What Callen has been up to . . .

We have been a bit slow in posting some of Callen's happenings lately. Here are a few pictures for the fans . . .

Callen and his cousin Fin at the Stenberg family Christmas in January.


All the Stenberg "little" cousins


Wearing a hat that Grandma brought back from her cruise through the Panama Canal.


Sweet sleeping little boy


Supporing his favorite Turkish "futbol" team - FENERBACHE!

Response to Christi's tag and thoughts from this week

Harper tagged me to post either the 1st picture in my 8th file or the 8th picture in my first photo file. Since the one in the 8th file is of me eating . . . I'm choosing the 8th photo in the 1st file . . .


That's Angie and Philip Likens at their rehearsal in Hot Springs AR. What a great weekend!

This Week:
This has been a hard week. Sunday night I discovered that I was spotting a little, always a scary moment for an expecting mom, especially one who has experienced miscarriage before. Monday morning we made an appointment to see a doctor at our clinic. For whatever reason, I told Callen as I was changing him right before I left for the clinic . . . "Whatever happens, we will choose to be thankful!"

It was clear very quickly on the ultrasound that our sweet baby had stopped growing somewhere around 5 weeks. Something in me seemed to already know that, because the shock of the news didn't seem to hit so hard. Don't get me wrong, I cried. I have been very sad. But something had prepared me for the moment. And let me go ahead and also give props to the sweet, gentle ultrasound tech Jan . . . so hard for her to give that kind of news, but her heart was tender and geniune. She mourned with us.

I think it has been both harder and easier this time around. Harder because we had already announced the news to friends and family near and far. To take back that kind of news is difficult. I know there will be awkward moments in the coming weeks when people who have not yet heard will inevitably ask the question. Lord give me grace and strength in those moments. It has been a bit easier because I have known what to expect physically. The emotions are the same, and not necessarily easier.

Callen has also been a GRAND JOY these past two days. God has truly blessed Mark and I with a wonderfully sweet and fun little boy. Callen just lights up when either one of us walks in a room, and who doesn't love that kind of response? He is growing so fast. Yesterday morning when Mark went in to get him, Callen was sitting up in his crib - that's a fun new accomplishment. Well, it was fun until he did it at 2a this morning and didn't know how to lay back down . . .

On Monday afternoon, God planted Job 1:21 in my heart. Later in the day, He reminded me of the refrain of a worship song based on that passage
"You give and take away, You give and take away
My heart will choose to say . . . Lord BLESSED be your Name!"

And just now I looked up the lyrics to the entire song. Oh, the Lord is good.

"Blessed be your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where the streams of abundance flow
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

Blessed be your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's all as it should be
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, Blessed be your name"

BY: Tree 63

AND . . . God has pre-ordained a visit this weekend from some of my most favorite people in all of the whole world . . . Billy and Elizabeth Johnson AND Angie S are on their way to Iowa this weekend. Oh, how I love blessings!

Thank you to so many of you for the sweet messages, emails, and voicemails. I love that God has given Mark and I such a wonderful community. We will indeed choose to say . . . Blessed Be YOUR Name oh Lord!

Callen was tagged . . .

Callen was tagged by his friend Renea to do a 10 Random Things list. Renae's list is great! I don't know how good Callen will do . . . but here we go!

1. I am really really good at blowing raspberries. It is how I greet my dad most of the time when he comes in the door. I hope he knows it means "I AM SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU!"

2. Mom and dad tell me that I am going to be a big brother. I'm not really sure what that means. But they seem really excited about it, so maybe it won't be so bad. (REVISION: My mom and dad are sad . . . seems like my little brother or sister won't be joining us in September. We still believe that God is good and we trust Him.)

3. One of my most favorite things in the world right now is to take a bath. Splashing is so much fun. And I really like to play with my yellow ducky, my yellow police ducky, and my hippopatamus (I bet you are impressed that I could spell that!)

4. My mom is making some baby food for me and it is really really yummy. I especially like the apples.

5. I'm working really hard to learn to crawl. I've figured out how to use my arms to scoot myself backwards. But it seems that most of the time the toy I want is in front of me . . . man, I need to figure out how to move forward!

6. My mammaw gave me the coolest jumping horse for Christmas. It makes horsey sounds when I jump. I just love to jump.

7. Man, Renae . . . you are older than me. Was this list hard for you? I'm really having a hard time coming up with ten things. I mean really, my day still pretty much consists of eating and napping and some playing. Can I stop at 7? I'm gonna stop at 7. Maybe when I am as old as Renea I can do a longer list.

Callen's BLOG

I set up a blog for Callen . . .

Check it out.



www.callenmark.blogspot.com

FINALLY! Christmas Pictures

Thanks for your patience to the two of you who read this blog!
We had a great two weeks in the south for Christmas. We split time between my mom and Jerry's incredible new place in Damascus, AR and my dad's in Tallulah, LA. It was fun to be with family and enjoy lots of lazy time. Callen got loved on a TON by everyone. He's recovering well!

Latest developments in Callen's world:
Sitting up AND rolling over
Eating peas
Babbling a little more
16 pounds at his last doctor's appointment

FINALLY, I had some time to put the pictures on the PICASA album. There are TOO many to post here. I'll throw in one or two just for kicks. But otherwise, follow this link to the album:

Christmas 2008

Here's the slide show if you care to watch it:

Twas Two Weeks Before Christmas (Abridged)

Twas two weeks before Christmas, when all through our house

Everything was stirring, but thankfully there wasn't a mouse

(I don't think mom could handle that . . . .)

These sockie things were hung by our fireplace with silver hooks,

Not sure what they are for, maybe just for looks.

I'm sleeping now all night in my crib,

with drips of rice cereal dancing on my bib!

The days are pretty cold, so I wear a cap,

and I'm even learning how to take a long nap.

Mom and Dad decorated the house really nice,

we've even enjoyed a nice fire once or twice.

There's talk of this dude who brings presents galore,

I don't know about all that, but I am sitting up more and more.

Mom is sending these cards full of happiness and cheer,

They bring wishes of joy, peace, and hope to friends far and near.

Mom and Dad show me this pretty scene,

I'm learning each day that this is what it all means:

A baby like me was born long ago,

and we want all our friends and family to know . . .

This season means more than hurry and fuss

Jesus came to bring life to ALL of us!

Merry Christmas from Callen!

Thanksgiving

Here are some pics from Callen's first Thanksgiving. We spent the day with the Stenberg family - both immediate and extended. It was a nice day.

Thanks mammaw for the "little turkey" duds!

Check out my new trick . . . I can sit up pretty good when I'm supported. I like this view!

Sweet baby blues!

Sheer Delight!

Callen Travels to Louisiana

We traveled to Louisiana at the end of October/beginning of November for Louisiana Tech Homecoming. It was so much fun to see old friends, introduce Callen to Ruston, and relax at my dad's house to end the weekend. We enjoyed every minute of the trip and even celebrated a BULLDOG victory!

Enjoy the show!

Center Grove Orchard

I couldn't pass up the opportunity to take some great fall pictures of our little punkin' amidst the pumpkins at Center Grove Orchard. Callen's red hair just BEGS for fall photos. Enjoy!



For the die hards . . . . you can check out the album on picasa to see the pictures a bit larger. Its worth it!

Fall 2008

Callen Mark is THREE MONTHS OLD!

So hard to believe that three months have already passed in this little boy's life. Callen is a joy and so much fun to have around. He's smiling more and more and even laughed for the first time with his daddy just yesterday. We are blessed.

Teri's Wedding

This weekend we took a road trip to Sheldon, Iowa, for Teri Hulshof's wedding. I did the pictures for the family and ceremony. Jen, Eve, Teri and I are all friends from Ames. When I take pictures, I'm rarely in them . . . so here's one Jen had taken with her camera and a photo of the bride and groom for anyone who knows sweet Teri!

Busy busy busy

It has been busy busy busy around our house. I'm back at work part time but for these first few weeks of D6 (our mid week ministry and my main ministry focus) it feels like I'm working overtime!

Here's a little photo video I put together from our Labor Day weekend with the Stenbergs at Clear Lake. Turn up your sound . . . this one has some music!

Callen is 8 weeks old!

Eight weeks ago today the most precious little boy came into our lives. He is a treasure and such a gift from God. Enjoy the pics from his 8 week birthday.

Also, don't miss the first ever CALLEN video on the previous post!

Caught Smiling!

I caught Callen smiling! Thanks Aunt Debbie for this cool FLIP camera! This is our first of MANY videos to upload for family too far away. We love you all.

Guess What I Did?

Callen slept through the night last night! Yes, I did get up at 2:30a and was confused as to why he hadn't woken me up to eat. Yes, I went in to see if he was still breathing. But only once! I did wake up a few other times . . . just waiting to hear him. I can't believe my baby slept through the night. Now, I know that it doesn't mean every night he'll do that. But I know he can now. WOW. What a milestone!

He'll be 8 weeks old this Thursday. I'll post more pictures then!

First attempt at a SLIDE show . . .

New Photos

I've been a lazy blogger. My sister said, "You gonna put some more pictures up for us or what?" So I took some new ones this morning Angie! Here are a few of my favs . . . then a link to a picasa album with a TON more photos from this morning. I couldn't get the slideshow to work . . . maybe I'll try again soon. But for now . . . here you go.



http://picasaweb.google.com/thestenbergs/CallenAugust12

Who Loves Baby?

Callen was given a book called "Who Loves Baby?" that you put pictures in to show the baby. So I thought I'd put a few here for you all to see as well! Here they are as a Picasa slideshow. You can click on the "word bubble" for captions!

One of my most favorite shots is the one of the FOUR red-heads: Callen, Daddy, Papaw Tom, and Grandpa Stenberg. NO QUESTION where the red hair came from! -

Happy Birthday GiGi!

Today is Callen's Aunt Angie's (GiGi) birthday!

Happy Birthday Angie!

This is Callen's friend Naomi. She came for a visit the other day! Callen slept while she was here!

Almost two weeks

We had a good time at Clear Lake over the weekend. Mark's mom (Grandma Stenberg) was a huge blessing to me as I was able to have some moments to relax while she had some goooood grandma time! We are glad to be home now.

Here are some more pictures for the Callen fans!

First Photo: Check me out Aunt Sonee . . . I'm a lake boy!






Go Bulldawgs!
















Daddy and Callen

Family Photo and Mommy and Callen