Update on Liam

What can I say about Liam? There are just so many things, but they tend to be small everyday things...things he says, the way he says them, the things he notices, some small interaction with his sister...it's hard to write about them because they are so numerous it's hard to remember them all, and just one of them doesn't seem all that amazing to write about if you don't know him well enough to know it's special...and most of you reading this (ha ha...if anyone reads this) don't see him day in and day out.
But I will do my best to share his awesomeness.



He is so great with his sister. A bit rambunctious at times, over-loving, but he is like that with all things. She sometimes gets annoyed at his excess attentions, especially in the hug department, but mostly she loves seeing him and being around him, and watching/hearing him. He loves showing her how to play with toys, handing toys to her, praising her for things that she does, getting her a burp cloth and wiping up her chin (yes, he will do this for her), retrieving her pacifier, and generally just hang around her. Occasionally he asks to put her on his lap, but since she is getting pretty big and sits upright now, those requests will probably stop.




I took him to Target to pick out a Christmas present for Maia, which he did happily. He immediately picked out a house that has lots of switches and buttons and such for her to learn from. On Christmas morning, that was the first present he grabbed, taking it over to her and helping her to open it and then show her how it worked. He didn't even care about his presents first. He was tickled about the idea of giving her a gift.


He still loves bad guys, and pirates even more. Anything having to do with Pirates of the Caribbean is awesome to him. He loves Davy Jones and Blackbeard the most, but Jack Sparrow and Blackbeard are a close second. He also loves the Kraken, and pretending to be the Kraken and attaching his many pirates ships. He loves talking about the ships, and has a personal favorite love for the Flying Dutchman. He got a Lego set of the Black Pearl and was thrilled to put it together with Daddy.




It's so hard to explain how he speaks. I mean, it's probably just the same as any other almost-5-year-old. But to me it's neat to hear him talk the way he does, expressing the ideas that he does, understanding the concepts that he does. His reasoning, his feelings, and his theories. He appreciates my knitting (just today he complimented me on the sweater I had knit for Maia, recognizing that she was wearing something knit by me...and he has also asked me to knit him a Mailbox Monster - more on that in a later post when I have pictures of the one I am currently knitting). I got a new ball winder and swift and he gladly helped me use it.


I was eating tacos at dinner, and upon taking a bite, the whole taco shell shattered and spilled everything onto my plate. I made a loud annoyed noise, and Liam asked me what was wrong. Upon explaining that my taco shell had broken up, he said "well, that's just what tacos DO!", as if it was a completely normal thing and I should KNOW that.
He has a fascination with drawing, as well, although sometimes his drawings feature things like tornados. Heh. Here is a drawing he did for me, with the Grinch in it (and then him modeling his Grinch shirt).



Okay, now I am blanking on details. I KNOW I have so much more to talk about. I just suddenly can't think. It IS late, and I spent today going through lots of pictures and posting two other blog posts, trying to remember what has been going on. I will definitely have to post more about Liam, as memory returns to me, and as he does stuff. For now, though, here are some more pictures of my wonderful son.

My little man

Just a few pictures of Liam, since I haven't been keeping up with things. He is awesome. A pain at times, but awesome. He is great with Maia, and loves to get her laughing. She loves him. And he's smart. And loves to drawn pictures apparently.

My little man, looking so snazzy. (Thanks to Thomas for allowing Liam to try on the hat)


Here is Liam trying on the headpiece of Maia's costume...which was HIS costume when he was a baby. A bit small for him now.


This is a family picture that Liam drew. From left to right: Liam, Maia (in her car seat), Mommy, Daddy.





Here are a bunch of sibling shots. God, I love them! My kids, that is...not the pictures...though those are nice too.

Halloween Parade and Halloween

A quick post with pictures from Liam's Halloween Parade at Daycare, as well as a few good shots of him in his costume.








And here's Jack Sparrow! Totally awesome costume, huh? We got a lot of "things" to hang on it, to look more like Jack Sparrow and not just some random pirate. He had belts and sashes and a compass and even a "chicken foot" that Matt made for him out of black wire/twisty-tie.

Our Family

While at Daycare, Liam drew a picture of our family. I didn't actually realize he could draw something that could be identified as a person. Probably because I have never asked him to draw stuff like that while at home. Shame on me. But after seeing this, I totally want to see him draw more pictures.


Anyway, this is a picture of the four of us. Can you guess which one I am?
(Hint, I am not either of the two little ones...Liam and Maia...nor the one that is supposed to be Matt on the far right...heh)

All Pirate, All the Time

Couldn't help sharing this picture of Liam...he totally loves pretending to be a pirate. And not just any pirate, but one of the big ones from "Pirates of the Caribbean"...any of the movies. Usually Davy Jones, but also Blackbeard or, as pictured here, Captain Jack Sparrow. Occassionaly Barbosa, but he specifies "Barbosa with the peg leg". He's got a thing for peg legs. Ha.

Pre-K

Another step was made in Liam's journey through life. Today he left his preschool class and moved to the classrom next door. Today he got new teachers. Today he starts a new chapter in his life. Today...he started Pre-K! A precursor to Kindergarten. And while I know it's not as big a milestone as Kindergarten, it's still a big step. He is one year away from "school age". My Liam...my little baby boy, not so little and babyish anymore. Not that has has been a baby for a while. But still...
The note in his cubby said to include a folder for homework. HOMEWORK. Wow. I know it won't be a huge deal, but it's still the beginnings of having work to do that he brings home. And he is to bring in a coloring book to keep him busy when he doesnt nap...which means that he is getting old enough that they don't enforce naps anymore.

Its crazy, I tell you, this growing up thing. Of course, how will I feel when he goes to Kindergarten next year. Eep.

Awesome Little Boy and Big Brother

I haven't posted about Liam in a while...just too much going on. And there are so many awesome little things going on with him...it's hard to put it all into one post. You kind of have to be around him. The things he says, the ideas he has, the conclusions he draws, the movies he acts out, the people he pretends to be, the awesome big brother that he is.

He loves being around his baby sister Maia, playing with her and taking care of her. He often wants to hug her, to kiss her, to show her toys and how to play with them, to talk to her. He seems to have gotten even more close to her these last few weeks, more loving. It's so wonderful to see. He likes taking pictures with her. Here are a few:






He LOVES pretending and imitating. He often pretends to be a pirate of one sort or another, usually from any of the Pirates of the Carribean movies. He has a few pirates costumes that he likes to make use of when he remembers he has them.


He also likes pretending he is an insect, USUALLY a spider. He was amused when I showed him the orb weavers out in the garden, and the spiders that make little tunnels in the bushes. This is him pretending he is an orb weaver spider with a tunnel, that just caught a fly.


Here, Liam is wearing his sunglasses Guy Fieri style. I had pointed this style out while watching "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives" on TV, and Liam found it amusing. He often puts on his sunglasses in the back and declares himself to be like Guy. Heh..


During a summer BBQ at my parents place, the weather turned wet and drippy. Liam and my Dad had been enjoying Liam's little pool, but the rain chased them out of the pool and under the umbrella to dry out...

...well, at least for a while. Then Liam totally got into splashing around on the patio, in the rain drops, getting completely soaked. I swear he was more wet in the rain than he was in the pool. He had so much fun jumping around, doing little dance moves, and going crazy.



And finally, a picture of Liam with his pirate Mickey, because Liam asked me to take one with it. heh.


Here are some random things about him I love:
- He loves being the bad guy from pretty much any movie. If a new movie is on, he quickly establishes who the bad guy is and pretends to be that person.
- He says "Willy Wonker" instead of Willy Wonka. heh.
- Everything can be a pirate ship or a spider web in our house (and outside it).
- He tries to tickle Maia by just barely touching her, as if he is afraid to hurt her.
- He loves Davy Jones and Blackbeard almost as much as Captain Jack Sparrow.
- He has a great giggle.
- He likes being helpful.
- He is good about cleaning up his toys, especially the ones in the living room, and he often does it without prompting.
- He pretends to be a "baby" something (spider, bird, seahorse, mouse, etc) and I am the "mommy" something.
- When he pretends that we are all pirates, Maia is never a pirate because "she is too nice".
- He has a desire to please us in a task. For example, when he eats all the food on his plate, he loves to show us.
- He also likes to "win" at eating...meaning he finishes eating first. (sometimes this comes in handy in getting to eat something)
- He has any number of swords and such that he shoves into the band of his pants, pretending they are in a scabbard. OR finding something that acts as a scabbard that he then shoves a "sword" into and puts all of THAT into his pants.
- He picks out his own clothes sometimes, and really likes picking out his own pajamas (although sometimes it means going through a new one every night)
- He puts his pajamas in the hamper without being told (though he tends to do this after one night of wearing them, so again, he goes through them quickly).
- He loves lighting touching Maia's fuzzy hair (it's just growing back in), and exclaiming about how soft it is.

I just realized that I could go on and on and would still forget a lot of stuff, and you still wouldn't get the complete idea of who he is, what he is like. God, I love him!