Weekend Recap!

We had another busy weekend, and it was (mostly) fun!

Friday Will had the day off work - did I mention with Will's new job he gets every other Friday off? To say we are enjoying having a three day weekend every other weekend would be a HUGE understatement! We had a picnic breakfast at the park, took the kids with us to our last design appointment to quickly sign some papers, and then we were off to my parent's house to prep for Liesl's one year photo shoot and spend the night. My friend from high school took our photos and she lives near my parents so it was more convenient to stay there the night before then get up super early to meet her.

I made this cake after watching a youtube video on how to make ruffles. I went the easy route with vertical ruffles instead of horizontal and they are WAY easier. It doesn't really look like my inspiration picture and it certainly isn't perfect, but I was pretty pleased with the end result! 

Saturday morning was picture day! WHY doesn't picture day ever go smoothly?! We actually had everything ready the night before, but BOTH kids woke up stuffy and cranky. Allergies or summer cold, who knows, but either way they were not in prime picture taking moods to say the least. Honestly, I'm really bummed about how they acted because I put a lot of effort into getting things ready, but I guess that's life. I do think Leslie got some good shots and she does beautiful work so I'm crossing my fingers she can work her magic and somehow turn my kid's frowns and tears into smiles, ha. I know there are MUCH bigger problems in the world so after being annoyed for awhile I got over myself and moved on! 

Here's one I snuck during the beginning of the shoot when both kids were still pretty happy. Hopefully she got just one good one of all of us! That's honestly my only wish, haha. 

We went home after pictures and after medicine and naps the kids were acting much better. Our friends were having a party down the street and Liam really wanted to see his buddies so we made a cameo but left way early. Both kids were passed out before 8pm. 

Sunday we stayed home from church and let the kids sleep in. We had an early lunch with Will's family because Will and I had a day date to the Rangers game! It was supposed to be in the 100's and the Rangers have been sucking this season so we weren't expecting a great game, but it ended up being cool and cloudy thanks to a random storm AND the Rangers WON! We had great seats to begin with thanks to my parents, but this really nice couple stopped us on the way to them and asked if we wanted their extra seats 5 rows up from home plate. Um, SURE! The husband had seatsfrom his company and didn't want them to go to waste so we made some new friends and had a great view for the big W. It was a fun afternoon with the hubs! 

Today has been full of laundry, packing, and coercing Liam to bed early since we have to be up at 5am to head to the airport. The kids are I are spending the next 8 days in Tahoe! I'm so excited! We're flying out with my mom and meeting my dad. I'm sad Will can't come with us this time, but it will be nice to escape the heat and spend some time at my parents' house in the mountains. I haven't been in...8 years??!

You can follow along on my IG account @Lynlofland or look for #LiamandLieslTakeTahoe :) 

ELEVEN Months!

Liesl Penelope, you are 11 months old!

I can't believe we are in the last month before you turn one. This has hands down been the fastest year ever.

You are still a teeny tiny little peanut and I just want to say THANK YOU because it makes me feel like you are still much younger than you really are. I think you are around 18lbs, wearing 6-12 month clothes, and size 3 diapers.

You might have a third tooth! Your fingers and all toys are permanently in your mouth these days, and I swear I felt the sharp tip of a tooth the other day, but I can't see anything yet. Basically still just two real teeth right now though.

Dare I say it again - sleep is great! 12-13 hours every night, usually 13. Naps are still iffy but you will usually go down for a little while while Liam is asleep, so I get maybe 15-20 minutes to myself during the day.

You eat three meals a day and nurse 4 times. We are starting weaning this month which is going okay - right now you have a bottle at night and your nursing sessions during the day are super quick so those we'll be the next to go. Morning time is going to be the hardest one for both of us to give up I think! I'm sad our breastfeeding journey is coming to an end,  but I can tell it's time for both of us. You really like avocado, cheese, and strawberries, and you really don't like scrambled eggs. You love to feed us bites of your food. I've also started giving you pouches and you are really good at them and enjoy them so I'm going to get you some more.

You have learned a lot this month! You are waving bye-bye, pulling yourself up and sitting yourself back down, dancing, cruising along furniture, saying bye-bye, speed crawling, initiating peek-a-boo, shaking your head no, and you have stood alone for a few seconds at a time! 

You have turned into a climber this month and love to climb into Liam's chairs, turn yourself around, and just lean back and chill. It's hilarious. You also try to climb on things that are too big you for and I have to come rescue you a lot. 

Your favorite toys are your baby dolls, lift the flap books or books that make noise, and all of Liam's cars and trucks. Poor thing really needs some girly toys, most of what you play with are Liam's hand me downs. 

You LOVE bath time and especially baths in the big tub with brother. You pretty much idolize your big brother and you love when he plays with you and loves on you. 

You are always talking! Like, always. You either babble or will yell and yell and the more we acknowledge it, the louder you become! You love to make people smile and will purposefully be silly if you see it makes others happy. 

{mid-yell!}

Your size makes you look like baby, but in reality you are quickly entering toddler-hood and it makes me so, so sad. It must be a second child thing, but you grew up way faster than I imagined you would and if you weren't such a dream and so fun to play with I would be crying about it everyday. Luckily I love watching you learn new things and you love to learn them! 

We love you, baby doll! 

Liam Says...

Liam is such a riot right now. Sometimes he says the craziest things that leave us laughing hysterically, and other times he says stuff that makes him sound SO much older then he is! 

Here are some of my favorites from over the summer...

Will got a sunburn on his ears and it started peeling. 

"Dad, I don't want your ears to peel off!" 

"I will turn into a froggy if I eat all of those!" (Cheetos) 

"The sun is too sunny!"

While flipping through a magazine, "I'm reading a blog post."

He was trying to build a tall tower with his cardboard blocks, but they weren't steady and kept falling over. After several attempts, he exclaimed, "That doesn't make any sense!"

"Uh oh, he's all alone. He needs a friend to play with!" I think he was referring to an inanimate object he found outside. He's always coming up with a good excuse to stay outside longer! 

"My (boy part) is a water gun!"

"That's so cool!" and "Awesome!" are two phrases he says that make him sound like a teenager! 

One day while we were playing in the playroom, Liam got up to go to the restroom. Before he left he turned to Liesl and said, "Baby Liesl, don't cry. I will be back in a minute." 

After Liam wet the bed for the first time and I asked him why his bed was wet. "That's not pee pee. That's water from my pool."

"Look! A dolphin, a dolphin! The clouds are making a dolphin!" 

When Liesl was finished nursing, "Are you all done, sweetie?"

Looking at himself in the mirror, "Mommy, am I so fancy?" 

"Cheeto bite" - what he calls mosquito bites

Our temporary house has Will's grandmothers old organ in it that no longer works. "That piano is broken. But this is a nice house!" 

"I don't like the clouds covering up the sun."

I'm sorry, honey." 

"It's not your fault. It's the cloud's fault!"

While we on a walk one evening and turning down different streets in the neighborhood Liam said,  "The moon keeps following me!" 

He watched 101 Dalmatians at my parent's house and loved it. When he talks about it or asks to watch it he calls the dogs,  "dalnamations" 

"If you get me too many balloons, I will float in the sky!" 

After spending the day with Will's mom, Will called Liam to tell him it was time to come home. 

"I don't want to come home!"

"We want to see you!"

"Fine. I'll be there in a little bit." 

Will said he sounded SO annoyed to be coming home, ha! 

Liam was banging on his cup outside loudly on the concrete.

"Are you playing the drums?"

"I'm making the baby go away."

Liam built a "bird house" in the middle of the driveway with a bunch of sticks and dirt and random stuff he could find. He was VERY proud and VERY protective of it.

"Mommy don't run over it. I will be really mad if you run over it"

Yesterday we were at the grocery store and I went to grab our usual brown eggs. Liam has never paid attention before, but got SO excited when we went over to them and started begging, "Mama, get the chocolate eggs!!!!" He couldn't believe that I actually did!

And my favorite of the summer so far was a conversation between Will and Liam. One of the tactics we tried during our #2 potty training was to give Liam one of his favorite cookies if he went. Clearly it didn't work...

"Daddy I got a cookie."

"Did you go poo poo!?

"No."

"Then why did you get one?"

"I got a cookie because you weren't there."

I love that little stinker! 

Weekend Recap!

-- Friday --

The kids and I had a great at-home day! Last week was on the busier side for us so we spent Friday playing in the playroom, going to the grocery store, and the kids took a good nap. Will gets home early on the Fridays he works too which is so nice. We went a joined the gym when he got home and then spent the evening just relaxing. 

Here's the link to Liesl's bow!

-- Saturday --

Saturday morning it was gym time for this lady! I haven't stepped foot in a gym since I became pregnant with Liesl. I was going pretty regularly when Liam was younger, but then I became so sick with Liesl that I stopped going and by the time I stopped feeling sick I lost all motivation. Now that we are closing in on our last month of nursing, it's time get my rear in gear and hopefully shed these last few lbs of baby weight. I took a spin class is just about died. It was SO hard. But I guess that means it's working. 

The rest of the day we hung out at home, ran some errands, and played with the kiddos. Both kids ended up boycotting their naps which was fun - not. But that just meant early bedtime for them!  

-- Sunday --

Sunday we headed to church and then to my parent's house for lunch. Now that Will is no longer working out by their house, we can't ride out with him and spend the day during the week like we used to. Now we are splitting our Sunday lunches between both of our families so the kids can get time with everyone. Plus my dad was usually working on the days we would come visit so now he's getting to spend more time with them! 

Because they live farther away and have a pool we ended up staying over there most of the day swimming. Even though Liam didn't learn how to officially swim this summer, he is much more brave in the water now! With his life jacket on he would jump in on his own and swim around without assistance. And occasionally he would go under when he jumped and he didn't freak out! 

------

This is looking like another busy week for us. We have the final design meeting for our house where we will sign all the papers and hopefully they will get started building soon. I'm ready to seem some work being done! 

We have a family photo shoot and Liesl's one year shoot this weekend. I'm SO excited to get her pictures taken even though I can't believe it's already time for her one years. I dropped the ball getting a cake ordered so I'm going to attempt something like this today and see how it goes. If she ends up with just a plain white cake in her pictures then you'll know :)

via 

Oh, and next Tuesday the kids and I are off the Tahoe with my parents! Will has to work so we will be leaving him behind. I've got A LOT of packing to do, some shopping to do, and I have to get all of Liam's school supplies and things ready because the morning after we get back is Meet the Teacher at his school. He starts preschool in three short weeks! 

August Week One! And then some...

Somehow an entire week passed! It's been a busy one and a quick one. While on one hand that means I missed a whole week of blogging, it also means it's now the weekend again!

Here's a LONG picture heavy recap of my birthday and our week. And some random stuff from the end of July thrown in because I just got around to downloading pictures off my camera... 

Last Friday we went to my friend Tracey's house for a playdate and birthday breakfast which turned into hanging there pretty much ALL day!  

Tracey had these waiting for me when we got there. I have the sweetest friends! And the kids didn't mind having a million donuts for breakfast either :) 

Our little rascals play so well together. And also get into trouble well together. 

When I finally drug the kids (and myself) away from all the fun we got home and found a surprise visitor! Will left work early and had just beat us home! And yes my gifts are wrapped in glitter paper. I love that man. 

Liam was a huge help when it came time for cupcakes and candles - look at those huge cheeks! 

Saturday we spent the day at my parent's house. They took us out to lunch at a delicious new Greek restaurant and then we had more cake and swam, swam, swam!

By Sunday I was cake'd out, so Will's mom made a delicious pie for me and cupcakes for Will's sister (we share a bday!). Liesl went to TOWN on a cupcake. Like shoving fistfuls of cake in her mouth. Her first birthday should be entertaining! 

Last week we woke up to rain and spent the whole morning playing outside in it. To say they loved it would be an understatement. 

Liam also drew his first "real" picture that morning! He usually just scribbles and tells me what it is, or he'll draw his version of something if I ask. But this morning he sat there drawing and then called me over to see Mickey! Do you see his face, eyes, and big ears? I was so proud of him! I had to take a picture because the rain washed it away soon after. 

We have been struggling getting Liam to use the restroom. He's fully potty trained for #1, but #2 has been a huge battle. He will either hold it until he's in a nighttime pull-up, or until he can't anymore and runs away to hide and has an accident. It is SO FRUSTRATING because he's gone before so I know he CAN, but it's like he's scared or something I don't know. I know it's normal but I'd like to conquer this before school starts. We've tried just about every method and offered him everything under the sun if he'll go, but he just didn't care. I finally found the one thing he will go for - water balloons! This was us picking up his reward one afternoon after a successful potty trip! He's had a few hits and misses since then but some is better than none! 

We had these waiting for Will when he got home that day. Liam and I attacked his car and then they attacked each other while I cooked dinner in peace. Win-win! 

Liesl's birthday is next month and the party planning has begun! You can see more party-prep in the background of my birthday pictures. We are having a First Fiesta for miss Liesl! 

One day while Liam was gone having his weekly day date with Will's mom I decided to take some pictures of Liesl. I'm trying to use the days Liam is gone to get more individual pictures of her with my good camera because there aren't many! It was her first bath in the tub alone! 

 She was beside herself to have the whole playroom to herself. She loves all of Liam's trucks and legos, but poor thing needs some girly toys. She only has one small basket that's "hers" but it's mostly infant toys that she is quickly outgrowing. 

She blows raspberries ALL DAY LONG! I love that face!

And last night I decided to take some bedtime pictures because I just love these little piggy pi's and wanted to get a picture of Liesl in them before she outgrows them. 

Liam decided he wanted his picture taken so he plopped down beside her. He did have a shirt on until he learned the hard way that he can't drink milk out of his cup lying down. Womp, womp.

Then somehow the evening turned into a monster yelling contest?? Liesl is really into copying and they went back and forth giggling in between forever! 

HAPPY FRIDAY! 

{Friday Five!}

FRIDAY's (mostly) FESTIVE FIVE!

1. 

Today is my birthday! 

I'm 28. I think I've actually already thought I was 28 for quite some time so I'm not too bummed about it. Maybe I should think that way before all birthdays so it's not a shock to turn another year older - especially in two years! 

I've been collecting cards and gifts from family members all week. So far they are 3 for 3 in sending glittery birthday cards - I guess my family knows me well! 

2.

My MIL gave me my birthday gift early so I could use it before the sale ended. Yep - a Nordy's gift card was in my possession during the anniversary sale! 

Almost everything I bought was because Sheaffer at Pinterest Told Me To told me to! If you don't follow her blog, you need to. Today. Not only is she a hoot to read, but she has the cutest wardrobe and tells you where to get it all. AND how/when to get it on sale! 

These were all my finds thanks to Sheaffer! I already have the blardigan in my possession and the rest is en route as we speak!!!

1. 2. 3. 4.

Oh and if you're a local friend reading this and in my Mops group - get EXTRA excited because I've been in contact with Sheaffer over the last few weeks and she may or may not be (she totally IS) coming to speak to our Mops group this fall!!!!! It's going to be amaze! 

3.

Operation get fit is happening this weekend! Will's new company has a membership deal with a local gym and we are joining this weekend! I haven't consistently worked out since I got pregnant with Liesl (and was super sick for just enough weeks to lose all motivation). I cannot for the life of me lose these last 5 lbs. of baby weight so hopefully joining the gym will get my rear in gear! 

4. 

Time to get real for a second. Having a three year old is about to make me lose my ever loving MIND. Up until about 2 weeks ago I would have said (in our case) that year 3 has been easier than year 2. Liam doesn't thrown the knock-down drag-out tantrums anymore, and for the most part we can calmly communicate with him. And then came the 3.5 year old. And along with that came a sassing, dramatic, stubborn, sneaky, emotionally unbalanced, jekyl and hyde animal/child. He will go from totally calm to hysterically crying/yelling/screaming over something as silly as flash cards. ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? Will and I are in that exhausting phase where all we feel like we are doing is disciplining him. I hate it, hate it, hate it. But I also don't want to raise a spoiled self-entitled menace of a human being so we press on. Luckily this happens mostly at home; in public he's fairly well behaved. And he can turn it off almost as quickly as he turns it on. It's equally frustrating and reassuring because I know that sweet boy is still in there somewhere. But I miss him :(

5. 

The kids and I are headed to a playdate this morning complete with donuts and mimosas. Yes please! 

HAPPY FRIDAY ! ! !