December Days - 12.12.10

A little boy is a lot for a dad to think about.  I remember how before Caleb was born I felt like I had figured out how to handle a baby girl (Oh, how little I knew back then!), and the thought of having a little boy really stressed me out.  Most of my friends have told me that as young fathers they felt most nervous about parenting a baby girl, but for me, I couldn't stop thinking about the huge responsibility that comes with raising a boy: teaching him to respectful of others, modeling what it means to be a man, and - if I'm really honest - fearful that the result would be a reflection of myself I wouldn't want to see.  How do I instill my strengths as a man, husband, father, and son in my own little boy and protect him from absorbing and reflecting all my faults?  I haven't figured all that out yet and as with much in life, I am still on that journey.

Dad and his Mini-Me

As we celebrate Caleb's birthday today though, I can't express how proud of this kid I am.  Sure, he drives his Mom and me nuts sometimes but that's mostly because we're faced with that reflection of our own imperfections.  Most often though, he gives us so much to be thankful for and proud of.  He spent much of his first five years being referred to as my 'Mini-Me' but he is truly becoming his own person, and a great one at that!

Happy Birthday Caleb!

Pictures from the hospital when Caleb was born, eleven years ago today. I recognize this is a picture from a stage in my life most of my friends today never experienced: the mustache days.  All I can ask is that as the jokes start coming, be gentle. :-)

One of my all time favorite pictures of Caleb.
It's how every boy wants to play with his Sister's dollhouse

Happy Birthday Caleb!