two.

Dear Liam bird,

Happy 2nd Birthday, little man!  We are so so so happy that you were born into our family and cannot begin to imagine the last two years without your precious presence.  We are so thankful for you, my love!  I still cannot believe two entire years have gone by since you were born!  It seems like just the other day, it's all so fresh in our minds!  

This month you have continued in your development into a full-fledged little boy!  You are such a busy little mess, and I love watching how quickly you can run around the yard and house, it's pretty remarkable!  You love to be "on the go" and continually bring us your shoes and ask to go outside!  You love to play with rocks and show us trees and flowers when we are outside.  We make a point to spend some time outside with you everyday, even when it's rainy.  

That's right, you are talking so much lately!  Honestly, most of it is still only distinguishable by mommy and daddy.  But, the point is, you are communicating!  Yay!  You say lots of words and have started stringing together 4-5 word sentences.  Your most frequent phrases are, "go outside," and "want to get down." You've also started to mimic us, which is hilarious.  You will count every now and then and seem to know 1-10, but it's not consistent.   

You are an eating and sleeping machine, as usual!  You and I went on a trip to Arkansas a few weeks ago and shared a room, you were such a good sleeper!  You even asked me to "go nigh, nigh please" one night, such a little sleep lover.  You are still sleeping in your crib, but will hopefully be transitioned out of that in the next month.  

This has definitely been the month of the temper tantrum.  We are slowly navigating the waters of figuring out the best way to discipline your strong-willed little mind and heart.  You are an angel 95% of the time, and screaming/head butting the other 5%.  I guess that's not too bad to deal with!  We are trying to teach you patience, by emulating it in how we parent you.  I have a feeling we will all be learning patience together for the next 16-18 years! 

Darling boy, I hope you never wonder, forget, or question our love for you.  Because, the truth is, your daddy and I are crazy about you!  We think everything you do is the cutest or smartest or sweetest thing that's ever been done.  You are so precious to us and we are truly so very glad that God blessed us with the raising of you.  We don't your hugs or snuggles but, by golly, we sure to revel in them.  I am so excited to get to watch you grow up and can't wait to see what you'll do next!

Love you forever, and ever,

Mommy

Birth Story

for laughs...this is what most of my pictures look like!

22 Months Old!

Dear Liam bird,
Happy 22nd month birthday!  I'm pretty sure you're trying to kill me with how quickly you are growing and how rapidly your second birthday is approaching.  But that's okay, because you get cuter by the second!




You have become even more of a hoot this month!  We often refer to you as a hoodlum or a tyrant, but in all honesty you are a very good little boy.  You are definitely learning to test your boundaries and voice your frustrations with life which means that we have no shortage of temper fits, but they aren't nearly as numerous as your sweet hugs, silly dances, and snuggles.




Growth wise, you are huge!  You had a visit to the pediatrician this month to make sure a cold hadn't settled in your lungs and we discovered that you weighed 32 pounds!  Wow, that's the 97th percentile for weight, Liam!  For a boy that started out too small to be on growth charts and being fed around the clock, this is a huge accomplishment and we are thrilled!  We don't know how tall you are, but you seem to be able to reach much higher than previously (read: get into more things), so I'm sure that you will be high on the height charts as well!  You are wearing 24 months or 2T clothes and size 5 disposable diapers, we have also just let out your cloth diapers as far as they go!




Liam, your vocabulary seems to grow on a daily basis.  You are constantly babbling about something and often using legitimate words!  You still don't like to talk much in public, but you are learning more every day!  Along with speaking more, you are definitely understanding more.  You go to your room when we say it's time for diaper changes or naps and you go to the bathroom at bath time.  You know what we need to go bye bye, etc.




You have started showing an interest in using utensils to eat and you do a pretty good job of getting food into your mouth!  On the food front, you have started enjoying meats a lot more this month!  In addition to ground beef which you've always eaten well, you will now eat some chicken and have shown a love of corn dogs that can only come from your mother!  You also tried your first crab cake and gobbled it down!  Fruits and black beans still hold the keys to your hungry little heart.




You love playing outside, regardless of the sweat that pours down your face and curls your hair.  We go outside after dinner almost every night and you run and climb to your hearts content!  This definitely wears you out and you are still sleeping like a champ.  You are able to stay up a little later these days without a meltdown, so that makes going out to dinner, or events, more enjoyable! You are a book lover and we read many, many books each day!  We also sing and dance and stomp around the house a lot!  Lately, you are absolutely obsessed with your shoes.  You request to wear them constantly and will cry for them when we take them off!




I know I say it every month, and every day for that matter, but you are so incredibly loved, little man.  And not just by mommy and daddy, there are people all over this great country who adore you, and you still light up stranger's faces with your sweet smiles and charming dance moves.  I love to watch you make people happy and I know that this will be something that I get the joy of watching you do for the rest of your life.  Thank you for making us so happy, your mommy and daddy are your biggest fans.




Love you forever, and ever,
Mommy
p.s. Happy happy birthday to your Great Granny!

20 Months Old!

Dear Liam bird,

You are 20 months old!  That means, in just four short months you will be two!  That just boggles my mind, dear one.  You are so big and funny and smart and silly and we just love you to pieces.

You have not been weighed or measured since your last doctors appointment, but you are outgrowing most of your 18 month clothes, so we know you are growing like a weed.  You finally got that last one year molar to break through your tough gums, so hopefully you will get a break from teething for a while.

Wiggs, you are still eating and sleeping like a champ.  You do have a new favorite food, oranges!  You rush over to us the moment we start peeling an orange and whine and beg for piece after piece.  You usually are out of breath from eating them so quickly, silly friend!  You have also started to throw food off of your tray whenever you are finished, which we are trying to get you to stop!

This past month we phased out your paci completely!  You've been only using it at sleepy times since you were about 8 months old, one night we just didn't give it to you and didn't look back!  You've done great, nap times were a bit fussy for a couple of days, but you still have your lovie and glowy sea horse thingy to keep you company!

You are still not talking much, but you are good at communicating with us.  We know what you want/need.  This month you have starting saying Mama and Dada with purpose and also, cow!  Cows are your favorite, and you call several things "cow" that aren't cows!

 
You are a dancing machine, Liam!  Constantly spinning in circles and breaking it down!  You don't need music, but you really get going if there is some playing.  If we go out to eat, you keep everyone entertained with your dance moves!  You also hum along with songs, especially when I sing to you before bed.  You've started snuggling with us more and will lay your little head on my chest and start humming away, so very precious.

We are so thankful for who you are, Liam.  You are growing and changing and developing right before our very eyes and it is such a blessing to be apart of your sweet little life.  You can move mountains with your hugs and kisses, little boy.

Love you forever, and ever,
Momma

19 Months Old!

Dear Liam bird,

Here we are, once again!  I cannot believe how quickly April flew past, we have definitely spent this past month chasing you, my sweet!

You have become such a big boy!  When I look at pictures of you as a newborn or see a new baby somewhere, it's so hard to remember, or believe, that you were ever that tiny.  At your 18 month check up you weighed 29 pounds, 6 ounces which puts you in the 90th percentile!  You are 33 inches long, which is in the 70th percentile.  Your belly is round and your thighs are chubby, you are so much fun to kiss and tickle because of your delicious rolls!

Nothing has really changed on the eating or sleeping front this past month.  You still love FOOD, of any kind.  Regardless of if you are hungry or not, you will eat.  You are very, very serious about your drinking as well.  You have three sippy cups a day of milk, and usually a small cup of juice in the afternoon.  When we hand it to you, it is immediately locked into a death grip with your lips and you don't stop until it is drained, and you then throw it across the room and run off to more fun!

Wiggles, you now have a mouth full of teeth!  This month alone, you have cut six teeth!  You have one molar left to cut and you will be done teething for a while!  You have taken it pretty well, I know it has bothered you, but it hasn't really disrupted any of your sleeping or your attitude.  And, we are thankful for that!

Little boy, you are such a mess!  You are always up to something, and it's usually nothing good!  Your current "reign of terror" involves running from the spiral staircase and trying to climb over the blockade, to the dishwasher the you will lock and turn on, to the stereo that you turn on full blast, and repeat!  The good news is that the bookshelves and DVDs have gotten a break from being strewn about the house.  You run, climb, jump, and dance everywhere you go!  You seem to be pretty coordinated and you absolutely love to turn somersaults.

You are still loving to play with random "toys."  Your most recent favorite is an old cell phone wall charger that you drag all over the house (it is also in some of these pictures, that's how precious it is to you).  You also still love Gus Gus and most of your plastic toys have his teeth marks on them because you routinely give them to him to play with.  We have been more intentional about playing outside and you have started to warm up to grass!  You still don't want to sit down in it, but you will walk through a yard without panicking.

Liam, you have such a sweet heart.  You are always giving hugs and patting us on the back.  You give kisses to anyone who asks for one, and often to people who do not ask for one!  You have started a naughty game of taking daddy's glasses off and throwing them on the ground.  We are trying to stop this, but you have sort of stumped our discipline process.  Usually we grab your hands, look you in the eye, and say "NO" sternly and you get the message and obey.  In this situation, daddy can't really see you to look you in the eye and when he tells you "NO" you immediately go in to give him a sweet kiss.  It is precious and hilarious and a bit frustrating, it seems you might be a bit of a charmer.

Spending time with you is the best part of my day, every day.  Your daddy and I still can't wrap our minds around how much we love you.  You are so special and sweet and funny and smart and wonderfully ours.  I love seeing bits of your daddy in you and I am so honored to get to watch you grow in his footsteps.  We are so blessed to be entrusted with the raising of you, and we know that you are going to do great things!

Love you forever, and ever,
Momma

18 Months!

Dear Liam Bird,

Eighteen months, a year and a half, that's how old you are today.  How in the world?!  Sweet boy, this is the month that you have ceased being a baby to us and are on your way to little boyhood.  You just seem so grown up to your mommy and daddy!

You are growing at the speed of light, Liam!  I don't know your exact measurements or weight but, trust me, you are getting very big.  You are wearing 18 month clothes and a size 4 or 5 shoe and size 4 disposable diapers.  You are still eating everything you can get your hands on!

I think you may have actually slimmed up a bit this month with all of the running around that you do on a daily basis now.  You have become even more adept at climbing.  You can climb into the rocking chair and attempt to climb over it, as well.  You have also been using the empty suitcase from our recent vacation as a climbing toy (we should probably put that away).  Thankfully, you've shown no interest in climbing out of your crib!  You love to stand on your head and turn somersaults with our help.  You still love being thrown in the sky and spun around in circles, such a fun loving little lad!

Liam, you seem to have developed some phobias this month.  You are afraid of grass, to the point of tears and trembling.  You rate shaggy carpet in the same category as grass, but are less afraid of it.  Still very unlikely to touch it willingly with your hands (which makes for an interesting time when you are trying to stand up).  And you were recently around a dog other than Gus whose barking made you freeze in terror and cry and cry.  We feel badly for it, but sometimes we have just had to laugh a bit when your pitiful little lip turns down over these silly things.  You are learning all about the world around you right now, and I'm sure you will be used to these things in no time.

You are such a good traveler, you seem to love an adventure just like your mom and dad.  As long as there is something new to see, you are content to sit in your carseat or stroller for hours.  We are also very thankful for your great sleeping habits.  They seem to be maintaining even during some horrible bouts of teething.  You currently have 5 teeth trying to break through your poor swollen gums, we are hoping they pop through soon, buddy.

They always say that kids don't need toys because they will play with anything.  This has become increasingly true for you.  Your favorite toys right now are: shoes, cabinet drawers, suitcases, tv remotes, the travel changing pad from your diaper bag, and a fitted crib sheet that you continually remove from its spot in your changing table.   You are such an entertainer, Liam.  You are constantly cracking us up with your silly dance moves and antics.  The best part is, you know you're funny and you laugh at yourself.  So precious.

Wiggs, it seems like the older you get the more we love you.  So I guess that is consolation enough for you growing so big, so quickly.  You are loved so very very much.  Your dad and I miss you when you are asleep and revel in the time we get to spend loving on you.  We are so blessed by your sweetness, but we would love you just as much if you weren't as sweet.

Love you forever,
Momma

17 Months Old!

Darling Wee Liam,

You are seventeen months old today!  And, in typical monthly update fashion, I am shocked that another month has passed us by!  You are becoming such a big boy and we (and, you too, for that matter) are so very proud of all that you have already accomplished in life.

You have decided to master walking this month!  Yay, Liam!  You had been taking a few steps here and there but adamantly refusing to either walk, or let us help you walk.  Then, one day you just started walking.  And didn't stop.  I think this is typical firstborn behavior, you didn't want to do it until you could do it well.  And, well you do, my dear!  You are practically running, you can even turn the pages of a book while walking around your toy strewn room, quite impressive.

Not much has changed in your eating or sleeping habits, so I won't dwell on those.  Except to say that you have had a lot of sleep interruptions this month due to your molars that are still plaguing us all.  One of the four has broken through, and the other three look like giant blisters about to burst.  I know that they must really hurt you but, as always, you are a trooper.  We give you tylenol, teething tablets, oragel, and popsicles for your teeth and you seem to enjoy all of these, especially the popsicles.

We took you to the doctor last week to make sure your cold was just a cold and for a flu shot booster and found out that you weigh 26.2 pounds!  This puts you in the 75th% for weight, so wonderful!  Your little rolls are still quite delicious and you are rapidly outgrowing your 12-18 month clothes.  I don't know how long you are, but your pants are getting shorter by the minute, or so it seems.

This month we have been working a lot on discipline and getting you to listen when we tell you "no" or ask you to come to us.  Previously, you have loved tearing everything out of your changing table; cloth diapers, burp cloths, wipes, etc.  So, we set to work teaching you not to do this.  You still love to run over to the changing table in an attempt to tear diapers out of their cube and toss them on the floor, but you will step back when we say, "no."  Depending on your mood, you either run away giggling or look at us with puppy dog eyes and begin to cry--life with a toddler.  But, you are learning to obey and that is the goal.

Liam bird, you are such a fun little lad.  I love watching you play!  You squeal and dance and jabber along to yourself.  You have started "driving" all of your trucks and cars around.  You especially love to drive your cars across your tummy and have mastered a sweet little humming car sound that you make while doing this.  It is precious.  You balance on your tip toes to turn the lock on your bedroom door and love nothing more than to let the water out of the bathtub, I am continually amazed at your attention to small details like latches and buttons.  If it moves, you will figure out how to make it do so. One of your favorite things to do is read.  You will sit for a long time flipping through your books and reading them out loud to yourself, but you also love for us to read to you.  You lay back in our laps and alternate between watching the book and watching our lips move as we read to you.  "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" and "The Little Blue Truck" are your very favorite books.  You will search them out and bring them to us very insistently.  I hope you always love reading.  Besides reading, your second favorite thing to do is to watch videos of yourself on my phone.  You think that baby is so funny, I'm still not sure if you know that it's you!

Sweet boy, you are so very loved.  We were reminded this week just how short life can be and my momma heart longs for you to know how treasured you are and just how much you are loved by us and by your Father in Heaven.  As much as it makes me want to sleep in the floor of your room and never let you out of my sight, I know in my heart that you don't belong to us.  If we do anything right in raising you, let it be to teach you that you are loved and that this earth is not your home.

Love you forever, and ever,
Momma

p.s. I thought last month we talked about you sitting still and smiling for all of your photos?  Hmm...

16 Months Old!

Dear Liam Davy,

You are getting to be such a big boy!  I cannot believe that you've been here with us for 16 months already.  We have been having so much fun with you and enjoying this fun, exploratory stage of your life!

At 16 months old, you are into everything!  You have started taking a few steps between things but still aren't technically walking.  Don't worry, this doesn't slow you down a bit!  You are climbing anything you can get a foot on top of and you are crawling faster than ever before.  You have actually adapted a new speed crawl where you keep your left knee on the floor and use your right foot to spur you along.  It's hard to describe, but looks like you have a peg leg or something, I will try to video it if I can keep from laughing long enough.

You are still eating us out of house and home! You will eat anything we give you: lemons, pickles, beans, fish, cinnamon chex, fruit snacks, anything! You absolutely hate waiting to eat once you realize it's time for a meal or that we are getting your milk ready.  Patience is definitely not your strong suit, little man.  You drink 24-30 ounces of whole milk each day and you eat three fairly large meals.  You never really seem to be hungry between meals, but we do give you popsicles in the afternoon from time to time for your teething pain.  Speaking of teeth, your molars are still trying to break through.  All four of them are puffed up and red, it must hurt but you are content with teething tablets and the occasional frozen treat.

You are such a spunky, busy, little man.  You are constantly laughing, squealing, or jabbering on to yourself.  It still seems as if French might be your first language, but you are saying lots of English words, just not often.  Why speak clearly when babbling is so silly?!  Another silly thing you do is wagging your tongue at your reflection, it is so funny!  You see a mirror and you instantly stick your tongue out and slobber all over your chin.

We are so thankful that you love your sleep, little man!  You are still sleeping from 6:30pm to 7:30am, give or take a little bit.  You have phased out your morning nap, but usually take a 2-3 hour nap in the afternoon.  You go down easily without fussing or complaining and if you wake up in the night it is very rare.

I don't know your exact weight or height, but we know you are growing!  You have moved up to a size 4 disposable diaper at nighttime (you were wetting too much for cloth diapers) and we have had to readjust the snapping on your cloth diapers during the day.  You are still wearing mostly 12-18 months clothes with a few 18 month jammies.  I can tell you have gained weight because I can barely throw you in the air anymore, I guess I need to hit the weights!  I know you have gotten longer by how much room you take up in your crib, it looks like you are about to out grow it!  We are so thankful for your growth, Liam.  When we are out and about people always comment on your chubby tummy and say you look like you haven't missed a meal.  It seems so strange that you were once so teeny tiny and preemie clothes hung on your little body.  Good job growing big and strong, buddy!

Liam, you are definitely a people person!  You still have never met a stranger and will surprise us by diving into the arms of someone we barely know from time to time (ex: hostess at cracker barrel, customers at mommy's store).  While you are friendly, you are definitely not a cuddle bug like your parents.  You prefer to initiate your cuddles and will occasionally come over and lay your head down on us while you're playing, which is the sweetest thing ever.  In the past month or so you have clearly become a daddy's boy.  You lose your mind when he walks through the door; squealing and laughing in anticipation for him to pick you up!  You also freely cover him with kisses while I have to beg for mine!  However, I can truly say that I'm not jealous, it is so special to see your bond with your sweet daddy.  Most little boys never get as much one-on-one time with their daddies as you do, and it makes going to work easier on me because I know you're both having the time of your lives!

Wiggs, you are truly the greatest blessing we have ever been given.  Not a day goes by that we aren't reminded of how wonderful you have made our lives.  Your mom and dad are obsessed with you, little lad, and I pray that you always know how greatly you are loved.

Love you forever, and ever,
Momma

p.s. would you kindly sit down for your pictures next month?

15 Months Old!

Dear Liam bird,

It is so hard to believe that you have been with us for 15 months already!  You are such a joy, and we love learning and growing with you!

You had a check up with Dr. Davidson the other day and we were excited to hear about your growth.  You currently weigh 24 pounds, 13 ounces which is in the 50th percentile. Your height of 31.75 inches is also in the 50th percentile.  Your big coconut of a head, however, is in the 75th percent!

It's no wonder that you are growing so much, you can definitely put away the food!  You drink about 24 ounces of whole milk throughout the day (4 sippy cups), and eat three quite large meals.  I am always amazed at how much you can eat.  For example, at Cracker Barrel last week you ate 2 scrambled eggs, 1 whole biscuit, a half-dollar sized piece of ham, half a glass of yogurt, and the top of a blueberry muffin--that's a lot of food!  We are so happy that you eat well and continue to be adventurous with food.  You love fish, lentils, cornbread, black beans, yogurt, cheese, clementines, breakfast casserole, pumpkin pie, and arrowroot cookies!

Your one year molars are trying to come through and with them they have brought some temper fits. We have always known you to be strong-willed, you got a double helping of that, but you have started to head butt us when you aren't particularly thrilled with something.  We have started referring to you as "grumpy-old-man-tooth-face" when you exhibit this behavior-- it is often cured with oragel, or teething tablets which we are thankful for.  Despite the grumpiness and obvious pain, you are still sleeping your normal 14 hours at night.  We have been trying to figure out your new nap schedule though, sometimes you still need two naps, but more often than not you are are just taking a 3 hour nap in the afternoon.

At fifteen months old, you are still taking your precious time with walking.  It will definitely be on your terms, little buddy.  You can more than adequately get around by crawling, creeping, walking behind your walker, or climbing.  Yes, we need to have you fitted for a harness, you successfully climbed the spiral staircase (with my hand constantly on your tushie) the other day!

Liam, we love to hear your sweet little voice.  You say, "mama," "dada," "book," "hi," "baby," and "nigh nigh."  You prefer to speak in your little made up language that sounds like French at times.  Your intonation sometimes makes it seem like you are saying complete sentences, we will sit around and translate for you so that you feel like you're a part of the conversation.  So cute!

You are still our little observer, when you see something new you will watch it for a long time.  If you get a new toy you have to turn it over and over inspecting it and then you quickly figure out how to play with it.  You absolutely love books, you will sit for a long time just pulling your books out of baskets and flipping through them.  You love any "touch and feel" books and "Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See."  You also adore all of the "Little People" that you have acquired.  They get loved on and driven all around your room.  You have such a sweet heart and love to share with Gus.  You will try to put anything in his mouth: food, books, toys, teethers.

We are so thrilled to be your parents, Wiggs.  You have no idea how much you bless us everyday with your sweetness, kisses, and smiles.  You are so much fun to hang out with, even when you are challenging we wouldn't trade a second!  We can't wait to see what this year holds for your development and growth, you're more of a little boy every day!  You are loved, cherished, and treasured, my sweets!

Love you forever, and ever,
Momma