way overdue

I have lots to blog about and now the thought of updating is overwhelming me. I am going to take baby steps to get back into the blogging world. I just hope I don't miss something that I would have really liked to remember. We have been really busy the past couple of months. Not always sure what we are busy with but trust me...we are busy. My mom is here from SLC right now and it has been wonderful having her around. Liam adores her and is seeming like he prefers her over me. Today is Matt's birthday and we were able to go the the beach for the past couple of days with Travis and Tanya. We left the kiddos with parents and headed west. It was so great to get away! Thanks to March Madness, Tanya and I were able to shop while the boys were watching games. It was fun. But so nice to come back to a smiling little boy who was happy to have us home. (Except for the whining that followed anytime we left the room)

Liam loves to talk to us and ramble off his own form of language. He started telling us no a couple of weeks ago which is actually pretty funny. Especially when he uses it correctly. He is extremely stubborn and still loves to play outside and go for walks. He can tell when I am getting ready to go somewhere and will grab his shoes, jacket and sometimes even my purse and bring it to me. I must have a routine with getting ready because sometimes I don't even tell him we are going anywhere. But if we do tell him he is the first with his shoes and sweatshirt and is at the door waiting. He is an amazing little guy and can brighten any one's day. I love my boys!

Happy 28th Matt!

This is what happens...

when friends come over... Liam LOVES his friends Trey and Lucy and they love him too.

2/5/2010

Tunnel of fun

1/15/2010

We want summer...

We had a few days of sun the past couple of weeks and Liam loved exploring our neighborhood. We went to the park and he stood still for at least 5 minutes watching the kids run around. He also took me on a walk the other day. We were all over the neighborhood and he LOVED it. Things have changed a lot since last summer and things are going to be a lot different by the time summer gets here. With that said he has been REALLY wanting to go outside lately. He goes to the window or door FREQUENTLY telling me that he wants to go outside. His word for just about everything right now is "Ish!" (while pointing at the object) When I tell him we are going to go, he walks to the door, waits for me, walks into the garage and goes straight to his stroller. The kid is ready for the great outdoors. But since we are stuck in the great indoors I am trying to think of things to keep him entertained. He loves to go through his designated kitchen drawers and pantry shelves and while in the pantry he found a bag of macaroni noodles.

"Ish! Ish!"

I then had a flash back of my old job surrounded by fifteen 12-24 month olds. We played with cooked noodles frequently. So we cooked up those noodles and went for it. This was the result. He loved it. He liked throwing them better than eating them. I loved watching his eyes light up when he dug his hands into the noodles. Inexpensive activity for a rainy day. Happy child. Success.

First real hair cut

1/10/2010

Liam was in need of a real hair cut badly! Luckily we have a fantastic family member with the talent to tackle not only the female family members hair but Liam's too. He was a little unsure but with a little whipped cream and a little bit of his Mommy we got the job done! Thanks Aunt Brittany!

Christmas 2009

12/25/09

12/24/09

We had the opportunity to spend Liam's first Christmas in Utah with my family. Liam had a great time with his cousins and while we were there he started walking! We had a great time playing cards with my family. No Sautter/Olson get together is complete without a hand of rook!

Love him!

1/12/10

More pictures and updates coming soon!

blah....

I have pictures... A lot of pictures... I also have no ENERGY and I am working on my second cold since Christmas. We have a 2 birthdays and 2 Christmas' and one adorable haircut and one ADORABLE walking little man who figured out how to walk in little circles tonight. It was awesome. He is amazing and growing up way too fast.



I'll have a real update soon. Once this cold goes away...

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.