Two Years Old

Reese turns two years old today. She knows the word "birthday" but I don't think she understands that it has to do with age- just parties, since we celebrated her birthday a couple weeks ago while we still lived close to family.

Because of her previous party, we had nothing special planned for today. However, when we were at the grocery store, I considered buying one of those miniature cakes with two servings just for fun. Turns out there was a full sheet cake with Reese's peanut butter and chocolate flavors for way cheap because today was the sell-by date.

Reese was way excited and kept asking for the cake. I kept telling her that we had to eat dinner first. She passed the time by snitching watermelon...

... and trying on Mama's shoes again.

We were going to have pancakes for dinner but, because we were now going to have a sugary dessert, just went with eggs and potatoes- which Reese gladly ate with her fingers. She loves eggs.

After dinner came the cake! Reese sang along with "Happy Birthday" and then blew out her pretend candles.

Her first bite was with the fork...

But none of the other ones were. Then she stuck a bit of cake on each thumb and ran around.

When we told her she needed a bath she was so excited she forgot that you have to get undressed first.

Then she volunteered (read: demanded) to help clean up. It's a good thing Mama had the floor pretty well done by the time she noticed the Swiffer. She pulled off the disposable wipe and had trouble putting back on. When Daddy tried to help her she got annoyed, "Uh, uh! Sit!" Will was a little shocked that she would talk to him like that. "No!" he said, "You sit!" It was a very mature conversation (which, by the way, she ended up winning.) She didn't let the wipe go for a good ten minutes-

- When the vacuum came out.

Once again happy birthday, Reese!

Liam- Photo Dump

Reese and Liam with Grandpa Great

I think I took a picture of Reese all burritoed up with a binky- so I thought it would be fun to get a similar picture with Liam.

Liam's excitement at the zoo.

Dad helping Liam practice holding up his head.

Reesey Activities- Photo Dump

Reese brings in the haul from Grandpa Faber's fruit trees.

First weekend back to school we visit the local zoo. Reese's favorites are the monkeys and feeding the ducks.

Reese makes art of her snack.

While packing to move back to campus, Reese found a Liam shirt and tried to put it on. She was just as happy to have a new hat.

Reese poses by her play-dough creation. We had red and yellow clay, but now we also have some orange. This picture was taken while we still were staying with Grandpa and Grandma Great. I had to hide the clay or we would still be playing with it now.

At the Heath family reunion. One of four family reunions this summer.

Making sugar cookies our first Sunday back on campus to take to the new neighbors. Again, If I hadn't baked the cookies we'd still be playing with the dough now.

"Mama, I like corn." Complete sentence.

Some Videos

Here's just some stuff.

Liam holds his head up. Getting less and less wobbly day by day.

Reese coloring. When she isn't trying to duplicate my five-pointed stars or the letter "e", or drawing long lines, she has recently started centralizing her scribbles to resemble something that looks like trying to stay inside the lines on the coloring book page.

Grandpa Great lures Reese to the dance floor by playing some stylish music about bears.

Reese's Birthday

Dear Reese,

We celebrated your second birthday with a gathering of family- your cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents (and, of course, your momma, daddy and little brother.)

We all gathered to eat and enjoy each other's company.

I made you a choo choo train cake because you are currently in love with all things choo choo train. You like to make the sounds, pretend to be riding, color pictures and play with toy trains.



Before your uncle mike cut the cake, you blew out both candles without any help.



You didn't need a fork to gobble up your piece.

Then, with help from Daddy and cousin Lillie, you opened gifts- including princess tiara and jewelry, a purse, and a toy train!

Thanks everyone!

You rounded out the evening by convincing both Grandma and Grandpa Faber to let you watch train videos on Youtube. Then Grandpa tried to get you interested in gospel singers.

Happy birthday my baby girl!

Love, Momma

Liam's Blessing

Dear Liam,

You received a father's priesthood blessing on Sunday, August 15. The event was held at your Grandpa and Grandma Faber's house.

Your aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents from both sides of the family were there.

You are lucky enough to have some wonderful priesthood holders that participated in the blessing circle.

(from left to right:) Mike, Stephen, Howard, (Reese), Dan (Grandpa Faber) Jim (Grandpa Heath), Paul (Great-Grandpa Heath), Dad, Todd, Austin (Great-Grandpa Christensen), Dorian (Grandpa Great) and Bishop Evan Perry.

Your mother was touched at the love of family and your Heavenly Father, who wants you to have many blessings throughout your life.

Reese was excited to share the day with you, too.

Among other things, your Dad felt inspired to bless you with health in body and mind, and the capacity to help those around you understand our Savior's love.

So far, you seem to have accomplished both.

Love, Mom

One Month Old

Liam is one month old today. Here are some things about him:

He feels bigger every time I pick him up . doesn't like dirty diapers . eats about every 2.5 hours . slept 5 hours at night one time . first babysitter: Grandma Great . gets hugs and kisses from big sister Reese all the time . likes being on the diaper-changing table . likes being held, especially on your chest . too often falls asleep while eating . tries to hold his head up (and is actually pretty good at it) . likes the binky . always seems to wiggle to a crooked position in his bassinet . still fits in newborn size diapers .

Daddy And Liam

Will tried to take a cat nap before dinner. Liam kept him up.

Video Dialogue:

Grandpa: You don't really like that little boy, do you?

Will: No. He keeps me up at night. He eats my food. Steals my car...

Anna: Not yet, honey.

Will: Oh. Right. Then I like him right now.

Creamsicles

At dinner, Grandpa told us a story of the morning when Grandma asked him, "Would you like a green pickle?" Grandpa thought, "Of course I don't want a green pickle," and declined the offer. A few minutes later he saw Grandma eating a Creamie popsicle. He wondered aloud why she hadn't gotten him one. She asserted that she had offered- but he had declined the "creamsicle."

To his credit, "creamsicle" does sound like "green pickle."

Today we had the creamsicles out again. Grandma gave one to Reese and then realized that she probably shouldn't go out and eat hers on the couch, because then Reese would take it as a go-ahead to do the same. She began to sit down at the table when Reese, who was at the counter, motioned to Grandma to sit at the counter next to her. It was so cute I couldn't resist getting a snapshot of the two enjoying their popsicles together.

I'm also pretty lucky because just last weekend one of Reese's cousins, Lillie, taught Reese how to say "cheese" for pictures.