So I'm reposting this via a blog because it's good information and important information and information I want on here. Besides...it gets you all noticing the walk. Which you should join up. or do in your own town. Or donate to. Or something.

You may have read this here or on email. You may not have. Either way...here's my blurb about our walk for autism in July and why it's so fab!

xoxo, m

**WOO HOO! It's time for Autism Awareness Month!** Why does this matter to me? Because, as you know, my fabulous son is one of the 1 in 166 children diagnosed with this condition. I'm using this month to kick off my fund raising and team recruiting efforts for the Tacoma Walk Now for Autism  2008 Walk!

I've set up personal page:

http://www.walknowforautism.org/tacoma/personal/walkroundigansmichelle

Josh has one too!

http://www.walknowforautism.org/tacoma/personal/walkroundigansjosh

And a team page:

http://www.walknowforautism.org/tacoma/team/walkroundigans

My main goal in this walk? Is to raise awareness. Let people know what autism REALLY is. It's not rainman. It's not unaffectionate shells of children. It's not something evil and bad. Mostly? It's not something to be afraid of! It's not contagious. It's not caused by bad parenting. It's definitely not the end of the world! So many people are so afraid of their child 'getting' autism! Yet without autism I wouldn't have Liam! Without Liam my world wouldn't be complete.

What can you do? Well...my favorite idea is that you can click the link to our team page and sign up to walk with us! The walk is July 19th in Tacoma, WA. Sign up is easy to do. Or hey! Start your own team! The goal is all the same! Sign up for a walk in your own town! There are walks all over the place all year long! You can see a list of locations at (www.walknowforautism.org)

You can also go to the link to my page and and make a donation. I've set a darn easy to achieve goal. Hell! everyone I know was to just give a dollar I'd make my goal in notime! Donations can also be mailed to me and made out to "Autism Speaks" with the team name "the walkroundigans" in the memo section.

Things you can do that take no money and no walking?

* Follow this link to learn the signs of autism. There are many more than you think.

http://www.autismspeaks.org/whatisit/learnsigns.php

* Pass on this info! Cut and paste whatever you want! Forward this email! Put links up in your webpages! Talk about autism! The walk! Whatever you want to raise awareness.

* Are you local? Go here: www.mariners.com/autismspeaks to order tickets for the Seattle Mariner's game that supports autism! Autism Awareness Night is Wednesday, May 7th. Tickets are discounted through that site! Plus? $7 of each ticket goes towards autism research!

* If you suspect something is even the SLIGHTEST bit off about a child you know? Be it autism, speech delay, motor delay, etc? Do EVERYONE a favor and don't be afraid to bring it up! I know it can be frightening to tell something something may be less than typical in their child but sometimes parents just don't see! And early intervention is so important! Screening is free! Every state has an early intervention program. Contact your local school district for more information on the birth to three programs available in your area (I also know other public health facilities have the contact info as well such as WIC, DSHS, etc)

Just listening to my long winded ramble means so much! Just knowing you now know WHO and WHAT autism is really all about makes me smile. I encourage you to look at the pictures of my monkey boy and and realize that he has autism but that's not all of who he is.

He's loving. And funny. And goofy. He loves tickles and wrestling with his sister. He still drinks from a bottle and has a ridiculous limited food intake. He works his butt off every single day in therapy pushing himself harder than any 2 1/2 year old should have to do and every day amazing me with his ability to recover even when it's too much. He likes to 'read' books and loves to do puzzles! He hates wearing socks and loves to put hats on people. His number knowledge is astounding. Counting as high as 14, putting the number 1-9 (plus 0 at the end) in order. Then backwards. Counting up. And down. Everything he sees. Screaming out numbers as we pass by signs. He loves cars and backyardigans and pigs and elephants. He snuggles better than anyone ever (don't tell his sister). He's huge for his age with a heart to match. He loves to feed his parents (while refusing to feed himself!) French fries make his world go round. His language is slow going but his determination unbelievable. His use of PECS system is getting better daily. His word use constantly growing. He likes playing on slides, climbing on everything, and making big messes. He is every bit a 2 1/2 year old...just with additional lessons to learn and to teach.

Liam is what autism is really about. There are people with severe autism. Who resemble the cases people 'fear'. The majority of people with autism lay more on the other side of the spectrum. You'd never know unless you were told or spent extensive time with him. They fit none of the stereotypes and constantly surprise people.

If nothing else? I hope my participation in this walk teaches people that no two autistic people are alike. They aren't hopeless or helpless. We can all learn from them by taking the time to view the world a little differently.

After all differences make the world go round.

Love,

Michelle, Josh, Liam, and Lily

Good grief. Been a loooong time since I bothered blogging here. The kids have changed so terribly terribly fabulously much!

Lily is outrageous. She will be 12 months old in just a few weeks (I will not call her a year old. That makes her sound big!) She’s been taking steps since about 9 months old but full out walking for the last monthish! She babbles non stop. Loves people. Eats like a freaking piglet...yet still is ridiculously small. If we measured her correctly? She is as tall as Liam was at 6 months. So wonder I giggle at her tiny ass running everywhere she is REALLY small to me. Lily’s favorite phrase is "oh no!" and it makes me laugh as she says it constantly with her eyes real big and her voice quite stressed.

And she is so freaking bald. And refusing headbands. The earrings and gobs of purple and pink do little to convince some people she’s a girl but one day her hair will grow in! :)

Liam is doing fantastic. Since his diagnosis we’ve really been able to up his therapy sessions. We had to say goodbye to his first therapist last week which was just heartbreaking. We all just loved her and the improvements achieved with her are unreal. Thankfully her replacement is his playgroup teacher and I adore her so it’s less painful.

We now have some type of therapy every day of the week and seem to be gogogoing constantly. Next week is spring break and I’m REALLY looking forward to it-though I intend to end up gogogoing much of that week too at least it will be less structed activities.

Liam’s schedule includes:
M: Playgroup followed by one on one occupational therapy @  center
T: Feeding therapy @ center with his speech therapist
W: Playgroup then one on one educational therapy later on @ center
Th: Speech therapy @ center
F: Playgroup then one on one education therapy later @ home

It’s a busy busy life we lead. How did I EVER work full time? lol.

Liam’s made some great achievements in the last 6 months. Meeting many of his goal, exceeding some, and working on some still. He’s become much more vocal and able to communicate in a variety of ways including with sign, pictures, physically leading us...and even some spoken language! he copies CONSTANTLY so my use of the "F" word should probably be reconsidered in amount used in a day. ;)

He is a numbers FREAK and correctly identifies and lines up the numbers 0-10. It’s a bit of an obsession but one I defintely can use to his benefit as it’s QUITE a motivator. It’s my favorite thing to listen to him yap out random numbers as we drive and he sees them places.  he loves puzzles something fierce and reading books! He plays with toys functionally almost exclusively! His stimming is down and his interaction is up!

We started cod liver oil last week and it’s made a huge difference already. I’m really excited to see how much it’s helped. Even on tough days like today where it was very busy and noisy at school he did FANTASTIC. I’m quite interested in starting some alternative therapies but that must go a step at a time as that stuff adds up FAST!

Josh and I are well also. Plugging along at his job and me plugging along at mine. It never ceases to amaze me how much energy my children take. Nor can i fully explain how much fabulousness they give back. It’s a pretty terrific trade off.

Of course this means i have very very little time to sit on my big butt and have now written this in about 10 pieces and probably is choppy as hell.

I’m just glad that 6 months post diagnosis for Liam we are all doing fantastic!

BTW...mark your calendars. July 19th. Tacoma Autism Walk. We are SO going and we’d love for you to join in!

~M

So obviously at his last appointment something was fucked up. The scale or something. And while I'm not convinced it was correct this time (they had to do the weigh Josh AND Liam then weigh just Josh since a certain boychild was crabby) it's obvious he's fine.

In mid June he showed up as 28.75" and 21 pounds 13 oz.

A month later he'd grown 3/4" and LOST over a pound.

Now a month after his LAST check up he's up to 30" and 24 pounds on the nose.

Yeah. SOMETHING is wrong. He didnt gain 3 1/2 pounds in a month. *sigh* But basically my pediatrician said we'll throw out last months' stats as SOMETHING was off there.

Did I mention how much I love his ped? She's really just delightful. We may keep our shitty insurance just or her alone. She's so sweet and funny and always tells us random stories of other families.

We also discussed his eating (or lack therof) of solids. We're going to try giving him rice cereal in some of his bottles. Keep force feeding him. (and by force feeding I mean keep trying the strange distraction method and shoveling in through his pissiness or whatnot.)

her theory on why he stopped was interesting. She thinks its quite possible that when he got that awful flu? He somehow related food to the flu (since he stopped eating right after that flu) and now thinks food is bad.

We also discussed keeping him on formula after a year since switching to milk would be irresponsible. Also testing him for anemia at that point since one of the big problems after a year is the increased need for iron.

So we keep doing what we're doing. Try to trick his little ass. And worry about stuff later.



You can tell Mr 42 chins isnt really malnourished quite yet. ;)

~M

I realize a public blog is both a blessing and a curse. It's a blessing because the rest of the world can share in your insanity. A curse because, well, the rest of the world can share in your insanity! Including those you write about!

Today's episode is all about being the trash pal!

Yesterday was Xander's first birthday party (Xander being Liam's first friend. Josh's coworker's little boy)

After a rather craptacular morning I was pleased to feel well enough to attend the party. And while we were nearly an hour late (we're so good like that. I'm NEVER late! Just horrifying!) it didnt seem to matter.

Might I show what my son did the entire 45 minute car ride?



Yum. Shoes taste good! That's him in his car seat with his foot swung up to his mouth to gnaw. Weirdo.

The birthday boy was adorable as ever and in such a good mood (granted I've NEVER seen him in a poor mood and while his parents swear it happens...I dont believe them.)

The other guests were fabulous. Nice and inviting. The kind of party where even though you know exactly three of the people there (the guest of honor and his parents) it doesnt REALLY matter because it's just comfortable.

I realized a few things while there. My son is giant. Really. Xander has a good two months on him but Liam's just as tall. And the other little girl who was there wasnt much bigger either! It made my baby seem painfully behind when in reality he's just younger than them not behind at all!

I also realized...WE ARE THE TRASH FRIENDS!

You know how everyone kind of has one set of friends trashier than the rest? Well Matt and Jade's friends are all nice and classy and kind people. Then there's Josh and I. Who regularly use Liam and say "I'm gonna fuck you up mom/dad." With me Little Miss Sailor Mouth. My husband. Who likes to flash his ass (COD I hate that!) Who are just a liiiiiiiiiiiittle rough around the edges.

OMG. We're the trash friends. And now you know. *sigh* I find it amusing and horrifying all at once. We've never BEEN the trash friends before! I think I should be both honored and disturbed.

Thankfully Matt and Jade obviously dont mind us being the trash friends. Which is a plus. :)

I'm off to chew on more of the leftover cake. I didnt feel up for cake while I was there...but man oh man am I glad they sent us with a freaking platter of cake. That cake was un.freaking.real. YUM!

I also need to get the boychild to nap. If he doesnt go down soon we wont be making it to the softball game and Josh will have to go alone again. And that's no good!

~M

No real reason.

My sister got a myspace. Go Lisa! Way to join the times! Of course her pic is her most ghetto fabulous gangsta pic which cracks me up and is so Lisa. :)

My son is wild tonight. Like hyped up on sugar wild. Minus the sugar. He's just figured out how to stand up by himself from the floor so he gets into a squat, stands up, then starts flapping his arms screaming and giggling. It's the funniest thing. Of course he wont do it when the video camera is out. Punk.

I did manage to catch him mid stand. Look at the rock star.


My damn tongue is peeling again. Always good fun. Not. I really cannot figure out what sets it off. I did have a little pizza on Sunday which had red sauce...but it didnt freak out until today? I dont know. I didnt have anything else random this week. Gah. So tired of a peeling painful tongue.

Not to mention the extreme thirst. That's getting old. Fast.

I've determined my profile pic bugs me. Why cant I keep my damn eyes open in a pic. I need more pics with my darn child.

I'm in love with icy hot. It is my life. My freaking hips. But icy hot is the shit.

I didnt read the last email that Liam's dr sent after his last appointment. She DOES want him to make a real appointment for a weight check in case he hasnt gone up so we can discuss what needs to be done. Of course he's teething now too so getting solids in him has be a no go and his formula has slowed too. 4 teeth at once will do that to you. *sigh* I hope he hasnt lost more. As long as he's staying steady she made it sound like we dont have to "talk" about things.

He was such a good eater before all the teeth started coming in too. Dammit. Oh well. Veggie booty ALWAYS works. There's got to be some tiny bit of nutritional value in that right? *rolls eyes*

On the tooth department...also mother of the year. I bought a tooth brush for him...and of course SOMEONE *coughJOSHUAcough* has lost the damn thing. So fucking irritating. he'll say he didnt put it anywhere. So i guess the tooth fairy came and took it so that Liam can lose teeth faster. Of course I could also wipe Liam's teeth with gauze or something since they dont really need to be BRUSHED right now but he wont let me nea rhis mouth and I thought a brush might encourage agreeability.

One of my current fave pics is my child trying to squeeze behind the computer. Cracks my ass up. He'll play on the bed while I'm in here and we do an elaborate game of "peek a boo" where I dart my head out from one side or the other. I guess he figured out how to get on the left side. Not just the right.



Have I mentioned diaper changes are pure hell? SERIOUSLY they are a two man gig. I cant manage anymore. And when I HAVE to manage? It's not pretty. And no, no clever suggestion will work. I've tried them all. Now it's just keep him upright as long as possible then pin him down while I half ass slap the diaper tabs on and hope it stays.

Note this fabulous diaper change from the weekend.



I'm overly tired these days. need to start taking my vitamins again. Always forget because I'm cool like that. I sucked at prenatals too and I knew those were important.

The silly boychild has enough hair these days for me to torture him with combing it over. of course the very front hates me for this and rebels by shooting forward again and Liam wont stay still for a pic of it but it's really funny while it lasts.

I'm pretty sure that's all that's to be reported at this time. EventuallyLiam will be going to sleep as he's been up since 11 and 8 hours is a long ass time for a 10 month old to stay awake!

~M

So it doesnt count as WALKING. not by a long shot. And I guarentee tonight was a fluke. But it's still as exciting as all get out!

But my crazy baby took two totally unassisted steps by himself. Stopped, and squatted down slowly to pick up what he wanted!!!

He was in the cage (his superyard) and we were eating dinner. He was standing there bouncing up and down babbling away like he always does holding on with one hand. He spied one of his veggie booty pieces and he let go (leaving his hand still stretched out) took two very deliberate steps (in slow motions. i swear. lol) then squatted down and picked up his puff to eat!

GAH!

Of course I tried to get him to do it again and he refused. WALKING to mama or dad isnt cool and OMG have the two of them hollaring for your attention is just worthy of jumping up and down squealing not moving towards them.

BUT WOOT! My baby took his first steps. On accident but he did it nonetheless! :) :) :)

Holy moly! I cannot even IMAGINE him actually WALKING sometime in the near future. He still only stands when he's in the mood. So I really doubt actual walking walking will be too terribly soon but sucker took steps people. Steps.

Im in total awe!!!

He's the coolest dude I ever did see.



M

So Sunday was Josh's first softball game. (I just wrote tball. Newsflash...t ball is for infants. softball is for mullets...more on that later).

Dispite the strange weather I get the bot ready to go and he and Josh pause for pic time.



Yes, that's a mohawk again. I figure at 9 months old it's the look to have. Makes him look hip and edgy amongst his boring ass parents. That, and the combover look is really not stylish.

So we get there and all is fine and dandy. Liam's friend Xander is there and feeling awful friendly. Mr Chiiiiiiiil gives big smiles and is just hysterical. Josh makes the mistake of putting Liam on the grass...cue hysterics. Grass is not Liam's friend.

Finally it's time for the gam.e We all go over to the field. I take myself a seat in the bleacher area away from the team as Liam is cranky as hell and wants to sleep (not that I suppose he will. Liam? Sleep in public? heck no mama heck no!)

The game starts and I notice a strange trend. one that makes me curse forgetting my camera at home. The team they are playing? Must be the Puyallup Softball Champs of 1985. Okay, perhaps they werent REALLY the 1985 champs but they looked the part and thought they were.

Lots of bulldykes for women and mullets for men. Combined with perms and bleached hair! OOOOH baby! The men had that super skinny alcoholic look that the 80's did so well. Combined with knee braces and skinny pants.

Lets not forget the dirty glare of the first girl up to bat when the pitcher ended up walking her. Hey. It's the LOWEST LEVEL OF PLAY in freaking PUYALLUP. I did not realize that there was actual talent needed.

So obviously Josh is on the team of misfit toys.

As Josh goes up for his first at bat our son decides it's time to nap and proceeds to fall asleep in my lap. After screaming hysterically because of 3 rain drops. So with it barely sprinkling I have to hold an umbrella over my sensitive child as he tries to sleep across my entire lap less than comfortably.

Josh manages a lovely first hit. the rest of the game goes by fine. His team loses, but what do you expect playing mullets!, but they didnt royally suck which is better than expected from a team that half of them have never played and only half of them got together for practice!

The downside? Josh thinks he's 13 and SLIDES into 2nd. Wearing shorts.

Behold...the power of gravel below dirt.



We went home and gave Liam lessons in sippy cup straw goodnes since he hates the normal sippy cups. The straw one he seemed to like pretty well.



Will the bottle be leaving anytime soon? No. But as he's only 9 months old I'm not worried in the least. I did want him exposed to a sippy though and the straw seems to be the way to go! Bonus...it's nonspill!

And after such a long day the boychild fell asleep roaming the floor and playing with his toys. He NEVER falls asleep except on our bed and that's usually quite the adventure.



And now it's time to deal with the screamy baby and the whiny husband. he has a headache and is tired and Liam seems to think screaming at the top of his lungs is really attractive. And I seem to need to go potty.

~M

Last night my sister, brother in law, and nieces came over.

And, in true we're rich tradition, we all headed to WalHell while Josh worked! It was 8:30 at night but that never stopped us before. Even if it was past Liam's bedtime. :)

Liam sat in one cart, the girls in the other. At some point Jas decided she wanted to get out and walk. No biggie. she and I took off to browse shoes which included a long trip down the cheapie flip flop aisle where I found her the most be-a-uuuuuuutiful flip flops. "FOR MEEEEE tee?" she asked all excited. I assured her they were. Provided of course when we met up with her mom she told her that they were $4.88. Sometimes the things I get her to say crack me up for no reason. (Today, on the phone, she told me "Thanks for the shoes Tee. They were four BUCKS Tee." I nearly died laughing.)

We met up with my sister and brother in law in the baby section where we browsed the aisle. Randomly chit chatted (the shoppers at 9pm are always the chattiest!). And determined they make NO cute clothes for boy (HAHA! I could've told you that sister. I've been dealing with it for a year!)

We stopped to browse at a rack of clearance pj's. David was handling the cart with Alexia, my sister and I chit chatting. Jas circling the rack. We walked to the next rack and suddenly realized Jasmine was nowhere to be found.

We looked up and down the baby section before panic started to overcome us. We yelled her name. Everyone stopped and stared at the two crazy ladies yelling and the black man behind tending two carts (including the one with the obscenly white boy!)

Lisa looked at me and asked if she should get someone. I told her to find someone IMMEDIATELY so they could lock down the store. I sent David off to the toy section as I continued screaming for her and racing up and down the aisles near the baby section.

A woman in the section asked if I'd lost my daughter. I told her, no, my niece. She said "the cute little girl with the rainboots and the umbrella?" Yes, i told her. She assured me she'd seen her just a moment ago and we'd find her. I did some nervous laugh assuring her I was sure we'd find her too but inside I was terrified.

Multiple employees passed by and gave me strange looks but none of them bothered to stop. Did no one notice the crazy look in my eye? The frantic calls of Jasmine's name?

All I could think of was how she's too friendly. She's only 4. No one's taught her properly that strangers are bad. and even though she's heard bits and pieces I was certain she was a prime target. She'd go with anyone for anything. She was so friendly. Thrived on attention. Was eager to help. Any excuse could have gotten her away from us.

I continued screaming her name and looking around frantically as I heard the overhead call out a "Code Adam" and describe my niece. I cursed in my head and wondered why they didnt mention those damn rain boots she'd insisted on wearing. Certainly there were other little girls in turquoise tank tops but surely none were wearing pink rain boots!

I called Josh as I neared panic. My yelling for her becoming more and more frequent as I tried to stop my racing thoughts. And then suddenly I saw some customer flag her hand at me from down the way. I RAN (and cod knows I dont run!) down to where she was.

David was standing there, "They found her."

A walhell employee was standing beside the clearance pajama rack, "she's in there."

I bent down and emotions flooded me all at once. I wanted to shake her and hug her and throw up all at once. I'd been so scared. i'd never been so scared in my life as I had been right before she was found.

She looked embarassed and knew something was up. I told her how scared I was and how happy I was to find her and that she had to come out because we had to go to the front of the store where her mommy was. The walhell associate looked at me strangely, "I'm her aunt" I said but still she looked at me odd as Jasmine didnt come to me.

Jas told me she was just playing hide and seek. I nearly died when I heard that. She'd never 'played hide and seek' in the store. Why hadnt we thought to look there? Why didnt we see her hop in?

Finally Jas came out and reached her arms up for me. And I somehow managed to pick her 50 pound body up and carry her. For a few steps. She begged to be carried. Typical reaction when she's embarassed or sad. I told her I couldnt. She stood still refusing to move. We had to get to the front of the store. They'd called up to let Lisa know that she'd been found but I had to get my niece back to my sister immediately for my sister's sake.

I asked Jas to help me push the cart. No go. I suggested she ride in the cart. No go. She got embarassed as another WalHell employee came around. I got the bright idea of asking her to hold the hand of the WalHell employee and walk through and somehow that worked.

When we got to Lisa Jasmine suddenly got REALLY shy and demanded she needed a time out (she likes to give herself time outs when she's embarassed or has gotten in trouble or is tired or or or). Lisa insisted she didnt need a time out.

And somehow it was done. She was back. And she was safe.

It happened so fast I cant even remember how it happened. I cant even imagine. The time between her hiding in the rack and the time between finding her couldn't have been more than 10 minutes but it felt like FOREVER.

We left and went to pick Josh up from work. He drove home with my sister who relayed the story to him. The backseat Jasmine asked her mom if she'd broken her heart.

Cod yes it broke hearts. The very IDEA of something happening to her makes my heart hurt in a way I didnt know it could. My love for my nieces is so big. It's like my love for my son. The very thought of something happening to them is more than I can handle.

I'm so glad she was found and she's okay. But what about all those kids who arent found? Who arent just playing hide and seek? Who ARENT okay. What about the parents and aunts and families of those children? My heart breaks for them. We were so lucky this little girl was okay.



But what about all the rest who arent?

If nothing else it taught us a few lessons. About how quickly a child really CAN disappear. How vulnerable we all are. How the lesson about strangers needs to happen sooner. Even if it burst their innocence.

My sister ordered a video on strangers from the AMW website. I've already plotted the purchase of a damn leash for when Liam's old enough to want to be out on his own.

Cod almighty the idea of things turning out differently than they did last night is too terrifying to imagine. I'm so glad she's okay.

M

Oh Cod. The things this child does. My sweet innocent baby is into spitting now.

This ridiculous funky spit where it's like he's trying to blow raspberries but my son has NEVER done anything typical and cute baby (coo? no. scream. hug? no. lunge.)

It's so hilarious though. And he does it ALL THE FREAKING TIME.

Except when the camera is out, of course. Evil child wants everyone to think his mother makes this stuff up.

So as he was doing it, yet again this morning, I grabbed the camera and tried to con him into doing it. Eventually he did. A little.



The BEST, however, was shortly after I took that film when I grabbed the camera again mid spit session. And spit went flying everywhere. Usually its just the spitting noise. not the actual saliva. Not today!



I havent laughed this hard in a long. long. long. time. I wish they turned out better when they were uploaded. The detail is ridiculous.

My cheeks hurt something fierce.

Cod I love this child. I seriously couldn't have picked a better baby if I tried. He is just as completely off his rocker as the rest of us are! WHACKO BABY BOY!

And, of course, I cant keep his insanity to myself. Must share all the good bits, you know. :)

xoxo, M

Liam's fave show as a little baby was Jack's Big Music Show. A weird little show on Noggin with dancing and singing puppet things. With brief interruptions in the show to have songs by real people.

We watched this around the clock. Seriously ridiculous amounts of this show. Josh and I would roam around going "Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat a daaaaaaaaaaaay" over and over and over and calling everything "super swell".

Then Liam moved onto Little Einsteins. With Mickey Mouse Clubhouse mixed in (hey, i have the tv on all day for noise might as well make it noise that's somewhat educational for him instead of, say, Maury or something.)

So the other day we decided to try out again to see if we could get a little variety.

Oh. My. Cod. The child laughed hysterically. In this episode the "dog" puppet thinks he's a cat. And the main Jack character is arguing with him on how to say 'ruff' instead of 'meow'. Liam giggled his butt off. We rewound it multiple times. Each time with the same result. Only after, say, 20 times of this did I think to get the camera so this is a MILD version of what happens when Jack's Big Music Show comes on.



Cod how I love this child. He's just freaking hilarious.

Except when he only naps for 20 minute spurts while I'm trying to make breakfast and envisioning enjoying it peacefully on the porch while Liam should be asleep for an hour or more.

Oh well. He's a riot. He makes up for it in kisses so who can fault him wanting to be up?

M

He naps on our bed.

During naps I'm usually on the computer which is directly behind the bed.

I love it when he first wakes up. He goes from totally asleep to totally awake in 2 seconds flat. Sits straight up and looks around all crazy eyed and sleepy.



Then he finds his bottle and has a quick snack.


Then he lounges around and just acts generally cute.



Then he goes off and attacks anything, anyone, whatever's in his path.



He's just my favorite son ever (so WHAT if he's my only son ever?!)

I am so going to keep him.

M

**EDIT** OMG. This child is priceless. He was crawling around the bed. Saw his bottle. Laid down...and this is how I just found him. My son. The king of impossible to get to sleep



Guess a 30 minute nap wasnt long enough! (no kidding)

just collapsed over a pillow with his bottle in reach. such a god day to be a bot!

He's fine.

The dr seemed stuck on the lack of solids. Dude. That's the least of my concerns. He makes up for his lack of solids with an abundance of formula daily. I was just worried about the lack of formula.

Basically she said as long as there are 3 urine diapers a day with SOME urine in it and his behavior is okay he's okay.

She thinks the sudden lack of formula yesterday may be because he's getting ANOTHER tooth on the bottom. I wasnt prepared for tooth #5 to be heading in. Didnt we just FINISH dealing with tooth 3 & 4 last week? Gah! And he hasnt been acting weird aside from biting things but he always does that after he gets a new tooth.

Thankfully he's now up to 14 oz of formula & 4 oz of pedialyte today which is really low for him but way better than he was at this time yesterday.

He's cute as hell. As usual being the super friendly show stealer. This little old lady was convinced he was a girl. I mean, my son is pretty, but I dont think he looked particularly girlie today :)



BTW, the weatherman lied. It's 85 right now. he said 79. There's a big difference. So after the dr's office (and a trip to Target) we drove around for nearly an hour enjoying the a/c.

Unfortunately Liam suffered some pretty horrific hat hair after the fact. See. He has hair. You just cant tell unless it gets really badly messed up.



Now if he could just behave and drink his formula like a nice baby i'd appreciate it muchly. Until then I give you another installment of how many funny faces can my silly baby make!







And a cute smile just because.



Now I'm off to enjoy the last few minutes of Josh home before he goes in for his half day.

M

**EDIT** I almost forgot. He's up to 21 pounds 13oz and 28 3/4" long. He's definately growing juuuuuuuust fine the way he is. That's up 2 full pounds since his 6 month check up and an inch and a half in length. YEAH smooshy!

*sigh* Little child of mine. Stop worrying me already!

Since he gave up solids he's been eating formula like a piglet. Minimum 32oz a day usually closer to 48 oz a day.

Between 7am yesterday and 7am today I faught and faught to get in 6-10oz of formula, 4 oz of watered down juice, and 6oz of pedialyte. About half (or less) of what he normally drinks. On the hottest day of the year no less.

I changed his diaper at 11am, 9pm, and 9am. not because it needed to be changed. Mind you he's been completely filling and peeing out within 3 hours lately and after 12 hours overnight? It was barely damp.

I call the nurse line who says I have to call his ped. I call his ped who says I have to talk to their nurses. Their nurses are all in with patients. They'll call me back. An hour later the nurse calls me back. What does she say, "Well WHY did you give him pedialyte?" Because I couldnt get anything else in him and when it's 93 degrees out I think its important to get SOME fluids in him and since he loves pedialyte and I had some on had I thought I'd give him some. And we'd better be glad because that's what he's drank the most of.

He will drink 2 or 3 drinks then turn away pissy. With the weather and his decrease in urine it WORRIES me.

She then got his info wrong (so he normally drink 72 oz of formula  day? For fuck's sake who drinks 72 oz of formula a day? Cod almighty I said 32-48oz). Then copped an attitude at the pedialyte. Then said she'd have to call back. Again.

Well it's been another 45 minutes. Almost 2 hours since I originally called. For fuck's sake people. I called as soon as you opened for a reason.

Cod. This is why I hate calling. Because I get the runaround and feel like an idiot. He's been SO fussy and SO clingy and SO weird. And while I totally admit the weather could make him lose his appetite he should still be thirsty! And he should drink more than a sip or two at a time.

*sigh sigh sigh* So we wait for a call back where they can act like I'm a crazy overdramatic parent. *sighsighsigh* I wish they'd just call back already. He's been sleeping like crazy (a THREE HOUR nap yesterday afternoon and he slept until after 7 this morning. He's usually up at 5am. And he only woke up because I poked at him because i was freaked out that he was still asleep.)

Grr. Boo. Hiss.

M