9.5 Month Check In

Sorry for the delay... but between Mommy and Daddy's busy jobs and my new found adventures in trying to kill myself, we've been too tired to post.

I love this stage of life. I babble and giggle. I dance and clap. Seriously, I am SO entertaining that the only use for DVDs in this house is as chew toys. On our trip, I learned how to wave and woo the ladies -- the older ones with money!

When I am not busy dancing and playing my piano, I like to test my limits. This includes dive-bombs off the couch, pulling cords out of the socket, playing in the cats' water bowl, and trying to roll off the changing table. So far the only major damage that I have caused is breaking of 2 lamps in 2 weeks.

My stats:
20 pounds
28.75 inches
Not much hair

Likes:
Cheerios
Crawling
Kitties
The word "big rig"

Dislikes:
Naps
Pureed meat
Being spoon-fed
Drunk people on airplanes

Foiled again.

Mommy and Daddy took me on a trip to a place called Curacao. I'm not really sure exactly where that is, but I was on airplanes for a very long time. I'm not a real big fan of those noisy uncomfortable flying tubes, but I didn't get a vote.

This pretty but garish town is Willemstad, Curacao's capital. We spent one day of our trip wandering around this city. As you might imagine, I refused to sit properly in the lime-green mobile prison. I howled very loudly whenever they tried to strap me in, so they let me sit and face forward sometimes. I had a much nicer view from there.

Late in the afternoon, my parental captors were hungry and thirsty. Their needs were exacerbated by their efforts in keeping me captive, which made me happy. When small victories are all you've managed your whole life, you learn to celebrate whenever you get the opportunity.

While they ate, drank and indulged in insipid conversation, I was given a bottle to replenish fluids I'd lost from the heat. When finished, I quickly stole Daddy's beer, which made a loud popping sound that startled me when it was opened. While they were distracted by their laughter at the evident cuteness of a small baby holding a beer, I wanted to sample the beverage.

Yuck! It smelled awful.

The scent of this foul potion (along with some rocking) knocked me right out.

When I came to, we were far from Willemstad, and back in the temporary prison I endured while on the island. I was able to secure a document which I was certain would enable me to escape with the help of the long arm of the law on our ridiculously long trip back:


It didn't.

Didya miss me?

I hope so.

You might remember that way back when I was a little tyke that I embarked on a mobility and strength regimen? Well, that program might very well be the only thing in the country paying dividends.

I've been crawling for more than three months these days, and I'm fast and strong, if I say so myself. As I mentioned in my last post, I was working my upper body strength while avoiding my enslavers. Well, the last two months have seen many of my escape attempts foiled, but I continue to lull my captors into a false sense of security with smiles, giggles and cute noises. I'm crafty, you see.

Rather than spend time updating you on my progress, I was busy searching the various holding cells for items that might be useful. After seeing the end of Shawshank Redemption, I even tried to gnaw my way out of my prison crib using my new teeth, but my captors caught me and placed a gummy strip over the wood, erasing my progress and preventing further attempts using this effective, though slow, method.

Seven Month Check-in

Liam is one active kid. Since learning how to crawl just after his 6-month birthday, he has moved onto standing and scooting around couches, tables and other items that he can pull himself up on. Liam cut his first tooth and experienced his first ear infection in the same week.

Likes:
Bananas and Oatmeal
Playing on his baby grand piano
Putting power cords in his mouth
Standing up on his own (with assistance from inanimate object, of course)

Dislikes:
Antibiotics (creates the worst poops ever)
Hitting his head while falling down
Have a tooth cut through his gums
Winter

Escape Artist

Learning to crawl has given me an even greater ability -- escape artist extraordinaire. Now I can crawl out anything that I am not strapped into. Actually, I think I can get out straps too. I just haven't put enough effort into trying.

I was on my way to figuring out how to get out of my crib. But those damn parental units took away my greatest asset-- the bumper. I was devising a new plan that involved my friends in the sky. But then poof my mobile was gone.

So now my plan is to increase my upper body strength. I can already pull myself off the ground in my Pack n Play. Fortunately, this feat has not been recorded by video or still photography. Every time my enslavers go to get a recording device, I simply release back into a standing position.

Crawling and Gnawing

Over Christmas break, I learned how to crawl. It is quite fun getting from place to place on my own. At first, I typically used this skill to find new objects to put in my mouth... crib slats, power cords, Grandpa's feet, toys, etc.

Once I got some real speed, I used it to attack the kitties. So much fun! You wouldn't believe how slow these cats are. Easy targets.

I remember how delighted everyone was by my crawling at first. Now they just seem to be worried or annoyed... constantly calling out my name in this new exasperated way. Lee-um! Disgusting... I hate.

They also try to thwart me from my mission of finding things to put in my mouth by calling out my name in sing-song manner while waving their hands at me. I think this is truly hilarious. They must think I'm a dog or something.

4 Generations

Did you know that Liam was named after his great-grandfather Bill?
In fact, he is the fourth generation William on Doug's side of the family. While we were in Indiana, we captured this picture of all four Williams! They are known by Doug and I as: Grandpa Bill, Uncle Craig (he goes by his middle name), cousin Wil (oddly, he goes by his middle name too) and, of course, Liam.

Christmas Part 3

By my third Christmas, I was a little tuckered out. It didn't help that everyone had to open their presents one at a time. Despite a nap in the middle of the festivities, I was still able to see the last present be opened! I seriously doubt I missed much.

I shared this Christmas with Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Owen, Aunt Amy, Uncle Greg, Aunt Jill and my cousins Ashlyn and Gabby. Next year there will be cousin Molly!
I tried to offer Uncle Owen a course in Baby 101. But he didn't want to even try to change my diaper. This may have something to do with Mommy and Daddy constantly calling me Biohazard Baby!

Christmas Part 2

Despite a lack of a chimney, Santa found his way into my house! On Christmas morning, I woke up to find a whole bunch of presents under the tree. And if you want more proof, there's the fact that only crumbs were left on the plate I left out for Santa.

However, I have a strong feeling that Daddy ate some of them. He kept grumbling about Grammy's waistline busting ways! But I say, don't steal Santa's cookies if you are so worried about your figure.

I had loads of fun opening my gifts. And I quickly got to work playing with them. I also got some boring gifts like sippy cups, shoes and clothes. But come on, Christmas is about the toys!

Mommy and Daddy let me play all afternoon as they packed up for our trip to Indiana. The plane was so empty that I didn't even have to sit on anyone's lap. So I got to kick back and think about how much fun I was going to have with all my new toys.

Christmas Part 1

You might have heard of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" -- well I participated in 5 days of Christmas. Of course, in typical fashion, Mommy and Daddy only took pictures during 3 of the 5 days. Heck, I guess I should be happy they remembered the camera at all. You'd think of was the second kid or even farther down the totem pole by their nonchalance about capturing the most important moments of my life!

Anyway, the first Christmas of my first Christmas was at Grammy and PopPop's house on Christmas Eve. In addition to Grammy and PopPop, those who attended this historic event were Uncle Matt, Aunt Janice, Nana and my cousins Justin and Bryan.

The first present I opened was from my cousins. It was a baby grand piano. Totally awesome! I hope I inherited my musical abilities from someone other than my parents. They are both horrible. If I could speak, I would tell them to stop with the lullabies.