Food, Glorious Food!

Ahh, the beauty of solids.  We introduced real food to Liam on his 6-month birthday.  We had a feeling he was going to adapt easily, and we couldn't have been more right.  Carrots, sweet potato, avocado, pears, apples, prunes, peas, squash, bananas...the possibilities are endless!  Liam has discovered a whole new world of tastes and textures and he's becoming a professional eater!

Liam was far more interested in his own reflection than in eating at this particular meal...

It all started with some whole-grain rice cereal...It's tricky to move that stuff from the front of your mouth to the back.  Your tongue totally gets in the way!  Despite some difficulties, he turned out to be a quick study.

We progressed to a lovely homemade carrot puree...Mama quickly got over the homemade kick and moved on to Earth's Best and Gerber Organics.  No time for these shenanigans!

Liam wasn't a fan of the avocado-banana combination, but he is always open to trying new things...

Date Night

April 17, 2010.  Just shy of Liam's 6 month birthday and one day before mine, Wes and I ventured off boldly into the adults-only world for the first time since last October.  And I didn't even cry leaving Liam!  Grammy, Papa and Bret's fam made excellent caretakers and Liam was happy as a clam to be finally rid of us.  Apparently, they had no problem celebrating my birthday (and Grammy's) without me.

The evening's events included a trip down memory lane at the site of our first date over 3 years ago, Good Thymes (the official site has changed, but everything else is the same...)  Great dinner.  The majority of the discussion centered around the supernatural cuteness of our baby...Seriously, has there ever been a cuter child?  Methinks not!  Dinner was followed by the appropriately named movie, Date Night, with Steve Carell and Tina Fey.  I laughed my post-preggo cellulite off.

Conclusion #1 of the night?  We need to get out more.  Conclusion #2?  Wes still puts the zip in my doo-dah.

Last Hurrah at the St. Regis

So I kind of want to live at the St. Regis.  Last month, Liam and I, my mom and Daniel's family (minus Linda) went on a little adventure to Deer Valley and rode the funicular up to the gorgeous new hotel.  It was the highest Liam had ever been and I think he loved it.  It was a beautiful afternoon, and the perfect thing to do to get out of the norm.  After the kids left, my mom and I had TO DIE FOR salads at the bar.  Every inch of the design work was beautiful and the epitome of luxury mountain resort.  (You can't beat ski-in-ski-out at Deer Crest.)  I would love to stay there for an anniversary someday.  Summer rates start at $225/night...compared to $425 in the winter.  Anyway, this was the last little shindig I had with Daniel's fam...so sad!  Liam and I will just have to visit them in Austin.  

Easter 2010

The Easter Bunny made a colorful showing at the Charles home this year.  If Liam had known who the Easter Bunny was, he would've been SO excited.  Notice that he brought Wes the bodywash from the man you wish your man could smell like...(I'm on a horse.)

This year, we started the day at Wes's parents' house with a delicious breakfast and good company.  Apparently, though, it was too early to take pictures.  Please consult Tracie Charles' blog for details.  I'm striving to not have the same exact blog as my sis-in-law's, but it's difficult when we attend the same gatherings and we're both slightly picture-happy.  So with that said, here is my coverage of the Rawson Easter gathering. 

And this is how my family feels about physical affection...Obviously, it is integral to our close relationships.

This is a milder form of child abuse.  Poor, poor Liam.  I'm so sorry, baby.

And here is Sam pretending to give Wes a game...Keep practicing, kid.

If you haven't heard, the Rawsons have been in a state of mourning for the past month.  Daniel's family has moved from Park City to Austin where Daniel is now the Business Transformation Manager at Dell while he continues to pursue his MBA at Kellogg at Northwestern. We're so proud that he found a job he loves, but SO sad to have to say goodbye.  We're going to miss these beautiful faces!  I think the change has affected my mom the most, who sobs like a baby every time she talks about them. Liam is now her only grand"baby" in the area.  Poor Grammy!  She is certainly getting her fill of cuteness, though.    

Squishies!!!

I love this girl.  I'm not sure how it is possible that I have a niece who is trying to decide where to go to COLLEGE next year, but I do.  Am I old?  Lindsay is such an awesome girl.  She has totally become her own person in the past few years.  I see so much Rawson personality in her and SO much sweetness.  Lindsay, no matter how old we are, you will always be the first to get my hand-me-downs, even if you end up going to the U.  I love ya.