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.

Wednesday, July 28

Happy two week birthday, Liam!

Aunts For The Weekend

Will's sisters, Becky and Christine, came to visit overnight to help out. Help they did! We got tons done while they were here so that I won't feel behind when Will returns to work on Monday.

They not only helped with some chores, but also helped to entertain Reese by taking her to the aquarium.

They were using our camera, which takes horrible pictures, so this is the only one from the aquarium- it's Reese in the canoe at the swamp/marshes exhibits

Sitting around, eating ice cream treats