The Joys of Teething

So when Bill left last Thursday, I was thinking about how quick the two weeks would pass by. He was gone from us for 6 months while he was at bootcamp, so I figured that 2 weeks was nothin'! But oh boy, these 2 weeks are a-creeping by!!

At the beginning of the week I started getting indications that Lim was teething (again! Really...it's never ending), but I couldn't find any signs of teeth. Yesterday I finally spotted the culprit....it's a darn molar coming in!! No wonder the poor guy has been acting cranky. We have still managed to get out there and do our normal activities, but as soon as we get home, the whining Liam emerges. And I am NOT used to the whining. My child is usually so even tempered and easy going. Who is this boy?? lol He has had a small fever on and off for the past two days, has been having crummy naps, and has been tossing and turning at night. So needless to say, he has a tired mommy who is desperately missing his daddy! lol The light at the end of the tunnel every day is bath time. Liam is, and has always been, a water baby, so the minute he hits the water, the crankiness is gone. I love bath time!!!!

On Monday this week we headed out bright and early to the Pembroke playgroup. It was super fun for the kiddies, and I really loved watching how well Liam is walking around on his own. In the last week he has really come into his own in the walking department. He still resorts to the crawling occasionally, but he was charming all the adults at playgroup with how cute his little steps are. He has lots of fun zipping around on all the different toys and climbing up the stairs to the slide. And he loved "driving" the boat :)

Liam and Addy playing in the ball pit. A bit of a traffic jam!

Liam is a multi-tasker! He carried this hula-hoop for a good 5 minutes :)

Just a cute picture!!

On Tuesday Pauline and I took part in our first step class. We left the kids in the daycare that was in the room right next door to the class, and apparently they did awesome! Liam crawled over to the play with the trucks, and then they had some water and snacks, and by then we were already done. Not one tear was shed :) Whew...now the class....I don't think I have worked out like that since highschool fitness class! lol My calf muscles are ridiculously sore today, like to the point where it is hard to walk up and down the stairs (which is a problem since I do this ALL day long!). But the soreness is at least an indication that I actually DO have some muslces still...they just need to be worked out more often. The class was all choreographed, so Pauline and I found ourselves quite "off" on a lot of the movements, but it was all women (of all ages) so there was no feelings of embarrassment or anything. I can't wait to go back :)

And today...was swimming day! It started snowing early early this morning (so I'm told), and by the time I peeked out my blinds at 8, it was a winter wonderland. I really think they should tell you before you move to Petawawa that it is actually the second North Pole. It does not stop snowing all winter long. I debated in my head for about a second as to whether or not I felt safe driving in the white stuff, but Liam loves swimming, and without an activity of some kind, my day with my teething lil man would have been SOOOOO long. So I warmed :up the van (thank God for automatic starters!), got Liam all buckled in, turned on some Baby Einstein for Liam to watch while I de-snowed the van...and we were off to pick up Pauline and Addy. The baby pool ended up being closed, so we had to take the kids into the "big" pool. There ended up being four of us moms there, so not busy at all....we had lots of fun teaching the kids to throw a ball to each other. And Liams little friend Gabriel was there (we haven't seen him in awhile since his Daddy just got back from Afghanistan and they were visiting family) so it was great to see him. We are going to his first birthday party this Friday :)

Since getting home from swimming it has just been about surviving until bedtime! lol Liam has a mini nap this afternoon, but woke up crying and wouldn't go back down. I gave him some Tempra again (I hate medicating...but he needed it), and we played for the afternoon. He has been super cuddly and whiney all day (love the cuddles, hate the whining), but I am very thankful that he went down to bed nice and easy tonight. Tomorrow we have no plans...maybe out into the snow to play? Chloe would probably appreciate some outdoor time.

Who wishes that spring would hurry it up a little?

Mommy agrees!!!

This and That

Some pictures of the last few days to start the blog off right :)

Gotta love the tongue..he must have been concentrating on calling someone important!

Liam fell and bumped his lip (lots of blood...scary mommy moment!) so he got to try a popsicle.

He may be cheeky sometimes...but he's cute doing it! lol

Uggh...it kills me that he is old enough to sit and hold his own bottle!

Eating mac and cheese for the first time. I debated...but I figured he should try it at least once!

Bill has been gone away on course for 4 days now (well...3 days, 13 hours, 12 minutes, 14 seconds...but who's counting? lol). I knew in advance of him leaving that I was in for a tough couple of weeks. My son is a MOVER!! As soon as he realized that those little hands and feet of his could take him places, he was off. He is not one of those children that will sit and read a book from front to back in one sitting. Most days I am lucky if I can get him to sit with me long enough to show him the brown bear and the green frog...someday we will make it all the way to the black sheep and the white dog I swear! So with Bill leaving, I was anticipating feeling a little extra tired at the end of the day. WHEW...obviously that was a mommy brain moment. By the time I get the lil man to bed, get Chloe taken care of, put away the days toys (which I have to do..it drives me crazy to wake up to a disaster zone in my living room), do the days dishes and do whatever other little random chores need doing (the poor fish gets fed like once every 2-3 days when I remember..he's a trooper), this Momma is ready for bed. But instead of bed, what have I done every night....watch Season 5 of Bones in bed on the laptop and read blogs. lol. Is is sad that I call that an awesome night? So I am feeling pretty tired at this point.

That being said, I have a pretty busy week planned for Liam and I. Tomorrow morning, bright and early, we are driving out to Pembroke with Pauline and Addy to do the playgroup thing. Liam loves it because he gets to walk around with all these cool walkers and tricylces to his hearts content. I am going to try to keep him from spotting the toy shopping cart this time though...last week we had a mini meltdown when I wouldn't let him barrel through the whole room full of kids with it. I like playgroup because it gets all of Liams energy out, and we have tonnes of fun seeing the toddlers interact. SO cute :)

On Tuesday Pauline and I have signed up for our first Step Class at the Rexplex on the base. They offer supervised play sessions in the morning for children, so we are able to drop Addy and Liam off and do our class down the hall. I am feeling a little apprehensive about leaving Liam with strangers, but at some point it has to be done, and at least I am just down the hall. With Addy there, he may not even clue into the fact that I have left (here's hoping! Though I sort of do want him to miss me...lol).

Wednesday always finds us at our usual spot..the base swimming pool. Last week Bills mom was able to join Liam and I at the pool, but Pauline and Addy were not due to a miscommunication between her and her husband regarding their carseat. He held it hostage for the day while he was at work. lol. So this week we will all have fun together. Liam has recently mastered that art of blowing bubbles. He has no fear whatsoever. He just plops his little face right into the water and says "ahhhhhhhh" at the same time. My little waterbaby.

For the rest of the week...who knows. Probably some shopping (I am determined that I can make cute hairbows just like the people on Etsy...and even though I don't yet have a girl baby..lol...I am making them anyways! Girl power!!), some walking outdoors in the snow and sunshine, some fingerpainting, some attempting to put laundry away (but finding something, anything else to do..ha)...who knows.

Ode to a Van

Obviously not going to miss the old van!

A little dark, but oh how love our new van!

Even Mr. Liam loves the new van :)

I am absolutely LOVING my mini-van these days, and in response to those out there who think that mini-vans are ugly and not for them, I say if you have children....give them a chance!! Seriously!!! I would not be able to do half of the things that I do without my van. I travel almost every day with our friend Pauline and her daughter Addy. We are able to get the two carseats in there nice and safe, plus a jogging stroller, a regular large stroller, and everything else we need. At christmas we were able to carry ALL of our luggage and gifts home from Ottawa in one trip. Priceless!! Best decision ever!! And in honour of my new Dodge Grand Caravan, I have written this (HAHA!):

Oh, Dodge Caravan, how I love you!

You make things seem easy when our life feels like a zoo.

We can start your engine from our front hall,

And then jump in to have wonderful warmth for us all.

We used to have to struggle with our old, sad blue van,

But if anyone can make us forget it, you surely can!

I used to pray that there would be heat when we started,

Now I only have to worry about all the stuff I have carted!

I used to pray "do not slide!" when we would go out in the snow,

Now I just have to decide where to go :)

And in the old van it was hard to get the volume just right,

Now choosing tunes is as easy as flying a kite!

Though Liams carseat was safe in old Mrs. Blue,

I feel oh so much better when he is riding in you.

And before we did not have control of too much,

Now we can control everything with a touch.

And oh what to say about windows that don't have to be cranked?

Thank you, thank you, thank you....did I say you were thanked?

We love, we love you, oh our new red Dodge Caravan,

If anyone can make someone love minivans, oh YOU CAN!! :)

HAHAHA...hope you enjoyed my little rhyme! Can you tell I love my mini-van?? That's right...I said...I LOVE MY MINIVAN!!! :) And damn proud of it!

Warning: Extreme Mommy moment ahead....

Liam and Mommy when he was 7 weeks old

Liam now.. What a change!

I spent the whole day today with my little man, and I couldn't be happier :) Looking at him tonight while he was doing the "I'm so independant" thing, my heart just felt like it couldn't stretch anymore. I sometimes can't believe how much I love this little guy! Making him smile and laugh as much as possible is my mission everyday, and watching him learn new things just brings so much joy into my life. I am SO thankful that I get to be his mommy, and I cannot WAIT to see what the future brings. He is just so amazing to me. And I just hope that I can teach him what a wonderful world he has entered, and show him how fantastic life can be. Ok, ok..lol...enough cheese for tonight? lol I just wanted to say that I LOVE HIM!! :)

Momma Likee!! :)

Just a little something to get us started....haha

Today was one of those days where you feel busy all day long, but then your husband gets home and asks what you did all day, and as you are trying to think of all the things that you actually did, only a few come to mind. Then you find yourself wondering how the heck you felt so busy! lol Liam was up in the middle of the night, but I am trying not to pick him up anymore if I can help it, so I just soothed him back to sleep as best as I could. Then he was up at like 6:30. Thankfully Bill wasn't working until 9, so he got up with monkey so he could spend some time with him, and I got to rest a little bit more. I like to listen to them playing and talking in the mornings...soul food :) Once I got up and gave Liam breakfast, he was already ready for a nap, so I read for a little while and got a little more sleep (lol..it's a tough life I know!).

Enjoying his morning bottle. All of a sudden he has to do things on his own...:)

After our nap, Liam and I played in the living room for awhile. Read some books and just had some fun. Today he has mastered the signs for "more", "please", and "thankyou" (though I am not sure if he is saying thankyou or blowing kisses...either way, it works for me). Such a smartie! Then I was brave and took him and Chloe out for another walk. It was much smoother today though because I knew what I had to get ready, and in what order, and I went around a different route which included a downhill portion (ahhhh...sooo nice) and had plowed sidewalks most of the way. I was still exhausted and sweaty by the time I got home though. After lunch we headed on over to our friends Pauline and Addy's house to take some one year pics of Liam. He did NOT want to sit still at all, so we only managed to get a few good shots. Then Addy woke up from her nap and it was all over. But it was so much fun sitting and watching the lil ones interact. I swear, one year olds are the cutest beings ever!!! They are learning so much everyday, and everything is still so shiny and exciting to them. If only we could all harnass some of that enthusiasm for life, we would be set :) We stayed for supper with the girls, and then headed home (by then lil mans eyes were starting to close on their own).

Liam attempting to share the chair with Addy..

It wasn't working out too well for him (gotta love the buddha belly though right?) lol

Taking some time for a snack. He looks like such a big boy here to me.


I came home to the best surprise...a package in the mail. And I knew exactly what it was. And I couldn't wait to open it :) It was five pairs of brand-new, super cute baby legs!!!!!

Mommy Likee!!!!

Liam has been wearing the same pair of these things since I bought them months and months ago. We love them on him when we are staying around the house, so that his little knees are protected. And now we have lots to choose from. Gotta love the small things :)

Tomorrow....SWIMMING :) Can't wait!

Welcome to Snowy Petawawa!

Whew...so the Adam's family has officially survived the holiday season. The decorations are all taken down now, and there is a sense of renewal in the air. As much as I hate to see Christmas pass, I always love getting my home back to normal. Yesterday was Bill's last day off before heading back to work, and we managed to spend some time in the basement organizing all of our boxes down there. We have three bookshelves full of cookbooks, textbooks, novels, reference books, travel books, photo albums, etc. down there...and I even finally managed to organize them. AHHH!! Pleasure pleasure pleasure. lol. I love walking down there now! Today was a super busy day. I was nervous about Bill heading back to work, just because I would have to fill mine and Liams days, but turns out it is easier than I thought. Pauline and I took the kids to playgroup for 9:30 this morning (after stopping for some much needed coffee on both our parts! lol), and I spent the next hour chasing after a crazy busy lil boy. He is totally coming into his own now...he is quick, and before he has even stopped to play with one thing, he is onto the next. Walkers are still his favorite, or anything else that he can push...so we spent a lot of time walking back and forth across the gym. At one point in the morning I looked longingly at Pauline who was sitting quietly while Addy played in the ball pitt...and stated there for 20 minutes. Boy was I ready to go at the end of the hour. But Liam had fun and I guess that's all the matters right?

After we got back, I put Liam down for a nap, caught up with Amber on the phone, and caught a half hour rest myself. Then we had lunch, and I decided that since it was so pretty out, I would take Liam for a ride in the sled he got for Christmas. So I got him all suited up (still haven't figured out how the heck to get snowboots on a one year old...but we made do), got myself somewhat suited up, got the sled outside and Liam put in it (I used a scarf as a makeshift seatbelt..lol), got Chloe's collar and leash on, took some pics of Liam because he was SO dang cute...locked the door....and then we were off. Lol...just writing all that made me tired!! We only walked around the small block, but it was more than enough believe me. Trying to keep Chloe in line (she didn't get a walk yesterday because it was insanely cold and windy here, thus she was CRAZY!), and pull Liam was tough. And then no one had plowed one of the main sidewalks, so we had to walk on the side of the road..which made me a little nervous. But Liam had SO much fun!! I kept looking back to watch his expressions and it made it all worth it. I jogged for a little ways and he thought that was great. The one thing I can say for Petawawa is that there is no lack of snow here! I think Liam is going to grow up loving the winter :)

Tomorrow Pauline and I are going to try to take some one year photos of Lil man. Who knows how they will turn out, but at least it will be something to do, and I know they'll be cute no matter what. Wednesday is swimming day, Thursday is a free day, and then I think on Friday Pauline and I are going to take the kiddies to Ottawa for the day. My son is in serious need of a hair trim!!

Well...that's about it for now...I hope that everyone reading this had a great holiday and we wish you all the best this year!!

Liam is ONE

All is quiet in the Adams household...except for the sounds of my puppy Chloe snoring in the chair beside me, Liam snoring through the baby monitor, and our friends son Reese snoring on the couch behind me. lol. Bill has left me for a night out with his buddies (including Reese's mom Avery, thus why her son is on my couch), so I am holding down the fort. I gotta say..I'm loving the solitude! As much as I adore my family, it's nice to just get to do what I want once in awhile. That being said, I did just finally manage to sneek out of Liams room. He had this toy in his crib that plays music and animal noises when you press it. I thought it was off. It wasn't. As soon as I heard the music start to play through the monitor..I knew it was already too late for me. Liam has been on this attachment kick lately. Which I love. I mean, I'm his mom, of course I want him to always want me. But it's hard when it's the middle of the night, and Bill has to get up at 5 so I can't wake him up to help me out, and Liam will NOT let me put him down without a fight. Gah. Tangent.

Christmas is now right around the corner, and I think I finally have a handle on things. I decided that today was my official last day of baking christmas cookies (the freezer is getting a little full...lol), so I made up a plate and had Bill bring it on over to our neighbors before they headed out to Montreal for the holidays. Nothing like Christmas cookies to bring a little cheer right? And I'm cheesey like that...if I could, I would send you all some cookies :) The gifts are pretty much all wrapped up by now (just a few stragglers), the christmas cards are finally sent, stocking stuffers purchased...not much else to do but wait for Santa to arrive. Bill and I have decided to exchange our gifts for each other tomorrow sometime. His holidays have officially begun now, and he has wanted me to open the gifts from him since last week now, so I caved and agreed on Saturday. It saves us from having to pack them in the van and transport them to Ottawa with us, and sort of lets us have our own little family christmas. Liams presents will be coming with us for the most part (maybe we'll let him have a few just because Mommy and Daddy get to open some), to add to the ones that "santa" brings him :)

Liam opening his first under the "bed/crib" present (a Vieau family tradition)

Liam at Pizza Hut on his birthday (he wasn't too keen on the hat..don't blame him..lol)

Liams first birthday cake....or 1st Birthday cake!! Thanks to my talented mom :)

My little man is not so little anymore...he is now a ONE YEAR OLD!! I can't even believe it still!! I feel like this past week has brought so many changes in his little personality. He is getting better and better at standing on his own now, he can play independently for quite awhile (while I try to watch him out of the corner of my eye because he is so dang cute talking to his little people and humming along to his musical instruments, but if he sees me watching he does this big smile and b-lines it over to me for a mommy snuggle). Sometimes a kids tv show we have on for backround noise will catch his eye, and he is just amazed! It's priceless. And the temper. Oh the temper. haha. If my little monkey does not want something, boy he is not ashamed to let us know. The mouth opens up wide, and he does this high pitched yell...sometimes he even falls on the ground. I try very hard not to laugh sometimes I have to admit...while I'm doing the proper mommy thing like telling him that I understand he is frustrated, and trying to solve his problem with him. He is growing a mile a minute (at his last doctors appointment he weighed 21 pounds!) and has 6 teeth now (4 on the top, 2 on the bottom). He loves his morning bottle while we watch Caillou together. He plays with my right hand while he drinks his bottle, and when he has had enough, he twists so that he can smile up at me. Have I said priceless yet?

So we are off to Ottawa on Tuesday to do some last minute shopping (Petawawa does NOT have some of the things we want to buy as gifts), and to go out for supper and a movie with our good friends Dave and Nichole. My mom and dad are going to be on Liam and Chloe duty (I don't think they mind). It will be nice to get some alone time with Bill, and to do some adult things like go to a resteraunt without soother, diapers, bottles, books, wipes, change of clothes, food, spoons, etc. in tow. And to maybe not have to change a diaper in between appetizers and main courses. lol. If I don't manage to get in another post before Christmas, I wish you all the very best that the season has to offer. Christmas always makes me feel warm and cozy inside..like all is right with the world...may that feeling be passed on to you :)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

P.S. Forgot to mentions: Liam went to see Santa for the first time last weekend, and had NO problem with the jolly ol' man! :) AND....I will officially be an aunty to a little BOY named Blake come May. Congrats to my brother Matt and sis-in-law Kathy :) Can't wait to meet him!! I will also have another little niece/nephew in May (Bill's sister is also pregnant)..but the sex is still to be determined :)