Liam's 1st Birthday

Note- I am hating blogger right now. I have worked on this post FOREVER! First it wouldn't let me upload pictures and now they aren't in the format I wanted them in. At least I'll have the memories...

I am typing this one month after the fact although it is dated at the beginning of January. And since this is also my Liam journal it is going to be really long.

We had two great birthday celebrations for the little guy. We were in Utah with my parents for his actual birthday. He decided to start the party early and when I say early I mean 5:45. His sleeping habits were pretty off while we were out of town and sleeping in the same room as us doesn't help. Matt and I were able to go to the Draper Temple with my Dad and Rob and Crystal to do my Grandma's temple work. It was an awesome experience! Liam was able to spend his birthday morning hanging out with Nana. The other exciting event, for us at least, was the snow that started falling. When we left the Temple it was really starting to come down! I love the snow and loved that it was snowing on Liam's birthday. We hung out around my parents place until Liam woke up from his afternoon nap and then headed up to Rob and Crystals for Liam's party. We made chicken pot pie, his favorite, and enjoyed the meal while my dad watched the snow accumulate on his car and worried about how we were going to get back to their place. After dinner we opened presents then Liam got to eat his own brownie. It was awesome. We had a great time and are always grateful to Rob and Crystal for letting us invade their home.

Pictures from Utah to come, blogger won't upload. boo..

We had party with Liam's favorite foods when we returned to Oregon. Our fabulous friends Tanya and Travis let us use their home for the party so we had a little extra space. It worked out perfectly and we are so lucky to have them as our friends. We had around 25 people their to watch Liam do his thing. He was loving the attention! I laugh just thinking about the grin he had on his face all day. We had croissants with chicken salad, chips, fruit, veggies, cheese, and cupcakes! Liam loved his cupcake! He didn't want to touch it at first so he just kept putting his face in it. After a few nose fulls of frosting he picked it up. If the video wasn't so long I would post it. Pictures will have to do. Happy 1st Birthday Liam! We love you!

I obviously couldn't just pick one. They were all too cute!

Happy Birthday Baby Boy!

I cried when I saw the date on my phone late last night...12/29/09. My baby turned 1 today and he isn't so much of a baby anymore. He is walking, "talking" and doesn't cuddle like he use to. Matt asked me if I was crying because I was sad or happy. I think it's a little of both. It's bittersweet. He can now walk and talk to me and he'll cuddle if he needs a cuddle. He still gets excited to see me and I hope that never changes. Although he won't remember the first year of his life- I will. I will remember how he needed me and how he came to me for comfort. He will always know that mom and dad = Love.

Happy Birthday Little Man! We Love You!

December to Remember

This past month has FLOWN by! Liam is going to be 1 in a week. Christmas is 3 days away and I am tired...

We celebrated Christmas with the Copes this past weekend. Liam had no idea what was going on but loved all of the attention, as usual. Uncle Matt and Aunt Brittany got him a radio flyer "bike". He loves it! He can flip the seat over and suddenly has a bucket for his toys or himself. He has really started taking a liking to walking. He doesn't take more than 4 or 5 steps at a time but he is always doing it, even without us bribing him to try. He has started to fold his arms at random times and loves to point at things. Specifically his dad and his toys. He loves to say Dada and we finally heard a Mama that I think was actually directed at me. He loves to climb on things and has figured out that if his toys are close enough to the couch he can use them to climb up there. He's pretty proud once he gets there too.

Hard to believe that it was just one year ago that I was wishing to see what he looked like. Now I get to see that cute face all day long! And it's amazing to think about how different he will be next Christmas.
We have been so blessed this past year! I am grateful to a wonderful husband and a beautiful baby boy who keep me counting my blessings and smiling everyday. I am grateful to know of Christ and the blessings we can receive through Him. I am grateful to know that though Him I can be with my family forever. I am grateful to know that He loves me. He wasn't just a baby born in a manger. He was and is our Savior and King. I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and remember to count your blessings.

Love,
Erin

Liam meets Santa

He loved him.

Liam's first Thanksgiving.

We had a fabulous Thanksgiving with Rachel, Nana and Papa Cope. Liam slept through Thanksgiving dinner which was nice for me and Matt, we actually got to enjoy a meal without interruptions. Dinner was amazing! Liam loved the stuffing! (as did I) Friday morning involved waking up early and finishing up the Christmas shopping. I love black Friday! So much excitement in the air.

Liam took his first 4 steps and didn't seem to care too much about it... 4 wobbly steps before falling into my arms. Love that little boy.

Winner

Hey All, a few weeks ago I posted a blog asking for help. Many of you came through and my buddy and his wife ended up winning the tickets to Hawaii!

Thanks for voting!

October? Where did you go?

How is it November 20th? My baby is going to be 1 next month! 1!!!!!

Life has been the norm lately. Busy. The Holidays are here and I don't feel prepared. Trying to figure out Christmas plans, Christmas gifts, and birthday plans. I need some ideas for Liam's first birthday. I know he doesn't care and won't remember his 1st birthday but I still want to do something fun for it. But how do you plan something that falls a few days after Christmas? I guess I need to figure it out. Because after he turns 1 he'll turn 2...3...4...

He loves playing in the fridge

October was an exciting month for Liam. All four of his top teeth arrived. He loves to bite his toys, his mom, and his blanket. You get the idea? He already has a tiny chip in one of them.

It. Is. Sharp. He loves to talk. He loves his Da-Da. He cried when Matt left the house the other night. It was so sweet/sad. He loves his blanket and his left thumb. They go hand in hand. If he sees his blanket his thumb goes directly to his mouth and he his head goes down. No matter if he is tired or not. If he isn't tired it will last a few seconds before he gets up and starts moving again. If he is tired he'll hold his blanket in the left hand as well. He looks like Linus from Charlie Brown. So cute.

He has learned how to climb onto one of the chairs in our living room. He thinks he is pretty cool. I was laying in front of the couch yesterday when I thought he was coming to cuddle with me. Nope. He stepped on my head and climbed up on the couch. Smart kid. He likes to walk with his "walker" and loves his elmo cell phone. He'll sit for 30 minutes "talking" on his phone. Pretty sure he is talking to his Da-Da. He still loves to eat, sleep and smile. We think he went through a growth spurt. Sleeping 13 hours at night and eating more than us at lunch. Some pants are now high waters. He had his first hair cut at the end of the month. More of a trim I guess because no one noticed it except us.

Found a bowl of Nolan's cereal while visiting Aunt Kate. He loved it!

Before 10/28/09

After

ummm.... I think that sums up the past few weeks of our lives. Liam. Liam. And more Liam.

Oh, and Matt's pretty ankle from Wednesday night basketball. Awesome

Happy Halloween

Halloween was a 3 day event for us this year. Liam had his first Halloween party with Trey and Lucy on Thursday. At one point I counted 20 kids. It was exhausting! Liam loved it and just stared at all the kids running around while trying not get get ran over. Although he wasn't sure of Tanya's costume... Love this tail

Friday we dressed up for the church party. I wrapped a box in Christmas paper and put a bow in my hair for the least expensive costume ever...a Christmas present. I had one mom tell me that she hoped her kids didn't figure out what I was. Guess she wasn't ready to think about Christmas. Liam enjoyed making a bag for trick or treating or maybe it was just so he could have an opportunity at trying to taste the markers...

Matt is telling me " I told you he would try to eat this"

Saturday we went trick or treating with the usual suspects . Liam seemed a little unsure but he was comfy and warm. We were loving the candy and compliments, " He is the cutest bear ever! Look at those eyes."

Excited for next year when he can knock all by himself!

10 months

I still find myself saying that I can't believe we have a baby. Now I realize that I need to update my thinking because we basically have a toddler or as Matt tells me "a big baby". The last few months have gone so quickly that I feel a bit overwhelmed. I want him to be my sweet, happy, and calm baby forever. When I snuggle with him before he takes his naps or before he goes to bed I am trying to breath him in just a little longer and hold him a LOT tighter. He has brought so much joy to our lives and we are so grateful that he is ours forever.

We love you Liam! Happy 10 months

Help a brotha out

I have a buddy that is trying to win a trip to Hawaii. He needs our help.

For those who aren’t familiar, there is a contest that KGW is putting on (a local news channel) My buddy submitted a video and has some competition. Winning video gets tickets to Hawaii so I want him to win. Please go to the link and vote 10 times (max per day) for today (10/28), tomorrow and Friday (the last day of competition) feel free to forward onto others who can vote. No registration is necessary, just hit save vote until it wont allow you do it anymore, each computer gets 10 votes per day.

http://kgw.upickem.net/engine/Details.aspx?p=V&c=10553&s=1860149&i=1&m=X#SD

thanks ya'll, I will make sure to let you know when he wins!

Happy Birthday Auntie Ems!

He's Electrifying!