Snow day (number 2)

Here are some pictures from our snow today. Thankfully, we have beautiful sunshine today and it is lovely outside. We anticipate another freeze tonight so we'll see how tomorrow shapes up.

Yesterday we couldn't go outside because we had snow and sleet all day. Today Liam got to go outside for the first time. He was very happy to finally get to see the snow. (This picture was taken right after Liam went in the stroller. That is the ONLY reason both mittens are still on!)

Trying to figure out snow

We took a break from our walk at Nanna and Poppa's. Liam got to ride his favorite horse.

Liam Appleseed (and other things) Part II

Liam continues to enjoy eating apples again. Here is another picture of Liam Appleseed. Here is a cute picture of Liam that Oma and Opa sent from Christmas. Aunt Ginger and Uncle Robbie gave Liam a Leapfrog magnet alphabet set for Christmas. He loves playing with it. He has finally figured out how to change the letters and we find him there all the time playing with magnets - either with the machine or just trying to place them higher and higher. This morning I wanted to get a picture of him playing with it for Rob and Ginger, but he started smiling for the camera as soon as he saw it.

He also made a run for the step stool. I am posting this picture because it shows he has hair long enough to stand up!!(Look in the back.)

'Bias hat Geburtstag

We celebrated Tobias' birthday by going to VA Beach. We enjoyed a wonderful over night trip right before the weather changed and we got more snow than we have had in 5 years. (Thanks, again, to Nanna for the overnight babysitting!!)

Evening view from our room

Morning view

And less than 24 hours later - things looked like this. We got about 8 inches of snow (as best we can tell). This was about half of it. I will try to get more pictures today now that the sun is out, but 'Bias isn't feeling well so I may not get away to take pictures.

Liam Appleseed (and other things)

Liam is in another one of those phases where he is changing quickly. He stands and walks with more confidence now. He is starting to really try and talk. So far he is saying 'muh' for 'mehr' and 'more' and he is trying to count, mimicking our intonation when he stacks blocks. 'One, two, threeee' sounds like 'uh, whooo, heeeee.'

Happily, he also seems to be able to eat apples without his cheeks breaking out!! He has been very happy to get apples the last 3 days.

Liam Appleseed

(Johhny Appleseed is a legendary American character who is responsible for planting all the apple trees in the United States. He always wears a sauce pot for a hat. Liam Appleseed couldn't quite figure out what we were doing to him.)

He just wanted to play with the pot!

Liam's new found standing ability has made play time intresting.
We found this Sunday morning.

And finally, what do Liam and Bubbles Devere have in common?

They believe in champagne for everyone, dahling!! Ahhhhhh!!!

16 months (and one week)

Liam turned 16 months old a week ago. (Mom is really staying on top of the blog postings, huh?) We had planned to celebrate by finally getting him his Varicella vaccine. For the second time, though, I forgot the Health Dept is closed Wednesday from 8-12 so our being there at 815 was not really helpful. Since Liam ended up getting sick last week I decided to wait on the shot until we knew he was well. We'll try again later.

Liam is now standing with good balance and taking 2-6 steps at t time. He still prefers to crawl but he is now trying to stand and can do so steadily.

We have another tooth coming in which means we will be up to 7 very soon.

Last week Liam also had his first GI 'bug'. Since we all like to share we all got it in turn. Considering he made it to 16 months before getting one, we consider ourselves lucky; but that is not something we look forward to repeating any time soon.

Here are some pictures of Liam at 16 months:

New uses for his old infant tub

The face we get to see every morning (between 515-545)

This hat is from Win, Wes, and Charlie.
It cracks me up! (Look, Oma, my ears are covered
and it clasps under my chin! I knew you would be happy!!)

We hear the Glockenspiel all the time now.
Liam has discovered that he can hit it with anything
and get sound. This includes: blocks, other toys, and books.
He also figured out how to pull the individual 'keys' off.

Fun with Oma

Here is a video clip of Liam playing with Oma and packaging from our annual pilgrimage to IKEA. This kept Liam occupied while everyone was putting the furniture together.

Lobsta night

I am still very late in getting Christmas posts up. Life has been very hectic lately . . . most recently complicated by a stomach bug working its way through our house. Liam got it first. We got to witness vomitting like something out of The Exorcit. Thankfully, he only did that once. But we then learned what a horror show it is for a toddler to have diarrhea. Liam seems to be over the worst . . . just in time for GG, Poppa, Raymond, and me to get another stomach bug. I have been in bed all day and am not sure that I will be able to get out for tomorrow.

I figured I would try to get at least one post up while I have some energy. These pictures are from lobsta night over Christmas (thanks again, Mami and Papi!!). We ordered five 2-3 pound lobsters only to find out the weather in the Northeast had delayed delivery from Maine, and we couldn't get the lobsters before Christof had to fly back to Konstanz. So we picked from the tank and got two 7-9 pound lobsters instead. We were a little concerned that the meat might be tough, but it was not. What was tough was cracking the claws (which took real hammers) and getting the thick meat cooked all the way through. We had a yummy dinner and enough meat from the legs and body for some lobster bisque on New Year's Eve.

Christof and Tobias hard at work

Tobias, literally, shaking hands with the lobster
(Keep in mind this is HALF of the claw!!)

Mmmm mmm mmm and AHHHH!

First "mmm mmm mmm' - When Oma and Opa were here in September, Oma started a game with Liam where she would squeeze his nose and he would exhale and make a 'mmm mmm mmm' sound through his nose. Over Christmas he figured out that he could grab noses too. No one was safe . . .

Mmm, mmm,mmm, Onkel Dod!

Oma's turn . . . after all . . . she started it!

Reaching for Mami's nose

Liam also heard someone make the 'ahhhh' sound after drinking some water. He now does that every time he drinks something, or when he sees someone take a drink out.

Liam's drinking buddy - AHHHHHHH

Ahhhhhh!!!!!

The beginning of our penance

We have enjoyed wonderful food and drink over the holidays and now it is time to do some penance. We headed out to walk the Noland Trail as a little extra exercise for what we enjoyed last night.

Heading out

When children become the parents - Tobias telling Mami to
close the door because the heat was running. (She didn't listen, thus his expression.)

Laughing when Mami closed the door

Christmas catch up III - Christmas Eve at home

Christof and 'Bias decorated the tree in the afternoon

(How many times do you think Liam has heard 'no touch!')

After Lessons and Carols at Trinity, we came home to celebrate a German Heilig Abend.

Dodi pours the Dissertation Dom!!

Our table: Dissertation Dom, quasi-German sugar cookies, and the baby monitor :-)

Then time for presents!!

'Bias and his goodies

Chritof and his 'boy toy'

Christmas catch up II - Christmas Eve @ GG's house

Some pictures from Christmas Eve at GG's house

At GG's house

The Boston Bunns
(That's funny. I thought Raymond always wore a white shirt. *snicker*)

Liam's piano concert

Rob and Winston

Jumping with Opa

Liam and his place card at GG's

Rob and Wes, Charlie and Winston at the triplet's table