Liam David Turns One Year Old!

Liam successfully turned one year old!!!! The doc measured him at 30 inches tall (58th percentile) and about 22 pounds (25th percentile). I thought for sure my chunky monkey was going to be higher up in the weight category. But, alas, he is well proportioned for a 12 month old....yay, Liam!

Liam wasn't so keen on wearing the birthday hat for the 1 year scale photo shoot. He threw that hat off every time Owen or I put it on his sweet little head. This ended up my favorite because he is looking down at it, disgusted. Ha! That his little Irish temper in a nut shell. This boy knows what he wants and doesn't care too much what the rest of us would like him to do. Happy Birthday, Mr. Independant!

Waking Up One.
At one year, Liam is saying "mama", "dada," "bubba {the dog}", "uh uh {uh oh}", "ba {ball}", "go", and "juice." In addition to his words, he speaks volumes through his body language and hollerin' . If this little fella wants something...you know it and, trust me, its in the best interest if your sanity to figure it out quick!!!

Liam's birthday lunch.

Liam started walking a bit, got to where he could take about 5 or 6 steps on his own, and then decided it wasn't for him. I think he figured out that he can keep up with big brother faster on all four! He is a very fast crawler and a slow walker. Just today, though, he started getting excited about trying to take steps again. I am guessing he will walk by his 13 month birthday...time will tell, though.

Liam loves to play with toys, loves to eat, loves to crawl around in the grass chasing balls, and loves to eat (oh...did I already say that....he really, really loves to eat)! He is a very happy baby when he is in the play room. He is even happier when Owen wants to involve him in playing trains, cars, or balls. He loves to play.

Liam is a great sleeper. Little man likes to be rocked for a little while after bathtime; but, then he is ready for his crib, blanket, and paci, and he puts his own little self to sleep. In the mornings, when he wakes, he finds his paci and sticks it in his mouth, turns on his music maker in the crib, and plays quietly until someone comes to get him. When we arrive, he bends down to get his blanket and he is ready to go. Cuteness!

Liam has added so much to our little family. He is full of smiles, happy to play peek-a-boo or "if your happy and you know it, clap your hands", and ready to laugh at anything Owen does that is the least bit funny.

Oh, and he got two new teeth for his 1st birthday!!

Happy First Birthday, Puddin' Pop. We love you to pieces and excited to watch you continue to grow up, little man. Just don't do it too fast...okay?

Liam's Splashin' Fun Birthday Party

Liam got to celebrate turning 1 on Saturday. Friends and family joined us for a splashing good time!! After waking from a nap (with Grammie's help) about 30 minutes into the party, he made a grand entrance ;-)
We had favors for our friends, sand pails filled with bubbles, pool floats, squirty fish, and goldfish. Owen put them all together himself. He had walked in on Wednesday while I was doing it and asked if he could help. I showed him what I was doing, we laid out all of the components, and Owen meticulously went to work making sure that each pail had the right stuff in it. He couldn't wait to show Liam the next morning. After all that....can you believe that we forgot to hand them out at the end of the party. Augh.

Liam got his very own birthday chair!!! Here's GrandPa signing it.

And Pa signing it.

Owen making his mark...

Grammie signing the chair, with supervision from Master Owen.

We had a couple of splash pools set up, along with the beloved sand box. Owen came and sat next to Liam to wish him a "Happy Birthday, Wiam" and give him a pat on the head.
Liam with his little buddy, Noah.

Rider made the trip up here from Houston! Thank you, little dude, for coming all that way! He enjoyed the splash pools and the beach balls we had set up...that's for sure. He sure was a big mess for mom to clean up! Messy = good times, right Kim?

Liam as we are singing Happy Birthday to him. Sweet boy.

Digging into his cake after getting a little taste handed him by mama, and a spoon. He was hesitant at first. Made me momentarily question his maternity....I LOVE cake.

Eating his cake and keeping a watchful eye on a coupl'a cake thieves....

...cute cake thieves, but thieves none the less.

My big almost-one-year-old in his birthday chair!!!

Happy Birthday Party Day, Baby Liam!!!!

Somebody Special is Turning 1 This Week!

Father's Day 2010

Gerard, Owen, Liam, and me hopped in the car and headed to meet Dad at a spot 1/2 between his house and ours....a little town where we recently bought land to build a lake house. We got to have a good 'ole fashioned diner experience and show Dad the acreage. Killed two birds with one stone ;-)
Can you tell that Owen wasn't in a good mood? He was a clingy, irritable, and just not himself the whole time. Gerard and I ended up taking the little guy in to see the after-hours pediatrician as I was convinced he must be sick. Nope. Just has a mild cold and a bad mood. Oh well.

Anyhow...here are some shots of the Men of Honor at our lunch ;-)

My Dad (aka "Grandpa"--no more "PeePaw," Owen--you're a big boy now, so let's call him Grandpa)!

Liam looking up at his Grandpa, his namesake (middle name)...sweet expression, isn't it?

Owen trying hard not laugh (and maintain his mad mood) at Grandpa while Grandpa was trying equally hard to make him laugh.

Daddy Q, himself, trying to have a good time despite a cranky two year old, a one year old trying to eat his whole corn dog at once, and his wife who was fed up with the cranky two year old. 2011 should be a much better Father's Day for ya, hun. Sorry I was cranky ;-)

We got Grandpa some brand new boots. He was a bit surprised when he opened them...and not in a good way. You see, I thought I was doing good by splurging on the ostrich ropers. What I failed to recall, was that my dad wears plain 'ole ropers...no fancy, schmancy, schtuff for him. No sirree. Just give that man a pair of brown boots and he's happy as a lark. I offered to take them back, but then he decided to try them on.

Man Oh Man. I think we have an Ostrich Boot Wearer in the family now. It was love at first wear. They are purdy, aren't they?

Now, if you see my Dad around town, pa-lease for the love of my gift-giving skills, let him know you love the boots, but that had you not read my blog you wouldn't have even noticed he got new ones ;-)

Once we got home, after the doctor, we didn't do much. Failed to get a good picture of Daddy Q and his boys and the gift they picked out for him. Will do that this week and get it posted for all (especially Chippie) to see!

Nearly Naked Boys Eating Popsicles

Our afternoons start off so normally. We have clothed kiddos doing innocent activities, like eating blueberries...
...hand picked...
...from our blueberry bush by Owen.
And then things start to get a little crazier. Owen has learned how to turn on the water hose (a trick he learned at the beach from hosing the sand off ourselves on a daily basis). So, in very little time, we have two, very wet, very HAPPY, babies.

But, I can't stand to watch them play in water saturated clothes. It looks so uncomfortable. So, off come the clothes. Then, out come the Popsicles.

The best part of the Popsicle eating, is that Owen comes inside with me to get them, picks one for Owen and one for Liam, has me open Liam's first, he gives it to him, then I open Owen's, and he takes it and goes to sit right next to his little brother to eat the ice cold treat.

They just watch each other and enjoy their snacks. Sometimes laughing. Sometimes just watching the butterflies. And, sometimes...

...sharing a lick or two.

We're having a great summer so far!

I am okay with having nearly naked boys eating Popsicles every afternoon. In Owen's words,

"It's Fun!"

Like a Diamond in the Sky-y-y-y-i-i-i

These boys. They keep me busy. That's for sure. But, in between requests for juice, cries for milk, little hands dragging me into the kitchen to reach cookies "pour me and anudder one pour baby wiam", washing blankets, etc., etc., etc., there are incredibly fun moments.

Liam and Owen are playing so well together. Liam is catching on to things that we are saying to him and asking him to do. This has been especially fun for Owen. Owen's requests to "com 'ere baby wiam, com 'ere" are followed by little Liam quick-crawling in whatever direction Owen is going. His requests to "throw me, baby throw ball to me" are met. And, his antics, songs, and silly performances are very well received by little brother--Liam just watches and then laughs and claps as appropriate.

Tonight after our "pizza party", Owen started performing a very loud, exaggerated version of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, complete with the hand gestures he's learned (like making his hands into a diamond for "like a diamond in the sky"). I wish this was a video...but, the stills will have to do...

Have a look (and don't forget to peak over at Liam's facial expression --his total interest is quite funny to me). Oh, and keep in mind that Owen is belting this out at the top of his lungs...

"how I wonder what you are???"
"up above the world so hi-y-y-y-e-e-e""like a ...

diamond."

in. the. sky-y-y-y-y-y-y-y....

...y-y-y-i-i-i-i-i-i-i"
"T.W.I.N.K.L.E. T.W.I.N.K.L.E. little star"
...how I wonder WHAT. YOU. A.R.E!!"
"Yay-e-e-e"!

Look at him (try to) go!!!

Mighty Minis

The Popsicle Mighty Minis are awesome!!
They are slow melt, small enough that both of the boys can finish a whole one, and yummy.

I am a fan of these newly found toddler treats...

... and so are these two ragamuffins.

Liam thinks that even the stick is good stuff.

For myself, though, I prefer the new Blue Bell Ice Cream bars.

Now, that is a yummy treat!