most wonderful

It really is the most wonderful time of the year, isn't it?

I can't remember what's gone on since I last posted, it's so busy! We'd gone to the doctor, we'd tried cereal for the first time... Liam's world had changed since then!

We play all the time now. All. The. Time. We've constantly got to have something in our hands or at our feet to occupy this little boy or he gets bored. He has a basket of small toys that I keep on the coffee table, and we frequently let him get on the floor with all his stuff spread out and try to motivate him to move. Not so much. But it's fun anyway. He has developed a certain affinity for two of his toys...

Liam LOVES his Sophie the Giraffe and his Grinch stuffed animal. I mean, it's pretty serious. Sophie and Grinch go everywhere with us. We had to bring Grinch over to Grandma and Grandpa Clark's house with us this evening. Sophie is great, she's easy to stick in his mouth, easy to clean, easy to grip, easy to chew... easy, easy, easy. I love this toy (--- Mer, I got you one for Baby #2 since you mentioned wanting one... ---) and think everyone should get one. No, it's not a glorified dog toy (ahem, Zach).

{telling the grinch what's up.}

I just can't help but think it's so MY child to have my baby decide his favorite stuffed toy is something a little off beat. Rather, it's so OUR child. SO typical Zach and Stefanie.

I've been having a ton of fun getting things ready for Christmas. We're having my parents, my brother and Zach's parents over on Christmas day, so it'll be the first time we all spend Christmas together as a big family. I'm really looking forward to it. My mom and I have a *thing* about a fab breakfast on Christmas morning- so we're pulling out the old standards. Cream Cheese Scrambled Eggs, Monkey Bread... and we're going to throw in sausage (ugh), bacon (double UGH!), biscuits, gravy and grits for everyone. And maybe a Mimosa or something...

Liam has been such a helper wrapping gifts...

{watching me wrap his daddy's behemoth gift}

{a family tradition: watching national lampoon's christmas vacation-- liam's first time! the scene: "a little full... lots of sap."}

So I was a little discouraged by the first cereal feeding. I really did expect Liam to take to cereal like a fish to water, but he didn't. Well, I take that back. It only took two tries. He's hooked, so much so that he demands cereal. If I am not being fast enough getting the next helping on the spoon, he's sitting in his Bumbo, with his mouth hanging open, yelling at me. He'll eat it mixed with breast milk, mixed with formula, mixed with water... he doesn't care. We introduced him to bananas... yesterday I think. He IS my child- he doesn't like them. I cracked up at him and his faces. He doesn't like them even a little bit- he scrunches his face up when you mix even the littlest bit in with his cereal. My pickiness is coming back to haunt me (oh yes, I was picky! I- to this day- refuse to eat "squishy" french fries).

{feeding has gotten gross.}

{i got it on my head.}

Thursday last, Liam and I went to the Enchanted Gardens to buy a Christmas Tree- they delivered it that afternoon and we decorated it on Friday, while it was snowing. Picture. Perfect. -- and we know our tree looks sparse: we upgraded from a 5 foot tree to an almost 8 foot tree- it makes a big difference. But Zach likes it, he likes a tree very simple, so whatever!

Finally- the snow. Liam's first encounter. Now I'm bummed I didn't get him that adorable snowsuit I found this time last year. *sigh* Oh well- cute anyway!

{first time seeing snow}

{snowy, sweet home}

That's all for now- my mom and I are going Christmas shopping at the Galleria tomorrow, so I have got to get to bed! Liam's sleeping through the night now (thank you, rice cereal!) so I actually want to go to bed at night because I know I get a good night's sleep. Angel. Anyway- have a wonderful rest of the week!