Happy Halloween!

It is that time of year again. Happy Halloween!! Normally we go all out and decorate the house and throw a party, but this year has been different. With Lamar recuperating when he should have been decorating and me busy with Calum, the Lindsay Haunted House just did not happen.

Nora Beth did not get to dress up this year for the evening of festivities. She is down hard with the flu. She was very disturbed when she found out that she could not go Trick or Treating. She realized that if she did not have any candy, the Halloween Goblin would not come to our house and leave a present in exchange for the candy...and she really wanted a present. We assured her that the Goblin would understand and still visit. This made her feel better.

It was a bummer that she could not go out. We had looked all over town for a Cinderella dress in her size, because only that princess would do. I finally found one. The picture of her is from Thursday when she got to wear it to school.

Shianne decided to go out Trick or Treating at the last minute. We had assumed that she would not be back from the OSU game in time to go out. Shi and Lamar got home quickly, so we came up with a quick Cheerleader outfit. I had found Calum's outfit a month ago, so he was set all along. Halloween came just in time for him to wear his, another ounce on him and the bones would not fit!

I was surprised when I saw the picture of Shi and Calum. This is the first time that I have seen any resemblance between Shianne and myself. I always just see how strongly she takes after Lamar, but for a moment I can tell that she is my child also!

Shianne came home with a load of candy. The Goblin will be happy! Happy Halloween!

100 Days of Calum, Day 67

OSU plays at home today. Lamar and Shianne went to the game while I stay home with Calum and a very sick Nora Beth. Calum needed to be in his Beaver gear to support the team!

100 Days of Calum, Day 66

Does this picture make you smile? It makes me. This is just the happy expression I needed this morning after the terrible evening I endured.

I stayed up late watching the last two Season 1 episodes of my favorite new TV series, Sons of Anarchy. I was enjoying the quiet of nobody needing anything from me. I nestled into bed at 11:00 and Calum started to stir. I headed upstairs being grateful that he woke before I fell asleep. I fed him and put him back to bed. I get comfy again and Lamar and Boba begin to snore. GRRR. I finally fall asleep and Calum chimes up again. I get out of bed, head back upstairs and tend to him. This happens two more times then Zara starts to stir. She only does this when she is about to get sick from one of her two ends, usually the result from eating chicken. I wonder how she got her paws on the dreaded food. I could not put Calum down fast enough before I smelled what I was about to see. I now spend the next hour cleaning the carpet. I crawl back into bed and a few minutes later I notice the living room light come on. Nora Beth came downstairs sick. She has a fever of 103.8 and tells me that she is achy and her "brain hurts." Looks like the flu has arrived at our house! I get her back to bed and cuddle with her for a while, then Calum is up again. Feed again, put to sleep, head downstairs to Lamar and Boba snoring. No sooner than I fall asleep, Lamar wakes up to get ready for work, completely oblivious to what has happened all night, this wakes up Calum, then Nora Beth. The day looks just like my night!

Shianne decided to take a hour long shower, which made her late getting ready for school. I had to drive her, thus meaning packing up the other two kids for the drive. This is when Calum gave me the great smiles.

Shianne wins the award for being the only person/animal to not keep me awake/cleaning last night! So what is her reward, a night of staying home with a sick sister and tired brother instead of going to go see Rocky Horror Picture Show like I wanted to do with her. I just hope she does not get sick for her big day of OSU Football tomorrow.

100 Days of Calum, Day 65

Lamar tried to get Calum to watch the World Series with him tonight, but Calum got cranky. He should have taken a nap like I wanted him to earlier today!

100 Days of Calum, Day 64

I brought out the play mat for Calum today. I was hoping it would keep him happy while I put away laundry and folded diapers. I was right. He was fascinated by the new things to look at.

Today was a great day for us. Calum took a three hour nap! I was giddy with excitement. I did sleep with him for the first 1.5 hours, but then quietly rolled out of bed and he continued to sleep. I almost did not know what to do with myself.

100 Days of Calum, Day 63

I will be honest, I did not take this picture, Nora Beth did. She was having such a good time with the camera that I let her take and choose which picture would appear here today.

100 Days of Calum, Day 62

I don't know how it happened. I had the camera with me all day, taking pictures, and yet I did not get a single one of Calum! Bad Mom!

100 Days of Calum, Day 61

Ready for the Viking game!

100 Days of Calum, Day 60

Calum still did not feel good today. Despite not being able to breathe out of his nose, he was in good spirits. He would not nap, but he finally gave in this evening while Shianne was holding him. They were not in the most ideal position, but you do what works!

100 Days of Calum, Day 59

Calum has his first cold and he is not happy about it! He just did not understand why he could not breathe through his nose and every time he started to cry about it, the coughing would start. He made the most pitiful sounds all day. I felt so bad for him. We spent most of the day just cuddling.


When he did sleep, it was with his mouth open. He was so congested that he snored!

100 Days of Calum, Day 58

The only time in your life with a pudgy belly is cute!

Watching Survivor was just to much for him tonight!

100 Days of Calum, Day 57

Calum was such a happy baby today, even when he had every reason to be cranky - in fact, he held up better today than I did! It seems like all we did was go and stand in line with everything we had to do.

100 Days of Calum, Day 56

Here is what Calum looks like when he sleeps in his bed at night. He is swaddled tightly in some stretchy fabric. When he is not swaddled, he does not sleep. This is what keeps our house happy. I had an official "swaddling blanket" but he was to big for it and could get himself out of it in a matter of minutes. I looked into purchasing a new one in a larger size, but I was blown away by how much they cost for just some stretchy fabric. I made this one out of some scrap fabric I had and it works perfect!

We took Calum in for his two month check up today. All is perfect. He has grown two inches in the past month and now weighs 14 lbs 4 oz! He has grown so much! Mama milk is good to him.

Floored by a bee

I was visiting Target yesterday and ran into a friend in the parking lot as I was leaving. We had a great chat while admiring each other's babies. There was a yellow jacket that was flying around us, but I did not give it much attention.

I should have paid more attention. The next thing I know I was stung on my arm. It hurt, but I brushed it off and walked to the van. I was thinking to myself that I am glad that I was the one that was stung and not Calum. I was wearing him in a wrap at the time and I was stung very close to where his head was resting. I have never had a reaction to a bee sting before, so I started driving home.

That was my first mistake. I barely made it home. By the time I arrived I could not breathe, my head was dizzy and my whole body felt tingly. Lamar got ultra concerned about me and immediately gave me a dose of Benadryl. He really wanted to call an ambulance since I was having such a hard time breathing, but I would not let him. If I was not sick now, I definitely would be after visiting the ER here in Salem.

After a second dose of Benadryl, I started to feel better. What a scary experience. I went to the doctor today and he gave me two Epi pens to carry in case it happens again. My arm really hurts and I still don't feel right, but I am still breathing so I guess I have nothing to complain about.

100 Days of Calum, Day 55

Calum is 2 months old today. Time has gone by so quickly. He goes in tomorrow for his two month appointment with the doctor so I will have some updated size statistics for you.

I put him in this adorable sweater today that my friend Katie made for him. I was going to see Katie tonight at a meeting and I wanted her to see him in the gift. About 10 minutes before we left the house, Calum demonstrated his talent for gastric expulsion, and thus, needed an outfit change. Luckily I had taken this picture just before the incident so there is proof that he fit in the sweater, if only for a short time.

100 Days of Calum, Day 54

I had Calum in his room tonight while I put away laundry in his room. Nora Beth was insistent that he play with his teddy bear. It kept him happy just long enough for me to win the battle over the laundry.

100 Days of Calum, Day 53

Here is Calum laying on the ottoman in Lamar's office. For some reason he really likes to lay here. It will keep him happy for a long period of time. No other surface in the house works the same way. Unfortunately, it won't be long until he is to big to lay here.

100 Days of Calum, Day 52

My two sickies. Lamar and Calum were both down today. Lamar is recovering from his vasectomy. He is doing fine, just a little sore. I am not sure what is wrong with Calum, if anything. He just does not seem like he feels well today - no fever, no stuffiness, just wants to be held.

As for the vasectomy. It was a tough decision. We know that our family feels complete and I do not want to be pregnant again. It really closes a door on our life and I still have mixed feelings about it. I am so enjoying having Calum and it feels sad to me that we will not be doing this again, but I am also looking forward to the freedom of not having little ones in the house. Shianne will be in college when Calum is starting elementary school. That really hits it home for me. It was easier for Lamar to have the procedure than for me, so decision made - he took one for the team.

100 Days of Calum, Day 51

Calum had a great day today. He was so happy. He is becoming so alert and expressive. He will greet us with a big smile if we come back into the room. I don't even mind getting up with him at 3 AM because I know that he will give me this big wonderful smile as soon as he sees me. Of course, I can't get this smile on camera!

This afternoon, Nicole stopped by for a visit. She is in town for a few days. Shianne misses her so much. She is now out of the Air Force - just in time, she has another baby on the way in March. Yeah...I can be Auntie Stacey again!!

Family Photos

While Lamar's parents and grandma were visiting we decided to go have some family pictures taken at the Deepwood Estate. We are so spoiled to have Lora take our pictures again. She does such a wonderful job. (Mary Ann - don't worry, you will have your CD with pictures soon!)

Here is just a sampling of what we had taken.

Life, A Quick Review

Life has been busy here in the Lindsay house. It seems like everyday that we are just trying to keep our heads above the water. We are busy, but with all good things.

Calum is doing wonderful. He is 8 weeks old now. He sleeps great for me at night, but does not sleep during the day unless he is next to me. He has gotten so big. All of the clothes he is wearing is in the 6 to 9 month range.

Lamar and I celebrated our 12 year wedding anniversary on the 12th. It seems unreal that 12 years has passed. So much has happened since our wedding day. We are truly blessed in our lives. I am looking forward to what the future has for us.

Shianne has started playing volleyball. She had her first game last Saturday. After the game we went out for lunch - Mexican food of course! Nora Beth was being a ham!





Nora Beth was pretending to be Sleeping Beauty. She loves to play dress up every day.


We hosted a party for the Monday Night Football game Vikings vs. Packers. The house was full of friends. It was a great game with the Vikings being victorious at the end - they are 5-0 for the season thus far!




Nora Beth had her first day of Preschool on Tuesday. She was so excited to go back to school. She is in the same program she was in last year. Her favorite teacher (and babysitter) Delaney is still in the class.

Today Nora Beth had her friend Paisley over. They decided to have a tea party for lunch. It was so great to hear their laughter.

100 Days of Calum, Days 39 to 50

Day 39
We went out to celebrate a friends birthday. Calum did great with the rowdy crowd and slept most of the time.


Day 40


Day 41
All wrapped up!
Calum does not sleep during the day unless he is being held by me. This poses a problem with me and getting anything done around the house. Here is our solution. I can get stuff done and he gets to sleep next to me.

Day 42


Day 43
Boba has been replaced!


Day 44
I just love these socks on him!


Day 45


Day 46
Nap time

Day 47


Day 48
Calum spent the day shopping with the WINGS ladies.



Day 49
He is extra snugly in this outfit


Day 50
All tuckered out!

More Nora Beth

I have mentioned before that Nora Beth loves to perform. Here she is singing and dancing to the music I had on. She was so happy with herself.

Not to be satisfied with just being in front of the camera, she snatched it out of my hands and took this self portrait.

100 Days of Calum, Days 29 to 38

I have been taking pictures every day, I just have not been able to have enough time to get on-line. Calum does not like me to spend much time on my laptop, he thinks all my attention should be on him!

Here is a bit of a catch-up

Day 29



Day 30
Cuddling with Great Grandma Helen



Day 31
More cuddling with Great Grandma Helen


Day 32
Just waking up from a short nap



Day 33
Spending some time with Grandma Mary Ann


Day 34
Shianne is happy to hold him here


Day 35


Day 36


Day 37
Day 38
A rare picture with me in it!