Big day today...started with cinnamon toast triangles, multi grain cheerios with milk and hot chocolate for girl and juice for boy. Then Raina did all her papers VERY WELL and stuck with it till done. Grandma worked on HER school work for the GED class, so we were study buddies. Then we all went to Simpsonville where Liam had a super time at the story time. He walked around and touched other guys, did books away and scarves away well and was proud of himself. He liked all the little ditties, but of course, did nothing himself. He just smiled and swayed. Did say bye at the end and wave. Raina and grandpa went to Wal mart and got stuff for me. Then we did McD playland for lunch. Raina ate 4 nuggets and apples and choc. milk. Liam had a whole carton of peach yogurt I brought from home and almost a whole chicken wrap and white milk. Also grapes from home. We are now trying to tone down for naps. Both are looking like they need a nap, as do the grandparents.

Tuesday....day before 1 1/2 birthday! We'll have to play with that tomorrow.

This morning I felt creative and made him scrambled egg with cheddar cheese, slice of bacon, and toast. He can't really eat the bacon very well; it kind of crumbles. But he tried well to stab his scrambled eggs on his fork, and ate about 3/4 of a piece of whole wheat toast. Also had some Mott's for Tots apple juice, watered a little.

We're just hanging loose today while grandpa works at Samaritan House. So far he's put shoes on me and changed my shoes and listed to a book (while standing) and helped with some laundry, putting things in the washer and taking out of the dryer. What a guy! Now I'm going to TRY to bake some bread. Not sure he'll stay in sight well for that.

Wednesday...we thought maybe the kids would be late from what Brian said yesterday, so we went to exercise. Then we picked them up on the way home, about 8:45 (after calling to get the scoop) Liam seems much more lively today. We brought Raina's papers with us and she worked hard on them; of course Liam had to work too. Grandpa made her write her name on all the papers....he patiently did the little dots and was really cute. We are thinking about heading out to the "baby story hour".

Story hour was great. Liam did "books away" and let me read a book to him at the start. He stayed interested most of the time, although he didn't "do" anything, just let me do things withhim

Lunch was out at MCD and both loved playing. Liam approached several children and tried to play with them we thought. Raina made a friend who hugged her good bye. We got books out for reading before naps. They were down about 1 1/2 hours but went down early since Liam fell asleep in the car on the way home.

Tuesday morning breakfast of scrambled eggs with cheese, one slice bacon, little bit of toast and juice. Very happy that he stabbed some eggs himself. Runny nose is thickening but he seems in good spirits. I scrubbed his nose with a washcloth and then put vaseline on to keep it soft.

He got progressively cranky and we rolled on the bed and just played. He didn't want to do anything alone...made lunch early. He ate almost a whole toasted cheese sandwich and a whole carton of strawberry yogurt and a little banana and a cup of milk. Now he and grandpa are drawing. Don't tell Raina, but he's sitting in her blue chair and using her crayons to scribble away with grandpa sitting next to him to monitor where the crayons go. He thinks he's a really big deal, sitting up to the table and working away.

Yeah Monday!! Grandpa is off at substituting in 8th grade science. We had pancakes and banana for breakfast. Neither likes the apple in the pancake, so we had to pick it out or not eat it. Raina then ate some raisins next to some cheerious and milk...just a few....

We are off t kindermusik with the lad. He has already swayed in time to music from his truck. Very cute....

Liam has had a good day, but is definitely coming down with a cold or allergies. Thick mucus...He ate yogurt and a few chicken noodles and a couple crackers and milk for lunch. Dad came in to talk and distracted him. He might have eaten more? He played outside this morning at the church on that nice playground and had a great time climbing and exploring. I showed him off to the knitting ladies who all oohed and aahed and he just looked stoic about the whole thing. Hope he doesn't get sick sick and Raina is OK.

WEdnesday morning was a pancake day. No one ate a whole lot, but there was enjoyment all around. So I sent parents some pictures. We opened Liam's kindermusik materials and found a book called Cookies. He actually listened and pointed. Found his interest!!! The title of this Kindermusick is Milk and Cookies, so it sounds right. We are contemplating a trip to Simpsonville library but must take the little car since the big one is in at Fairway Ford for the major repair. Hoping it's not too lengthy a repair (or too costly). Lots of smiles today!!

Baby story hour was great. Not too many, again and Liam smiled and smiled. He doesn't "do" things, but neither do most of the others. But he did walk in time to the drum today and "stopped" when she said to. He seems to really enjoy seeing the other children (and one girl from last week walked over to pat him, so he's become a chick magnet already. We ate lunch at McDonald's. I took applesauce for the man and he had some grilled chicken, yogurt, a couple french fries and white milk. Raina had chocolate milk, a grilled chicken wrap and some yogurt and a few fries.

Liam's language is just exploding! He is saying all kinds of things....just once of course, so you have to be there to hear it. He can find hair, nose, eyes, and ears and looked down the front of his bibs when I asked where his tummy was. He only does this when he's "in the mood". He has said grandma or grandpa several times. He's got by and daddy and mamama. Today I kidded with him and he said by by by by a couple times as we laughed. He has quite a sense of humor. He also said shoes and went to look for socks. He just seems very aware today.

Monday morning....hurray for Mondays! We have a fun-packed week planned. Today is Liam's first Kindermusik. He had cheerios, toast, and banana for breakfast. He stabbed all his banana pieces by himself with his fork. Raina had cinnamon toast, a few raisins, and cheerios and milk. Yum! She actually ate without prodding! Then we did some coloring and then blew up balloons and played with them. Now they are out with Grandpa in the garden, seeing if there is anything to pick. Soon we leave for excitement.

Liam was interested in the kindermusik and smiled numerous times, but didn't really take part. That's OK because there are only 4 in the class and they are all about the same and he is the youngest. Raina got to go to a special Children's Theater production there while he was in class...how fortuitous! It was about an extinct dinosaur. She may tell you about it...puppets and reading a book, I think. Lunch was toasted cheese and applesauce and snack after nap was fudgsicl for Raina and graham cracker and juice for the lad.

Liam had 4, yes FOUR, bm's today and Grandpa cleaned them all. Good Grandpa!!!!!

This morning started early with kids coming a little after 8. Both seemed a little sluggish. For fun, I wrapped Raina in a quilt on the sofa and let her watch Word Girl and eat breakfast on a tray. I figure she's recovering from big day yesterday and early out today. Liam ate a whole banana himself and some cheerios and milk. He likes to try himself and can get them in if we help load the spoon. He's really starting to get it. They both had diluted apple juice for tots and Raina had cheerios and milk and raisins on the side.

Grandpa has left for the dentist. He's going to meet us in Simpsonville to play with Raina while Liam has his baby story hour. I see Mcdonald's play land following if all goes as planned.

Liam had a very poopy loose diaper just now.

More later...

Successful story hour. It was really nice since only about 15 or 20 there. He watched and smiled and was a great listener...and he liked the other children. No hand motions, but all the way to Mcdonalds he kept saying bye-bye as if to make up for not waving good-bye during all the ending songs. They played and played at McD. Liam climbs with the best of them, with a big grin...his own gymboree. They ate grilled chicken, wrap, and he had yogurt and she had french fries...sorry...grandparents' day out, I guess. They drank all their milk. Now they are swinging with grandpa before nap. Raina seems tired. Wonder if she slept yesterday???

sorry to be so late today....Liam was soooo good today! He had pancakes for breakfast, stabbing with his little fork so well!!! I gave him a little juice and then some milk. He had a banana snack after a trip to the grocery store and then had grilled cheese and applesauce for lunch. After nap, a graham cracker square and a little juice with an ice cube (he likes to rattle it). He played nicely and we even read a couple books (my favorite). He wants to go bye-bye in the truck with his father. When he heard the truck after lunch, he went right to the door and said bye-bye. That truck is super! I think we all miss Raina, though, and have been hoping she has a wonderful day at her new school.

Monday morning. Raina had cheerios and milk and some cinnamon toast and some apple juice. She was a good girl. Liam had a little blueberry oatmeal, cheerios, toast and some apple juice. I asked Brian not to give them juice before they came and they ate breakfast better...tummies not full of sugary juice.

Raina helped bake brownies and do the the laundry. Liam played outside with grandpa and Raina joined them later. Now we are working on bread and Raina is going to play on the computer at the

Barney place.

For lunch we had green beans, fresh from the garden and steamed. Also bacon (I used some to make a big pot of bean soup which is simmering away the afternoon) and bread and butter and applesauce and Liam had red jello, but Raina wouldn't try it. She had peanut butter on some bread instead of butter.

Daddy stopped by with the big truck and Liam went ballistic. He really wants to ride in it. He had a very sticky diaper, but Raina is yet to....

Now they are building with blocks. Liam can get 4 high if no one bothers him (ie, if Raina doesn't try to grab one away)

We are working on no high pitched yelling. We say Shhhhhh and talk softly to him. I don't know how successful we'll be, but he needs to talk instead of scream for grandparent sanity.