In the last month, Liam’s personality, the good, the bad & the ugly, has exploded. He started to learn the fine art of tantrums by “expressing his negative emotions” through arching his back & kicking his legs when I attempt to get him to do something he does not want to do. Like, oh, get in his highchair or take a nap. (sidenote: I just typed ‘napa’ and instantly I thought, “if you’re tired you take a napa, you don’t move to napa” – total extra credit points if you know of what I’m speaking!) I’m thinking he has a short fuse, like you know who, or maybe this is just normal exploration of his feelings…either way it’s very interesting to see him expressing himself, negatively or not!
Liam started pointing at things and/or taking my hand to point things out – normally when he’s taking my hand to point, it’s because the item is a new addition to his environment & he’s being “cautiously curious” and plus, it’s really cute. He waves hi & bye to people – and that circle of being is expanding every day – he had Stranger Wave Anxiety for quiet a while but is slowly getting over that. He barely has any Stranger Anxiety when family comes over – he’s used to them now & fully recognizes everyone – especially in pictures! He will point to Grandma and smile – too sweet!
Liam’s favorite word of the moment is Dada – whether he is looking at his picture or actually in his Dada’s arms, he loves to just chattering away about his Dada. He still says “clock” when he sees the pictures of his clocks that Grandma gave him.
Liam went to his FIRST concert! It was such a pleasure to take him to see Huey Lewis with his Grandma & Grandpa – Fun! Fun! Fun!
Liam participated in his FIRST 5K Race for the Cure – he lounged the entire time & garnered many a comment from the surrounding ladies about that fact! I’ve got the pictures; I just need to post them. My thinking was (about participating) that since Liam benefited from MY healthy boobies that the two of us should support those who are afflicted & continue to Race for the Cure. He might be a boy, and at a lower risk, but his Momma was able to supply him with the Pimp Juice because she (me!) is healthy. And for that we are very thankful.
We played in the pool at Camp Carolina almost every evening & he loved every minute of it! We swung in his swing and giggled every time we approached “lift-off” – thank you so much Camp Carolina for making his stay SO much FUN for him! He truly loves exploring Camp & spending time with everyone – we are so lucky to have you so close & so available (and willing!) to come spend time with him & to make it so easy for us to come stay with y’all!
Liam is now walking with his walker but still prefers to use every either single thing that is not designed for walking with. Of course. He loves to push everything around & grins and giggles the entire time. He has made progress & will take ONE STEP between pieces of furniture, but still prefers to drop & ZOOM! ZOOM! to his destination of choice.
Liam has a new found love for his Goodnight Gorilla and we are back to reading it multiple times in a row, multiple times a day! He still laughs & does his adorable Scrunched Up Old Man Face when we get to the surprise of finding a gorilla in your bed. He can stand and pass me book after book after book, until his basket is empty and then he starts all over again. He loves his books!
His favorite thing on his Music Table is the ABC Song – he wants me to sing along with him & he grooves his little tukus to it every time. He really enjoys his fridge magnets & is especially partial to Farmer Tad & his banjo playing. He’s learning the correct way to put the animals on it so that he might get the song to play – he’s really funny when he dances to this – he stomps his foot & swivels himself around!
I cannot say enough about my Little Big Boy, as you can tell probably. He really is my little Star of Wonder. I feel so lucky to have him in my life every single day. It’s fun for me to tell Matias what he has done that day – I LOVE sharing him with everyone! He’s such a special HAPPY little Fellow that it’s hard not to be excited about him & what he is doing and experiencing. Even when he pushes my buttons, I know that this is the best thing that has ever happened to me (beyond, of course, meeting his father which without now of this would have been possible).
I know that everyday takes me further away from being his sole dependent (to an extent, people!) and it’s been really hard for me to wrap around my brain that he is going to be ONE YEARS OLD NEXT WEEK. Even Grandma somewhat “refuses” to refer to him as a Toddler but that’s what he is, my Little Bundle, our Bag of Potatoes, is now well on his way to being our Little Boy, our Toddler, our Forward Facing in the Car Seat, Self Feeding, Milk Drinking, Non-Pureed Eating Big Fellow Boy. It is truly bitter sweet, these ages & stages milestones we pass every day but I truly treasure every day I am able to be with him & watch him continue to develop into this HAPPY, SMILEY, GIGGILING BOY!
I also want to thank y’all for coming along for the ride with my little family. It means the world to me that I have this fantastic Global Virtual Family that will support, love & encourage Liam (and myself) through it all. I can feel the love & I feel connected to each of you through all of this & I hope you feel the same. Thanks for reading for the past 22 months, I really feel lucky to share our Fellow with you, I hope you feel a part of it all also.
I’m off to get the Liam Fellow dressed for the day – he’s up from his nap, talking away to himself. He’s got a huge kiss coming from me – just for being him. And lord knows, he deserves more than that, my little Star of Wonder.
He even got a jersey from Uncle Jimmy & Auntie Micaela!
Carolyn:
Best friend has child. Her: exhausted, busy, no time for self, no time for me, etc. Me (no kids): Wow. Sorry. What'd you do today? Her: Park, play group . . .
Okay. I've done Internet searches, I've talked to parents. I don't get it. What do stay-at-home moms do all day? Please no lists of library, grocery store, dry cleaners . . . I do all those things, too, and I don't do them EVERY DAY. I guess what I'm asking is: What is a typical day and why don't moms have time for a call or e-mail? I work and am away from home nine hours a day (plus a few late work events) and I manage to get it all done. I'm feeling like the kid is an excuse to relax and enjoy -- not a bad thing at all -- but if so, why won't my friend tell me the truth? Is this a peeing contest ("My life is so much harder than yours")? What's the deal? I've got friends with and without kids and all us child-free folks get the same story and have the same questions.
Tacoma, Wash.
Relax and enjoy. You're funny.
Or you're lying about having friends with kids.
Or you're taking them at their word that they actually have kids, because you haven't personally been in the same room with them.
Internet searches?
I keep wavering between giving you a straight answer and giving my forehead some keyboard. To claim you want to understand, while in the same breath implying that the only logical conclusions are that your mom-friends are either lying or competing with you, is disingenuous indeed.
So, since it's validation you seem to want, the real answer is what you get. In list form. When you have young kids, your typical day is: constant attention, from getting them out of bed, fed, clean, dressed; to keeping them out of harm's way; to answering their coos, cries, questions; to having two arms and carrying one kid, one set of car keys, and supplies for even the quickest trips, including the latest-to-be-declared-essential piece of molded plastic gear; to keeping them from unshelving books at the library; to enforcing rest times; to staying one step ahead of them lest they get too hungry, tired or bored, any one of which produces the kind of checkout-line screaming that gets the checkout line shaking its head.
It's needing 45 minutes to do what takes others 15.
It's constant vigilance, constant touch, constant use of your voice, constant relegation of your needs to the second tier.
It's constant scrutiny and second-guessing from family and friends, well-meaning and otherwise. It's resisting constant temptation to seek short-term relief at everyone's long-term expense.
It's doing all this while concurrently teaching virtually everything -- language, manners, safety, resourcefulness, discipline, curiosity, creativity. Empathy. Everything.
It's also a choice, yes. And a joy. But if you spent all day, every day, with this brand of joy, and then, when you got your first 10 minutes to yourself, wanted to be alone with your thoughts instead of calling a good friend, a good friend wouldn't judge you, complain about you to mutual friends, or marvel how much more productively she uses her time. Either make a sincere effort to understand or keep your snit to yourself.
Now when he is standing on the couch, he loves to throw himself backwards & belly laugh when he falls & is caught by all the pillows. He crawls over the obstacles that before would send him into tears - the pillows on the floor are no match for him, they toys previously in the way now get tossed aside (or more accurately backwards) & his reach is greater than ever. He has learned to pull his legs up & over things but this only leads to more throwing himself back & laughing – his favorite new game – along with climbing up Mama to give me a hug or a beso.
His affectionate side is coming out – hugs, kisses & zerberts abound throughout the day – always with a fierce grip & a wide smile. He will only drink his bottle if he is lounging in my lap & I really don’t mind as I see that as Our Time, just as it was during nursing & I’m inclined to believe that he feels the same. I would like to believe that the head-butts & body slams to Monkey Kitty are a reflection of his affection towards his cat & not some twisted sort of torture. His love of pictures (of himself and others) has grown – he has a favorite frame that he “carries” around the family room with him – it’s the one of all of the Hewitts raising our glasses to him as a newborn. The smiles & coos abound when he stops to take a peek at it multiple times a day! He lunges for his Latte & Mocha stuffed animals & hugs, kisses and bites them into submission all with wild abandon. He’s a cuddly little boy & even though he has always let me cuddle him the shift has come that he wants to be cuddled and asks for it often – how can any mother refuse that special time?
I’ll admit, that for selfish reasons, I (we) still rock him to sleep. I don’t want to just put him down & walk away – I really LOVE that time, for the 3-6 Beatles songs, that I get to rock, and cuddle & smooch on my little big boy. We play peek-a-boo with my hands, I steal his Chupie from him & I tickle his feet – and in a strange way, it calms him down (when you think it might really get him going…) but it’s become part of our Go to Sleep routine so I’m sticking with it. It’s a quiet time for us & I cherish it as there are rarely any other quiet times during the day!
Speaking of quiet times – he is Officially Sleeping through the Night! What a glorious feeling! I was never OVERLY sleep deprived – just unpleasant (ahem) at times in the morning. Thankfully, it didn’t really take any Crying It Out or Ferberizing (whatever that is!) – we did attempt the CIO method less than a handful of times, but strangely the permanent change came the day he was told he was in the 15% category of babies who don’t sleep through the night & a part of me really believes that he did not approve of that assessment and therefore changed his ways. I think that speaks volumes about his character – or rather a mix of his parents’ character – winkwink. Telling either Matias or myself that we cannot do something or that we are under-succeeding at something will basically put us on the track to prove you wrong…so I don’t doubt that he took that little percentage to heart & went about changing his ways!
His frustration comes out much quicker & bolder with each new obstacle also. I think I’ve got my hands full with this one – I can foresee many a “discussion” regarding the particulars about just exactly “why” & “how come” he cannot do some certain, surely, lethal Thing. Of course, all the while, he will have his “I’m too cute to punish” look on his face. His reach has extended to things on the bookshelves & my desk – whereas before he was _thisclose_ to reaching them – now a mere lift of the feet onto tip toes & he’s got everything within his grasp! More Liam Proofing to be done! Thing is – where on Earth do you put all this crap stuff? My Inner-Martha is not so thrilled with this aspect! He’s got a new face that he makes when frustrated and sometimes I think he’s just bored (and needs to move onto his next activity) I call it his Old Man Face – it’s a slight variation of his Scrunched Up Smiley Face – he scrunches his face but then adds this I Smell Rotten Eggs look to it. Quite humorous but also I’m afraid it might Stay that Way as our Mother’s warned us! Also, it is starting to resemble an I’m Disgusted by My Options face – which I’m is very similar to Matias’ Whatever Face & my accidental Letting Everyone Know How I Feel cause It’s Written All Over My Face face. He has been leaving the cords alone on the TV (why oh why are the inputs in the front?!!?) & simply bangs on the TV during bangable times – such as music & dancing.
Speaking of dancing – he’s getting his little groove on to almost anything these days & it’s too cute! But every time I try & capture it on film, he stops & attacks the camera. BOO! He LOVES to dance to his banjo playing Leap Frog fridge magnet & the Alphabet Song on his Learn & Groove Table. But by far, his favorite song to dance to is the one on his House – I think it’s called “There’s No Place Like Home” (please correct me, Grandma, if that is wrong!) but he has to ring the bell first & then hit it again to get the song to play – sometimes I can distract him from naughtiness by playing the song and then he will GiggleCrawl over to it and sit down & boogie!
The other day I was watching him play on the couch & I just couldn’t get over the fact that he is 10 months old now. He really isn’t a bebe anymore. He’s this young little big boy just bursting to the seams with personality & charisma, if I do say so myself! He’s so alert (as always) & engaged in whatever we are doing. We went to see Mr. Don sing again & he almost could not contain himself. I had to keep him in my lap for the majority of the time since when I let him down to crawl into the fray he nearly got trampled by the toddlers not paying attention to his little hands under their feet but he thoroughly enjoyed himself! He sang along, and cheered & danced while standing on my lap (alright, he was standing on my gut) and cheered when the songs ended. When I finally let him down, since the kids had gotten distracted in the back of the coffeehouse, he went straight for the instruments & started playing away – at one time he actually made a beeline FOR Mr. Don but I caught him before he unplugged is amp or grabbed the actual geeetar from him! He lasted the whole time & took a 3 hour nap when we got home! YAY for Mr. Don!!
Whenever I go up to get him from his naps, he always smiling away at me & I take that time to dance with him to one of his songs on his Neptune (again with the cuddle time!) & I like to think that he looks forward to that also. I think he does cause he always smiles & the majority of the time he plays the song & puts his arms up for me to pick him up – indicating to me that he DOES enjoy it & yes, please, dance with me Mama. I wouldn’t mind if he stayed at this stage for a few months, but I know that is selfish & I should WANT him to excel & move forward in his development but I am going to miss his Under 1 age bracket more than I ever thought I would. He’s so easy to “read” & communicate with – I know that’s a blessing – but I just don’t feel that I’ve gone through the struggles of babyhood with him that so many others do & I’m not so anxious to have him break away from our telepathic connection.
But when I think about him riding a tricycle or swimming in the pool (this weekend!!) or going down slides by himself I get all excited and weepy & I just cannot believe that I get to experience it all with this really cool little boy! I REALLY enjoy spending time with him! I might be exhausted by the end of the day & crave more rest time BUT I wouldn’t trade getting up the next morning & starting it all over again for the world.
I know the time is coming soon when he lets go of the ottoman and steps toward his next object & it’s so bittersweet. I’m proud of everything he has accomplished already but I’m not ready to leave it all behind just yet but the thrill of the future & what he will bring to it & to the family is so exciting I almost want to fast forward to it all! And I don’t want to miss a beat or more importantly, a step. I hold my breath so many times during the day just anticipating his next move, just waiting to see that little face light up when the HOLY COW DID YOU SEE WHAT I JUST DID look spreads across his face. And I’m sure I’ll cry my little eyes out through the smiles of pride & joy and sheer excitement. Cause, holy lord, this Parenting Thing – never imagined how EXCITING it could be.
I suppose that’s what happens when a Liam Fellow enters your home & heart.
I carried high (girl) or low (boy) BOY
I carried way out front (boy) or wide (girl) BOY
My morning sickness was worse in early pregnancy (girl) GIRL
My looks improved (boy) or worsened (girl) during pregnancy BOY (or so I’ve been told…)
My partner gained weight with me (boy) or stayed the same (girl) BOY (HA!! 10lbs!!)
The baby's heart rate was fast (girl) or slow (boy) Too Close to Call – 144 is smack dab in the middle AND if you know otherwise, please don’t tell me!!!
Do we need to start a Pool? If I knew how to set one up I would…I think the Office Folks want to do one too…is it strange to start your own Baby Pool?
This is the Leap Frog table we got Liam - so far it's a HIT! He's touched everything & cruised around it even. He's also put a cat toy in the little green bin thing that opens/closes AND ACTUALLY SAYS "open & close" for YOU (YAY for the end of the demented 
