Liam and Santa

This weekend, Geoff and I took Liam to meet Santa. I was certain Liam would NOT like Santa this year, as recently he has been more shy of strangers. Geoff was certain he'd be fine. Thankfully, Geoff was right! Liam was very interested in Santa, and even gave his beard a tug before turning to smile at the camera!

When we got home, we compared this year's Santa picture to last year's, and MAN how our son has grown. Check out the difference a year makes!

Liam's tree

This past weekend, we joined the Nichols again for our annual trek to the Middleburg Christmas Tree Farm. It was a frigid day, and we were all bundled up. Liam had fun walking around the trees and piggy-backing on his Dada. Together they found one poor Charlie Brown tree before we found the tree that would be coming home with us. Liam was fascinated with the saw and enjoyed watching Geoff cut the tree down.

On our way home, we got trapped by the Middleburg Christmas Parade and Fox Hunt Regalia, so we had to take detours. What normally takes 30-40 minutes to get home took us well over an hour. (We chalked it up to the Griswold Christmas Tree curse and expect a squirrel to come out of our tree anytime now.)

The next day, we put up the tree, and Liam attempted to help us decorate it. He thought the ornaments just stuck themselves on the tree and didn't quite understand the loops and hooks (see next to last photo). That, along with his joy at hearing the jingle bells, was absolutely precious! We love his fascination with all the Christmas decor in our house, and we cannot wait to take him to see Santa this coming weekend! Pictures will be posted, so check back!

Recent fun times

Here are some shots of recent fun with Liam. Once Geoff got home from his various trips, he was able to put together the Cozy Coupe that Uncle Connor and Aunt Shannon got Liam for his birthday (which he LOVES--he is such a boy--anything with wheels fascinates him!) He could not even wait for Geoff to put it together to give it a try!





We also took a trip over to the National Harbor where Liam got to look at boats and play in the sand. Here he is having fun in the sand and with the sculpture titled "The Awakening".


Next on our agenda--picking out a Christmas tree, visiting Santa, and a 15 month well check at the doctor! We promise to post pics and stats. Our love to all!

Swimming lessons

Liam is learning to swim! Well, sort of. Geoff and I signed up for the Water Babies class at our local rec. center to have some pool-time fun with him and to get him used to the water. We're taking turns being the parent in the water, and so far, Liam is doing well!

As you can see in the sequence below, Liam enjoyed the floating balls and trying a little floating on his own. He really liked learning to kick and splash, as long as the water didn't get in his eyes. He also really liked the toddler version of the surf board! All in all, this is a fun activity for the whole family, and I am sure we will take this class again when it's offered!

A pirate's tale

ARRRRmaties! I am Liam the Pirate, and I am fearsome, especially while wearing my hat!

I am always on the lookout for new and exotic treasures, like this spooky jack o'lantern. It must be a magical totem, because last I looked, it was just a plain ol' pumpkin!

I am also quite the swashbuckler. Just look at how handy I am with my sword!

No matter how scary most folks think I am, I always have a smile for my sweet Mama, who stopped trying to make me wear my hat after I showed her my scary face a few times! Happy Halloween to all!

A Brocolli Victory!

The trick is to use pesto on the hated veggie to get Liam to eat it!

The boy enjoys eating!

I can't tell if Liam is more like his Dad or his Grandfather Glenn in this video. Both make such noises while they eat, so I guess he comes by it naturally!

"Teach your children well..."

Liam was born into a sports loving family--understatement of the year, right? Anyway, this past weekend, Auburn played LSU. It was a HUGE game and at a decent time for little ones to watch, so Geoff and I were able to continue to teach Liam how great it is to be an Auburn Tiger!

Here, Liam gets a lesson on the "shaker" (NOT a pom-pom).

Here he is watching the game--look how interested he is!

He must have been looking for Uncle Connor, Aunt Shannon, Mims, and Grandfather, who were at the game!

Liam is beginning to grasp the fact that the Auburn family is a very loving bunch!

And whether Auburn wins or loses, Daddy is always there to wrestle and play cars while Mama celebrates or pouts as necessary.

The Pumpkin Patch

Last Saturday, Geoff and I took Liam to Hollin Farms in Delaplane, VA to get a pumpkin. It was a nice fall drive out in the Shenandoah Mountains on a beautiful, yet windy day. We caught up with the Nichols family there and had fun exploring the corn maze, gazing at some goats and chickens, riding in the red wagon, and picking out our pumpkin! It was so much more fun than picking out a pumpkin at the grocery store! We'll definitely do this again!

The corn maze was cool...

but it was hard to walk up and down the hills.

Lany and Liam enjoyed the wagon rides...

and Liam loved piggy-backing on Daddy!

Still not a fan

Liam is a good eater--he really does eat almost anything we'll put in front of him. Just the other night, Liam enjoyed pesto tortellini with asparagus--he ate every bite! After that, I decided to try broccoli again, but I took a tip from my friend Jen and put it in his macaroni and cheese. Needless to say, it didn't work. Next time, I guess I will make the pieces teeny-tiny! I am determined to get this boy to eat his broccoli!

Happy Football Season!

War Eagle, and Play Like a Raven!

The great birthday/baptism weekend!

My original plan was to make an individual posting for each event, but I decided one post would work since all the photos from that weekend are together in a Shutterfly slideshow below. Geoff's sister, Steph, took some really great shots--nearly 250 in all! We are so grateful to her because Geoff and I were able to enjoy the party and Christening without worrying about the camera. Feel free to look through them at your own leisure--there are some shots of the church first as Geoff, Steph, Colin, and I had to meet with Rev. Kempsell the morning of the party do a dry run-through. It's a gorgeous old church, St. John's Episcopal Church in Centreville. The church dates back to the 1800s, and that church bell you see is from a naval ship, but I've forgotten which one.

Then come shots of the party--fun pictures of the kids playing, Liam with his cake, and then the family just hanging out after the guests left. Towards the end of the slideshow, there is the actual Christening and some family shots outside of the church. For those who haven't met all the folks in those shots, here's a list of who attended the Christening: Steph and Colin--Geoff's sister and brother-in-law and Liam's Godparents; Matt, Laura, and Caleb--Geoff's brother, sister-in-law, and our sweet nephew, Jim and Janet--Geoff's mom and step-dad; Granny (Jean)--Geoff's grandmother, and finally Davis and Judy--my parents.

Now for the details, as best I can remember. The party was FUN! I decided on an alphabet block theme, and I think it turned out well. I decorated in primary colors, and had ABC favor boxes and a banner. The cake was the best part though. On top, there were 4 fondant-covered blocks that spelled out Liam's name and had designs on the side that started with each letter in his name--things like a lion, an ice cream cone, an apple, and a monkey. Not only was it the most darling thing I've seen, it was delicious! Liam was so sweet as people sang to him, being as observant as always. I was so full of emotion that I could not sing. Instead, I just watched him, tried to hold back the tears, and thanked God for the many blessings surrounding that precious baby boy. After cake, we opened presents, and Liam got many wonderful things, but he was most interested in 1) a green envelope someone's card came in and 2) a car. He played with those 2 items as I opened the rest of the gifts. Everyone was so generous! (I'm still working on thank you notes.) The evening of the party, the family members stayed for some burgers and college football. It was nice to hang out and relax after the fun stress of the day.

The Christening was absolutely beautiful. Sadly, Liam had long outgrown the heirloom gown from the Slater side of the family (Geoff's grandmother, Sally's side of the family), so he wore a pair of white shortalls and a collared onesie. A cute moment occurred when the time came to present him. The Rev. said, "The candidate will now be presented for baptism," and as if Liam knew that meant him, he said, "Ah-AHHHH" loudly. That got some laughs from the congregation. He looked angelic and behaved beautifully, even when sprinkled with water and marked with oil as "Christ's own forever." I choked up at the part in the service when Rev. Kempsell prayed that Liam be given "an inquiring and discerning heart, the courage to will and persevere, a spirit to know and to love [God], and the gift of joy and wonder in all your works." Those words have never meant more to me than now. I have added them to my prayers because it so beautifully expresses exactly what we want for Liam. After the service, an emotional Howard/Gallagher/Glenn clan posed for some family shots, and then we raced home for lunch, gifts, and various departures to the airport and points in Maryland.

It was a chaotic, hectic weekend, but we would not have changed anything. It meant so much to Geoff and me to be able to have so many friends and family members with us during two such important events. Thank you all for coming, and enjoy the pictures!

Pictures from Liam's Birthday/Christening

Click here to view these pictures larger

One year and walking toward the future!

Okay, corny title. Sorry. I was trying to combine the one-year-old updates with a walking video. (Pics from birthday party and Christening are forthcoming--they deserve their own posts!)

Height: 31 1/2 inches (90%)
Weight: 23 lbs. 12 ozs. (50-75%)

So again, we have confirmation that Liam is a really tall toddler, but not particularly fat. He's just a solid boy. I can't wait to teach him to throw a football!

Other updates--as you can see in the video below, Liam is really walking now. He's got the whole balance thing figured out and will speed walk clear across a room! He's also starting to show signs of concrete knowledge. He'll point to familiar objects when you ask him, "Where's ______?" (Bella, moon, etc.) He's still very curious and quite observant; I love watching him trying to figure things out. His joy in learning is so endearing, and I am constantly in awe of how quickly he catches on to things. He has learned a lot this year and has grown so much. I can't believe how quickly this year passed. He'll be 18 and playing Tight End for Auburn before I know it!

Family Breakfast

One thing about my new job that I am enjoying is the fact that I have more time at home in the mornings; therefore Liam has more time at home in the mornings. This morning, we were able to sit down and have a family breakfast. Liam decided to feed his Dada some Cheerios to get the morning started right!

Broccoli is not his fave...

11 months down, 1 to go!

Geoff and I are in denial that next month, we will be the parents of a 1-year-old! We are both excited (and a little saddened) that Liam is becoming a toddler. He's not only about to walk, he's also becoming more independent. He wants to get things for himself and not have things handed to him. He's drinking solely out of sippy cups during the day and eating mostly table food at daycare. His sense of humor has developed, and he loves to be tickled, to chase us or the dog, and to be chased in return. He definitely says Mama when wanting me, and I think he is associating Dada with Geoff and Buh with Bella. I just need someone else to confirm it so I know I am not being biased! Liam is still on the tall end of the spectrum--while he can wear 18 month shirts and pants, 18 month one pieces are very tight on his long little body! And my arms can certainly tell he's getting heavier. He's not fat by any means, but he is solid! Liam also has 2 teeth as of this morning: one central incisor on the bottom, and one side incisor on the top (yes, his vampire teeth are coming in first!). Teething has been hard on Liam (and us--as I write this, I am coming off a solo duty of comfort rocking every 2 hours last night!), but hopefully he will just get a bunch of teeth all in succession so we don't have to suffer over a long period of time!

In the next month, Liam will celebrate his birthday with a small party of family and close friends, he'll be Christened, he'll take his first steps, he'll transition to the toddler room at daycare, and he'll stop drinking from bottles and using his pacifier. In short, he will no longer be a baby. He'll be a big boy! My heart aches a little at that thought! Our love to all!

Training Camp!

Geoff and I took Liam to see the Baltimore Ravens at their annual training camp at McDaniel College in Westminster, MD. We had a gorgeous drive to get there, and the weather was almost perfect to watch a football practice--overcast but not hot and humid! It was so amazing see the players practicing within feet of where we stood. We saw all the big names--Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Michael Oher, among many others. Liam got to get his picture made with some real ravens and some Ravens cheerleaders, and while we were hoping for a photo op of Liam with former AU player Ben Grubbs (since Liam was in his Auburn shirt), we had to make do with some pics of Liam and his Daddy simply watching the players practice. We got Liam some Ravens gear so he can be ready for football season, and then we headed home. It was such an enjoyable outing that we will make this an annual event as long as we're living so close!

Ben Grubbs (66) and Michael Oher (74) prepare for the play (above) and doing their job, protecting #5 Joe Flacco (below).

Here's a great sequence Geoff caught of Joe Flacco practicing with our new receiver, Anquan Boldin (81). Our offense is looking STOUT folks!

And here is something we saw quite a bit, former Alabama player, Terrence "Too Tired" Cody, on his knee while EVERYONE else is up and ready for the next opportunity. I know he's a good player with a lot of heart, but seriously, rookie, STAND UP!!!