NYE 2009

We spent NYE at home this year. We prepared a four course meal. Oma decided we needed a sherry course, wine course, and champagne course - making it a 7 course meal. :-) The food courses were: Caprese salad, lobster bisque, Spaetzle with Tabasco infused sweet and sour vegetables, and mousse au chocolat.

It was a fun night as we talked about 2009 and looked forward to 2010. Some milestones from 2009: Liam turned one, Lala finished her dissertation, and To and Lo ran a half-marathon. Some things to look forward to in 2010: Christmas in Germany, family reunion in Orlando, Liam growing and developing, and lots of other things we don't know yet!

Tobias trying to set gin on fire between courses

Playing with the bar stirrer between courses

Tobias and the mousse au chocolat

Tobias and the champagne explosion
(Notice Oma has her napkin up for protection!)

Papi did not get his napkin up in time!

Champagne everywhere!

I asked Tobias for a picture. Since I take most of the pics I am rarely in them.
So, we often don't have pics together at holidays. (Maybe there is a reason for that?!)

Happy New Year! (Do we look as tired as we feel?!)

Christmas catch up

We have had a wonderful week with family!! I will have to do our Christmas catch up postings a little at a time.

I'll start the catch up with a little about Liam. He is still working on his walking and he much prefers crawling. Oma and Opa have taken him for lots of walks.

Liam wearing Mom's hat - he got his own this week because it's been so cold

Coming back from a walk with Oma and Opa

Working on first steps

Jumping

Liam's Strumpfhose

Oma, Opa, and lots of new things

Liam is enjoying a visit with Oma and Opa. They are playing lots of new games with him and he is learning a lot!!

Oma taught Liam how to slide in a grocery bag

Liam used to be terrified of the vacuum cleaner.
Yesterday he began to overcome his fear.

And, a not so fun new thing - for the past day or so Liam as been a little off. He began running a fever this afternoon and was off schedule. As we always assume when this happens, we thought he may be entering another teething phase. Tonight he was so tired he couldn't stay awake, but he was very unsettled. Instead of falling asleep he kept scrunching his eyes shut. Then he began shivering. When I thought he was asleep I put him in his crib and he vomited for the first time. It's either teething or a virus, or both. Guess we are lucky it took 15 months for this to happen.

Onkel Dodi arrives tonight (although he is already 2 hours delayed) and the Boston Bunns arrive tomorrow. Roll on Christmas!!

15 months (a little late)

Liam had his 15 month check up Monday. His growth remains consistent with his previous growth (long and lean). His weight this time confirms what gave him his nickname 'Taz' - - he is very active!!

Length - 32" (73rd percentile)
Weight - 22.2 lbs (no change since 12 months - he burns everything!!!) - (20th percentile)
Head - 18" (50th percentile)

He now has 6 teeth, can stack things and he recognizes shapes when trying to get a round piece in a round hole, etc. He still prefers crawling to walking, but he can stand and cruises very well. When he's not teething he laughs and plays a lot and has started showing affection. All in all, a very sweet boy!!

15 months

Liam - Oma und Opa come tomorrow!!

Oma's coming. That means REALLY good eating. I'll have the duck to start.

In to EVERYTHING . . . still

Liam is at that wonderful age where he is really discovering things. As a result, he is in to everything. Below are some pictures from his play times lately.

Liam just discovered the air duct grill.

His new walker/truck. He loves to play behind the sofa and he was able to squeeze it through. What this picture did not capture was him standing on the seat, then the steering wheel, and jumping over the back of the sofa.

For the Germans, a bottle from Rheinhessen

Our cutie pie

Magnet locks are no obstacle for Liam. He wiggles the drawers so they open.

Building blocks

We have been working with Liam on stacking blocks. Today he finally got it and started stacking blocks all by himself.

Start 'em early

Nanna always believed in starting them young. Put that boy to work!! ;-)