Liam's 3rd Birthday

** Note, I hope to add individual pics relating to this entry later, for now I chose the least number I could possibly limit myself to and uploaded them. Click on the pic on the right to see more. **

We celebrated Liam’s birthday today. It was a great event. Liam was such a blast to experience, and the other two were perfect gems as well.

The day started with Stake Conference, the plan was for Patrick to go early (8:30 am) to get us a seat and we would head up there around 9:20 am. As the morning went rather well, the kids were dressed before Patrick had to leave, they decided they wanted to go with him. I didn’t complain too loudly, but thought it was a rather long time for the kids to be at the building with no entertainment.

I arrived at 9:20 am to a fairly full building, at least the first and second overflow were fairly full and filling. The parking was atrocious, but they did well. I was just a little bad off because I was trying to get in to an entrance where they were currently filling parking places.

The kids were well behaved, Cora even let Sister Woomer hold her for a half hour or more before deciding she wanted me back. She was great, I fed her and a little later she wanted to nap so Patrick took her and Liam out, around 11, as Liam had had enough by that time. All he wanted to do was “walk”. They were both so well behaved, Gillian and Liam.

The kids were ready to start ‘the party’ as soon as we got home. We started eating lunch at 1pm and the new recipe I tried for the crockpot was actually good this time, thank goodness, as I get nervous cooking for my parents. They both are pretty stuck on eating the same stuff again and again.

Liam played with a cardboard box all last night and today, he kept calling it the bus. An episode of Blue’s Clues is to thank for that. He was really sweet playing in it as well. Liam loved his balloons and it took all night yesterday and this morning to convince him that they were for him, he was so sweet, he kept saying Gillian’s balloons, or Mommy’s balloons, so funny.

He was very excited about the cake when he heard about there being a cake. I had Audrey make it, it was fabulous. We thoroughly enjoyed it. It takes a lot of willpower to sit here and to write about it without going and getting more. Although, it is quite a bit more satisfying than cakes I’ve had before, where you just keep going back and back and back again and never seem to get enough. It was so amazingly yummy!

Liam was the best present opener a parent could wish for. Often we wonder why it is that Gillian opens things so fast, never acknowledges them and moves on. Liam did the exact opposite today, taking time for each and every one. As evidence of his good mood, I offer the following example: Present number one was a pair of pajamas with his favorites Lightening and Mater on them. He was having such a blast that he got excited about pajamas!! Not only that, he grinned at us and pulled the pants over his face, and then laughed very hard. It was a superb moment! Unfortunately, we only got the before and after in pictures.

He loves his new train set, that took us a while to decide on. We got him the Brio Smart Track Starter Set, which combines with the other track he has already. He’s been playing with the trains a lot over the last little while and we thought it’d be great to have some electric accessories to kind of bump up the overall fun level of the train. We were right on the money, he could have been perfectly happy with the train and nothing else. He wanted to take it to bed with him tonight. Mostly so that he could play with it instead of sleeping, I am sure. Those two were like two kids on Christmas night this evening.

It really makes you feel so special to know you made them so very very happy.

Precious Moments

Cora awoke this morning at 6am, and as traditionally I brought her into my bed and laid her down next to me to nurse her. I always go back to sleep until she stirs. She stirred a lot this morning and kept sort of pricking me with her fingernails while eating. I switched her to the other side sometime in the middle (and changed her diaper). Around 7:40 this morning she sort of whimpered like something was wrong and didn't want to nurse anymore. Usually in these moments I get quite frustrated not knowing what she wants.

This morning I took my arm that was lying behind her and wrapped it around her and brought her in close to me, thinking I might switch sides again. She calmed right down and went back to sleep. It made me feel so special that all she needed was me to hold her and then she went back to sleep. In fact, Liam came in a few moments later and Cora slept the whole time I got out of bed with her until I managed to get back into her room and lay her down. She's now peacefully sleeping in her bed.

It really makes me feel so special and important to have these moments with my children.

Love is in the air .... well, maybe it's just sugar

Valentine's Day was a lot of fun this year. Cora will be 8 months old on February 30th, oh wait, there is no 30th ... so I guess she'll be 8 months on the 2nd?? Hmmm.

Anyhow, we had a blast on Valentine's Day making cookies. And Mom and Dad got to go out on a date, our first really since Cora was born. Why did we wait so long? Well, it just took that long for us to have long enough to breath and set something up. We decided on asian and finally went to PF Chang's. I think I totally ordered the wrong thing, but enjoyed it a lot anyway. I loved the atmosphere and we did have potstickers for an apetizer, they were splendid! The funny thing was I kept smelling things that smelled like what I would have loved to have eaten, but I had no idea what I was smelling.

I think it was the coldest day of the year so far, it was so freezing. We actually had snow flurries to watch as we sat and talked and ate our lunch. We're so greatful to Brenda for keeping our two little ones so we could have a real date on Valentine's Day.

Patrick bought me a ring, which had to be sent off to be sized, and instead of flowers he bought be a plant. It's a lovely Amstel King Ficus tree, it's a lovely addition to the living room. And they assured us hard to kill. Yeah! I need that.

Babies are like Animals

I'm not sure when I got it into my head, but at some point I really began to think having a baby was like having a pet. Or having several small children was like having a zoo and in some moments it seems more especially true. For example, when you bring your baby home from the hospital and every time they cry you think that there's a baby Pteranodon in your home.

I took this picture of Cora on February 7, 2007. This is Cora's baby sea lion impression. The sound that goes with it is just phenomenal and every time she does it I just crack up inside as all I can see in my mind's eye is a baby sea lion laying there on the ice whining for it's mother.

It's playground weather again Mommy!!

Yesterday was such a beautiful day. We decided to let the kids play on the playground after school. They both had a great time and I did too. I was especially happy to see so many friends there.

And my favorite photo subject was thrilled to have me photograph him the whole time. Even though I was shooting for Liam. :D

Boys love dirt ... Joshua and Liam	Joshua poses with his portable dirt
Gillian's favorite playground activity	Gillian swingin'
Secret Dirt Hideout	Liam Climbing
Liam Slides	Joshua Slides

New 'Old' Toys

The kids suddenly wanted to play with the trains yesterday, actually Liam asked at first. So we got the tracks and things out for them. Last night after dinner they decided to cover the living room in train tracks. I think it was the most they'd played with them, ever! We put them away over Christmas when we changed their room, because the train table no longer fits in there. As you can see they enjoyed it and Liam even made one alone this morning. And he usually doesn't play alone at all.

Playmates by Necessity

Look! I can pick on her and not only does she let me, she doesn't even complain! Wow! No, this is how you play with it Cora! Hmmm, I remember this toy. I like it so much that I think I'll just play with it for Cora.

Liam and Cora are beginning to understand one another. In fact, they've already begun picking on each other! At the grocery store this week Liam fell asleep in the front seat of the dual stroller and Cora had so much fun playing with his hair. She was giggling up a storm, as if she knew that it was a good oppurtunity for her to get back at him. LOL.

For his role in prior and current schemes he usually chooses that of 'Teaser'. Yep, that's Liam. "Look Cora a car." As soon as she reaches toward it he pulls it away from her.

He also has begun deciding which toys are most worthy of his sister's attention. She's taken quite well to a tiny stuffed bunny that belongs to an outfit of hers. When Liam sees her playing with it he takes it, throws it, and hands her something else, usually the jingle ball, which he seems to feel is better for her.

They do make you laugh at times, don't they?

Liam has become quite a sweetheart though. And over the course of the holidays he almost gave up tantrums entirely. It was a daily battle until then, but something suddenly clicked and he just gave it up. I have no clue why, I think it was the added personal attention from Oma, sister, and mama and papa, but I'm not sure. He's gotten to be a pretty good helper at times. However, like all small children, don't send him to fetch something, as he will most definitely NOT find it.

Cora is still such a sweet baby and just loves to look at you and smile and giggle happily. She loves music, even more so than Liam, who loved is even more than Gillian as a baby. She begins to 'sing' when she hears her mobile, but only to 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight'. :D Yesterday she begun tapping her head to the beat of Eensy Weensy Spider, being played by her toy which Liam was swinging above her head and singing alone to.

Cora's is now getting up on her knees and rocking, which is very exciting and a little bit scary. Only if because I know the work that will bring. But it is enthralling to watch them grow, isn't it? She does manage to get around the room though, via rolling. Rolling here there and everywhere. She really dislikes the scratchy brick fireplace (mom doesn't like it much either). Aside from that, she's constantly searching for treasures which might be choking hazards.

Cora was born mad, and it is her easiest emotion to reach I believe. She doesn't spend a lot of time mad, but when she's upset, you know it!! Here's a picture of Cora having had enough and ready for a nap.