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!!