Shannon | The Connolly Family

Week 18

Yesterday marked the beginning of week 18.Â I might actually be able to tell a difference between this week’s shot and the last two week’s shots.Â The big shocker is seeing what 18 weeks looked like last time…

18 weeks pregnant with Liam (note the beginning of the Michelin Man Neck and once again just how unbelievably awful our previous camera was):

18 weeks with baby #2:

I warn y’all, things are starting out slow, but regardless of what I end up looking like this time around (whale, elephant, etc.) the pictures from last time make taking a look worth the trouble.Â Seriously, by the end I looked like I had eaten the previous version of myself…

My Old Man Becomes An Old Man

In honor of Matt’s birthday, Liam spent most of yesterday running around wildly in circles screaming variations on the theme: “Birfday Cake!”Â “Presents!”Â “Gonna blow out da candles!”Â “Happy Birfday, Dad!”

We started the day by heading to Southern Sweets because my husband loves a good carrot cake and unfortunately I’ve never made one.Â I didn’t want to risk it for such an important occasion, so we headed to Decatur to get one from the experts.

From the minute we started talking about going to the bakery, Liam was talking about eating cake.Â I kept trying to tell him that we were going to pick up the cake, but we couldn’t eat any until Matt was home because it was his birthday and his birthday cake.Â At some point I think Liam picked up the concept (after much repetition) because from the back seat he quietly said something like “Dad gotta blow out da candles, Liam gotta be patient.”Â He was slightly confused (but happily so) when the lady at Southern Sweets gave him a sample of the old fashioned chocolate cake (my favorite) for being charming.

After grasping the concept of waiting for Dad to come home to have cake and presents he went about the business of running all over the house waiting “patiently” for Daddy to “COME HOME…RIGHT NOW!!!”Â This included ‘helping’ me wrap the presents and sprawling himself at the bottom of the stairs intermittently shouting “I think I hear him!Â I think Daddy’s home!”

Needless to say, by the time Matt arrived home, Liam had reached fever pitch (a state in which he stayed right on through until bedtime).Â We went ahead and opened presents and had cake at 5pm because it was clear that Liam really wanted to participate.Â Here are pictures of the cake experience:

“C’mon, Dad.Â Are we really just going to sit here right next to this cake and not eat any?”

“Okay…I get it…here’s one cheesy smile for you, Mama”

First attempt:

Second attempt:

Liam becomes a little worried that it’s all a cruel joke and that he’ll never be allowed to eat any cake:

“You swear this isn’t a trick candle, right…?”

Liam thinks:Â “I think maybe he’s got it this time…”

“Yay!”

Liam whets his whistle while Matt takes the first bite:

Finally!

Thumbs up?

Thumbs up!

Toddler Conversation

This conversation takes place about 3 times each morning (or until I finish getting ready or reach my breaking point, whichever comes first).

[Scene:Â I am getting ready for my day while Liam intermittently watches TV (between bouts of leaving the room to play trains).]

Liam:Â I’m’a turn down da bawloom.Â [proceeds to press the down volume button on the TV until it’s at mute level].Â Mama, I turned down da bawloom.Â Mama turn down da bawloom?Â Mama please turn down da bawloom?

Shannon:Â I think what you’re trying to ask me is if I’ll turn up the volume on the television.

Liam:Â Mama turn down da bawloom, please?

Shannon:Â I’ll be happy to turn the volume up for you Liam, but if you turn it down again it’s staying that way for a while.Â Do you understand?

Liam:Â Mama turn down da bawloom?

Shannon:Â [turns the volume back up]

Liam:Â [turns the volume back down]Â Mama turn down da bawloom, please?

Shannon:Â I just told you that if you did it again I wasn’t going to fix it this time, so it’s going to stay that way for a while now.

Liam:Â Mama turn down da bawloom?Â Mama turn down da bawloom, please?Â Please Mama?Â Please turn down da bawloom?

—————————

I think he’s definitely practicing his torture tactics.Â I tried showing him the “up” button, but he’s clearly accomplishing his agenda and doesn’t need any additional information in order to do so.Â Unfortunately he’s very good and he’s already got the ability to break me.Â Just don’t tell him I said so…

“New” Room

Although there is one small project that hasn’t been finished, the half-wall and pantry are complete (pictures coming soon).Â This is particularly notable because when I say complete I mean that the paint is also dry (which has been a major ‘sticking’ point for days).

The paint issue has been at the forefront because Liam has been so excited about the “new room.”Â The first time he walked in to see the new space he exclaimed “Oh Mama!Â It’s SO BEAUTIFUL!Â It’s SO GREAT!”Â (Although to be completely honest, he made a similar exclamation when I gave him a cracker at lunch today…)Â As a result of the wet paint/nails/power tools/jagged edges he’s been banned from this room for several weeks now.

Today when I moved his easel into the space he thought I was taunting him.Â He pointed at it and said “That’s my easel!Â I wanna draw chalk!” and then looked up at me mournfully, asking me pitifully with his eyes if he could, perhaps, go play with his easel.Â When I said “Sure Liam, go ahead!” he looked at me again with a puzzled expression, trying to figure out why his own mother was tricking him in such a cruel fashion.

Then, all the while keeping a close watch on my reaction, he put one toe into the “new room.”

Then he slid in his whole foot.

Then he gleefully jumped into the room screaming “I’m inside!Â I’m inside!Â I’m inside da room, Mama!”Â Followed shortly by a jubilant game of Inside/Outside during which he frenetically ran back and forth screaming “INSIDE!Â OUTSIDE!Â INSIDE!Â OUTSIDE!”

I think he approves.

You Know You’re Pregnant When…

You finally order your husband’s 30th birthday present and are excited to have it delivered in time for his birthday only to find out, days later, that you in fact forgot to press the “purchase” button and it was still sitting in your shopping cart and is now unavailable from the seller from whom you thought you were purchasing.

P.S.Â Don’t worry Matt, I think I’ve found it a local store and I’m going to try to go get it tomorrow.Â At least you know I’ve handled the cake.Â Sigh.

You Know Your Child Is Watching Too Much TV When…

Between the months of me not feeling well and the construction that began shortly thereafter Liam has been watching entirely too much television.

We have 8 episodes of Sesame Street on our upstairs TiVo.Â Unfortunately, because this TiVo is not connected to the service (i.e. we don’t want to pay for two units) it’s basically a digital VCR, so those same 8 episodes have been on Liam’s playlist for the past three months.

One of these episodes is a spoof of Indiana Jones in which they search for the “Golden Triangle of Destiny.”Â This morning as Liam was pulling his blocks out of the box he picked up the triangle and exclaimed:Â “Oh, Mama!Â It’s the Golden Triangle of Destiny!Â Hooray!”

Thank goodness things are starting to get back to normal around here or we run the risk of Liam going to preschool having learned 50% of his vocabulary from episodes of Curious George and Super Why and something tells me that knocking over all the furniture to build a castle and then looking at his teacher and saying “I am a good little monkey, but I’m always very curious” isn’t going to cut it.

Gender Bender

We’re doing our best to raise a child who is not restricted by societal gender norms.Â This has proven basically impossible in any kind of definitive way, but I take this as a very good sign:

He may not ever need one of his own, but it’s nice to know that even at the tender age of two he’s trying his best to understand his female counterparts.Â Either that or he longs to be just like his mother.Â Or possibly he has a penchant for cross-dressing.Â You know, whichever.

Week 17

This has been a crazy week (which is why blogging pictures and anecdotes has taken a backseat to keeping Liam from playing with power tools).

On Tuesday we were told by the contractor(‘s helper) that it would be no problem for us to be back in the house and that Liam’s nap wouldn’t interfere with anything as what they had left to do was minor.Â This resulted in late, shortened naps for three straight days and Liam in a puddle on the floor by Friday afternoon.Â It also resulted in Mom and me running errands for the sake of getting us out of the house and copious amounts of Thomas The Tank Engine viewings downstairs in the family room.Â Keeping a curious toddler away from power tools, wet paint, and an insane amount of dirt and dust isn’t easy and by the end of the week we were spent.

On Wednesday we were told that they’d be finished on Thursday.Â On Thursday we were told that they’d be finished by Liam’s nap on Friday.Â On Friday about a half hour after Liam was supposed to go down for his nap we were told that they’d be finished by the end of the day on Friday.Â At the end of the day on Friday we were told that they’ll be finished by Liam’s naptime on Monday.Â God help us if it goes past that time (although I’m not holding my breath anymore).

All that was a long way to say that it’s been an even longer week at The Connolly Ranch.Â It’s now 9:30pm and I’m more than ready for bed so I’m going to get this show on the road.

Week 17 during my pregnancy with Liam:

Week 17 in this pregnancy (which looks basically identical to last week’s shot, but I assure you that if you look carefully enough you’ll notice the difference in the swollen, bloodshot, half-closed eyes):

I was asked last night if I think I’ll be brave enough to keep this up until the end.Â I said that I would, but I’m thinking we’ll just have to see how things progress…

Easter

Our Easter celebrations have been going on since last weekend’s egg hunt, but here are pictures from this weekend and the official holiday:

First off was a visit with Grammie and Pop yesterday during which Liam received his first Easter candy.Â Here are some pictures as he discovered that there were M&Ms inside that egg:

The Easter Bunny came to visit Liam:

As you’ll notice the Easter Bunny brought a coloring book, a package (containing a little toy and a CD), and some Easter candy.Â As you’ll also notice, Liam’s attention went immediately to the chocolate bunny and he hasn’t opened anything else yet.

“Oh!Â Chocolate!”

Here’s where we tried to take other things out of the basket to show Liam.Â You can see how interested he was…

Here’s where I gave up and opened the bunny for him:

And the big moment:

Shortly thereafter we moved to the table and added a bib:

He took a brief bunny break for an egg:

Aaaaannnnnd…back to the bunny:

All dressed for church:

After church we snuck in a couple of family pictures:

We finished up the day at Gran and Granddaddy’s for an Easter dinner.Â Liam was so high from the sugar and being overtired that we only took about 8 pictures, but here are a few of those we got:

The Easter Bunny visited Liam at Gran and Granddaddy’s too.Â In true Liam fashion, he was finished checking out his basket as soon as he saw the first thing in the stack, which in this case were stickers.Â He was briefly diverted by candy, but when he learned that I really wasn’t going to let him have more than one piece, he moved back to the stickers…

“Look, Dad!Â Stickers!”

Closer inspection:

Elmo loves Liam:

Liam loves chocolate:

It was a jam-packed day.Â I just hope that Liam wakes up well-rested and without a sugar hangover because we’ve still got a couple (hopefully only a couple) more days as nomads before we can go back to business as usual.Â Fingers crossed that everyone makes it intact!