Week 51

Wow - we are only one week away from the big ONE!!!! We are just about done with our party plans and I'm starting to think that this party is more for us than Liam considering the huge amount of party supplies we've accumulated over the past month. Between the loot bags, food, decorations and activities etc. the room we've rented is going to look like Disneyland. Since I'm a party planner I'm in my element and it's going to show!

Up until now Liam has been quite mobile but moves around backwards everywhere. I was starting to think that he was never going to crawl forwards (he usually rocks on his hands & knees at the most) but I should learn never to assume anything in baby world - on Monday he started to shuffle his knees, on Tuesday morning he started shuffling slowly around and by Tuesday evening was motoring around at mach speed. God it's cute! Unfortunately we weren't prepared (are we ever?) and didn't think about the fact that now he can get to wherever he wants in 2.5 seconds flat. This takes keeping an eye on him to a whole other level. By Wednesday we were both scrambling to get him out of the plants (got a few mouthfuls of soil in there before we could stop him), away from the fireplace (he was licking the ash off the slate & trying to climb through the mesh), & out of reach of all the wires, plugs & anything else dangerous. Not to mention we now need a baby gate so he doesn't go head first down the stairs. Overnight our house has turned into a mine field for babies so we're taking it one day at a time and slowly replacing our not-so-child-friendly furniture as crawly pants makes a beeline for sharp corners. Either that or buy large squares of foam and stick them to the walls & floor. Probably cheaper than replacing all the furniture too. Liam could crawl head first into whatever he pleased and bounce off without a scratch. Either that or we could get him a giant foam helmet like a bobble head - not very attractive but oh so practical.

Since the novelty of speed wheeling around the house in the Winnie The Pooh car was starting to wear off for both of us, I decided to venture outdoors and take him around the block. Looked too adorable with his legs sticking out Harley style on either side (has a hard time keeping his feet on the pedals for very long) while honking his little horn. Bit hard on the plastic wheels though which are not designed for off roading - you could hear us coming from a mile away with the grating noise, the horn honking & Winnie The Pooh playing over and over again. Not to mention the intermittent screaming - that novelty still hasn't worn off.

Thursday night Ian had a work dinner so Liam & I went to visit a friend with her 3 year old daughter who just loved him. All throughout dinner she would hop off her chair to feed Liam grapes & strawberries and then wipe his face while constantly calling him baby. Such a big difference between 1 and 3 years old - I can see why people wait for that age gap to have a second kid - they're like little grown ups. Not that I'm even entertaining the idea of having a second child yet - have another year or so before we go there. I'm far too busy with one thanks.

Last night smart daddy decided to give Liam an "empty" Lucky beer can to entertain him for a minute which Liam immediately stuck in his mouth. Apparently there were a few drops of beer left as Liam started smacking his lips and then tipped his head back trying to shotgun the beer. As soon as smart daddy realised what was happening he took the beer can away which did not go over well and prompted full blown screaming (the bad kind this time). He was still grumpy an hour later - apparently he was still miffed at daddy and looking for his beer fix. Better hide the 6 packs from now on - I have no doubt he'll eventually recognize the labels and learn how to crack them open!