Happy Halloween!!!

Liam's first Halloween is now over. Liam was Batman for a little while. Since he has a pretty nasty cold and a tooth coming in, we spared him the experience of being in his costume for too long. We put him in it, took some pictures, some video (which we still have not figured out how to upload) and then got him in his jammies. And with the help of some Tylenol we're hoping he will stay in the land of dreams all night long (yeah right!). We're thinking next year he'll be big enough for trick-or-treating (at least in our cul-de-sac). So that's it. We hope y'all had a nice Halloween and that every one's kids got lots of candy. As for us, we didn't get very many trick-or-treaters and so all the left over candy is going to Scott's office tomorrow as I do not want it in the house.

Some More Fun and Updates

So as if having a visit from Anna was not enough excitement for one day, my friend Jenny who came over later in the afternoon convinced me that there's no need to stay home on just because it was a cloudy and drizzly day. So we packed up the Liam and went to the mall. This mall has a wonderful play area in which Liam really enjoyed playing. And, he didn't want to go back into the stroller when it was time to go, so we let him walk along with us all the way to the exit. But the best part was that on the few times when he stumbled and fell, he managed to get back up without having anything to pull up on. He just figured out how to do it completely on his own and made his mommy very very proud. My baby is growing so fast...

He also tried a little bit of Falafel that Jenny made this evening and seemed to like it and he also tried a little bit of whole milk. We're not sure if he liked the milk, but at least he didn't refuse it like he did the formula we tried to give him yesterday. And no, I am not weaning him. However, because of the general anesthesia of my upcoming procedure I will not be able to nurse him for a full day and pumping just isn't working out for me. So we thought we would give him formula that day but he was having none of it. So we decided that since he's so close to being a year old maybe we could just try whole milk. He didn't refuse it and didn't seem to hate it so we'll try again tomorrow. Just a little bit every day in hopes of him liking it and so we'll be able to give it to him on the day of my procedure.

Liam's New Girlfriend

My friend Lisa and her daughter Anna who recently moved to Richmond finally came to visit today. They came in the morning while Liam was still taking his nap so Anna had time to get to know our house and Lisa and I got to catch up a little bit. And when Liam woke up and I brought him downstairs, it was love at first sight. Anna is an older and more sophisticated lady of course. She is 6 months and 2 days older. And Liam was playing hard to get but I know that he fell in love with her as well. Little Anna was chasing him around, trying to give him hugs and kisses, and he kept trying to run away and to play it cool. But I saw him sneak a few heartbreaking smiles to her and when they left he cried and said that he can't wait to see his best girl again.

Liam Enjoying His Bath

Liam loves his bath time so much that he wanted everyone to see him in it... of course we covered his "private parts" because this country is obsessed with stuff like this (in Israel this would not be an issue)

Liam is 11 Months

Today was a busy busy day for us. We decided that it was time to get some more professional pictures taken of Liam so that we can give the grandparents some nice portraits. So our friend Miki, who is, among many other things, a photographer, had us over for a couple of hours for some photos. We don't have the photos yet, but are sure they will turn out great. Liam did really well. He only got a little fussy towards the end. We also took a nice walk earlier this evening. We ran into our neighbors who have a puppy and Liam got really excited and also got some licks.

New and Exciting Foods

Today was some day!!! Mommy spent the whole day cooking while our new sitter played with Liam. I made meatballs in tomato sauce, some couscous, some schnitzel, some spaghetti, and some sauteed green beans. Most of everything I ever make tends to be on the spicy side as Scott really likes spicy foods. So I decided to let Liam have some adult food with his usual baby food dinner. He already eats steamed veggies and meatloaf. So today was meatballs & spaghetti in tomato sauce and sauteed (not steamed) green beans, yes, Scott's offspring was enjoying green beans. Well, the little man loved it so much that we're thinking it might be time to scrap the baby foods all together. But, for the sake of our son getting to that "triple the birth weight by 1 year thing" (he is 7 ounces away from that by the way) we might just do a combination of both baby and adult foods until we see his doctor again for his one year appointment. We're thinking life will be much easier when he can eat whatever we're eating; we're hoping we're right. One caveat however, adult foods & baby means a whole lot more mess. It means a lot of mess for the floor, for the hair, the face, the high chair and just about everywhere else. But it's nothing mommy & daddy can't handle; we're ready to take on the Liam mess. We took some video of the whole thing, but still haven't figured out how to upload it to here, so you'll have to settle for some pictures instead.

A Perfect Autumn Day

Yesterday was a perfect Autumn day. Liam and I spent some time on our front lawn. There was a light breeze, there was some leaf eating, some grass (the legal kind!!!) eating and then Liam got bored so we went back inside. I actually let my child eat leaves and grass; I figured it will happen sooner or later so I might as well just give up now. I know y'all won't believe it and unfortunately I didn't get to capture any of the actual leaf and grass eating on camera. But there are still nice pictures to enjoy.

Mommy's Little Helper

Liam likes to help mommy with the laundry, or get in the way of mommy doing laundry, depending on how you look at it. He likes to be in the laundry basket with laundry or without laundry in it; he doesn't care. He also likes to push the laundry basket around. I am hoping that when he's a bit older, he will still like laundry so much that he will help me sort it and fold it.

My First Mommy Birthday

Today was a very special day for me. It was my first Mommy Birthday. I am now 31 years young and very proud to be. It was by far the best birthday ever!!! In the morning Scott made us a really wonderful breakfast. When Liam got up from his morning nap we went to the mall and spent the money that grandma Ruthie sent for my birthday and for Liam's upcoming birthday. We got some nice things for the little man at Gymboree and of course we didn't neglect Baby Gap. And we got me some things and we got Scott something as well. We had lunch at the mall. While Liam took his afternoon nap we lounged around and even got a little bit of rest. My birthday present from Scott & Liam was a remote car starter. So now, when Winter comes and I am out and about with Liam, I can start the car before we even get to it and it will be all nice and warm for both of us. And of course, when Summer comes it will be very useful as well. I am very excited to start using it already. We had dinner at home and now Liam is asleep (hopefully till morning) and we are just relaxing (something we never ever get to do). Oh, and Scott also picked up some nice Pinot Grigio for me and the label reads: "Mommy's Time Out"; very good wine. We are enjoying it as I am writing these lines.

Liam the Carnivore

Click to see picture
Click to see picture

Liam sure is our son; he likes beef. If he didn't we would have to wonder if he really was ours. But not to worry, he is a true carnivore. So far he has had Chicken & Turkey purees but now we know he is ours for sure. Yesterday I made some of my usual very spicy meatloaf. I didn't plan of giving Liam any so I made it as usual. And earlier this evening Scott was feeding Liam and I was sitting down to eat my meatloaf & mashed potatoes (yes, I am one of the last few people on this planet who still eat carbs; I am a nursing mother!!!) and Liam looked at me with a begging look in his eyes. So we put a little bit of meatloaf and mashed potatoes on his tray and he gobbled it up. Well, the meatloaf at least; he didn't care much for the mashed potatoes (he doesn't know any better yet!). He couldn't get enough of it. There was no need to put it in his mouth; his little fingers kept grabbing more and more and shoving more and more into his little mouth. Honestly, we were surprised he liked it so much. Everyone keeps telling us that babies don't react well to spicy foods. Well, I guess all that spicy food I ate while pregnant and that I've kept eating while nursing got him used to all of those spices. Anyways, you can't see much in the pictures, but here they are anyways. We are very pleased that he likes beef because that means that soon I'll be able to stop making and buying purees and he'll be able to just eat whatever we're eating, just in tiny little pieces.

On a different note, tomorrow is my birthday. I will be 31. A little depressing but I have accomplished at least great thing: I brought Liam into this world and have managed to raise a healthy and happy baby.

Our First Imma (mommy) & Me Class

So today was our first Imma (mommy) & Me Class at the synagogue. That meant skipping Liam's morning nap. I thought it would be fine and it was, until he had a meltdown this afternoon. The class was great. The other women were nice and supportive and non-judgmental. And the kids were cute as well. Liam was the youngest, but you wouldn't know it by the way he was grabbing toys from all the bigger kids. We sat in a circle and sang songs, and we did a little bit of group prayer through singing. And then we had a snack. Liam actually ate little pieces of banana. Until this day he has refused banana puree and pieces of banana but he must have been really hungry. We did leave earlier as they were about to start an art project that I thought Liam was too young for, and he also started getting a little fussy. And on the way home we went to visit daddy at his office. We got home and Liam had his lunch and then we started his afternoon nap a little earlier. I assumed (WRONG!!!) that he would nap for longer because he missed the morning nap. But I was DENIED!!! He napped for a shorter time than usual and had a meltdown and cried and cried and cried. And wouldn't go back to sleep. So we'll try for an earlier bed time tonight. So going to the class was good but if he has a meltdown like this every Tuesday, we might not keep going. What I am hoping for is that with every time it will get a little bit easier...

Oh, I meant to take pictures while at the class, but I was so frazzled that I forgot so I will try to remember for next time.

On another front, Liam is now a WALKER!!! He no longer just takes a few steps at a time and falls down. He now walks at will, stops at will, even makes turns sometimes on his own. So our lives will never ever be the same again...

That's it for now...

A Different Kind of Anniversary

Today is our 3 year wedding anniversary. The last couple of anniversaries were celebrated with a nice dinner and wonderful us time. This year there is no fancy dinner, but then again, there is Liam and that makes it so much more special than ever before. Today we celebrated as a family for the first time and it was just as special. Scott made Mac & Cheese for dinner (his specialty and my favorite) and in a little bit we'll be taking Liam for a stroll around the neighborhood before it gets dark which is earlier and earlier every evening now. So that's it, we just wanted to share this wonderful day with all of you.

New Teeth (sort of...)

So, the top two front teeth are cutting through the gums. We can now clearly see two new little white dots in the little Liam mouth. We are hoping that it means the end of night time wakings for him and for us. Not pictures though. He barely lets us look in there, let alone let us take pictures of the new teeth.