Update

I am  woefully behind on my blog, so I thought I would give an overview of what we have been up to these last few weeks:

• Liam is crawling everywhere and cruising along our furniture as well.  He loves to push Laney's sea grass step stool all over the kitchen as he proudly walks along with it.  Liam has started waving at us all the time, and is saying "dah" now repeatedly, though not to Patrick (yet).  He is currently on an eating strike, preferring to chew up his food and spit it out rather than swallow it.  He is still managing to find himself on the large side, weighing in at 25 lbs and wearing 24 month clothing.  I have been gelling his curls in the back each day and can't believe that soon enough he will need his first haircut.  Liam has also started taking his toys and holding them on top of his head, dropping them down his back.  No reason for this, but it does seem to entertain him!

Currently showing 3 times daily at our house

• Laney is super talkative and I have likened her nonstop commentary on everything going on around her to a play-by-play a la Bob Costas.  She even told another dad at the park today that "mommy calls me Bob Casta!"  What a character.  She also told him that her name was "Hugga-Bugga-Ding-Dong."  Thanks for the nick-name uncle Sean.  I bought her her very first pair of safety scissors and she loves practicing cutting paper each day during Liam's nap time.   She has become engrossed with Play-doh again, as well as painting, and watching Monsters Inc. Funny story:  two  nights ago Laney was helping me prepare dinner.  I got an orange bell pepper out of the fridge and she picked it up and said "what the hell is this?"  When Patrick and I stopped laughing we had to a) apologize for teaching her that word  b) teach her that hell is not an okay word  c) secretly congratulate ourselves for the fact that she used the phrase perfectly!

• Poor Toby went to the vet today for his 6 week x-ray on his leg, and we found out that it has not healed very well and he is in a cast for at least another 2 weeks.  The x-rays were forwarded to a surgeon and we will find out soon if he needs to have surgery on the bone.  Keeping our fingers crossed for speedy healing.

• Our house is going green!  Along with the myriad of green products I have switched our family to this year, Patrick and I decided to add solar panels to the roof.  All 19 are currently installed and passed inspection today.   After notification in a few days, SDG&E will let us know when we can turn them on.  I can't wait to see how they affect the electic bill! :)

Hand print project example

• I have been busy with creative projects including:  framing all four of our hand prints overlayed artistically; cutting up my old t-shirts and turning them into skirts for Laney (still a work in progress), baking ribbon wrapped around wooden dowels to make korker hair bows, cutting out felt for "button snakes," making a perpetual birthday calendar for my clueless brother, and needle pointing feverishly at night on Liam's Christmas stocking.  I estimate it to be 33% done, and need to kick my needles into overdrive to get that baby done before the holidays.

Button snakes:  Laney can slip the felt squares on and off by herself.  Bonus:  it takes her a long time and is a quiet activity.



Korker Bows.  Loved them as a little girl, and love them on my little girl.


• Patrick goes to work each day and well...he goes to work each day.  Lucky Patrick escapes the drama of my 3 year old each afternoon, crying woefully for daddy to come home.  Thankfully he is employed and we all appreciate the fun times we have during the day thanks to his dutiful efforts at Kyocera.  
• Fantasy Football is upon us.  I have joined the Leather 'n Lace league (thanks to Amanda!) for my inaugural season and Patrick has rejoined with his buddies for another go at it.  We sat down and did our rankings last night.  Who knew that I would need a list of 60 RBs, 30 QBs, and 80 WRs to go to my draft Wednesday....or that there was so much literature about it available on the internet?  I could see this becoming an obsession for some people, and at the very least a part time job for others.  I am determined not to let it take up too much of my time each week, but I have my doubts.  My team name is Killer Miller and I am hoping to have a good showing this season.  I will keep you updated at my season progresses.  

I'm off to bed!  Hope to post about our trip to Peru very soon!!!