Happy 1st Birthday, Calum!

Tomorrow we leave for Cyprus which in itself is a small miracle due to the constantly changing events after the Icelandic volcano eruption which have totally put all flights to and from the U.K. to a halt. Apparently my recent church going has made someone happy and our prayers were answered, Mark and I desperately need a holiday and as I had nothing planned for Calum's 1st on Saturday I was beginning to feel like his birthday was going to be a blow out.

Yes, impossible to believe but our little munchkin will be 1 on Saturday. In some ways I look back and feel as if it's been 10 years and in others it feels like yesterday that we brought him home. Honestly those first few days and months were tough, I was on an emotional roller coaster, nights of waking up to feed left me dazed and confused the next day and there were more than a few tearful evenings of Mark returning home from work and me thinking I just couldn't do the stay at home Mom thing anymore. This year has been a massive learning and growing experience and instead of being sad about the time that has passed, I look forward to each day moving forward.

A lot of you haven't had the chance to spend much time with Calum which saddens me to no end. Maybe you should feel blessed that your ear drums are still in tact. Yes, he is a talker, yeller and screamer. Mark and I have given up talking to each other at the dinner table as neither of us can talk loud enough to be heard over Calum. I can no longer watch the news in the mornings when I feed him because he is yelling at me and demanding my full attention and rapid spoon to mouth feeding to satisfy his insatiable appetite. Our kid can eat. And eat. And eat some more. There isn't a single thing he won't eat. I can't think of a time when he hasn't shouted for more at the end of a meal. Public outings with Calum are the highlight of his life. Not satisfied with the undying attention he gets at home, he views these as his chance to get as many grannies as possible to look his way, tell him how cute he is and etc. In fact, he doesn't even discriminate anymore-he will even try to get attention from teenage boys and the like which is pretty embarrassing for all parties involved (except Calum of course).

One thing Calum might just love more than attention is books. Better than any toy, books will keep him entertained for ages. Thank you a million times over Auntie Tara for starting our collection, we have read each of your books about a thousand times and it's even gotten so bad that I have memorised the words to Guess How Much I Love You which could be viewed as sweet and pathetic at the same time. Calum also loves his Daddy, lots. I knew Mark would be a great Dad, but I don't know if I could have ever expected just how much fun these two have-it's like they have their own little world sometimes and I am just lucky to be standing outside looking in. Next to Dad Calum also especially loves his cousins Max & Holly. When the three of them get together as of late, they all really play and he could spend ages just watching these two goofballs and trying to be part of the action.

Really we have been blessed with an amazingly good baby. Since about month 3 he has slept through just about every night from about 8-8. He naps religiously 3 hours a day. While I was worried he didn't start crawling until earlier this month, he blessed me with 11+ months of not having to run around after him and prevent him from turning on the surround sound at full blast or taking all the pans out from under the oven. 99% of the time he is a happy baby and he loves being around people. He will go to anyone happily. He loves the creche at the gym which has allowed me to almost get back to pre-baby body which is saying a lot considering I gained about 70 lbs.!

Calum has just been the most amazing, special addition to our lives. He's been more than I ever could have hoped or imagined and I can't wait each day to go in to his room and see that beaming smile of his and where this day will take us, what new thing he will learn or help me learn. Happy birthday to my gorgeous cheeky little boy, we love you!

Our 1 year stats:

Height: 75.5 cm / 2ft 5.7 in (49th percentile)
Weight: 12 kg / 26.5 lbs (96th percentile)
Head circumference: 49 cm / 19.3 in (91st percentile)

Loved what Meghan did and thought I would share a few pics from the last 12 mos. Wish us safe travels! x

Almost 1!
11 months
10 months (notice Guess How Much I Love You in the background?)
9 mos
8 mos
7 mos and looking really grown up!
6 mos-he will never forgive me for this costume!
5 mos

4 mos
3 mos, on my birthday
2 mos
5 weeks

Calum's First Haircut

Somehow I thought we might be able to prolong Calum's first haircut until after his first birthday, but lately his shaggy dog look was getting far too shaggy and before Mark got tempted to cut it himself (which he actually did when Calum was about 3 mos old resulting in him looking like Chucky for a good few weeks), we took Calum to the closest kid salon we could find which was a good 30 minutes away but totally worth the drive (for anyone reading here in the U.K. it's called Echo in West Wickham and they are great!). I guess when you can only charge £5 for a cut it's not a very hot market.

Pre haircut, Shaggy-style

Anyway, it was awesome-he got to sit in this cute little tractor seat and in front of him next to the mirror was a flat screen t.v. playing Peppa Pig (a kiddie favourite here in the U.K.). Calum didn't cry once and actually seemed to love it, not surprising considering the attention he was getting from the hairdresser and the family who came in for the appointment after ours. I'm still getting used to the results, and the fact that he's growing up so fast that I can barely keep up.

Post haircut showing off for the girls who were next

Tooth number two is making it's appearance, this time it's the one on top just above his one that's come in on the bottom so looks like we're going to have a baby jack o'lantern on our hands until the other two front teeth catch up.

Calum has also perfected his crawling technique over the last week or so which has resulted in me running around after him and hopefully losing those last few pounds of baby weight (a year later!). Just in time for our trip next week to Cyprus where we will celebrate Calum's 1st.

Hope you all have a great week x

The latest

After what was a long 4 day weekend here in the UK, life today seems to be getting almost back to normal. Friday I went shopping and to lunch with a friend and capped off the night with a family dinner for Max's birthday. The following day we helped Tracey and her boyfriend Richard move into their new house and Sunday we spent the day with family for Easter. Easter morning was a treat, my Mom sent a HUGE box of American candy and a few bits for Calum who actually seemed to really love the Easter pail the most! Poor Calum has come down with a cold again and wasn't really able to get as much sleep as he probably needed due to us being out and about. As I write this he is snoring away peacefully in his room which is pure bliss to my ears!

Tracey and Richard in their new house, Tracey is 30 wks pregnant.

It's weekends like these that I am reminded just what a good baby we have. He rarely cries and even though at times this weekend he looked drunk he was so exhausted, he keeps powering on and always has a smile on his little face. Due to exhaustion and a stuffy nose/cough he woke up once or twice both Friday and Saturday night which is a rarity for him. I know personally when I hear that cry come over the baby monitor I always wake up with a shock followed by a little groan in the back of my mind wondering how long I'm going to be up and how we're going to remedy the situation. Whilst I was exhausted I had to remind myself that this is normal baby stuff that we've thankfully be spared from most of the time. I'm convinced our next baby is never going to sleep and be a big handful!
Most of you know I was a little concerned as Calum (who will be 1 in 2.5 wks) hadn't started crawling yet. On Friday night when we got home I put him down to unpack our stuff he started crawling! After months of trying to lure him with the remote, cell phone and etc. he surprised us by going for it when there was nothing exciting in sight and when he was totally knackered. Of course since then I've been wishing he could go back to not crawling because now he is into everything! Calum's first tooth also made an appearance last week so slowly but surely he is catching up and amazes me at how much he is learning and changing everyday. With his 1st birthday approaching I thought I might be a little sad but how could I be when I have so much to look forward to with him?

Showing off his new crawling skills-he favours the crab walk!
Calum with his favourite, his rocking horse from Grandma. He can rock on his own now! Not sure what Mark has done to his hair in this pic

Max's 7th Birthday Party

Sunday was our nephew Max's 7th birthday party and wow, what an experience. All I can say is that I'm going to try and enjoy these next few years of quiet as much as possible-who knew 7 year olds were so nuts?! Max's "real" birthday isn't until April 2, he and his family were meant to be in Thailand but had to cancel their trip as my brother in law has had an absolute nightmare with having his tonsils out and 3 surgeries later has been told he can't fly. Anyway, the party theme was camo/army and whilst it was a little crazy, Calum had a great time hanging out with the kids and getting lots of attention from the family.

I just can't believe Max is going to be 7, when I first met him he was 3 and it seems like in the blink of an eye he's grown up into a proper boy. Calum already adores him and I know as he gets older will probably idolise him and be Max's little shadow. At first I think Max had a bit of a hard time adjusting to not being the baby of the family anymore but over the past few months he's really seemed to grow on the idea of being the older and more wise cousin and has been really sweet with Calum-helping feed him, always making sure he has his little comfort muslin and playing with him when he comes over.

Most exciting is that Calum & Max won't be the only boys of the family..... Tracey (Mark's sister) told us last week she's having a boy! Her baby is due in June so there will be just over a year between her son and Calum so he gets to have not one but two boys to grow up with! Can't wait x

Calum & Mom
Hanging out with Max and the other kids
Max playing with Calum
Calum with Holly and Uncle Paul

New begining, a milestone and an ending, too

What a week it's been! To start the week one of my dearest friends welcomed a beautiful daughter into the world; Lorelei Ann Shepherd was born to Andy & Leah on Monday the 15th weighing in at 6 lbs 4 0z-a gorgeous little mini me just like her Mom. Anyone that knows Andy & Leah know that these two are going to make amazing parents and I just can't believe I have to wait 4 more months to meet her.

Lovely Leah pre-Lorelei
Lorelei

Another milestone this week is Westyn's 1st birthday which is today, March 18th. I know Ashley & Troy have a special little party planned and again, wish more then anything that we could help celebrate. As I mentioned to Ashley earlier this week, it's unbelievable how fast a year goes by and just unfathomable how much our lives have been touched by these little miracles. Happy Birthday, Westyn-may all of your wishes come true!

Calum & Westyn playing footsie back in October

Lastly after almost 6 years working for Greythorn/EMR/The FiveTen Group, I handed in my resignation. It was a hard decision to make but one that I don't regret. My time with them gave me some amazing opportunities which included an unforgettable trip to Dubai 4 years ago where I would meet my husband and the opportunity to transfer to London and fulfill a lifelong dream of living abroad. Unfortunately this chapter of my life isn't quite over so wish me luck.

Daddy's boy

It's no secret around here that Calum is a "Daddy's boy". Despite me spending 24/7 with him while Mark is at work M-F, Calum and Mark have formed a bond that old Mom just can't compete with. I have to say, it's lovely to watch and touching as I know Mark and Calum are going to continue to be close for the rest of their lives which is something Mark didn't get to have with his own Dad who died of a heart attack when Mark was 12. This video shows just what sort of reception Dad gets when he comes home from work. Have a great week x

Buh Bye.....

Rehydrating/double fisting it after a weekend with no food or milk...

The past week or so has been a stressful one, Calum has been really sick. What started a couple of weeks ago as sniffles progressed into a smokers hack accompanied by fevers of up to 104 degrees over the weekend. As of today, it seems we've finally turned the corner and are on our way to having our baby back. In addition to worrying, it's been awful not even seeing a glimmer of a smile or that shine he usually has in his eyes.

Sick baby on the couch watching Baby Einstein

Somehow last week Calum finally learned to wave bye bye (since December we've been waving like lunatics and getting nothing but a smile in return). It's pretty cute, he can't seem to figure out how to do it with just one hand so as with everything else, he does it double. That's my boy! Video below since I can't figure out how to post it here...

Last week we went for a much needed walk with one of my friends and Calum went on the swings for the first time, he loved it! We have also found out that Calum loves ice cream-since he's refused to eat much of anything over the past few days we gave him a bite out of desperation (okay, maybe more like a few bites!). Must remember all that he had whilst in the womb ;)! Otherwise we've just been getting by and I've just been trying to not go insane stuck at home. Hopefully the gorgeous weather we're having will continue so Calum and I can enjoy it later in the week x

Calum on the swings

Calum and his friend Maggie-funny when I took him back by himself he just didn't seem to enjoy the swings nearly as much. Baby love!