11 Months Old, 18 Month Clothes

This image is a little past due but here he is in all of his androgynous, long-haired glory.

For those interested in milestones, Liam has spent the last month stumbling around like a drunk, pointing at objects of his desire, and discovering the the word "No."  When not gravitating towards danger, he enjoys watching Elmo and eating blueberries.

Liam Visits Florida: A Short Picture Story

Liam slept for the majority of his first flight.

Grandpa Bob and Grandma Sherry (not pictured) met us at the airport and brought us back to their home in Boca Raton.

Liam wore orange overalls to the beach . . .

Befriended a dog . . .

Congratulated his dad on catching many fish . . .

And reconsidered his position on Santa Claus.

Seven days after his arrival, Liam returned to the airport proselytizing with Christmas cheer and drinks for all.

Building a Christmas Card

On Sunday we had a photo shoot with Jonathan Ivy Lifestyle Photography. They did a great job, got these pictures turned around in a day, and edited out my terrible parenting.  I can't recommend them enough. 

Click the link for a full gallery or click any of the above images to live vicariously through their larger counterparts.

UPDATE

The final version of the card looked something like this:

Front

Back

It is a digital beacon of Christmas spirit. 

10 Months, Two Teeth

This post is about 15 days late but here he is.  A fluffy young man with lots of hair and a bucktooth grin.

Hobbies this month included waving, eating, and making bubbly fart noises with his mouth.  

Christmas Cheer

When Liam met Santa, the transition from "Who is this guy?" to "No F@#king way" was quick and definite.

We can pick up the professional prints on Monday. 

A Gentle Wave

Since Rachel can't corral Liam long enough to take a decent ten month picture, I'm left posting this vertically shot, twenty second video that can accurately be described as "our child apathetically admiring the contents of his toy chest and waving."

 

Enjoy.  Press replay.  Enjoy again.   

The Dirtiest Dancer

Put on a tune and Liam transforms into a dance, dance - dance, dance - dance machine. In this case he is rocking out to the melodic, yet to be released, tones of Mr. Nome Wynn.

Turn up the volume, learn some moves, and buy Nome's album whenever it comes out.   

Sick Child, Sad Parents

This weekend young William cut his first two teeth and developed a case of Hand, Foot, Mouth disease. The former gave him swollen gums while the latter created a fever, pools of drool, and a bounty of throat lesions.

This week-old picture of Liam playing peek-a-boo with the cat is only relevant in so far as it reminds me of a happier time.  

He Wears What We Tell Him to Wear

In the days and weeks leading up to Halloween, Liam has worn many outfits and held many pumpkins.  

Here he is at Gavin Guerra's 1st birthday.

Here he is in the arms of a man that looks ready to ask him some riddles before letting him cross a bridge.

Here he is being a one man barrel of monkeys   

Here he is in a batman hat. 

It is a fancy existence.

Hairy, Toothless & 9 Months Old

These photo shoots have gotten progressively more difficult.  Liam hates sitting still and is unimpressed with my formal attempts at parenting. 

The images above were taken during the brief, beautiful  moment when our child wasn't crawling towards a power cord or forcing a kitchen utensil down his throat.

Big Moves, Little Legs

Rather than contenting myself with a 10 second video, I've taken the liberty of converting my child into a cart-pushing Sisyphus.

No matter how many times he tries, Liam will never make it to the fireplace. 

Bringing the Heat

Sometimes babies do things on the internet and the viewer thinks, "Dang! That child is amazing!"  Other times the viewer clicks play and spends that next 62 seconds watching a chubby eight month old with small hands throw a large ball while sitting in his own excrement.  I've replayed this video 15 times and can assure you it is both.

Stumbling Towards Victory

Liam enjoys pacifiers, grunting and short walks along the couch.  If you have 42 seconds and a healthy desire to watch that happen, press play and let your heart have what it wants.  

The Junior Broker

Liam scooted his way onto the trading floor this afternoon and offered up his own friendly brand of Tri-Star service.

We has many nice bonds

We's make many nice spreadsheets

After admiring the yield curve and posing for these two pictures, Liam chewed the corner of a notebook, licked a calculator, and promptly went home to take a nap.  We are Tri-Star Advisors.

8 Months of Energy

Liam is now 8 months old.  He crawls, stands, breaks things, and opens drawers.  He eats everything, yells indiscriminately and refuses to say anything but "mama."  

Since a still photo can't capture his passions for movement, impatience and interpretive dance, below is a two-image .gif featuring one of his many subtle twerkings. 

Baptism

On Sunday at 2PM, Liam was baptized in St. Laurence Catholic Church.  It was a wonderful event attended by family and friends from near and far.  Here are some of the many, many pictures.       

7 Months and Counting

Since Liam now refuses to lie on his back for any amount of time, here he is sitting up.  Now 7 months old, he is thickly haired and mobile with a fine eye for destruction.  This video serves to prove that last point.   

Turn up your volume and let the next 12 seconds of your life get weird. 

Second Word of Wisdom

According to this eight second video, Rachel's six and a half months of coaching are starting to pay off.  Not quite as fast as my efforts but decent speed nonetheless. 

Creeping & Crawling

Called to action by the sweet smell of rubber tit, Liam is now making baby moves.  Press play and listen to his proud mama OMG over the little man's accomplishment.

A Post-Modern Flintstone

Liam can't walk on his own yet but he can scoot.  Rapidly.  Put him in this little gadget and his feet pedal wildly underneath the weight of his meaty cankles.  It's his passion in life.      

Other passions this month include a book about sheep, kitchen utensils and grunting.   

The Great Bambini

Flying with the eagles

Rolling with the pigs

These pictures were taken two weekends ago in Galveston BUT if throwing children or rippling back muscles are illegal, assume that top one is Photoshopped.   

Liam Has Something to Say

Turn your speakers up and let the porcelain drool bandit tell you who he loves.

The Youngest, Stankiest Leg

If you like watching babies take their first parent-assisted steps, press play and soak in this poorly filmed, 34 second, endorphin rush of a video.

6 Months of Growing

At his 6 month doctor visit Liam measured in at 28.25" and a feathery 18lbs 1oz.  His length lands him squarely in the 97th percentile for youth of equivalent age and sex while his weight represents a more pedestrian 62nd. 

 

A 20 year old of similar metrics would be 6 feet 2 inches tall, 165 pounds, and painfully aware that his parents were right not to let him play football. 

Swangin the Plastic, Eating Giraffes

Since Rach hasn't taken Liam's 6 month pictures yet, I'll leave you stalkers with an assortment of images to temporarily quench your thirst for baby meat:

From yesterday.

From last weekend.

From June. 

From May.

He's getting whiter and less angry with age. 

A Cat Amongst Little Dogs

Since I don't have accomplishments of my own and everything can't be about Liam, here is Rachel and her cat portrait. 

 

A regal, lifelike testament to the talents of a wine fueled ailurophile.

The Baby Patriot

Liam’s first 4th of July was spent at his grandparents’ house.  I'm not sure these were actually taken on the 4th but it all kind of looks the same.  

 He sits up

He swims.

He gets held.

America.