Coming to 5

Xander's birthday is coming up soon. He's going to be 5 and we hear about it all the time. Apparently in his head 5 is a big thing. I can't blame him, since he will be able to put his whole hand up to tell a person his age now.

The other day I said he couldn't do something, because he was too little. Well, you should have witnessed the sheer attitude I got in return.

"Mommy, I am NOT too little. I'm going to be FIVE soon you know."

:sigh:

Yes, my son, I am incredibly aware of it. Proud, happy, and sad at the same time about it.

As these last few days of this little boy being 4 remain, I find myself walking both in the here and now, and in those last few days before his birth. Remembering how big I was and the things I was doing. How we prepared for this tiny human. And how it was both too much and not enough preparation.

Wasn't that just last week? How did 5 get to be upon us so fast? (And please, no one tell me that Liam will be there in a blink of an eye too.) Makes me wonder if my mother feels this way about my brother and I still.

Almost TWO

I'm in a bit of shock and denial. It seems that my wee little baby is turning two.

I know...TWO?!?

How oh how did this happen? It was really just yesterday that Jennifer and I were teasing Michele about having a leap year baby...and then I was in labour and it was ME having a leap year baby. A baby who shocked us all by arriving 22 days early. Perhaps I am remembering it all the more, because my parents are returning tonight from their annual vacation to Cuba. Two years ago, they returned only to find that they'd missed Liam's birth by less than 2 days! (I'm still not sure that my Mom has completely forgiven Ray for going and picking them up at the airport and saying NOTHING to them about his arrival. I know that I am not done thanking him for helping me surprise them!)

Yes, two years ago.

A two years that have gone fast and slow at the same time. Full of changes, loss, and victories. First steps, small words, lots of crying, and lots of love.

This year Liam doesn't have a "real" birthday, because his day exists in the moments between February 28th and March 1st. And to answer the never-ending question: he is a February baby, so we celebrate in February. Lucky Liam, because not having an official birthday three years out of four means that we celebrate all weekend. So tomorrow we start by having a party with our friends and family.

I still cannot believe that two years has passed.

From first sight....



To first year...
And now...


The best part of all is that we are looking forward to the surprises that will come...
We love you, little man!

P.S. We would be ever so grateful if we could have more sleep over the next two years than you allowed over the past two years. Consider it your gift to us.

Birthday Party Politics

:sigh: And so it begins...

With school and school friends, there comes politics. This is Xander's first birthday where he has school friends. His class is 16 kids. There is no way to have 16+ kids in my little house. No Way. I let Xander choose the friends he wanted to invite, and there were a few surprises both on who was on and who was off the list. But we have 10 kids, including 3 kids who are his not-in-school friends. A reasonable number.

Still, why do I feel bad for not inviting everyone?

Better Late Than Never!

Liam's 1st birthday party was a big success. Our house was full (okay, so that part is not hard to do) and we had lots of fun with our friends and family. Liam enjoyed his day.

Here is Grandpa Bill (Ray's Dad), Me and Liam, and my cousin Wendy and her little guy Cole. Cole is 6 months younger than Liam.

The older kids having dinner together:
Instead of a big cake, I made cupcakes and did up funky icing.


Feasting on cupcake!





Bathtime after the cake.


Opening gifts

Somewhere between Saturday and Sunday...

Liam is turning a year old. He's my little leap year baby, so we get to pretend he has a day three years running and have a big bash every fourth year.

I am not sure how we got from this:
To this:



But here we are!

At one year old Liam:

• Whistles as he "works". He crawls around or cruises around doing his toddler-ish errands and puckers his lips to whistle. It's cute.
• Cries so much less than he used to. We've figured out that Zantac is indeed our friend.
• Signs more and all done.
• Says "Mom mom mom mom mom", but only when he is really ticked off.
  
• Laughs a lot.
• Thinks his big brother is wonderful!
• Can eat everything but milk products.
  
• Is pretty easy going, when he is not after something. (Often the something is Mommy's computer or mouse.)
• Can go up and down the stairs.
• Crawls, cruises the walls and furniture, and is taking the odd step and occasionally stands without holding on.
• Sleeps in his own bed most of the time. At last! Also goes to bed without much fuss.
  
• Loves to play peek-a-boo and will hide himself in blankets and even his bib to do it back to us.
• Chugs the rice milk in his sippy like a beer-swilling barfly.
• Thinks crackers are the perfect food.
• Pulls books off the book shelves at every opportunity. Sometimes these are for chewing and other times to sit and "read".
• Likes to go off and play by himself, but comes back to check on Mommy and Daddy at intervals.

A year has brought a lot of change and we are looking forward to the next year.

Happy Birthday Sweet Liam!!!