Pumpkin Patch

Last weekend we went to our annual spot to look for pumpkins. Not only did we have fun walking through the pumpkin patches but we had a blast getting lost in the "big kid" maze. We also walked through their mini petting zoo and you got to pet a few of the animals. They had a couple goats, sheep, and some chickens. But your favorite part was still the playground. Once we got you to go down the slide that's all you wanted to do. You also had fun hanging from the monkey bars. Daddy was a big help with that! When we were leaving we couldn't get you out of the "little kids" maze. There was just so much fun to be had, why would you ever want to leave!

Despicable Me Party

For your 2nd birthday, we did a Despicable Me themed birthday party with everything minions. We had minion invites, a minion pinata, minion balloons, minion plates and napkins, and a minion cake. 

Grandma Terry and I had a lot of fun with the cake. This is the second year we've made a cake for you so we learned from what we did last year. I baked the cakes and froze them a few days before we actually decorated them. Then I made the homemade fondant and some of the fondant features the night before we decorated so it would save us some time. Then the day before your birthday we just had to put it all together. All in all, I think I had 16 hours in the cake but it was worth it! Thanks Grandma Terry for helping! Don't think I could have done it without you!!

The day of your birthday, the weather was very unpredictable. We'd had rain a few days before and even the morning of but it stopped a few hours before and didn't start raining until the party was over. It was still a little chilly so we had a bonfire going and had a tent setup just in case. We also had a bouncy house which was a hit with all the kiddos. You didn't know what to think of it at first and actually wouldn't go in it without daddy or I. But after cousin Ridge got in, you were all about it. We couldn't get you two out! The pinata was a hit too. You were a little shy and didn't want to take any swings at it, instead you'd say, "Ridge do it". So all the other kids took turns hitting it and it eventually broke. The funny thing is, after everyone left we were getting ready to throw it out and you wanted us to hang it back up so you could swing at it. So we did and you took a few swings! Funny boy!! 

The party was a lot of fun and glad we had all our family and friends there to celebrate with us!

Ready to go!

Uncle Josh

Bouncy House!

Cousins having a ball together!

Staying warm around the bonfire!

Pinata Time!

Look at all that candy!

Cake Time!

Two

Liam,
You are now a TWO year old! I know I say this every time but, wow, these two years have gone by extremely fast. You are no longer our baby, instead you've grown in quite the lil man! This month you have definitely found your independence which makes me happy and sad at the same time.

I'm glad you want to do things on your own but I also still want to help you, be there for you, and hold you still. You don't like to cuddle very often so when you do (which is normally when your sick or tired), I really savor the moment. You also like to walk everywhere now which can be good and bad. If you're not in a stroller/cart, you like to play a game and run off. You're getting better at listening and will sometimes come back but a lot of times you think it's to fun and will keep running so we chase after you. We're still working on you holding our hands when crossing streets and parking lots.  But you don't always want to do this so we pick you up and you throw a fit instead. You like to help get yourself dressed in the morning which isn't always fun especially when I'm running late. Sometimes you won't let me put your shirt on and I'll have to wait for you to actually put it on though I still try to help. You also like to put your socks and shoes on. Needless to say, I better start getting up earlier in the mornings and getting you up earlier so we can make time for when you want to do the whole morning routine on your own. A new thing you just started doing is you won't let me take your coat off when we get to daycare. You say no and grab your coat tighter so I can't get it off. So I've been leaving it on you and the ladies at daycare take it off you later in the morning.

But then there are moments that just melt my heart. Like when I pick you up from daycare and as soon as you see me you yell "mommy" and come running into my arms. It makes my day every time! Or when you get an ouie and the only way to make it better is to come running to me and I kiss it all better. I treasure these moments!

Your favorite things are still your puppy pillow and blue & white blankey. Now that it's colder out you love your owl hat and will wear it in the house just to wear it. You also love movies and your favorites are "The Croods", "Rise of the Guardians", "Despicable Me", and "The Jungle Book".

We haven't gotten very far on potty training. You went through a week phase where you asked to go potty all the time but now you hardly ever ask. So we decided to wait a while and will try again later.

We enrolled you in your first sport this month, soccer tots. Its once a week, on Thursdays when I'm home with you. Its in an indoor gym that they split in half so they can do two classes at once. Your coach, Coach Mo, is great. She always has new games to play and fun things for you guys to do. But before that she always gets out the "soccer spots" (little plastic circles for you guys to sit on) and puts them in a circle. She rolls the ball to each of you asking your name and you all roll it back to her. You haven't said your name yet even though you can because you are normally shy in the beginning. Then we go through some stretches and then the games begin. Here are just a few. The farmer and fox which is when we tuck a little piece of fabric (tail) in your pants/shirt and then we (parents) run after you trying to get your tail. Coach Mo also will roll hula hoops down the gym floor and have you guys chase them and bring them back to her. Then she'll have you put a hula hoop around your waste like your driving a car and run around cones where a goal will be at the end and she'll have you kick the ball into the goal. That one was fun to watch! Each class always ends the same way where you all play with a parachute trying to shake the balls out of it and then will go underneath it while the parents lift it up and down. Then you guys do a cheer on the parachute and Coach Mo goes around and gives you all stamps. You seem to really like it and every time I tell you we're going to soccer tots you say, "kick ball". The only part that's been hard for you is sitting and listening for a long time and also waiting your turn.

This month we also found out some very exciting news. You're going to be a big brother! I know you have no clue right now but we will work on that as it gets closer. For now, I just point to my belly and say baby.  You've said baby a couple times when I ask what's this after pointing to my belly. But we're also going to get some books about being a big brother and start reading those to you. We're also going to move you into the other bedroom. You and your brother/sister are going to share a room and the other room is bigger. So as soon as we find out what we're having (which will be in December) then we'll redecorate and get you moved it. We also plan to move you out of a crib into a toddler bed. We haven't decided if we'll just take the railing off the crib since it turns into a toddler bed or just get you a whole new toddler bed. In any case, this will give you plenty of time to get used to your new bed and room before the baby arrives.

Yesterday you had your two year check-up. I actually couldn't take you because I was home sick so Grandpa Dave took you. Here is the report he gave me. You weigh 25 lbs and are 34.5 inches tall. The doctor said you're in the middle of the charts on both which is great. You only had to have one shot which was your annual flu shot. Grandpa Dave said you screamed as soon as you got the shot but he cheered you up soon after. Grandpa Dave also said you did extremely well on the exam table while the doctor looked you over. Great way to celebrate being two - a clean bill of health!

Happy second birthday sweet little boy!!

Love,
Momma

Big Announcement

I'm a little late on getting this on here since the news is mostly out now. But this news is also why I haven't been on here in a while. We're expecting our second child in May! We are over the moon and can't wait to meet the newest addition to our family. Not to mention Liam becoming a big brother. He really has no clue right now but will point to my belly and say "baby".

At 6 weeks I had a little scare when I had severe cramping. I'd never felt this way before so I called the doctor and made an appointment to make sure everything was okay. We were relieved to hear everything was fine and looked good. We also got to see the baby's heartbeat which was a big relief!

6 week ultrasound

This pregnancy has been nothing like my pregnancy with Liam. I have been more nauseous and tired this last month than I ever was with Liam. Food doesn't always agree with me and some times I'll have to eat something else or just not eat that meal and snack on something else. The other day we went to a restaurant nearby and I couldn't eat what I ordered so I ordered something else. We decided more bland foods seem to be agreeing with me. No real big cravings yet though I am a sucker for sweets!

I am currently 10 weeks and go in, in a couple weeks for my next monthly check-up.

Photo Shoot: (Thanks Kim Latrielle for the wonderful pictures)

"Our Family will be Growing by 2 feet"

 Excited to be a big brother!

"Only Child Expires May 2014"