Kiss

I discovered that Liam learned a great new skill today - giving a kiss :) It's a wonderful new addition to our bedtime routine.
Liam is walking about 80% of the time now without help and I can tell we're on the verge of a new era of running after him. We took him to a terrific park yesterday with rubber padding all over the ground, and spent a long time following him around.

His signing vocabulary is getting bigger all the time and includes lots of animals (lion, cat, dog, pig, bird, fish...) and he's also starting to learn how to make some animal sounds (lion roar - which is adorable, woof, meow, moo).

On a visit to the zoo with his friends, he is fascinated by, of all things, a cow. To his credit, he did really like the elephant and the lion too--but he did indicate that the gorilla was a dog and had little interest.

Trying to play with the neighborhood kids that are twice his age, he ends up playing the role of the door-man.

Bedtime song

While we were getting Liam ready for bed (hence the sleep sack), he indicated he wanted the keyboard out. Apparently, he wanted one last bedtime song.

Stand Up

Liam continues to learn more each day.  He's added some signs, like book, dad, bird and done.  Interestingly, he'll sign bird when he hears one, even if he doesn't see one, so he's linked the sound with the animal in his mind.  One of his most powerful new tricks is to shake his head "no" and nod "yes."  This leads to a narrowing-down process where he'll sign "more" "book" and then we take out books one-by-one and ask if he wants that one until he gives an enthusiastic nod.  Of course, sometimes we have to make him do something he is clearly shaking his head "no" to (like leave the playground after playing for an hour), but that's just early practice for many years of not always getting his way :)

Liam's also getting more physically capable.  He can walk on his own for a few feet and stand himself up:

Go get it!

We have taught our dog, Makoto, 1 trick: You tell him to stay, you throw his toy and then he will wait patiently until you say, "go get it!" Upon that command, the dog will jump into action and retrieve his toy. We have just now introduced Liam to this and he seemed a little perplexed, but also eager to get in on the action. You can tell in the video that he is wanting to be the boss and tell the dog to go get it. Now, we just need to teach Makoto to respond to "BUHHHHHH".

Favorite Things

Liam definitely has preferences now.

He enjoys banging on laptops

The swing is great fun

Peek-a-boo is still a favorite

He loves the cat, but I am not sure the cat returns the sentiment.

Walking

These are some of Liam's first steps on his own! (We hadn't gotten the camera out yet for the first few steps).

Happy Birthday, Big Guy!

Has it been a year already? You so recently were a precious, helpless little blob in my arms, now you are getting to be a curious big boy with your own wants and desires…but no less precious. You are not quite walking yet, but I think you are going to love the freedom to explore that it will give you. You use your fire engine and shopping cart as mini walkers and you squeal with glee every time you make a long journey down the hallway. Your passion seems to be watching the kids in the neighborhood play basketball. I wonder if that is something you will enjoy when you are older. You also have really taken to the animals…especially Yuki. You love to tackle him and feel his fur on your face as you flatten him with your body. The other day, you stopped me in the store to point at a sign with a dog on it. Then you did your sign for dog. You seem to be getting smarter and more communicative everyday.
A few months ago, you seemed to eat whatever we put in front of you, but lately I fear that you have inherited your mom’s sweet tooth, preferring yogurt, cookies and cereal over veggies and protein. I was surprised to find out how much you disliked your healthy birthday cupcake I made for you; you found the smell distasteful and didn’t even smash it like most babies. Maybe next year we will try butter cream frosting.

Part of me is sad that you are growing up, but part of me feels happy that I get to watch you learn and explore even more. You are so interested, so curious, so in awe of the world around you. You have also developed a sense of humor, finding certain things like me trying to put your hat on funny. I am delighted to be a part of your world. Happy Birthday, Big Guy!