17 months

This boy:

-Loves to run around and be goofy! He loves to make us laugh, and is such a happy little kid!
-Is great at throwing. But I'm starting to have to get strict, because he throws everything! Including food and hard objects that could hurt someone.
-Just learned to jump!
-Is learning his body parts. His most recent are nose, ears, eyes, tongue, and hair.
-Is obsessed with lights! He loves to flip the switches every time we pass one, and he screamed with delight when he saw the lighting aisle at Home Depot!
-Is very helpful. He loves to bring me things (he has to give me my phone every time it makes a noise!), pick up toys with us, and throw things in the garbage. But we have to be careful with that one - if we're ever missing anything, there's a good chance he threw it away!
-Prefers to feed himself now, which makes for some very messy mealtimes!
-Loves books, but still prefers to "read" them on his own. His favorites right now are Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You? and a little pink book of baby names that Paul's mom gave to Jenna. He mostly likes to flip through the pages and sing. I think he picked this up because Paul will use his little hymn book to sing to us while we get ready on Sunday mornings :)
-Likes to make animal sounds. His newest are dragon and elephant. He will turn in circles raising his arm up and down while making his elephant noise - so cute!
-Signs "all done", "please", "more", "no", "milk", and "where did it go?" (hands in the air).
-Babbles on and on, and is starting to try to mimic our words.
-FINALLY will fold his arms for prayer, but only for about 2 seconds.
-Plays every day with his cars, legos, and the ipad (I'm not proud of that one. I need to get better at hiding it). And he has started building things rather than just destroying. His coordination is amazing!

We're so lucky to have Liam in our family! He's the best!

Life is good

I've been feeling really blessed lately. Me and the kids are in a pretty good routine, and life is just... good! Of course we've had challenges and will continue to have them (probably in the near future) so I am loving these few months we have to keep it simple.

According to my pregnancy app, we have less than 100 days until this little boy arrives and turns our schedules upside-down! So, I just wanted to record what a normal weekday is like for us right now.
(full disclosure: my mom is currently with us right now and doing the lion's share of the shopping, cooking, and cleaning. And probably skewing my view of "normal". But she won't be here for long so this is a day without her wonderful-ness)

Paul is our token morning person, so he likes to wake up early to get his stuff done and will often leave for work before we even get up (not my favorite, but he has to be at work by 8).
The kids typically wake up around 7:30 and will entertain each other or themselves until 8 - when I get up (I know, I'm so spoiled, but you better believe I'm taking advantage of this time when Liam is still happily in his crib!).
We get Jenna ready for the day and leave for school at 8:30. Jenna talks non-stop the whole walk to school, or lately she has been singing Frozen music at the top of her lungs. Then I enjoy listening to audiobooks on our walk back. We get home at 9, eat breakfast, and get ourselves ready for the day. If we are going to go anywhere (like the store, library, play group, or visiting friends) this is when we do so. Or else we just stay home and happily play with Jenna's toys.
We'll have lunch at noon, play or read for a half hour then put Liam down for his nap. I just tell him it's time for his binky, and he happily lays down in his crib. I'm sure he plays for a good bit, but always falls asleep on his own, and wakes up happy.
Then I have over 2 entire blissful hours to do my personal study, get housework done, read my book, play the piano, or even *gasp* take a nap! Did I mention I was spoiled?
We leave to pick up Jenna at 3:15, and we talk about her day on the walk home. As soon as we get home she begs for a snack and to watch a show on the ipad. We all have a snack and I tell her she can watch a show after homework is done and *insert random toy* is picked up. This is the perfect strategy because I don't have to tell her no, and she will invariably get distracted and play with Liam for hours before *random toy* is actually picked up.
Paul is usually home by 6, and we are all thrilled because he will play with the kids while I finish making dinner.
Every evening is different: Paul has scouts on Wednesday, and we try to do FHE on Monday, family movie on Friday, and baths Tuesday and Thursday. But it all gets thrown off by book clubs, game nights, play dates, date nights, dirty kids, and lazy parents :)
We start the kids' bedtime routine by 8. Currently, Paul gets the boy and I get the girl ready (teeth brushed and pj's). We read from Scripture Stories, say our Article of Faith and prayer, sing a song, lots of hugs and kisses, and can usually get out of there at 8:30. Then Paul and I get some time alone and usually veg out a bit before bed.

Of course, not every day is like this. Wrenches get thrown in the schedule all the time, and I still have stressed out days (more often than I am proud of), but in general... life is good!