Liam - 24 months

Date/Week:  24 months

Milestones: 

• Liam was a gingerbread boy playing the drum in his Christmas Concert.
• Had a family only party for his 2nd birthday with a donut cake with muppet characters on it
• received many musical instruments - he's really good with the drum and knows how to blow the recorder to get sound. He also plonks away on his electronic keyboard
• Prefers to listen to piano music or marches in the car
• Favourite words - mine, mummy, daddy
• Received his first piece of mail from the school that he might go to for foundation year 
• Christmas was great fun!

Developmental Progress:  

• Says that his name is Liam!
• Shares with mummy and daddy and the dogs. Getting better with other kids
• Starting to say please and thank you more consistently
• still 10th percentile for height/weight - but he does have long legs!
• Counts to 20
• If you ask him for a particular colour block he will give it to you but he does not tell you what the color is when you ask him
• Changes the beat on his drum in accordance to the tempo that Aidan is playing at on the recorder
• Brushes his teeth on his own
• Knows up and down and says it when he is jumping
• Can point out some numbers consistently and a few letters
• Still remembers some spanish words whenever we pull out that book at night
• Sings Twinkle, Twinkle, BINGO, Row your boat, 3 Blind Mice and Jingle Bells. Also knows the Alleluia and a few other sung responses at church
• Likes to dance to music and is good at galloping to the music
• Knows the names of all of his classmates and says hi or bye to them
•  

Thoughts and Feelings? 

I'm late updating but it has been busy - as usual. I am happy that Liam had a proper party this year for his birthday as everyone was sick for his 1st birthday. He had a wonderful time and received many musical instruments. We ended up having a jam session at the end of his party - he game each one of us an instrument and he played his drum and we had a really good time! And we sounded good (Aidan was playing the recorder and boy, he's good! I guess the recorder for a clarinet player is simple!)

So now we're looking at 2013. Not sure how I'll do updates. Liam is now in the transition class and next month attends the open house for the school he may attend starting September 2014. In the meantime he's learning so quickly and it is glorious. I just love watching him explore the world.

As for us, Aidan is doing a promotion course for the Regiment through to the end of March and I am working on finishing this degree. Then there's highland exams to coordinate and the Highland Games in June. So 2013 is hopefully going to be a year of adventure!

What I am looking forward to: 

Graduating this year!

Liam - 21, 22 and 23 months

Date/Week: 21, 22 and 23 months

Milestones: 

• He's visited Ireland and met his Irish cousins (we still are working on getting his Irish birth certificate)
• We're doing a 'Parents and Tots' dance class and both Aidan and I go with him
• He comes to my 'Tiny Tots' Highland Dancing class but is still a bit young for most of the activities - he does like it when we march though.'
• He says grace ("God is Great") - the words are not clear but the cadence is correct
• Insists on sitting at the table in a regular chair and eating with our utensils (he'll even eat mini wheats at breakfast if Aidan has them)
• His favourite songs are 'Old Macdonald', 'Bingo', 'Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes' and 'Are You Sleeping' (when he sings 'Morning bells are ringing', it sounds like 'Wanna have a wee-wee')
• He's become a picky eater but thankfully eats broccoli, brussel sprouts and asparagus
• Knows how to use my iPad better than I do
• Favourite iPad app - Disney's 'It's A Small World'
• Favourite YouTube video - Mahna Mahna
• Loves the Muppet Show and is crazy about Animal
• When he wants you to see something he will grab your face in both his hands and then turn your face towards what he wants you to see
• When he wants you to sit next to him, he will pat the space next to him
• Loves his books and has a stash in the car to keep him entertained
• Already singing 'Jingle Bells'
• If you do 'This Little Piggie', he'll laugh 'wee, wee, wee' with you and give you his foot saying 'Other One!'
• Can say 'NO' with a million different intonations
• If you build something with Lego, he must take it apart
• Knows what Aidan does with the electric razor and tries to do the same
• Knows both sets of grandparents - there's Grandma and Grandpa (my parents), Mama and Grandpa (Aidan's parents) and Grandpapa (Aidan's grandfather)

Developmental Progress:  

• He jumps!
• Knows that he is Liam and actually refers to himself sometimes
• Potty training is still in the training phase... will tell you when he needs to go but doesn't usually want to sit on the potty at home. Apparently sits on it but won't go at my parent's house and maybe 50/50 for completing the task at school. 
• In the meantime, he wears pull-ups during the day and diapers at night.
• Is able to point out most animals (and the sounds they make)
• Counts to 10 whenever given the chance and recognizes some of the numbers when he sees them - 1, 2, 8 and sometimes 5
• Getting better identifying colours but not consistent
• Can get up and down the stairs on his own - but we observe him very closely when he decided to do it on his own.
• He is so independent.... and focused when he's doing a task
• Loves doing the wood puzzles with animals
• Knows his body parts really well
• Undresses himself and can pick out his clothing and get mostly dressed (pants easily, shirt a little difficult, shoes and socks on occasion and flip flops are easy
• Knows the names of all the kids in his class
• Turns on his music in the morning and plays or sings while he waits for us to come and get him (thank goodness he isn't climbing out of the crib anymore)
• Climbs on the table, chairs, stools... anything he can climb (sigh!)
• If you try to put him down, he grips on to you with everything, including his toes
• Open and closes doors... privacy is a memory
• Is ok with having his teeth brushed if someone else is brushing their teeth
• Brushes his hair with a brush.... and brushes the dog's fur as well 
• In the bath he tries to wash himself with the soap
• When he arrives at my parent's house he yells out 'Grandpa, where are you?' - not really clearly yet but close!

Thoughts and Feelings? 

I've been tied up in dissertation world so sorry for the lack of updates. Trying to remember three month's worth of developments has been tough. But thankfully there are lots of great memories to pull from to start the process... I may need to do some updates later. In any case, Chapters 4 & 5 of the dissertation are written and the editing process has begun... hope the next few steps go fast!

So Liam is almost 2. He is definitely more boy than baby. He has a very strong personality and I swear will be either a politician or an actor when he grows up. He likes to interact with people and is a constant smiler... unless he's trying to get his way and turns on the water works. And then there the flirting with the ladies. We're so in trouble when he gets older!

He is so enjoyable at this age. He runs us ragged and takes over every second of our day when we're awake. I swear sometimes that I cannot survive the day if he doesn't have a nap on Sundays! He loves his grandparents. He loves his books, he loves Elmo and Animal. He loves music! He still loves to cuddle, especially before bed.

What I am looking forward to: 

His Christmas Concert is on Dec 7th and his birthday is Dec 22nd. We're all home between Dec 25 and Jan 2 so we're thinking of playing tourist that week and taking Liam to all of the rendezvous season events. I am just looking forward to lots of time with my little family!

Liam - 20 months

Date/Week: 20 months

Milestones: 

• He's the big 2-0... He'll be 2 before we know it
• Likes marching around the house as the drum major or drummer or playing some sort of horn (using his yellow hoe)
• 'Sings' the 3 beat roll to start the parade and the base drum beats at the end
• Likes visiting the Lizards who live in our blind every morning and evening
• Likes saying 'goodbye' to the little girl in his English/Spanish book at night
• An old pro now at catching the ferry - first time to St. Georges during Cup Match Friday
• Had ice cream for the first time (loved it)
• Tries to copy mummy doing yoga (usually results in him being wrapped up in the yoga mat
• More teeth!
• Giving kisses, usually with the sound 'mmmm-smack'

Developmental Progress:  

• Must feed himself and is working on spearing food on the fork
• Colouring with more strokes and less dots
• Sings and acts out 'head & shoulders, knees and toes'
• Can drink from his juice cup on his own without spilling anything
• Counts to 10 and recognises the numbers
• Forming more and more 3 word or more sentences.
• Makes decisions on what to eat with clear 'no' or 'yes' comments and a fair amount of finger waggling with no
• Tells the cat to get off of the counter
• Starting to ask 'why' almost as much as he says 'no'
• Tries to negotiate for more stories when it is bedtime
• Potty training is interesting.  He'll sit on the potty and then go after you put the diaper back on.  He will tell you that he needs to be changed. He will tell you (sometimes) what he's done. He will take off his diaper if it's wet in the morning and you do not come fast enough to change it. He will sit on the potty and sometimes go before he gets his bath (but then get him into the bath quickly because sometimes he will take having his diaper off as an invitation to keep going...). So basically, he was probably better potty trained at 6 months when we were doing elimination communication than he is now...

Thoughts and Feelings? 

I cannot believe that Liam is almost 2.... but then he reminds me with the word 'no', the laughter as he runs around the house, the conversations that he has with his stuffed animals and the dogs, the request for 'bread' at breakfast and when we get home from work. It is an amazing time to experience... both a joy and exhausting all at the same time. So many evenings we have put him to bed and I want to go and climb in mine because he has me worn out in just 90 minutes at home together. And I wouldn't have it any other way. Each night I absorb as much as I possibly can and I live in that moment because it is where I truly want to be. Yay for my 20 month old! And yay for the wonders that I have been privy to over the last year and 8 months!

Other than that, in a months time we'll be on vacation. Ireland and Boston are booked! I'm a bit nervous about the trip over. We're doing Jet Blue to Boston and then Aer Lingus to Dublin. I'm the most nervous about the baggage on Aer Lingus. I wonder if Liam's Stokke stroller will cost us extra since it isn't a lightweight collapsible stroller and should I therefore get another stroller that will be easier to travel with. Then there's the car seat. Since he'll be a lap baby, will they charge us for his car seat (the website isn't helping in this regard...). And finally there's Liam and hoping that we can get him through a day of travel with two flights and a few hours in an airport. We got an Elmo kiddie strap to allow him to walk with us but not go to far. It probably won't go over well in the US airport but I would prefer him to be safe if he wants to walk with us. 

In any case, I am looking forward to some time away.... so I now just need to finish off this dissertation before I go...

What I am looking forward to: 

Cycling from Dublin down to Dun Laogharie and Dalkey; taking Aidan to the Merry Ploughboy Pub for dinner and a show for his birthday; going to see Idina Menzel at the Wang Theatre in Boston to celebrate our anniversary (a few days late but worth the wait!)

Liam - 17, 18 and 19 months

Date/Week: 17,18 and 19 months

Milestones: 

• 32.5" long and 22.8 lbs
• Climbs up and down stairs without help
• Loves his sandals for the summer but misses his sneakers (he carries them around the house)
• Just getting comfortable with the toothbrush
• Survived Daddy's 10-day trip away from us... and won't let him out of his sight now that he is home
• Has started  asking 'why?'
• Loves 'peek-a-boo'
• Climbs out of his crib - even when lowered to its lowest setting
• Appears to favour his left hand
• Eats cheerios in milk for breakfast 
• Has his own cups, bowls, plates and utensils
• Loves chasing bubbles
• Has a horrible reaction to mosquito bites
• Is registered for 'Parents and Tots' dance class in September

Developmental Progress:  

• Loves to throw a ball or toy.... or anything as long as it comes back to him to throw again
• Dances to music (Mummy's influence???)
• Conducts music (Daddy's influence???)
• Sweeps the floor
• Picks tomatoes out of the garden
• We're able to understand more of the words that he is saying (they're clearer)
• Loves to say 'hi/hello' and 'bye' along with your name and sometimes says 'hola' instead of 'hi'
• Can put on his shoes
• Can identify most animals and the noises that they make (often followed by 'ei-ei-oooooooo')
• Will point out flowers, trees and facial features when we read his books
• Repeats just about every word that we say and appears to retain quite a few 
• Jumps - on the bed, on the couch...

Thoughts and Feelings? 



I haven't updated anything since April.... it has been busy. At this moment, I am busy at work, busy with data analysis for my dissertation, busy trying to keep working out and busy trying to spend as much time as possible with my boys. No rest in sight though!


We are planning a family vacation in September... Ireland and Boston!


What I am looking forward to: 


Doing a reiki class. Considering career options once this degree is done. Sorting out the dance class schedule for the fall.

Progress

So I had my monthly measurement session at the gym to see if I've had any progress since starting on April 9th. My weight loss appears stalled at the moment - I've been at the same weight for over a week. But the measurements.... bliss. I've lost 12.5" in the last month - all over! So looking at the starting stats I've posted here, here's my progress:

Month 1 Stats
bust - 37.5  (-1.5)
waist - 33.5 (-2.5)
hips - 37 (-2)

Yay!

Vacation, Please.....

No, I don't even have one planned for 2012. I'm aiming for September for perhaps some time off but we'll see.

Exercising is kicking my butt.....

Working on my dissertation is kicking my butt...

Work is kicking my butt....

There aren't enough hours in the day... and there is so much that I feel that I am trying to 'get back on track' in my life.

I will prevail - it's just a little tough right now.

4th Weigh-in and 2.5lbs lost

It wasn't a great week though. It was tough fitting in the workouts. And the water. And the fish. And the sleep.

The best workout this week was water aerobics - it stretched me out beautifully.

The toughest was body pump. I did the 60 minute class and I struggled with the arm exercises with minimal weight!

The most fulfilling was yoga. I felt relaxed and was able to work on my flexibility and strength.

The most improved was spinning. I was able to do 85% of the combinations.