July saw a few days of sunny summer weather, so we made the best of it. Â We enjoyed a warm Canada Day at the Gorge Family Fun day. Â We had a family reunion at Beckwith Park, where Liam snoozed under a tree and Caleb learned to play baseball. Â Liam has been rocking his little booty, and loves to dance and get his groove on. Â There were trips to the park and petting zoo. Â Caleb started Sportball Soccer camp and the Summer Reading Club at the Library. Â We spent a day in Parksville, at the sandcastle competition and at the beach. Â We celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary, and spent the night doing a family photo session with Blue Lily. Â It was a busy, but fun month!
Highlights: * Caleb’s 6th birthday! I know, six…! * Liam starts running * Caleb graduates from kindergarten (more photos to come) * We hosted the best Lego themed gymnastics party * BBQ season officially begun – as in BBQing with others… because really in our house it’s BBQ season 365 days of the year! * Ally did some fun photoshoots for Squishy Prints and the Squishy Prints website was relaunched. * There were several babies born to friends and neighbours * We got a decent family photo – finally!!
Happy Summer!
(and yay – all caught up in our four people monthlies!)
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!}
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!
It’s a goofy picture… but it’s us! Â 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. Â 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. Â We took a walk around Chinatown, so that I could take photos for my photography class. Â February also brought about Valentine’s day which Caleb loves. Â He got lots of little notes and treats from school. But the best Valentine’s gift was when Liam started to say Mama. Â 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. Â It was enough to close the school down (snow day!), and enough for sledding and snow forts. Â 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!
Welcome to the first of our “Four People” monthly updates. Â One of my goals for 2011 is to provided better memories of our family together. Â 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!)
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. Â 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. Â Liam has been getting his groove on, and enjoys dancing to music, and playing with his peers at Momma Goose. Â He loves getting into Caleb’s room and causing all kinds of trouble! Â 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. Â It was a good month, full of family, friends and some fabulous salty sweet cookies!
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!
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.
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.
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!
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!
