Letter to Santa

You guys! I have a child that is old enough to write letters to Santa, get excited for Santa, and start to behave after I give him the ol' "Santa is watching you!" threat. When did that happen!?
The best part about this first letter is that it so perfectly describes him. Full of cars and treats. You better believe this Christmas will be full of gingerbread houses, cookies for Santa, and carrots for the reindeer. Because the holidays are so much more fun with a kid who can get you excited for the season all over again!

Liam's portrait 4.

Liam was more than happy to help pick out our Sunday tunes today.

2 1/2

Did you guys know that 1, 2, 3, is not the order children's ages go? It actually goes 1,  1 1/2,  2,  2 1/2, 3, and so on. So, all those arguments on the playground about who was in charge and since that one kid was not just 6 but 6 and a HALF, he was in charge. He was right. I've come to learn this, this past month. I'll get asked "How old is he?" and if I reply that he is 2, they need specifics. When did he turn 2? Is he close to 3? But when I say he's 2 1/2. No more questions. Just the answer they were looking for.
So, in light of this new found knowledge. Here is Liam at 2 and a HALF.

You can bet that the first thing this kid will ask for in the morning is chocolate milk. This kid  l o v e s  his chocolate milk, well, chocolate in general, really. And don't think you can hide it from him, he is part bloodhound and will sniff it out in a second.

You can't leave the house with out "lellow blanky". First of all, he knows it's a green blanket. I'm almost positive he just named it yellow.
"Liam what is this?"
"Lellow blanky."
"What color is it?"
"Green."
Well, okay then.
Green "Lellow blanky" is now a part of the family.

Planes, trains, and automobiles. If is has a motor, Liam is all over it. Does it have tires? Liam will point them out continuously. Does that car look like ours, he'll let you know. Is there a plane in the sky? We have to stop and watch it. He is all boy.

He knows all his shapes, colors, and is so close to recognizing his number 1-10. We are working on ABC's but for right now, E and B are his favorite letters and just wants to focus on those. We'll get there.

Mickey. Mickey everything! He is all about that mouse. I guess there are worse things, but not many, than that mouses voice. I've even had nightmares because of that voice. Oh, the sacrifices we make for our children.

And when asked what he likes, I got the answer "Pizza." So, there you have it.

Liam's portrait 2

With every passing day, this kid wakes up with more and more energy.

How am I supposed to keep up?! 

Liam's portrait

Waiting for goodnight kisses from dad.

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 A portrait of Liam once a week, every week in 2014 

  Those ever contagious laughs.

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 A portrait of Liam once a week, every week in 2014 

Cars Land was probably his favorite at Disneyland.

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 A portrait of Liam once a week, every week in 2014 

My little scarecrow on Halloween.

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 A portrait of Liam once a week, every week in 2014 

Enjoying our time at the park before the snow comes.

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 A portrait of Liam once a week, every week in 2014 

Sweet smiles for Christmas cards.

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 A portrait of Liam once a week, every week in 2014 

After church we run out our energy.

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 A portrait of Liam once a week, every week in 2014 

Multiple stops were taken during our road trip to Arizona.

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 A portrait of Liam once a week, every week in 2014 

First time having the flu. He was a trooper.

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 A portrait of Liam once a week, every week in 2014 

Finally feeling better and ready to play.

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 A portrait of Liam once a week, every week in 2014 

First hot chocolate of the season.

 

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 A portrait of Liam once a week, every week in 2014 

Christmas Eve dinosaur slippers from grandma and grandpa.

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 A portrait of Liam once a week, every week in 2014 

Some vinyl shopping while dad came home for the holidays.

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 A portrait of Liam once a week, every week in 2014 

It's finally beanie season around here and we're loving it.

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 A portrait of Liam once a week, every week in 2014

 Relaxing on mama's bed and refusing to nap. (as usual)

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 A portrait of Liam once a week, every week in 2014 

Daddy may have been celebrating in a different state, but that didn't stop us from getting cupcakes.

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 A portrait of Liam once a week, every week in 2014 

Taking a break to people watch at the aquarium.  

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 A portrait of Liam once a week, every week in 2014 

Always playing in the front yard until the sun goes down.

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 A portrait of Liam once a week, every week in 2014

Post nap. Waiting for mom to stop with the pictures and let him out to play already. 

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 A portrait of Liam once a week, every week in 2014 

Visiting the lake is his happy place.

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 A portrait of Liam once a week, every week in 2014

Throwing rocks and collecting sticks in the mountains. 

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 A portrait of Liam once a week, every week in 2014 

Leave me alone for two minutes and you'll come back to this!

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 A portrait of Liam once a week, every week in 2014 

It was exciting to see all the caterpillars around the waterfall. 

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 A portrait of Liam once a week, every week in 2014 

Sometimes he looks at me and all I see is toddler. He's growing so fast.

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 A portrait of Liam once a week, every week in 2014 

Celebrating memorial day at the park.

 

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 A portrait of Liam once a week, every week in 2014 

Enjoying the Louisiana sunshine.

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 A portrait of Liam once a week, every week in 2014 

Hanging out by the pool.

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 A portrait of Liam once a week, every week in 2014 

 So proud of dad. He's officially an US airman!

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 A portrait of Liam once a week, every week in 2014 

On his way to the park.

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 A portrait of Liam once a week, every week in 2014 

Never miss a chance to jump on mom and dads bed.

 

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 A portrait of Liam once a week, every week in 2014 

Always on the run!

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 A portrait of Liam once a week, every week in 2014 

On walk with grandma.

15 months .

Fifteen months. FIFTEEN. For some reason this number suddenly seems so large. How is it that our baby joined our family fifteen months ago? Sure, when he turned one, it was huge. The big 1. But he was still my baby. Fifteen months and this kid is just that, a kid! His personality has developed into something amazing and he truly is his own person. A happy, silly, smart, musically talented (not sure where that came from) person. He has been our biggest blessing and continues to show us that each and every day.

+ weight: Good grief. All I can say is that  I am so glad he walks on his own. When I do have to pick him up I thank the heavens it will only be for a minute. Though, I do not know his exact weight, I'm going to guess close to 38 lbs. 

+ health: Just got over a fever but luckily it was a short one. Other than that, the sunshine has only done good and he is healthy healthy.

+ sleep: He has decided to move his bed time from 7:30 to 9:00 and then wakes up around 7:30. With Kristofer gone, I'm actually glad he's staying up with me. I love the extra company.

+ diet: He is actually getting picky. Shocker, right? He now says no to certain foods and doesn't stay entertained long enough to finish his meals. Too much to play with! But there is always time for "na-na" (bananas) That is what he'll always ask for and if we are in the produce section and he sees them, it will be a constant saying of "na-na, na-na, na-na"
 

+ crying: He doesn't really cry, thank goodness. He is king at whining, though. Usually it's when he's tired or when he gets frustrated that you can't understand him. He's trying to get a point across and he knows you don't understand what he is saying, so his solution is WHINING. 

+ clothes: He's still in 12 months but I tend to put him in 18 months because I'm that mom that doesn't want to shop for new clothes every month. I tend to buy in advance. Doesn't everyone, though?

+ baby gear love: He love, love, love, love, how many is that? 4? okay.  LOVES, stuffed animals. He will beg for one every time he sees them in a store. He has become particularly attached to a white bear Kristofer gave me when we first started dating. The moment he wakes up he heads straight the the bear and repeats "beh, beh" Which I'm guessing means "bear." I've never had a toy I was attached to so I don't quite get it, but I guess I can dig it. It's pretty cute.

+ social: He is SOCIAL. He will smile and everyone and anyone at anyplace. We can't get through any store or park without being stopped by someone wanting to squeeze his cheeks and play. Good thing he's a good sport. All those "grannies" wanting to tell us about their grand kids and squeeze his toes really takes patients. Bless the kid, really. 

+ milestones: Besides FINALLY taking to plunge and walking, it's pretty much everything. He is getting so big and is showing his own little quirks. He loves to make kissy noises at me and fake laugh, just so I'll laugh. He loves to sing Frozen (yes, the movie even got to me 15 mo. old boy). He is getting so big, you guys! Someone make it stop because I obviously can't. 

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 A portrait of Liam once a week, every week in 2014 

Playing on the steps at Temple Square.

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 A portrait of Liam once a week, every week in 2014 

Caught a glimpse of his reflection.

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 A portrait of Liam once a week, every week in 2014 

Easter morning! He was so excited about his bubble machine.

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 A portrait of Liam once a week, every week in 2014 

Finally got a some sunshine for a day of picnics and new hideout discovering.

 

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 A portrait of Liam once a week, every week in 2014 

Short sleeves have made an appearance. 

 

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 A portrait of Liam once a week, every week in 2014 

Still getting a little nervous about these dark tunnels but getting more brave every day.

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 A portrait of Liam once a week, every week in 2014 

Went shoe shopping for walking shoes to wear when we head down south. Someone definitely approved!