Merry Christmas

We'd like to wish a Merry Christmas to our family and friends near and far. Iain, Callum and I are thankful for each other, our health and all of the wonderful people in our lives. I hope that you experience peace and happiness this Christmas. The past four weeks have been rush, rush, rush and more rush for us. And I'm still not done. I'm definitely going to have to shop earlier for Callum next year since all of his presents are still unwrapped. Some of Iain's as well. My baking was finally done at 9 p.m. last night. This is something I really enjoy so I don't mind. I still have some things to do, but I'm going to take today and tomorrow slowly to enjoy the first Christmas I get to spend with my baby boy. He's almost 8 months old and is starting to get into everything. With some help, he can pull himself to his feet and enjoys standing next to the coffee table and the couch. Still no teeth but a very enthusiastic eater. Safe travels to those of you who will be on the road or in the sky in the next couple of days. Merry Christmas!

My Faves at Christmas

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends.

• Wrapping paper or gift bags? Gift bags... much neater
• Real tree or Artificial? Artificial this year... real when Callum notices
• When do you put up the tree? As soon as Thanksgiving ends
• When do you take the tree down? Usually right after New Year's Day, possibly later this year
• Do you like eggnog? Sometimes... Iain likes egg nog ice cream!
• Favorite gift received as a child? Pink and purple bike
• Hardest person to buy for? Daycare employees
• Easiest person to buy for? Iain- everything he wants is on his Amazon wishlist
• Do you have a nativity scene? Yup but need a manger
• Mail or email Christmas cards? Definitely mail
• Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Not sure really
• Favorite Christmas Movie? Scrooge, Love Actually
• When do you start shopping for Christmas? Mid-November
• Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yup *blush*
• Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Goodies
• Lights on the tree? White
• Favorite Christmas song? Silent Night and Rudolph
• Travel at Christmas or stay home? Home
• Angel on the tree top or a star? Star
• When do you open presents Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning? Christmas morning
• Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Too many crazy people shopping
• Favorite ornament theme or color? I've decided that I like snowpeople (saying men is a bit sexist)
• Favorite food? Pimento Cheese!
• What do you want for Christmas this year? To spend time with Iain and Callum

Survived

All three of the Burnetts survived my trip to Pittsburgh. I slummed it at the Marriott and Iain and Callum suffered through three nights without Mommy. Iain had no complaints and Callum was definitely in one piece when I got back. The house was clean and the laundry started. What an awesome husband and father! I was also amazed at just how cute Callum looked when I got back. I am, again, totally biased but it is really funny just how adorable a baby looks after you've been away from him for a few days. He was all smiles when I got home on Friday. Iain and I managed to get a lot done this weekend with decorating and preparing for Christmas. This is such a fun time of year to spend with those that you love. Callum's update is that he is now 7 months, no teeth, and really really ready to crawl but very good at scooting around on his bottom. He is an enthusiastic eater and has a very fun baby chuckle. We, I mean Iain, even installed our first baby proofing item of the household- a gate at the bottom of the stairs. It looks and is working wonderfully. Now we only need to empty out about 6 dozen drawers and cupboards to hide away all the fun things that Callum could get into and do damage with. That'll only take us 3 months--guess we'd better start working on it.

Guilty Pleasures

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving with family and friends while eating their favorite foods. I know we did. Boy am I stuffed. Yes-still stuffed from the weekend! The food and company were amazing. Callum did pretty well granted the quantity of time he spent in the car to get to Pappy and Grandma's and then with all of the visiting done. I am proud of his patience (and ability to sleep while in a moving vehicle). I posted a few weeks ago about simple pleasures- cleaning, coupons, relaxing with Callum and Iain. Now I have to post about guilty pleasures. I would define this as something you do that causes joy although some guilt follows the action. Well some of my personal guilty pleasures include spreadable pimento cheese from the Butcher Shop in Chambersburg (I swear they put drugs in it because I can't stop eating it once I stop). Hence we only buy it as a Christmas Eve treat. Only 23 days until pimento cheese. Another food guilty pleasure for me is chocolate. Although I have some restraint with chocolate, it is one of those things that some days I just need and I usually feel semi-bad after eating it. The same with the pimento cheese...23 days...23 days... I also follow a few television shows that could definitely be categorized as guilty pleasures--Mama's Family (cheesy '80's humor), 90210 (the old version people) and The Girls Next Door (I don't understand how people live this way, but I am fascinated with these clueless women). All of these TV shows result in some degree of guilt after viewing. A final guilty pleasure I will mention is the fact that I am leaving Iain and Callum. Not for good, of course! I am going to a training this week in the Pittsburgh area, thus I will be spending three sleep filled nights at the Marriott. The first sleep filled nights I have had since April 29th (more than 7 consecutive hours anyway). I definitely feel bad leaving Iain and Callum, but I am starting to feel like a vampire craving blood (mommy craving sleep). Anyway, the training will be extremely beneficial for my career and some time away may be good for my well being. Iain has been incredibly supportive of this endeavor and I truly appreciate his understanding of my need for professional development. He might not feel this way by Friday evening but at least by then I will be back, well rested. Maybe Callum will sleep through the night for Daddy? I'm not counting on it. If he does however, the night feeding is done when I get back!