Happy Birthday Liam!

Yesterday Liam turned two years old. It is hard to believe that two years ago he was in the NICU at UMass Memorial Hospital, and I was finally getting a chance to hold him after more than 24 hours after he was born. As with his first birthday, I felt immensely blessed that Liam was able to survive that rough entry with no lingering consequences. For a boy with such a tender heart, he has a tough spirit.

In this past year, he has continued to be a loving, energetic, inquisitive boy. Later this week we'll find out how much he has grown physically in the past 6 months. He definitely seems a lot taller and a little less plump. In the past few months, he has started to talk a lot more and has been using some verbs and putting 2-3 words together. In fact, I'm going to start his own glossary today. He seems to show some early signs of athleticism with quite a strong throwing arm and good jumping skills, but he is also very dextrous especially with a spoon (no surprise with his appetite), puzzles, and legos. Like Big Brother Evan, he loves fire trucks and trains. He also shows great fondness for Eric Carle books.

Despite a double ear infection, Liam managed to have a fun-filled birthday celebration weekend. Evan had been talking about having a surprise birthday party for Liam all week, and we found a way to work a surprise element into his birthday. Before Liam woke up on his birthday, we set up his big present, a pop-up barn in the family room, and put his other presents in the barn. Then, Evan hid in the barn and jumped out to wish Liam a happy birthday as he came in the room as captured in the blurry shot to the right. Of course, Evan "helped" Liam to open the presents inside the barn. After the presents, I made Liam a special birthday breakfast with his favorites--french toast, berries, and sausage. For a special treat for Liam and Mommy, Greg took the boys to an indoor play area and out to lunch.

On Sunday, we had Nana and Grampa, the g-unit, and Babci and Dziadek over for a birthday party. While the adults had pot roast, Liam enjoyed another one of his favorite meals--Cars mac n' cheese with mixed-up vegetables. He saved plenty of room for cake and ice cream. As with last year, he is a boy who eats more than just the frosting and ably used a fork and his #2 candle to eat his cake and ice cream. He won't have to wait too long for more cake, as the amazingly mobile Cousin Henry turns one in less than a month. As Evan loves to say, "Goodies!"