July Happenings

July is halfway over. We are still social distancing, and we have officially surpassed the point of boredom. This too shall pass...that seems to be my motto these days! 

July is feeling a bit more normal in some ways. We went to a graduation party...without the littles. We celebrated the 4th of July with a few close friends who are at the same level of social distancing as we are...AKA working from home and not going anywhere. And we're spending our afternoons and evenings in the pool...even though it's a 2 foot inflatable pool in our backyard!

I'm sure the rest of the month will pass by quickly. We're going to reinstate our weekly family hikes, Grant's birthday is on Friday, cheerleading is supposed to start at the end of the month, we're going to try to plan a beach vacation for September, and we have big decisions to make about school. I just wish this was a typical July full of fun outings and excitement over upcoming birthdays, reunions, and family vacations. But really, there's nothing typical about this July...

Liam at 16 Months

Liam Dayne
16 Months
16 1/2 lbs
29 inches



Milestones:  Cruising one handed and playing more while standing up, without holding on.  He is getting very close to walking independently!



Tooth Count:  5, with 2 on the way!!! He has his bottom middle teeth, two top molars, and one bottom molar.



Eating:  3 meals a day plus 2-3 snacks.  Drinks milk and water from a straw cup.  Nurses morning and night.

Favorite Foods: Bananas, Cereal Bars, Yogurt Melts, Mandarin Oranges, Gerber Graduates Curls, Tapioca Pudding, Macaroni and Cheese, and Pasta with Marinara Sauce.



Sleeping:  I have NO complaints.  He sleeps 12-14 hours straight through the night, takes 1 long nap in the afternoon, and falls asleep during car rides/errands!



Sounds/Words:   Mama, Dada, Hi, Uh-Oh, No, and Papa.  He makes a lot of sounds, babbles constantly, and seems to be repeating a few 2 syllable words that we can't decipher yet.  He occasionally signs Eat and More. He will also bark when he hears a dog bark.



Likes:  Eating, nursing, snuggling, reading books, playing, getting into things he isn't supposed to touch, speech therapy sessions, cruising from room to room, playing with his siblings, and taking baths. Bath time is his absolute favorite!



Dislikes:  Messy diapers, feeling cold, getting his face wiped, being forced to do things he doesn't want to do (PT sessions!), and bumping his head. These never change!

Favorite Toys:  Play kitchen, Leapfrog Cook and Play Potsy, Little People, Fisher Price Incrediblocks Train, vtech drum set, foam letter mat, Mega Bloks, shape sorter, our ottomans and play table and chairs (to push around!), and books.



Nicknames: SuperLiam, Miam, and Little Dude.





Health:  Liam doesn't have any health issues, and we are incredibly thankful. However, over the past week,  he got sick for the first time in months.  He got REALLY sick.  He went from perfectly fine to really sick in a matter of minutes, ended up being transported from Urgent Care to the Children's Hospital ER by ambulance, and was diagnosed with Croup, RSV, and Bronchiolitis.  We have never had a child that got that sick before. His fever never dropped below 103 for days, went over 105 on many occasions, and he didn't want to eat or drink.  After a visit to Urgent Care, a day in the ER, a steroid, and antibiotic, 3 strong breathing treatments, 3 visits to his pediatrician, and round the clock breathing treatments at home, he is finally getting better!!! 




Early Intervention: Occupational Therapy once a week, Physical Therapy once a week, and Speech Therapy once a week.  Each session is for one hour, and the therapists come to our home.  We love his therapists!

Wearing:  Mostly 3-6 months clothing, and starting to wear some 6-9 month clothing.  Moved up to size 3 diapers and size 2 shoes. His doctor said he's the size of an average 6-7 month old boy.  He's so tiny!



Personality: This sweet boy is pure love and pure joy!!!

A Toddler's Guide To Surviving Christmas Card Pictures

Oh, the dreaded Christmas card pictures.  Time to dress up, fix your hair, look perfect, and smile pretty.  Or so Mama hopes...

ATTEMPT #1

Step One:  Alert Mama that you do NOT want to do this.  The bored look should work well.



Step Two:  Stare at lap.



Step Three:  Try to throw in some exasperated sound effects.



Step Four:  Chat with your siblings.



Step Five:  Smile anywhere but at your mama.



Step Six:  Throw a fit to show that you are SO over it.



ATTEMPT #2

Step One: Get bribed with a lollipop.



Step Two:  Realize that this is not going to end anytime soon.  Look anywhere but at your mama.



Step Three:  Throw a fit to show that you are SO over it.  Bonus points for taking down your siblings.




ATTEMPT #3

Step One:  Get distracted by a goldfish you found on the floor.  LUCKY!  Eat it.



Step Two:  Throw a fit to show that you are SO over it.



ATTEMPT #4

Step One: Run away from the tree and climb onto the kitchen table.



Step Two:  Realize that mama followed you.  



Step Three:  Examine giant mug closely.

 

Step Four:  End up in giant mug.

 

ATTEMPT #5

Step One:  Move to new location.  Look depressed and humiliated.



Step Two:  Throw a fit to show that you are SO over it.



Final step:  Realize photoshoot is over and siblings have left the room.  Run away with the perfect smile on your face.

 

PHOTOSHOOT OVER!  TODDLER WINS!


A Mama's Guide to Surviving Christmas Card Pictures:

Step One:  Realize toddler is going to win this time.  Give up and choose the best possible group shot.

  

Step Two:  Be happy that your older children are trained very well.  

 

 
 

Step Three:  Choose a photo of your toddler from when she was being very cute and very agreeable. Which was pretty much every other time but this one.

 

Step Four:  Hope that toddler will cooperate next year. 

Lily at 16 Months

 Liliana is 16 months old today!  She is SO close to 18 months.  Slow down, time, slow down!!!

We had a very quick photoshoot tonight to mark the occasion.  When I say quick, I mean quick!  This girl just wants to dance and sing and run and style her hair with vaseline.  She has no time to pose anymore!

 

AGE:  16 months



STATS: 23 lbs and 33 inches



WEARING:  Size 3 & 4 diapers, size 5 shoes (too big, but you have chubby feet!), and 12-18 month clothing.



MILESTONES:  Running.  It is so funny to watch you speed away! Making the sound "MUAH!" when you give kisses.



TOOTH COUNT: 16!!!  You only need your 2 year molars now.  Phew...almost done!



COMFORTS: Sucking your thumb!  That habit is going to be difficult to break!



FIRSTS:  Sadly, all your firsts are done.  You are growing up way too quickly!



EATING: You eat 3 regular meals and 3 snacks a day. 



FAVORITE FOODS:  Green or Black Olives, Corn, Macaroni and Cheese, Tomato Soup, Noodle Soup, Cheerios, Blueberries, Bananas, and Oranges.



SLEEPING:  You sleep 12+ hours at night. 3-5 hours after you wake up you are ready for a 2-3 hour nap. You are an excellent sleeper!



WORDS/SOUNDS: Mama, Dada, Papa, Nana, Dyl (Da),Lexie (La), Bailey, Nannie, Amber, Audrey, Jack, Dog, Cat Oh, Hi, Bye, Yeah, Bug, Yuck, Hot, and Hiss.  When you see a snake, you say, "HSSSSSSSSS!"



LIKES:  Going outside, swinging, dancing, Singing into Dylan's microphone, and taking baths.



FAVORITE TOYS:  Baby Dolls, strollers, Dylan's microphone, shoes (you love to wear everybody's shoes and stomp around in them!), cell phones (THIEF!), books, bead necklaces (you always have one around your neck) and the Fisher Price Laugh and Learn Learning Chair. 



DISLIKES:  Getting your diaper changed, getting dressed, being told no, and getting your face and hands wiped.  And, well, getting stuffed into a giant mug!




NICKNAMES:  Lily, Lilybug, Bugs, Bugaboo, Bugsies, and Lily Belle.

 

PERSONALITY: You are still a little cuddle bug.  You love to snuggle!  You are very sweet, happy, funny, outgoing, easy-going, and friendly.  You do have a bit of a dramatic side now. You HATE to be told no and you cry when you are scolded.  You are very inquisitive and mischievous.  You get into Vaseline on a near daily basis (it goes right in your hair!), throw everything and anything away, and unwrap feminine products. You are a ball of energy.  You are always on the move! You are starting to follow directions and you mimic everything we do. You can bring a smile to the face of anybody that meets you. You are so loveable and adorable!