Happy Birthday, Mama!

Tuesday, April 3rd, I turned 34. Yikes! (Not really. I still get carded when purchasing alcohol, and I got asked which college I attend just this past weekend.)

Anyway, Liam adores birthdays. He helped Geoff and me celebrate by singing and helping me blow out my birthday candles. Enjoy!

Warm Spring Afternoons

With our unseasonably warm weather, we have really enjoyed our time outdoors. You won't see us complaining about it being too hot too soon!

Family dog walks have become a favorite, especially for Liam who has decided he is man enough to hold the leash.


Liam has also discovered a way to make our wind chimes work without wind! What an innovator!

Indoctrinating

Those who know Geoff well also know he loves Star Wars. And some of you may remember the video I posted last year of Liam recognizing his ABC's in his own Star Wars alphabet book. Well, now Liam can recognize most of the characters in that book as well. Geoff is making sure he will have a buddy to watch the movies with, I'm sure!

Annapolis with Eliza!

Last Saturday, we headed to Annapolis for some playtime and a lunch visit with Uncle Colin, Aunt Steph, and Eliza. Our first stop was at an establishment called the Chesapeake Children's Museum. What do you envision when you hear that name, Chesapeake Children's Museum? I pictured a museum about the Chesapeake for kids. You know, aquariums of crabs and fish, kid-sized boat stuff, etc. What we got instead was someone's house converted into a "museum" full of daycare cast-offs (including toddler play kitchen and dolls), a weird "dentist room" full of equipment you'd see at a dentist office (like, you know, a TYPEWRITER), and a few aquariums of turtles and fish (there was one lonely blue crab).

After we bathed in Purel, we headed to downtown Annapolis to meet up with the McAllisters. Before heading out to see the boats, Liam and I made a little trip to the bathroom to try to use the potty. As I helped him sit, I heard the distinct sounds of tinkle in the toilet, and just as I was getting ready to praise him with excitement, I felt a strange warmth on my leg. It seems that I failed to properly help Liam "aim" the entire pee-pee time. I had a change of pants for Liam, but none for me. Nice.

While Eliza grabbed a snack, Geoff and I took Liam to see the boats and ducks, and he loved them all. Afterward, we headed to a restaurant for some seafood and Eliza holding time! Both kids held up remarkably well, despite not napping. It sure was a fun morning/early afternoon. We will have to do it again soon! Next time, we'll skip the "museum."

Above: Liam sitting on a wooden turtle outside Chesapeake Children's Museum.

Below: Liam sitting on a (beaver? woodchuck?) at the CCM

There was a kid-sized boat. My face makes me think there must have been something grimy on the steering wheel.

Geoff is not too sure about touching the boat either.

Uncle Geoff and Zih-zuh!

Aunt Leslie and Zih-zuh, who is working hard to grow some teeth!

Meeting Avery

This past weekend, Geoff, Liam, and I flew to Alabama to meet sweet Avery for the first time. It was everything we hoped it would be! She was awake when we arrived and stayed awake for a good while so we could all hold her and look at her to our heart's content. Liam did not seem to jealous when Geoff or I held her, probably because he was having too much fun running and jumping in Uncle Connor and Aunt Shanny's great room. He was interested in seeing her and wanted to touch her little hands and feet. It was very sweet.

We also got to see Uncle Jim and Aunt Betty while in Auburn, and they stuck around to help us celebrate Geoff's birthday, which Liam enjoyed almost as much as the running and jumping. So although it was a quick visit, meeting sweet Avery was worth the hassle of turn-around travel. We can hardly wait to see her again!

Looking at Aunt Leslie

Meeting Cousin Liam

Shannon and Leslie watching Avery play

Singing "Happy Birthday" to Dada

Sending Valenties while Star of the Week

This coming week, there is a lot going on in Liam's classroom. First of all, Liam will experience his first Valentine's Day party and Valentine exchange. Last week, I braved the Valentine aisle at Target, and boy was I under-prepared. There were Valentines containing candy, Valentines with jewelry, Valentines with bouncy balls, bubbles, nail polish, and army men. I could not believe all the options! I really felt the pressure to get Liam some Valentines that came with something. After all, the chances that the ones he would receive at school would come with an extra something would be pretty great. After much deliberation (which included ruling out candy w/ any kind of nut contamination or food coloring, and reading labels on toys...all of which said "for ages 3 and up"), I came away with Toy Story Valentines with tattoos. I hope my fellow parents don't get too mad about that. I figure, they can throw away the dang tattoos if they don't want to stick them on their child!

Second, Liam will be the Star of the Week this week. This is his second time with this honor, which makes Geoff and me very proud, but it also meant us having to find more (and different from last time) pictures. Thankfully, Thanksgiving and Christmas occurred in between Star of the Week honors, so it wasn't as hard as we thought it might be. Here are some of the pictures Liam will be sharing at school.

from his 2 year photo shoot with Lisa Novitsky

Standing in front of Uncle Charlie and Aunt Shelley's Christmas tree

(picture courtesy of Grandpa Gallagher!)

Playing at Clemyjontri Park in Fairfax County, a beautiful adaptable playground for children of all ages and abilities. Please click on the link if you are curious about it!

Riding in a wagon behind Grandwacky's tractor

How time flies

Geoff and I have been fortunate to find a lovely family photographer who will shoot in natural light on location. We have been even more fortunate to have had her take Liam's picture at almost the same time of year for the past three years. Just look at how much Liam has changed in that span of time.

One month old, October 2009

1 year, 1 month old, October 2010

2 years, 1 month old, October 2011