Rock Star

Liam has picked up some rockin' moves!

One Year

One year ago today, at 12:34, Liam was born and life hasn't been the same since - in a wonderful way! We threw a big birthday party for him today and had his friends and relatives over for a big celebration. We went whole-hog on the pi day connection and put up a "Happy Birthday Q T 3.14159" banner, several of us wore our "simple as 3.141592..." t-shirts from Mental Floss, we ate pizza pi(e), mixed-fruit pi(e), muffins in pi-formation, a big cookie with pi icing, brownies and cookies shaped like the pi symbol, and showed some pi(e) charts about Liam (like % time spent sleeping, eating and playing).  You might also notice that the fruit and pita dishes spell Liam's initials (LOL).

Many of Liam's friends from his "mommy and me" group were there to share in the fun and that created a really energetic and fun atmosphere.  Albert Einstein was also born on March 14th, so we put up a poster of him and added some captions wishing Liam a happy birthday.

We put together a movie of some pictures of Liam and a couple videos set to "Birthday" and "Here Comes the Sun" by The Beatles.  We put the pictures of Liam in chronological order and it was amazing to see how much he's changed over the past year.

Liam enjoyed the big get together and was thrilled with all of his new toys and clothes.  His aunt Michelle also gave him a framed version of the poem she wrote for him when he was born.  We really appreciate everyone joining us for the occasion!  A special thanks to my mom for helping us set everything up the day / evening before.

Stronger than yesterday

Even though Liam is an early roller, he hates being on his tummy. While face down, he makes a lot of uhh and ehh groaning noises which are usually followed by cries. While he still prefers lying on his back, he has started to at least tolerate being on his stomach. My friend Mariel and her mother bought Liam a nifty little tummy-time tool which resembles putting Liam on a clock so he can spin around and see 5 different play stations. For the first time this week, Liam might have enjoyed himself while spinning around. His neck is getting much stronger and he is realizing that his arms can help him lift up. This is great news for his parents, who, after getting a second opinion from another doctor, have decided to let Liam sleep in the crib instead of a chair at night.
He is also getting more coordinated and is actually holding onto objects. While he still is not grabbing at his toys, he will, when an object is placed on his stomach, grasp it and put it in his mouth. It doesn't seem like much, but the books say this is helping him develop hand-eye coordination...something this parent has always lacked.
While we might not have a soccer player on our hands, we do have a music lover. Today, during mommy and me, we had a music teacher who inspired the infants with bells, drums sticks and fun little ditties. Liam loved the whole program, especially the part where we banged on sticks. I have a feeling I better lock up my pots and pans.

Moving and Talking

I'm currently watching Liam on our video monitor as he "sleeps" in his crib. His head is now where his feet were 30 minutes ago. He keeps curling up and rolling onto his side, then uncurling. He always does this on his left side and it always rotates him a little bit counter-clockwise, so he just keep spinning around in the crib. His eyes are definitely open and he keeps sticking his hands in his mouth, so we'll see when he actually goes to sleep...

Liam is also doing a lot of "talking" recently. He seems to especially get talkative when I am around. He usually says some combination of "Lah" and "Rah" but has a few other cute sounds in his repertoire. I've been trying to capture these phenomena on video to post here, but as soon as he sees a camera, he is fascinated by it and stops everything he was doing. He smiles more each day and sometimes lets out a joyful little shriek and that always makes us happy and laugh.

Since Liam is now able to roll himself over on to his tummy, but is not quite 3 months, our doctor directed us to not let him sleep in the crib over night while we sleep, until he is at least 4 months old! So, now he sleeps in the papasan chair Mariel gave us over night.

OK, he seems to have fallen asleep while I wrote this (30 minutes of moving and then 3 minutes to fall asleep). Good thing we have this video monitor - thanks mom and dad!!

First Visits

My sister came to visit for the first time since Liam was born and met her first nephew! She was a natural with him and dove straight into activity time with funny noises and funny faces. In this photo, Liam shows off his ability to "walk" from mom to aunt. My sister gave Liam a rattle-blanket combo that should prove to be a nice "b'anky" for him. A few of my college friends drove in to town this weekend to visit and meet Liam too. Unfortunately, I forgot to take any pictures while they were here. They gave us two fun toys (they help keep us parents entertained too!) and played with Liam on the activity mat. I actually got him to laugh a couple days ago during activity time. He's been smiling a lot, but this was the first ha-ha-ha I've witnessed. It was extremely rewarding :)
Liam is getting much more settled into his routine over the past month. He gets up between 6 and 6:30 AM, and begins his Eat, Activity, Sleep cycles. At about 7:15 each night, he wants his bath and bedtime ritual. He still gets up every three hours at night for nursing. He's gotten good at going to sleep with minimal help from us. We decided to let him cry for up to two minutes before rushing in to "shush-pat" him. At first, it took a couple rounds of crying and "shush-patting" before he'd go to sleep, but now it usually takes only one, and sometimes he just goes to sleep without any crying. That has freed up a lot of time for us (we used to spend 30-60 minutes each nap-time getting him to sleep).
Liam is also getting better at holding his head up and sitting up as you can see in these photos. He's still a bit of a bobble-head, but he doesn't need the constant support we gave his head just a few weeks ago. As always, he gets more and more alert each day and that's really fun for us as parents.

Nurser(y)

I took some time off to watch Liam while Annika went back to her office today. Liam slept for two hours and then woke up hungry, so I put him in the Moby and gave him a bottle, which he chugged like a frat boy chugs beer. Now, he only drank about 3-4 ounces, not a pint (or yard), but still, he was hungry. After some activity time, he got tired and eventually fell asleep in the swing. It went very well and is the longest Annika has been away from Liam so far. He's got enough of a routine that we were confident that he'd sleep for most of the time she was at the office and only need one or two feedings (which we had enough milk for). I'm sure that once we get a routine down, he'll change it on us though.

Liam's activity times are still getting more interactive by the day. He "smiles" more each time and is more fun to interact with. Chicken Dance Elmo is still a favorite of his (thanks Beth) and, of course, he loves to stare at lights (and don't we all... we just switch from bulbs to LCDs and Plasma).

My mom bought a crib bumper and bed skirt from the Pottery Barn collection we used to decorate the nursery and worked with my dad to create a window valence and curtains for the nursery window. The valence is a section of the bumper pad that shows scenes from the Hey Diddle Diddle nursery rhyme. They look quite professional and custom-made to fit our window and the decorations of the room. They also got us a diaper stacker and sewed a section of the bumper on it to tie it in with the theme as well. Thanks mom and dad!

Better All The Time

Like the Beatles said: "it's getting better all the time." Liam is sleeping for longer stretches and when he's awake, he's more likely to be alert and curious than he used to be. He's also becoming more predictable:
7am wake up and eat a lot
1-2pm cranky for a bit and then a long nap
8pm get really cranky, take a swing ride and / or bath
8:30 - 9pm get into bedtime routine of sleeping with intervals drowsy nursing every 2.5 hours.

He's also been riding in his stroller on two walks each day with us and he tends to sleep through them.

This routine is good in a number of ways - he sleeps more at a stretch which means Annika does also; he sleeps more at night than during the day; and he's getting a bedtime routine established. His awake and alert "activity" times are becoming more fun because they are lasting longer and he interacts more by following objects and paying attention to things and faces.
This photo shows Liam during one of his activity times today, looking up at Annika with curiosity.


In this video, Liam is entertained by "Chicken Dance Elmo" a gift from my co-worker Beth. Note: Annika is off camera moving Liam's legs for him... he's not that coordinated yet.

Happy 1 month Birthday.

It is hard to believe that Liam has only been with us for one month. Our days seem so full with him that it is difficult to remember what our lives were like as a childless couple. Steve keeps trying to convince me that it was easier for me when Liam was in the womb. I agree that, although I was less comfortable than I am now, it was slightly less hectic. But, neither he nor I would want to see him back in my belly. Holding him and watching him grow (he is a big 23 inches) is worth the effort. Happy Birthday, Cutie Pi!

Everyone told me that once I became a mom I would be so busy I would not be able to do anything else. The truth is that while I can't do anything else, it is not because I am incredibly busy. Instead, I find myself doing a lot of thinking while he is nursing or I am just holding him, fearful of him waking up at my slightest movement.

One thing I have been thinking about are expressions or actions that may have been brought on by raising a baby. For instance, why is it that when you can't sleep, people say to try to have some warm milk...the thought of warm milk does not sound that appealing to me, but if you look at it from a baby's point of view....

Also, as I pat my son's back continuously for hours, I wonder if this is where they get the expression "pat on the back." He seems to love it and for now it is the only "praise" he really understands.

I am now very clear on what is meant by the expression "big baby" or "being a baby." A baby is one who will cry at the drop of a hat or for no good reason. Sometimes, I am convinced, he cries just to hear how loud he can get.

I would also like to know where they get the expression "sleeping like a baby." It has been my experience that babies don't sleep for more than 2-3 hours at a time and seem to be startled awake by hitting themselves in the face with hands they didn't know they had.

I am sure there are expressions out there. Actually, I am sure I have thought of them at some point, but I am too sleep deprived to recall them.

Out for a Stroll

We took Liam on his first stroller ride today for a couple of miles on our path system. Although it drizzled a little at times, it was a really pleasant walk and Liam slept most of the way. We kept him warm and toasty with a couple layers of clothes and a really nice stroller blanket from my cousin Mary. He was also introduced to a few of our friendly neighbors who have been really supportive. The stroller was given to us by my grandmother and is really neat. Its light-weight and folds and expands without having to go through the process required by most other strollers to do so (push this button with your right hand while pulling this lever with your left and stepping on this level with one foot... now bend to the ground and tie it off with your teeth). Instead, you simply pull on a handle in the seat to fold it up, and lift it off the ground to allow it to expand.

Makoto was well behaved on the walk - although he still doesn't like people with basketballs. I think he's in for a rude awakening when Liam starts bouncing balls around the house! Overall, Makoto is still very curious about Liam and Yuki is still very cautious. We'd like to keep it that way for a while longer until Liam is able to push the cat off if he decides to sleep too close. For now, we just keep the two separate.

Methinks this couch is a wee bit too big for Liam. However, he is getting bigger and bigger. He's almost too big for his newborn "union suits" (one-piece outfits that have feet).

Relativity

How long does 25 minutes seem? Really short if its your lunch break. Really long if you're trying to continually make shushing noise while hunched over a crib. Its all relative.

Speaking of relative, we had a few over today for a visit. My parents and grandmom (now a great-grandmom) and Annika's dad and aunt come over today to see Liam. Liam was on his best behavior throughout the visit and was either quietly sleeping, or happily nursing almost the entire time. And, characteristically, he started crying sometime between when they left the house and all got into their car to pull out of our driveway :) He's been generally very good today though so I don't complain, its just funny how impeccable his timing is.

Although I intended to take pictures of the visitors with us, I have none. Annika's family just popped in for a very quick visit but my family brought lunch and stayed for a while. Our lunch was facilitated by the great swing our neighbor gave to us. That swing has enabled a few meals now and we appreciate having it - thanks Jen!

Sometimes I'm more tired than I realize. Yesterday, we went to Great Beginnings to pick up a couple things and Annika came and stayed with Liam in the car. She was hankering to get out of the house for a bit and this worked out well. When I came back out of the store, I told her that I ran into a couple people in the store. She asked who I had seen in there that I knew and I said "No, I literally ran into two people by accident."

Getting A Head

At Liam's 2 week visit to the doctor, I pointed out that while he does sleep on his back (a SID prevention must), he always turns his head to the left. The doctor suggested that we put a wedge under the left side of his head so that he doesn't get a mis-shaped head. Not wanting to be a mother that admitted to not knowing what a "wedge" was, I nodded my head in agreement and smiled.

I told this wedge story to Steve's mom, who promptly found a hat with a pillow on the side for Liam at a nearby baby store. The hat is pictured and can be placed anywhere on Liam's head to prevent him from moving one direction or another. Betty and I both agreed that this might solve the misshapened head problem, but might somehow be a danger for him in the crib. So far, his head (while a little large for his body) looks just fine to us, and we will worry about the lopsided look problem later.

First Family Photo

We finally got around a taking a photo with all three of us in it. This was facilitated by a visit from my mom combined with a sleeping Liam in his fancy vibrating chair. Everyone tells us to get photos with us in them, and not just the baby, or we'll regret it. Given our often sleepy / groggy appearance recently, its rare for us to both be willing to be in a picture at the same time :)

I've been back in the office this week and one side-effect has been a lack of blogging over the past two days. Being away from home during the day tends to compress our time in the evening for things like uploading photos and blogging. My coworkers got Liam some very nice new books, slippers and a boo-boo bunny (a re-usable ice cube in a soft bunny outfit).

Meanwhile, Annika and I are continuing to dine off the kindness of others in the form of quiche, stuffed fish, chicken and potatoes. By the way, a left-over baked potato makes a great 1 am snack.

Monitors

My parents came over tonight and made us a delicious dinner and brought us a slew of baby monitors to test out. We ended up keeping a cool wireless video monitor with a hand-held monitor that we can carry around and infrared night-vision for dark rooms. The video monitor also has an audio component so it can be used for both duties. We also kept an audio intercom system that my parents used when I was a baby - they still work better than the brand-new intercom they got from Radio Shack (which is where they got the originals 30 years ago)! So now we will feel a bit better when I return to work and Annika is left here alone with Liam. Now we can also use the intercom to talk to each other between basement and top floor without yelling which is convenient in general. Can you tell I like gadgets?

Dressing Liam

When I was pregnant and shopping for baby items, one of the things that always caught my eye were all the adorable baby clothes. I couldn't wait to meet my little guy and dress him up. I figured I would change his outfit a few times a day just because it would be fun. Turns out, that we do change him a few times a day, but it is out of necessity and not out of desire. A note to all mothers to be: babies are not barbie dolls. They have big heads that don't like to fit through neck holes. They have arms that you can't just bend in any direction. They squirm and thrash all around while you are changing them. And probably most important to note: they scream if you take too long (bet your barbie never did that).
As a result, Steve and I have taken to outfits that zip or snap up--no over-the-head move required. Luckily, his Grandma Betty has given us many of these "easy" outfits. One day, I did decide to try to dress him up and take a picture. This picture shows that even when you put him in something cute, he still might not end up with that barbie doll perfection.
Even though he is not without his faults, having him is way better and more fun than having a doll. I am really looking forward to watching him grow.

Everyday Magic

Liam got a bunch of new clothes and toys from Annika's friend Mariel today. In the photo, he's sitting in a new chair that vibrates, plays music and has a mirror and toy above for Liam to look at. We put him in the chair tonight for some of his "activity" time - which basically consists of sitting and looking around at the lights in the room. Everything is new to him so he must be trying to figure it all out. Its interesting that, at this age and for a while yet, kids aren't impressed by "magic" tricks because they don't know how things are supposed to be, so they aren't surprised when they don't behave that way (OK, there's a coin behind my ear, so what? Maybe that's just where coins come from).

The fact that it is a weekend has seemed strangely irrelevant to us. Today was exactly like every other day these past couple weeks. Night certainly feels different from day still, but time of day has become largely irrelevant too. It'll be very strange to go back to work on Monday and not be home with this routine, and yet know that its still churning along here without me. The converse is true also, it seems odd that, for most people, these last two weeks have been like most others and nothing special happened for them. It definitely gives me a different perspective on life.

Growing

Liam is now 9 lbs, 4.5 oz and 21 inches. He's certainly growing fast and its no surprise given his copious sleeping and eating. He'll soon be out of his current diaper weight class and maybe we can shift into the reusables soon. The doctor is pleased with his progress but concerned with his proclivity for holding his breath while crying. He recommends flicking a little water in his face when he starts to get in that mode. Now all we need to do is have water handy where ever he might cry :)

Annika's family visited tonight for dinner, dessert and a game of What's Yours Like? which can be a frustrating game, but is interesting and most importantly, doesn't require sitting at a table and is thus conducive to having a Liam on your lap. This was the first time Annika's brother got to meet Liam and he brought a Stanford ones-y for Liam to wear.

Liam, as usual was crying as Annika's family rang the doorbell, but stopped the instant they walked in the door and went to sleep. He was quiet as a mouse throughout the visit, and promptly went ballistic as soon as they left. At least he knows to behave when we have company :)

Suspicious Sleeper

If you ever have occasion to try to get Liam to sleep - beware! He is a suspicious sleeper! After all kinds of soothing tricks and calming machinations, you might look down to see a seemingly sleeping Liam with eyes shut. Not so! Liam is too smart for that. He knows that your soporific session is simply a sly trick to get him to sleep and then put him away somewhere like a bassinet! So, just to make sure, he opens his eyes a little every once in a while to make sure you're still there and he's still where he was when he was really awake.

Today my mom stopped by bearing gifts (as usual) including many new cute outfits for Liam from her and some more adorable clothing from my sister, who couldn't make it due to a cold. My mom stayed for a few Trivial Pursuit questions and a nice visit while holding Liam for us (as pictured in this entry's photo). She also brought a photo album of pictures of me as a baby and we compared to see in which ways Liam takes after me. We also got out a photo of Annika as a baby and did the same for her and Liam. We'll scan them in and put them side-by-side for comparison at some point.

I walked around a bit with Liam in the Moby again today. It seems to help put him to sleep, so I'm adding it to my list of sleep-inducing tools. I've also read that babies who are held for 3 hours a day are less prone to colic, and those who are kept upright longer have less gas. The Moby helps accomplish both goals while keeping our hands free.

Berry Pi and Handmade Gifts

My aunt Penny and cousin Dan brought over a couple more dishes for us including a berry "pi" in honor of Liam's birth date. We were supposed to eat it when my sister visited tomorrow, but she had to cancel her trip because she came down with a cold, so we started digging into it tonight. Its as delicious as it is punny.

Its a bummer that my sister won't be able to make it out to see Liam tomorrow. I know she's disappointed too. But, she won't be missing too much action since Liam is usually sleeping or nursing. The odds are low that she would be here during the random 20 - 40 minutes of "active" time he has during the day. Get better soon Michelle!

We've started using Mylicon on the recommendation of Annika's friend Karen, and Annika is trying a diet without dairy to see if we can get Liam's gas under control. The pediatrician confirmed that he does have more gas than usual. If we can reduce that, I think we'll have a much happier baby :)

We received a number of hand-made gifts for Liam and thought it would be fun to get a picture of him with them. Here, we see that this hand-made cashmere hat from Aunt Laurie will probably fit him in a few months...

Annika's aunts and grandmom on her mother's side made us this cool blue and brown quilt with all kinds of neat patterns in it. They also made a matching scarf for Makoto and ribbon for Yuki. Kitty's mom knit us this soft white blanket to keep Liam warm.