Update

Over the past two weeks, Iain and I have been working, caring for Callum and generally trying to keep our heads above water. Things have been hectic. Last Saturday, we were fortunate enough to make some extra money working at standardized testing which occurs periodically at the university. Aunt Karen and Uncle Tedd generously babysat for Callum and had a fun time with him. Callum did a great job away from Mommy and Daddy for several hours. He has been experiencing some stranger/separation anxiety over the past couple of weeks but did very well with Aunt Karen and Uncle Tedd. Obviously they aren't strangers to him! The separation anxiety is a new thing. He still does really well at daycare, but he gets stressed out when either Iain or I leave the room. It makes things difficult when trying to get stuff done around the house. Even this past weekend, he's been getting upset when one of us isn't holding him. I don't know where this behavior came from, but boy are my arms tired. He's not that little anymore! On another note, some new and cute behaviors are his ability to shake his head "no" at us and also lunge forward/scoot his butt around his space. He manages to do quite well scooting but gets mad when he is on his tummy but can't get very far. I am afraid that he will be crawling before we both know it. Yikes! We are definitely not ready for that. Iain and Callum spent last Saturday night alone while I traveled out of town for the night to attend my high school reunion. It wasn't the official reunion because no one from our class actually bothered to plan one. However, several of my girlfriends and I rented a condo at Nemacolin Woodlands and spent the evening catching up. It was fantastic to see everyone and to hear about the past ten years. I am amazed that so much time has passed, but then again, when I look at Callum, I can see just how quickly time flies. The Burnetts are looking forward to the upcoming week because of a short three days at work/daycare and then some time away for Turkey Day. Safe and happy travels to all of you who will be making any trips for Thursday.

Insanity

Yes, life has been insane the past couple of weeks hence the lack of posts. Each day is relatively the same but something is always happening. I'll give an update on last weekend sometime this weekend. However, I thought I would post quickly since Callum had his six month check up this morning. He weighed in at 17 lbs 2 oz. and 27 & 1/2 inches long. Whoa! That means he has gained approximately 10 lbs and 6 & 1/2 inches since birth. Thank God he didn't come out that way! Iain and I have a weekend coming up of absolutely nothing which is awesome. We run, run, run all week. Run to daycare, run to work, run home. Cook dinner, wash bottles, pack lunches, eat dinner, give Callum his bath and bottle and put him to bed. On a good night, we watch some TV and then go to sleep. Every single day. The routine is exhausting by Friday. Not that much changes on Saturday and Sunday but we cut out the daycare, work and home running. Anyway, we plan to put up our feet and Callum's too and hopefully chill a little bit. I'll post some new pics when I can. I managed to get the child smiling on camera.

Simple Pleasures

The more busy and tired I become, the more I come to appreciate life's simple pleasures. Obviously these are different for everyone, but I was thinking today about mine. First and foremost, Iain and Callum light up my life. They both hold the number one spot in my heart for very different and important reasons. My love for them grows more and more each day. Another pleasure I've mentioned before is the time I have on the weekend to make our house a home. Little by little, Iain and I do small things to add to our "show place". Earlier today, I was able to tidy up and clean the kitchen floor which now looks fabulous. Cleaning is definitely not something that Iain views as a simple pleasure. In general, I don't really think that most men do. I'm not trying to show gender bias but other than Danny Tanner from the 90's show, "Full House", I don't know many men that get enjoyment out of cleaning. I also wouldn't say that most women actually enjoy cleaning. However, I think the pleasure I get from cleaning comes from the result of our home when I am finished. I've had several wonderful role models who have always kept immaculate homes that I aim to emulate. The autumn we are having also provides me with a gorgeous view out of almost every window in our house. Leaves are everywhere having fallen in just about every shade of brown, yellow, red and orange that you can imagine. I get simple pleasure out of knowing that Iain will take care of disposal of these leaves when he cuts the grass, thus saving me from having to worry about it. One of Iain's favorite things to tease me about is my love for coupons. Why pay full price when you can get a dollar off? I look forward to the Sunday paper so that I can find and clip tiny slips of paper that will save us money. With the cost of groceries and baby supplies slightly astronomical or at least feeling that way, I enjoy finding ways to save us money. My final simple pleasure is looking forward to the holidays. I am a firm believer in three separate holidays after Halloween ends- Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's. I realize that there are other traditions celebrated by others in the U.S. and around the world, but these are the three recognized in our household. I greatly anticipate the holiday season. I think that this year will be one of the most special ones yet. The addition of Callum is a major contributor to my excitement. The three of us are really looking forward to spending time with both the Sloan and Burnett families. We are so fortunate to have Iain's parents, Edna and Andrew, making the trip across the pond to visit with Callum and us. This year will be about family, friends and being thankful for everything that we have because we are blessed beyond words. On another note, after the end of a long week and frankly a long six months of campaign jargon from both sides (D & R parties), I am pleased with the election results. I know that not everyone is. However, I can truly say that I now have hope for my immediate and extended families as well as for my son's future. I also have hope for the future of the United States both home and abroad. It has been a long eight years. My dream is that across the nation we can get past our differences and unite for the common good of the country. Enjoy the simple pleasures in your life right now, whatever they may be... coupons, autumn leaves or cleaning the kitchen floor.

VOTE

Today is an important day which will change the lives of all of us in the U.S. Please get out and vote. No matter your political beliefs, your vote is so crucial. Pennsylvania is still considered a swing state so every ballot counts. One thing I checked out was Senator Obama's tax plan for the middle class (http://taxcut.barackobama.com/). I was surprised by the tax savings Iain and I would receive if this plan is put into effect ($1800 for a year). Whoa. I know we could really use that money right now. Things seem to get tighter and tighter each month. Now we are by no means struggling to get by and I do not want to make it sound like we are going through anything comparable to those who have no health insurance, have lost or are losing a home, or consistently juggle bills in order to put food on the table. I just pray that whomever gets into office will keep the ordinary people of the U.S. in mind when making decisions and that he will also remember our tarnished image abroad. From my travels in the past 8 years, I have heard terrible comments about the United States. After getting past the shock of these remarks and reading more about our foreign policies, I've come to realize that although the comments are harsh, in some ways they are very true. I pray that our country moves forward in a positive direction no matter who our leader is. I pray for four years of growth and prosperity from our government for my son, nieces, nephews, little cousins and children of close friends. They are our future and we need change for them.

Where has the time gone???

Well folks Callum is 6 months old today. I can hardly believe. The last time I looked he was 5 months, but I just got my latest Baby Center bulletin that officially announced his 6 month 1 week status. I will admit that he gets easier and easier each week. He has a fun little personality which is complemented by a growing curiosity for everything around him. When I turned the ceiling fan on this afternoon, he watched it for at least 3 minutes. Who would have guessed this was such a neat toy? Some info on 6 month old Callum: Likes-- Mommy, Daddy, Henry the Cat, mixed grain cereal, peas, his elephant & new stacking toys, Miss Terri at Trinity Daycare, playing in his exersaucer, making loud squealing noises and taking short car rides. Dislikes-- napping (better at this but still not his favorite thing), strangers, being awake after 7 p.m., long car rides and pureed meats (turkey and beef were a disaster this weekend!). Nicknames-- Peanut, Little Bug. Concerning his parents, Iain and I have really come a long way in the past 6 months. Before Callum arrived, I had read just about everything on babies that I thought applied to preparing for the arrival of a baby. Iain also did a lot of research on being a dad and generally what to expect from a newborn. We went to a childbirth class, talked to others with children and ensured that we had every item that we could possibly need in Callum's first 2 months of life. Yet none of this prepared us for parenthood. And I can't say that I would have enthusiastically gotten pregnant if I would have known that I would still be getting up at night with a 6 month old baby. I've also come to realize that we are most likely completely unprepared for the next six months and heck the next 18 years. I keep reading about meltdowns and how to handle them. I don't think that meltdowns are something I am ready to deal with. I remember seeing a few from my nieces and nephew. Meltdowns are downright ugly. Fortunately, I think we have at least another 6-9 months until one arises- at least a purposeful one anyway. I digress. Iain and I have come this far and I've enjoyed the journey. I look forward to continuing it with him and Callum. Let's hope the next 6 months are as good as the first 6. Despite the hard work, the rewards have been worth it. I love my little guy so much sometimes I feel like my head could burst (now that would be a really ugly sight, wouldn't it?). Happy November!