Three Day Weekend Recap

Eight years ago, I met this little girl:


This adorable munchkin and her two sisters stole my heart and kept me very busy for a couple years. Being their nanny never felt like a job, it was pure love.   And it was great training for my current role as mommy.

Fast forward to now--I am a mommy and Brooke is almost a teenager.  She came to visit the Kratz home last weekend and here's a glimpse at the fun that we had.  A trip to the snow, six hours of baking Alaska (yum!), and lots of card games.  We loved her, William loved her and we loved having her here.  We can't wait to have her visit again!

Field Trip

I just realized that this post was saved in my drafts...I wrote it in November.  Oh well, I am slacking on new posts so this will have to do for tonight.

William joined me on my first work trip since his birth.  Matt was able to come with us to Monterey and be daddy-on-duty for three days.  Other than going a little stir crazy in the hotel room, they did pretty good.  My parents were also at the function (we work in the same industry), and offered to take some family pictures for us.

....strange that we ended up with more pictures of Liam with his grandparents than his parents....

January is almost over...but I made a promise....

I made a promise to blog about Christmas.  I almost decided to break that promise.  Instead, below are a collage of pictures from what was, so far, the best Christmas I have experienced.  It had less to do with William opening presents (he had no clue what was going on), and mostly to do with the realization that I have everything I could ever want.  Gifts are great--don't get me wrong (disclaimer so my husband doesn't cancel future gifts), but the greatest gift I have is my family.  I am blessed with a faith that gives me purpose, an amazing husband, a healthy and happy baby and a family that loves us more than we deserve.  I am so so so blessed.  2010: you kicked butt.  I challenge 2011 to surpass you.

6 months

Liam,
It is 1.11.11 and you are halfway to one! 

Today you are six months and I hate to be so cliche, but....TIME FLIES BY WAAAAAAAAAY TOO FAST!!!  I keep asking you to stop growing up, and you keep disobeying me.

Here you are at six months in your standard pose:  eyes bright, mouth open and drool rolling down your chin.

In the last month, you experienced Christmas (yes, I still need to blog about that):

Okay...this one is better:)

You decided you liked boxes more than the content of the boxes:

You ate your first food--avocado:

You smile and giggle all day long:

And you make us happier than we ever thought we would be:

Merry Christmas from Liam

This little Santa has brought me all the presents I need this year!

What a month!

Wow, this past month has been PACKED with so much love, fun, travel, family and memories.  Here's a recap of the last couple weeks (a.k.a. the reasons for my lack of posts):

Liam started giggling :)

We took an AMAZING, and much needed, vacation with my side of the family.  It was literally our first vacation with them in over five years and Liam's first of (hopefully) many trips to Hawaii.

The Tuesday before Thanksgiving, Liam welcomed his newest cousin--beautiful Peyton Ryan into the world.

Aren't they the cutest pair?

We started celebrating Liam's first Christmas, including decorating the tree...

visiting Santa at the mall...

opening his first Christmas present from his sweet nanny, Brooke...

....and enjoying the bow more than the present:)

Isn't he the cutest ornament in our tree?!!?

Liam tasted his first food,

loves getting tossed in the air,

and talking to us about just about everything!

This past month flew by fast, too fast.  I am the luckiest mom/wife/daughter/sister/friend in the world.  

5 months

I have been absent from the blog, but must return for the 5 month picture.

Once I get a free minute (or 10), I'll update you on the past month of our glorious life.  But for now, here is the most adorable five-month old around:

These days, Liam is doing one of two things-- either chewing on EVERYTHING:

Or rolling over: