Living with a Toddler

Items that adorn my bathtub.

And I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Going Walking

Weather had taken a much colder turn here in MN...it is strange to think a couple weeks ago we were dealing with hot, and I mean HOT & HUMID with AIR CONDITIONING on for days on end.

Liam had been outside probably a handful of times due to this ridiculous heat since he was born. We'll just say walks have been few and far between for him and me.

But yesterday, it was just the right temp for a walk.

And how did he enjoy his walk?

Like this:

Out like a light!

Ah, and how did SHE enjoy her walk?

Like this:

She refers to that hat as her skateboarding (or snowboarding) hat.

And the sunglasses are because "it too sunny ou-side."

It really was a nice walk. :)

LJW-2 Mos

My Little Boy,

Time's a tickin' and it has definitely been fun seeing you grow.

You love to coo. I think to try and compete with your sister. And boy, you have a ways to go because she has some pipes!!

You love to smile...especially at your sister! I can tell she feels very happy when you smile at her because she gets shy when she knows you are (really) looking at her.

You follow Emmy, daddy and me around the room...but you don't like to look at toys much. Not even those black and white patterned pictures that people say make kids smarter-that stuff just doesn't seem to interest you. (We'll have to see what that means later in life, lol!)

Everyone who sees you comments on your size and that you are getting those cutie pie rolls in your arms and legs...I have to agree, it is adorable. :) You get weighed at the doctor's this week (along with those nasty immunizations) so I am going to guess you are 16.5 lbs. Your sister always fit into clothes "designated" for her actual age...you? Not so much. You are already into 3-6 month and some 6 month! And your head?!?! I'm not gonna even go there, it's a good size noggin'. I've gotta get some winter hats purchased because your hair sure isn't going to do much for that melon of yours. :)

Daycare starts for you this month, but you also get to spend some time with your Oma as she has agreed to watch you a couple days a week as well. We'll have to see how that transition goes-changes always take time...

You've gotten to spend the last two weeks with your daddy at home. You didn't sleep much because for some reason you decided you wanted to smile at daddy for one whole day, then fuss the whole next day!! We're still recovering...We think it is because you miss your momma since that is the first time we had offered bottles and you were away from me for 8 full hours.

I think you really, REALLY want to sit up and watch everything from a more upright position. Since birth you have had a really strong neck so probably by the end of next month or so you will be able to use the Bumbo...that was one of Emmy's favorite toys back when she was a baby. Now that she is losing all her baby fat she fits in it again!

You've been so sweet to have around Liam and we are all so happy you are here with us. We are so excited to see you grow and really start interacting with all of us. Daddy and I especially want to see you and Emmy together. I know that means arguments too, but it will be so fun!

We love you little Liam.

Love,

Your Momma

Getting Out

We got out a good amount this weekend-no place new really, just Bryant Lake and the Zoo.

Gotta Love the bathing beauty... :)

This is Amanda, my friend visiting this weekend. She is from IL.

Emmy loved having her around.

We took Amanda to our favorite spot...the zoo. Cameron and Emmy had fun posing for some photos. Love that barn shot of Emmy and Cameron...it just cracks me up.

But so did this rooster...ever see one like this?

And I could only feel badly for this guy, he was trying to get out!

Hope your weekend was good as well!

Studious Girl

She decided she would try on daddy's glasses. And for some reason she thinks they belong upside down on one's face. We've corrected her but she insists they are fine...

Little more like Crazy Scientist than Studious School Girl...

But I sure laughed when I saw these photos turn out! Silly girl!!

Playing in the Backyard

She can definitely make some funny faces.

It brings tears to my eyes to see how much she has grown up already.

If I feel this way and she is only 2, what am I going to feel like when she is 18? Ha-I'm not going to know what hit me, huh?

I didn't forget to take some shots of Liam either...He's a big boy now at 6 weeks!

And last but not least, the Q even makes the cut! Since he's already black I decided to leave him in color! :)

Steekers!!

We don't quite know where Emalyn picked up this "accent," but steekers is how she pronounces stickers.

And boy does she love her "steekers!"

She decided to adorn herself with them Monday afternoon.

Slowly she took them off herself and then we went outside to the patio to have snack.

She made a great face when I tried taking our self portraits.

This one is my favorite:

Hope your week is going well!

My Girl

We had fun at a nearby lake yesterday evening. Had a cook out and Emalyn was able to play in the water. Her favorite, favorite thing to at the moment.

That night she decided she was big enough to sleep in her big girl bed. (Her big girl bed is a daybed trundle).

I have not made a big deal about switching beds or pushing her into the change. Mainly because her big girl bed is in another bedroom in addition to adjusting to the new family member in addition to our slowly planting potty training seeds as well. Girl's got a lot on her plate!

So I have asked her every night before bed if she wants her crib or her big girl bed. The crib always wins. This night she said big girl bed and I actually asked her 3 more times to be sure she knew exactly what she was saying...oh, she knew!

She got in bed without a problem and off to sleep a short time later. At this point I'm thinking, Cam & I hardly get full night's sleep anyway, what's the difference if she wakes up as well, right?

The next thing I know, Cameron was checking on her as he was getting up for work...she was sleeping on the floor...apparently she had fallen out! Not a peep all night long!

Cam decided to leave her where she was so as not to wake her and went about getting ready for work. After walking the dog, he checked on her again and she put herself back in bed.

THAT I didn't expect.

Now, I know it was just the first night, and who knows what may come, but she's really not so little anymore!! So proud of her!

First Smiles...

Well, first smiles actually caught on camera. :)

LJW-1 Month

Dear Little Boy,

You've been around a month already! And just like everyone always says it is hard to believe its been that long...but time sure flies when day and night run together. In the sleep department, you do pretty well and I get three to four hour chunks of sleep. But there are other nights when I only get 45 minutes between each feeding. NOT COOL for your momma.

But you smile the next day and I don't feel so badly. One thing you will learn about your momma, I really, really, REALLY need sleep.

I find myself constantly thinking, "well, with Emalyn, it was like this." And as much as I don't want to compare the two of you, it is hard to say anything else since she is the only practice of being a mother that I have had! If anything, you are a much calmer baby that likes sleep more than she ever did! She would cry and cry at night and we could never get her to sleep easily. I wonder if that was because she was so much smaller then you at birth...probably.

One thing you do a lot of at night is grunt. Big, long pushes where you are trying to help something out, but can't quite get things going, if you know what I mean! I have tried changing some things in my diet thinking that may help you, but there seems to be no rhyme or reason to all the noise. And as far as I can tell, you aren't in pain really, just working on things inside. I will not be missing your periodic groaning that starts at 4am and lasts until about 7am-I am really going to have to learn to sleep through all that noise!

You are a big boy! I was not expecting a baby over 7 pounds and out you came at 8.7lbs! You have to be at least 12lbs now...and you are a very good eater as your weight shows! My arms are already killing me, but I should be grateful for the free workout... :)

Your big sister is still pretty enamored with you and wants to kiss you and "ahg" (hug) you as much as possible. She is very gentle with you and you like to turn to look at her. You smile most in the morning...probably because you are most rested...Emalyn is in your face from the moment you wake up in the morning until she goes to bed so you get overstimulated pretty quickly.

As you will come to find out, your mommy loves light colored eyes. Actually, your mommy loves any color eyes but her own brown eyes. That being said, I think you are going to be just like your daddy-we'll see!

It was been a busy month getting everyone adjusted, but we are looking forward to many more months and years to come, little man. I can't wait to get to know you more as your personality will just keep coming forth...

Love you buddy,

Momma