Liam Goes to Morning Coffee

Here is Liam with Sheila this morning at our Monday morning coffee group.  He was a peach and loved his visit.

1 Month Old!

So as of tomorrow Liam will be one month old. I can hardly believe it - sometimes it seems like he has been with us so much longer and then other times it seems like I can hardly believe it has been a month already. He is changing every day and is just amazing. This week we made some more changes to his eating regime to try and address some of his fussiness. He is now eating mostly from a bottle (a combination of breast milk and formula) so we can have good measurements of how much food he is getting and that seems to be working so far - such a happier boy now that we know for sure he is getting enough food each day. He is sleeping better and when he is awake he is more alert and engaging vs. crying so much. We have an appt. with the Dr. next Tuesday so we will see how much he has officially grown but those who do not see him everyday and have seen him this week think he is looking great and is getting bigger. He is still wearing mostly new born clothes - anything I put on him that is larger he swims in. But I am sure it will not be long and he will be growing out of things faster than he can wear them so I am not complaining. So we have all made it through the first month and both Rich and I have just thoroughly enjoyed having Liam join the family - even the sleepless nights and changing the dirty diapers are not bothersome when he looks up at you and gives you one of his smiles. Yes, he has started to smile occasionally - not sure if those are real smiles or the result of processing his last meal of milk but whatever is creating them we love to get them - such a joy!

So in a couple of weeks we are heading to Ohio - Liam's first big trip. Our tentative plans are to arrive in Ohio on or around 10/11 to celebrate Hallee's birthday! We will then be there for the week and will be departing sometime on Friday 10/17. We hope to coordinate schedules a bit more to make sure we can see everyone while we are there and will keep everyone posted as the schedule develops more. We are planning to drive (it is approx. a 10-12 hour drive) so wish us luck! The good news is that his car seat seems to be one of his favorite spots to sleep!!!

Best of Liam

Twenty Days Old

Hard to believe it is ONLY 20 days. It seems like so much more -- perhaps because he needs 24 hours of our attention. A couple things that have happened this week.

• We added a formula bottle into his life. This should help fill up the fatty as he is draining mama's food mart every feeding. Hence we haven't had much success pumping to get ahead. Essentially we are replacing one mama feeding with one from the bottle. This will also give us some better going out options.
  
• We are also adding in some vitamin drops to help supplement his nutrients. This was something my sister suggested and the Doctor agreed it can be good.
  
• Liam is more alert and seems to really hear our voices and even see our faces.
• He is starting to self-sooth via sucking his hand, collar, and blankets -- he still loves his binky most of all
  
  
  

Liam's Lowell Sun Debut

Game Day - OSU vs. USC

Liam and dad are wearing their Ohio State gameday gear. Go Bucks!

This message sent from my mobile phone.

Liam is still good

It continues to amaze us how much energy it takes to care for this eight pounder. He is in constant need of something from us -- be it food, diaper, or just arms to sleep in.

He had a doctors appointment on Wednesday and he had gained an ounce, but the doctor was pleased he was gaining and not losing. It is so hard to tell if he is getting enough to eat. We won't go back to the doc until the end of the month now -- unless something comes up and we need to see him.

Liam is much more alert this week -- at least when he is awake. He seems to be gaining vision and stares a bit as he tries to bring stuff into focus. He continues to be a strong boy with firm leg kicks and a kung fu grip. A few times he has appeared to even grasp his binky and flick it out of his mouth and even once to put it back in.

We had a big day on Monday where he visited many people at UMass Lowell. This all went well except at the end of the day he sort of lost it and cried for 3 hours straight. Perhaps it was too much excitement or maybe it was just something he ate. Of course it could have been the news that Tom Brady is done for the season.

We've kept it pretty quiet the rest of the week, but have managed to take him with us as we went out to dinner one night and today went to lunch. If we take him after he eats, then we have 2-3 solid hours of him napping.

There continue to be a number of cards and gifts coming to the house. It remains clear that little Liam is well loved from near and far.

I'll try to get some newer pictures up later this weekend.

End of Week One Pictures

Week 1 coming to a close

As of this afternoon Liam is 1 week old. He has survived his first week with Rich and I taking care of him so that is something to celebrate. In all seriousness it has been an incredible week. To think about how we were feeling last Saturday to how we feel today is almost unbelievable. It has been a fabulous week of getting to know Liam and for Liam to help us better understand his needs and communication style. Each day has been a new adventure and so fun to experience how he changes each and every day. Liam kept the following log of his adventures from this past week:

* Coming home from the hospital and meeting my doggie Sammy and my cats Tate and Lulu
* Getting my first couple of baths at home (let me tell you Mom and Dad have some improving to do here but I am being patient with them)
* Rolling over (front to back) during tummy time and I have gotten 3/4 of the way over in my bassinet going back to front - As soon as I figure out how to get that hand under me out of the way I will be rolling that way too
* Swinging in my swing which I am beginning to like a little more each day
* Going for walks with mom, dad and Sammy in my comfy stroller
* Met lots of fun people including Grandma Jenny, Nana Pat, Grampy Dick, Auntie Erin and Uncle Matt, Auntie Shawna and my cousins Mollie and Summer, Tom & Ann and Pat, Cheri and Max. I also went to the UMass HR office at the University to fill out my insurance paper work and there were lots of people there who all looked in on me while I sat in my stroller.
* I also went to a place that Dad told me was the grocery store - personally I don't see much of a need for that place at this point and it is very cold in there
* Mom and Dad have started to read me some books - so far I think I like the one about Monkeys jumping on a Bed the best and Dad seems to like reading me the sports page

Once Again....

Once again we could not have gotten through yet another life experience without the support of our mothers. Both have played a significant role this past week in making sure we are successful at our first few days as new parents. It was so great to have my mom come visit for a week - and I am thankful for the few days we had just hanging out - just the two of us - prior to Liam being born. We don't often have that time together with me living so far away and it is something I probably don't say often but do miss having those opportunities. And then to know that she was just down the hall during Liam's birth was comforting and how could I forget to thank her for having a hairbrush on hand to brush my hair - not sure I would have approved any of those pictures right after birth if it hadn't been for mom brushing my hair. Of course she could not leave without doing a thorough cleaning of the house so that baby Liam would be welcomed to a cat and dog hair free house. What a help - with clean floors, sheets and towels in every room there has been little to worry about other than focusing on taking care of Liam and what to eat in between feedings for Liam. As Rich mentioned below, his mom has taken good care of our eating needs this past week and leaving plenty of left overs in the fridge. Now experiencing motherhood for just a few days I just can't thank our mothers enough for all they have done and continue to do to make sure we, their grown children, are well taken care of. What a gift that I am not sure I have fully appreciated until now.

Awake on Day 5

Liam is doing great. He went to the doctor yesterday and got a clean bill of health. All looked good and we really liked the doctor. Last night he had a few visitors including Uncle Matt and Aunt Erin. Also he got to meet someone closer to his age as 2 year old Max Gaffney came by and brought his parents too.

My mom has been here helping for a couple days but is leaving us today. She has been unbelievable with all her help especially getting us fed (sort of a Shea thing). Anyway it has been great and we are very appreciative of all the help.

Welcome Video - PG Version

This is video compilation from birth of Liam. He continues to be a good boy and he survived his first night at home with us. And now he just had his first bath -- if he could give us grades he'd probably give us a D as seem to stumble all over the place trying to figure it out. He is still eating a bunch, so I guess he isn't too distressed from our bathing experience.

More pictures

Here are more pictures of Liam over the last couple days.

Liam is home

We are at home. Pix coming later. Liam was fussing all the way out of the hospital but settled down after he got outside. He is now sleeping soundly in his car seat. He is meeting the animals, so far just Sammy and that went well. Nana and Grampy are here too and will be helping us out a bit.

Checkout day

We are all excited to be going home today! We have been passing all our screenings so far this morning which included jaundice and another checkup by the pediatrician. Soon Liam will be heading for his shots. Val was also checked and cleared to go home, so hopefully we will be out of here early this afternoon.

BTW - not once has any doctor or nurse been concerned about me. I could use a massage after sleeping on the chairbed the last few night.

What an amazing year - Val and I got engaged one year ago today and now we get to take our little boy home. Wow..Life is Good.