Birthday Boy

Dear Liam,

Happy 1st Birthday, Sweet Boy!  Where did this year go?  It seems like just a few weeks ago that I met you for the first time.  How tiny you were!  You were crying when you were born, but as soon as they handed you to me, you calmed down and just looked in my eyes like "I think I know you..."  And from that instant, I was hooked.  I think you were, too. 

You look more and more like a little boy every day.  They say you're officially a "toddler" now, but I refuse to accept it.  You have learned so much in such a short amount of time.  The list of words you're able to say grows longer every day (Mama, Dada, yes, no, fish, dance, witch, bear, ball...)  When we ask how old you are, you even hold up one finger to show us!  You can stand without holding on to anything for a few seconds, but you're not quite brave enough to take a step. Take your time.  You'll get there.  It has to be tough lugging around 26+ pounds!  

Remember, just because you're a big boy now does not mean that you get to skip your naps.  You have to sleep so you can grow even bigger and stronger!  You're still getting Mama's delicious milk, so this should not be so difficult, right?  

Liam Rawson Charles, I hope you grow up knowing how incredibly special you are and how long Mama and Dada had been waiting for you to join our family.  One day, you will be a big brother and I hope that we will prepare you well for that important role.  I can already tell what a great example you will be to your little brothers and (hopefully) a sister.  You have such a sweet, playful and temperate disposition, that I think it will be easy for you to make and keep friends.  You are a treasure.  

You are my treasure.  

Love always, 

Mama

The Witches are In

Halloween would not be complete without the annual visit to Gardener Village.  It reminds me of Knott's Berry Farm in California, minus the rides.  Liam loved the witch encounters, but he is a little iffy on the difference between a witch and a nutcracker.  Very similar...  Whenever he sees a nutcracker, he smacks his lips together imitating the nut-cracking mouth motion.  When I introduced him to his first life-size witch at Gardener, he made the same gesture and looked up at me like "Mama, is this right?"  So darling.  

I love these guys.  From left to right: Wyatt, (me, Liam), Garrett and Sam Rawson.

Doesn't Lindsay look officially collegiate?  She's at USU, but thinking of transferring to BYU to pursue a degree in Broadcast Journalism.  She may do a semester at the UofU to earn enough transfer credits.  She told me that all of her USU friends want to come to Salt Lake to party, and her response is "I am from Salt Lake...Why did I come to school in Logan just to go back home to party?"  Good question.

Wyatt has two passions.  Baseball and dance.  It's a nice balance.  The kid has RHYTHM.  He's stuck in ballet/tap/jazz for now but will start hip-hop classes soon.  Watch for him on So You Think You Can Dance in the coming years...

And here, Liam is trying desperately to decide which is scarier; the green witch or Mama.  

Ducks!

If I wheeled Liam away from his view of the ducks, he would protest (loudly).  How can you say no to this face?

Thank you, Sam, for entertaining your cousin on demand so his mama can shop.

My child looks a little like my brother's baby here.  Sick.

Until next year, witches.  Happy Halloween!

The Visitor

A few days ago, I was preparing Liam's dinner while he was sitting in his high chair in our "bistro" area which is surrounded by windows.  I noticed him laughing at something outside, but thought little of it since usually it's the wind or his own reflection.  When I came over to investigate, I realized that it was something (or someone) much more interesting!  

Our little friend grazed the backyard for at least half an hour eating the plentiful weeds that pepper our unlandscaped yard.  We got to enjoy our own dinner alongside him, separated only by glass and a language barrier.  

Two days later, after Liam and I got home from running errands, I walked Liam into our driveway only to notice him pointing and laughing at something in the distance...again.  Much to my surprise, two more bucks less than ten yards away!  This little guy has his Papa's eyes...(my dad could always spot animals miles away while it took me forever to see the same thing.  It's a gift.)  

We Are Hikers.

It is no coincidence that we moved to a Park City neighborhood with hundreds of hikes at our doorstep.  This is quite literally paradise for us.  And behold, the Dan's Crest trail summit...  Liam is a true Mountain Man!  

Don't be fooled by the pictures below.  I carried the stinker about thirty feet before I passed him back to Wes.  I've already done the fifty extra pounds thing, and it wasn't fun.  It's Dada's turn!    

Liam may look bored here, but he is full of lively conversation about 95% of any given hike.  

Sometimes the little guy gets SO OVER the backpack, so we take turns carrying him pack-free.  The bouncy-walking may or may not result in a snooze.  

There is a short, steep hike by our house that connects to the Mid-Mountain Trail that spans the length of Park City, and it is quite possibly one of the most magnificent trails we've hiked.  

Apparently, reaching this pile of rocks on the Mid-Mountain is quite an accomplishment.  Liam did a great job keeping up.

Inevitably, Liam reaches this point on a hike, and we know it is time to head back.

The phase above usually only lasts a few minutes and then it evolves into the phase below.  He really is beginning to appreciate what we see in nature, when he's awake for it...

October Wedding in the Colony

Once upon a time, Wes and I were in the Single's Ward together and had an amazing bishop named Lee Daniels.  He was called to serve as Mission President of the Sapporo, Japan mission for three years, and we cannot wait for his family to come back to Park City to play! Their return is less than a year away.  We were so happy to see his wife, Terry and daughters this month at their Park City home.  Bishop Skyped in from Sapporo for his daughter, Kristin's wedding and  I cannot imagine what a sacrifice it must be to not be able to attend your own daughter's wedding.  Wonderful family.  We took advantage of the beautiful Colony views (and being dressed up) and did a little photo shoot.  Of course, no one was there to help us, so we only got one with the whole fam, sadly.  Where is our stand-by personal photographer when we need him?

And my personal favorite...