Welcome Little One

We had a surprise early in the month... welcome to Xavier Connor Burnett. Born 12/2/10 at 10:25 p.m. Xavier was 8 lbs. 12.5 oz and 22 & 1/4 inches long. Although slightly earlier than expected, he has been a joy ever since coming into our family. Callum has embraced his little brother and enjoys holding him and talking to him. The transition hasn't been perfect but things are going well. Iain and I have been blessed with help from many family members and friends which has made things easier. Wishing you a good week leading up to a special time of year!

Turkey Day

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I like the concept around celebrating it. I like the food (cranberry anything, mmmm). I like seeing family and friends. I like the concept of Black Friday but honestly prefer Cyber Monday. This year I'm thankful for my immediate and extended family as well as all of my amazing friends. My family never stops amazing me with their generosity, talents and kindness. The people I've gotten to know through my job are really amazing and sometimes I'm surprised that I've met them. I also have some really good friends some of which I've known for 10+ years now and still keep in touch with. Their families also always make me feel welcome. Finally, I am beyond blessed to have an amazing husband, healthy son and a new baby joining our family very, very soon! Happy Thanksgiving!

The countdown is on...

Well I'm posting a belly pic that although it doesn't show the complete picture of how pregnant I actually look, it's one I am okay putting online. Great part about controling your own blog! I've posted a poll for picking Baby Boy's arrival date so please cast a vote if you stop by! We've finally decided on a name and... we'll let you know it when he makes his entrance. :-) Sorry. We have to save SOMETHING as a surprise. But it's taken us several months and we're really pleased with it so we hope you are too. And if you aren't, don't tell us. We're going into a short work week (thank goodness!) and the three of us look forward to a few days at home and preparing for the holidays. I'm counting each remaining day I have working and cannot wait to have a chance to stay at home and truly relax! Finally, I wanted to post a pic of little one's snowsuit. We had 60 degree weather today so I am praying I won't need this until February but after last December, I figured better safe than sorry (hence the purchase of a vehicle with 4WD)!

At 36 weeks and counting... literally

I reached 36 weeks today in my pregnancy and I am feeling all 36 weeks of it. The Braxton Hicks have started- typically later in the afternoon and early evening. I think it is my body's way of telling me to rest while I can! Baby Boy is still very active but he's starting to take a toll on my lower body/back, legs and ankles (SWOLLEN!). I am sleeping well thank goodness but I still make at least two nightly trips to the bathroom at 12:30 a.m. and 4:3o a.m. respectively each night. There are some things I have yet to get done that in the scheme of things don't really matter but I would still like to tackle while I can in between periods of rest. Most of these things relate to the baby and Christmas so I know they will work themselves out one way or another. Iain has been keeping up with the bulk of the housework, chores and playing/bathing Callum so I can relax, especially after work. Yes, I won't miss working for a few weeks once leave begins in December. This is likely true until I realize that the real work is at home and I'm ready for a good cup of coffee and brief adult conversation. Once leave begins, I am hoping for one day to do nothing before the little one arrives and maybe a second day to bake some Mocha Frosted Drops. Callum's newest obsession is Christmas trees so he'll be thrilled when we put our's up immediately following Thanksgiving. I hope to post pictures soon!

Autumn Update

Hi everyone. It's been awhile but I haven't had two minutes to think during the day so the blog's been neglected. I thought I would try and post an update. October was a fun month. Callum really embraced Halloween and enjoyed all three times he was able to dress up as a farmer. I do think by the end of the daycare Halloween party, he was a little burned out on it. But he had a great time at the Shippensburg Halloween parade, trick or treating and at the daycare party. He was a little more shy this year for trick or treat than he was last year. He wanted one of us to carry him up to the door each time and he wouldn't actually say trick or treat. He said thank you a couple of times though. I think the biggest thrill of the night was that I let him have a Tootsie Pop when he got back. Callum's also developed a taste bud for Smarties but he's eaten his way through all of those. Iain and I have gotten a lot done around the house in preparation for Baby Burnett #2. I need to get a few more things put away and to pick out some pictures for the walls, but we have a place for him to sleep and a car seat which are the important things. And, no, we haven't picked a name. Really. We have a list and a couple that we keep coming back to. I had thought we had selected one last week until we realized once we dropped the middle name, it sounded sort of dumb. I guess we'll decide like we did with Callum-- when I'm in labor. Another treat was the Baby Sprinkle my co-workers threw for me in honor of the new baby. We were blessed with many items that will make welcoming another child into our lives a bit easier. Many thanks to my friends at work and my family and friends who attended. Callum is doing very well and is a spunky little boy. I've seen his behavior mirror what I would can only assume it is like being a parent to a teenager. Some days, he is perfect and other days, he is a challenge. On those days, everything we suggest or say is wrong. We've seen tantrums for things that literally the day before didn't bother him in the least. But overall, he is a lot of fun to be around. He does very well playing by himself as well as sharing toys whenever we have guests. Taking him to the store is something we rarely do, however, because he is sure to throw a tantrum if we don't allow him to ride one of those dumb mechanical cars in front of every store known to man. I loath the people who created those things. Iain and I have been spending our weekends relaxing and trying to get ready for life to change again. I have just over a month until my due date and just under a month until my maternity leave begins. So far, no contractions, but some backache, slight swelling and difficulty sleeping all night. Fingers crossed that I make it until December... enjoy the rest of this beautiful autumn we are having!

A Conversation

So Callum and I were playing this morning and we had a conversation that made me laugh out loud... his tractor and several animals/farmer fell off of the table. Callum looks at me and says "You pick it up". I respond "Mommy will pick it up for you, but you have to ask her nicely". Callum "You pick it up nicely". :-)

First Fall Weekend

The Burnetts spent Saturday getting Callum a haircut and enjoying the fall festivities at Stoner's Dairy Farm in Greencastle. The weather was perfect and Callum was able to indulge in tractors galore. He stayed awake from 6:30 a.m. until almost 2 p.m. when he crashed in the car. He slept the whole way home and then went back to sleep in his room for one hour and then on the recliner with Mommy for another 45 minutes. Must have worn him out but it was a lot of fun!

Month 7 Update

Okay, so all I can say is that life has been busy, busy, busy. Work is busy, home life is busy and the pregnancy is going fast. I hit week 28 tomorrow which officially begins trimester #3. Updates are as follows: *Baby Girl Burnett is actually Baby BOY Burnett (Yes everyone, I saw his male parts) *Baby Boy Burnett's second ultrasound showed that his development is perfect so no worries with this. He is extremely active and has a full head of hair, or at least a mullet from the pictures I received last week. *Callum is a full fledged toddler since he is now using the potty regularly but not consistently. It's mostly at night before he goes to bed, but still it is progress. I'm not too worried about this but we try to talk about it everyday with him. *Callum's been moved into a "big boy bed" and he is LOVING it. And, to touch wood, has yet to get out of it when he wasn't supposed to. We moved him in on Saturday night and he has slept there for three nights and one nap without the urge to leave. When he wakes up, he yells for me. I'm planning to get him some big boy sheets and a comforter this weekend. He's been perfectly happy with cream colored sheets and a velux blanket but I figure the kid needs something with a tractor or Thomas on it. *We're trying to get our house prepared for Baby 2 although I am definitely starting to run out of steam. Work is so busy, in every sense of the word, that I'm not really sure how I'm going to get everything done. Fortunately, I work on a semester basis calendar so I know that by December, the students will be going home, just in time for me to give birth (lucky me). *Callum's relinquished his crib very willingly for his new bed, and once we get some furniture moved around, we'll have another room ready for a little one to inhabit it. *We're anxiously waiting good news from across the pond for two little nieces who will be joining the Burnett Family in mid and late October. We hope you are well and I promise I will try and update my photos soon.

End of Summer/Six Month Post

Well month 6 ends tomorrow and I enter the third trimester in three weeks. Sounds sort of dumb but any woman who has ever been pregnant will tell you that you're actually pregnant for ten months. I think a male doctor must have come up with the 9 month concept. I'm feeling good but honestly, I'm really for the weekend. It's been go, go, go for about two weeks and we'll get a reprieve this weekend given the Labor Day Holiday. I also have a pedicure planned with friends as well as putting up all of my fall decor. YAY! I love autumn. If only the weather would cooperate and cool the heck down. This 95+ degree heat is killing me by nightfall. Oh well. Baby Girl is VERY active--even more so than Callum ever was. Callum used to kick me crazily whenever I sat down and would shift after meals and when I'd be at my work desk. Baby #2 beats me up no matter what I am doing-- standing, sitting, walking, in meetings, eating, etc. She also lets me know when she is hungry (hey, you, feed me) and when Callum's poked her the wrong way (hey, you, get off of me!). I have my 7 month check up next week and my second ultrasound the week after that so I'll post an update when I have some news. I think I also have a diabetes test soon. On the Callum front, he has moved into the older toddler room at daycare and is interacting with children from ages 2-3. The only way he moves up again is when he's finally potty trained. Only God knows when that might actually happen. He enjoys sitting on the potty and telling other people he uses the potty, but is actually fibbing about that. Guess we'll be using size 4s for a bit longer. His vocabulary is large and he's pretty articulate with what he wants. The other week he was making soup in the bathtub. This means he was stirring water in a plastic cup with a sand shovel. He told me "I make soup". I responded "Oh, ok. What kind of soup". Callum: "Chicken soup". I respond "Mmm, okay, what will you put in your soup?" Callum: "I put chicken and corn and carrots and noodles (I'm impressed at this point because the ingredients make sense) and pancakes"... Oh well. :-) I didn't sample it.

6th Month Update

As we drag along this hot, hot summer, I'll post an update about life and baby # 2. The heat hasn't bothered me too much but there are some evenings that I feel like a big blob from the weight of the baby and the humidity in general. I haven't been swelling like last time (as if that could happen twice in one lifetime), but occasionally I am wiped by 7 p.m. Like tonight for instance, I sat down on the couch after cleaning up after dinner. Iain had Callum upstairs so Callum could watch Iain cut his hair. They were gone for almost 45 minutes and I fell asleep from the wave of exhaustion that swept over me. Now I feel great but possibly too wide awake for 9 p.m. Anyway, baby #2 is very, very active. One of the main differences between this baby and Callum is that this baby moves around all the time, whether I am sitting, standing, in a meeting, walking, shopping, etc. She (if she is actually a she) also likes to poke me when she's hungry or if Callum's just bashed her head with his elbow. I think she may be saying "get... off...of...me!). It is sort of funny. Another update on baby # 2 is our ultrasound results. All in all, everything is going well with her development. The only thing that's been brought to our attention is that the baby's head is slightly smaller than her abdomen. However, because everything else is perfect, and our testing for generic disorders was negative, the doctor emphasized that it was nothing to be worried about. The doctor has ordered a second ultrasound in approximately a month so we'll get some new pictures and another analysis of the baby's growth. The doctor told me that ideally the baby's head and abdomen are the same size and they need to keep an eye on this to ensure that the baby doesn't have any sort of infection. There really isn't anything I can do for now and she stressed that there was no need to worry. Her bigger concern was that month's weight gain, which, of course, was painful. I so don't gain weight pretty. Anyway, I'm almost 7 months pregnant now so I'm not going to beat myself up. I'll be counting Weight Watcher Points before I know it and trying to squeeze into my Levis. On another note, Callum's jabbering about this, that or another thing. He really never stops talking which is fun although exhausting when you try to read him a story. I'll post more on him later in the week with some new pictures. Hope everyone is staying cool. Drink a lemonade for me!

Likely to be pink

I had my 20 week ultrasound today and despite the desire to wait to find out the baby's gender, I let my curiosity get the best of me. In all actuality, Iain and I decided together to find out the baby's sex for planning purposes. I think that planner is really my middle name-- not Elizabeth. Anyway, the technician did the ultrasound, which I forgot was kind of painful given my full bladder and the pressing she did to get an accurate picture of the baby. The picture was very clear and it was extremely cool to see body including parts like the brain, heart (beating), spine, eye sockets, feet, arms and even the placenta. This time, I was watching while she typed. Last time, I was trying to call the gender on my own. The tech then asked if I wanted to know the gender of the baby and I said yes. Although quite professional, quick and to the point, she spent a few extra minutes on the stomach/legs/genital area of the baby and said that she didn't see anything that indicated male (nothing was sticking out). She did mention that sometimes the baby's penis can be tucked in so it really isn't 100% until he or she arrives. So we figure that we may have been blessed with a girl but if a little boy arrives, we are well prepared for him as well. Onto the next 20 weeks...

Vacation Pics

Swimming

Update on Callum: he's talking in 4-5 word sentences, gaining a sense of humor and become a very picky eater. Likes: popsicles, swimming, the Wiggles, trains/planes/automobiles, especially fire trucks and tractors. Dislikes: being told what to do, bedtime, most vegetables. Update on Baby Burnett # 2: approaching week 19 (tomorrow!) and flips and kicks are coming galore. He/She really seemed to like today's menu of sandwiches, chocolate and salad covered with Ranch dressing ... mmmm. Cravings: none. Food eaten: too much. As the 20 week ultrasound approaches, I am VERY tempted to find out the gender so you may get some news if we opt to go this route. Pros: it would make planning easier and end the surprise. Cons: it would end the surprise. As of lately, we've done some traveling, most recently to Pittsburgh to visit Jen and Jason. Callum really liked asking about Jason, both on the way to their house and whenever Jason would leave the room "Where'd Jason go, where'd Jason go". This gets somewhat exhausting-- even more so after the 20th time he's asked. We also all ventured over to Jen's parents house for some swimming and a BBQ. Lots of fun was had by everyone, Callum in particular. We had to pry him from the pool but fortunately Papa Bell needed some help bringing the flags in at the end of the evening. Callum was able to jump in and assist.

June-July Update

I wanted to post an update since a lot has been happening. Iain and I had a lovely night away at Nemacolin Resort for our anniversary. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who needs a relaxing evening away. I had a pedicure and he had his first massage. Very nice. My spa technician had recently done work for both Taylor Swift and Brad/Angelina which impressed me. But hey, it doesn't take much! We've also had a wonderful visit with Gran and Granddad Burnett that began in Washington D.C. and lasted until Tuesday. We ventured to the zoo in D.C. which was a challenge because Callum woke up that morning at 4:30 a.m. and didn't go to sleep that night until 10 p.m. This was not our doing. He just wouldn't sleep. Fortunately, I suggested to Iain that the mattress in the hotel be pushed onto the floor for Callum. Iain woke up at 3:30 a.m. to find our little guy curled up in a ball on the floor next to the mattress. Thankfully he didn't fall out of bed or at least fall far enough to wake up! Gran and Grandad had several fun filled days with Callum and boy was he tired by the end of each day. Something I was thankful for-- he started sleeping past 6:00 a.m. Don't know how long that will last though. Iain and I were lucky enough to have in-home childcare in order to find the time to purchase a new car. We'd been sharing the commute for almost 7 months, and I know at least I was getting burned out. Fortunately car #1 is paid off and hopefully car # 2 will last for a long, long time. Honda's have a good track record so fingers crossed. Grandad Burnett also fixed everything in our house that we knew didn't work as well as some things we thought did! As you can see, the ceiling fan for our living room that we bought in March is finally hanging. And looks amazing. We can't thank him enough. For the past three days we've been spending time in Callum's baby pool which is actually big enough to fit all three of us. I told Iain I wanted a pool in our next house but I guess this one will have to do for now. Stay cool everyone!

Five Happy Years

June 18, 2005

I'd like to wish Iain a very happy anniversary. We've had a very good five years. Like every married couples, we have had our ups and downs, but there is no one else I like to talk to before I go to bed at night or when something important happens. I look forward to celebrating another happy five years (in Vegas). Ha Ha.

November, 2009

13 weeks, 6 days and counting

I had my three month check up today and all in all, everything is normal. I had some blood work which came back fine, and they checked my weight and blood pressure - all good. I even got to hear the little one's heartbeat which was really nice to hear because they couldn't quite get it last time. I feel good and am enjoying the summer we've had so far and the trips and visiting that is coming up in the near future. We'll be on the move for awhile off and on but we are excited to spend time with family and friends. I'll need to buy Callum a t-shirt that says "Road Warrior". Speaking of which, last weekend Callum and I made a last minute trip to Pappy and Grandma's house for an impromptu Sloan "reunion". I only see my brothers and their families a couple of times of year and last weekend ended up being one of those weekends. Iain's been working like a dog due to a big project so I figured I'd try and brave a trip without him. Thankfully all worked out well given the fact that we had a loaner portable DVD player that in retrospect likely saved the day. Callum was glued to it for 3/4 of the trip. We may have to splurge and purchase one. Many thanks to cousins Ben and Mindy for this assistance! Callum did very well on the trip and I am pleased to now know I could take him for a reasonably long drive alone if need be. I also have one funny story I will end this post with. So I reminded Callum that Mommy is having a baby. His response was "No!". I reminded him again and asked him if he wanted a brother or sister. His response again was "No!" Then I asked him again- "Brother or sister". His response was "I want a Ho Ho". Ho Ho is Callum-speak for Santa. Hey, if my mom had been due to give birth in December, I would have wanted a Ho Ho too.

Nesting, okay, not really

Hmmm, well the differences in pregnancy #1 and pregnancy #2 are vast. During pregnancy #1, the first trimester drags, naps are frequent and nausea is a major inconvenience. During pregnancy # 2, you run around chasing the first born, hoping that "ring around the rosey" isn't going to make you vomit. You also fall into bed shortly after he does and you wish that you'd let Daddy take over bath time months ago. As I head into week # 13, I wonder what happened to the last 13 and reflect on how I am going to get everything done I want to do before the blessed arrival of baby #2. My nesting list has changed somewhat from last time-- picking paint colors, wondering about the baby's gender and hanging doors to figuring out how to populate my iPod with my 90's music and organize my attic. Neither task having to do with Baby #2. Sure, I'm excited but (shhhhhh), I now know how hard it is. And I like sleep. Oh how I like sleep. My sleep now usually consists of a straight 7-8 uninterrupted hours of blissful sleep. I am a little worried about having a newborn given my memory of Callum's wails at 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 months in the middle of the night (and don't forget about the even numbered months until month 12). Oh well, enough of my whining. Things are going well and I feel great especially since the nausea and utter exhaustion have passed. Callum chatters from the minute he wakes up until he goes to sleep and even then we hear him on the monitor talking himself to sleep. He is obsessed with tractors, trains, lawn movers, cars and fire trucks. He also loves the vacuum and enjoyed looking at them in the Target circular over the weekend. Callum is a lot of fun and I'm really enjoying age 2. Will post some new pictures soon.

News

Hi all, yes I added the ticker yesterday but just couldn't come with the energy to type an actual post! Darn exhaustion. This is the part I hate the most. Anyway, yes, I am pregnant! You all should have guessed with the Welch's Grape Juice remark. I do love that stuff but normally I enjoy something stronger. So far, I've been feeling okay- nausea in the afternoon and evening and utter exhaustion by 7 p.m. That is the part I am most ready to be done with. I am so go, go, go that being ready to climb into bed right after Callum hasn't been much fun! I've had two appointments and they are pleased with my progress. I have my next appointment in June and I have to get some blood work before that. Onto the string of appointments and so forth for the next 6-7 months. Iain and I, for the time being, have decided not to find out the gender of the new baby. I think it would be nice to have a surprise after all of that labor and pushing fiasco I have to go through! First image below.

Sunday Post

I will post that life is going well. I had a very nice Mother's Day in which I spent the morning with Callum and then the afternoon shopping on my own. When I got back, my guys had a fabulous steak dinner waiting for me with my very favorite Welch's Sparkling White Grape juice. I love that stuff! The semester at Ship has ended but my job stays pretty steady with students until July. Unfortunately, I've told too many of them that we work all summer so they're always coming to see me. Just kidding-- I love my job. Iain and I are still carpooling together in the mornings and afternoons so we can ride out our car payment before purchasing another one before the summer ends. Bring on the free financing plans please! The weather's been cool this week and scheduled to be cool again this week coming. I'm praying for some hot weather come June and July. Callum is presently obsessed with being outside. From the minute he wakes up on the weekends to the minute we walk through the door after work, all we hear is "Outside, outside, outside". He loves his new, plastic lawnmower, wheel barrow and sandbox. We dug in the sand for a good half hour yesterday. He also loves watching Iain cut the grass so we spent half an hour yesterday following Iain around the yard while he mowed. Callum is also fixated on tractors so whenever he sees one while we're driving, he repeats the word tractor over and over again. Good thing we live right smack in the middle of Mennonite country so they are abundant! For now, enjoy this spring day and we'll post some more news again soon.

Callum Turns 2

Last weekend, we celebrated with family and friends the second birthday of Callum Albert William Burnett. We were graced with beautiful, hot weather and the presence of loved ones from around the state. Callum had a blast playing with friend Dante and cousin A.J. with his new water table and sandbox as well as the inflatable moon bounce Jen and Jeff were kind enough to transport to our home. The theme of the party was Thomas the Tank Engine and Callum really enjoyed his Thomas cake. We're still trying to finish that off. I think we have one piece left. He especially liked when everyone sang Happy Birthday to him although he was little shy in front of the group. Callum requested that we sing Happy Birthday again and again after the party. I think I sang it this morning at breakfast. He hasn't quite caught onto the birth - day piece. But then again, we normally celebrate Iain's birthdays for a week. Ha ha. Callum had his 2 year check up on Friday and he weighed in at 27.5 lbs (25-50% percentile) and is 35 & 1/2 inches tall (75% percentile). We were very proud of how brave he was at his check up since he usually cries from the minute we walk into the exam room. Dr. Kauffman was very pleased with his development and we all had a good chuckle when Callum kept looking at him and saying "Doctor go bye bye, Doctor go bye bye". At least we don't need to worry about him warming up to strangers...

Welcome Spring

We've been enjoying a WONDERFUL spring after the hideous snow and ice that kept us inside for so many months. Although I enjoy the first snow, subsequent ones aren't my cup of tea. However, since mid-March things have been looking bright and sunny in South Central PA and we've been relishing in the drastic change! Callum vocabulary grows and grows. He can also sing his ABC's which was a fantastic surprise. Callum was singing them in the backseat of the car unprompted on a drive home from daycare. I'd been having a yuck day so to hear my little son singing them totally made my day. He also continues to say funny things that when said by an adult aren't so funny, but in his little toddler voice, are just so funny! Last night Callum said, "Move It, Shuster" (the cat). Hilarious. We really aren't mean to our cats. Shuster just always tries to escape so we're always shooing him away from the door. Regardless, Callum caught on quickly. He is also obsessed with Thomas the Train, Wiggles and Sesame Street in addition to bubbles, being outside as well as eating Mac & Cheese and 'sauce (applesauce). On a personal note, Iain and I are working, spring cleaning and muddling through our jungle of a backyard in preparing for the Thomas Choo Choo birthday party. Lots of fun to come. Peep, peep!

Easter

Easter weekend and what do we have to show from it? Some fun pictures, good times and probably more candy than anyone of us needs. But a good time was had by all! A trip to Pappy Al and Grandma's was taken and we had a great time seeing family and friends. Callum did some visiting on Saturday and participated in a very fun egg hunt on Sunday. We really enjoyed seeing everyone and hope you had a Happy Easter too!