It's Time to Weigh In

Ever since Caleb was born, people have had very strong opinions about who he looks like. Some definitely think it's me, and some definitely think it's Ryan. We've known from the beginning that Caleb's coloring as a baby is like what mine was (blonde hair, blue eyes, fair skin), but I haven't been able to figure out beyond coloring who he looks like. Well, I finally got around to uploading Ryan and my old baby pictures. The first set of pictures is each of us in the hospital. The next set is what I'm guessing is 2-3 months later for each of us, and then the next set is I'm guessing a few months after that. In each set of pictures, Ryan's on the top left, I'm on the top right, and Caleb is below in the middle.

Please comment below on who you think Caleb looks like. Feel free to mention a specific feature if you notice a resemblance. After looking at these pictures, I think I finally have an opinion, but I'm curious to see what everyone else thinks.

Adoption

It has been such an incredible blessing to watch the Lord's provision in helping some of our dear friends bring home orphaned children.

Our friends, the Philpots, explained their decision to adopt so well, and I wanted to share a short excerpt from one of their first blog posts.

"We’ve been especially encouraged by some of the theological implications of adoption. You see, both of us were adopted. We weren’t orphans, at least not in the way most people think of that word. But, as C.J. Mahaney says, we were in a condition far more serious: we were strangers to the family of God, slaves to sin, and objects of the justified wrath of God. But in His grace, God convicted our hearts to turn from sin and trust in Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross in our place. And because of our faith in Christ, we’ve been adopted into a new family. God the righteous Judge became our merciful Father. He has given us a new identity in Christ. And our family will have the privilege of being a visual picture of God’s adopting work in the life of everyone who trusts in Christ.""

I have been humbled as we've watched so many children go from being orphans to being welcomed home by loving fathers and mothers. We rejoice with the Greens, the Clarks, the Hunters, the Hutchesons and the Philpots who have either brought children home within the last year or are bringing them home in the next couple weeks. We rejoice with you as you hold your long-awaited children. Thank you for modeling the Gospel so well!

Excellent Photographer!

My sister-in-law, Jill, is one. She's great with kids and took the picture of Caleb that now serves as our blog header. She recently started a new photography website, and you can check it out here. We're so excited for you, Jill!

Our New Tripod

Our little man started sitting on his own yesterday. Not completely vertical, but he's getting there.

Last Night...

we came home from Bible study to this:



We've had quite a bit of snow over the last few weeks (around a foot or maybe a little more), and there hasn't been much of an opportunity for it to melt. The first thing we noticed were the words written on our driveway, "We love the Odyssey." (Ryan is teaching through The Odyssey with his 7th and 8th grade Writing and Literature students.) Then we saw DSCS written in our yard, which is the school Ryan teaches at. Ryan's students who did this also wrote their initials in the snow. It took us a few minutes to realize that they also shoveled our entire driveway and sidewalks. So sweet! I can't imagine how long it took those two sweet girls, but we're very thankful for their service to us.

Poor Wally has had to run out in snow almost up to his stomach every day to go potty. I'm amazed, too, at how big the icicles get that hang from our gutters. Ryan keeps knocking them down with a baseball bat, but there are always more the next day. Here are a couple of other recent snow pictures:

5 Months!

My goodness, Caleb! I can't believe it's already been 5 months since you came into this world!

Over the first few days of this last month, you went through a short rough patch of not sleeping so well. You had spoiled us with 10 hours at night for the previous couple months, and I don't know if you were going through a growth spurt or if you were just wanting to see what we would do each time you cried. Thankfully, it only lasted a few days, and you're now back to going 10-12 hours between feedings at night and 4 hours during the day. This puts you at four feedings a day, with a 1.5-2 hour nap between each one. You rolled over for the second time on 1-11 and have done it sporadically ever since.

This month, you are giggling more, and it's such a sweet sound. You still love to be sung to and love to dance, stand and jump. It's pretty entertaining to watch you in your jumperoo--this toy is so perfect for you since you love being active.











You love your baths and have learned how to kick and then push up on your legs so that the water splashes out of the tub. You also recently learned how to suck on your bottom lip, and your newest trick is blowing bubbles underneath and on the sides of your tongue. You commonly entertain yourself by either doing that, sucking on your hands or playing with your feet.

Often when you get tired, you babble before you finally lose all energy and fall asleep. I'm thankful that you're so easy to read when you're tired.

Rice cereal was also a first this month. Click here for the play by play. You weren't too sure about it at first, but you seem to be liking it more these days.



Caleb, you're such a happy baby! You're typically either smiling or have a contemplative look on your face. You're so curious and are always checking everything out.

I love your fuzzy blonde head and your squeals of delight. I also love how when you get excited you flap your arms and kick your legs. It's fun to think back to our 9 week ultrasound, where even then we saw both of your arms and legs moving around like crazy.

Caleb, you're growing up so fast! Each day it seems you look more like a little boy and less like a baby. Your daddy and I love you so much, and we're so very, very thankful for the joy that you bring into our lives. Happy 5 month birthday, little one!

Visit our Shutterfly site for more pictures from this month.

Rice Cereal: Take One

Caleb started rice cereal last week. We've heard it often doesn't go over too well the first time. Caleb definitely wasn't a fan, but he was a pretty good sport about it all. Here's the play by play:

Sweet, unsuspecting boy

What is this stuff!?

Oh no! Not again!

Not quite sure what to think

Yuk!

Make it stop!

The power of distraction

One more try

I'm not sure how much of it Caleb actually ate, but we tried. Each day since has gotten a little bit easier, but it seems that this little boy would much rather stick with his milk.

Happy Birthday, My Love!

Praise the Lord for this day that he brought you into the world 32 years ago! I can't believe God's indescribable kindness in giving you to me! Ryan, you are an incredible husband, son, brother, friend and now father. I adore you, and I know sweet Caleb does too. You fear the Lord and are loving, kind, selfless, a true servant, a strong leader, gentle and worthy of respect. This list could go on and on, but suffice it to say that you are a great model of what a Christian man should be.

I am so thankful for you and the man that God has created you to be. What a joy it is to be your wife!

4 Months!

Sweet Caleb, this was a big month for you! Your first Christmas, your first cold, seeing your Gamgy, Uncle Brandon, Aunt Jill and your cousins again and your first trip to Chicago. Not to mention, you are laughing more regularly, you now grab for toys and you rolled over from your stomach to your back. When you rolled over, you did it three times in one day but haven't done it since. I don't know if it's because we've been so busy that we haven't given you much tummy time or if you just aren't that interested it doing it again.

At your 4 month checkup, you weighed in at 14lbs 14oz, putting you in the 50th percentile for weight. You are now 25.75" long, putting you in the 75th percentile for weight. Dr. Posnanski said you have a great body build and that you are long and lean. He also gave us the go ahead to start you on rice cereal (more about that later).

Your hair is still very blonde and is getting thicker, especially on top, and your eyes are still blue.

As has been the case for awhile now, you love a good beat, and you love to dance. Moving your around to dance almost results in you smiling, especially when your daddy is the one doing it.

Your favorite position is either holding your hands together or with one or both of them in your mouth. You have lots of drool when chewing on your hands, but there aren't any signs of teeth coming through yet.

You also push yourself up onto your hands when on your tummy. You still like sitting in your Bumbo seat, and your newest discovery has been your Jumperoo--you're a great little jumper!



This month ended with your last few days of 5 feedings a day--you're just growing up so fast!



We love you, precious Caleb, and we're so in awe and humbled that you're ours!

Let it Snow!

We finally got our first "big" snowstorm of the season. It's resulted in a few inches and has made everything so pretty. We bundled up and took Caleb outside to experience it--don't worry, we were only out for a few minutes. Anyway, here are a couple pictures from earlier today. It will be fun when Caleb is old enough to make a snowman with his daddy!

Finally! I Got It!

Or should I say, "We got it!" Teamwork is key. It took some time, but we finally got a good picture of Caleb smiling. Ryan's singing to Caleb so he's not distracted by the funny looking, big, black thing in front of me. So here's a "Merry Christmas!" wish from the Bishop family.

Marshman Photo Shoots - 2008 and 2009

We have been blessed by the talents of some sweet friends of ours two years in a row now! Jeff and Rachel Marshman are both such gifted photographers--what a unique thing in a marriage!

Jeff did a photo shoot for us (and Wally) last fall, as well as for many other couples in our Sunday school class. This fall, Rachel did a photo shoot for us (and Caleb). What a sweet couple they are! They both made everything lots of fun, and we were so excited about how the pictures turned out! For more information on the Marshmans' gifts, visit their website at Magnolia Road Photography.

It's really fun to see how much our lives have changed in the last year! I mean this time last year, we were still just praying for the child we longed to have but now we're having photo shoots with him! Praise the Lord for his kindness to us!

Fall 2008 by Jeff Marshman

Fall 2009 by Rachel Marshman

Thank you so much, Marshmans, for blessing us in this way!