Happy 1st Birthday Callum

Day 365 - Birthday's Eve

The days went by in such a flash
There's barely time to breathe
And here I'm writing "365"
And I cannot believe

I'm so utterly delighted I've completed this project for both the boys, a real dream come to fruition for me, to capture each of them every day for the first year of their lives. If you're a follower, you'll know I haven't got round to posting all the entries in time, but if you click the link top right, it'll take you back to new entries as they're added. And then I have the mammoth challenge of downloading the blog into a book for the boys.

Day 364

"No more signing, please Reuben", yet Reuben never gives up on his attempts to teach Callum to sign

Day 363

Always so full of excitement

Day 351

I love the catchlight in his eyes

Day 361

Reuben teaches Callum how to use the washing machine, especially the knack of turning the dials after the cycle has started

Day 360

Cowboys and cowgirls at Halloween

(Self portrait with timer, chosen by Sara, mum to Julianne & Rachel)

Day 359

Little calf and pumpkin in the grounds of Reuben's school at the Halloween party

Day 358

"You're awfully quiet in there, Callum" and I step in to see Callum fast asleep with his fingers twittering on the acquarium button.

Day 354

Who said it's time for bed?

(OK I think this is my absolute favourite shot of Callum)

Day 357

Always on the look out for mischief

Day 356

Brushing teeth at bedtime

Day 355

What Callum thinks of Mama's home cooking

Day 353

Catch a dandelion

Day 352

Climbing up on the front porch deck chairs

Day 351

Mirror talk

Day 350

Last of the Mohicans

Day 349

In the garden, the boys are playing on the red Radio Flyer Wagon

Day 348

Callum transformed from a commando crawler to an accomplished hands and knees crawler

Day 347

With my boys on the mother and baby swing at Playa Vista Park

Day 346

Peeping out from the curtains

Day 345

"La, la, la, la, la"

Day 344

Home safe and sound

Day 343

Dressed in their matching yellow raincoats, the boys learn more about the weather of their homeland.

Day 342

Peekaboo with yellow towel

Day 341

If music be the food of love
Play on

I love this for its movement. It reminds me of Tiny Dancer.

Day 340

My baby likes to sleep

With his bum stuck in the air

With his hands close by his face

With his toes facing the stars

With his diaper out on show
With his fingers sweetly curled

Day 339

Golden boy

Day 338

One of Callum's very sweetest expressions, full of wonder and innocence

Day 337

I return from the hospital where I've been with Reuben all day for his surgery, pick up Callum, drive us home and get us both into bed within minutes. Callum sleeps soundly from his adventure with his friends.

Day 336

Before you were conceived I wanted you

Before you were born I loved you

Before you were here an hour I would die for you

This is the miracle of life

Day 335

There's always someone interesting walking up the garden path

Day 334

"Look at his toes!"exlaimed the surgeon as she delivered Callum to me. "What's wrong with his toes?" I replied. "They're so long". Long and crooked, I know, because it was getting decidedly squashing in there

Day 333

Jailhouse rock(et)

Day 332

His first freckle above his right eye, a big sticky wet patch on my silk covered chair and the sweetest little smile for Mama

Day 331

I see so much of myself as a baby in this photo of Callum. He was swinging outside and as I came to pick him up for his morning nap, I saw the little tears of tiredness emerge in his eyes. So sleepy...

Day 330

"How can there be too many children? That is like saying there are too many flowers"
- Mother Theresa

Day 329

Fast asleep by 7:20. Bliss.
"The watchful mother tarries nigh,
though sleep has closed her infant's eyes."

Day 328

"The central struggle of parenthood
is to let our hopes for our children
outweigh our fears."

Day 327

My adorable little peach. Callum is in ecstasy with his first taste of a succulent peach

Day 326

Fooling around in Reuben's bed

Day 325

Over Daddy's shoulders

Day 324

"Sweet baby, in thy face
Soft desires I can trace
Secret joys and secret smiles
Little pretty infant wiles"

Day 323

"Only one more photo, please Mama"

Day 322

The tastiness of Reuben's shoes savoured by Callum with lipsmacking delight

Day 321

Callum and Reuben have been chasing each other through the tunnel and now it's surely Mama's turn

Day 320

A babe in the house is a well spring of pleasure,
a messenger of peace and love,
a resting place for innocence on Earth
a link between angels and men

Day 319

Day 318

People who usually say they sleep like a baby
tend not to have one

Day 317

"Once you become a mother,
your heart is no longer yours."

Day 316

"When you are a mother,
you are never alone in your thoughts.
A mother always has to think twice,
once for herself
and once for her child."

Day 315

Finger painting in the garden turns into face painting

Day 314

The boys delight in their bedtime antics of towel pulling, laundry basket emptying and chasing each other with shrieks of delight around my bedroom. 7:55 pm and still full of energy!

Day 313

"It is not until you become a mother
that your judgement slowly turns to compassion and understanding"

Day 312

Jennifer captures the joy of motherhood as Callum and Reuben lovingly crawl all over me in the garden

Day 310

Let your most useful gift my dear Callum be curiosity: curiosity to learn, to explore, to see the World

Day 309

Day 308

Day 305

Day 284

A fond farewell to Grandad at the airport with clapping hands

Day 283

A gorgeous day, swinging high at Moor Valley Park with Auntie Anne-Marie & Cousin Aurora

Day 282

Sifting sand through his fingers on Bournemouth Beach in the morning

Day 273

Learning to crawl on Nana & Grandad's carpet

Day 271

Amongst the beautiful flowers in Nana & Grandad's garden

Day 270

Smartly dressed and ready for Mass where Mama was so very moved by the hymn "All that I am"

Day (August)

Bathtime in Nana & Grandad's sink

Day 265

"When I grow up, I want to be a plumber" says Callum as he inspects the shower hose in Auntie Geraldine's bathroom

Day 264

Day 263

All the girls: With Cousin Hannah, Auntie Geraldine & Auntie Anne-Marie

Day 261 (confirm time)

Learning to use a cup

Day 255

Afternoon nap, Nana's arms, swaddled in a blanket from my childhood

Day 254

With Reuben & Nana

Day 253

Meet Uncle Pete

Day 252

With Auntie Geraldine

Day 251

Arriving at Heathrow Airport with my boys

Day 250

British Airways: Have a safe flight!

Day 249

Retro Rocket rider

Day 248

Mama's kisses

Day 247

A sink makes a wonderful bath!

Day 246

There's always something fascinating to look at, in Callum's World