Newborn Photos

I know I already did a post on Liam's newborn photos. But, we got the official ones yesterday.  Out of 199 pictures, we narrowed it down to 30.  It was pretty hard, but I'm super excited with how they turned out. 

Here are a few...

I was patiently waiting the newborn photos so I could make Liam's birth announcement.  I figured it was time to send those out since he is almost 2 months old. Better late than never. I saved my favorite picture for the announcements. 

There is nothing better...

There is nothing better than a baby in a diaper! I dare you to find something better, you won't!



Babies Don't Keep

In the few short weeks I've known Liam he has grown an awful lot.  Somehow we went from newborn diapers to size 2 diapers in what seems like a matter of days. He is growing way too fast.  Time, please slow down.

I can't believe he actually fit in a newborn diaper.  It looks like a doll diaper.

 

 



 

I've heard of this poem before but I was reintroduced to it this week. It really hits home and of course brought tears to my eyes.  Babies really don't keep. You have to enjoy them while you can.  I am definitely enjoying my weeks at home with Liam.  Every time I think about going back to work tears literally come pouring out of my eyes. That's a different story, for a different day. For now...I'll just keep holding my baby because babies don't keep.

 

 

Song for a Fifth Child

Mother, O' Mother, come shake out your cloth,

Empty the dustpan, poison the moth.

Hang out the washing, make up the bed,

Sew on a button and butter the bread.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?

She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I've grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,

Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo.

Dishes are waiting and bills are past due,

Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek - peekaboo.

The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew,

And out in the yard there's a hullabaloo.

But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.

Look! Aren't his eyes the most wonderful hue?

Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo.

The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow,

But children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.

So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!

I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.

~ Ruth Hulbert Hamilton

 

 



 



Newborn Pics

We had Liam's newborn photo shoot done when he was two weeks old.  He was awake for a good chunk of it and pooped/peed on more blankets then I would like to admit.  But - it was a blast and we have some amazing pictures from it! Nothing a little laundry can't fix!

 

 

Finding Your Rhythm

As soon as Liam was born everyone said, "Aren't you so in love with him?" I felt guilty when people asked me this because I DID love him, but I didn't feel that head of heels in love with him feeling. Quite honestly, he scared me.  Here was this "not so tiny" baby and I was responsible for him.  Sometimes I still miss the hospital.  It was so easy there.  Nurses were constantly coming into my room taking care of Liam, and I got to order food and sleep whenever I pleased.  When we came home Greg's mom stayed with us until Liam was almost two weeks old. I have no idea what I would have done if she wasn't there.  I am so thankful for her because she taught us so much and she was there WHENEVER we needed her.  I bawled my eyes out when she left because now it was going to be just Liam and I during the day.  What did you do with a newborn all day? What happened if he cried? Choked? Had a diaper rash? Etc.  There were so many questions I still had, and my nervousness was out the window. Everyone told me to have confidence in myself.  How could I have confidence, I've never had a baby before!?!

At the beginning I would never dream of going out in public with him alone. I made Greg go to all the local stores with me (Walmart, Target, Kroger) to see if the car seat would fit in the shopping cart. I was terrified I would get there and freak out and have to leave immediately. The first time I went to the doctor's office alone I couldn't figure out how to get his car seat out of the car and almost had to go in and ask for help. The first time I went to Walmart I cried.  The hormones running through your body during and after pregnancy are no joke!

Liam and I got through this learning stage and I can now honestly say we have found our RHYTHM. We go out in public together almost everyday - ALONE.  I go on walks with him and KC all by myself. I even did a whole weeks of grocery shopping with Liam the other day. Now when people ask me, "Aren't you so in love with him?" I can now honestly say YES with a huge smile on my face.  I'm no longer terrified of him.  I love him with all my heart, and I can't imagine my life without him. I love him when he cries with no end in sight.  I love him when he wakes me up at 4:00 in the morning so he can eat. I even love him when he spits out his paci 105 times in the middle of the night and cries because he is missing his paci. I love him so much that I literally have to stop myself from waking him up when I go to bed just to kiss him goodnight.

Liam, I'm head over heels in love with you bud.  And - so is your dad!

 

 



Liam: 1 month

Weight: 12 pounds

 

 

Clothes: You never fit into newborn clothes. We tried a PJ set on you one night and you screamed so loud we quickly took it right off! I'm pretty sure it had something to do with your height, you are just a tall baby! Ever since we have brought you home from the hospital you have been in 0-3 months.  Towards the end of your first month the 3 month clothes began to fit you pretty nicely.  At the beginning you were swimming in them.



 

Diapers: You wore newborn diapers for the first two weeks.  Then we switched you over to size 1.  I bet you could move to size 2 by now, but I'm trying to keep you small for as long as I can.

 

Health: You have had great health so far.  Your dad and I are so thankful for that. We had a spitting up issue around week 3, but we have it under control now. You have been to the doctor twice now.  Once at 5 days and then again at 2 weeks. We won't go back until you are two months old. Every time we go to the doctor they comment that you don't look like a newborn at all.  You are so tall and have that head full of hair.  It throws everyone off. 

 

**At your 2 week appointment you weighed 9 pounds 7 ounces and were 23 inches long. You passed up your birth weight and grew a whole inch!!**

 

 

 

 

Diet: You are exclusively breastfed.  There were times at the beginning I wanted to throw in the towel.  You were completely dependent on me.  I felt like I couldn't leave your side in case you needed to eat. At the beginning I had a huge oversupply.  You were constantly choking and spitting up. I felt awful. We introduced you to a bottle at 3 weeks 2 days and that has been a huge blessing! We can now go out in public (I have a huge fear of breastfeeding in public, and refuse to do it) and your dad can now give you a bottle. I too, enjoy giving you a bottle.  I was nervous about the bottle because I didn't want you to reject me when I fed you.  You have no problems with that and eat like a champ!

 

 

Sleep: You love your sleep, just like your momma! You have been a great sleeper from day one! THANK YOU THANK YOU!! Since the beginning you have gone 6 hours between your last feeding at night. Now you will go 8 hours. Once you fall back asleep after that night time feeding you will go back to your regular schedule of 2.5-3 hours between feedings. Your dad and I at first wanted to cuddle and love on you so we kept you out in the living room with us until 10-11 at night.  Around 2.5 weeks we started a bedtime routine with you.  After your last feeding of the day your dad will rock you to sleep. Your dad loves this time with you because he misses you all day when he is at work.  Every other night you get a bath before your last feeding. We try to have you in bed between 9-9:30. During the day you typically have 2-3 solid naps with a few cat naps in between.   

 

 



 

 

Likes: baths, staring at ceiling fans and windows, music, being held, eating, your paci, wrapped in your blue fuzzy blanket (I swear this blanket is magical.  As soon as you are wrapped in it, you are silent and calm!), laying on your back, being outside, sleeping on people's chest

 

Dislikes: when we are late for your feedings, getting dressed, getting your diaper changed (this is getting better, you screamed for the first week), burping, tummy time

 



 

 

Milestones: You hold on to things - fingers/blankets/hair, you will stare for what seems like hours at something, you began to swat at the toys on your play gym (totally random), you have extremely strong legs - you are always kicking them, and you have a freakishly strong neck with great control

Personality: Overall you are a very calm baby.  You will let anyone hold you and you are typically very happy.  At night you can tend to get over tired.  At the beginning this was your screaming time.  We called it the "night time growl." You usually have a fussy time everyday but you are easily calmed down.  Typically you get angry because you are hungry. When you are hungry there is only one person that can calm you down immediately: me! As soon as I take you into my arms you are a happy baby again.

 

Visitors: Grandma, Great Aunt Patty, Great Aunt Sandy, Uncle Chris, Lucia, Beef, and Nicole

 

 

 

 

      

 

                                                    WEEK 1                              WEEK 2

 



 

                                                    WEEK 3                              WEEK 4



   

 

 



Meeting Uncle Chris

The day after Liam turned three weeks old he got to meet his Uncle Chris and his girlfriend, Lucia. Greg and I were so excited for their visit. I felt bad not having anything exciting planned for their arrival.  Luckily, they were super excited just sitting in our house holding Liam. Greg and I tend to forget that people aren't coming to see us, they are here to see Liam.

 

Everyone thinks Liam looks just like his Uncle Chris! 

 

 

Having a baby makes it a little difficult to go out in public.  At least for the first few weeks.  After feedings and naps we have about 2.5-3 solid hours where we can actually go out in public.  So we got a little crazy and went out to dinner (Mellow Mushroom of course!) then went to lunch in downtown Apex.

 

 

 

We even got adventurous and took Liam to his first bar.

 

Thanks for visiting!! We can't wait to see you both again soon.

 

 





Liam's Birth Story

Week 39 - the day before Liam was born.

The day before Liam arrived my two friends Rosemary and Michelle stopped by for a visit.  This was such a needed visit.  I was getting sick and tired of hanging out at the house feeling huge, uncomfortable, and impatient. It was great to see Ava again.  It's amazing how much she has grown since the last time I've seen her.  They really do grow so fast! I was holding Ava telling her to push Liam out.  Something must have worked because contractions started right after they left.

At 5PM I started feeling cramping/contractions.  I still was a little unsure of the difference.  Everyone told me, "Oh you will know!" I started to time them and rate their level of pain.  Nothing was consistent so I didn't think much of it. Greg came home with pizza and we went on a walk to get the contractions moving. 

I felt great. I was so disappointed. I wanted this to be the real thing, I was ready! When we were almost home from the walk the contractions picked back up. I timed the contractions for 4 hours. At this point I thought I should call the doctor.  They were 3-5 minutes apart with some being 7 minutes apart, and they were definitely getting stronger. The doctor told me to try and sleep and if I couldn't to call back. That was at 12:30am. At 2:30am I called the doctor back and told them I wanted to come in. We arrived at the hospital at 3am. I wasn't admitted to the hospital because I was only 3cm dilated. 

The nurse did some tests and determined I was in the early stages of labor but that I couldn't be admitted until I reached 4cm. She said I could stay 2 hours trying different exercises to get the process started. I walked around the halls, bounced on an exercise ball, and got down on my hands and knees swaying back and forward. Two hours later I was still 3cm dilated. 

The nurse called the doctor on call to see what the next steps should be. It was the same doctor that was on call when we went to the hospital the Saturday before.  She was probably thinking, "not these people again!" The doctor suggested I go home and take an ambien to go to sleep. (No thank you!) Luckily, we had an awesome nurse and she suggested that I get a dose of morphine and try and relax at the hospital.  The nurse thought I wasn't progressing because every time I had a contraction I would tense up. She said the morphine would help me relax and hopefully my contractions would allow me to dilate more. At 6am we were moved to a labor and delivery room.

At 9am I was checked again and I was 4.5cm dilated.  We were now admitted to the hospital! I was given Pitocin to help strengthen my contractions because they still weren't as strong as they would like to see them. At this point my memory gets a little cloudy.

At 11am I was given my epidural. At first, it was amazing! I loved everything about it. I was having contractions (I could see them on the screen) but could feel nothing. A little while later I started feeling contractions. The nurse pumped more epidural into me.  Throughout the afternoon I had the epidural pumped into me 4 different times.  It was making me sick to my stomach and so sleepy. I couldn't complete my breathing through my contractions because I kept falling asleep.  We discovered that I had hot spots in my stomach.  The epidural wasn't working in those areas so when a contraction passed through I could feel EVERYTHING. It was awful. I was crying and begging Greg to just keep me awake so I could remember to breathe.  The worst part was I wasn't allowed to eat or drink anything...not even water. They allowed me 1-2 ice chips every hour and I had two popsicles. 

At 3pm I was 9.5cm dilated. I would be able to start pushing at 10cm. They said once I started pushing it could be an additional 2-3 hours. At 6pm I was still 9.5cm dilated.  Nothing was progressing. During those three hours they discovered that Liam had a bowel movement and could potentially swallow it.  This meant that as soon as he was delivered he would need to be taken so they could suction this out of him. We also discovered that my cervix was starting to swell. At this point we had a new doctor.  This was actually one of the doctor's I wanted to deliver him so I was happy to see her.  She said, given the circumstances, I could either continue to wait on the .5cm or go into a c-section. She also said that I would be delivering a big baby, she was just unsure how big he actually was. I immediately said I wanted a c-section.  Greg was extremely nervous for this. He wanted to make sure I would be safe given all the medicine I had taken that day.  The doctors assured him I would be fine and off to surgery we went.

I thought I would be more nervous to have the surgery, but I was ready to be out of pain. I had to go into the operating room alone and Greg was able to come in 20 minutes later. I felt so bad when I saw Greg's eyes. He was a nervous wreck. I on the other hand was thanking everyone telling them, "This is the best I've felt all day!" The procedure only took 20 minutes.  When he was pulled out Greg got to stand up and see him.  I loved watching his face the first time he saw his son. Liam was taken to the nursery and Greg was able to see him a few minutes later. Greg brought Liam to me so I could meet our son.  I was really groggy but I do remember the first time I saw him. After I gave him a kiss Greg and Liam were back to the nursery and I joined them a little while later.

Although this was not the ideal situation I'm glad we went through with the c-section. The doctor told us that based on his size and position in my womb we would have had to have a c-section whether we liked it or not.  There was no way he was coming out on his own. 

The first time I saw his wild crazy hair!

A family of 3!