THE KUPPERSMITH FAMILY: Liam Update--He's 2 and a HALF

I look at Liam and can't believe how grown up he looks. It is amazing how much they change right before our eyes. We went to the doctor for Liam's 30 month check up about a week ago. He weighed 31 pounds and was 38 inches tall. This keeps him in the 50th percentile for weight and 90th for height (right around where he always is). He is wearing 2T-3T clothes and still taking a glorious afternoon nap that I would like him to keep his whole life:)

At this appointment, the doctor heard a heart murmur. Chances are most likely that it is nothing but we go to see a pediatric cardiologist on January 2nd, just to make sure.

Liam knows his letters and is learning the sounds that go with them. He does pretty well. He is also learning Spanish at preschool. He knows his colors and is learning the days of the week in Spanish. Liam is not yet potty trained. We have tried twice and by the end of the day he refuses to go. He goes often at school on the potty but it is all on his terms and with the added bonus of seeing all his peers doing it. He will go at home when he wants to but nothing consistent. I think we are going to try after Christmas again.

Liam is a sweet, talkative, affectionate boy. He will talk and talk and talk, usually at a volume similar to his Daddy. He will hug almost anyone and probably give them a kiss if they want one. He loves being around other people and meets friends wherever he goes. The other day we were out to eat and he saw some kids at a table nearby. He said "I don't know them, I need to go over and say hi." While Liam loves other kids, especially ones older than him, he is a typical 2 year old when it comes to sharing his toys. We continue to work with him on this.

Liam watches EVERYTHING we do and imitates us often, especially his Daddy.. He repeats phrases we say and uses them correctly. When disciplining him, we give him a choice of the right thing to do or a consequence and usually say "it's your choice." A few times lately he has tried to give me choices. Liam is also a little negotiator. At dinner, whenever we tell him something like "eat two more bites and then you can have _____", he will say, "how about one." He even said to me the other day when I wouldn't let him have anymore to eat "but I won't have any energy." I guess all of this imitating is good because it shows he really is listening to us.

Liam is a typical 2 year old when it comes to his independence. He wants to do everything himself, which I realize is good, but we often talk about "teamwork." He is testing the limits daily and has good days and bad. Luckily the good days are much much more frequent right now.

Liam loves his trains, anything related to Lightening McQueen and the movie Cars, and Sesame Street toys/books. He enjoys the shows Super Why and Sesame Street most. Liam continues to love cooking/baking with me. He is a busy boy who runs everywhere, unless you offer to read him a book or do a puzzle with him, two of his favorite things. Liam also sings and dances often. He even makes up his own songs, a trait he got from Blake, and then asks us, "you know that song?"

Liam's favorite foods are still pizza, hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, corn, yogurt, cheese, and most fruits. In fact, when the doctor asked him what his favorite food was, he said, "corn." His favorite restaurants are Waffle House, Chick Fil A, and Taco Mac...a true Georgian:)

We continue to be amazed by all this little boy can do and love watching him grow everyday. We are two lucky parents.