07.07.10

For Caleb’s birthday, I (Byron) made a little poster for him, and although it is difficult to paste it on the blog, I’ll give you a taste of what the poster had on it. We wanted to remember what year one for Caleb is like from our experience of him. What he likes and dislikes. What his personality is becoming like. Etc... So, below is a list of things that we see in Caleb Elsay Hartzler by the time of his first birthday, on July 7, 2010.

• loves being outside
• loves playing with buttons on our shirts
• exclaims “mmmm...” loudly before and after each bite of his food. he LOVES to eat!!!
• loves his bath time and being in water. he starts squealing when we take his clothes off because he anticipates what’s coming!
• considered the “1st Star” by his orphanage director, Tezera
• really cuddly, lets anyone hold him, but is especially attached to Daddy!
• not really into crawling much. usually army crawls a few feet and then gives up.
• likes going on walks and observing his surroundings
• always grabs for dad’s iPod, computer, phone, and glasses as toys - but to no avail!
• particularly when we meet elderly folks on the streets of Addis Ababa, they want to kiss his hands and cheeks.
• has a very mellow and content personality, except when teething, getting ready for bath, or when he’s about to eat
• loves the banana and papaya that mom mushes up for his snack.
• loves being with people, but too much chaos makes him cranky
• likes climbing on mom and dad in bed after he wakes up - usually too early!
• he babbles a lot. says “Daddy”, but we don’t think he knows what it means yet
• loves to walk while holding our hands, but is not on his own yet
• nicknames: the Drool Monster, Bud, Sweetie, Sweet Boy, Raji (at the orphanage)
• favorite food: cerelac baby cereal & bananas
• favorite toy: plastic colored blocks (thanks Dawn Masucci)
• favorite activity: playing in the bath
• favorite game: peek-a-boo