Happy Christmas Y'all

Watching for Santa

Angry little elf!

Happy little elf after a yogurt covered pretzel!

Some other hungry elves!!

Clapping elf!!

He was getting a little tired of being in the bucket

Laughing at his daddy

I love his sweet little mischievous smile 

Scaredest elf that you ever did see  : )

His table in his playroom/mini-man room.....set up for company

Hi guys! It has been almost a month, a busy month since my last post.  We have traveled home to Indiana for Thanksgiving where Liam decided to get sick and end up making a trip to the ER. After he got over that, we had the St. Jude Marathon which Jake ran in.  Jake's mom, Eric, Caleb, Blaize, Jenny, Emilie, and Isabelle also came down for the race.  Emilie and Caleb ran with Jake, which happen to be there first marathon.  I had to work that weekend and there was no way to get it off because we were moving to the new LeBonheur Children's Hospital.  It has been a busy past few weeks. But now I have a free moment to update our blog.

our humble little Charlie brown tree

Liam's 2010 Christmas ornament

Liam is a wild boy!  He is walking/speed walking all over the place.  When you ask him where his belly, ears, or his head is, he will point to them. He gets a tad confused at times but then he gets the hang of it. He is pointing to things and babbles.  His new and favorite naughty mischievous activities are opening the fridge and standing inside the door, he loves to turn on the bath water and run away, he pushes his little car, caterpillar truck, and push toy around after you and loves to ram into you and various other things.  He has knocked the Christmas tree over 3 times, once by pulling it, once with a ram from the car, and once by falling into it.  He loves his daddy and knows to go to look for him when I tell him daddy's home.  He still likes parents day out but one of his teachers left and the first she was gone he was very sad.  He is trying to feed himself with a spoon and does a pretty good job.  I have to help him scoop it onto the spoon, but then he does the rest.  He loves being wild and rough.....such a boy.  He likes to climb on things, including the dogs.  He thinks they are his personal pals, he loves on this, squeezes the tar out of them and pats them.  He essentially drives them crazy, but sister pup still loves them . His new favorite thing is a stuffed animal my friend Amanda sent him for Christmas.  It is the dog from the book the Grinch who stole Christmas.  It is so sweet, and he absolutely loves it, he has frequently been spotted loving on it, putting it in his car and pushing it around, and carrying it all over the place.  I will post some photos and a video of him. 


I recently took some hilarious photos of him for our Christmas card which I hope everyone loves as much as we do.  The photo shoot began with him crying and not cooperating.  However, after receiving a yogurt covered pretzel, all was well and he cooperated.  Hope you enjoy the results!!! Speaking of cooperating, Liam is waking up from his nap so I have to go get him!! Enjoy!! Merry Christmas to all our family and friends, near and far!!!   

His ramming mobiles 

Liam in ram mode!

Feeding himself with a spoon...Spaghetti squash dinner

Walking in Memphis.....

Liam is walking!! It's official!! He is all over the place and within a week he acts like he has been walking for years.  It is truly incredible to think how babies master milestones and skills and within a few days they have improved leaps and bounds.  He had been taking steps to me and Jake for a while and the day he started walking I had been trying all day to get him to walk to me.  Jake got home from work and Liam always gets so happy to see Jake when he gets home!  Jake got down on the floor to see him and Liam just toddled right over to him, and then he did it again, and again....Clearly my efforts to get him to do it all day eventually paid off....I guess he was just waiting for his daddy to get home so both of us were there.  Here are some videos of him walking around.  Hope you enjoy!!!

While Liam has been waalking around, I have been working on some Christmas decorations.  My friend Nicole and her son Luca have been coming over the past 2 weeks and we have been having our "Christmas Craft Day" as we like to call it.  It is a nice because the boys kinda entertain each other and we just work around their schedule and it gives us time to have a hobby.  Here are a few things I have made! Hope you enjoy!!

This is still in progress but will be a card holder...

This is Liam's ornament that I bought for him.  Every year I am going to buy him a special ornament 

It was so sweet, warm, and fuzzy and just reminded me of him!

We both made these but Nicole's is different than mine. I found something similar in a pottery barn kids magazine and wanted to make my own version

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Red bird ornament

Christmas sign

Going to start doing this for all of our kids thanksgivings...their first thanksgiving
The brown is Liam's hand....I have a similar idea for Christmas that's really cute too!!

Liam turns one!!

Attempting to open his presents

Liam's first wagon ride

Happy 1st Birthday Liam!

It is so hard to believe that Liam is already one! The past year has been such a truly amazing year.  They say cherish every moment because they grow up so fast and they truly do. Liam has been a wonderful baby and we couldn't have been blessed with a more perfect little boy.  I think back to every one of his little milestones...smiling, rolling over, sitting up, holding his own bottle, laughing, crawling, and then all his little quirks in between. I really love him more and more each day.  I can't imagine what the next year will bring and what he will do.  

Liam's party was really amazing! I have to say a big THANK YOU to my mom, Jenny, Susan, and everyone else who helped make it happen.  I really appreciate my in laws letting us take over the house to have his birthday back home.    His cake was a lot of work and took numerous hours to make.  My mom and I work diligently to make it.  Thank you mom!! I was determined to make it because I got an estimate for someone to make it and they wanted $110.  Jenny helped with decorations, making cupcakes, loving on Liam, and made us an amazing video of Liam's first year of life!! It was the best present ever!! Liam got a ton of clothes, toys, a wagon, table and chairs and books. He was a very lucky boy and has taken on Jake's man room with all his toys.  Jake and Liam now share the "man room" it has become the Man/mini-man room.  

What's been going on lately....

It is that time of year again...brewing season! Jake has brewed beer for many years. It started with his dad, who would get him and his brothers together and they would spend time in their basement, in the brew room, brewing beer together.  Jake still enjoys brewing beer and it looks like Liam will also enjoy it! We were outside and I sat him down for 5 seconds to help Jake and off he went to the bucket.  He just slapped the water and it went all over him.  I figured that since he was already wet and needed a bath, why not just let him go wild!  Of course he did and was living the dream.  He played in the water and with the bottles....back and forth between the two.  He was so mad when I took him inside to hose him off and get a bath.  It was a very sweet to watch him play in his own little world.  I can't wait for this tradition to continue with Liam.  Here are some pictures of all the fun he had!

Liam was in heaven with this bucket full of suds...he is all boy

Dad's helper...a future brewer

Taking the bottles out so daddy could clean them

He was so dirty! Grass, mud, diaper full of pee and suds...

He had a blast!

Liam is walking along all the furniture and stands all by himself.  The other night when we were at a friends house for dinner he took a step to me all by himself.  I screamed really loud and then he dropped to the ground because he was a little nervous from my scream.  He has a little car that changes from a car to a little push toy and has been pushing it around the house....but while on his knees.  Yesterday, when I picked him up from PDO, his teacher, Miss Beatrice, said he was standing up today pushing the push toy around....something new.  We got home and he did it once but them didn't seem interested in it.  After we got home from dinner last night, Jake and I got him to push towards each of us and he just pushed that little thing around with ease.  He maneuvers it with one hand.  I think he will be walking really soon!! I took a video of him doing it last night.  I hope you enjoy it and please disregard Jake and I.  We were trying to get him motivated : )  Here is the video! Hope you enjoy!!!

It's been a while....

So it's been a while since my last post but we have been really busy lately.  I have been working every wednesday night to earn some extra money which makes it hard to keep up with house work, Liam, and all the other busy work I need to do.  Jake celebrated his 26th birthday since my last post and I will post some photos of the homemade coconut cream pie I made.  Jake is still training for his big race in Nashville.  It is going to be October 16th and he is really excited.  I have decided to throw Liam a small party here in Memphis to celebrate with our friends down here.  I really wish we could have one big party with everyone together but the distance just won't allow it.  I have been working on little crafty projects for his party and hope they turn out great.  


Liam is standing on his own and increasing the distance between the things he walks to and from.  His latest thing he does is screaming!  He thinks it's hilarious if you scream and then he screams back.  He throws his head back and cackles.  He thinks he is hysterical!!  It is so funny to watch him.  He also has his fang teeth on top.  It looks ridiculous and I try to take a picture of it but he is too busy and won't cooperate.  I will try to wrangle him and post one soon.  As of last week, he has decided he likes PDO.  Last week when I dropped him off, he crawled down and played with the toys and went to his teacher.  I am glad he has warmed up to it.  

Yummy! Notice the beer candles!

I know this is a short post but I will hopefully post another one by the end of this week.  Enjoy our post!!

Happy Birthday Jake!!

Blowing out his "beer can" candles

Looking at the Meerkats at the zoo

 

Hanging out with his pal Luca

Trying to scoot Luca closer to him

Ultra weekend

My favorite picture of Jake that I took that day

I am pretty sure Jake would have been mortified to ride home in the window!

Cheering on my daddy!!

We decorated the car but it rained so Jake never got to see this

This Saturday was Jake's first ultra marathon.  I am so incredibly proud of him and blown away by what he did.   I have to say I am in total awe of him.  He just takes my breath away.  I am so thankful of what an outstanding role model he is for Liam and for me.  He may absolutely drive me crazy some days but I just absolutely love and adore him.  We started the  morning by dropping him off at the park at 6:30AM.  Liam and I watched the race start and then we left shortly after that.  Liam and I went to the store to get some last minute things and then met up with tripper at 11:30 and drove back out to the park.  Tripper joined him for the last 10 miles of the race.  Liam and I were there from 12:00 to 3:15.  He was a little trooper and did great.  He watched everyone and played in his stroller and then took a little nap and then got up to see the end of the race.  The race was a small race and didn't have lots of crowd support.  Liam and I cheered "YYYAAAYY" and he would clap his hands (sometimes) when we would cheer.  Jake finished with a time of 7 hours and 59 minutes which put him in 3rd place out of 9 seasoned ultra marathoners.  He did great getting 3rd considering he was a novice.  He was so happy to see Jake each time and was definitely excited to go home and get down and play with his toys.  Jake was pretty sore.  He came home, took a shower, ate, and then fell asleep by 7:30!  He was worn out.  I know we were all pleased with how the day and the race went.   His next race is 5o miles and it is in Nashville October 17th.  

Other family news.  Liam is getting more teeth.  We noticed his top teeth are coming in.  The 2 front and 2 teeth immediately next to the front teeth are coming in.  He has done pretty well with teething and just likes to nibble on everything.  He is saying Dada all the time now and is busy into everything.  He is getting brave and occasionally stands on his own and is increasing the distance he will move from object to object.  He loves hiding and then when you come and look for him he won't move a muscle until you make eye contact with him.  He loves screaming and screeching loudly!!! He thinks the dogs and his daddy are funny.  He is giving kisses now and hugs you occasionally. 


Tomorrow is Jake's 26th birthday.  He has always been hard to shop for.  He always knows what he wants and it's hard to keep anything a surprise.  I got him something small but it's something he has been wanting.  We don't have any big plans but, I am making him a birthday dessert and Liam promises to give him 50 kisses!!  Hope you enjoyed the post!!  

Parents Day Out and great finds....

Well parents day out went well.  Liam and I arrived a little early and while we were waiting, we met some of the other moms and their babies.  Most everyone in his group is around 10 months old. Liam was immediately excited and squealed out loud!  He reached for every baby that was near him and was thrilled to be around people his size....that didn't have fur(sister and brother dogs)  
 Two moms said they thought Liam was big....which really to me he doesn't seem bigger than their babies.  I am not just saying that because he is mine but, he really isn't that big.  Now if he was a 28lb 10 month old, I would be a little concerned. Anyways....We all just chatted waiting for the teachers to get there.  I figured out that I was the only one that worked and everyone else seemed to be around 28-32.  I was thinking in my head....so I am 24 and the only one who works, not in workout gear or a dress and heels.....feeling a little awkward.  The most important part was Liam seemed to have a great day!! They sent home his little report of his day and at the top they wrote, "Sweet Boy!"  I will post a picture of it on here.  I told Jake it was like his first report card : )  Jake just looked at me, in a nice way,  like I was a little overexcited weirdo am way overdoing the piece of paper. Not to mention I hung it on the fridge.... : ) I am really excited for him to go each week and get to be around other babies his age!! All and all a great first day for him. 
I on the other hand, cried after I got in the car and pulled out of the parking lot.  I of course immediately called Jake. As soon as he picked up the phone I said, " Say something to make me laugh because I am about to cry".  He was very sweet and asked me why I was crying, of course he knew why...I left Liam with someone I had never met for the first time.  I talked to him for a minute and then stopped crying and felt better so we got off the phone since he had a patient coming.  I really didn't know what to do with myself. I kept looking back at his empty carseat.....feeling like I forgot him or something.  I went to Old Navy, Party City, the bank, and a few other places all in about an hour.  Normally this would take me a lot longer with Liam.  So then I went home and cleaned, did dishes, and called Jake again.  I tried to take a nap since I was gonna work that night, but couldn't.  I was so excited to finally go pick him up! We got home and he was so happy and played and then took a little nap.  It was a good day!!

Today, Liam and I went to look around at Garden Ridge.  It is one of my favorite places to go shopping for holiday decorations. They have anything and everything, frames, furniture, rugs, luggage, baskets, home decor, party supplies, etc.   One of the things that I really love are their books.  They have really awesome cook books!  I found Jake this book about spicy cooking and he really likes it!! Today, I found 2 books about healthy baby and kids food which are great!  I also found an early birthday gift, a book about pizza, his favorite food.  Jake is obsessed with Turoni's Pizza, this is a local pizza place back home in Indiana.  He says it is the best pizza he has ever eaten!  I hope he will enjoy this book as much as the last one.  Each book was $5.99.  They are really reasonably priced.  Jake is the most traditional eater, he doesn't like a lot of traditional meals like most guys do.  Sometime it's a struggle to find meals he like, are really healthy, and I like too.  I am going to start buying more of these fabulous cook books with recipes Jake and I both will enjoy.  Well, now it's time for Liam and I to head to the grocery store... Hope you enjoyed reading!!