Potty Training Time?

Liam is really something else these days. I planned to wait until this summer, when Liam was 2 1/2, to begin potty training, but this kid is pretty much potty training himself! He either tells me when he has to go potty, or after he has already gone. He enjoys sitting on the potty and can go 90% of the time that I put him on it. I guess maybe he's ready...but geez, I am not sure I am!

I think this picture is hilarious! The boys seem to find it necessary to do their business at the same time. Lots of booties for mom to wipe! 

Christmas 2013

On Christmas morning, Liam woke up extra early, around 6:30 a.m. We managed to talk him into laying in bed with us for awhile, but then he was ready to go. He went into wake Kale and tell him that Santa came. Of course, Kale had no problems getting up once he heard that Santa had been to our house. 

When we went downstairs, the boys saw their Santa gifts and the other presents around the tree. I thought they would want to starting opening right away. Kale did...but Liam spyed the special treat of Dunkin Donuts on the table. He had to have a few donut holes before he was willing to open presents. 

Liam thought donut holes were his Santa gift...

We made a pledge not to buy so much for the boys this year, and although we cut back, we still bought too much. It's so easy to do! 

The boys got many fun presents and were very excited to play with each item. They were so excited to open their presents this year though. It was definitely the most excited I had seen them about gifts. 

After the boys finished, Kris and I exchanged gifts with one another. 

Liam's favorite toy was one that I found in the dollar aisle at Target. It was little ABC wooden blocks. He loves making towers out of the blocks. We were impressed with his skills. He managed to build a tower that was 14 blocks high. Not bad for a barely 2-year old! 

Kris and celebrated the old-fashioned way--with delicious mimosas! 

We had a wonderful quiche for breakfast and ham with the fixins' for lunch/dinner! We pretty much played with the boys and watched movies all day. It was nice to relax. As a matter of fact, we all stayed in our pjs all day! I think that's a new tradition we will have to start! 

Kris and the boys all got Monsters pjs for Christmas. I had to get a picture of them all together. We love Mike and Sully! 

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve this year was pretty special. This is the first time we have spent Christmas and Christmas Eve with just our little family. Kris had to work a half day, so the boys and I spent the morning at the Children's Museum and then headed home for lunch and naps. While the boys were napping, I got started cooking. Our Christmas Eve tradition is to have to appetizers, so I had several things to make.

 

Once the boys woke up, we had to get moving to make it to the 5:30 Christmas Eve service. During the Christmas Eve service, they only offer nursery for children 2 and under, so Kale had to go into the service with us.

We were very nervous about taking him into the service, but he did wonderful! He really sang during the songs (not the right words, but hey!). He and Kris really got into "Gloria." I had to get out my cell phone to take a picture of their mouths during the song. It was priceless!!

 

During the message, he sat and colored quietly. He was perfect!

 

Once home, the boys got to participate in the tradition of opening one gift on Christmas Eve. I always buy Christmas Eve jammies.

Liam and I had some fun with our Mike and Sully hats.

We put out cookies for Santa. The boys were very excited to help with this.

Kale had to try out the goods to make sure the milk would be good for Santa.

The finished product.

After dinner, we played with the nativity set and talked about The Christmas Story. Kale had really become quite adept at retelling the Christmas story. I was very proud. He even told me that Mary rode on a donkey and Joseph walked!

We tried to get some pictures of the boys in front of the stockings in their pjs, but the picture taking quickly turned into wrestling.

Boys will be boys!

After the boys went to bed, Kris and I set about "playing Santa." Then, we enjoyed our meal and watched The Christmas Story on TBS. Perfect Christmas Eve!

 

The Nutcracker

I took Kale to see The Nutcracker on the 23rd. He was very excited to go "on a date" with just mom. I was excited to take him because The Nutcracker is one of my favorites. He got all dressed up and he looked so cute. Kris couldn't be convinced of that...but I thought his outfit was adorable!

He did very well at the show. He definitely enjoyed some parts more than others, but really was a very good little boy. He fell asleep during the very last scene of the second act, which was way past his bedtime!

Liam's well-visit

Liam had his well-visit at the pediatrician today. We are blessed, and he continues to be healthy! His weight was 29 lbs and 6 oz and his height was 35 inches. The rule of thumb is to double the height of 2-year old boys to get their adult height. That puts Liam at about 5'10". It will be interesting to see if that rule actually works for him.

At 2, he loves to fight with his brother, and he also really LOVES his brother. On the rare occasions that they play together, it melts my heart to see. Liam has also taken to sleeping with a toy. I went into his room at midnight the other night to check on him and he still had the car in his hand from when we put him down at 7:30.

 

 In other news, Liam has started going to the bathroom in the potty! This was completely unprompted from me! I was not planning to potty train him for some time. Kale was going potty and Liam asked to sit on the toilet. I let him, and lo and behold, he peed! This has happened several times since, although I am still not sure I am ready to potty train him.

An Early Christmas

Kris' parents came to visit last week. We had 5 days packed full of activities! On Friday, we went to a children's program at our church. It was really  neat. The boys really enjoyed all of the treats and seeing all of the Christmas characters.

On Saturday, we got a babysitter and took Dick and Marilyn to Charlottesville wine tasting. We hit up several wineries and found several we liked. I really enjoyed Veritas.

On Sunday, Santa (looking and sounding a lot like Grandpa Dick) made a surprise visit to our house. Kale loved seeing Santa. Liam was not nearly as into it.

Unfortunately, I didn't get very many good pictures. Liam would not cooperate.

Kale and Liam opened their Christmas presents and were thrilled to receive several more gifts. They are very into opening presents this year. It is fun to watch. Now they are begging to open the remaining gifts under the tree.

We also went to church on Sunday.

This picture is just too adorable.

A small miracle that 4 out of 5 are looking and smiling at the camera.

Kale received Candy Land as a gift. He talked Grandma and grandpa into playing the game with him. We all had to reach way, way back in our memories to remember how to play.

Dick loves to take the boys for rides on his lawn mower when they visit Iowa. Kris managed to talk a friend of ours into lending his mower, so that Dick could take the boys for rides.

 

On Tuesday, we also went to Busch Gardens to Christmastown. It was awesome! We looked at the 6 million lights, the boys went on rides, and we got to see a show. It was pretty cool. There really weren't too many people there either, since it was the middle of the week. I think going to Christmastown should become a tradition! I didn't get many good pictures because I managed to leave my good camera at home and only had my cell phone.

A Visit from Santa

Santa came to visit last week. He sounds a lot like Grandpa Dick though...

Kale was very excited to see him, but Liam didn't want much to do with him.

A Visit from Gram

My mom came to visit for Liam's birthday. I did not get nearly enough pictures...that tends to happen when family is here. I get busy enjoying them and don't snap as many pictures as I should. Gram participated in all of the birthday festivities, then she and I went shopping for Christmas presents on Saturday. The boys were so excited to open their gifts. One of their gifts was a Mr. Potato Head set that transforms into Buzz Lightyear, Woody, and Jessie from Toy Story! They love the characters from Toy Story and they love Mr. Potato Head--put those 2 together and you get magic for my children!

 

Kale and Liam opened this gift on Saturday night. I woke up to Kale crying at 4 in the morning. I went into his room, to find him fully dressed, lights on, playing with Buzz Lightyear Potato Head. He was crying because the wings had come off and he couldn't get them back on. Needless to say, I made him get back in bed.

They also received a few games. They really liked the fishing game, and Kale enjoyed Chutes and Ladders but has a long way to go on understanding "rules" of games.

They opened the rest of their presents on Sunday. I have to say, this seems to be "the year." In years past, they have tired of opening gifts after 1 or 2 presents.This year, they are both like the energizer bunny--we can't give them the presents fast enough!

On Sunday night after opening presents and enjoying a big dinner, the boys talked Gram into reading some books to them.

 

We miss her already!!

Liam's birthday

My baby boy turned 2 on Friday. Geez--I just can't believe he is already 2! For months, we have been asking him, "Liam, are you a baby or a big boy?" His response is always "baby." The night before his 2nd birthday, I asked him that question--his answer? "Big boy!" Aaaahhh! Makes this momma's heart sad. He still likes to be held and cuddled. I will hold onto that as long as I can.

 

The morning of his birthday, "Blue" our elf, brought powered sugar donuts. The boys' favorite (not mom's favorite though...)

To celebrate Liam's day, we went to a place called Jumpology. It's a giant warehouse filled with in ground trampolines. The boys loved it! We were the only people there! I did not love it. They had referees there and basically there was nothing the boys could do right. The refs were constantly blowing the whistle at them. They have way too many rules there---which is probably the reason we were the only people there.

The boys had fun though, which was important. Liam's little jumps were too cute.

Gram came to visit for Liam's birthday!

It was impossible to get a good picture of them because neither would be still!

Dad brought home special helium balloons for Liam's birthday. He loved those balloons more than anything else he received! They are still floating around the house (driving me crazy).

When Dad came home from work, we opened presents. Liam got lots of good stuff.

He was really into opening the presents. Kale did not understand why he couldn't open presents too and kept proclaiming it was his birthday too. He tried to help Liam open the gifts, but Liam was not having it!

Yes, I wrapped his gifts in Christmas paper...one of the downfalls of having a December birthday.

I made these special cupcakes for Liam's birthday. They are delicious! I put a candle in one...

This was his reaction. He did not like the fire at all and took off running across the room.

The best picture we could get...

After cake and presents, we went to the Botanic Gardens for the Festival of Lights. It was really neat. Then we came home and had Liam's favorite, pasta with red sauce. I do not feed this to him very much because it is also so messy!

 

After Liam finished eating, we took his shirt off because it was covered. The adults continued eating and Liam left the room. I assumed he went upstairs to get a new shirt because I swear I heard him on the stairs. A few minutes later, I thought I would go look for him because it was a little quiet. As I rounded the corner for the stairs, I saw the front door was wide open! I started screaming for Kris and my mom and went running out into the yard screaming, "Liam, Liam!" I was a panicked mess! I mean, it's every mother's worst nightmare--a child slipping outside unnoticed. I screamed and hollered and ran up and down the street (barefoot) for a few minutes before the neighbor across the street (who was sitting on his porch this whole time) calmly tells me nobody came outside. He told me that Liam had opened the door, left it opened and went back inside. My mom found Liam in his room...my neighbors think I am cuckoo!!

Enjoying some birthday presents.

 

Sweet Liam--I cannot believe you are 2. What a difference a year can make! You are talking up a storm and are quite opinionated. I used to think Kale was strong-willed...then I had you. You are a funny man sometimes. Just the other day, I told you that you were silly. Your response was, "Momma, I am craaaazzzyyy!" There could not have been more truth to those words. You let your emotions be known very easily. You cry and scream when you don't get your way, but you also love and cuddle and snuggle quite frequently as well. We love you with all our hearts and hope you remain just as passionate throughout your life. My prayer for you each and every day is that you live a long, happy, healthy life. We love you, sweet Liam!