We moved!

Dear Liam,
Well, we've been in our new house for five nights now. You're doing so well! I thought you'd act scared or something, which you did a tiny bit for the first night or two, but now you just run around the house like you've lived there forever! Your bedroom is the biggest bedroom in the house- lucky boy! We will paint it blue (and get rid of the icky orange) sometime very soon. I promise. It's so big that there is space for your train table inside! Crazy! One downside is that the door doesn't really latch, so if you wake up during the night, you can open it and go running down the hall in the dark. Last night you were so fast, that by the time I got to you, you were sitting in the chair in the living room. LOL! It took awhile to get you back to sleep, but it happened sooner or later, and you stayed in your bed the rest of the night.

It's so nice to have our own yard now. We played football in the yard with Daddy for awhile over the weekend, but it's been to wet ever since to play out there. It's also wonderful to have a garage! I love not having to put you in a freezing cold car in the mornings!

Tomorrow is your daycare holiday party. I'm interested to see if you finally agree to sit on Santa's lap. You've been a big talker, saying you're going to do it... but I'm guessing that it isn't going to happen. That's okay though. I'm sure Santa knows what you want. :)

Love you,
Mommy

Almost December?

Dear Liam,
I can hardly believe that it's almost December! Thanksgiving was a few days ago. We stayed in town this year, and it was nice to just spend some time at home... and also some time packing. We are moving in a week and a half! We will (hopefully, if the inspection stuff goes okay) be moving to a ranch home, which will be so nice- I can't wait to not have to worry about you falling down stairs! You will have a big backyard for playing baseball, and running around.

You are learning so much lately, Liam. You know (by sight) a bunch of your letters now. You get so excited every time you see an "L." You yell "There's an L! That starts with me!" :) You also usually can identify B, C, D, J, M, S, and U. So exciting!

Love you,
Mommy

Big changes!

Dear Liam,
We will be moving soon! The buyer of our condo accepted our counter offer this morning, so Daddy and I will be making an offer on a new house for us soon! By Christmas, we should be in a new house! When I told you yesterday we would be moving soon to a new house with a yard, you asked, "and a puppy?" I told you not right now, but maybe some day when you're bigger. We are still deciding between two houses, which are right across the street from each other. One is much bigger than the other, but both have nice yards, and garages for all your sports stuff. I can't wait for you to have an amazing space to run and play.

I know that the transition may be tough, but I think you'll be okay. You're such a big boy. I love you so much, Liam.

Last week, after Auntie Cari's wedding, Grandma came back with us, and you got to spend the whole week with her (while Mommy and Daddy had to go to work). You two had an amazing time together. I know that Grandma will cherish those memories forever. It's amazing how much you love her. I think you were very sad to see her go, but I think she'll be back for your birthday, in less than two months.

And speaking of your birthday... you will be THREE in less than two months?! How is that possible?! I feel like you just turned two!

I love you, my sweet boy.

Mommy

Getting better!

Li Li Boy,
During the week, for the last 2 weeks, you've actually been going to sleep by about 8:15! And I don't have to sit in your room until you fall asleep anymore! But... on the weekend, all bets are off. You just won't nap at home on the weekends since you started sleeping in your big boy bed. Well, I shouldn't say that... you refuse to nap... until you finally pass out in the car/on the couch/in front of the TV around 4 or 5 o'clock in the afternoon. This does NOT work! I then have to wake you up for dinner, and then you're crabby, and getting you to bed later is NOT fun! You take great naps every day at school... but you just won't nap at home. So aggravating!

You haven't had any accidents at school in two weeks! But, again, things aren't going as well at home. I think at home, you just genuinely forget that you have to go. You had a few potty accidents this weekend- I think you get into a daze watching TV, and totally forget about going potty. You still aren't always going poopy on the potty yet either. It seems like, if Daddy or I leave the room for a few seconds, you choose that moment to poop in your underpants. Gah! So gross!

Today feels like fall. Yesterday was Labor Day... so I guess it is kind of fall now. It's the first day you're wearing jeans. They're jeans from last winter that are still too big. :) You're getting taller, but your waist isn't getting any bigger, sweet boy!

Love you,
Mommy

Things are going well!

Liam,

Well, SOME things are going well, but some aren't. Potty-training is going pretty well! Most days you're basically accident-free... except for pooping. It's normal that that takes longer to learn, so I'm not worried. You'll get it soon. You get it sometimes, but not every time. Also, you had a couple accidents on the playground at school last week. I think you really just were excited to be playing outside (after how hot it's been for the last month). And, then you also actually purposely peed on the playground too- your teacher said you pulled your pants down and peed right there. I admit, I laughed pretty hard about that. You're so funny. You're still not always telling us when you have to go, but you're good about going when I force you to.

What ISN'T going well is sleeping in your big boy bed. I don't think you've been asleep before 9 since we converted it. There have been some nights that you haven't fallen asleep until 10. You want Daddy or me to lie on your floor until you fall asleep, and if we get up and leave, and then you wake back up and see that we're gone, you FREAK OUT. It's heartbreaking to listen to you cry and pound on the door. I'm at a loss. I know you need to learn to go to sleep on your own... but I also hate to listen to you cry for too long. Also, it's not totally safe to leave you alone in your room anymore- yesterday, when you should have been napping, you climbed onto the top of your dresser! I think you must have pulled the drawers out to climb up. You practically gave me a heartattack! You haven't been napping well either. On Saturday you finally passed out watching Thomas at about 4 o'clock. Then yesterday, you finally passed out in the car (within just a couple minutes of getting in). I ended up driving back home, and sitting in the car reading a book while you slept for two hours.

I really hope you start falling asleep better/quicker soon. Daddy and I can't lie on your floor for over an hour every night. This is just crazy. I love you, sweet boy, but you need to start sleeping!

Love,
Mommy

Potty training and a big boy bed!

Dear Liam,
You had QUITE the big weekend. I realize now that it was way too much to throw at you at one time, and I'm sorry for that. But, I think things will be better very soon...

I took Friday off, and we started 3-day potty training. Basically, you and I didn't leave the house for 3 days. I stayed close by to you, so that I could run you to the bathroom the second you started to pee. You wore big boy underpants, other than naptime/bedtime. You did pretty well... but I wish we'd had another couple days to work on it at home together. You really only peed on the floor a few times. You usually told me the second you'd start peeing, and we'd then run to the bathroom to finish in the potty.

You went to daycare in big boy underpants today... we'll see how you did! You have to tell your teachers when you have to go... they won't be able to keep quite as close an eye on you as I did this weekend. More than 1 or 2 accidents, and they'll have to put you in Pull-Ups. I hope you had a good day.

Also, this weekend, we switched out the front rail of your crib for the toddler bed rail. I didn't think this would be such a big deal... but it has been. You've been up very late the last two nights, because you just seem terrified the second I leave your room. You want me to lie on the floor until you fall asleep. Poor guy. You've figured out how to pull the childproof knob off your door handle. This isn't good. I don't want you to get out of your room during the night, and fall down the stairs. We will just have to keep working on this.

I love you. You're my big boy, but you're also still always my baby.
Mommy

Poor Li Li Boy

Liam,
This weekend, you cut your finger. I still feel terrible. But, in the end, it was all Dora the Explorer's fault...

On Saturday, Daddy was gone for the day. You and I had gone to the library, and we'd rented a Dora DVD. Later, we went to Target, and you begged for some Dora Spaghettios. So, at suppertime, you were watching the Dora DVD, and I was in the kitchen heating up the Dora Spaghettios in the microwave. Somehow, you grabbed the empty Spaghettios can, so you could look at the Dora pictures on it, and you got your fingers trapped in the top of the can. (I hadn't completely disconnected the top from the can.) Somehow, in a few seconds of insanity, while I tried to get you to hold still, you pulled your fingers out... and blood went flying. You had luckily only cut one finger, but it was bad. I grabbed a dish towel, and carried you quickly to the bathroom. (You dripped blood across the floor all the way there.) I ran your hand under the water, to see how many fingers you'd cut, but luckily it was just the one. You were really freaking out... and Mommy was too, deep down. We sat on the toilet, and my legs were just shaking. I applied pressure for 15 minutes, but it wouldn't stop bleeding, so I took you to the after hours pediatrician. You begged me to hold you in the car, but obviously I couldn't. Poor guy- you hadn't taken a nap, so you ended up falling asleep in the car, and you weren't very happy when we got there.

So, we got to the pediatrician's office, and they showed us to the exam room... and there was a freaking Dora the Explorer pinata hanging from the ceiling! You can't make this stuff up! I could hardly believe it- I didn't know whether to laugh or to cry. Your finger didn't need any stitches- they just glued it, and covered it with tape. (They had said the glue would disintegrate in 5-6 days... but it was already gone the next day!) You were a very brave big boy, so we then stopped by McDonald's on the way home, so you could have a Happy Meal for supper.

I'm so sorry this happened, my sweet boy. I will always completely disconnect the tops of aluminum cans now, and I will make sure that you can't reach them. You are getting so tall all of a sudden... and I need to remember that you can reach things on the counters now. I love you, my sweet boy.

Oh, and we're going to start hardcore potty-training in T minus 5 days...

Love,
Mommy

Poop on the potty!

Liam,
This weekend, you pooped on the potty! It was probably totally accidental, but it was still very exciting! Before I even knew what you'd done, you looked down and said, "What's that?" and touched it before I could stop you. LOLLLLLLL. Too funny... and gross! You went potty on the potty chair three times that day. Grandma was here visiting, and she bought you 10 pairs of underwear. I think you're really ready!

Love you, sweet boy,
Mommy

Ooooops! It's been awhile!

Dear Liam,
It's been awhile since I've made an update here! We haven't really been all that busy... it's actually pretty quiet at work, since it's summer. I guess I just forgot.

You are now two and a half! Crazy how time flies! You got a very short big boy haircut yesterday, and I swear you look like a boy, and not a baby. You go potty in your potty chair almost every night. Very soon, we will try big boy underpants... I think you're ready. I hope you prove me right!

Earlier this week, you started saying "I do it MYSELF!" to almost everything. You want to read books yourself, take your pants off yourself and throw them in the hamper yourself, pick up your toys yourself, etc. I love this! You're becoming so independent... but you're still my sweet boy.

We've gone swimming a few times already this summer. You love being in the water, and jumping in from the side (with me catching you). You want so badly to go down the waterslides, but you're just not big enough yet. :(

We've put the house up for sale. Tonight we'll have our fifth showing (in 2 weeks). Hopefully it will sell soon. I can't wait to live somewhere with a yard for you to play in!

Love,
Mommy

Peeing on the potty again!

Liam,
You peed on the potty again last night! I'm so proud of you! You sat on your little plastic potty, and you made me sit on the big potty. :) You started peeing in probably less than five seconds. You were very excited to dump the pee in the toilet, and then flush it. You said, "I going pee on the potty EVERY DAY!" I said, "Yes, I hope you DO start to go pee on the potty every day!"

We're getting somewhere, slowly but surely! Exciting times in the Peterson house!

Love,
Mommy

ABCs!

Liam,
For months, you've resisted singing the ABCs, even though I've been pretty sure the whole darn time that you actually knew them. Whenever I'd ask if you wanted to sing them, and I'd start singing, you'd say, "No Mommy! No singing! No ABCs!" So, I've kind of let it go. Randomly last night, we were walking around Target, and you suddenly started singing the ABCs, totally out of the blue. You sang straight through, almost every letter was intelligible, and you pretty much even stayed in the same key the whole time!!!!!!! I was so excited. You then pretty much continued to sing the entire time we were there. Once we got home, you sang them over the phone to Grandma and Auntie Cari. I know it was the higlight of both of their days.

You're such a smart boy, Liam. You amaze me, and Daddy too, every single day.

Love,
Mommy

Peeing on the potty chair!!!

Liam,
Last night you peed on the potty chair for the first time! I've been trying to get you to sit on the potty before your bath each night (or every other night) for probably 6 months. Lots of times you just don't want to do it- you want to get right into the bath. And oftentimes, as soon as you get in the bath, you pee! So, I know you always need to pee then, after drinking so much liquid with your supper. Last night, I put you on the potty chair. You did NOT want to be on there- you were struggling to get down, but I said we'd just count to 10, and then you could get down. You were yelling at me, "No counting, Mommy! No counting!!!" LOLLLLL. And then, by the time I'd counted to about 4, you were suddenly peeing! But, your penis wasn't pointed down, so you were peeing an arc over the toilet seat, onto your foot and the floor! I quickly pushed your penis down, and you stopped. I asked if you needed to go more, and then you did, for probably 5 seconds more. When you finished, we clapped, and you pumped your fists in the air and yelled, "I did it!" You were so proud of yourself, and Daddy and I are so proud of you too! I yelled for Daddy, and he came running with my old camera, and took a few pics of you with a big smile on your face. (He also took a pic of your yellow pee in the toilet- LOLLL, and gross!) Of course, I got all teary-eyed. I'm just so proud of you!

When we got to daycare this morning, you told your teachers that you'd peed in the potty chair, and they all cheered for you. So exciting!

Now, I'm sure you'll be fully potty trained tomorrow, right? :) Just kidding. I'm not that delusional- I know it's going to take a long time, but at least this is a step in the right direction!

Love you, my big boy!!!
Mommy

So smart!

Liam,
You are so smart! You blow me away everyday. You can sing your ABCs, and count to at least 15. And, due to watching so much Dora, you can count to 5 in Spanish. You are amazing! You use words that surprise me every day- like detour, deer crossing (when you see a sign), and many others.

You also amaze me with your sports skills- you love to play T-ball and basketball and soccer. Your aim is well beyond your years. Hopefully you'll get to play T-ball next summer. :)

In less than two weeks, we'll be making our big trip to Wisconsin for Uncle Brian's wedding. Afterwards, we'll be going to Grandma and Grandpa's house for a few days. I think you're going to have lots of fun! It will be a really long drive, but I think you're going to be okay. You have a new portable DVD player with some new DVDs, and I've bought you a special surprise for the trip- some fun art supplies! I think you're going to be the life of the party at the wedding reception. Hopefully you'll be a really good boy at the wedding reception... I'm not sure how it will work, since you probably won't get a nap. Hmmm... We'll see!

Love,
Mommy

Poor Li Li Boy

Liam, Lately, you haven't been very happy when I drop you off at daycare each morning. You've been there since you were 13 weeks old, and you've been in your current classroom since Christmas... so there isn't really anything "new" right now. But, suddenly, you've been having a really hard time when I leave each morning. Many tears have been shed, both by you AND me, because I absolutely HATE having to walk away from you when you're bawling. :( This morning, I put you down, and you came running after me, yelling, "I hold you, Mommy!" Ugh! Breaks my heart! I picked you up for a bit (since that's what you're really asking for), but sooner or later, I had to have one of your teachers come pull you off of me. I hate walking towards the door, hearing you cry behind me. It doesn't help that I think you think Daddy's just staying home to have fun without us every morning. Daddy gets ready for work after you and I leave, and I don't think that you understand that. Poor Li Li Boy. I think you're just learning to express yourself so much more, and by connecting words to your emotions, your emotions are that much stronger. Plus, you're a toddler... it's all about being emotional! I love you, sweet Li Li Boy, and I wish I could stay home with you each day. You're my favorite. :) Love, Mommy

My big boy

Liam,
You are such a big boy now. The only time I even see any glimpses of my baby is before bedtime. Lately, you want me to rock and sing to you before bed. I love this time with you! You're so big- when I hold you to rock, you stretch practically from my shoulder to my knees! You talk constantly, and I understand almost all that you say. Rather than just saying "what's that?" you'll now say "what's that noise?". A few days ago, you said that my Luther sweatshirt had a scary face on it, and you asked me to change into a "different sweatshirt please." So cute!

You've been so sick this winter, and I'm sick of you being sick! You poor thing! You've had a gross runny nose pretty much all winter. I really hope it stops soon, as the weather gets warmer. You also have some sort of yeast problem right now in the groin area. This last weekend, Daddy had to take you to the doctor (while I was out of town, visiting Auntie Cari). I'm sure this will be embarassing to read later... but you basically had an erection almost nonstop for a few days! Daddy didn't know what to do! The doctor wasn't concerned with the erection, but he did prescribe a cream for the yeast, and everything is definitely looking better now. Also, over the weekend you wiped out on the basketball court, and scraped your nose and lip. Poor guy!

Last week, I bought tickets for us all to go see Thomas Live at the auditorium. It's coming up in a few weeks. I have a feeling you're going to FREAK OUT! I just can't wait!

Love you, my sweet boy,
Mommy

My sweet Li Li Boy

Liam,
I've been so busy with work stuff, that I haven't had time to make a new post in awhile. You are talking more and more every day. You are still loving Barney, and demand to watch either "Barney Zoo" or "Barney Animals" every single day. You've been eating much better the last few weeks. There have been meals when you've eaten two hot dogs, or two waffles, or finished your meal and then asked for a bowl of cereal. This is awesome!

You love books. We bought some new books at your daycare book sale this week. You love Clifford, and Thomas, and the ABC animal book. However, you're thinking some animals are "scary" now. It makes me so sad to hear you say this. I didn't think you'd understand "scary" for a few years yet. The face you make when you say something is scary just breaks my heart.

I recently got a new camera. I love taking pictures of you. This camera is much faster, so you won't be a blur all the time!

I love you, sweet boy. You're my favorite.

Love,
Mommy

You're 2!!!!

Liam,
I can hardly believe you're 2 years old! How is this possible?! These two years have been the greatest. I can't imagine my life without you in it, sweet boy.

We had a big birthday party for you. I think I counted 21 people in our tiny little house! Only 3 other kids were there... but that's okay! You guys had fun playing at your new train table. You got a ridiculous number of presents. I think I may put some of them away for awhile, and reintroduce them a few months from now. The party had an Elmo theme. Elmo cake, plates, cups, napkins, banner, balloons. You loved it.

You're having a word explosion right now! A few weeks ago, you wouldn't count past 3. At daycare yesterday, they told me you counted to 15 all by yourself! Where did that come from?! You're also starting to sing your ABCs by yourself. You amaze me, Liam!

I recently bought you a book called "On the Night You Were Born" by Nancy Tillman. It's an amazing book. I cried while reading it to you on your birthday, before bed. Some of the words are just so powerful. Like it says, "you are the one and only ever YOU." No one else will ever be like you, Liam. As the Storypeople print in your room says, "The first time his laughter unfurled its wings on the wind, we knew the world would never be the same." I love you, and my world will never be the same.

Love,
Mommy