Baby Callahan Round Two

Here we go again, baby Callahan #2 is due in April 2015!!! 

We are over the moon, and a little bit nervous to be on "man to man" defense with two little ones. I suspected I was expecting when I continued to wake up in the middle of the night....starved and extremely sleepy (that's how I figured out I was pregnant with Sawyer). Everyone knows that I do love an early bedtime... but falling asleep at 7:30-8:00 was a red flag. 

We announced our pregnancy this weekend via cheesy a picture with the caption, "We're adding a pumpkin to our patch." I couldn't resist, especially since it coincides so nicely with Halloween. Let's just say getting a "nice" family photo with a squirmy toddler was NOT easy. I set up my camera on self timer on top of our stroller (hence why the pictures are crooked).

Sawyer proceeded to throw the pumpkin.

Notice the pumpkin on the ground AGAIN (and my husband's face) 

Yes we're so happy to take these photos! 

This is the photo we ended up using... even though our heads are cut off and my stomach looks ginormous. Yep, thanks Kurt for making me choose the most unflattering picture of myself ;) 

All Sawyer wanted to do was carry around the pumpkin and throw it as hard as he could on the ground. Notice the Chinese work out equipment in the background (don't ask me how to use it). 

Gender: Am hoping that we might be able to find out at our next appointment. Our doctor told us REALLY early with Sawyer (13 weeks). Right now, I'm guessing a girl just because this pregnancy has been very different than with Sawyer, but then again, they are two different babies! 

Weight gain: I started at 116 and I think I was at 118 at my last appointment (still not used to converting from kgs to lbs)

Maternity clothes: I've already started wearing my Old Navy maternity leggings. I have some from the GAP on the way via my sweet mother because they are just oh SO comfortable. 

Stretch marks: Crossing my fingers for none, I was lucky with Sawyer! 

Belly button in or out: My bellybutton starts in at the beginning of the day and the afternoon bloat causes it to poke out a little (so weird).

Sleep: Ok... I haven't been waking up as much in the middle of the night with a 3493843 thoughts racing through my mind, like... "should the babies share a room?" "Where will I pump at work now that I share an office?" "Should we move to a bigger apartment?" "Should we buy another crib, or will Sawyer be ready for a big boy bed?" Yep these are things that keep me awake at night. I look over at Kurt blissfully sleeping and think how jealous I am! 

Best moment this week: Having a nice spooky dinner with some friends on Sunday making homemade pizza (that Kurt started on fire on the grill...hahah!) It was still delicious ;) 

Worst moment this week: Not really sure that I've had one?

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Miss anything: Beer....It's been so hot here and after a long day at school, I would love a beer...so in the meantime, I can drool over Kurt's. On a positive note, I will be able to have my favorite beers in the states this summer! 

Movement: Nope. I am hoping I will feel the "bubbles" in a couple of weeks though! 

Cravings: Sweets, bagels with cream cheese. I really, really want these noodles that I love from this cute little restaurant here in China BUT it's about a 40 minute ride on the subway, so I'll have to wait until we get back from Thailand. 

Queasy or sick: I've been feeling "car-sick" (I don't know another way to describe it) for the past few weeks on and off. I've been also having weird aversions to things like... coffee! I love my iced coffee/lattes and it's been so hard because I've been dumping it out in the morning because the smell makes me so sick.  

Looking forward to: Our vacation in Thailand this Friday. I am hoping to be able to relax, drink a ton of fruit shakes, and eat a bunch of yummy Thai food with friends! 

Back Into the Swing of Things

I realize that I've been absent from blogging for quite some time. To say it's been a busy year is an understatement. I have a new job this year as a 2nd and 3rd grade EAL (English as an additional Language) teacher, so I've been trying to get used to my new role and spend as much time with my little family as possible. So far, I am loving my new job. Basically, I support EAL students (kiddos whose first language is not English). This means, I run around all day going from classroom to classroom...but I love being in all of the different classrooms and working with teachers to support these students. I will admit, I miss having my "own" class of students to bond with, but a plus is that I see different students all day.

                                                       

The Chinese just celebrated the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. One of my friends hosted a lovely little moon party full of DIY flower crowns, delicious treats including both moon cakes and macaroons (perfect mix!), and of course...great company. From my understanding, the moon festival was originally celebrated to "give thanks" to the moon and a changing of seasons. Families get together and eat moon cakes which is the special desert of this holiday. The students at our school even got to make their own moon cakes in Chinese class. 

Beautiful Moon Festival party (Brittany even painted us our own full moons!)

My friend, Laura, just made a mini visit to China! I feel so blessed to have had family and friends visit us since we moved to China over 3 years ago. Laura arrived on last weekend and I was able to show her a little bit of China. We ate some yummy Chinese food, got a foot massage, visited a temple, showed her around school and our neighborhood. I'm so very thankful that she could spend time with us! 

Visiting a nearby temple

Sampling tanghulu (candied crabapples)

My favorite noodle place

Sawyer is walking up a storm. He's been walking consistently for a couple of weeks, I'm so proud! I can't believe how quickly he's growing before my eyes. I swear sometimes I look at him and see a little boy...what happened to my baby!? 

 

Two weeks from Friday is our first vacation since being back at school. We have off for a week and we will be traveling to Thailand for a conference in Bangkok and also going to Koh Lanta with some friends. I have been dreaming of mango sticky rice, fruit shakes, and the beach for the last couple of weeks.

Happy hump day! 

Happy Birthday Sawyer!

I can't believe I'm writing your 12 month update. I know that every parent says, "time flies," but it truly does! 

I am so proud of the little person you're becoming and I feel beyond honored and humbled to be your momma. 

There are  definitely a fair share of busy/chaotic days and sleepless nights, but being your mommy is priceless and the most rewarding thing that I've ever done in my life. 

You've taught me so much: patience, flexibility, humor in stressful situations, sacrifice, resourcefulness, and most importantly... love beyond measure. I strive to be the best person and mom that I can be because of you. Thank you for making me a momma and being my sweet baby, Sawyer. 

To celebrate your birthday, we had a camp themed "pre-birthday" party for you at our little cabin and you are so blessed because so many friends and family came to celebrate you. We are so grateful that we have such wonderful people in our life. You got a lot of hugs, kisses, and attention and you loved every second of it. 

I made this little video to remember some important moments of your first year.

Sawyer's First Year from Shanna Callahan on Vimeo.

Height/Weight: 29.5 inches & 24.2 lbs, I am feeling it in my arms ;) 

Eating: You sure know what you like. Lately, you want whatever I'm eating...when we were out to eat at our last dinner in Wisconsin, you stole a sweet potato fry off my plate, sneaky baby! You're eating three meals a day plus a snack here and there. I'm still nursing 2x a day (morning and bedtime) and have tried introducing cows milk at lunch time last week. I don't think your on the milk bandwagon quite yet, but I'm sure you'll get there. Some of your favorites include: shredded cheese (go figure), black beans with garlic powder, chickpeas with garlic powder, turkey, Kirkland 9 grain crackers. Funny story about those crackers. We stuffed like .... 6 packs in our suitcases to bring back to China because you are so obsessed. You did try eggs and peanut butter, with no reaction.. yay! I'm not sure if you're still allergic to yogurt, I'm too afraid to try it again at this point, so I think we'll wait until your a year and a half or so. 

Sleep: You're refusing to sleep at this very moment, ha! I think you've been a trooper with jetlag coming back to China. You've been sleeping through the night like a champ. Sometimes, you've been skipping your afternoon nap and taking one longer A.M. nap, so we'll see if it stays that way. When I put you to sleep, you rest your little head on my shoulder and cuddle me, but sometimes try to wiggle free to jump into your crib (which I think is a good thing?)

Clothes: Still in 12 mo. clothing, but some are getting a little snug... I think we'll be able to get a bit more wear out of the 12 mo. clothing, which is awesome! 

Likes:

• Using your wheely bug to push around the apartment...sometimes you chase the dogs with it too!
• Pushing anything around the house (chairs, laundry baskets, etc.)
• Opening and closing drawers, and tearing everything that was folded so neatly out of the drawers
• Turning on the bathtub faucet, and trying to open the toilet cover to play in the toilet water, YUCK!
• Playing with remotes and phones 
• Waving hello to everyone
• Clapping

Dislikes:

• Being overtired
• Not getting your way
• I'm actually having a hard time with this list because you're such a mellow, easy going little guy! 

New Developments:

• You are taking a few steps on your own back and forth from mommy and daddy
• Clapping on demand
• Waving hi and bye 
• Giving kisses on command (you've been doing this for a while but you're pretty good at it now!)