Shadow

He said he was jumping on his shadow! 

 Have I mentioned lately how much I adore this little boy?

2 weeks of firsts...

 

Our little guy is over two weeks old now and in that time we have already had many firsts and our family is adjusting to a whole new rhythm and routine. And in these early newborn days our rhythm and routine (or sometimes lack of) is largely determined by the baby. Liam is not a difficult baby at all, but I wouldn't call him easy or mellow either! Like my others he likes to eat a lot and often. He really likes to be held. And sometimes he really likes the pacifier (unless it's almost time to eat then it just makes him really angry). He's also got his own unique personality and is different from my others in that he does not like the baby swing at all (he will sometimes take a nap in it if it's not moving but he hates the swinging action). And he seems to really enjoy sleeping on his back or his side (unlike my others who hated being on their backs). I find that I'm having to learn all over again how to comfort a newborn because this little sweetie is just different! Amazingly Liam already seems to have his own little routine. He wakes up for the morning around 6 or 7 and after he eats he has his most awake and alert and content time of the day...he's awake and happy for at least a good hour or two...so fun! Then the rest of the morning he eats every two hours and takes some shorter cat naps and generally wakes up just a bit before he needs to eat (and is then quite unhappy until he eats). In a couple of weeks (after my parents visit) we'll make more of an effort to have him be awake a bit after he eats so that he'll nap right up until the next feeding. Then he almost always takes a long nap sometime in the afternoon for a couple of hours! Then more eating and cat naping until evening. Then sometime between 9 and 11ish is generally when he's the hardest to settle (and sometimes into the 12 and 1:00 hours). Thankfully we can generally soothe him even during this time- it just involves a lot of holding and feeding and sometimes walking. I try to sleep during some of this time while Joe takes care of the baby. And then I take him the rest of the night and morning when he eats about every 2 to 3 hours (but thankfully sleeps pretty well most of the time between these feedings). And this is already his basic routine...though that really could change any given day or moment!  

And these two weeks we have also had many firsts (most of which I had my hands too full to photograph).  

There was his first walk/stroller ride, which he really liked (and mostly slept through)! His first bath...which he was not a fan of at first, but gradually warmed up too.  

His first family outing was bowling...

   

During which he did this the entire time...  

And on our second family outing, raspberry picking, he also slept the whole time!:) There was also his first time at church during which he was quite content until it was time to eat and then I ended up by myself feeding him in the nursery. His first time at a restaurant was Governor's with Joe's brother and family when they came up to meet him. That did not go well...he woke up shortly after we arrived and Joe ended up pacing the restaurant with him until I could scarf down my meal and go feed him in the van! We've also had a first (and 2nd and 3rd) trip to the doctor (all is well), my first outing alone with all 3 of the kids (to Sam's Club), and many firsts meeting many of our family and friends. It's been a good two weeks and there are so many more first to come!

I will not wish it away...

I forgot how much work having a newborn is!  Oh, it's not hard work, it's just rather all consuming and a little bit exhausting.  This baby boy, like his brother before him, likes to eat a lot (every 2 hours) and sleeps the easiest when he is being held.  We can, sometimes get him to sleep other places and thankfully he will sleep somewhere other than our arms after his middle of the night feedings.  But I spend many, many (most) of my waking hours feeding or holding this sweet little bundle. Sometimes I feel like I will just merge into one with my recliner and Boppy pillow!:)

And yet I have made a decision...that I will NOT wish this time away.  I have given myself permission to hold my sweet little baby often, to let him nap on me at least some of the time, and to simply enjoy this time and to enjoy him.  Would it be nice if he slept longer at night?  Sure...I would love more sleep.  But I also know that that time will come.  The time will come soon for sleeping through the night and naps in the crib and sleep training,  And the days of being able to hold and snuggle my newborn baby are fleeting.  And I will not wish it away.  

"Cleaning and scrubbing

can wait till tomorrow,

for babies grow up,

we've learned to our sorrow.

So settle down cobwebs.

Dust go to sleep.

I'm rocking my baby,

and babies don't keep."

Siblings

Almost 10 months is a long time to wait for something (or in this case someone) and our kids have eagerly been awaiting the arrival of their little brother.  For the last few months Eli would ask me on an almost daily basis if Liam was going to be born that day (it's not easy for a 3 year old to grasp time in terms of weeks and months)!

They were very excited and in preparation for the arrival of their little brother I let them get a gift ready to give to him at the hospital.  They picked out a cute little cow toy that makes a "moo" sound and we also decided to make him a gift.  So one afternoon the three of us did some wet felting and made Liam a whole set of wool felted jingle bell balls.  It was really fun and easy to do with the kids and I love that they were able to give their brother something that they lovingly made just for him!

And then the big day arrived. Joe's parents drove down very early that morning to watch the kids and even take them to soccer camp. But when we called home shortly before the baby was born we learned that Lily was sick. She was even asking to miss dance class that afternoon and instead stay home and sleep (not a good sign). Because her fever was pretty low we were able to get permission for her to come to the hospital to see the baby if she stayed in our room and wore a mask, but in the end she wasn't feeling up to it.  So instead Joe's dad brought just Eli to the hospital.  It was a bit of a bummer, but it was also kind of nice for Eli to get to meet Liam for the first time all on his own (being his first experience as a big brother and all).  

And then Joe's parents brought both of them to the hospital to visit the next morning after soccer camp!

Eli gave Liam his gift the night before, but Liam waited until the next morning to give Lily and Eli their big sister and big brother bags containing some treats like sticker books and remote controlled cars that they enjoyed while we were in the hospital. And when we were home the next day Lily finally got to hold Liam for the first time... And the day after we got home we celebrated with a little birth day cake that Lily and Eli made for Liam while we were in the hospital!  

The kids are adjusting great and we really haven't had many issues. If anything they are just a little bit bored because they are used to being a little bit more on the go and doing more activities than we have been recently. Lily enjoys her baby brother, but is really much more interested in other things the majority of the time. Eli, on the other hand, is a bit more fascinated with Liam and can often be found gently touching him or watching him or trying to put his pacifier back in his mouth. He really seems to enjoy being a big brother! With a brother and a sister that love him he really is a lucky little guy!

Good Morning Beautiful

It's a good morning waking up to this beautiful face!