Hello, Callum B.

 Let me introduce you to the newest member of our family:

Callum B.

Such a sweet boy!

He was born Sept 8, 2020.

2020 hasn't been all bad... we've had two adorable babes join our family this year.

I made the drive to UT on the 9th, hoping Shi and Callum would get to come home that evening.

The drive was {fairly} non-eventful... other than getting pulled over. I was only given a warning {thankfully}, but I was ready to put up a fight if ticketed. It's a long(ish) story, so no need to bore you with the details, but I view the compassion of the officer a TENDER MERCY. 

{Yes, I was speeding.}

I got to Shi and Kody's house in time to grab a few things for dinner and put up a couple of fun decorations before they arrived home.

On Thursday (Sept 10) Britt and family came over to meet him.

Scarlett and Ellis were a bit hesitant to hold him that night, but they did... for a few minutes.

The days and nights all kind of roll together... you know how it is with a new baby.

I stayed up with Callum until midnight - 2am a couple of the nights.

One night I stayed with him in between feedings, just so Shi and Kody wouldn't wake up at his every sound. It was precious time.

Towards the weekend we took Callum on a couple errands. I love how Shi and Kody were not afraid to take him along (we kept him covered in public places, of course). Callum was such a good sport.

Hailey and Matt brought dinner over on Sunday. 

Such sweet friends.

Matt is quite the cook (I'm sure Hailey is awesome, too), and had made some delicious brisket lasagna. So yummy.

Shi and Kody snapped some One Week pictures... this is just one I grabbed in between.

We also got a kick out of snapping some pics with Callum in Kody's man-bun - a gift I had ordered nearly 3 years ago as a gag gift because Kody had mentioned wanting a man-bun. Unfortunately it didn't arrive in the mail in time for gifting that year. I think I received it more than a month later, then held onto it for a future gag gift... which really meant I put it somewhere I would hardly ever notice, and didn't come across it again until fairly recently haha. The gag was long forgotten by now, but I handed it over to Kody anyway, who had no idea what to do with the darn thing... 

UNTIL NOW.

It was so fun to spend time with Shi and Kody as they navigated all the new-parent stuff. They both did {and are still doing} a fantastic job.

I had to throw in a picture of the cows.

Shi and Kody are currently renting a basement apartment in Mapleton, and their landlords have a bit of property, and are raising these two cows... for beef. I love feeling like I'm in the country when I'm at their place. These cows make me happy... I not quite sure why. I often chat with them as I come and go. It will be a sad day when they fulfill their purpose. Until then, they are definitely happy cows.

On Wed (Sept 16) we went out to Britt's for dinner. My mom and dad met us there - they were excited to meet their newest Great Grand. 

Scarlett and Ellis were more excited and comfortable holding Callum this time.

Ellis is so sweet - he loves babies and is always super attentive and adorable with them.

It was a lovely evening with great company. And it was nice getting out of the house.

Callum, much like his momma, is full of personality and expression.

I couldn't resist posting a few (of the many) I snapped of him in the span of only a few minutes.

On Fri (Sept 18), Shi's friends came over to meet Cal - sans Anna, who was living at a confirmed Covid house ;-) Shi's friend Haven brought her one-month old little girl (who looked big compared to Cal), and I enjoyed just sitting back and observing this fun group of friends. I've known these girls for a long, long time, and it's so awesome that they all get together pretty regularly.

Great Grandma and Grandpa Syddall came to visit Callum on Saturday.

Grandpa had a medical procedure the week prior, so this was the earliest they could get out.

It's official... everyone loves Callum ;-)

On Sunday I headed back home.

The past {almost} two weeks had gone so fast, it was literally a blur.

I can't complain that it got me out of a talk in church and a weekend of house showings (thanks, Bill, for managing that!) haha.

The drive was not pleasant - once again I needed to learn the lesson NOT to travel east on I-70 on a Sunday. NEVER AGAIN. I was sad to see the fire damage in my favorite scenic area along that route, Glenwood Canyon.

This has been a crazy year for fires in CO and all over the US. I think we're seeing SIGNS, peeps.

And I have to share my current home page pic of Cal... it makes me smile every time.