Liam is SUCH a model

Look at this little cutie!

He's already a month old. Jeez.

Today, we went for his newborn pictures. Basically, he was adorable the entire time. He even started smiling today.

The photographer started talking to him and he looked up at her and started grinning away. Then, he turned to us and started smiling our way as well!

Babies aren't technically supposed to start "social smiles" until 6 weeks. So, I guess Liam is just SUPER advanced. Like Aaron says "I know that everyone says their kid is special ... but ours really is!"

He's so playful and has been using his voice a LOT lately. He just talk talk talks ... I think that he gets that from his mother.

I'm so enjoying this motherhood thing. Well, except for the loosing sleep part of it. That kind of blows ... but whatcha gonna do!

Tomorrow, Aaron will be running in the Stride4Strokes in honor of his grandma Lily. I'm planning on posting video of him crossing the finish line so that we can show it to MawMaw. Maybe I'll post it here too ... but let's not get too carried away. Two posts, two days in a row? RIGHT.



And have I mentioned what an INCREDIBLE dad Aaron is? This is him reading "Skippy Jon Jones" to Liam ... see how attentive Liam was? This was week 2. I'm telling you ... future literary scholar here ... for real!

Introducing: Liam Michael

Isn't he absolutely adorable?

Liam Michael was born January 31st, 2010 at 2:09 PM. He weighed 9 lbs 7 oz and was 20 in long.

I started feeling contractions about every 7 minutes starting at around 11:30 Saturday night. We finished watching Knocked Up (Ironically) and I went and took a bath to see if they would go away. I'd been having contractions off and on for a while, but they'd go away with a good warm bath.

They continued and started getting a little closer together, so we went ahead and went on to the hospital. By the time we made it there (about 30 minutes away) at around 3am , they were coming every 2-3 minutes. The doctor came in around 7 am and checked me and I was still only dilated to a two. He broke my water and I got the epidural and continued the wait. When he checked me again, I was still only a 4 and Liam was still kind of high.

At around 1pm, they checked me again and I was STILL only a 4 even though I was having some SERIOUSLY strong contractions. So, the doctor thought that the cord might be wrapped around Liam's leg or hip or something that was causing him to "bungee jump." (See, already adventurous!)

So, we ended up having to have a c-section :( I was super duper scared ... but Aaron was absolutely amazing through the entire thing.


I'll leave you with that for now ... it's time to watch the Super Bowl!

Liam says "WHO DAT!"

Still no baby

But, we still have a week to go. I'm off to the doctor again tomorrow ... maybe he'll say something like "WOW, Rachel ... you're dilated to a ten with absolutely no painful contractions what so ever ... just push a little bit and we'll have this baby right here! No hospital stay!" ... Hah, I crack myself up with my wishful thinking.

So, here's things that I've been thinking about lately:

I totally haven't taken a picture in forever ... so there goes THAT resolution. But, in my defense, I know that when I'm in a big hurry on my way to the hospital when this baby FINALLY wants to come out that I'll forget the camera. So, it's already packed up. And if it's packed up then I can't very well use it now can I?

I really really really want to change my layout on this thing. I want a cool blog ... a cool blog with my very own cool banner and such. Think someone can make that happen for me? That'd be great.

I think I'm going to have to stop lending out my books. Or ... at least the books that have been signed by the Great Jen Lancaster. Our friend's cat took a bite out of the cover of Such a Pretty Fat. I took the news with grace ... smiled the entire time ... and then explained to them that she'd be back in May and they should go and buy me another one and get her to sign that one too. We'll see if that request happens. They were going to try and email her a picture of the book and a 100 dollars to send me another one. Either way would be cool with me. I mean, I can't be too mad ... Link has chewed up some of my books too. But, you know ... not the good ones that are signed by awesome authors and all.

Lazy Saturdays

are the best of the best!

I've had two naps already today and have sat around in my pajamas nearly all day. It's an amazing feeling that you have nothing to do but sit around and watch television and read your Kindle.

I have one more week of school before I go on Maternity Leave (YES!), so that I can further prepare for baby Liam's arrival! VERY exciting! I can't wait to meet him! He's so dang adorable.

The last ultrasound we did (37 weeks) found him sucking on his arm in the womb. He looks a little upset ... but I think that he was pouting because Daddy wouldn't let us have Cheesecake for dessert at lunch. :)

Another rant about something maternity related ...

Aaron and I went shopping today to pick up some last minute items for my hospital bag. You know, the one that I'm supposed to be packing ... probably right now ... oops. The main thing that I needed was night clothes for the hospital, lanisoh, pacifers, and maternity bras.

We went to the "Bra Specialist" for the maternity bras. Yeah, we have to go to a specialty shop for these bazooma's because the regular maternity stores make me look like I'm going to enter myself in a teeny weeny bikini contest. Seriously, the only thing the regular store bras cover is PART of a nipple.

Maternity bras ... check.

Off to Target to see about some PJs and the other items on the list. Target's maternity line is lacking. Seriously. Every time I go, I never find ANYTHING. Reasons why I am STILL going have yet to be discovered. I'll just blame it on being too lazy to drive all the way to the mall this time.

I picked up some pants that'll work just fine ... and went around trying to find some tops. Nope. None. Nada. So, I'm stuck wearing the same last three cotton comfy shirts that my stomach still fits in for my PJ shirts while in the hospital. Aaron says that he can't WAIT until I can start wearing regular shirts again and he will never have to see these shirts (three exactly the same just a different color) again.

But dangit if they aren't comfortable ...

Oh, and one last thing. I can't STAND nicknames for pacifiers. I will ONLY be referring to my child's pacifier by its true name "pacifier." None of this, nuk nuk, or nunu, or nom nom, or paci, or whatever. Gag.

I guess this is enough procrastinating ... I mine as well go and pack my bag and get it over with ... who knows, maybe Liam WILL decide to come early. Doubtful, very doubtful ...

But just in case ... room ready!

Resolutions

It's that time again!

Resolutions for this year are as follows:

Lose 50 lbs (which shouldn't be difficult since 40 of that is Baby weight)
Stop cussing (Must be a good Momma!)
Stop Procrastinating and MAKE things happen
Take more pictures!

So, I've decided that I'm going to try and keep up with the picture taking on the blog. I'll post a new picture every day! Minus the days that I'll be in the hospital with the baby ... when I come back after that I'm sure I'll have TONS of pictures to post .... so it should even itself out.

So, I leave you with a cute one! Liam says HELLO AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Liam's Playlist

I'm trying to come up with songs to start playing to Liam whenever Aaron or I listen to music. The music should be calm and soothing ... to keep my heart rate down so that Liam will know that I am in fact calm and soothed.

The plan is ... that I will play these songs to him from here on out and I'll also play it while in labor and delivery. And HOPEFULLY, it will keeps things nice and calm throughout the entire process.

I really would like to have a lot of songs (Like hours and hours worth) and right now we are sitting at 2 hours and 15 minutes. So anymore suggestions?

Here's what we have so far:

Can't help falling in love with you - Elvis
Make you feel my love - Adele
At Last - Norah Jones
Somewhere over the Rainbow - IZ
Father and Son - Cat Stevens
Sea of Love - Cat Powers
Better Together - Jack Johnson
What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
Run - Leona Lewis
Fade into you - Mazzy Star
Come What May - Moulin Rouge ST
Your Song - Moulin Rouge ST
Beautiful Boy - John Lennon
To Zion - Lauryn Hill
A New Day Has Come - Celine Dion
Simple Man - Shinedown
Blackbird - The Beatles
In My Arms - Plumb
Return to Pooh Corner - Kenny Loggins
Have I told you lately that I love you - Rod Stewart
Miracle - Celine Dion
Godspeed (Sweet Dreams) - Dixie Chicks
Danny's Song - Kenny Loggins
Edelweiss - Julie Andrews
First time ever I saw your face - Celine Dion
Use Somebody - Kings of Leon
Come Away With Me - Norah Jones
Don't Cry Baby - Madeline Peyroux
With or Without You - Keane
Slow Dancing in a Burning Room - John Mayer
This Woman's Work - Maxwell
Winter Song - Sara Bareielles & Ingrid Michaelson
Unchained Melody - Righteous Brothers

Give me your suggestions!

Feeling him move inside me

I'm 20 weeks pregnant now. Almost 21 weeks pregnant. Half way there! But, so far ... I don't want to ever stop being pregnant, I don't think.

Sure, I want to hold my little man, I want to know if he's going to have blonde hair like his great and grand-father. Or if he's going to have brown hair like his daddy. Is he going to have brown eyes ... or light colored eyes like me? Will he have my lips ... or my eyes ... or will he be the spitting image of the amazing man that I can call mine?

But, I love feeling him move inside me. I love knowing that I am never alone. He's always there ... right below my belly button. Even as I type this, he's pushing against my stomach in quick successions, and it makes me smile every time. I feel like I was born to be pregnant. It's been amazing.

So, yes ... I'm half way there ... and then there is the rest of my life that I get to spend with the sweet little boy that is growing so big inside me. But, right now ... I'm perfectly content with his little jabs to remind me of God's little miracle.