When September ends.

Today is the last day of the month and I successfully completed my September challenge. In an effort to get some of my junky eating under control, I decided not to eat any cookies in September. Now before you go applauding me for reaching my goal, I need to point out that I wrote COOKIES, not cake, not sweets, not dessert... it was a very specific thing* that I cut out. But I'm not going to lie, it was sometimes tough as I developed quite a sweet tooth while pregnant and the cookies at work are abundant and delicious. So now my question is, what should I do for October? I'm planning on making an honest effort to last the last few lbs and I'm going to start working out a few days a week (starting Monday) with a friend... .so should I cut something else out? Or just let my working out be the challenge for October?

*Obviously I don't like to set my goals too high. Or make too many changes.**
**Again, remind me of this when I complain about how long it's taking me to lose the weight.

In other (non-related) news. It's almost October! How did that happen? The time is just flying by and I can't handle it. I saw my first Christmas decoration at the store this week... that seems a little early to me. This is the first year we won't be travelling for Christmas so I'm going to have to do something great or start some fantastic tradition this year (although, let's be honest, Callan isn't going to remember so if it doesn't work out this year, we can just switch it next year).

This past weekend we had Callan's christening. We had both sets of grandparents and aunts/uncles in town. It was great to see everyone, but it made for a hectic couple of days as everyone tried to squish as much Callan time in as possible. Callan was such a trooper and put up with everyone and did pretty well even though he was off of his schedule. This is one of my favorite pictures from the baptism. His christening gown was made by a family friend of my mom's and was gorgeous (albeit very ornate). Callan was not in the best mood at this point as he had missed a nap and was probably a bit hungry and hot so his expression in the picture is priceless.



He was in a much better mood after he changed back into his regular clothes and it was nice to take some family pictures. (Huge's family)

 (my family)


And in even more unrelated news, it was confirmed by our families that Callan is the best (and cutest). Although I do think that we may have a bit of a biased pool of judges... hm... there may be grounds for a recount.

Daily walk

Adelia sends pictures/updates of the boys during the day. It brightens my day to see them and usually gives me a good chuckle.

Callan has a voracious appetite for books.

Reading is hard work.

Month 5 newsletter: A whole hand old!

Dear Callan-
Today you turned 5 months old. That's a whole hand of months. This month was a crazy month with developmental leaps and bounds that can be seen with the naked eye. Other months have been significant, but this one has been one of the most measurable.

This picture doesn't have to do with anything, but it was just too darn cute to leave out.

You roll around. A.LOT. For awhile you were just flipping, content to go from back to belly (and back again), but then this month you discovered that if you do these actions consecutively in the same direction, you can actually go places. And reach things. And somehow you've also figured out how to move at angles, so now when you spy a toy or something you'd like to get your hands on (and then put in your mouth), you can. It's amazing to watch as you are quite adept at this and are always so active. You love being on your belly too because I think you enjoy the view better. Before you were just a turtle on your back and only able to wave your arms around and kick your legs. Now you're more in control and you're realizing that these motions can get you places and you couldn't be happier. The doctor said you were strong and would probably be an early crawler, but I've also read that bigger babies reach some of these physical milestones later as they have more to move, so we'll see what happens. As fun as I think it will be when you start crawling, I'm definitely ok with you being a little more stationary.

You also started to sleep on your stomach or on your side. The good thing is that you can get yourself back and forth so depending on your mood, you'll sleep on your back, your side or your stomach and sometimes you'll even flip yourself around in the crib. We talked about your wonder weeks and how it affected your sleep and I think you're over it, but you're still waking up once a night (although last night you slept straight through -a first in weeks). I'm sure that with every change and developmental milestone it will interrupt your sleep, but I'm hoping you get into a good pattern and keep it (i.e. sleeping through the night because mama has to work in the morning).You love your feet. I'm surprised that you can reach them and put them in your mouth since you have so far to bend (and you need to get it over your belly), but you can and do. It's funny because you do it the most on the changing table, which makes it a little difficult to change you or to dress you.  And sometimes it's like you forget you have feet so when you see them, you're all excited to get them in your mouth and play with them.



(This is a picture Adelia sent me and it makes me laugh because this can't be comfortable, yet you look so happy.)

The other fun trick you like to do on the changing table is to twist around. You reach for things and want to see everything. You haven't tried to roll over, per se, but you are active and squirmy. You need to be moving or chewing/mouthing something. It's pretty fun to watch, but makes for a difficult time sometimes.

The one thing that everyone says about you (other than how laid back and happy you are) is how curious you are. You've always been "serious" when you first meet/see someone and you really make them work for the smile/laugh, but I think your seriousness is really just part of your curiosity. You love watching people talk and touching everything. It's really fascinating to watch you and to try to see the world through your eyes. If there's anything you've taught me, it is to think of how fascinating the world is when you're experiencing it for the first time. I love watching you figure things out and discovering things. It's so exciting and just know that there is a whole world out there to explore and I can't wait to explore it with you.

You and your buddy Luke. Look how good you're sharing!

Your hand eye coordination this month has gotten so much better. You reach for things and can pass objects from one hand to the other. You also are quite adept at putting things in your mouth. We haven't tried giving you solids yet as I'm trying to go the baby led solids approach (skipping the rice cereal and purees and going to real food), but I think you'll be a champion eater. Your dad and I let you lick a peach and although you made a hilarious face, you wanted more. I also let you hold an apple slice, which you immediately put into your mouth and seemed to enjoy. I was too scared to let you have it for too long so you didn't get to chew any of it, but you kind of gnawed on it and got to experience a little of the apple flavor. You're doing well with the bottle during the day with Adelia, but it's still touch and go on the weekends. You definitely have a strong preference for the bewb and I'm happy to oblige (although I would prefer you not want it at 2am!). Adelia sent me the picture of you below holding your bottle and I just wanted to know where my squishy newborn went (she informed me that you were gone)... you look so much older. It doesn't help that you're a giant compared to other babies your age -you're a good few inches longer and many pounds heavier than either Luke or Michael and you're only 11 and 10 days older (respectively). I mean, look at your Flintstone feet! GIANT!

I'm just so amazed by you, bubbers, and every day is a new adventure. I can't believe you're a whole hand (of months) old. It's going by so fast. This month we've gotten to see a lot of your personality. You love to laugh and smile and for some reason find it hysterical getting scared. You love bouncing and flying and will just laugh your fool head off. Your dad can get the best laughs out of you and for some reason he'll wiggle his fingers and flash them in your face and you kind of jump a little, but also laugh... Your laugh is infectious kid and always makes us laugh too. I love it and I love you.

Keep smiling kiddo, the best is yet to come.

Love,

Mama

Ready for fall

For some reason this makes me think of school. I'm sure there's a math joke in there somewhere...

*thank you to Miranda for making this beautiful vest. I'm sorry that Callan is a giant and it more of a belly shirt now*

Changing seasons

I'm not quite ready for Fall to be here. Don't get me wrong, Fall is one of my favorite seasons. I love the weather when it's cool, but not frigid, I love wearing jeans and sweaters and I love all things associated with fall: apples, pumpkins, leaves turning color etc. But this year Fall has come too fast. Callan was a Spring baby born in April and somehow we sped through Spring, Summer and now it's Fall, which means Winter (and the holidays) are just around the corner. I'm not ready! And from the looks of it, neither is Callan. Looks like mama's got to do some shopping for little bubs.

*fat man in a little coat*

As most people know, I read a lot of blogs and even before I was pregnant or had a baby, a great majority of them are "mommy blogs". Even without the weather changing in Chicago, it was easy to track the changing seasons as many of these blogs started "back to school/beginning of school" posts.  It's been interesting to read these posts especially now as a mother and it makes me think about Callan starting school. I know I still have a few years, but with the way CPS works and our desire to put Callan in public school, we've got to start thinking about it sooner rather than later (and yes, I realize that I have a bit of the craz-ee too and that my child is not even 5 months old and I'm already thinking about what's going to happen when he's 5 years old. I just like to think it's called being prepared.). Chicago is definitely not as competitive as NY, but it's not as easy as where I grew up where you just went to the neighborhood school -I definitely see the allure of the suburbs when it comes to school. Anyway, it's hard to imagine Callan starting school, but just as quickly as the seasons have changed this year, I know it's only going to go faster. With every development that I savor and applaud, a little piece of me cringes too because it means Callan's less of an infant who's world revolves around me (and Huge) and getting closer to becoming an independent little boy that I'll be sending off at school. Everyone always tells you when you're pregnant to enjoy every minute before your baby is born because your life will change forever. And then once the baby is born people tell you to enjoy every moment because it goes by so quickly, but no one has yet told me how to make time slow down to let me enjoy every moment because I have to tell you, this sure is going by quick and I'm not such a fan.

*Don't let him fool you. He may look young, but he reads at a sophomore level.*

Glimpse into the future

I guess this is what happens when you have boys...

Wonder Week 19

I first heard about the Wonder Weeks from my friends when they were going through Wonder Week 19 with their daughter back in June. At that time Callan was only about a month old so I filed that info in the back of my mind and continued on. Then a few days ago I complained about how Callan had been fussy for the past week or so and then something in my head clicked. I pulled out the calendar and realized, hey, Callan is about 19 weeks old... time to pull out that book! I missed the other wonder weeks, but I read the chapter on week 19 and realized that Callan's behavior fit into the mold.

The premise of the book is that in the first 14 months of a baby's life there are 8 major developmental milestones and mental leaps that are made. These are classified as "wonder weeks" and are generally marked by a fussy period or period of time where the baby's behavior differs as they are trying to figure out the world around them. Some of the behaviors Callan exhibited including waking up at night after sleeping through for weeks and the extra attention he needed were all signs mentioned in the book. Wonder Week 19 is called the world of events and this is when a baby realizes that actions are not individual and are part of larger "events". I'm probably butchering the explanation, but it is worth a read. I missed the first 3 wonder weeks, but I'll be sure to read to prepare for the next wonder week (at week 26 -and someone remind me of this in case I forget and start to complain about his behavior). 

According to the book, once that mental leap is made, the baby goes back to exhibiting their normal behavior. I'm happy to report that I think we're done. Callan is back to sleeping through the night and back to his laid back, less fussy attention demanding ways.  He's also made some physical jumps and has become a master roller and quite tactile with his toys -- so all that work paid off and wonder week 19 is done.

Callan sitting up in his Mr. Rogers sweater.

20 weeks (already?!?)

Today you are 20 weeks old (I actually had to count on the calendar to figure that out)! When I was pregnant, 20 weeks was a huge milestone because that meant I was halfway through the pregnancy... Now you're 20 weeks old, which means that 40 weeks ago we had the anatomy scan and found out that you were a BOY! Wow how time flies. The last 20 weeks have been pretty amazing and you are turning out to be quite the little boy.



Here you are dressed for fall on a walk with Adelia... where did my smooshy little infant go?

Look who found his feet...

All the work has finally paid off... 18 weeks and the feet are in the mouth!

Fuss bucket

Over the past few days we've noticed a change in Callan that I'm hoping is just a passing phase. He has started to become a little bit needier and wants more attention. Where he previously was able to entertain himself and play for a bit by himself, he now will start to cry when he notices he's alone. However, once you go over there to see what is wrong, the waterworks shut off and he's all full of smiles and sometimes even laughs at you. I can't figure out if he's learning to manipulate us with the crying or if he's just so used to having someone around that now when he's figured out he's by himself, he's lonely.

In addition to this new trait, he's also stopped sleeping through the night. Well technically since sleeping through the night is defined as 6+ hours of uninterrupted sleep, he's technically still doing it, but he used to go down at 8:30pm and sleep until 7am. However, over the past month he's started waking up to eat around 2. I assumed that this was just another phase and perhaps a byproduct of not eating as much from a bottle during the day, but he's gotten much more proficient at the bottle and he's still waking up to eat. Last night he got up twice and was unwilling to go back to sleep right away. I wonder if his teeth are hurting as he's started pulling on his left ear a bunch and the level of drool has increased as has the gnawing on anything he can get in his mouth. I'm happy to snuggle, but I have gotten used to a full uninterrupted night of sleep. When do you think I'll get that back? Am I even allowed to complain about this?

It's a good thing these "fussy" periods are short lived and the rest of the time he's his normal happy self because those times are much more fun.

Mini reunion

This past weekend was full of excitement as 3 of my best friends from university college (I have to use the colloquial term college even though to all of them it was university) came to visit . Anyway, this was the first time I had seen them since Kevin's wedding last September. As much as things have changed, things have remained the same. The obvious difference was that Callan tagged along to most of our events, but even with all the time and distance that seperates us, we can get back together for the weekend and pick up on the same jokes and fall back into an easy banter that is as comfortable as your favorite sweatshirt. It was the first time that 2 of them had been to Chicago so we tried to do as much of the touristy things as possible without going overboard on all the sightseeing. Of course part of our weekend revolved around the Chicago night life and again, I ask myself, when will I learn? I asked myself this same question last June and shockingly since then, I have not gotten any younger... and I can stay out until 4 am, but I can't be counted on to function too well the following day. It doesn't help that I don't have the luxury of sleeping in past 10 am like some of the others on the trip did.

Anyway, we had a good time and we realized that we need to do this every year no matter where we are. And it'll be interesting to see how the group expands as people get married and have kids. So for the rest of the McGill crew, be warned. We're doing this again next year in Montreal (to celebrate 10 years! Yikes, when did we get old) and we expect you to attend!

The crew on the water taxi on our way to China town.

Seriously, boys with babies. How cute?!?

This picture was taken after I finally got a seat on the bus. As an fyi to all of you, if you see a lady (or man) holding a baby on the bus, you should offer them your seat. We got on to a fairly crowded bus so we folded up our stroller and took Callan out. But all the seats were taken so I was stuck standing holding on while also holding Callan. It's a good thing he's such a chill baby... otherwise it could have been a disaster.

Happy Friday!

Seriously, this kid makes me smile.