follows God fully like Caleb (the son of Jephunneh) and possess the passion and single-mindedness of Adoniram to obey our Saviour in life or death- whatever He calls you to. We love you, sweet son. It is a privilege and blessing to be your mommy. Happy Birthday. Love, Mama