Liam and his rabbit Gabe

Liam loves animals. When we were in Utah he was always chasing after aunt Emily's cats and trying to get the dog to lick his hands. Every day he goes outside to play with the rabbit. He is a little afraid of it but at the same time curious and fascinated.

Liam's 1st Birthday

These photos were taken by Brady's mom Leisa, there are more to come. We all had a good time watching Liam celebrate his birthday. It was great to be with family. Liam really put on a good show hamming it up.
We made a very homespun pinata for him and let him demolish it himself (with the help of aunt Emily)



As soon as candy started falling he started hoarding it, collecting it as fast a he could into a huge pile and shoving it, wrapper and all into his mouth. (Almost as if he thought if he could be quick enough his parents wouldn't notice) Note his victory pose as he eats and shows off his prize candy.




He really didn't want anything to do with the cake, despite his sweet tooth. He kept trying to push it off his high chair and looked disgusted when his hands got sticky.

We love Liam

1 year old Photo Shoot

Happy Birthday Liam!!!!!

What an amazing addition to all of our lives. Brady's Aunt Karalee is a fantastic photorapher and took some pictures for us for his birthday. Check them out!

www.photobiz.com/slideshowbiz/slideshow.cfm?slideshowID=18113&photographerID=3290

Almost 1

Liam just woke up here and his hair is all punked out

I have been keeping busy chasing Liam around. Liam knows how to open the screen door and likes to escape outside onto the grass where he chases birds and pulls up grass. He will turn 1 year old this week and I am almost sad to have his birthday come. I just want him to stay little, cute, and cuddly forever. This past week I have been reflecting upon how much I love being a mother and how my life has changed in the past year. It's amazing how much our focus changes with the addition of a child and what indescribable joys come from seeing your children happy.
Like most life changing events, being a new parent isn't anything you can accurately predict until you are actually there doing it. You cannot imagine how much you are going to love the new addition and you cannot forsee how much your life will change. I remember thinking that my life would pretty much be the same but I would be lovin' on a baby where ever I went. Instead it's like I am in full "mom mode" and occasionaly I get glimpses of my more independent but less fullfilling past. Being a parent is such a balancing act filled with multitasking, compromising, and sharing while trying to mesh new roles with old ones. We will post Liams birthday celebration pictures later this week.

I am enjoying getting paid to workout. I am teaching a weekly running class, as well as 'bootcamp', cycling, and an older adults class. I work only a few hours a day but I love that I can bring Liam, and just look over and see him whenever I'm curious and know how he's doing. Several times a week the DeWitt Library does story time with the kids at the YMCA and he loves that. He is everyones favorite there all the ladies and kids love him, and I can't blame them. He gets along with everybody and loves to laugh.

north carolina

Pictured here is the snapping, jumping turtle that almost bit Lisa's hand off as she tried to save him on the way to church.





Liam and I absolutely loved our vacation to North Carolina. It was so great to see family. The Carlsons are awesome.
Highlights include: shopping with Lisa, staying up past midnight every evening with grandma, watching HGTV, reading, going running with Brandon and Kaylee, playing blocks with Marissa, Tyler and Liam, learning price negotiation from keith.
North Carolina is absolutely beautiful and green everywhere. I told Brady we'll have to keep it in mind after he finishes his Phd.

Liam's gatorade diet

That gatorade picture nicely exhibits Liam's personality. He went on a strike the last few days where he didn't want to drink absolutely any milk (or anything else) at all. He wasn't fussy about it but he just wouldn't drink it. The only thing he wanted to drink was gatorade, and not out of a sippy cup, but out of the original bottle. Maybe because he sees mom and dad drink it or maybe because he thinks he's beyond milk now, we don't know. So here is a picture of him standing on the counter top (yes, also upon his insistence)and drinking a days worth of fluids in gatorade. Also note the patient, all-knowing gleam in his eye, as if he has just granted special permission for dad to have a photo-op with him.

We got some craigslist furniture this week so we played a bit of musical chairs with our furniture. Brady figured that it was easier to bring the furniture outside and through the back door than get it through the house. I helped him move the hide a bed and I am quite proud of myself for doing it. I kinda whimped out after that and so Brady figured out how he could move them by himself.