Callum {4 years}

My little sidekick is as spicy as ever! FOUR didn't slow him down. This kid has never met someone he didn't want to play with. He tries to pick up every stick he sees...even if it is a legitimate branch. He has more energy than anyone I have met. He loves running, jumping and playing with his beyblades, cars and duplos.

Callum has literally never met anyone who he didn't consider a friend. He wants to play with everyone he sees, including adults. He will hit someone and yell "tag", even strangers in Target! Playing tag, wrestling and throwing sticks are a few of his favorite ways to play. And, it seems the sand box is his jam at school. He told me one day after school that he threw sand at someone and I told him that isn't ok. He responded that it was because the kid threw it at him first and got it in his eye. Oh man.

When I was putting Callum to bed the other night, I was thinking just how far we've come. Ian and I used to take turns sitting next to his bed and holding his hand until he went to sleep. Sometimes it took hours. These days, as long as he hasn't napped, he is out within 10 minutes. But, getting him to slow down for bedtime can sometimes be hard. Like I said, the kid has energy. He loves reading books about cars, ninjas or monkeys jumping on the bed before bedtime. I tried stopping Callum's naps in the spring, but it was dicy and it really has taken until the fall for me to fully stop them. Of course, if we drive anywhere in the late afternoon, I really have to work to keep him awake. Because of no nap, his bedtime usually ends up being around 7:30. 

Callum is a stellar eater, eating mostly anything put in front of him. Though, he also has a serious sweet tooth and will go for candy at any possible time. When there are popsicles in the freezer, he is constantly helping himself to them. He also loves eggs, chicken, pretty much any fruit and yogurt drinks. 

Callum has gone to LA with my parents twice now alone and he asks to do it by himself all the time now. I think he likes all the attention on himself! He also likes talking to people on the phone and hanging up on them mid conversation. He has taken to asking me to take his picture at various times and I totally love it. 

This kid is a special one. He is fun to have around and certainly keeps me on my toes and keeps life interesting. 

Callum got to celebrate his birthday on the actual day at school. We brought in pizza for everyone, then Callum picked out airheads to send home with everyone too. Then, in the evening, we had our family over for cake and ice cream. Callum picked out a cake topped with Oreos. He got beyblades and nerf guns for his birthday, both his favorites. 

And now a little interview with Callum:

What is your favorite:

     color - blue

     food - McDonalds

     drink - apple juice

     ice cream - chocolate

     toy - beyblades and nerf guns 

     book - the pooping one (Everybody Poops)

     song - all of them

     tv show - Morphile

     movie - Star Wars (I don't think he's ever seen any)

     thing to do - poop (toilet humor is big these days!)

     game - car game (an app)

     sport - baseball

     animal - lion...they scratch people

Who is your best friend? Landon

What do you like doing with your friends? Playing nerf guns with Charlie

Where did you meet Landon? at home

What is your favorite thing about school? playdough 

What do you enjoy learning the most? music

What do you like to do on the playground? play in the sand box

Who do you play with at school? my friends

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Callum {3.5 years}

likes: playing with kids, nerf guns, cars, leaving the house, playing with water, anything sweet (ice cream, popsicles, candy, etc)

dislikes: going to bed (or nap), having to hold my hand, his teeth being brushed

accomplishments:

can count to 19..and beyond, but gets a little messed up

knows his colors

pees standing up

Three and a half years and ornery as ever! This kid was a dream baby and went on to be the most ACTIVE TODDLER EVER. Like seriously. Active with a side of ornery. He keeps me humble on the daily. Sure, he means well. But hitting people with sticks isn't always cool. And hitting random people's butts in public and yelling "tag!" can be a bit embarrassing. 

Callum is so, so social. He loves playing with other kids. When his brother or sister actually play with him, he lights up and you can tell it means the world to him. He can just play a bit rough. Wrestling, shooting others with a nerf gun and chasing people are among his favorite ways to play. But anytime he sees a kid, he just always assumes they want to play! 

Callum is about 90% potty trained and honestly, I had kind of given up hope and that is way better than I expected at this point. And it's not because he can't do it...he totally can. It is all about him just not wanting to take the time to go. He made potty training Connor and Isla seem like a breeze...well, Isla literally was and Connor I now know pretty much was. Callum is just wanting to pave his own path! 

Callum is still a very good eater. Though when I asked him his favorite food, he said "McDonald's. That is what I like to eat." and when I asked his favorite ice cream, he said "McDonald's ice cream". I promise you, we don't have McDonald's that often! He doesn't even get to do playdates there like the other kids did. But, at home, Callum is a great eater. He will eat mostly anything...especially if it is coming off mine or Ian's plate. He doesn't like to drink milk, but drinks water like a champ and will steal any soda people leave laying around...even if he doesn't know the person. 

Sleep wise, Callum is so-so. He really could still use a nap, but when he does nap, he takes forever to go to sleep at night. But, when he doesn't nap, well the afternoons can be a bit of a struggle. Because when he is tired, he becomes even more ornery than normal. But also, if he wakes up super early (5:30-6:30am), he really just requires a nap. Callum still wakes up most nights to crawl into bed with us, but that is just normal in our house for our kids. 

^^ "No more pictures!!!"

Also, I totally did these pictures to match ones from Connor at the exact same age. In case you are into that sort of thing, here is the post. 

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Callum {3 years}

Likes: playing with his brother & sister's toys, jumping off anything, popsicles, cars & tractors, shooting people with nerf guns, hitting people with swords

Dislikes: getting his clothes changed, the dentist, being told no, having to sit in a shopping cart

Accomplishments:

talks in sentences

Can count up to 17

sings his abc's

knows his first and last name

This kid can be so sweet and adorable, I can eat him up. Yet, he can be oh-so ornery! I guess that is three. Talking up a storm, yet wanting to keep up with the big kids...though not having the same smarts as the big kids, so shooting people in the face with a nerf gun is seen as totally acceptable. 

Some of Callum's current favorites are hot wheels, Super Wings, and playing anything that involves throwing something or hitting someone with something. He loves reading, well being read to. Some of his favorite books are No More Monkeys Jumping on the Bed, The Wheels on the Bus and Little Blue Truck.

Callum is probably our most adventurous eater. He will eat pretty much anything. And the kid loves salad!!! He also has a sweet tooth and is constantly requesting candy...or helping himself to a popsicle in the freezer! Which, that reminded me why I put a lock on the freezer when the other kids were little. He loves yogurt and I just recently discovered he loves eggnog. He doesn't really like milk, so will choose water over milk at dinner every night. 

We took the side off his crib a couple months ago and he is doing great with that. In fact, it's pretty convenient because now if he wakes at night, he just comes in our room and climbs in bed. I keep meaning to set up a twin bed for him, but haven't gotten around to it yet. Maybe this weekend. 

Callum doesn't like being contained in anything or by anyone. He doesn't want to ride in a shopping cart and will beg to be out. "I hold your hand!" Then when you let him out, he refuses to hold your hand! He is a bit of a running risk and being so pregnant, that is sometimes hard to deal with. He also thinks its funny to jump and kick you when walking while holding your hand. Yeah, I am sure I look just as much like a train wreck out in public with him and my big belly as you are imagining! 

Callum loves his mama so much and definitely is most attached to me. He says to me often, "I hold you", which means he wants to be held. He always wants to hold my hand, even when he is sleeping. If he is watching tv, he wants me to sit with him, which really means he pretty much wants to sit on top of me. It's all really sweet and I tend to eat it up. 

So there you have it, Callum in all his glory at three.

In case you want to look back, here are a couple of my favorite updates on Callum - one year...and eating his cake!, 7 months (he was just such a smiley baby!) and 1 week (because newborn baby goodness, of course).

And here was Connor and Isla at three. Connor and Callum are wearing the same shirt for their three year photos. 

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Callum {two years}

Weight: 28 pounds, 8 ounces

Length: 33.5 inches

tooth count: 16

Likes: throwing balls, playing with older kids, climbing on things, playing on playgrounds, locks and latches

Dislikes: sitting still, being forced to do anything he doesn't want to do, being in his stroller for too long

This kid is mr. independent. He wants to do everything on his own. And he certainly never wants to be forced to do something he doesn't want to do...it could even be something he normally likes, but if he isn't in the mood, he will let everyone know. Climbing is his jam. He likes to be high up on the play structures at the park and put a foot out like he is going to jump, then look at me and smile. Little turkey! 

Callum is talking up a storm. He says so many words I couldn't even count. If I don't acknowledge a word he said the first time, he will repeat it over and over until I get it. He is now also stringing two words together, with "stop it!" being his favorite. Though he has also said things like "Connor school" or "dad car". And another favorite, "ucky poo"...haha, now you know what I say when I change him! Callum loves saying Connor and Isla's names. They are literally the two most used words he says. He says Connor's name "nonnor". It's really sweet. Besides knowing our names and grandparents names, he also knows Uncle Jeremy, as well as a couple kids from the school (Pierson and Jack). And he knows the names of practically all foods, haha! The kid takes eating very serious. 

Callum will eat mostly any food, as long as he is in the mood. That is the big caveat right there, it has to be his idea. He loves him some meat. He never turns any type of meat down and will eat copious amounts of it. He also loves eggs, yogurt and bananas. Oh and noodles. He likes noodles. We offer him milk all the time, but he doesn't seem to like it at all. Speaking of milk, we are currently in the process of weaning him from nursing. This has been going on for almost two weeks and I feel like he is finally getting it. But it is so sad when he wants his "ilk" and I say no, he literally goes hysterical...but in a sad way, not a temper tantrum way. Sort of breaks my heart each time. But it's time. 

Callum willingly reads with us these days. He will endlessly bring us books to read. He even calls certain books certain names, like a book with a rainbow on it he calls rainbow and a book with a bunny on it he calls bunny. In fact, I would consider the board book I Am a Bunny his current favorite book. Though his grandparents got him the book Good Night Planes recently and he really likes that one as well. 

Besides enjoying playing and being outside, Callum loves planes and helicopters. That started with him spotting them outside and turned into him enjoying playing with them as well. He also loves playing with all the matchbox cars we have. Literally his favorite past time is pushing them off a bookshelf one at a time. Then he picks them back up and does it all over again. He also loves scribbling on anything when he can get his hands on any writing utensil. And balls are a huge source of entertainment for him. He is a good thrower too. 

Some things I want to remember about Callum right now; how you can't walk past leaves without picking them up and throwing them. And how you can't resist picking up a stick and hitting anyone or anything near you with it. How you come to me wanting kisses when you hurt yourself and how you like giving me open mouth kisses on my lips. How you say a word over and over until I correctly acknowledge it. How you will ask for candy or otter pops ("pop") pretty much any time day or night. In fact, a piece of candy is pretty much guaranteed to make you stop crying for any reason. 

I can't believe how much this kid has grown and changed in just six months! Makes this mama all sappy and emotional. And since I am already that way, I may as well make it even worse and check out Connor and Isla at the same age.

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Callum {1 year, 9 months}

Weight: 24 pounds, 8 ounces

Length: 33 inches

tooth count: 16

Likes: climbing on tables, playing with Connor & Isla's toys, popsicles, any toy with wheels, the toy cash register

Dislikes: being put in his car seat, sitting still, being forced to do anything he doesn't want to do

This little guy really has a will, and an independent streak. It's funny how people at the kids school only see him in a stroller, then if they happen to see him outside of it, are surprised how feisty he is...hence the reason he is always in the stroller at their school, haha! But seriously, if he is in a stroller he is content. If I try to hold him, he fights me to the death to get down and run around. After litereally never falling asleep anywhere but his carseat or home, he started napping in his stroller when we went to Boston and still can do it now. 

Speaking of sleep...Callum still wakes at night. He had a bit of a good stretch sleeping through, but then molars or something happened. He usually wakes twice a night. With the kids school schedules, I have been trying to get Callum to nap only once a day. I would love that nap to happen after I pick up Isla, but before I pick up Connor. With Callum getting up early in the morning, he really struggles making it that long and often crashes around 11. But the good news is, if I put him in his stroller when he falls asleep, I can easily take him to get Isla and he stays asleep. Also, because of the one nap a day thing, he goes to bed at 7:30 and does so much easier than before. 

A few  of Callum's favorite things are climbing on anything and everything and playing with the kids toys that they don't want him touching. He seriously gets joy out of listening to them scream. He enjoys listening to them scream so much, that he gets delight out of pulling Isla's hair. No joke. He has a huge smile on his face when he is pulling her hair and she is screaming. He pretty much gets the same joy when he gets in their room and starts grabbing at their toys as they freak out. He also loves climbing in cars, "driving" and touching all the buttons and knobs. Anytime he is around an open car door, he tries to get in and play. In terms of playing with toys, does throwing things count?! It's seriously a favorite past time of his. He also loves stacking anything that's stackable. He has recently gotten in to playing with Connor's old trains and really seems to enjoy them. But, the thing he does most is empty out the entire contents of the play kitchen. Numerous times every day. It's a favorite of his, haha! 

Callum still babbles a lot, but now has more noises that he babbles, if that makes sense. He also now says the words - mom, dad, baa (ball), hi, yeah, no and Isla. He points at things and "talks" a lot, but I obviously have no clue what he is saying. And sometimes, if we aren't getting it, he takes us by the hand and leads us to what he wants. He also knows many of his body parts - head, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, teeth, tongue, fingers, feet, toes. 

Callum's favorite food is probably popsicles. It doesn't matter where he is in the house, when he hears the freezer open, he comes running. He also stands at the freezer screaming numerous times a day. He is still a great eater, though getting slightly pickier. If he doesn't want something, he just throws it...which is just as awesome as it sounds. But any fruit or meat are usually a win with him. About a month ago, I took the tray of the high chair, so he now sits at the table with us. He does try grabbing at other people's food on the table, but he is learning. 

The things I really want to remember about this age are the way it feels when Callum grabs my hand (aka, my finger), how he lays his head on my shoulder when he is tired. How when he knows he's done something wrong, he puts his hands behind his back so you can't grab him. The way he tries to help put his shoes on. 

And here's an "action shot" of what taking pictures of a toddler is really like! 

Just for fun, Connor and Isla at the same age. I can't get over how much hair the other two had compared to Callum! 

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Callum {1 year, 6 months}

Weight: 22 pounds, 8 ounces

Length: 31 inches

tooth count: 12

Likes: puzzles, climbing on tables, throwing things, frozen blueberries, doing things on his own

Dislikes: sitting still, his diaper being changed

This kid, I tell you. He has developed such an independent spirit since learning to walk. Often he doesn't even want to hold my hand. He insists on doing so much on his own now and fights being carried a lot. He knows how to move chairs so he can use them to climb on top of tables...the kid even climbs on top of our dining room table! He seems to sense when the gate on the stairs is down and goes running to the stairs to climb them. And he gives us the cheekiest smile when we say no to him. On the opposite end, when he is tired and I pick him up, he lays down his head on my shoulder and rubs my back, just like I do to him. He gets so excited when Ian gets home from work and runs at him yelling, "Dad!!!" And he has a passion for food and eating that can't be rivaled. 

Obviously the biggest thing that happened since Callum's last update is him learning to walk. He only walked bits at a time for about the first week, then one day literally started walking everywhere and stopped crawling. Every once in a while, I will still see him crawl, like under a table or something, and his little funny crawl makes me smile and tugs at my heart a bit because all this growing up business just happens so stinking fast. 

Callum is currently getting his eye teeth, and like all his teeth have been, it has been drama. Besides waking at night from the pain, he also walks around with a hand constantly in his mouth and has been drooling a lot. Anything cold has been his best friend. But, I mostly try to stick to frozen blueberries because it just seems healthier than giving him popsicles all day and they seem to make him just as happy. 

Because of the eye teeth, sleep hasn't been going as well as it had been. However, he keeps making progress on going to sleep. He has even been letting us leave his room without fussing while still awake. This is such improvement from just a couple months ago when we would sit next to his crib and hold his hands through the slats. And I am hopeful that once his teeth are in he will go back to sleeping through the night. Depending on when Callum wakes up in the morning and really also depending on our schedule for the day, he will take either one or two naps a day. And it's hard to say how long they last as he normally gets woken up by one of the other kids making too much noise. 

We had to move all the kids around in my car because Callum kept pulling Isla's hair. He literally ripped out chunks of her hair on two occasions, so I knew something had to be done. All three kids were sitting in one row. Now Connor and Isla are in the third row and Callum is all alone in the second row. It works out well. I thought maybe Callum would be more entertained on car trips because he has his siblings to stare at, since he is still rear facing. But after all the driving we did last week, I can tell you that was just wishful thinking on my part! When he gets bored on those long car trips, he lets everyone know. 

Callum loves playing with any water and loves going in the pool. He also will pick up any writing utensil he finds and start scribbling away. And if there is no paper close, he is happy to use furniture...not that I would know or anything. Throwing and chasing after balls are also still one of his favorite things. 

Callum is obsessed with his belly button. The kid literally walks around with his finger in his belly button at all times. One day I lifted up my shirt and showed him mine and he got so excited and went to stick his finger in it. Since then, he has seen other people's belly buttons and gotten equally excited. Such a funny thing to get excited over, but it's all cute, strange and funny all rolled into one. 

Just for fun, Connor and Isla at the same age. Apparently both of them had many more teeth than Callum at this point and also weighed a decent chunk more than my skinny mini.  

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Callum {1 year, 3 months}

Weight: 21 pounds, 6 ounces

Length: 31 inches

tooth count: 8

Likes: playing/unloading cupboards or any drawer, puzzles, peek-a-boo, oranges, rice, going up stairs

Dislikes: being dropped off at nursery, his diaper being changed

Once Callum started moving, it's like a whole new world opened up. Sure, he is still entertained watching the world go by, but he also wants to get down and explore. He wants to go anywhere he can, and generally as far away from me as he can, then will turn around and cheekily smile at me. He seems to sense when the gate is down on the stairs and goes straight for them with gusto. The same is true for anything he isn't supposed to get in to. Want to see him crawl fast? Put a tub of legos across the room from him and you will be shocked how fast he can reach it!

Callum still crawls "funny", as everyone seems to say. That means he is still crawling with his right leg in front of him and sort of hopping. He loves going up the stairs, but still doesn't know how to go down them. We've tried teaching him, but he doesn't have much interest. He pulls himself to standing and stands on his tip toes to reach things. He cruises along furniture and will move from one piece of furniture to another. He also walks pushing things. And it doesn't necessarily need to be toys. He will walk pushing the vacuum or even a dining room chair. 

Callum still loves baths and really playing in any water, for that matter. I often times will give him a sink bath right after dinner. Not only does it leave him nice and clean, but sometimes I will do the dinner dishes on the opposite side of the sink while he is bathing! When Connor or Isla are in the bath, he will try to join them. But, group baths don't work well for him because he is so incredibly crazy in the bath, he can only have a little bit of water in the tub. 

About the worst thing in the world to Callum are diaper changes. Sometimes he starts crying just seeing the changing table when I am carrying him to it. He literally uses all his might to flip over and fight me the whole entire time. It makes it hard to properly get his diaper on. Sometimes I can distract him with his toothbrush or a phone, but I have to be careful that it doesn't end up in poop...not that I would know or anything ;) 

In terms of sleep, Callum still hasn't fully recovered from learning to stand in his crib. But, it's much better than it was when he first learned to stand, so baby steps, I guess. He goes to sleep with one of us in his room. Depending on the night, either holding our hand through the slats in his crib, or if we are really lucky, with one of us just sitting in the chair in his room...Callum lay down...Callum lay down. I thought he was pretty much ready to switch over from one nap to two, but lately he has been waking up for the day sometime in the 6:00 hour and he definitely needs two naps on those days. 

Callum will eat mostly anything, but has to be in the mood for it. If he's not, or even when he gets full, he just throws the unwanted food onto the floor. I let him feed himself and he generally eats what we are eating - full pieces of pizza, pasta, any and all meats, tomatoes, carrots, peas, green beans, hard boiled egg, oranges, grapes, bananas, pear, apple, etc. 

Callum loves playing with puzzles, emptying drawers of their contents and bugging his brother and sister. He still loves saying no to practically every question asked, waves at people generally after they've turned around and will bite anyone when they least suspect it. He really is a fun one to have around and makes me smile numerous times a day with that cheeky grin he gives me. 

Because I love looking back, Connor and Isla at the same age. 

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Callum {one year}

Weight: 20 pounds, 4 ounces

Length: 29.5 inches

Likes: all food...but the sight of bananas make him go crazy happy, legos (yeah, not a good one!), being outside

Dislikes: night time sleep, missing his nap, sleeping anywhere besides his swing or in the car, being hungry, strangers

This past month was a big one for Callum. Huge, in fact. He started crawling...awkwardly, but still gets around quickly. He crawls with one leg in front and more scoots. But he sure can get around. He also is now consistently puling himself up to standing in his crib. And he started being able to go from laying to sitting on his own. Callum also added another tooth, bringing the total count to five. This last tooth was particularly brutal and full of drama...mainly in the form of not sleeping at night. Like I said, big month.

Now that Callum can crawl, he really enjoys exploring. And I have to admit, it totally melts my heart when he crawls into the playroom to play. He thought he was hot stuff recently when I stood him up at the play kitchen to play. He still plays a lot with his little activity table, but is starting to enjoy the little people. And, of course, banging anything together is still a total favorite. Oh, and he somehow always seems to go right for anything he isn't supposed to be playing with that has been left out...so fun!

Food wise, Callum is completely on table food. In fact, I don't even remember the last time he was fed purees. It's been that long. He eats mostly anything. Once he's full, he starts throwing the food off his tray. When he wants more, he waves his hands in the air and screams. His communication skills are great...haha! Some of his favorites are bananas, grapes, oranges, avocado and yogurt. He still is nursing numerous times a day. Really probably four times a day and a few times at night. 

Since I like reading back on the other kids and remembering how things were, because one just forgets the details oh so quickly, I should mention Callum and sleep...or the lack there of. This kid just doesn't do well at night sleep. He is a great napper though. He wakes up numerous times a night. So often that I consider him ONLY waking three times a night a good night. But I am armed with a plan and ready to night wean, so wish us luck! 

Callum loves being around other babies. Usually he doesn't play very nice because he is very handsy and loves to touch them. But he means well...I think. He gets a lot of enjoyment out of watching other babies and kids play. Though he is starting to try to join in the fun. Isla already tries to shut him out of her room and Connor puts things out of his reach that he doesn't want Callum touching. 

Fair warning, there are a LOT of pictures of Callum going at his birthday cake. But I couldn't help it. The kid totally destroyed it and was so expressive in so many pictures. 

Because I can't help myself, Connor at one year and Isla at one year. I can't believe how much hair both of them had compared to Callum! But, he by far is my most smiley and chill baby during the day. 

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