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The adventures of Squishy and Bean

Category: Monthly letters (Page 1 of 7)

Monthly Newsletter: Liam, month 12…Happy Birthday!

4/21/2011 /

Dear Liam,

Happy birthday to my beautiful baby boy! It is hard to believe that a year has passed and you are already one. It’s been such an adventure for all of us.

This past month you have been gearing up for growing up.  Mommy went back to work and that has been a hard adjustment for all of us… mostly me.  You have coped very well.  The first few days were the hardest, but you managed.  In fact on one of my first days leaving you for 5 hours, you were so excited when picked you up that you ran five steps to get to me.  You are getting so close to walking independently.  You still prefer to crawl, but you can cruise the perimeter of a room just holding on to furniture and walls.  You stand up independently all the time and will take a step or two.

liam

This month you have been quite sick.  Maybe you picked up germs for all the extra outings we squished in – to the park and Tumblebums.  You have had constant runny noses and fevers.  We found out the hard way that you are allergic to some medications.  I apologize that today was spent running in and out of the doctor’s office and at the pharmacy.  It was not the fun day that I had planned.  And unfortunately the Benedryl you had tonight to combat the drug allergy has made you a little dopey.  What a way to have a family party!

liam_swing

This first year of your life was definitely a rough go at times.  You have battled gastro-reflux, terrible cradle cap, bad eczema, having to nap around your brother’s schedule, being exposed to every germ at the elementary school, and the dangers of having a big brother that loves you a little too much at times.  We have had some bad sleepless nights, and cranky days together.

brothers_0
 
brothers2

But throughout it all, your charming smile and infectious giggle, along with your driving independence and ability to observe and learn, have kept me totally in love with you.  You have made our family so much greater than it was.  I love you so much.

family_april

Happy birthday Liam Bean!

Love always,
Momma
XO XO XO XO XO XO
XO XO XO XO XO XO

{12 month stats: 20lbs; can reach the top drawers; can say: mama/mom, dada, baba (brother), uh-oh, uh-huh, uh-uh (no); can sigh: more, milk, and bye; waves bye and points a things; claps hands and imitates with objects; blows kisses; crawls super fast; stands-up; goes up and down stairs; feeds self; drinks milk from a sippy cup; still nursing; 7 teeth; 2 haircuts; loves Elmo and Katy Parry!}

Four People in March

4/15/2011 /

 

4peopleinmarch

March highlights:

Adam’s 34th birthday
Liam started to stand up in the middle of the floor
Caleb had his first visit from the tooth fairy
Liam “rides” his tricycle for the first time
Caleb rides his bike around the cul-de-sac and learns to use his brakes
Sunny days and trips to the park
Stomach bugs … projectile puke… so gross
Liam got tooth 5 and tooth 6
Caleb moved out of the carseat and into the booster
Spring break… projectile puke…it sucked
Ally’s last month of maternity leave – boo!

Monthly Newsletter: Liam, month 11

3/21/2011 /

Dear Liam,

Welcome to the last month of babyhood. It’s hard to believe in one short month you will be a year old.  You are now are now 20.4 lbs, and have six teeth, and it looks like seven and eight are on their way.

11-months

This month you learned to let go while standing.  You will stand for longer and longer periods of time.  You also learned to get up from the middle of the floor.  You know how to squat down and stand back up too.  You are very proud of these new skills and you will look around and wait for the applause.

yoga
liam_dancing

Speaking of applause, you learned how to clap a few weeks ago.  You can work a room and make everyone clap with you.  You also learned to wave bye, and give a high 5… although you seem to reserve those for a select few.  Sometimes you sign more.  You are very good at shaking your head no, and you are still saying “up” and “mama?mom” – although not as much as the month before.

You have started to somewhat like drinking milk from a sippy cup.  Slowly we are weaning off nursing in anticipation of my return to work in a few weeks.  It makes me sad, but also slightly relieved.  You like to bite down -hard, as well as pinching and pulling.  I have almost weaned you off due to the sure torture you inflict on my boobs!

sippy

You have become very independent with eating and prefer finger foods more and more.  Some meals you refuse to be spoon fed.  Tonight you insisted on eating your spaghetti (tomato sauce, squash and all) with your fingers.

You are also growing more independent with play.  After dinner you love to crawl up the stairs and cruise around the playroom and play with all the toys.  You keep yourself very busy.  You are also starting to “play” more outside too.  You have inherited your brothers old tricycle and you can use your legs to push yourself.  Caleb “rescued” you from going down the hill into the trees.

bike

But the biggest thrill was today.  I left you with Great-grandma, to practice for when I go back to work.  Five hours later when daddy and I returned to pick you up, you got excited and you ran five steps independently from daddy to me!  Yay!  We are so thrilled that we were both there to witness those first steps.  I have a feeling that you are going to be walking around everwhere at your first birthday party.

happy teeth

I love you little boy.  You will always be my sweet baby bean.
Love always,
Mama

xxxxxx ooooo

Four People in February

3/8/2011 /

family_february

It’s a goofy picture… but it’s us!  Caleb has been totally silly when it comes to taking photos, and either tries to hog the camera with goofy faces, or hide from the camera.  Liam just tries to steal the camera and usually goes in for an extreme close-up.

February brought forth Chinese New Year – and the year of the rabbit.  We took a walk around Chinatown, so that I could take photos for my photography class.  February also brought about Valentine’s day which Caleb loves.  He got lots of little notes and treats from school. But the best Valentine’s gift was when Liam started to say Mama.  This is one of his first words, and he planned it perfectly, saying it in earnest on February 13, so that he was able to say it on cue on the 14th.

February also brought snow, snow and more snow.  It was enough to close the school down (snow day!), and enough for sledding and snow forts.  We enjoyed the fluffy white stuff on and off for over a week. Liam was unsure, Caleb loved it, and Adam and I are jsut glad that we are no longer shoveling the driveway!

snow1snow2snow3snow4snow5snow6snow7snow8snow9snow10

~Ally

Monthly Newsletter: Liam, month 10

2/21/2011 /

Dear Liam,

Happy 10 months! It’s hard to believe you are already so close to celebrating your first birthday.  You now weight 20.5 pounds, and your height… well that’s questionable, because you won’t stay still long enough for me to measure you.

10months

You are constantly on the go… following your brother, climbing, opening cupboards, pulling items out of drawers, dumping things off your highchair tray.  You routinely sit on your knees so that you can take off quickly!

kneeling
oshkosh

Your language has also taken off.  You shake your head no, wave (sometimes), blow kisses (on your own terms), say “uh-oh”, “upa” and “MAMA” and “MOM”!  I love that you can call my name! The day before your first Valentine’s day you started to say “mama”, and you looked at me and just kept repeating it, over and over.  I could see your little brain working as you realized I was mama and you could say my name and we understood you.  Thank you for giving me the BEST Valentine gift ever.

heartmom

Your little personality is so much fun.  You love to explore and to play games, like peek a boo and chase.  You are constantly laughing and telling stories.  You have also developed a fondness for books.  Of course, you still love grabbing for things you shouldn’t have – like momma’s camera!

grab
canonboy

You are still a big eater and have tasted so many foods.  You are in love with grapes and blueberries.  You also have a fondness for french fries and cookies (oops!)

Thank you for also napping better.  You know accept the idea that it is okay to nap in your crib! YAY!  Your father and brother also thank you for this.

It has been a very big month for you.  I am so proud of all your accomplishments.  I love that you are so happy, that you nap in your crib (and sleep well at night), and I love, love, love that “mama” is one of your first real words.

10montheyes

I love you always,
Mama

xo xo xo xo xo xo xo xo xo xo

Four People in January

2/1/2011 /

Welcome to the first of our “Four People” monthly updates.  One of my goals for 2011 is to provided better memories of our family together.  So each month we will be aiming for a decent family photo, with a recap of the month to go along with it. (I am also trying to do weekly photos with some journaling to go along with it… but my project 52 is another post entirely!)

family_january

 

January was a nice reprieve after the busy holidays and events of December. Although the holidays and extra family time was fun, it was good to get back into routine, with Adam at work, Caleb at school and daily events returning to order.  This month was full of birthday celebrations, pajama weekends and family movie nights. Caleb enjoyed seeing all his friends again and his social calendar has been full. Caleb had a special date with mom to see his favorite Treehouse characters, Toopy and Binoo.  Liam has been getting his groove on, and enjoys dancing to music, and playing with his peers at Momma Goose.  He loves getting into Caleb’s room and causing all kinds of trouble!  We all enjoyed some cold sunny days, and I was able to get more practice with the camera, doing some assignments for my photography class.  It was a good month, full of family, friends and some fabulous salty sweet cookies!

~Ally

Monthly Newsletter: Liam, month 9

1/21/2011 /

Dear Liam,

I can’t believe you are now 9 months old. You have been on the outside for as long as you were on the inside- plus or minus a few extra days! But no matter where you are, you always carry a piece if my heart. You are almost 18 pounds and 27.5 inches.  And you are busy!

9 months old
bouncyboy

This month you have really started pulling up to a stand and cruising furniture with confidence. You will push things and walk, and you have been trying to climb.

You have started screaming when you can’t get what you want. Your little temper tantrums are nor so cute. You have also started to physically fight with your brother. You push at him, pull his hair and hit him. He’s been very patient with you, but I am waiting to see which if you gets the first black eye! Despite the fights, Caleb is still your favorite person. Every morning your face lights up when you see him. You follow him around and live to play with him. It’s so sad when he has friend over and you are excluded on the other side of the closed door.

dinopark
behind closed doors

You have made your own little circle of friends and seem to enjoy being with others more. You still prefer to stay by my side in unknown places, but you are slowly getting more independent.

This month we introduced you to dairy and you love cheese and yogurt. You also like to feed yourself! You love water too and are very good with your sippy cups.

yogurt
cheerios

We celebrated our first Christmas as a family of four and you were very unsure. You liked the toys, just not all the business of the season. You are very much like your dad!

Liam's first Xmas

Christmas was also a time for learning to sleep. I stopped nursing you in the middle of the night and with daddy’s help you learned to sleep longer without eating. So you now officially sleep through the night. You still have an early morning feeding, but will typically sleep an 8 hour stretch! Yay! Now we just have to work on napping IN YOUR CRIB!

You have grown up so very quickly these last nine months. It’s hard to believe we will be celebrating your birthday soon. Thank you for making me smile everyday! You light up my life little bean!

drool
liam and mommy

Love,
Momma
XO XO XO XO XO
XO XO XO XO

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