This was our third Christmas with just the little McNeil fam and our second Christmas with Callum, and we had a wonderful time, as usual.

On Christmas Eve, Andy lit a fire – Callum enjoyed watching it.  ” ‘OT!”

Callum and Tiffany in new Christmas Eve PJs.

Callum loved his new PJS, even though they were a little too big.  He ran to the mirror to check them out.

Then he ran back – very happy with what he saw.

Our Christmas tree, ready and waiting for Callum’s arrival.

Daddy and Callum enjoying the fire (and some coffee) on Christmas morning.

Callum running to the mirror to check out his new hat. . . and Andy wearing Callum’s new sweater as a hat.

Our favorite present.

Callum helping Daddy water the tree.

Playing his new piano.

Dinner tasted better off of Mommy’s plate.

The day after Christmas, we went up to the Marin Headlands to see what we could see, and to get some fresh air after spending all of Christmas day inside!

Callum and Andy looking at the amazing waves.

The next day, we went down to see cousin Jamie (a.k.a. Uncle Otis) and Lindsay, who just got a new dog named Aspen.  Callum LOVED Aspen, and Aspen was a pretty big – make that a literally ENORMOUS – fan of Callum’s, as well.

“tuddle doddie.”

And now we’re officially caught up!  (. . . and you doubted me. . . )

We had a wonderful trip to Pennsylvania for Thanksgiving.  Callum had a great time with his cousins!

Saranda and Aislinn give Callum a big kiss sandwich!

Mac likes it when Uncle Andy turns him upside down.

Everybody loves Uncle Andy!!

Callum liked Uncle Kevin’s shoes.  He couldn’t decide which way to go, though. . .

Malachi and Uncle Mac helping Grandma prep the spinach.

Callum posing with the Christmas tree.  He’s perfecting his camera smile.

Funny faces!  (Daddy wins, but he has 29+ years more practice)

After we got back from Pennsylvania, Barry and Claire came to see us!  We had a wonderful time.

Close up!

One very sweet moment.

Awww. . .

OK, break’s over.  Let’s play!

Callum likes the pockets in his new vest.  It has been colder lately in San Francisco!

We’ve been very busy. . .

This is photo evidence of Callum’s false start.  We were having races.

How rude!

Callum and cousin Lindsay had a fun time playing together.

This must be instinctive behavior.  He couldn’t possibly have learned that from Daddy.

Callum had his last day at the infant-toddler center.  We were sad to say goodbye to teacher Vicki!

Look at his lonesome little cubby.

Grampy came to visit!!  Callum and Grampy had fun dancing on the furniture.  Another instinctive behavior, surely.

And Grampy left us a nice parting note.

Callum got his first Trader Joe’s balloon.  ”boon!”

“‘at!”

We went apple picking, in an attempt to revive the Abbott AND McNeil family tradition.  This was the teany tiny Californian orchard we found.

It was hot out, which didn’t seem right, either – but Callum was very good at picking the low ones. “appo? appo? appo?” (most of his words sound like questions.)

uh oh. . .

We had a great time watching the chickens.

For Halloween, Callum was a lion.  ROAR!  I mean, Zzzzzzz. . . oar

Callum and Alexandre had fun with the screen door.

We had another attempted gator picture.

C loved his costume.  ”on? on?”

Bubbles!!

Look out, giraffe; that fierce lion is gonna get you!

Callum wanted EVERYTHING on one morning. “On? On?”

Little man took a shower in the hotel.  They had a special little towel just for him.

Oh, and we’re still here, too. We went to a wedding in Chicago.

Callum is a pro at using the potty.  He’s still in diapers, but he knows how it’s done.  This day he was SOOOO messy from preschool festivities.  That, the ponytail remainder, and the reading material seemed to be picture-worthy.

At thanksgiving Grandpa took our old ibook (the same computer that created most of this blog), and installed software for Callum.  We set it up for Callum today.

Waiting for the computer to start up.

Playing a little “Baby Banger”

Baby Banger is fun!

Callum starting his own blog (www.dkoicaoicicasoi982e9xd9cdfiici890029809399jf89uijdo8cjope.com)

Blogging is fun!

After this, we’re almost up-to-date.  Enjoy!!

Our new apartment has a pool, so we went swimming one day.

Callum really liked it.

He likes to play with the throw pillows.

Sometimes we play peek-a-boo with the whole pile.

Touch Down!!

On our way to get Callum’s first haircut.

Skeptical. . .

Still skeptical. . .

Callum wondering what exactly just happened here.

Very sleepy on the way home, sporting the new ‘do.

Swinging

He loves swinging.

Mommy and the C-man

Playing piano

Good form, little man.

Hanging out with Milo – we had a fun day at home, grownups included!

We had loads of fun with Grandma and Grandpa when they came to town a while back.  Callum learned how to walk while they were here, which was a special treat for all of us.  Have a look:

We went to collect Grandma and Grandpa in the Sierra Nevada foothills . . . wine country. . . where we also got to visit with the Baum family.  Callum was not feeling well that day, but he was happy to have Grandpa’s shoulder to rest on.

Having a picnic lunch with the Baums.

Hanging out at a winery. . . waiting for the grownups.

Back in SF, Grandma checked out the farmer’s market near us.

Daddy, Callum and Kermy relaxing after a long day.

We went to see an alley in the Mission that has loads of interesting murals.

Swingin. . .

Andy wearing his Callum hat.

Relaxing in the middle of a hike out by the water.

Callum looking at the beautiful vista.

Let’s try some steps!

Walking along. . .

Andy and Callum at the playground.

Mommy and Callum at the playground.  We always play with other kids’ toys.  One day we might get our own.

Swinging again. . . we do lots of swinging.

Callum in a box.

Signing Daddy’s birthday card.

Watching Daddy open his presents.

HELPING Daddy open his presents.

Drinking a large cappuccino at one of our favorite local cafes.  It’s more like a bowl of bowluccino.

Perhaps my favorite picture ever of Grandma and Grandpa.

Handsome boy matched the playground on this day.

Grandma showing Callum some cool stuff.

Whoa!!

At the Japanese garden.

Callum went to the Academy of Sciences with Andy, Grandma, and Grandpa.  He loved watching the fish.

Banana AND Grandma?!  Now THAT is a good day for Callum.

Playing peek-a-boo through the play structure.

Wearing Grandpa’s hat is a favorite activity for both Callum and Grandpa.

Showing us the new stress balls Daddy bought in China Town.

Hanging out with Grandma and Grandpa

What?

NOTE TO CALLUM FANS. . . . MAKE SURE YOU SCROLL DOWN – I WAS ON A ROLE TONIGHT.

Here are two choice photos from Reese’s birthday party.  Callum was the only baby to check out the pool, and he was all over it.

Let’s GO already!

His diaper was HUGE after this.  I’m surprised there was any water left in the pool.

The week of July 4th, we went camping in Sequoia National Park.  It was quite the adventure with little C-man, who was not yet walking.  We had a great time and Callum LOVED being in the tent.  Check it out!

Our first night in the tent.  Callum spent a very long time crawling around, bouncing up and down, and saying “WOW!” while we pretended to be asleep and occasionally reminded him it was nightnight time.

Trying out his new sleeping bag.  He loved that, too.

Hiking on our first full day at Sequoia.  Callum hikes in style.

This hike left from our campsite.  It was gorgeous.

Callum enjoyed it in his own way. . .

Awake after the paparazzi came by. . . Callum and Andy enjoyed the view.  We knew our hike was supposed to take us to a grove of Sequoia trees.  Having never seen one before, we kept thinking, “there are lots of trees in these woods. . . how will we know when we get there?”

Thats how.  The sequoia trees were amazing.

And they did not have big pine cones.  The Sequoia pine cones are about the size of an egg.  These huge pine cones were actually from much smaller trees.  We felt like perhaps the Sequoia had nothing to prove and therefore no need for a showy pine cone.

Callum had his own trail mix.

He definitely ate the whole bag over the three days in Sequoia.

Andy on a rock.

Callum checking out the big pine cone.  They were sticky, too.  We wanted to take one home for Grandma, but you know. . . ecological purpose and whatnot.  Plus, I think it’s a felony to take nature from a National Park.  It’s definitely not legal.

Callum reading a book in the dirt.  He had a very dirty bottom after that.

Us with the General Sherman Tree, which is the biggest tree there is.  It was very big, but you really can’t tell from this picture which someone generously took while Callum was crying from fatigue. . . not our finest moment, but here’s proof that we were there!

Callum and Andy as we set off on the next day’s hike.  Callum sleeping again. . .

Having some trail mix at the top of the hike.

Tiffany on a rock.

Whoowhee all of that hiking and camping was exhausting!!  Callum took a very big, hot nap at our hotel after two nights of camping.  We were all very tired and very grateful to be clean!

Today I went to the doctor (checkup), and when I got on the scale, the nurse said, “Not bad.”

Not bad?

What the HECK is that supposed to mean?

So I laughed and said, “Not bad?  What do you mean ‘not bad?’ You can’t say ‘Not bad’”

She just laughed and that was the end of it.  No explanation, no apology, nada.  I clearly spent about 4 minutes wondering what she meant (fortunately not someone who stresses about weight too too much) and the rest of the day thinking about what a hilariously ridiculously weird thing it was to say. . . whether she’s said that before. . . whether she gets why it’s really not a good choice of words. . .

So in those four wondering minutes, I came to the fortunate conclusion that whatever she meant by it. . . well. . . it’s definitely not bad.

Might not be good, perhaps better than expected, but certainly not bad.

What’s funny is that when I saw the weight, I actually thought something very close to “not bad,” myself.  Better than expected considering the relative lack of exercise over the past. . . say. . . 21-22 months or so (got pretty huge toward the end there).  BUT, for all you nurses and nurses-to-be out there (ahem). . . when you weigh someone – perhaps ESPECIALLY a post-baby lady – if you go with “not bad,” be prepared to defend yourself.

A few cute ones to start your week

Callum has grown quite fond of his hat

Climbing the steps is part of the fun

Awww. . .