Today...

...we slept in until 7:30

...we skipped church

...we had steel cut oats for breakfast

...i started Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (re-reading entire series)

...i made GF oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, still not sure if i like them or not

...we washed, dried, and folded a lot of clothes
...we listened to our new-to-us Glenn Miller record my grandma gave us and played with the old camera that was my grandpa's

...we spent a lot of money at target and publix (the cupboards were bare)

...i made some fall purchases for Liam from zulily and oldnavy (love online shopping, hate replenishing my child's wardrobe every other month)

...we laughed, played, and enjoyed a lazy day before i go back to work tomorrow.

Home again, home again, jiggity jig.

We just got home a few hours ago from a wonderful, family-filled vacation. Everyone has bathed, Liam is asleep, and the washing machine is already getting a work out. I'm ready to cuddle up on the couch with my husby and a certain schnauzer I missed like crazy! East, west, home is best!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Flashback Friday

I stumbled upon this photo last night and nearly died. This is Ryan dancing with my niece, Tori, at our wedding almost FIVE years ago. It's safe to say they both have changed a lot, I'm pretty sure Miss Priss has grown at least 8 inches since then! Time marches on...


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Thankful Thursday!

*I am thankful that Liam's first tooth has finally broken through his gums! It's so cute!
*I am thankful for a sudden rain storm this afternoon that has cooled off our ridiculously hot day.
*I am thankful that I have the opportunity to take a week off and spend valuable time with sweet family that we rarely see.
*I am thankful for my two sweet friends who are graciously caring for our rowdy Gussy boy while we are away.
*I am thankful for sonic hot dogs!
*I am thankful for my precious husby who does laundry, cleans, and packs our luggage without being nagged. :)



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Ahhh!

Leaving for vacation in less than 48 hours! Right now I am equal parts excited about this and stressed about preparing for it! I have gobs to do at work in the next two days and then there's packing and cleaning house on top of that! It's a good thing I've got Ryan to help me!

Liam is ecstatic at the prospect of meeting his Aunt Marisa, Uncle Nate, and 5 cousins for the first time...yay! And of course, seeing lots of relatives and friends that he already loves.



I'll leave you with a picture of my sweet, snuggly, clean little man!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Family Photo

I realized recently that we have about six total pictures of the three of us, and that's just plain sad! So I have been trying to take more recently. I know most people take professional family photos, and we will do that too, but I love a simple snapshot in the middle of a peaceful day just as much.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Flashback Friday

Narcissa Malfoy and her tiny (6 weeks old) house elf, Dobby. Happy Harry Potter!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Wordless Wednesday: Stuck

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Chuy's Charmer

(Liam enjoyed mum mum's and avocado)

Yesterday after church, we went to Chuy's for a delicious Tex-Mex feast and Liam was the life of the party. Seriously, this baby could make Tom Riddle smile. It started with the waitresses and servers. One waitress was so distracted by his cuteness that she delivered queso to our table that we had not ordered. And I was foolish enough to call her attention to it, dang. Then, Mr. Smileypants started making friends with the other patrons. Liam had the couple at the table next to us falling all over him making funny faces and talking baby talk, it was so funny. At one point the man turned away, to eat his food, and Liam protested loudly until he got more attention from his new friend. They warned us that he was going to have quite the personality, but I think he already does! It's so fun to see Liam interact with other people and to look around a busy restaurant and see everyone watching your baby and smiling! I'm sure we will soon have people watching him in distaste as he throws a temper tantrum, but I will enjoy these sweet days while they last!

(my other sweet boy)

Rub a dub dub, sweet baby in the...sink

Believe it or not, this was Liam bird's first sink bath! He loved it! Such a sweet little man!

Let freedom ring!

Happy 4th of July from our blurry little firecracker!




















Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Baby Bites

Edited to add:::  Ryan had to correct me here, I should have said WE'VE instead of I've!  Ryan stood at the stove and stirred multiple pots for me while I chopped and measured and pureed!  We had fun working together on this batch of food!  Also, the "mini minestrone" doesn't quite fill up the tray because  he decided to taste test a little bowl for himself!  :)

I've spent the afternoon making some delicious and nutritious food for my little bird and I thought I would share some photos!



The green mush on the left is "mini minestrone," it's puréed green beans, potato, carrot, celery, onion, orzo pasta, tomato paste, and chicken broth. On the right is puréed potato, carrot, and corn. Yum!



This is puréed pears, peaches, and blue berries.

My favorite cook book to use for making baby food is "Top 100 Baby Purees." Liam has loved everything I've made him so far and I really enjoy making it for him! Once it's all frozen, I pop it out of the ice cube trays and store in freezer bags. The food is always a fun color and I am a nerd and get excited seeing the cute little blocks of food when I open the freezer!


Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

9 Months!

Dear Liam Bird,
I cannot believe I am writing your monthly letter again! June flew by so quickly and, as usual, you are growing just as quickly.




According to our home scale you weigh 19.2 pounds (28th%) and by my measurements you are 28 inches long (45th%). You are still definitely filling out, I think your knee caps even have rolls on them, it is delicious. You are wearing mostly 6-9 month clothes and can wear a size 2 diaper still, if necessary.




You love food so much and eat anything we offer you! New foods this month include cottage cheese, lentils, and tomato based sauces. Your favorites are pears, banana, and sweet potato. You eat solids at breakfast and dinner. You are still nursing 4-5 times a day and you take 6-7 ounces from a bottle if I am at work.




You are still a good little sleeper. You take a morning and afternoon nap everyday and sometimes still need a late afternoon cat-nap before dinner. You like to go to sleep between 6:30 and 7:00 each evening an you sleep until 7:00 or 8:00 in the mornings. Every few days you wake up in the middle of the night demanding some food, and I'm okay with that because you always go right back to sleep and it's obvious you are hungry.




Your constant babbling has yielded a few words! You say dada and mama all the time now, but not necessarily to us! You can also wave hello. Though you are not crawling in the true sense of the word, you can get anywhere you want to go by rolling, scooting, or break dancing. You have been teething for months now without a tooth in sight, maybe someday! Your gummy smile continues to win over even the grumpiest of souls and I'm confident that you will always bring joy to those around you.




You love your exersaucer more than I can express in words, you shout with glee while playing in it! Your Johnny jump up rates a close second. You love to pull on any type of hair, be it my ponytails, daddy's beard, or gussy's eyebrows--we all take it in stride. You have started really paying attention to how things work. You try to figure out your high chair and buckles on restraining devices. You know how to make any toy sing or light up. Your great-grandpa Doug thinks you have a mechanical mind and we agree with him!




It is so fun to watch the wheels in your brain turn! You learn something every day, and you are more loved with each passing moment! I'm so thankful to be your mommy!

Love you forever,
Mama


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone