December 23

While on our way to a Christmas party this evening we were caught in some traffic. Gotta love Providence at 5 P.M. Liam is chatting away in the backseat and suddenly decides he wants to be a dinosaur.

Liam: "RAWWWWR"
He does this four or five times, at top volume.
Momma: "Liam, do you think you could be a quiet dinosaur? Daddy is trying to concentrate on the traffic and it's really distracting when you yell like that."
Liam: "But Momma, I'm not a quiet dinosaur, I'm a REAL dinosaur. I want to be a gen-u-ine REAL dinosaur."


The Christmas party was great. I got to see all my extended family; cousins, aunts, uncles and such. It reminded me of when I was young, the way Christmas used to be growing up. One of my favorite family traditions as a kid was my Uncle Dick dressing up every Christmas as Santa Claus. After all the other presents had been exchanged and dinner was over, we'd hear the jingling of bells and the familiar "Ho, Ho, Ho" and down the stairs he'd come. Santa Claus with a big cloth bag over his shoulder. One by one he'd call each cousin's name and we'd have a seat on his lap and get our last gift for the day. The best part is there would always be a gift for my grandfather in the sack as well, the eternal kid at heart, although I think my aunts just loved making my Grandpa sit on his brother-in-law's lap year after year.

Liam had the opportunity to meet this Santa for the first time tonight. He was so excited he was wriggling in my lap. Before Santa even made it to his seat, Liam was talking to him,
Liam: "Hi Santa! Hi!"
Santa: "Hello, What's your name? Liam?"
Liam: "Yeah, I'm Liam."
Santa: "What's your little brother's name?"
Liam: "He's Connor."
Santa: "And what's your mother's name?"
Liam: "Momma"

Santa took his seat and called each child up by name. Most kids were too shy or too old/cool to sit with Santa, but when Liam's name is called he went right up and sat on Santa's lap. He took his present and despite his excitement still remembered to say thank you. Made Momma proud. He came back to me with the gift in his hot little hands. He looked up with shining eyes and said, in awe, "He knows my name, Momma!" After all the gifts are handed out Liam asked to say good bye before Santa had to go. He remembered to thank him again and then Liam turned to Santa and said"Merry Cwistmas, I LOVE you, Santa!" Have you ever heard a room collectively 'awwwww'? I honestly thought my aunts would melt into a collective puddle of sap right there.

December 20

Dinner consisted of a Liam favorite tonight. Chicken nuggets. Why is it that no matter how much nutritious food one feeds a two year old, even if said two year old LIKES nutritious options, the favorites are always the not so good for you items? Anyway, back to nuggets. Liam is chomping away, practically eating his fingers he's in such a hurry to get to each tasty morsel of chicken nugget. He will occasionally break for a sip of water or to get a spoonful of peas, but barely. Mark decides to tempt fate and see if Liam is willing to share. Silly, silly man.

Daddy: "Can I have a nugget, big boy?"
Liam, hand raised in the 'stop' pose: "Daddy, I really don't want to get upset."

'Nuff said. :)

December 18

The boys were working off some of their energy after dinner and before bath time last night. Oh, to have half their energy; I'd cure cancer, end world hunger, and actually mail my Christmas cards all before lunch. I digress. Liam was alternating between running around in circles telling me about his "fast running shoes" and riding his truck in circles pretending to be a fire engine, complete with life-like siren noises. Connor was taking turns trying his best to keep up with his big brother and taking the toys from the toy box one by one over the coffee table and then bringing them back. Connor got bored with his game and asked Mark to play the piano with him, in "Connorese" anyway.
Connor (translation in parenthesis): "Da." (Daddy)
Mark looks at him.
Connor: "Ba." Points at the piano. (Would you like to play the piano with me?)
Mark: "Do you want to play the piano, Connor?"
Connor: "Phffffft" blows a raspberry and starts quivering with excitement (HECK yeah!)

Mark and Connor start hammering away on the piano. Liam the firefighter/track star is still going in circles. This goes on for 10 minutes or so. Finally, Liam has had enough.

Liam: "Can I get some PEACE around here?"

December 16

We enjoyed the warm day earlier this week (60 in December, really?!?) by going for a walk. I walked behind Liam riding his big wheel while Mark held Connor. I didn't see the pile, I didn't hear the splat, but I sure did smell the unmistakable odor. Someone had stepped in something a neighborhood dog had so thoughtfully left behind. I checked my shoes, Mark checked his. Nope. We knew it couldn't be Connor and Liam had been pedaling the whole time. Then I noticed the strip of brown on Liam's big red wheel. Liam turns to look at me with his nose crinkled.
Liam: "Momma, I smell something. I smell something NOT good. *mumble, mumble*(while shaking his head emphatically) NOT good...."

File this under 'Duh':
After seeing a commercial about fireplaces;
Liam:"I don't like fire, it's too.....um....firey"

December 15

I sang Liam "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" for the first time tonight. He listened carefully, as always.

Liam: "Where's Town? Santa's coming there. Can we go?"

December 11

We took the boys to the mall today as it has been raining for two days straight and we needed something to do. Liam was totally psyched for the trip for the usual reasons, namely the pet store and a ride on the mechanical cars on the way out. He was also more than a little worked up over seeing Santa. He saw him from a distance last time he was there and hasn't stopped talking about him since. He has pretty much been practicing his answer to, "What do you want for Christmas, little boy?" for weeks. We've discussed the details, be a good boy, ask Santa for presents and he delivers on Christmas Eve. He's heard the songs, read the stories, and seen "A Charlie Brown Christmas". I figure he gets it, especially when he's so excited to see Santa so he can tell him what he'd like.

He waits in line, thankfully short, dancing from one foot to the other. The entire time the two families ahead of us spend their time with Santa Liam is either shouting and waving, "Hi Santa!!!" or trying as desperately a two and a half year old can to contain himself.

And finally, the last kid peels himself off of Santa's lap and Mark lets Liam free. He runs right up, checking only once over his shoulder to make sure Daddy is close behind.

Liam: "HI SANTA!!!!!!"
Santa: "Ho, ho, ho, Have you been a good boy?"
Liam: "Yep" Now starting to get shy looking anywere, but at Santa. He notices all the Christmas decorations surrounding Santa's seat. The toy train, the tree, the HUGE glittery presents. After making some inconsequential (to Liam) small talk, Santa gets down to business.
Santa: "What do you want for Christmas?"
Liam, with Momma's notes in parentheses: "I want a football (he has two already) and a truck (ditto, and too many to count). A digger truck (Ok, maybe not one of these specifically). And a dump truck, too (has a big one and a matchbox size). I want a mask (What? Um, what for exactly?). And a movie, uh, five movies. Bob movies and Curious (George) movies."
Santa tries some more be a good boy type small talk while Liam fingers the edge of one of those shiny presents, but is cut short.
Liam: "Can I have that present now?"
Daddy: "Okay, time to go."
Momma: "Say 'Merry Christmas' to Santa, bud"
Liam, begrudgingly, "Merry Christmas, Santa"
On his way out of the Santa corral, not out of earshot mind you, Liam lets loose.
Liam: "He didn't give me a present, Momma!!"

Apparently Liam missed the second step of the whole two step process of 1. Tell Santa what you want. and 2.Get it delivered on Christmas Eve.

November 23

The boys were playing in the living room with Daddy while I was making dinner this evening. I was preoccupied cutting up broccoli for Connor and thought I heard Liam calling for me.
Me: "Liam, did you call me?"
Liam: "Mommmmmaaaaa"
Me: "Yes?"
Silence.
Me: "Liam, what do you want?"
Liam: "I want something delicious. I want a delicious dinner, Momma."

November 14-21

Yes, it's been awhile. I haven't had any real stories to write, just random things, so I figured I'd post those.

Liam loves Sesame Street. He watches faithfully every morning while Daddy gets ready for work and Momma makes breakfast. His favorite part is, of course, Elmo's World. He does a killer rendition of the theme song, btw, ending with a flourish and one hand pointed to the sky while he looks up. Very rock 'n roll. Anyway, he's started mimicking the segment on Elmo where the kids explain to Elmo's goldfish, Dorothy, how to do something. Everything he does, he says aloud in that format like he's speaking to an invisible goldfish.
While brushing his teeth: "This is how you brush your teeth, Dorothy" (proceeds to brush)
While Daddy uses Listerine: "That is how you use Listerine, Dorothy" (points to Daddy)
While eating breakfast: (picks up a big hunk of scrambled eggs, no fork of course, and says with his mouth full)"This is how you eat eggs, Dorothy"

This morning, out of nowhere, Liam picks up Mark's work boots and puts them on. He starts shuffling around the house and tells me he's ice skating. He grabs my shoes from the bedroom and tells me: "C'mon Momma, ice skate with me." I know it's been cold lately, but geez...

I've been trying to see how much of the whole Christmas thing Liam understands. He's been very excited by the start of holiday music and decorations. He's seen Santa at the mall and gets all smiley and happy to tell me about it. He understands that Santa brings gifts on Christmas Eve. He remembers leaving cookies out last year, actually he remembers that all Santa left was "Crumbs, Momma!" After a trip to the mall with Daddy followed by him excitedly telling Momma all about giving Santa five I decided to ask him about Christmas.
Me: "What would you like for Christmas?"
Liam, after thinking long and hard about it : "I want presents."

November 13

It was an overcast fall day. I was in a skirt kind of mood, so I put one on, with a pair of tights. Liam walks into the bedroom after I was done getting dressed and stopped in his tracks and stares at my legs.
Liam: "Momma, what is that brown...?"
Me: "Those are my tights."
Liam: "I like those tights. I like you brown. They are beautiful."
Wow, two and he's already learning to get in good with the ladies by complementing their clothes.

Liam decided to pretend to go swimming in the bathtub this evening. Before he started he lined all the bath toys up on the side of the tub; boats, rubber duckies, walruses, submarines. He pretends to dive into the water and splashes around.
Liam "I'm swimming, Momma, I'm Michael Phelps."
He gestures to all the things lined up so carefully on the tub, "These are my medals."
Me: "How did you get your medals?"
Liam: "Gold Medals, Momma."
Me: "How did you get your gold medals, Liam?"
Liam: "I'm Michael Phelps, Momma"
Me: "How did you get your gold medals, Michael Phelps?"
Liam: "Swimming in this bathtub."
You heard it here first, folks. Michael Phelps wins several gold medals in our bathtub.

November 8, Evening Edition :)

As I was putting away the laundry this afternoon I told Liam that Daddy and I would be going out to dinner tonight. I like to prepare him ahead of time as he is a creature of habit and likes to know what is going on.

Inevitably his next question was, "Can I come, too?"

Me: "No, just Momma and Daddy are going out tonight, but Memere is coming over to play with you and Connor."

Liam: "Okay" Thinks for a minute, "Is it your day off, Mommy?"

Wait, no one told me about days off!

November 8

This morning Mark was paying some bills on line, oh joy. Liam saw the "I Voted" sticker I had stuck to my computer and asked if he could have it.
Me: "Do you know why Momma got that sticker?"
Liam: "Because I voted!"
Me: "You voted?"
Liam nods.
Me: "You voted for what?"
Liam: "For president."
Me, genuinely curious at this point since I didn't discuss who I'd be voting for: "Who did you vote for, Liam?"
Liam: "John Gehiorse" (Our local morning weather man, for those of you not familiar with Channel 10)

Last night as he was getting ready for bed Liam was talking about work. He doesn't like that Mark leaves every morning and always asks to go to work with him. I was trying to explain the concept of a job to him, but apparently not very successfully. After I was through with my explanation I asked Liam what he'd like to be when he grows up.

Liam: "A Jeep, I think."

November 7

This morning Liam woke up and went about his normal morning routine. As Daddy was fixing himself a glass of juice he asked Liam if he wanted a juice box instead of his normal milk.

Liam: "No, I don't like juice boxes" This from the kid who has had 3 of them this week alone.

Mark: "You don't like juice boxes? Really?"

Liam: "No, they're too juicy."

November 4, Election Day

Have I mentioned Liam has a flair for the dramatic? He tends to be a bit over the top about things. He had a band aid on his knee for a few days. As we were getting undressed for his bath tonight I noticed that he'd developed a little rash from the adhesive. I told him we wouldn't be putting another band aid on tonight. No biggie. He got in the tub as usual. Was playing around with his rubber duckies and toy boats as usual. Suddenly, about three minutes in, he starts whimpering.
Me: "What's wrong Liam?"
Liam: "My skin is falling off. It's going to come right off of me"
Me: "Your skin is going to fall off?"
Liam, apparently already bored with the discussion answers in a nonchalant tone: "Yeah"
Watch out Robert Dinero, you've got some competition.

On his way up to bed Liam turns to Mark and tells him: "You're trouble, Daddy"
Me: "Daddy's not trouble!"
Liam: "You're trouble, too!"
Me: "Me?"
Liam: "Okay, you're not trouble. Daddy's trouble, though"

My little pundit made me proud today. It was such a nice day that we walked to the polls with our neighbor. Liam asked where we were going and I told him we were going to vote. Mrs. Burrill reminded him that we were picking a new president. I asked if he remembered who was running, as he shouts out Obama's name whenever he appears on TV. He not only remembered 'Rock' Obama, but John McCain as well. Better than most people Jay Leno encounters on the street :). He also impressed one of the political volunteers out in front of the polling place. She was holding a "Vote Democrat" sign along with one for our incumbent mayor. We have a sign for him on our lawn, so when he saw it Liam announced, "Vote for Mayor Doyle". The look of surprise on her face was priceless.

November 2

We went to breakfast at Kip's this morning a little later than usual. The place was packed. It's a small hole in the wall diner anyway, but there was a wait 4-8 people deep the whole time we were there. Seated just across the aisle from us this morning was a man and his 12 year old daughter. We were waiting for our breakfast, Liam being pretty patient and looking around enjoying the goings on. He randomly looks at the table across from us, not more than 2 feet away and says (LOUDLY): "That man has no hair, Daddy." When he didn't get a response he repeated: "Daddy, that man has no hair on his head." I think Mark was about to crawl under the table...that or die laughing.

November 1

Joe Safety strikes yet again. Liam, wearing his Daddy's hard hat 'cause he's too lazy to go and get his brand spanking new helmet from Grandma that he LOVES, is riding his big wheel in the driveway. He notices a few kids driving by at the corner. None of them are wearing helmets.
Liam: "They don't have their helmets on, Momma! They should. I have my helmet on." Great. Not only is he a narc, but he's a holier than thou narc :).

Liam and Connor, apparently on a safari for junk food, are skulking about the dining room table. Liam nonchalantly mentions, being sure Momma is listening, "Oh, look Connor! I believe it's cake. Yes, It is cake!" He knows darn well it's cake. He was with me when I put it on the table. Smarty pants thinks if he mentions it in passing Momma might offer him some. What two year old says "I believe" anyway?? Cute as the ploy was he still had to wait until after dinner.

Liam has been trying to inject himself into dinnertime conversation between Mark and I. Usually we'll ask about his day or he'll mimic what he hears us talking about, "I like my chicken, Momma" or "Can I have more mashed potatoes, please?" Today he asked me what the name of the pasta we were eating was. He likes to know these things so he can ask for his favorites when we shop. Currently he's loving the mini-wheels. Since he liked the mini version so much I decided to get baby shells this week.
Liam: "What kind of pasta is this, Momma?"
Me: "Baby shells."
Liam: "No, they're regular shells."
Me: "No, they're baby shells. Regular shells are bigger."
Liam: "Why don't we have regular shells, Momma?"
Me: "Because, these are the ones I bought. The regular shells are still at the store."
Liam: "Oh, That was a good explanation."
Me: "What?!?"
Liam: "It's a good explanation."
Me: "I thought so. Thank you."
Liam: "What's an explanation, Momma?"
Honestly. Where does this kid get this stuff? :)

October 31, Halloween

Liam dressed as a bat this year, not the lion we had planned for months. Momma learned a valuable lesson about not buying costumes for children too early. Connor was an adorable triceratops, although more people guessed dragon than dinosaur.

Liam was able to go door to door this year and caught on to the "rules" pretty quickly. Only go to the houses with the lights on, check. Hold Momma or Daddy's hand when crossing the street, check. Say "Trick or treat" before receiving candy and "Thank you" afterwards, check. Shout "Happy Halloween!" when person is handing out candy and you get twice as much, check and double check :).

Toward the end of the night our little bat boy was getting tired and dragging his little ghost bucket along (Thanks Grandma, btw!) He finished up at one house and gave me a sly smile and said with a gleam in his eye: "I didn't even have to say trick or treat at that one, Momma!"

October 30

We were playing in the yard as usual this afternoon. Liam and Connor are both big fans of the garage. They love to come in and out of the door at the back. Today Liam called for me to come in to the garage.
Liam: "Come see my house, Momma. Come in."
Once I step in the door he gestures for me to step in further.
Liam: "Don't I have a nice house. Look at it. Okay, I've got to do homework now. You have to go."
Me: "Do you even know what home work is?"
Liam: "No. But I have to do it. See ya later."
As the door closes behind me, "Thank you for visiting. We'll see you next time."
Apparently the what part of polite is sinking in, we just have to work on the why and we'll be all set.

We took a walk around the neighborhood this evening after dinner to check out all the Halloween decorations. Liam is obsessed with pumpkins; squealing as we see them in passing, in the grocery store, on television. I figured he'd have fun with all the houses decorated. Boy, did he.
"Look, Momma! Two pumpkins!" "What's that? A scarecrow? Look, another scarecrow at that house" "Skeletons. Why are they coming out of the ground, Momma?" All the decorations made for a very exciting walk. Even Connor started squealing for pumpkins after a little while. Soon we passed a house with a saint in the front yard, one of those Mary in a bathtub deals. It had a lit candle to the side. Liam looked at it, a bit confused and asked, "What kind of scarecrow is that, Momma?"

October 27

We were outside enjoying another wonderful fall afternoon. Gotta love this time of year. Connor was in the swing and Liam was in the midst of his daily "mow the lawn" ritual. He mows the backyard first, then up the side of the house as far as I'll let him go. He then waits until I'm distracted and/or too far away to get there quickly and he makes a break for it. Nothing like mowing the front lawn with the freedom of a boy NOT under Momma's watchful eye. I'm, shockingly enough, onto this game. Today I caught up with him as he reached the driveway and saw him watching two 11 or 12 year old kids drive by on their bikes. I hear the boys talking to each other as they pedal by.

Blonde kid: "Did you hear what he just said?" Referring to Liam.
Brown haired kid: "No, what?"
Blonde kid: "He asked me where our helmets were."

Yep. Joe Safety strikes again :).

October 26, Connor's First Birthday Party

Firstly, an ode to Connor, my mostly silent soon to be one year old little boy. He may not say a lot with words, but he sure knows how to get his point across. When putting the boys down for naps I always sing them a song or two to put them to sleep. Connor has taken to mooning over me as I sing instead of laying down as he should. He stands in his crib and sways to the music as I sing. The best part is the standing ovation when I finish :). Too cute.

Today while we were out to our usual Sunday morning breakfast at Kip's we told the boys we were having a party for Connor today. Liam was quite excited about the idea of a party. When he went down for his nap, we told him that when he woke up it would be time for the party to start. When Liam when woke up from his nap, his feet barely hit the floor before he was running down the stairs. He didn't stop to play with a single toy (a normal after nap ritual). He didn't stop to see if Connor had gotten up yet (he hadn't and slept obliviously through his brother's escape). He flung the door wide open and called: "Yoo Hoo! PARTY TIME!"

While Liam was eating his pizza outside with his cousin Ava, Uncle Danny joined them at the kiddie picnic table. It's a bit short for an adult to sit at anyway, but to sit comfortably forget about it. I got a chair for Danny and Liam decided he needed one, too. As I was getting a second chair for Liam Pepere decided to tease him.
Pepere: "Can I have that chair Liam?"
Liam:"No, Pepere, it's my turn."
Pepere: "Can I have it for a minute?"
Liam completely fabricates his response:"Um, there are more coming...."

October 24

Liam had been playing gas station when I realized the money he was playing with was a real penny. I took it away and tried to explain that he couldn't play with it because Connor might get it. Connor who puts EVERYTHING in his mouth. Liam started to pitch a fit. Not just a little fit. The hollering, screaming fit only a two year old can pitch. The kind you worry about the neighbors overhearing, even with all the windows and doors closed, and calling the authorities. After carrying on for far too long, I finally had him in my lap calm enough to talk about it. After a few minutes he got up and told me, "I need a break."
Me: "A break? A break from what?"
Liam: "I need a break from all this yelling, Momma."
He proceeded to go sit calmly on the couch and play with his letters.

October 22

We drove by Dunkin' Donuts on our way home tonight. Strange, passing a Dunkin' in RI, I know :P. We stopped at the red light right next to it and I wait to hear the usual, "Can we get munchkins, Momma?" (or Dew Drops if it's a Honey Dew, Liam is an equal opportunity teeny, tiny, donut lover)
Liam:"That Dunkin' Donuts is broken, you know"
I scan quickly to see if there is a light out or boarded up window. Nothing looks out of place.
Me: "It's not broken, Pumpkin."
Liam: "Yes, Momma, it is broken."
I realize that the incessant asking may have lead to the explanation.
Me: "Who told you that it was broken?"
Liam: "Memere says it's broken, but the other one near our house is fine."
Nice, I think. Liam's ratting 'em out again :). Good tactic though, I'm just surprised he bought it.

And an oldie but goody, I had forgotten about this one, but a friend reminded me today. This Liamism has apparently become their new version of "Duh".

A plane flies overhead, which never goes unnoticed in our backyard.
Liam: "Where is that plane going, Momma?"
Me: "I don't know, where do you think it's going?" I fully expect to hear Florida as it's the only place Liam has been on an airplane.
Liam: "To the airport, I think."

October 21

We were driving home from a nice dinner out when Joe Safety (soon to be nicknamed "Narc" Petit) tells me, "Momma, you're driving really fast."
Me:"I'm not driving that fast, bud, I'm just going the speed limit."
Liam:"You're going really fast Momma, I think you should tell the policeman how fast you're going."

And before anyone tries to warn me, I can see the writing on the wall. God bless the parent who is driving if we ever do get pulled over. "I told Momma/Daddy they were driving too fast, Policeman!" shouted from the backseat.

October 19-20

Last night I was getting Liam dressed for bed after his bath. I told him how tall he was getting. He smiled and told me, "I can't wait to be big and tall"
Me: "Why? Do you want to be a big boy?"
Liam: "I want to be big and tall so I can make brownies everyday."
Me: "You want to be a big boy so you can make brownies?"
Liam: "Yup." After giving me a look that can only be described as what else is there??


Today I asked Liam to pick up the recycling bucket from the front yard for me as I was pulling the trash barrels. We were running a little behind on our way to storytime so I was hoping to get moving quickly. When Liam just stood there, deer in headlights look on that face I asked a second time. Very quietly, just audible over the sound of wheels on the driveway I hear, "no"
Me: "Excuse me???"
Liam: "I was just testing you. Yeah, I was just testing and stuff..." He trailed off in his rush to grab the recycling bin.

Ocotober 18

Yesterday we went out to celebrate Pepere's birthday. When Yngrid noticed how long Liam's hair had gotten she mentioned it to him. He fingered the ends and thought about it. He nodded his head in agreement and said, "It's getting long. I do need to get it cut."
Yngrid: "When do you want me to cut it?"
Seeing the inevitable, Liam thought for a minute about his answer,"Um....when I'm 30, I think."

October 13-14

File this one under TOO sweet. Connor slept upstairs in the crib for the first time this week. When he woke up crying he woke Liam as well. He told him, "It's okay, Connor." When he didn't stop crying he kept saying "Peek-a-boo" in the most tired, cute, little boy voice. I just about melted.

This morning while looking at a box from a case of Oktoberfest Liam told me he didn't like beer. I looked at him with eyebrows raised and asked, "When did you try beer?"
Liam: "When I was a boy."

October 6 - October 12

Listening to a halloween/pirate commercial on the radio
Liam: "What is that man saying?"
Me: "He's a pirate, Pirates say ARRRRGH, Can you say ARRRRGH?"
Liam: "No, I can't. I'm not a pirate. I'm Liam."

When Auntie Lorraine came to visit.
Liam: "I can't say hello to you right now, Auntie 'rain, I'm too busy right now."
He goes back to banging on the siding of the house with his toy hammer.