Current Favorites: 2 yrs 2 months

Sweet, Funny and sometimes Wild Liam!


How I love you kiddo! You are currently in the most fun phase, but then again I think that of all you phases! I was just telling your Dadda this morning that I love that we can still only understand some of what you say, I love your chatter and how you look at us like "right?" I think I'll really miss this time, some day not too far away we'll know exactly what you mean all the time.

With that said here is a random list of things you currently love (in no particular order):

• Letters! You know a bare minimum of 12 and by that I mean you can say them correctly and point them out at random without being asked, crazy!
• Giving Hugs! It's the best feeling ever when you run through our house yelling "Momma Momma Momma!!!" and run up to hug my legs, you don't want to be hugged back you just want to give love....I melt!
• Hearts! I say "I love you" and point to my eye, make a heart with my hands and touch your belly, when you want me to say it you point to me and say "eye, eye, eye!" OR if you want to tell someone you love them you often put the tips of all your fingers together! You did it the other day as we assembled your train for the first time and I about cried!
• Counting! You aren't great at it but you are always trying to get me to count things by saying "two, two, two" it's adorable!
• Trains! Oh a boy and his trains! I got you this massive one slightly used, it's complicated to put it together but once it's there you are in heaven! I just lay there on the floor sometimes playing with you, sometimes just watching you.
• Walks! Especially if I don't make you hold my hand AND if I let you run through mud puddles which I should do more of!
• Veggie Tails! You love Bob and the songs!
• Coloring! You still just scribble and you tell me every crayon is "purple" (yes you can say it 100% correctly)
• Popsicles! Or Pop-poos as you call them, we recently switched to Fro-Yo since you are a bit addicted, but who can blame you it's HOT!
• Swimming! I can't even count how many times we've gone this summer and ya know what? I think we'll go again this weekend! I love that you love the water!
• Sleep! You still nap 2-3 hours during the day and sleep 11-13 hours at night (13 on the weekends), your like a tiny teenager and I'm ok with it! Momma loves sleep too!
• Cows! Anytime we see a cow (such as the cartoon one near the milk at the grocery store) you say "Momma!! MOO!!" We took you to the fair this weekend and we saw huge real cows up close, you were so excited! It was adorable!

Overall you are a pretty normal little boy, you might be a little smaller and a bit shy but that is what makes you Liam and I don't ever want you to be anyone else my sweet boy! There are so many things and people you love, I so enjoy watching you develop into the boy/guy/man/person you will become. There has been no greater joy in my life, no greater blessing than being your Momma! I will say it over and over until I can no longer speak, I love you and I have loved every moment (even the really frustrating ones) of being your Momma!!!

-Momma

July 4, 2013

Sweet Liam,

We had the best fourth of July! I got up early and went running (7 miles) with our new neighbor friend. I was so happy to see your smiling face when I got home! We ate pancakes and played trains! We even went out and played in the little pool and blew bubbles (your current obsession).

Soon nap time was upon us, you went down for your standard 3 hour nap so I enjoyed a short one hour nap. I had planned to take you to the outdoor pool for ever and finally everything worked out so we could go! When you woke up we quickly dressed you, feed you and our neighbor friend arrived to go with us (she doesn't have kids).

Once at the splash pool (for toddlers) you were in heaven! You loved the slide and all the things that sprayed water! You even got brave enough to go through the big jets that shoot up from the ground! It was the best day!

Love you!
Momma

2nd Birthday Plans

Sweet Liam,

On Friday morning you will turn two, it doesn't seem possible!! I've taken the day off to spend with just you. This is going to be our tradition as long as you will let me, I don't imagine a teenage Liam will want to hang with Mom but I can hope!

Friday morning I'm planning on letting you sleep in and making you pancakes with fruit, your favorite! After breakfast we can watch a show you like (I've sent in a card to your favorite show, Chica, so I'm hoping they will air it!) and maybe go for a walk. The local outdoor pool opens at 11:30am so we'll head there as soon as it opens. I haven't invited any friends, I want to soak in this time with just you! I'm hoping we can swim for a while before your typical afternoon nap (I'm going to bring your favorite snack to the pool too). After nap time we'll play it by ear until Dadda comes home, then we can do gifts and dinner together and maybe a walk since you love them so much!

This day is going to be all about you! You are so special to me and I want you to know that and experience it! I know you won't remember this birthday but I'll take pictures and I hope you cherish them one day.

Next weekend we'll have friends and family out to Grandma & Grandpa's house for a real true party!

I love you so very very much!
Momma

Pregnancy Memories

Hi Sweet Liam,

I'd like you to know I enjoyed every moment of being pregnant with you, I loved that you were always with me. I talked and sang to you in the car, I was always rubbing or touching my belly! I just loved you immediately!

I think often of how excited your Dadda was for you, especially toward the end of my pregnancy when I was large and the reality of you coming was obvious. Your Dadda would send me text messages that were for you, he'd talk to you in my belly and slept with his hand on my belly. He loves you so very much and always has from the very beginning.

One night when I was well into my 39th week your Dadda took me for a car ride on "Rollercoaster Road" (it's real, we'll take you there one day!) in hopes the ups and downs would get you to come out! It didn't work but it's a silly memory I cherish, we were both giggling and he was just beaming so very ready to be a Dadda.

He just loves you buddy, he reads to you and watches your shows, he'll play cars with you and give you baths.

Thank you for being our little boy, we love you so very very much! You are a true blessing from God!

Momma

Daycare/Pre-School Woes-Advice for the Future

Sweet Liam,

I'm so thankful I can still call you "Sweet" Liam, terrible-two have not taken hold of you (I'm hoping our consistent parenting will help them pass over our family).

You go to Daycare/Pre-School for many reasons two of which are 1.) I put myself through college, I want to work and 2.) have student loans so with our mortgage I have to work for our family. It is not a burden for me to work but a choice I willingly make. Your Grandma Patty is semi-retired, she did this so she could watch you three days a week, it's an incredibly blessing for the whole family! The other two days a week you go to Daycare/Pre-School near Dadda's work, the teachers and other students there love you and you enjoy it....except for first thing in the morning when I drop you off. It breaks my heart how you cry and so "NO Momma, NO!" Even when you and G wave to be out the window you cry as I sign "I love you" to you (our new thing, you giggle any other time I do it!). I know the rest of your day is wonderful, your teachers send me pictures to prove it but dang is it hard on me. I don't know how to make it better, I've tried countless things and nothing works. You go there Monday & Tuesday mornings and Monday is by far the worst, I dread it but try not to let you sense it for fear of making it even worse.

I know these days are fleeting, these moments I may not even remember one day. Is it bad that I pray I won't recall the times I cried on the way to work? Part of the point of this blog is so that I recall everything I can about your childhood, both the good and not so good because it's all so important to me. The other part of that is I want you to have these memories from me, I want you to have them to reflect back on one day perhaps when you are raising your own child (hopefully I'll be around for that, even near-by maybe!)

Parenting is not always easy my love, there are hard choices to be made and even when you know you are making the right one it can sometimes feel like an incredible challenge. Trust yourself if you are reading this and pondering your own parenting decisions, trust your gut....I pray that we've raised you to have a wonderful and loving childhood that you can reflect upon and cherish. I'm always just a phone call away!

I love you Liam, I will always be proud of you!
Momma

Welcome Home

Dear Sweet Liam,

Welcome to your forever home!  We've been visiting it for the last four months while it was being built, in the last month you clapped every time we pulled up!  Yesterday I dropped you off at daycare so Dadda and I could move the bulk of our things. 

Dadda and I made it a priority to set up your things first knowing that you need consistency and routine to feel safe.  After a full day of moving items I was exhausted, I decided to pick you up 45 minutes early and spend some time at home just the two of us while G'pa and Uncle B helped Dadda with the biggest items.  I'm so glad you and I had this time for you to explore our home with the majority of your items in it...I didn't realize this would be a stressful time for you.  You had moments of frustration, at the old house I could tell you "show me what you want" but now you don't know where the things you want are....it will take us a little time to adjust and I know you will do just fine!  You stood at your window just watching it snow (welcome to Spring in MT) just happy as a clam!

This is your home sweet boy, we are going to have wonderful times here and build a lifetime of happy memories.  This place has been my dream but it's because of you, I want you to have a home, a true home that you recall with fond memories.

Momma

Quick Note

Dearest Liam,

We had the best weekend, our little family spent lots of time together just hanging out....these are some of my favorite times.  That is one of the best things you have taught me; to just slow down and live in this moment and just play cars. And I love it, love it!

I wanted to take a quick moment and just say something, you know in case there is a day when I can't; just so you know I love you fiercely.  Our family time is sacred to me and you are first and foremost my number 1 priority in this life.  I have loved every moment of being your mom, even the really hard and frustrating moments (you'll know what I mean when you have a toddler one day, said with a smile).  I mean it from the depths of my heart and soul each time I tell you I love you.  I pray that I get to see you be a teenager and you can be annoyed when I hug/kiss you and tell you I love you.

I know I won't always be your friend but I will always be your mom.  I hope I am able to teach you important things, to love God and others, to be kind, to read and run.  It's a big job to be a good mom and raise a good man but I'm trying.

Thank you for the greatest gift,
Momma



While I'm here a quick note on your favorite things: matchbox cars, trains in any shape or form but especially Thomas the Train on tv.  You love fish sticks, peas and any kind of pasta or fruit.  (There really isn't much food you don't like aside from Olives and eggs which you used to love). When you get really happy or excited you say "mom-mom-mom-mom" over and over as fast as you can and it melts my heart.  You love books as much as ever, you could easily spend a whole day bringing me books to read you.  You could also spend each and every day outside all day, summer will be here soon my love and I promise you lots of outside time!