My Big Helper

Since Annah has been at Vacation Bible School this week, Liam has been enjoying his status as an only child (for a couple hours a day at least). He has taken over the role as Mommy's Helper in the mornings. Here are some of my favorite examples:

Liam helped me look up a number in the phone book...

It was easier to find the numbers if the pages were actually all spread out!

"Mommy, I think I found the right page!"

He helped clean up after lunch

And helped load the dishwasher

"Mommy, the spoons go here!"

He even helped put the laundry away

"Move, Dogs! I have work to do!"

First Week '09

I am not sure why some of these pictures uploaded so small...actually, the ones that are so small are ones that Micah took with her camera...maybe this is my computer's way of making sure I don't take credit for someone else's photos (not that I would--and even if I did you could totally tell b/c Micah does a much better job than I do of taking pictures). Anyway, some of them are tiny, and it's unfortunate b/c they are my faves. We had so much fun at the beach with all the kids. I think the kids had a lot of fun too. I hope Annah isn't expecting the same crowd every time we head down there now!

AAAGGGGHHH!

This picture is amazing if you could just see it! You can see Annah's reflection in Liam's eyes. You can tell he is just watching her...so cool!

"If only I could walk! I hate the sand on my knees!"

"I see Ariel! Look, Tucker and Ty, she's right there!"

"Dancing Queen"

aka Drama Queen

This business of building sand castles is very serious

I love this picture...LAID BACK...literally!

We walked to get ice cream one night and on the way back, the firemen were outside and offered the kids a chance to see the firetrucks up close. Of course we jumped at the chance. Those guys are so incredibly nice. They let them get in the truck and on the rescue jet skis, gave them all goody bags and hat, and were great with them in general. It was a neat experience for the moms too!

Rub-a-dub-dub, 4 kids in the tub!
Clockwise from top: Ty, Annah, Barrett, Tyler

Ty, Griff, Tyler, Liam, Annah, Mattox, Tucker, Barrett

Not pictured: Delainey and Jac

My how things have changed. 12 years ago, First Week had a whole different meaning...12 years seems like a lifetime ago (Will and I just started dating, we had no responsibilities, no real worries, just fun), but in the grand scheme of things, it's really not that long ago at all. In 12 short years, our lives have changed drastically and thankfully so have the lives of several of our friends because this first week just wouldn't have been the same without them!

The First and The Last

Last Friday was a big day for Annah. It was her last day of school and her first real sleepover all in the same day! For her last day of school, they had a family picnic. Everyone packed a picnic lunch and even Will managed a cameo. Annah got to spend a little time playing with her best school friend, Amelia. Annah's teacher also told me she had suggested that Annah and Amelia be in the same class next year. I am so proud of the turn-around that Annah made in school this year. I remember (vividly) the first few months when I would leave and hear her crying all the way in the parking lot...or see her on the playground all by herself just shaking, she was so upset. But by the end of the year, she was ready to go in the morning, made some really good friends, and seemed to really come into her own. While I would love to think that this was all due to some mommy-magic I preformed, but I really have to give her teachers (and Annah) all the credit.

Annah and Amelia

After her last day of school, Annah had her first sleepover (well, first that didn't involve a relative). Delainey spent Friday night at our house. They did great...went right to sleep and never heard a peep until Saturday morning. So cute, but makes me realize (once again) my baby is growing up!

Bedtime snack

I couldn't resist

Liam's One Year Stats

When I posted Liam's One Year Old Post, we had not gone to the doctor for his well check-up yet. Since we were out of town, we just went yesterday. I already knew he was practically perfect in every way, but it was nice to hear that confirmed (please note, these were not his doctor's exact words, but I know this is what he meant :)). Here is how he measures up:

Weight~~23 lbs 7 oz~~35th%ile

Height~~31"~~90th%ile

Head Circumfrence~~18.5"~~50th%ile

Photograher Pics

On our cruise there was two amazing photographers. I don't know if they were amazing because of their equipment or their skill, but whatever, they got some great pictures! These are some of my favorites.

They had a kids club on the boat and one night they had a Prince/Princess Ball. Annah and Gardner were so pumped about going (may require some therapy later in life since the first date both of them ever went on was with their first cousin) that we had to get their picture. I love the face Annah is making! Incidentally, this was the only time they went to Kids Corner...

Will hates this picture, but we have so few of all four of us, that I included it anyway (sorry, Will)

PRECIOUS!!!!

Actually a good one of all of us. Liam is kind of making a funny face, but I'll take what I can get!

I really wanted to get some of Liam by himself. It is hard with a second child to get alone pictures. I feel like I am shorting Annah somehow if I don't include her, but at the same time, there are about a million pictures of her by herself when she was little. Either way, I did get some just Liam pictures.

I would love this picture so much more if my legs did not look enormous!

This is hands-down my favorite picture of the whole trip! They took a whole series of them and had them lined up in the photo gallery on the boat. Liam (obviously) has his name on his outfit and after they put these up, he became famous. We would be going to eat and people would be like, "hey look, it's Liam!" The photographer who took it referred to me for the rest of the trip as "my friend Liam's mom"

Bermuda, Bahama, Come on Pretty Mama

Will's dad got a wild hair the other day (like last week!) and decided we all needed a vacation. They have been putting in crazy hours at the new dealership and really, what better way to unwind and relax, than by putting 7 adults and 4 kids (ages 3 and under) in 4 small rooms on a boat?! Yes, we have totally lost our minds! Will and I, Annah and Liam, Leigh and Matt, Gardner and Perry, Rosie and Poppa, and Connie, the nanny all packed up for a 6-day cruise to Bermuda. The cruise left out of Charleston, so that part was pretty easy...small quarters for 6 days was not. Actually, Annah did a fabulous job. She settled right in as if she had been doing this every week her whole life. Liam was a bit of a nightmare. He was up all night long, in bed with us (something he has never done) and attached to my hip for most of the trip. There was also an incident involving the bathroom, which resulted in the carpet having to be replaced in one of the rooms...use your imagination...it was not pretty! As chaotic as it sounds, we really did have a great time. Bermuda was beautiful and the weather was fantastic, and how many kids get to travel like this at their ages? That being said, next time we are flying and staying in much larger hotel rooms :)

Annah and Liam by the pool

That is Connie (who I am so sad could not come home with us, since Annah loved her) in the background

My sweet boy...on my hip

Daddy and Annah on the pink beach
Here's the thing--I told Annah the beaches in Bermuda had pink sand. As it turns out, there is ONE beach in Bermuda with pink sand and it was a 45 minute ride away from where we docked. So we told her we were going to the pink beach and then went on and on about how pretty and pink the sand was. You can see in the picture is was most assuredly white, but she went with it and loved the "pink beach!"

This is such a beautiful picture. I think we should send it to the Bermuda tourism department (or whoever) so they can use it as a postcard!

Proof that Will and I did get a little time to ourselves

Liam is ONE!!!

I am at a loss to explain how it feels that my baby is now a year old. I don't know if it's because I know that he is my last baby (this is probably a large part of it) or if I felt the same way when Annah turned one and I just don't remember feeling this way...not sure. Bur either way, he is a whole year old. It is a strange phenomenon to feel like he was just born and to, at the same time, feel like I cannot remember life with out him. He has completed our family in every way. It is amazing the difference between boys and girls, even at this age. Liam loves anything that moves...balls, cars, trucks, etc. He has a smile that can light up a room and a laugh that is contagious. He loves to make us laugh and once he starts, we keep it up forever!

Liam, I love you more than I could ever put into words! You are my heart and I can only hope that one day you will understand how fortunate I feel to have you in my life. You are a little sneaky and try and try to do what you want even if I have told you no a hundred times. You have a little temper too, but even when you are mad, you are still smiling. I love that you know exactly what you want and you are getting better every day at telling us what that is. You can say Ma-ie (mommy), Da-ie (daddy), Annah, up, dog, ba (ball), boon (balloon) and can sign for "more" and "all done." You are so smart and funny and totally live up to your nickname of Monkey. We all love you so, so, so much!

Is this the cutest little boy in the whole world, or is it just me?!

The demolished cake. Annah thought it was a riot

"Boons"