Liam 4 year questionnaire

I have started a questionnaire for the kids each year starting at 3 yrs old. 

These are Liam's questions and answers;

1. What is your favorite color?  black
2. What is your favorite toy? cars and magnatiles
3. What is your favorite fruit? cherries
4. What is your favorite tv show? Blaze
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? PB&joney
6. What is your favorite outfit? stripe shirt
7. What is your favorite game? marco polo
8. What is your favorite snack? fruit snacks
9. What is your favorite animal? lion
10. What is your favorite song? Get up and dance with me
11. What is your favorite book? Pigeon gets a puppy
12. Who is your best friend? my sister
13. What is your favorite cereal? lucky charms
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? play with claire
15. What is your favorite drink? sonic slush
16. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? friendly the bear
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Cinnamon toast
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Mac n cheese 
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? Mr Softee

Liam (3)

I have started a questionaire for the kids each year starting at 3 yrs old. 

These are Liam's questions and answers;

1. What is your favorite color? red
2. What is your favorite toy? cars
3. What is your favorite fruit? strawberries
4. What is your favorite tv show? Paw Patrol
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? PB&J
6. What is your favorite outfit? Tyler shirt
7. What is your favorite game? duck duck goose
8. What is your favorite snack? fruit snacks
9. What is your favorite animal? cat (that darn cat)
10. What is your favorite song? Live like that
11. What is your favorite book? Pigeon take a bath
12. Who is your best friend? Papa
13. What is your favorite cereal? cheerios
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? swing 
15. What is your favorite drink? milk
16. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? lovey, friendly the bear
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Cinnamon waffles
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Mac n cheese 
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? trash man and Mr Softee

momma fail! almost too late. Will try to do better!!!!! :)

Super late birthday post (5)

I have started a questionaire for the kids each year starting at 3 yrs old. I decided to video tape Avery and will ask her the same questions each year and record her answers on the same DVD. It will be fun to watch the whole thing back when she is older and see how much she has changed.

These are Avery's questions and answers;

1. What is your favorite color? blue
2. What is your favorite toy? PD
3. What is your favorite fruit? strawberries
4. What is your favorite tv show? frozen :)
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? PB & honey
6. What is your favorite outfit? George Washington shirt
7. What is your favorite game? Uno
8. What is your favorite snack? Oreos
9. What is your favorite animal? Zebra
10. What is your favorite song? Let it go (Frozen)
11. What is your favorite book? Where the wild things are
12. Who is your best friend? Avery Robbins
13. What is your favorite cereal? cheerios
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? jump on the trampoline 
15. What is your favorite drink? water
16. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? PD
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Pancakes (chocolate chip)
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? pizza  ( no change)
20. What do you want to be when you grow up?  Principle of the school

SOOOO late but these are for her 5th birthday! eek come on mom!!! Forgot to video tape too :(

BIG 'ol TWO YR OLD!

Our little man is 2 years old today! Hard to believe and I just knew I would get teary-eyed over it.

In the past few weeks Liam has started really talking. He will try to say anything you ask him. Big improvement from just fussing. Here are some other facts about this little guy (who isn't so little anymore);

• He is still a good sleeper (for the most part. He has just recently begun fighting naps if I don't wear him out in the morning!)
• Liam is still a mommy's boy. He is all about momma!
• Boy is he loud. He thinks its hilarious to yell inside (especially in a store or restaurant)
• Amazingly enough, Liam is not a big movie/TV fan. He will watch about 10 minutes or the intro song and then he's done and looking for mommy
• Lately my not-so-picky eater has become more picky. He isn't really into meat but will always eat cheese. He also thinks he wants sweets but when its put in front of him will usually turn up his nose.
• Holy brown baby. Liam is so tan it cracks me up. He definitely got his daddy's skin tone and pretty much walks outside and browns up. Wish I could get a little of that.
• I was surprised when liam's blue eyes turned green but they are the prettiest (or should I say "most handsome") light green!
• Being out in the sun has also given him highlights. His hair is still brown but he has these blond streaks on the top, looks like I put "sun-in" in his hair!
• I love that Liam still lets me rock him before putting him to bed. We have a routine, he gets his paci (which will be going away in a few months and I'm DREADING IT!) I put his lovey blanket on my shoulder and he lays his head down and then we rock while I sing "Twinkle twinkle". It is one of my favorite parts of the day and I just pray he lets me continue for awhile longer.
• Liam also loves his sister. They are getting to the age where they can somewhat play together but also can fight. But when Liam wakes up from nap the first thing he asks is "Sissy?" because he doesn't see her. I have to watch him because he will run into her room to wake her up the minute I turn my back on him!
• If you ask Liam how old he is he will say "TWO"!

Love our little guy and can't believe its been 2 years since he entered our family!

Love you Liam David

Here is our family pic from Liam's pirate bday party!

AJ. 3 years old

I have started a questionaire for the kids each year starting at 3 yrs old. I decided to video tape Avery and will ask her the same questions each year and record her answers on the same DVD. It will be fun to watch the whole thing back when she is older and see how much she has changed.

These are Avery's questions and answers;

1. What is your favorite color? green
2. What is your favorite toy? a slide
3. What is your favorite fruit? tomatoes
4. What is your favorite tv show? little einsteins
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? she was being silly and said bicycles because she was watching one go by... haha. PB&J
6. What is your favorite outfit? what she had on. dresses
7. What is your favorite game? hungry games (ie candyland)
8. What is your favorite snack? oatmeal, lol
9. What is your favorite animal? tracy, her monkey
10. What is your favorite song? How does she know, from the movie Enchanted
11. What is your favorite book? berenstein bears
12. Who is your best friend? Lily, emma and emme
13. What is your favorite cereal? honey nut cheerios
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? play
15. What is your favorite drink? chocolate milk
16. What is your favorite holiday? thanksgiving
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? her animals
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? "I already talked about that" she makes me laugh. Cereal
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? pizza
20. What do you want to be when you grow up?  a lion like Liam(her first answer). doctor

Back to work...

For those of you who haven't heard I am headed back to work. I start Indoc (company procedures) class this coming Monday. Its only a week long and then I'll get almost 2 weeks off for a computer-based home study and then back for systems class and simulator sessions. I'll be flying the Embraer, a regional jet.

This is a pic of my new bird. No more turbo props for me! Lots of automation! :) I can't tell exactly what kind of schedule I will be able to hold but most likely 3days on 4 off or 2day/2day trips with 3days off. Even though Chris and I will bid opposite schedules we will still get some days off together especially with Chris on reserve (he is often on call but sits at home!).  I am excited and nervous about going back. Excited to get back in the air and do something I love. But also nervous to be gone from my babies alot and also go through training after being out for almost 3 years!! Hopefully its like riding a bike. Wish me luck :)))

ONE YEAR OLD!!

Our "little" guy is ONE!!

--impossible to get him to sit still, all he wanted to do was tear off the sticker!--

• Liam has been such a blessing to our family. I can't imagine life without him.
• Hard to believe a year ago today he was born and spent 12 days in the hospital(11 in the NICU). You would never know it just to look at him!
• He has his 1yr check up tomorrow I can't wait to see how much he's grown.
• He has already taken a few steps but is still pretty wobbly. I doubt it'll take much longer and he'll be off and running!
• He has become more vocal this month, still mostly baby babble but "dada" is his favorite along with "aGah" which we think means "I got it" and also "gaga" which makes Gramma happy!
• His favorite toy this month was sister's trampoline. He loved that he could climb up on it himself and would try to bounce. He loved it if I got on there and bounced him. He would just giggle and then throw a fit as soon as I got off.
• He can throw a fit quicker than you can think about it.
• Liam wants to eat whatever we are eating and for the most part he eats pretty well, as long as its cut up nice and small.
• He does the funniest thing when he crawls, he shakes his head back and forth like he's dancing to music. He loves music and dancing.
• He got a Cozy Coupe ("beep beep") car for his birthday and loves opening and closing the door, especially when it is locked, the lock is just a plastic slide but he lets out deep belly giggles when he gets it open.
• Mommy is still his favorite person and he gets very upset if I leave him or am not picking him up. I love the snuggles especially since I know they won't last forever...
• Hard to believe a year ago we were all scared and worried about our little guy who was taken to the NICU before I could even hold him. God had a plan for him and he has been so healthy since then. Can't wait to see what else is in store for him.
• We celebrated his first birthday at our neighborhood pool yesterday. It was a hot and humid 106 degrees but he had a great time. By the time we brought out the cake he was so tired he wasn't hardly interested in it. My camera also broke the night before so I'm waiting to compile all of our friends and family's pics to post!

Happy 1st Birthday Liam David Rhodes!!

11 months old

Liam is 11 months old!!

• This was a big month for our little guy, he went in his first airplane ride(he even fell asleep in the airport during our day long sit!), first trip to the beach and also the lake!
• You can hardly keep him still anymore, he wants down and is fast at crawling away.
• He's getting better at standing but hasn't taken any steps yet, he still just belly flops expecting you to catch him!
• Liam LOVES the water! He's is a water baby for sure.
• He has finally started eating people food. He has eaten baby puffs, crackers, cheese, blueberries, cake and pizza. I know, cake already? He grabbed sissy's cupcake crumbs before I could grab him. He sure liked it too!
• He needs a haircut but I just can't bring myself to do it yet. Probably before his 1yr pics!
• I love when Liam starts to smile and then he smiles so big his nose crinkles up and his eyes squint into slivers.
• He loves to play with Avery's kitchen, opening and closing the doors.
• If he sees me(Mom) he thinks I should be holding him and will fuss and cry till I pick him up!
• He has started showing disinterest in nursing. He will nurse for a minute or 2 and then want down to crawl around. I can usually coax him back but again only for a minute or 2. weaning may be sooner than planned...
• He is still baby babbling but can say mama and dada when he wants.
• One of his favorite games is for me to chase him while he tries to crawl away, he will crawl some then sit up and look back at me. When I tell him I'm gonna get him he squeals/giggles and crawls some more.
• He doesn't go back to the doc till he's 1 but I weighed him on our bathroom scale and it said he was 22lbs!
• He officially has 7 teeth!!! 4 on top and 3 on bottom.

I can't believe he'll be ONE next month! We love you little man!

10 months old

Our little man is 10 months old!

• This has been a busy month for Liam. He started crawling a few days after he turned 9 months old! He loves his new freedom.
• He also stood on his own for about 10 seconds at the beginning of this month
• Its so nice that I can set him down and walk away and he doesn't throw a fit because he can just crawl around!
• His favorite toy this month was the entertainment center, he was completely fascinated by opening and closing the glass door and taking out ALL of the DVD's!
• Holy teeth, Liam now has 2(almost 3) teeth on top and 3 on bottom
• These teeth have caused more sleep issues, Momma was up from 1am-4am one night and the next day daddy had to drive around so he would nap. His poor nose was so stopped up for awhile so he couldn't breathe with the paci in his mouth. Once that top tooth broke through he was much better
• He has started clapping and waving this month!
• He LOVES to give kisses and he's started puckering up for them *MUAH*
• Liam HATES having his diaper changed, he tries to roll over immediately and as soon as his diaper is off he rolls and tries to crawl away. A few days ago he got away, stood up at the coffee table and pee'd on the carpet. That was a first!
• He still loves to make this high pitched, deep throat shriek, its kinda scary to hear the first time but he loves to make "his noise" especially in the car.
• He now takes all of his baths with his sister, sitting up in the tub. He does really well and doesn't ever mind water in his face.
• I think his hair has gotten a little lighter but still brown and his eyes are a beautiful blue. His eyelashes have also gotten longer!
• Avery refuses to call him "bubba" anymore, he is "Liam"!
• It isn't even June yet and Liam is pretty tan, looks like he got chris' skin tone :)

HAPPY 10 MONTH BIRTHDAY LIAM!

Liam crawling

Our little guy is on the move!!!

He loves that big bear. He's gotten much faster after just a few days. Look out World!!

Avery meeting Liam

I am way behind on posting videos but I wanted to get this one up before I forget. This is the video of Avery meeting Liam for the first time. This was the night before we took him home and his first night out of the NICU;

We didn't realize till later that she was trying to say "paci". Of course she noticed that he had a paci in his mouth!

9 months old

Liam is now 9 months old!

• Liam now has not one but TWO teeth! all on the bottom. When these were coming through he had a few difficult nights. His top 2 teeth are very close to breaking through the skin.
• Today at his 9mo check up he weighed in at 21lbs 9.5oz(75th percentile) and was 27.5inches long(40th percentile). His doctor said he looks great, he's even slimmed down some :P
• He has started pulling up on things and enjoys standing, in fact, he thinks he can stand on his own and tries to let go of your fingers. He can only stand a second or two and then either sits or falls down!
• We have a biter, this has made nursing very difficult lately. I'm hoping(and praying) I won't have to start pumping exclusively.
• This little guy is still a great sleeper, he had a few rough nights when his teeth were coming in but once they broke through the skin he went back to sleeping all night without waking up.
• At the beginning of this month he learned how to sit up from his tummy. He usually plays for a few minutes before going to sleep.
• Liam is a quite a wiggle worm, he never wants to sit still. I'm afraid I will have to watch him VERY closely when he starts crawling because he'll probably be into everything.
• He thinks the funniest word is No. Anytime I tell him No he gets the biggest smile and laughs!
• Still no crawling yet. When he does get on his knees he either pushes to a sitting up position or goes flat on his belly. :)
• He got to experience his first swim, haha. We bought the kids a small wading pool for the backyard. He loved it, he kicked and splashed like crazy.
• He has his own cute way of clapping, he claps his hands down on his legs. He has also started waving but will only do it when he wants to!
• He hasn't really started finger foods, I've given him a few puffs but he just gags and chokes so we're going to wait a few weeks and try again. His doctor said that some babies just take a little longer to start feeding themselves and can be sensitive to textures. 

I just had to add this picture. He gave his big bear a kiss!! this little guy is such a sweetheart(in a masculine way of course, lol)!

Happy 9 month birthday Liam David!

8 months old

my EIGHT month old!! WOW

• He tried puffs this month but he did not like them. He also tried a Mum-mum and made the funniest faces, he did not like it but kept on eating it. I will probably wait till he gets some teeth before trying any puffs again.
• He has started rocking on his hands and knees, I think crawling is just around the corner
• He rolls ALL over the place.
• He FINALLY started saying "ma-ma". I was afraid all he would ever say was da-da. :)
• If this little guy can reach it it goes in his mouth... definitely keeps me on his toes.  I've caught him with a piece of a foam airplane in his mouth, he was chewing it, even though he has no teeth.
• He still naps so easily, one little song and then we put him down. he may roll for a few minutes but never fusses and then just goes to sleep.
• his has found his tongue and loves to stick it out. he also likes to make an "O" face. he usually does one or the other
• Boy oh boy has the mommy anxiety kicked in, this little guy loves his momma. If I turn to walk away from him, even just to reach behind me for something, he MELTS down. As soon as he can see my face again he is fine. XOXO
• Liam loves stuffed animals, he gets so excited when he sees one of Avery's animals, especially mickey and minnie mouse. He reaches for it and their nose goes right into his mouth. yum! haha!
• One of his favorite tricks is to take his fist to his mouth, say "aaaa" and bring it back and forth to his mouth, sounds like an indian chant.
• He is wearing mostly 9 mo clothes and some 12 mo.
• Next month he will go for his 9 month check up, can't see what he officially weighs now.

Happy 8 month birthday Liam David! we love you more and more each day!

Big girl bed

Today is another big day in the world of Avery Jo. Her toddler rails for her crib arrived today. Naptime was a little rough, she took about 2.5 hrs to finally fall asleep. I think she was just too excited after being at Papa and Gramma's house and then her new found freedom with her bed.  Liam was just all smiles, as usual! Tonight is her first night wearing her big girl panties instead of a diaper and I'm expecting an accident but we'll see. She has been mostly waking up dry and 2 nights ago actually woke chris up to take her potty at about 2am! Here we go....

7 months old

Liam is 7 months old! unbelievable

• We have finally introduced some new foods to little man. He's had oatmeal cereal, squash, peas, carrots, sweet potatoes, green beans, apples and prunes. He doesn't really care for the veggies except the peas and jarred squash. He also only likes to eat them if they're really watered down, kind of like baby soup! He really likes his fruits so far though! I did give him bananas but they seemed to just come back up so we'll wait another month till we try them again.
• His eyes are still mostly blue but have alot more green in them, almost hazel now
• I'm still surprised that I can still move Liam from his carseat to his bed when he falls asleep in the car, and he stays asleep!!! I don't remember being able to do that with Avery past a few months old
• His mommy anxiety has kicked up this past month. He does not like being put down and left alone. He tends to melt down, even in his fun exersaucer or jumperoo.
• Liam really loves swinging in the baby swing on our back porch.
• Still no teeth! doesn't even feel like any are close to coming in
• Around the middle of this month Liam started having sleep issues. No longer would he be put down and fall asleep on his own. We had a few days filled with lots of crying. We would put him down on his tummy and he would automatically roll over onto his back. He did sleep twice on his back but only for 30 min and would then wake up crying. I had to practically hold him down and pat his back to get him to sleep. Whew. I think he was also getting over tired so I've been careful to watch his waketime and put him down right at the 2hr mark. He's back to taking 2 good 1.5-2hr naps (+ one evening catnap) and sleeping till 7:30/7:45 in the mornings!
• He has starting flirting, he will smile at someone and then hide his face. Its so cute
• Liam makes the funniest noises, he has started yelling! Avery thinks its funny to yell back and they go back and forth
• Avery loves to read to Liam, he is more interested in eating the book but its super cute
• He still puts EVERYTHING in his mouth
• He rolled over from his back to tummy! on 2/19. He will only do it when he really wants to but hopefully this will help minimize his sleep issues!
• Liam is so funny, he loves to cover up his face. Peekaboo is his favorite game but he will take a burp cloth and cover his face and kick and flail his arms. I thought maybe he was mad but when you take off the burp cloth you see this huge grin!!
• I weighed him on our bathroom scale this morning and he was 21lbs!
• He LOVES target, he will stop whatever he is doing(even nursing) to watch target walk by. He kicks and waves his arms and coos.
• Liam does this spastic arm flail/legs kick thing when he gets excited, its hilarious. Especially when he sees pictures. He loves to look at pictures, especially ones of his sister.

Love our little guy, Happy 7 month birthday!!

Monthly photo challenge

well if you haven't noticed I only made it half way through the february photo challenge! In my defense I really got behind the weekend my parents came to visit. But the photo topics weren't the easiest to do, plus my oldest kiddo does NOT like to have her picture taken. Its like pulling teeth to get her to stay still and smile for a second or 2. So you got 16 days of fun photos, I did enjoy what few I could snap. 7 month update coming soon... :)

Feb 16;{something new}

Oreos are celebrating their 100th anniversary so of course we had to try out their special "birthday cake" Oreos;

They were pretty good! our "something new" for today!

p.s. Avery had her first day wearing her big girl panties to school and she did great. no accidents!! :)

Feb 15;{phone}

Avery loves to talk on her many phones. She likes now for me to put my phone to my ear and "talk" to her. She also loves to call Gigi and Melissa. She's so funny.

Feb 14; {heart}

Happy Valentines Day!

 yes I'm one of "those" moms; I bribed Avery with an M&M to get her to smile for ONE picture!

 its hard to get them both to focus for a good pic :P

This last pic is Avery and her friends at Mothers Day Out. I brought her up for her Valentines party today. She is doing really well at potty training and hasn't had an accident in 3 days. I will probably let her go the full day on thursday. Happy Valentines day to all of our friends and family.

Feb 13;{blue}

The caption says it all. This is the happiest blue-eyed baby I've ever seen. He will giggle and smile just by looking at him. I love both of my 2 blue eyed kiddos.