Dear Liam #4 (First Time At The Pool)

Hey son! So, this post is to share your first "swimming" experience with you. The other day, dad & I decided that we should take you to the pool for the first time since it's about to be summer time. We expect to visit the pool a lot since it's so hot in Texas and figured that it might be wise to introduce you to the pool beforehand. You did great! I think the water was a bit too cold though b/c your bottom lip was shivering after about 10 minutes of wading around in the water. You were too cool though with your little swim trunks and sunglasses on. Most babies tug on stuff that is on their face or head, but not you! I guess they didn't bother you since you are smart enough to realize that they're protecting your little eyes from the sun. Smart little man! Here are a few pics for you to reflect on:

Your first feel of the water... you look a little shocked! lol

Me & you!

Ahhh! Scary moment alert! This is shortly after I realized there was a huge black flying ant on your back & in an attempt to swat it off of your back, I accidentally dipped your face in the water. Oops!!! Sorry baby boy. You were quite upset, but got over it quick.

All calmed down after that crazy ant & face-in-the-water ordeal!

You & daddy... looks like I caught both of y'all off-guard!

So, there you go, Liam. Your first time "swimming." The date was March 19, 2012. Yep, one day before you turned 7 months old. Dad & I plan on enrolling you in swim classes this summer at the YMCA down the street. Since you're so young, we'll have to be in the water with you. Of course, you won't be expected to learn to swim... it's really just to get you used to the water so that you will, in turn, not freak out when you have real swimming lessons in a few years! Hope you enjoyed reading this. Love you so much!

-Amber (Mom)

Look what I can do!

Liam is slowly learning new things every day & as I stated before he recently started crawling & standing against furniture. Here's the proof!

Liam's first time crawling on camera.

Standing against the couch.

Liam, 

I would just love to say that daddy & I are so proud of you. We never once underestimated your abilities. You are so intelligent & talented! You absorb everything that we try to teach you & that you see on your own. You're like a little sponge, ready to take in anything new that you can learn. We love you, little man! 

Love,

Mommy & Dada

7 months!!!

Holy moly... Our baby boy is 7 months old today! Time is flying & every day Liam is surprising us by doing something new. He is now standing by pulling up on furniture & sitting a lot better on his own (still wobbly though). Most exciting of all, Liam decided to celebrate turning 7 months old by crawling for the first time!!!! I walked in from work today & he crawled toward the door. I said to Kobe, "OMG! Is he crawling?!" Kobe said, "I guess so!" Then my first reaction was to throw myself down on the floor with Liam & videotape him. Well, wouldn't you know as soon as the camera came out he refused to do it again! Haha... go figure! We also recently had to move his crib mattress down one level bc he started trying to stand in it. It all started with him just peeking out between the bars of the bed, then it went to full blown pulling up! I have to admit though, him peeking through those bars was so darn cute! One morning he sat there & watched Kobe & I getting ready from the comfort of his crib. All we saw were two little eyes, big & bright, right between the bars. lol!

This is the very first time Liam stood up! Now he's a pro at it.

Liam pulled himself up & stood there in sheer joy banging his hands on the entertainment center! lol

Sitting up playing with his blocks!

Peeping Tom Liam! lol... Is that not adorable??

"Mama look at me!!!"

"Oh hai! I'm just playing with my alligator learning my colors, shapes, & 1,2,3's." lol

Liam's First Easter!

So today is slowly coming to an end & I must say it was a nice day. Liam started the first half of the day with just dad. As a nurse I have to work holidays every now & then- today was one of those! Anywho... Liam had a great first Easter! He received his first Easter basket with lots of goodies inside-I'll go into more detail on the contents in a bit. We took lots of pictures, practiced first words, and played the afternoon away, then ended the day with the movie Cars. Did you get that last part about first words?? Yeah, Mr Liam is saying "dada dada dada" over & over & over again. It's so amazing how he is able to mimic what we say. I think that's how he learned to say dada- by imitating Kobe's lip movement. Proof of that was when Kobe repeatedly said "mama" to him- really slow & in between one of the million "dadas" he managed to squeeze in one "mama" just for me! Thanks, son. Mommy loves you! I'm so excited to see what else he starts trying to say. Alright, now let's get to the pictures...

First look at his Easter Basket! This is what Liam got: a Pat the Bunny book - I love that each page has a different texture for Liam to feel. This will help with his sensory development! He also received a set of rompers, two wooden goose eggs for him to clap together, some candy for momma & daddy to eat, and some polarized Baby Banz sunglasses! I bought the crochet bunny from one of my patients' daughters & will be using it in Liam's basket every year from now until he's too old for an Easter Basket. The bottom of the bunny is empty, so it holds an egg. We're making that our little tradition and making the bunny egg, the golden egg every year!

Here is Liam again... this time with his new sandals on!

Looks like he's thinking, "Gosh, another picture mom & dad?"

Here is Liam in his new shades... stylin!

Smarty pants!

So, Mr Liam is a little smarty pants... he can pick up on things so quick! I love it when Kobe or myself can show him something and he'll do it soon after. For example, when he was trying to roll, but didn't know how yet, we would nudge him over and before we knew it he was rolling. Next, Kobe taught him how to hold himself up on his hands and knees. Now he gets up on his hands and knees, but isn't crawling yet... very soon he will be though, I'm so sure of it! I guess you could say it's like that saying "Monkey See, Monkey Do" except it's "Liam See, Liam Do!" lol... Here's another scenario so you can see what I mean.

See what I mean? hahaha...

-Amber

SIX months old!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well it is official, Liam is now SIX months old--as of one week ago! That's half of a year! Kobe & I have known, loved, cared for, nurtured, and enjoyed this baby boy for half of a whole year... craziness!!

As always, the six month shots were a must & Liam got to go with just daddy this time. I had to work & missed out, but got a full report when I got home. Liam weighed in at 13lbs8oz and he measured in at 25.75 inches long. That means Liam grew 2.25 inches since his 4 month visit & he gained 1lb4oz since the last time he was weighed at his Valentine's day sick visit.

Okay, so what has Liam done in the past month? Well, for one he's now sitting up--with the occasional faceplant-- though he does prefer scooting around on his belly. Another thing, Liam is so close to crawling, it's scary! He isn't even crawling yet & we're already having to constantly pull him away from things he shouldn't be grabbing! Haha... Just the other night Kobe & I were watching the season finale of "The Walking Dead" and the sound suddenly disappeared. I looked down & Liam had pressed the mute button on the entertainment system console. Liam is also venturing into the world of semi-solids. He's given avocado slices a try & enjoyed them. A bit scary for me though because he's not used to chewing, so I had to make sure he wasn't biting off big pieces. We bought him a little mesh feeder that he can eat fresh fruit through & it strains it through the mesh so that he doesn't choke. He has also given that whole sippy-cup business a little more consideration. Liam also attended his first rodeo! He had a good time watching the baby chicks hatch out of their eggs & seeing all the livestock. Liam also got a new toy--his beloved exersaucer!! It bounces, plays music, counts numbers, sings colors, squeaks, rattles, crinkles, and anything else you could imagine. Haha... Lastly, Liam celebrated his very first St. Patrick's day. Not much happened then... just celebrated by trying on daddy's glasses & wearing a cute St. Patty's day outfit. Now, enough talking. Let's get to why you really came. Bring on the pictures!

Avocado... yummy!

Eating bananas!

Liam using his new sippy cup!

Liam's new high chair mat... no more food on the floor! lol

First time at the rodeo: standing at the chick-hatching exhibit.

Liam in his exersaucer!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

So darn cute!

I leave you all with a comedic shot. Looks like he's thinking "I'm sexy & I know it!"

Liam is officially SITTING up!

So, Liam sat up on his own for the first time last night. Kobe & I both threw our hands up in the air the first time it happened, then ran for the video camera to try it again. Judging by our reaction to him sitting, I can just imagine what kind of victory dance we'll be doing when he starts crawling, walking, and talking. lol... Here's what we got on camera!