Liam: 1 Month Old

September 14, 2012

Liam,

You are 1 month old already! I am not sure how the time has flown by so fast, but it has! You are such a calm baby and only cry when you are hungry, are naked or are really tired! You LOVE being held. Especially at night. You haven't quite liked your cradle yet, but that's ok. I have enjoyed holding you, rocking you and snuggling you throughout the day and night!

I've come to like watching Married with Children in the middle of the night when you do not want to sleep. You have your days and nights turned around. At night, you just want to stare at your mommy or daddy. You don't fuss or make a peep. You just observe!

You are definitely not going hungry. You love to nurse every two hours or less! You will only take a bottle from someone other than me. You have come to love your Nuk binky as well! Just like your sissy!

You are still in Newborn size clothing, but are running out of room. I have been able to put you in some 0-3 month clothing as well as Carter's 3 month clothing as well. You are going to be a chunk or really tall!

You definitely are a boy though! You poop more than any other baby I know. It seems that every diaper change has poop in it! Maybe that's why you nurse so much!

I came down with Mastitis when you were two weeks old and you were so patient with me. I was in so much pain while nursing you, but you were a champ and kept with it!

You started to become more and more fussy around four weeks old. We've come to the conclusion that you developed acid reflux from my antibiotics I was on. We knew something was up when you would cry for three hours in pain. It wasn't our calm quiet baby we were used to. We started you on baby zantac and it seems to be doing the trick! Although you are a throw up machine! Sometimes you throw up more than an ounce at a time. Poor buddy!

You love to sleep! (During the day, that is.) I even called the pediatrician to see if it was ok that you were sleeping so much! He laughed at me and said to enjoy it while it lasted!

You are such a happy baby even in your sleep! We catch you laughing in your sleep every day and smiling non stop too! I wish we knew what you were dreaming about!

We can't quite tell what color your eyes are going to be. They look brown, but in the sunlight they have a hint of blue as well. It will be fun to watch them change!

You have been such an amazing blessing and gift to our family! I always made fun of the "Momma Boys" growing up, but I just didn't understand until now. We have such a different bond already and I hope to keep that! We love you so much and are enjoying every moment we have with you! Thank you for being such a wonderful little boy!

Love,
Mommy, Daddy and big sis Ave

Happy Anniversary

Dear Nicholas,

Happy 3rd Anniversary Babe! You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. You are my rock, my best friend and the Love of my Life! Thank you for giving me two beautiful children, a wonderful life and endless love. Thank you for putting up with my crazyness, crankiness and emotional self! I couldn't imagine this life without you!

I love you more than you will every know!

XOXO,
Britt

 

3 Weeks Old!

I have handled my hormones and emotions SO much better this time around. With Avery, I dealt with Post Partum Depression and had a REALLY hard time with the newborn stage. I didn't feel adequate, I didn't feel like I could fully love, I wasn't happy....I was just plain MISERABLE. I felt like I was gyping my child!

Thank God for modern medicine! By the time Avery was 10 months old, I was put on medicine and felt happy again!

This pregnancy, I wanted things to be differently. I knew this was going to be my last child, so I am trying to enjoy every minute. Now that doesn't mean every second of every day is a walk in the park; but I am trying my best to not stress about every little thing. I haven't had the baby blues quite to level I did with Avery. (Which is nice!) I haven't had to be put on medicine (yet) and have actually bounced back fairly quickly!

I CANNOT stop producing milk. This is a good and bad thing! I am pumping about 30 oz a day, on TOP of nursing Liam. But, this also led to me getting mastitis. I have been dealing with this for about 5 days now. I felt like I was on my deathbed on Friday! My temperature reached 104! I literally didn't think I was going to make it. I think I am finally out of the woods, but I am having a hard time keeping my energy up!

Liam is growing up so fast! Last Tuesday was his 2 week appointment. He weighed 9 pounds already!! (54 percentile.) He gained 3/4 of an inch, which put him at 21-3/4! (88 percentile!) And his head measured in the 44th percentile. I want him to slow down!

He eats, poops and sleeps more than Avery ever did. These two are so different as babies! Avery cried and cried for 6 months straight. She had colic and gas so bad! Liam is the most calm little child. He really only cries when he is naked, hungry or can't latch on right away. Other than that, he stares at you all googly eyed. (He's probably mimmicking me! I just love to stare at him!)

The adjustment with Avery has been a struggle, to say the least. The first day I was alone with the kids, Avery tried pushing me down a flight of stairs while I was holding Liam! She has also tried slamming the front door with him in my arms too! Her bouts of tantrums have gone from a 10 to a 100! Bed time has turned into a war zone and she is much more demanding, hyper and sassy! It has been exhausting, but I know it'll get better. (I'm praying  that it does!!!)

Avery starts school tomorrow, so I think getting back into a routine will help. A TON! She will go Monday, Wednesday and Thursday for 2-1/2 hours. I will Co-Op 1-2 times a month, then in January I'll be bumped up to 4 times a month. I'm excited to get those alone moments with each child!

As bad as I have made this all sound (SORRY!), my heart feels complete. I finally feel like my family is complete and that nothing is missing! My heart is so full and I love being a mom! Each day brings its challenges and triumphs.

Here are some pictures to document our journey so far:

Not gonna lie, when they said it was about time to push...I got really nervous!

But then I remembered, I was SO done being prego!!

Poor Liam had the worst cone head!

The Doctors' had to monitor him because his breathing was shallow.

 

We were nervous his head was going to need a helmet to reshape it. Poor buddy!

Look at that bruising on his head!!

Yep, lungs are working now!

Proud Daddy.

Sissy fell in love at first sight!

Nana Teri.

And, she couldn't keep her hands off of him! (Still can't!)

Aunt Smash.

And then there were FOUR!

First Bath!!

My husband is so handsome!

First poop!

Dr. Cox. The best!

Tired much?!?

Nana Vickie.

Cousin Mia.

Friend Andy.

Proud Sissy!

Uncle Ty.

Grandma Dee Dee.

Uncle Paul.

Oh HEY!

My Dream Boat!

Papa Dale.

Nana Sheri.

Grandpa Steve.

This is how a lot of our days look. Tears-a-flowing!

But then she remembers she LOVES her baby brover!