August 26, 2009: STEPS in the right direction :)

So while I'm home from work today (because Liam is sick...again...he started a fever yesterday at school...story of our life) Not that I don't love the extra time with him, I just hate how often he's been sick this past year. Anyway, while we are home playing together I decided to practice walking with Liam. He is so close and I'm so scared that I will miss those first few steps... He started standing really well today and taking his hands off the furniture for a few seconds. I thought he might be ready to try and walk to me so I set the video camera up behind us. It might not look like much to parents of walkers but these are literally his VERY FIRST STEPS on his own...or should I say step singular :) Either way I'm so happy I caught it cause this post is especially for Nick...can't wait for you to get home from work tonight to walk more with your big boy!


PS- Happy Birthday to Aunt Rachy!

August 17, 2009: LIAM'S 1ST BIRTHDAY!! and Nick's Bday too :)

Oh my gosh...Liam is a year old. I can't believe it's gone this fast...and that's it's taken me this long to post about their birthday weekend! We did a bowling party since technically that's what we were supposed to do last year for Nick when I went into labor early. The party was great and we had alot of friends come to celebrate with the boys.

I almost forgot to take a picture before cutting into Liam's red velvet cake! Nick's was coconut...both courtesy of James (and Susie Cakes)! Of course Liam had to have a designer cake for his bday, he's an LA baby. We all enjoyed the cake, esp. Liam :)

They both got so many wonderful, generous gifts. Liam got more of his favorites....books and a bat! His friends sure do know him well :)

Yes, Liam woke up so excited the next morning when he realized he had 2 bats!! (Thanks Dempseys!) Now he just has to figure out how to crawl holding both of them :)

On Sunday Liam went to a BBQ with 5 dogs, a big yard, and a trampoline! Needless to say he barely ate anything there, he was too busy...here is "jumping" with James and Linus (the dog)

On Monday we went to Disneyland!! Here is Liam getting ready for the visit...he doesn't even know what he's in for I guess :)

Liam and I picked Nick up at work since his office is right next to Disney...

We're here!! I gotta be honest, we were so worried about leaving our stroller just parked somewhere while we were in line and on rides, but everyone does it. It's like the Disney honor code, nothing gets stolen. It's nice that you can still have that kind of faith somewhere in the world...and of course the happiest place on earth is totally appropriate :)

Here is Liam's rating of the rides...LOVED the carousel, liked Dumbo, tolerated It's a Small World, and whimpered through Pirates of the Caribbean.

Both Nick and Liam enjoyed naps at Disney...Overall it was a pretty memorable day!

So Liam went for his one year check up at my office :) He's 29.5 inches tall (35%), almost 23 lbs (50th%) and his head is 50 cm (>150th%). So his weight and height did plateau somewhat in the last 3 months but his head just keeps on going. To put it in perspective Liam and I can now share hats :) He didn't get his shots because he has another ear infection and bronchitis, but who could tell cause he's always smiling! Overall, his development is just booming. At one year old he's walking holding on to just one of our fingers...sooo close to doing it on his own. He plays peek-a-boo with us...

and points to everything...favorites are his soccer ball (like the one in his book!), his bat, balloons, and dogs. When I'm getting ready in the morning I send him on "missions" to collect certain objects around the room and bring them back to me so I can do my make-up. Some people (Mallie!) call it playing fetch with him, but he's so much smarter than any old dog :)

He is just still the happiest baby. He is loving the toddler room at school and comes home with lots of new sounds and expressions. He's still way into reading...he flips through his own books in the morning and when he's riding in the car. And of course we go through at least 10 before putting him to bed. He loves pushing his cars and trucks up and down the hallway and is cruising along pretty fast on his push-toys George (the lion) and Dorothy (the giraffe). He's drinking whole milk and trying all our food as well. He's still not a huge eater so we do about 5 mini-meals a day. He loves music and we sing lots of silly kiddie songs throughout the day, including pattycake which he now plays with us. He still loves the park, esp. swinging, climbing UP the slide, and feeding the ducks. We go on a walk almost everyday in his Step 2 car visiting either the park or his other favorite, the dog grooming salon where all the dogs are in the window! He has still 2 bottom teeth, but 3 teeth are cutting on the top..all on the left side...yeah, it looks a little funny but oh well :) He is FINALLY sleeping through the night and wakes up at 6am calling out for his daddy who's usually just about to leave for work. It's been a whole year and we're still just as smitten...maybe a little more actually. Happy Birthday Liam and Nick, the loves of my life!

August 10, 2009: Liam's nose and "bee bo"

So we have been working on naming body parts with Liam. He can point to our noses and our belly buttons, which he knows as bee bo, pronounced "bee boo". It comes from one of his favorite book "The Belly Button Book". Anyway he will always find our belly buttons and noses, but we've been trying to show him his own. He points in the general direction of his nose/mouth area but doesn't always get his nose. And finding his own belly button is even more tricky as you can see in this video...

August 8, 2009: Playdate with Mommy

So Nick was at the Rangers/Angels game to see Dave play and then do dinner with him afterwards. This meant Liam had me for the whole day! He was in such a fun, playful mood today and I took a little video of our "game". It's a little bit of chase, hide and seek, and catch all together. Of course you'll see his two favorite toys, the bat and soccer ball. I LOVE this stage...he's so darn cute.

July 25-August 1: Debbie's Visit and Grayton Beach 2009!

We had a wonderful trip back to the Gulf...Our family used to vacation in Destin every year growing up and I love that we are now taking Liam and Presley there too. For a whole week, we barely left the house and it was amazing. Days were spent by the pool or beach and napping, and nights were spent eating a festive meal, watching movies, and games. It was a house full of Bacons, Barkers, Renfros, Smiths and Lippers! Basically you had to be able to hold your own at the card table or you would lose your money and dignity:) Mal planned a different theme for every night so we had Xmas in July, Bada Bing night (Italian), a Luau, and Liam's (early) bday. The 'big kids' also got a night out to Red Bar while Mal and Dal babysat :) Everyone was healthy (yay!) and Liam played well with the whole fam. Our flights were as hectic as always. I have decided we are the bad news bears of flying...you know just the typical 2 hour delays, flying THROUGH a thunderstorm (yes there was lightening on both sides of the plane) and then we missed the LA connection. But the silver lining was that Liam was an angel the whole time and at least we were stranded in Dallas with Rachy and Pres. So let's start from the beginning cause I'm about 2 weeks behind...

As I said Grandma Debbie was with us the week before we left to help me with Liam while I was still recovering. This was such a blessing and we had such a fun week together. She really got to see Liam in his element at home and at school where he is now moved into the toddler room. We also got his big birthday gift that she had ordered for him...his own set of wheels! Ever since he rode Matteo's car, Liam has been wishing for his own. He is the cutest driver in LA, but has already adapted to the lifestyle here. This kid lays on the horn everywhere we go!

Here is Liam with some more of his new big boy toys...He totally knows how to dunk and claps for himself afterwards!

Liam giving me some love while I recuperate on the couch...

Here is Liam opening his birthday gift from his Pops...it's the 2008 and 2009 baseball card sets! Nick collected these every year as a child and now Liam will continue the tradition. Look how sweet he is already looking up to his daddy...

They are best buds...

Here is Liam in his John Deer boots...they were a gift from his Great-Grandma Barker. They are soft leather and Liam wears them around the house like slippers :)

Okay I just have to post this because Liam has foam letters for the bath tub and everyday we write "the word of the day". Now when he gets into the tub he looks up there and we spell a word for him. Obviously his favorites are 'Liam' and 'dog'.

Okay I'm finally up to the vacation pics. Rachy posted a ton so I'll try not to duplicate. Here are my boys enjoying the view from our room's balcony. This house was AMAZING!

Loving the pool...

Nick is a kid magnet :)

Such a serious birthday boy. Okay so technically his birthday is still 10 days away, but we've been celebrating early with family since they won't be here on the actual day. He got some thoughtful gifts (thanks family!) and enjoyed his pinata (he got to use his favorite bat!) and blue cupcakes!

While in Florida we also got to meet up with Uncle Mark, Aunt Steph, Mayce and Carson! We haven't seen them in a while, so it was fun to catch up and play in the pool.

Liam trying to love on Pres...don't worry this little girl handles herself well. Another year and it will be her bopping Liam on the head I'm sure!

This is the true testament of their similarities..look at their matching squinty face...

Enjoying the beautiful beach with Mallie and Dallie...

Okay I'm done, there are just too many cute pictures to post and I'm running out of room...Rachy has a bunch so check her blog as well. We had such a great week and are so appreciative of this time with family spread all across the country. We miss everyone already!! One last pic of my gerber baby...