Our son has grown so dramatically in the last couple of months that it is overwhelming to discuss. Let alone write about.
Liam Arthur: 20 months
Thursday, August 8, 2019
Liam Arthur, how did we get here? We are thirty days out from closing in on the first year and a half of your life- I can't handle it.
Saturday, June 8, 2019
This month absolutely flew by. I feel like I was just writing up your fourteen month milestones and here we are again. The last month proved to be quite interesting, to say the least. You took your first steps, but instead of full-fledged walking, you only take one or two steps at a time when you feel like it. Everyone told us that boys were a different experience and you are certainly showing us how true that is. All in your own time. I'm not worried because you've always achieved milestones in your own time but your daddy certainly is. He's been a worry wart with you right from the very start sweet boy.
Clothes: Summer is here! We had our first 90-degree day this week and I'm so thankful we are prepared for the warmer weather. 24-month clothing fits great and Liam is rockin' shorts, tanks, swim trunks, and those cute little one piece outfits with various whales, sharks, and dinosaurs. I try to dress him in clothes that cover his chest so he can't scratch at it (eczema flare-up) and that's proven to be only a little more challenging with the summer clothes.
Health: Our sweet lamby is in the best health. He's strong, he's currently cutting teeth right now (story of his life), but he's taking that in stride. I'm so thankful for this baby and his continued good health. We have his well baby in a couple of weeks and I'm excited to see how much he's grown (because I know its probably a good bit).
Feeding: Liam continues to *wow* us with his selection of foods. He will eat almost any veggie, meat, grain, etc. We've recently started incorporating almond milk (he doesn't care for cow's milk) and that's been interesting. He will drink some but after a few sips of the take and toss cup, he will quite literally toss the milk out of his mouth... onto his clothing or high chair. I've started being intentional with giving forks and spoons with meals, his own toddler cup, and his own plate ware. I really want to get our boy familiarized with not only our meal times and how we operate them, but also what we use when we are taking in a meal.
Sleep: 15 months strong with fantastic sleep behaviors! I am so thankful that this little boy is a rockstar sleeper. We are still co-sleeping and likely will be for the next several months. I think the real key to our kids and their sleeping success is that we co-sleep. It has never bothered us and it makes for solid sleep for our little ones.
Milestones: Liam can say some new words, including, "Ava" though it sounds like "aya" right now! Liam loves calling to his big sister and Ava loves responding. At random, you will crawl or step to daddy or big sister Olivia and embrace them in the sweetest hug. Then you proceed to give open-mouthed kisses and it is absolutely the sweetest thing. Liam understands words like, "no, more, and clap." It is so cool to watch my son learn what those words mean rather than relying on a gesture to show him. Our big boy uses the Contigo water bottles his big sisters use! This was so fun to see that he's ready for it. We have never used bottles with any of our babies, we always go straight into sippy cups and the take and toss cups - Liam surpassed them for the most part.
Things You Like: Liam absolutely loves playing with the basketball right now. He will scoot it all around the house. He loves climbing the stairs (which always gives mama a semi-heart attack), and he loves terrorizing his sisters' beloved doll house and accessories. Here lately lamby has been coloring on those magnetic stencil boards and wowing us with his artwork. Children sing-a-longs are still golden but he definitely prefers his daddy's music.
Wednesday, May 8, 2019
Clothes: Liam is wearing 24-month clothing! The length of 18-month clothing seems to work, but everything else is pretty snug. With the nicer weather upon us, we are putting our boy in lots of cute summery clothing. I have enjoyed buying swim trunks (we opted for a nice blue whale set) and all the toddler boy color palettes for this time of year.
Health: Besides the occasional cold, Liam has remained healthy overall. Having a grade aged sibling has certainly wreaked havoc on the immune system (for our entire house) but we have worked through it like champs! We are so grateful that our boy is growing, happy, and overall healthy. His eczema flare-ups seem to be a lot less lately. We haven't been to his PEDS in a couple of months but I think we might look for resources that lead us to a more homeopathic route. I've read lots of information about a company that utilizes honey as their base for a balm.
Feeding: Liam is our BEST eater to date. I kid you not, this little boy is a total champ. He loves steak, ground beef, peas, green beans, mashed potatoes, chicken, yakisoba, rice, strawberries, kiwis, blueberries, cheerios, salmon, tilapia, shrimp, etc. Our lamby has seriously blown us away with how many different foods he is willing to try. Liam isn't totally sold on cow's milk yet but I continue to try. You are still breastfeeding and show no signs of self-weaning. Liam can drink out of a sippy cup now and often requests one when he sees that his sisters' have "big kid" cups. He doesn't really care for eggs (not scrambled, not hard boiled) which is a bummer but I'm not complaining. I can't wait to see what new foods we try in this next month and which ones our sweet boy loves!
Sleep: Liam is still an amazing sleeper. He takes two big naps during the day - one at around 1030ish-1ish (give or take about a half of an hour) and another one around 4ish-5ish if he can get one in between dinner prep. He heads to bed around the same time as the girls and wakes up at around 7ish in the morning while I'm prepping Ava's lunch. We are blessed! Three times around and all the kiddos have been awesome sleepers.
Milestones: Liam took his first steps! He's standing up on his own, mainly still crawling, but he'll definitely be full-blown walking soon. Our boy can say so many words now! "Go, No, Mama, Baby, Dada" and a couple more that I haven't fully been able to decipher (apparently the girls have). He's finally decided to take a liking to bathtime ( I could sing the hallelujah chorus) and loves the water (we recently took him swimming at a pool party and he had a blast)! He dances like a pro - he loves everything from nursery rhymes, pop songs, country, and even some of his dad's rap music. He loves playing with his taco truck, building blocks, and throwing everything out of his sister's dollhouse.
Things You Like: You still loved to be snuggled and held. You've taken a liking to blades of grass between your sweet feet. and you love when mama and daddy kiss your little fingers and cheeks. Car rides are still your jam and you fall asleep SO EASILY and without missing a beat. You don't care much for sweet treats (zero complaints) but you will take a bite of frozen yogurt from time to time. You like french fries when we are eating out and you mainly like to sit near your daddy.
Saturday, April 13, 2019
Celebrating my son's first birthday and surviving the worst bit of sickness this family has ever seen easily made the month of March the most eventful four weeks we've had since the start of the new year. I have never seen one of my babies so incredibly sick and I am overjoyed that Liam is feeling like himself again. For over two weeks our boy struggled with what appeared to be the common cold, but with a nasty viral spin. High fevers on and off for days, extreme fatigue, zero appetite, and a vomiting episode. All of us (minus daddy) had the same thing and after several urgent care trips, an ER visit for Liam, and antibiotics... we are back to our normal selves, including our favorite little man. I really feel like the last three weeks hindered Liam's growth (he still isn't walking) but I'm really hoping these next few weeks make up for that. The positive of this standstill was not being hit with all of these inevitable milestones and crying my mama heart out over the fact that my baby has made it to this toddlerhood stage already.
Clothes: Liam hit a plateau in his weight gain and has managed to stay in 18-month clothing for a good bit now. Because it's still fairly cold in Washington, we get to dress our sweet boy in the cutest little thermal shirts, dinosaur sweatpants, and all the shark footie pajamas. Everyone warned me that boy clothes weren't nearly as cute as girls... can I just say those people were SO wrong! I absolutely love shopping for Liam and I adore all the options we have. I normally try to dress him pretty casual, but there are times where I spot a Batman outfit or a button-down paired with a polo and I just cannot help myself. Having time to shop for things outside of pink, sparkles, and glitter is pretty sweet.
Health: Aside from the last two weeks, Liam remains one healthy boy! I feel so blessed that my son spent his first year of life incredibly healthy. This second year is already proving to be more challenging but I'm praying these bits of illness are building up the best immune system for our little one. Ironically enough Liam's eczema flare-ups were nonexistent when we were sick (not complaining at all) and outside of our normal moisturizing routine we didn't have to maintain much else. The other weird part is that we bathed Liam twice as much as we normally do while he was sick... and still his skin was perfectly fine and he didn't scratch.
Feeding: Liam is still breastfeeding! Yay! We've made it thirteen months strong. We are slowly but surely introducing more and more solid foods each feeding opportunity we get. So far we've tried steak, ground beef, chicken, kale, green beans, carrots, tortillas, tomatoes, different cheeses, oatmeal, eggs, yogurt, etc. We've tried such a variety of foods with our boy and I'm delighted that he's willing to try almost anything. We still offer those "little crunchy" snacks that each one of my kids has loved during their early toddlerhood stages but I am really not a fan of those. I really like to offer cheerios when Liam isn't in the mood for much else, solid food wise. He's a great eater and I'm excited to see what foods end up being his gotos.
Sleep: My Lamb continues to be an excellent sleeper, though those couple of weeks when he was sick was certainly challenging. He'd wake during the night trying to breathe and cry when he was unable to nurse the way he wanted because he was so congested. It was heartbreaking. Now that he is back in good health, so is his sleep (thank you, Jesus). Liam goes to bed around 730pm-8pm and wakes around 730-8am in the morning. His sleep schedule is so perfect and by the time we have to take Ava to school in the morning, I have enough time to change, kiss, and nurse my sweet boy for a few.
Milestones: Where to start. Liam lamb, you have grown immensely in the last month. His jibber jabbers are happening so much more and for a much longer duration of time. He can pull himself up on all the things and he can walk with one foot in front of the other if mommy or daddy is holding his hands. He waves hello and goodbye, he can high five, he LOVES to dance (and we listen to music ALL the time) - I'm pretty sure he's bum shufflin' like each and everyday.
Things You Like: You really like Alexa. I'm not sure if it's her voice, the fact that she does what we ask, or the fact that she plays all of your favorite songs, but you are instantly fixated on Alexa when she's talking. You love car jams - ring around the rosy is currently your favorite. You love your taco truck and we love watching you get excited about all the things it can do. You have also taken a liking to planes (you have a couple plane toys), helicopters, and police car toys. You enjoy when your sisters play with you and their kisses easily send you into a fit of laughter. You love being held ALL THE TIME and I love knowing that mommy/daddy's arms are still your safe place. You love being in the back carry (still) and strolling through our neighborhood in your stroller seems to be a favorite for you as of late.
Clothes: Liam hit a plateau in his weight gain and has managed to stay in 18-month clothing for a good bit now. Because it's still fairly cold in Washington, we get to dress our sweet boy in the cutest little thermal shirts, dinosaur sweatpants, and all the shark footie pajamas. Everyone warned me that boy clothes weren't nearly as cute as girls... can I just say those people were SO wrong! I absolutely love shopping for Liam and I adore all the options we have. I normally try to dress him pretty casual, but there are times where I spot a Batman outfit or a button-down paired with a polo and I just cannot help myself. Having time to shop for things outside of pink, sparkles, and glitter is pretty sweet.
Health: Aside from the last two weeks, Liam remains one healthy boy! I feel so blessed that my son spent his first year of life incredibly healthy. This second year is already proving to be more challenging but I'm praying these bits of illness are building up the best immune system for our little one. Ironically enough Liam's eczema flare-ups were nonexistent when we were sick (not complaining at all) and outside of our normal moisturizing routine we didn't have to maintain much else. The other weird part is that we bathed Liam twice as much as we normally do while he was sick... and still his skin was perfectly fine and he didn't scratch.
Feeding: Liam is still breastfeeding! Yay! We've made it thirteen months strong. We are slowly but surely introducing more and more solid foods each feeding opportunity we get. So far we've tried steak, ground beef, chicken, kale, green beans, carrots, tortillas, tomatoes, different cheeses, oatmeal, eggs, yogurt, etc. We've tried such a variety of foods with our boy and I'm delighted that he's willing to try almost anything. We still offer those "little crunchy" snacks that each one of my kids has loved during their early toddlerhood stages but I am really not a fan of those. I really like to offer cheerios when Liam isn't in the mood for much else, solid food wise. He's a great eater and I'm excited to see what foods end up being his gotos.
Sleep: My Lamb continues to be an excellent sleeper, though those couple of weeks when he was sick was certainly challenging. He'd wake during the night trying to breathe and cry when he was unable to nurse the way he wanted because he was so congested. It was heartbreaking. Now that he is back in good health, so is his sleep (thank you, Jesus). Liam goes to bed around 730pm-8pm and wakes around 730-8am in the morning. His sleep schedule is so perfect and by the time we have to take Ava to school in the morning, I have enough time to change, kiss, and nurse my sweet boy for a few.
Milestones: Where to start. Liam lamb, you have grown immensely in the last month. His jibber jabbers are happening so much more and for a much longer duration of time. He can pull himself up on all the things and he can walk with one foot in front of the other if mommy or daddy is holding his hands. He waves hello and goodbye, he can high five, he LOVES to dance (and we listen to music ALL the time) - I'm pretty sure he's bum shufflin' like each and everyday.
Things You Like: You really like Alexa. I'm not sure if it's her voice, the fact that she does what we ask, or the fact that she plays all of your favorite songs, but you are instantly fixated on Alexa when she's talking. You love car jams - ring around the rosy is currently your favorite. You love your taco truck and we love watching you get excited about all the things it can do. You have also taken a liking to planes (you have a couple plane toys), helicopters, and police car toys. You enjoy when your sisters play with you and their kisses easily send you into a fit of laughter. You love being held ALL THE TIME and I love knowing that mommy/daddy's arms are still your safe place. You love being in the back carry (still) and strolling through our neighborhood in your stroller seems to be a favorite for you as of late.
Saturday, February 9, 2019
My heart literally sank as the 8th approached this month, reminding me that my son would soon be one year old. We are less than thirty days out from celebrating this miracle child of ours and I just cannot believe it. My heels have been dug in deep this go round. I don't want the time to move so quickly because I know the close of his infancy is one that I will miss with all my heart. It is an absolute pleasure to watch your children grow and achieve milestones, but it is so heartbreaking in the same instance. Liam Arthur has been such a delight in our lives and we wake each morning with full hearts and wide smiles as we gleam at our boy with so much joy. Happy eleven months of life, Liam Lamb. You are so incredibly loved.
Clothes: Liam is currently in 18-month clothing. For most of his infancy, he would outgrow clothes so quickly but we've finally reached the size that we are pretty confident that he'll stay in for a while. Sleepers have been our go-to lately (for everything during the recent snow storms) and they don't deter him from his daily activities, even if the feet do have a little growing room. I do think by August he'll have graduated to 24-month clothing, but we will see.
Health: I am forever grateful for the continued good health my son is in. This past month Liam has been just as healthy as ever without a cold or sniffle in sight (knock on wood). It has been such an honor to have nursed this little boy for almost a full year. I am a firm believer that breast milk is just the holy grail of health for little ones.
Feeding: I have recently started venturing out to with offering new foods to our sweet boy. Liam is such a boob baby and normally nursing is all he wants. I did try offering eggs, strawberries, and nut free granola this past week and those were well received. It is absolutely important to me that we maintain healthy eating habits with all of the kids, including our youngest babe. I'm excited to be at this phase where the limitations are steadily decreasing and the window to try all the things is basically wide open.
Sleep: LIAM IS STILL AN AMAZING SLEEPER. That makes us three for three with amazing sleepers. Thank you sweet baby Jesus! He still sleeps through the night and he goes down for his naps as normal. This boy has been sleeping longer during car rides too. I mean, he always kind of has, but now it's just this instant sort of thing as soon as the car is moving. Car trips are pretty awesome now. Liam still sleeps best when he's cuddled with daddy or mommy and we love it.
Milestones: Liam is talking so much more. I heard him say "baby" twice in the last week. He jabbers on and on and we can't help but sit there and talk right back to him. I love watching the girls carry on a conversation as if they understand each thing he jabbers about. Our little climber is in full-blown climbing mode and I wouldn't be surprised if Liam takes his first steps soon. Lately, Liam dashes for the stairs and tries to climb them each chance he gets. I have a feeling that baby gates will soon be in our future. I ordered Liam's five-point harness Chicco seat this past weekend. That was hard. A nurse at the PEDS clinic made a comment about Liam's growth and how he's almost outgrown his seat... I honestly wanted to cry.
Things You Like: MUSIC. Hands down. Music is the one full proof way to get our son to soothe. He has a select playlist that he prefers and anything outside of that isn’t very helpful. Liam loves when his sisters are being silly. His baby laugh is everything and he smile will make your heart melt. He still loves to co-sleep with his mama and papa, showers with mama, and being baby worn ALL THE TIME. He is absolutely a mama’s boy and he will reach and grab for me whenever he’s not in my arms. Not much as changed with his lists of likes this past month and I’m totally okay with that.
Wednesday, January 9, 2019
My baby boy is in the double digits months of his infancy. Things just got real. Can you believe it? My third child is just two months away from celebrating his mega milestone (AKA 1st birthday). It’s been really hard, guys. I mean, really hard. I don’t know that I’ve actually said this before in a blog but Justin and I are so incredibly conflicted on adding more littles to our tribe of five - for so many reasons. If Liam is our last go-round with all of these “firsts” but lasts.. I just want to savor them for as long as I can… and ironically enough, time isn’t on our side. We are barely into 2019 and I feel like the year is already going by extremely fast. Normally the month of January at the start of a new year goes so dang slow. I stand corrected in 2019.
Clothes: We are still at a standstill since Liam’s activeness has increased. Our boy is in 18-24 month clothing. I prefer 18-month sleepers and 24 months for everything outside of pajamas. Because the weather has been so funky lately Liam is sporting everything from thick flannels to thin long sleeved t-shirts. I try to avoid jeans at all costs (not a friend to bebes with thick thighs) but he looks so darn cute in them! Finding boy clothing that I find cute hasn’t been nearly as difficult as I was told it would be. Its a nice change of scenery from the constant glitter and unicorn I’m accustomed to with my girls.
Health: Liam had his ten-month well baby the other day and he got a clean bill of health (and a shot :/). We love being back at the military hospital his older sister Olivia was born at. I was able to get us back on the same team both girls had the last time we were here and I cannot tell you what a sigh of relief that has been. After being seen by a non-military provider for the first nine months of his life, I am excited about this familiar change. Liam weighs 22.5 pounds and he is 27 inches long (shorter side like his daddy). He’s currently battling a cold his sister brought home from school (my poor baby) but other than that, he is one healthy looking boy. Oh, the PEDS doc did start Lamby on the lowest dose of cream for his eczema. I’m praying that it works (even though is skin has been nearly perfect in Washington) because I hate the thought of my little boy battling this for the rest of his life.
Feeding: I haven’t really been pushing solids at all lately. I mean, we offer Liam food when we eat but he still doesn’t really have a huge interest. Oh! We finally introduced those little puffs, crunchies, and yogurt melts. I don’t think he cares for the puffs much but the crunchies and yogurt melts seem to be a big hit. My boy usually nurses on demand (A LOT) just as he always has and the teething aspect becomes even more apparent with each tooth Liam cuts.
Sleep: LIAM IS STILL AN AMAZING SLEEPER. That makes us three for three with amazing sleepers. Thank you sweet baby Jesus! He still sleeps through the night and he goes down for his naps as normal. This boy has been sleeping longer during car rides too. I mean, he always kind of has, but now it's just this instant sort of thing as soon as the car is moving. Car trips are pretty awesome now.
Milestones: Our boy is standing up and we are encouraging him to pull himself up on things like the couch, toddler chairs, toy bins, etc. Watching Liam become so fascinated with something and going after it is still my favorite thing ever. He’s waving, he’s dancing so much more, and he’s playing with his older sisters so well.
Things You Like: MUSIC. Hands down. Music is the one full proof way to get our son to soothe. He has a select playlist that he prefers and anything outside of that isn’t very helpful. Liam loves when his sisters are being silly. His baby laugh is everything and he smile will make your heart melt. He still loves to co-sleep with his mama and papa, showers with mama, and being baby worn ALL THE TIME. He is absolutely a mama’s boy and he will reach and grab for me whenever he’s not in my arms. Not much as changed with his lists of likes this past month and I’m totally okay with that.
Here’s to our sweet baby boy celebrating another month of life and here’s hoping that savoring all of his moments are more than enough to keep this mama dry-eyed until March!
Monday, October 8, 2018
Liam lamb! You have grown so much in the last month. I mean, you normally do, but this month… this was the month that you had change happen in just about every element of your life. It has been the best thing ever to enjoy your milestones as they arrive rather than wishing for them to hurry along. You have shown us that everything you do will be in your own time and you have you entire family behind you rooting for your continued growth sweet boy.
Clothes: Winter clothes are almost among us and this sweet angel is in 12 -18 months clothing. I love that he’ll be all snug in winter socks, cold weather jackets, and flannels. I am absolutely loving all the blues, greens, and oranges that seem to be the preferred color array for little boys. I have recently started purchasing super hero outfits (Batman, specifically) and I know Justin absolutely loves seeing his little boy wearing some of the same things he did in his younger years.
Health: My boy recently got over yet another cold in our house. This time it was runny nose and a sleep baby boy. I know colds just build his immune system, but it doesn’t make it easier to hear my sweet boy congested and uncomfortable. Other than the cold, he’s been in perfect healthy. His eczema flair ups seem to be at bay for now (not breaking out in his usual area) and we are religious with our bathing routine/moisturizing routine.
Feeding: For the past month Liam has been eating purees like a champ! He takes to eating extremely well and because of that, baby led weaning hasn’t really happened quite yet. I have tried giving Liam bananas and noodles in little pieces but he didn’t seem all that interested. We continue to try new foods every couple of days and so far it seems as if our boy likes fruits over his veggies (just like his sisters).
Sleep: I officially jinxed myself. I’m not sure I’d say its a sleep regression but this boy has been having a difficult time going down for bed at night. Normally, Liam nurses and falls asleep no problem. Lately, he’s fighting his sleep even though he’s clearly tired. Once he’s asleep though, he sleeps through the night (which is still very much appreciated). I’ve never had a hard time getting my babies to sleep, so this is definitely giving me a run for my money. The Lillebaby has been a GOD SEND. I strap Liam on my back most nights and walk around until he falls asleep.
Milestones: My Lamb has been rolling over from back to tummy and tummy to back for the past month now. He can scoot and move himself from facing one way to facing another. My baby cut both of his bottom teeth and I’m pretty sure I felt a nub on the top gums as well. He’s talking more: saying, “ba ba, da da, and sometimes ma ma” pretty regularly. He’s so vocal and we love/encourage it.
Things You Like: Liam loves when daddy makes silly faces with him (he laughs such a sweet little baby laugh when this happens), he loves when big sister Ava kisses his little fingers and plays with his toys alongside him, and he loves when sister Olivia kisses his nose. I’ve noticed that our boy loves to be held and cuddles more than he loves to nurse. I’m okay with that. Nursing is essential, but those baby cuddles. I will cuddle my boy just as long as he’ll allow me to.
Clothes: Winter clothes are almost among us and this sweet angel is in 12 -18 months clothing. I love that he’ll be all snug in winter socks, cold weather jackets, and flannels. I am absolutely loving all the blues, greens, and oranges that seem to be the preferred color array for little boys. I have recently started purchasing super hero outfits (Batman, specifically) and I know Justin absolutely loves seeing his little boy wearing some of the same things he did in his younger years.
Health: My boy recently got over yet another cold in our house. This time it was runny nose and a sleep baby boy. I know colds just build his immune system, but it doesn’t make it easier to hear my sweet boy congested and uncomfortable. Other than the cold, he’s been in perfect healthy. His eczema flair ups seem to be at bay for now (not breaking out in his usual area) and we are religious with our bathing routine/moisturizing routine.
Feeding: For the past month Liam has been eating purees like a champ! He takes to eating extremely well and because of that, baby led weaning hasn’t really happened quite yet. I have tried giving Liam bananas and noodles in little pieces but he didn’t seem all that interested. We continue to try new foods every couple of days and so far it seems as if our boy likes fruits over his veggies (just like his sisters).
Sleep: I officially jinxed myself. I’m not sure I’d say its a sleep regression but this boy has been having a difficult time going down for bed at night. Normally, Liam nurses and falls asleep no problem. Lately, he’s fighting his sleep even though he’s clearly tired. Once he’s asleep though, he sleeps through the night (which is still very much appreciated). I’ve never had a hard time getting my babies to sleep, so this is definitely giving me a run for my money. The Lillebaby has been a GOD SEND. I strap Liam on my back most nights and walk around until he falls asleep.
Milestones: My Lamb has been rolling over from back to tummy and tummy to back for the past month now. He can scoot and move himself from facing one way to facing another. My baby cut both of his bottom teeth and I’m pretty sure I felt a nub on the top gums as well. He’s talking more: saying, “ba ba, da da, and sometimes ma ma” pretty regularly. He’s so vocal and we love/encourage it.
Things You Like: Liam loves when daddy makes silly faces with him (he laughs such a sweet little baby laugh when this happens), he loves when big sister Ava kisses his little fingers and plays with his toys alongside him, and he loves when sister Olivia kisses his nose. I’ve noticed that our boy loves to be held and cuddles more than he loves to nurse. I’m okay with that. Nursing is essential, but those baby cuddles. I will cuddle my boy just as long as he’ll allow me to.
Friday, June 8, 2018
Is it possible that our sweet boy can get even more perfect as he grows? It most definitely is. It is still so bitter sweet writing these updates with baby # 3. It's still surreal saying that sometimes, but I love it so much. We have had mega strides in the last month - car rides are bearable (for baby and for us) and I cannot even begin to explain what a feat that has been. Our summer routine is most definitely surrounded by this little guy (to an extent) and we avoid driving after his nap time, like the plague. He loves nursing immediately after he wakes up, immediately after he gets a diaper change. I love that we are getting more routine as a family. It certainly has made a lot of the transitions from two babies to three much easier. It may seem like its not that big of a deal, but I took the kids to the mall BY MYSELF for the first time last week. I felt like super mom, legit. Being outnumbered by three is a big deal for me.
Clothes: Liam is in six month clothing! Well, he's got a couple 3-6 month outfits that I didn't pack away (yes, I actually packed his newborn clothes and three month clothing away) but other than that our big boy has moved on up. I won't lie, I was in complete denial about how much he's grown and I was wholeheartedly okay with leaving his newborn sleepers and onesies in the same space as his six month. It's hard watching him grow in general, but the clothing sizes are a real, tangible reminder. I spent most of my Friday night folding and stowing his clothes away thinking: "Will this be the last time I see these little outfits?" So yeah, it's been emotional for sure.
Clothes: Liam is in six month clothing! Well, he's got a couple 3-6 month outfits that I didn't pack away (yes, I actually packed his newborn clothes and three month clothing away) but other than that our big boy has moved on up. I won't lie, I was in complete denial about how much he's grown and I was wholeheartedly okay with leaving his newborn sleepers and onesies in the same space as his six month. It's hard watching him grow in general, but the clothing sizes are a real, tangible reminder. I spent most of my Friday night folding and stowing his clothes away thinking: "Will this be the last time I see these little outfits?" So yeah, it's been emotional for sure.
Health: We have yet to encounter a second cold with our peanut, but inevitably, i know it'll happen sooner or later. We have experienced dry skin patches as of late - initially I thought it was eczema, but he doesn't have red patches, they don't seem to bother him, and they aren't located in the common "eczema areas". I have a feeling it might be due to the vinegar I tend to put in our laundry sometimes, and since we use free + clear everything, Liam's clothes are not sorted out. I have decided to wash him clothes separately, vinegar free, and we stopped using our beloved Burts bee's and Aveeno lotion just in case those are culprits. We switched to eucerin lotion + shampoo/soap. They seem to be working well and the dry patches are mostly soft and smooth like the rest of him. We also switched *sort of* to size three diapers. They are still a little big, but size two diapers are definitely snug on the baby thighs.
Feeding: Liam is still nursing on demand and everything with our breastfeeding bond is just perfect. His feeding pattern reminds me of his big sister, Olivia but the amount he eats reminds me of his oldest sister, Ava. I feel so dang blessed to have been able to nourish and provide for all three of my babies! I feel even more blessed that we haven't faced major issues with breastfeeding. He's growing so well (clothing size is pretty evident) and we are going strong. We will be introducing solids in three months and I am so curious to see how that will change his nursing patterns.
Feeding: Liam is still nursing on demand and everything with our breastfeeding bond is just perfect. His feeding pattern reminds me of his big sister, Olivia but the amount he eats reminds me of his oldest sister, Ava. I feel so dang blessed to have been able to nourish and provide for all three of my babies! I feel even more blessed that we haven't faced major issues with breastfeeding. He's growing so well (clothing size is pretty evident) and we are going strong. We will be introducing solids in three months and I am so curious to see how that will change his nursing patterns.
Sleep: We have finally found a good balance with maximizing Liam's nap schedule - keeping him swaddled, cuddling with mommy/daddy, or having the fans going while he's in his baby seat or carseat, ensures sound nap time sleeps. He doesn't like sleeping in a swing (he will tolerate it for a couple of minutes) and he does not like to feel "alone" when he sleeps. He is such a huge cuddle bug. Liam is still sleeping through the night and will suckle maybe once? Twice max without fully waking up. I am thankful that our son is an awesome sleeper. Following in the footsteps of his older siblings for sure.
Milestones: Head control. My son's head control is crazy good. We utilize tummy time just as often as he will allow and it is going so dang well. He has started touching and knocking his hand against some of the toys attached to the mat - its fun to watch. Over the last month I started placing a rattle in Liam's hand and he can hold onto it and grip it with such strength. We get so excited with each passing milestone and we celebrate his as a family, daily. We also busted out the bumbo to assist with sitting and head control - he didn't know how to feel about it but he did tolerate it.
Milestones: Head control. My son's head control is crazy good. We utilize tummy time just as often as he will allow and it is going so dang well. He has started touching and knocking his hand against some of the toys attached to the mat - its fun to watch. Over the last month I started placing a rattle in Liam's hand and he can hold onto it and grip it with such strength. We get so excited with each passing milestone and we celebrate his as a family, daily. We also busted out the bumbo to assist with sitting and head control - he didn't know how to feel about it but he did tolerate it.
Things You Like: You like being in the Lillebaby (we introduced structured carriers a few weeks ago), you love when we kiss your sweet little cheeks, and when we encourage you to talk. You smile so big when when daddy imitates some of your little baby noises. You love when daddy pats your back after a good feed (that usually puts you to sleep), and you enjoy when your oldest sister, Ava sings you some of her preschool songs. You love smiling at your big sister, Olivia and she tries to smile even bigger when she's looking at you. Sucking on your hands has become a favorite lately, and I think Ed Sheeran is actually soothing for you? Either way, you don't seem to mind.
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)