Boys Will Be Boys

We have been very busy lately. The boys are growing, learning and doing more things each day. Here are two examples:

Liam Jude: 1 year + 1 month

 

Yep, still a bit behind in blogging.

On Braden's third birthday, our littlest dude, Liam Jude (ha that rhymes) turned 13 months! Liam Jude is growing so darn fast. I lay him down in his crib and realize how much room he takes up compared to the first few days home from the hospital. Liam is our smiley guy. He is also full of emotion. If he is frustrated, he will scream or cry. If he is hungry or tired, he still will let us know. If I am in the kitchen just making dinner, he will express his hunger until I pick him up and get him in his highchair. I like a man that knows what he wants! If we are shopping, he will spot something in the cart that he wants and will cry until he gets it. It seems like I have this guy's needs figured out, but when he doesn't say more than a handful of words it sometimes takes a little bit to pinpoint what he may be expressing. Most of the time, I can narrow it down pretty fast though.

Liam is our risk taker. He turns around in the shopping cart at Target (even when strapped in) and stands up and bounces. He will climb, pull things down, and go down slides head first. He can take about seven steps on his own, but is still not comfortable walking. He runs with his push toy and chases his brother around. I know he is waiting until he can run before he starts walking 100%. Then I am BIG trouble. Braden did this exact same thing, they wait until they are perfectionists at walking. Wierd, wonder where they get that from (eh, Dad).

I feel so bad for Liam. In the past month, he has had an ear infection, a horrible allergic reaction to Amoxicillin, a cold and now the stomach flu. He is such a trooper. He may be the only one-year-old that gets sick to his stomach, then smiles at me. He also loves his Momma. Today he screamed for twenty minutes when I left the house, and then cried more when I wouldn't pick him up and hold him while I was making dinner. If he can see me, he wants to be close to me. I can't go upstairs where I am out of sight or he freaks out. I can't take a shower where there's a door seperating us, or he will get very upset and can't calm down. I am not sure if this is a stage, or perhaps he will always be a Mommy's little boy. Sometimes it's stressful, but I have to appreciate his love for me.

Liam is learning more and more each day. He has so much fun at the zoo and shakes when he sees the animals and laughs. He loves being outside- he chases bugs and looks for birds. He can hold his own too. If Braden takes his toy away, he will smack him or pull it back. Liam is a lot of fun, he belly laughs when I chase him around the house. He loves balls, cars and he goes right to the big boy toys now- playing trains, putting cars down ramps- as he's been watching big brother do that for months!

Liam is our spunky little guy. He has lighter brownish-blonde hair. Braden at this age was bald, and Liam has a decent amount of hair with some little whisps sticking up on top. It's fun to see him getting his own look the older he gets. Here's hoping Liam doesn't have to experience anymore sickness in 2012. He is full of life, energy, spunk and we can't get enough of that smile and belly laugh!

Braden John: The big THREE!

 

Our little Hobo

Fun at the Zoo

Candle blowing!

The Thomas cake he's had his eyes on for months!

Mean, lean football machine.

 

I'm a little behind in blogging. Life gets the best of us sometimes- this month was busy with pre-school starting, a one-year-old with a horrible reaction to Amoxicillin (lasting 8 days), a Duathlon for me, and last but not least a three year old birthday!

Yes, Braden turned three this past weekend on Saturday. The birthday festivities actually started on Wednesday at his school. They threw him a little party and he brought cupcakes for everyone. He got to bring home a giant birthday bag- inside was a book and stuffed turtle that he could keep for a week, along with a new matchbox car, crayons and a birthday ribbon that he got to keep. What an amazing pre-school teacher he has. Miss Deanna made him feel so special. Thursday I took the boys to Como Zoo. It was a beautiful fall day. We took in all the animals and then stopped for an ice cream cone on the way home. Friday we had a mini-party. Braden had a few little dude friends over for some pinata fun and then pizza followed by cake and ice cream. Then on Saturday, the birthday boy woke up and opened his presents. Then we headed to Target for a donut and chocolate milk (yes, his breakfast choice) and then we went to the Jackson Street Roundhouse train museum in St. Paul for their family day. We toured old trains. We took a train ride. We roasted Smore's outside. Braden got his face painted and played with the train tables. It was a great day for the birthday boy- he had a smile on his face the entire time, especially on the train ride. Liam enjoyed it too. That night Joe had an event to head to, so I let Braden pick whatever he wanted to do. So, we had a movie marathon. We watched two movies, ate snacks and cuddled on the couch together. He was in heaven. Turning three is a lot of fun. I had fun celebrating with him, although on Sunday I was a little tired!


As my oldest son turns three, these thoughts come to mind:
Braden,
Just over three years ago, we had no idea what parenthood was about and we hadn't met you yet. When you joined our family, our lives changed drastically. We never new a love like that existed. We watched you grow and change from a baby into a toddler so quickly. Now, at three you feel like a little man to us. You go to pre-school. You use big words like "actually". You say funny things like, "is this a good idea Mom?" You love trains, baseball, climbing, books, playing with friends, going places, building forts, riding your bike, and watching movies. I love how excited you get when you can do something new- today you climbed to the top of a jungle gym and you got the biggest smile and said "I did it Mom." You are laid-back and easy-going, always up for anything. You ask to try everything on your own. You are outgoing, social and love to be around other kids and people. I love when I walk into your room in the morning and you greet me with a "Hey Mom". While we watched a movie the other night, you turned to me and said "I really love you Mom" and it melted my heart. I am so proud of the kind, sweet, caring, loving, funny, smart, adventurous, happy and creative boy you are. I love that your reports from school always say you were happy, loved whatever the project of the day was, and that you always help clean up. I get a smile on my face when you hug your little brother when you don't think I'm watching. I could go on and on about all the things you do that make me so proud. I know this time goes so fast. I am taking a step back to soak it all in and enjoy it while it is here. I love these fall days when we head outside after nap and don't come back until dinner time- taking in the scenery, talking and playing together. I learn so much from you. Your view of the world helps keep things into perspective for me. I try to keep a balance of letting you be independent and figure things out, but yet being here if you need me and teaching you things.

Braden, you turned three and you seem like a little man but you are still my little boy. I peek in at night and watch you sleep peacefully. You are an amazing little guy, and I can't even imagine how proud I will be of you as years grow by. I know you will go places with your can-do attitude and your sunny disposition.  You are loved in so many ways by so many people and I hope you never forget that. You put smiles on others faces- from strangers you pass, to family and friends. You have touched us in so many ways in just these three years, we are so looking forward to all that is to come!

Happy third birthday, sweet Braden.

Best running partners/coaches

I'm a pretty lucky lady to have these two smiley guys to keep me company on my runs. A couple of times during the week, we head out right after breakfast and hit the trails of Woodbury. We always have the following in tow: hats, sunscreen, water, toys and only two-thirds of us wear shoes! Some days are hot and we hit a few sprinklers, some days are chilly and we put blankets on little legs.

Needless to say, we all like to soak up the fresh air, sunshine, and whatever scenery we happen to see that particular morning. Sometimes it's birds, kites, kids going to school, buses, construction trucks or horses.

In preperation for my first duathlon next weekend, I've been trying to log a few extra miles these past few weeks. I have to thank my running partners/coaches- they keep me company, give me motivation and are pretty good sports- coming with me without much fuss!

Even though it's hard work pushing an extra, who knows, 70 lbs. let's say- I'll be sad when the winter arrives and I'll have to protect my little running partners/coaches by keeping them indoors instead! Until then, I'm going to keep enjoying these wonderful running mornings.