Liam James is 1 1/2!! I guess he's officially a toddler :) Considering he can recognize all his letters, can fill in the letters as we sing the alphabet song, can count to 6, can recognize numbers 1-10, and speaks in 'sentences'....yeah, he's not a baby anymore. (I will post videos of his alphabet song and him counting soon) His toddler sentences really are the best. Usually just 2 word phrases that very succinctly get his point across. "Up mama...peeeaass?" (Pick me up mama, please?) "Wait tur" (Wait turn) "Brus harr" (brush hair) "Brus teef" (brush teeth) "Ree book" (read book) ."New shoos" (new shoes) "Sock off" "Go fly" (when Nick throws him in the air) "Weeee train/car/plane" (the noise he makes when he zooms around his transportation toys). He says so many cute things, these are just a few. He also has picked up some great sports phrases as well as some slang: "Shot" (when he shoots a basket or makes a goal) "Goool" (goal) "Foo ball" (football) "Bas ball" (basketball) "A'mos" (almost) "Alighty" (alrighty) "Oh man" (self-explanatory!) "Hey you!" (my dad taught him this little gem, which he yells to everyone...when he's not yelling "Hey dude" or "Hey Nick"...okay that last one he def heard from me ;) When the doctor asked me today at his check up if he had 5-10 words, I paused...because I didn't just want to say yes. He is so smart, I wanted him to show her all his wonderful verbal skills...but he just wanted to cry. Oh my big toddler is still a little bit of a baby :)He.Repeats.Everything. So we've all had to alter our speech...not that I have a bad mouth, but who doesn't mutter crap! occasionally? Anyway, my new curse word is crikey. Yes, it's very uncool and outdated, but sounds a lot cuter when he repeats "Cripey" rather than "Crap" (which he did say...once.) He still gets put in time out a few times a week. Since we started this about a month ago though, he's already learned from it. He does not hit nearly as much. I mean he is a little boy, so some of that is part of the territory, right? Oh well. Anyway, he usually goes into time out because he's crying/whining. I guess that sounds mean, but he only sits there for a minute and I think it helps him get his emotions in check so he can try to show/verbalize what he needs. Just today, when he was having a meltdown while I made dinner, I crouched down and asked him to please stop whining and use his words (something I say a million times a day I feel like). Well he continued to cry for a minute or two, which I tried to ignore since it was not the behavior I wanted to see. Lo and behold he finally goes and sits down on the naughty spot himself! He cries there for a minute and I go over to him and ask him if he's ready to get up. He stands up, hugs me, and mumbles his "sowee"...then he's off to play again. I don't blame him...there are many times mommy would like a time out during the day :)Liam has always been so helpful. He loves to sing the clean up song...well at least the first verse "Clee up" while he works. He has mastered picking up his toys, so he was ready for his next chore....
I'm kidding!! This is not his chore, just a favorite new game he has. He loves to sweep, I think mostly because this brush and dust pan are just his size :) Here are the 18 month stats: Weight: 24.5 lbs (30th%) Height: 33.75in (75th%) Head circumference: 19.5in (95th%)...his head is back on the charts, yay! So he didn't gain much weight, but he grew almost 2 inches! Long and lean, not too bad. He's such good, well-rounded eater that I don't really have any complaints. But Mal was concerned about his weight so she started him on the ice cream diet :) 
His iron level is better, so now he is just taking a multivitamin with iron. We'll recheck at 2 years old, but hopefully we're done with all that. Unfortunately, the bad news is that he has another ear infection. It's just the left ear and it's still early because I don't think he really exhibited any symptoms...oh besides waking up every night!! Poor thing, cutting 2 molars and now his ear?? No wonder. So we delayed his vaccines for a few weeks till he's over this cold and his ear is better.
This month has been busy as ever. Liam's been playing hard with his family and new friends. Here's what Liam's been up to: (For the record he is having a ball in all these pictures...he's just at that age where he won't smile on command anymore...but I promise he's having fun!)Snow!! Dallas had record breaking snow (11-12 inches) and we definitely took full advantage. I bundled Liam up (in our makeshift snow gear and some snow boots borrowed from my cousin Olivia! Yes, they are pink...Liam's just man enough to wear them) and we went out with Rach, Cam, and Pres who got 'snowed in' with us. Liam built a snowman, who he aptly named Sid. He also went sledding (ghetto style) with Presley in a laundry basket...again we weren't exactly prepared but totally made this work!
When we weren't playing outside in the cold, we were staying warm playing inside at the mall. These indoor playgrounds are growing on me. I don't love that there are big kids who play rough and that I still have to chase him around, but I do like there is somewhere for Liam to run around in the winter. Here are two different days we went, once with Pres and other baby friends, and the other time with toddler friends. It's so fun now that Pres is mobile and they can chase each other through the tunnels. 
Liam likes to "high" (hide) in the tunnels too...
Liam and his new buddy James both had on their Notre Dame gear, so we tried to get a picture of it while they were still...but no, they are already trying to get back up and off to play!
For Valentine's Day, we were pretty low-key. Lounged, played, snuggled, and did lunch at Mi Cocina with the Smith's. Mallie and Dallie with their valentines! 
I thought that I was going to be Nick and Liam's valentine...you know...because I'm the wife and mother!?! But it looks like there was another girl that caught their eye...and lips :)
Finally, the most fun thing we did this weekend was the Mardi Gras parade! Yes we dragged our sickly son (more on that below) out in the cold to watch the Krewe of Barkus parade....it was definitely worth it! This is a parade they do in Nola and considering it's all dogs, dressed up and in floats, we knew Liam would love it. He had so much fun and went crazy with all the different sized dogs around. He did catch some beads, but was much more into the canines :)
There has been some nasty viruses going around and everyone in Liam's play group as well as Presley were sick...so I guess Liam was due. He didn't get the stomach bug (thank goodness) but has a bad cold that's left him unable to sleep well. That coupled with 2 new molars means mommy and Liam haven't slept through the night in 2 WEEKS! I'm so not the ferberizing mommy and just don't do the CIO (cry it out) method. Especially now that I hear "elp mama" (help mama) over the monitor...even me, the person who puts sleep above almost everything in my life, cannot help but go running into his room. He's usually up between 3-4:30am, sometimes screaming, sometimes tossing and turning, sometimes just nuzzling into my neck. I really don't mind being there for him in the middle of the night, because I like to know he gets back to sleep comfortably. It's the next morning that I mind...alot. I have been miserable after these nights, and am ready for Liam to be healthy with all of his teeth in place :) Speaking of health...his 18 month appointment is in 2 days! I can't believe he's that old, but I am excited to get his new stats...which of course I'll post :)
This post is two weeks late, but what's new? Life here is fun, crazy, still a little disorganized, but definitely worth it! Many Friday nights are spent as family pizza/poker nights. Saturday nights the big kids (Nick, Cam, Rach and me!) get to go out while Mallie and Dallie babysit. We hang out alot with Rachel and Cameron, but have been getting together with new friends too. It's such a treat to have the nights out, since we were not able to do this in LA (no babysitter!) Props to our LA friends though, because we brought Liam along to every BBQ, house party, game night, and get together we were invited to. No, I was not the mom who had a baby in a bar, but our entire group of partying (child-less) friends were always welcoming of "our" baby :) Rachel has also included me in some of her girls' nights out and I've even had one of my own with some new toddler mommy friends. Yay for mommies night out! 
During the week Liam and I are still home together while I'm house/job hunting. We do lots of playdates with our toddler group and, of course, with Presley. Nick has been working long hours and weekends, and I know how hard he's working so that we have this wonderful life in Dallas. Here's some pics of our family lounging time...
Another plus to being in Dallas is that we live close to Nick's best friend David...who happens to play for the Rangers! We are looking forward to his games this season and even went to a signing event recently to support him. Liam LOVED seeing the Frisco RoughRiders stadium (where the signing was held) and I know he will love going to the games.
My birthday was very low-key but fun. Just dinner with family (and Kate!) and of course some card games. Nick got me an otoscope which was the perfect gift!! Within minutes I was invading everyone's ear privacy...haha, okay that's weird, but really I love being able to check Liam or Presley's ears whenever we might be worried they have an ear infection. Speaking of, Liam has NOT had one since we moved here. We had scheduled his tube placement surgery and then I cancelled at the last minute. I can't explain it, but I just kept thinking it wasn't the right time. We had a follow up appt. with ENT a few weeks ago and he agreed...as long as Liam's ears stay clear-no tubes!! Hopefully the change of climate + no daycare will help to ensure this. Speaking of health, Liam and Presley recently did some labwork together. Presley needed to have her iron level checked at 9mo and Liam needed his iron and CBC checked again (more to come on this later-but after taking iron for about 4 months we are really hoping the results are finally improving). For those who don't know, this requires a venipuncture-blood taken from the arm. What nice mommies we are taking them together, huh? We hoped they might comfort/distract each other, or at least Liam could be strong for Pres. Did not exactly happen that way though...Here they are before the needle stick. Liam showing his manly "you don't scare me" attitude... 
Presley realizing what is about to happen...Liam's bravery is fading...
Even though we didn't get pictures after the procedure, this pretty much sums it up...Liam rebelled, screamed, and cried before, during, and 20 minutes after the procedure. Presley fussed for about 5 seconds while they held her arm and then spent the rest of the afternoon comforting Liam :)
I had to include this pic of the kids...They had just taken their bath and since Pres had no jammies over here, she borrowed some of Liam's. He graciously brushed (or rather 'picked') her hair afterwards too :)
Liam has been full of surprises lately. His palate continues to become more refined as he now eats salmon with couscous and spinach, pork tenderloin with turnips, parsnips, and carrots...and Lucky Charms. Yes, Nick, Dal, and Liam were very excited to eat cereal for dinner when I wasn't home one night :) Here are some of the cute things he's doing. He puts his clothes in the hamper after changing. Although before throwing his socks in, he likes to smell them and says "pee-wee". I'm pretty sure he means pee-ew, but it's cuter his way :) He brushes his teeth (with our help, of course). His version of spitting out the toothpaste is blowing raspberries towards the sink! He tries to snap his fingers whenever he hears music playing. He can count to 4!! (I'll post a video of this soon) He loves to play on "dal's bed" and usually follows him into his room where they proceed to jump on the bed. 
He also started doing something funny lately. I couldn't figure out what he was doing but then one day I finally looked over and thought...is he doing yoga?!?! The only conclusion I have is that Liam and I used to do mommy/baby yoga in Santa Monica. The last time we went was when he was about 15 months old. I don't know why this is just coming out now, but I'm pretty sure this is Liam doing the cobra and down dog positions :)
Since Liam is so smart, he's also started to "announce" his bowel habits by telling us "poo poo". Mal thought maybe we was ready for the potty so we pulled out his little seat and let him sit up there. No success yet, but he loves to talk about the "biii potty" (big potty) and flush and wash his hands afterwards. I'm definitely in no rush to potty train, but think it's good to let him play around with the process...and what could be better than a relaxing book on the potty?? This is probably a habit I shouldn't start...
Life seems to be moving too fast and even at 17 months Liam has started the "terrible twos". I made a naughty spot out of a cheap, green placemat from Walmart. I just wanted something that he could recognize and that I could have multiple of...he has naughty spots at Mal and Rachy's houses so he'll always have one around in case we need it :) So far Liam has been in the naughty spot about 4 times for hitting (Mal), biting (me), climbing up the stairs (yes, he got around the gate) and hitting again (Mal). He sits on the spot for one minute and even though he cries, he doesn't get up. Afterwards he says "sowee" (sorry) and gives a hug to whoever he owes the apology to. Maybe since he's starting these behaviors early, we'll also get through it early?? We'll see I guess.
His speech and phrases continue to amaze me daily. He is officially having conversations...well at least with Nick and I. Here's the section I call "Deep Thoughts-by Liam James"Setting: breakfast table with Liam, Mal, and meMe: Wow, Liam you really like your cream of wheat. You already finished the whole bowl!Liam: mo wheat wheat mama!Me: What do you say?Liam: peas! (please)Me: Okay, I guess you can have the rest of mine. Mommy will share with you.Liam: shaaar (share) mama!(Liam begins rubbing his eyes and yawning after finishing my bowl.)Me: Liam, are you tired? Do you want to go night night?Liam: Pay (play) mama!!Me: Okay, play time!
Setting: Mal, Dal, Nick, Liam and me sitting down to dinnerLiam: Sit Mal! Sit dada! Sit Dal! Sit mama!Me: Okay Liam, we are all sitting at the table now.Liam: mmmmDada: What are you eating Liam?Liam: Sauce! (applesauce)Dada: Why don't you eat some of your hamburger?Liam: ham..bur..gerDada: That's right Liam! Take a bite.Liam: Dip! (asking for ketschup to dip it into)Setting: Anytime during the week when Liam and I are hanging outLiam: (looking in our bedroom) Dada wurk!Me: Yes Liam, daddy is at work.Liam: (later in the day, 'talking' on his phone) Dada wurk!Me: Are you calling daddy at work? Tell him I said to come home early!Liam: ( in his crib, going down for his nap, talking to Bobo his stuffed dog) Dada wurk!Me: (I don't say anything back because I'm watching from his video monitor...but man this kid loves and misses his dad like crazy!!)I'll post Liam's 18 month stats when he goes for his appt. in two weeks!! For now, we're just enjoying our toddler :)
His iron level is better, so now he is just taking a multivitamin with iron. We'll recheck at 2 years old, but hopefully we're done with all that. Unfortunately, the bad news is that he has another ear infection. It's just the left ear and it's still early because I don't think he really exhibited any symptoms...oh besides waking up every night!! Poor thing, cutting 2 molars and now his ear?? No wonder. So we delayed his vaccines for a few weeks till he's over this cold and his ear is better.
