Liam at 9 1/2 Months

This picture portrays well what Liam does with most of his time... putting things in his mouth. Including my shoulders. Now that he has 6 teeth, I am seriously reconsidering breastfeeding till he's 1. It hasn't been too bad, but I am more fearful during feedings. ;) Usually he naws on my shoulders though, while pinching my arm with his cute little fingers. I no longer wear short sleeves around the house.

Other than abusing his mom ;).. Liam is playing with Troy, sitting in his exersaucer, or crawling towards me. Liam and Troy are SO cute together. Troy will crawl and wait for Liam to catch up to him and this goes on for a while. I help Liam play pass with Troy and they both love it. Troy gets mad if he sees me sneak a pass with my own foot, it has to be Liam's foot. They could play forever in the tub together. I remember thinking, right after Troy was born, that he needed a sibling. Now I know, he needed Liam. And I did too.

Liam is our little light that makes little frustrations seem less important, because loving each other is the most important. It goes along with one of our favorite quotes by President Monson, "Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved."

Liam's favorite foods are graham crackers, gerber snacks, and bananas. The second I put him in the high-chair, I have to keep the food coming or he gets impatient and does the cutest little sad face. Ben and I think that he eats more than Troy. It might be true. He is also following suit with Troy and hates getting dressed or his diaper changed. I have to be very animated to get through his diaper changes. Liam takes two naps, about 1 1/2 hours each. He refuses to lay down, no matter how tired he is. So, I leave him sitting up with his pacifier in his mouth, hoping he will not cry too long. Which he doesn't. Very different from Troy, Liam will cry a max of 5 minutes. A lot less stressful for me. But, Liam takes a pacifier and Troy didn't. Maybe that's the difference.

One last note... I realized the other day that I think I expect Troy to do more than he can. I say that because I look at Liam and encourage growth but am ok if he doesn't hit markers quickly because he "is little." Because Troy is my first, I think I am anxious for him to hit markers more quickly. It was just a reminder to myself that I need to be more patient and focusing on Troy's wants, rather than a textbook or comparison child. Again, back to President Monson's quote. What an inspired prophet we have.