da

December 5- 10

We thought Liam's first word might be da as in dog. He looks at Zoe and says da... da... da. But then we noticed that he also says da when he looks at Daddy... and Devin... and his duck. Maybe there's just a lot of da in his life.

Lately, Liam's favorite toys roll. He likes to chase things, especially on the hardwood floor. This coincides with Zoe's favorite past-time. The two of them are often chasing the same ball, but we try to keep Zoe away from Liam's toys (and vice versa).

Liam went to see Dr. Fasullo for a check-up this week. Good news; no shots at 9 months! Liam is growing, though he's slowed down quite a bit. He's a little shy of 20 pounds, which means he lost a little being as sick as he was. The doc also said his head shape is normalizing. (A few months ago she suggested seeing a specialist about an irregular head shape. We decided against it when we learned it was purely a cosmetic thing, and the treatment seemed worse than the ailment.) The doc also found an ear infection, and we're glad she found it when she did. We all are flying to Florida in a few weeks, and we need to be healthy. The doc also suggested more drastic baby-proofing. So we decided to take it to a new level.

Our dining room has been swapped with the family room, and the play room is where the dining room used to be. This is all because the glass dining table proved to be a serious hazard to little Bean. We're not *exactly* sure how the furniture going to fit, but it will.

Sunday morning was Liam's Christmas photo shoot. Devin came over so we could get the two boys in matching Santa Suits. Devin's five months younger, but they are already catching up. I'll put a few preview photos up; but you'll have to watch your mailbox for the cutest baby in the world picture. (Hint: It's Liam -- sorry Shannon, but Dev's a close second.)

This week ahead is full of holiday parties. We'll keep you posted. Meanwhile, keep an eye on your mailbox. :-)

Santa Baby

On 12/5 Liam weighed 19.5 pounds and was 26 inches long.

Hockey Night in Canada

Lester's in Calgary where it's colder than a frozen Wisconsin bubbler. Lester actually got excited when the Calgary forecast called for freezing temperatures. Tonight he's at a a hockey game, which even he seems to be enjoying. He called home at "half time." 

Lester called just after Liam exploded all over the furniture. Thank god for Shannon, who came over to help me get it off the floor, furniture, dog, etc. while I dumped Liam in the kitchen sink. Like the walls, Liam was covered in his dinner. How do single moms survive?

Just when I was putting him in his crib, Liam figured it out that da-da was gone for the night and he wasn't too pleased about that. But he's finally asleep. He likes a new CD -- actually it's one Katie sent him for Christmas last year. Normally he listens to birds chirping, but this week he likes the classical lullabies. 

Today at school Liam played with play dough for the first time. He also colored with a purple crayon. At home he tries to eat whatever I give him to be artistic with. Crafts are a challenge, but we try. It's a good thing he goes to school.

He came home with the photos they took at school a few weeks ago. These are the first unflattering photos I've seen of Liam. Perviously I thought he was just too photogenic for a blah photo to exist... but then I thought about it... it's Lester. He gets the good ones of Bean. Bean gives us good photo smiles because he's smiling for us. And it doesn't hurt that Bean's daddy is some kind of photo guru. :-)

Tomorrow we go to the doc, but I wonder about whether shots are a good idea. At least we can do the 9-month visit, and perhaps hold off on the shots.

The Power Family Plague

{Please use Purell after reading this message, or you too may become infected.}

Liam started this mess last week when he lost his lunch at daycare. Actually, it began the night before, in the middle of the night. I heard it on the baby monitor and went to find his bed a mess. He continued barfing for the next day, so much that the doc wanted him to go to the ER. We actually had a decent ER experience at Mary Bridge Children's Hospital -- though poor Liam had to have IV fluids and some medication to stop the vomiting.

It wouldn't be a plague if the story stopped here.

Exactly three days later, and Liam's feeling fine. It hit me first, and then Lester a few hours later. The only one to take care of poor Liam was Zoe. We both seem to be on the mend, but I'm still not well.

Now I really wish the story stopped here.

This morning the neighbors called to say they are sick, but luckily Baby Dev is still OK. Let's really hope it stays that way. I'm expecting someone to come over later today to paint the mark on our door telling no one to enter.

*sigh*

Gobble, Gobble & Gibberish

Bean's 1st Thanksgiving

(Published after the fact due to the Power Family Plague)

Liam's first Thanksgiving was quiet and cozy. It started with a Packers win in the morning and ended with pumpkin pie. What's better than that?

Despite numerous offers to celebrate the Turkey holiday with friends and their families, we opted to stay home and celebrate. That doesn't mean we cooked all day and cleaned up all night, however. With Little Liam to look after, we cooked a simple dinner -- a chicken, stuffing and green bean caserole. Liam sampled bits of it all, and was quite fond of pumpkin pie. (Proof that he's only half British!)

We relished in the ample free time to spend with Liam. But when it came time for him to go to school on Friday, we didn't even blink. Liam was one of the only kids there, but he was there all day! Yes, Lest and I had a day off, together, without diapers to change, for the first time in nearly a year. Most of you would assume we went to a movie... maybe lunch? Nah, we finished our shopping, went to the post office, and then went home to work on the baby proofing.

Liam is EVERYWHERE at home. He has a playroom and a bedroom, complete with outlet covers and lots of toys. But now that he can crawl, he wants to roam around the world. It's only a matter of time before he will need the whole house to be safe for him... and that's a lot of work.

The weekend was good for catching up with friends. Krysti and Carter came for dinner on Saturday, and wound up hanging out until Sunday morning. We really enjoy visits from them. Liam's old enough now to remember a handful of people -- so he smiles and waves when his best friends come over to play. Liam is now the age Carter was when they met.

We also went to lunch with the Crawfords. The last time they both saw Liam was early October... they were amazed by how much he's changed.

Running Around with a Runny Nose










After-Halloween Party

Taking a Stand

Early to mid November

Many people have asked why there hasn't been a Blog in a few weeks. The truth is that I'm working an awful lot... but with some reprieve in sight. I have a few days off for Thanksgiving, and then a few weeks for Christmas. Starting in January, I only teach in the evenings. But for right now, I teach a little too much.

Liam doesn't mind though. He loves going to school. When we get there, he wants to play right away, and they say he never cries. Or at least not while he's there. Often he's sad that he has to leave, and he cries when we get in the car to go home. It doesn't last long though; he's usually so tired that he zonks out before we get home. The photo is of Liam finger painting at school.

He really likes playing with the other babies, and there's one little guy, a little older than Liam, who he really gets along with. I think he also likes the daily routine. We're glad he's happy going to nursery school.


The last weeks have been a bit of a blur. There's one notable milestone: Liam can stand up now. One morning I went to his room, and there he was, grasping the crib rail with his baby death-grip. He sways and bounces, all while standing. Most of the time he remembers that he can sit, but he likes standing so much that he wants to stand even when he's too tired to hang on.

He can pull himself up on almost anything these days. Pants legs, furniture, Zoe... it's amazing how much strength he has.

Liam's also learning a lot about gravity. We give him little bits of food (puffed cereal, dried fruit, etc.) to give him practice picking things up. He bangs on the high chair tray and they bounce off. Zoe's learned that if she sits under the chair, she gets a shower of treats.

We're gearing up for Christmas by staying home for Turkey Day. Liam and I will watch the Packers Thursday morning, but other than that, we have no plans. Bean's a little too young for Turkey and all the trimmings. Maybe next year.

Nov. 4-7: Waahhhh -- I miss Daddy

[Bean is now old enough to write some from his own perspective.]

Daddy is out of town this week. Mommy said he's in a place called Las Vegas. She said it's a playground for grown-ups. I wonder if they have a slide there. Daddy is very busy at a conference, but maybe he will get a chance to find the slide and go down it a few times.

I go to school now. There are toys and other kids to play with. I'm getting better about taking naps there. It's hard to sleep when the lights are on, but I try sometimes.

Daddy comes home tomorrow. That's a good thing. I miss him lots. But there are many other people I miss too -- like the ones I love who live far away. Like Thomas and Amy and Granny and Nana. It's a good thing Mommy and Daddy don't live far away, or Zoe would have to take care of me. She means well, but I don't think she knows which blankie I like best.

Come home soon Daddy.

Oct 31 - Nov 1 Bean's Halloween

Liam is 8 months old today. He survived his first trick-or-treat. We only went to a handful of houses -- Andrea and Byron's, Mike and Erica's, Shannon's and Shannon's Neighbor. So what was Bean for Halloween? You guessed it... a penguin! He was very cute.

He's also doing really well at day care. He doesn't cry when he's there at all. It's not all rosey though; he doesn't nap either. But we're working on it...