Liam - Week 31

Date/Week: July 28th; week 31 

My Total weight gain/loss: 

His Stats: 

Milestones: First swim in ocean and pool; tried cheese for the first time (loved it); we started learning some sign language (in addition to 'bathroom', we now know 'mommy', 'daddy', 'grandma', 'grandpa', 'milk', 'eat', 'drink', 'more', 'cat' and 'dog'. There were a few more but we don't need them yet...

Developmental Progress: He's copying movements and it is funny. My dad bobs his head from side-to-side when he sings 'Old MacDonald had a farm' and so Liam has taken to moving his head from side-to-side when he hears the some (or music or someone singing). It's cute! Still more progress towards traditional crawling but when he's standing he walks as long as he is supported - so he's making progress either way.

Energy level: Stressful week but I had tons of energy!

Exercise: No official workouts but lots of running around and 2 swims.

Thoughts and Feelings? We've loved taking Liam swimming. It's great to see the joy on his face. I always knew he'd take to the water like a fish. He doesn't like floating on his back at the moment but he tries to swim when on his tummy. He starts baby swimming class on Tuesday for the month of august so we'll see what we can learn to keep him developing his swimming skills.... and then in a few years he'll start sailing lessons! 

What I am looking forward to: Cup Match Holiday ; Aidan off to Ottawa with both bands next month; Boston in September for our Anniversary and Aidan's B-day.

Liam - Week 30

Date/Week: July 20th; week 30 

My Total weight gain/loss: -32 lbs (-2 below pre-pg weight)

His Stats: 17lbs 11oz; 27 inches

Milestones: 7 month check-up; Hep B shot - and he knows what a needle is now and started yelling before it touched his leg; likes bread nearly as much as broccoli

Developmental Progress: Sat through entire bath; can sit up, bends over to put toes in mouth and then push himself up to sitting again; keeps getting up on hands and knees but still not doing the traditional crawl; pushing up to standing while holding on to us or church pews; stands while holding on to something; 

Energy level: A bit run down but better after exercise

Exercise: Doing Chaleane Extreme due to rainy weather - and it's great. Aidan is working out with me on this one and we've done 2 sessions from the first week (third session on Saturday). Due to teething fun, I think we're agreed that working out at home is proving spotty though.

Thoughts and Feelings? Aidan's comments as we approach Liam's 7th month - It's finally raining and boy did we need it! Liam went for a walk out in the rain and didn't seemed fussed by it. He's definitely more fun at this age since he's reacting to people when they enter and leave a room. He get's so excited when I pick him up at school and you should have seen his face when I took him back to school today after holding him during his shot. I am looking forward to taking him swimming over the l4-day Cup Match Holiday weekend and also taking him on vacation with us in September.

What I am looking forward to: Cup Match Holiday ; Aidan off to Ottawa with both bands next month; Boston in September for our Anniversary and Aidan's B-day.

Liam - Week 29

Date/Week: July 13th; week 29 

My Total weight gain/loss: 

His Stats: 

Milestones: Sat through his first (of many) Pipe Band rehearsals; First visit to Commissioner's House (the site of our wedding reception); tried peaches and cabbage for the first time.

Developmental Progress: As we continue to wait for a tooth to erupt from this bulging lower gums and in the meantime discuss pacifier weaning over the next 5 months, Liam has gotten very proficient with finding and negotiating his pacifier as needed; he is sitting up more and more on his own but it is still when he is playing with something; he appears very ready to do the conventional crawl but over the last week his focus has been pushing up to something akin to a downward dog position and running forward with his back legs; He's been a bit clingy on occasion, wanting either me or Aidan - usually with new people. When he is picked up at the nursery school, he gets so excited when he sees either of us; He's been 'playing drums' on his bumbo seat; His running commentary is fascinating; particularly as we had been told that he might no 'say much' since he likes his pacifier so much... oh, well... guess he has other ideas.

Energy level: It has been a busy week but I have been maintaining momentum pretty well.

Exercise: Scheduled to run on Thursday - hope to get new running shoes in August. Haven't done much this week... shame on me!

Thoughts and Feelings? It has been a busy week so I really haven't pondered things outside of those tasks that I have to do... other than perhaps pricing invisalign braces. Still need to ID a September vacation - looking at New England cruises at the moment. 

What I am looking forward to: Cup Match Holiday (we now think we may spend the first day at the Fairmont Southampton); Aidan off to Ottawa with both bands next month.

Liam - Week 28

Date/Week: July 6th; week 28

My Total weight gain/loss: -34.8 lbs (4.8 under pre-preg weight)

His Stats:

Milestones: Doing BLW along with his cereal at school (his teacher took pictures of him with his steamed carrot sticks and sent them to her mom because she thought he was so adorable gnawing on the carrot!); Drank from a sippie cup (prefers a regular cup); First fireworks display (loved them as much as the cannon's at the Queen's Birthday Parade!); Sitting up for 3 minutes straight (he sits when he wants to sit...); Singing at church (and he decided he had to sing da-da-da-da-da over everyone!); and he's started blowing raspberries!.

Developmental Progress: This has been a week of rolling, talking and eating! He's now into specialised rolling to get to what he wants. He is also pseudo crawling with his hands and feet (no knees) either by walking his feet forward or pushing and launching himself. He's babbling up a storm and Aidan got some great video of him in his exersaucer (it's too funny). And he's doing well exploring food - this week he's had carrot, broccoli, avacado, pear, apple, mango and steak.

Energy level: Feeling a wee bit better after resting on Sunday - that's what I get for running off of adrenaline in order to get the dancer's end of year concert coordinated.

Exercise: Scheduled to run again on Thursday. Danced last Wednesday, Friday and Saturday (and again tonight). My chiropractor says that I really need to add back in weights since she can see what my weak upper body is doing to my back...

Thoughts and Feelings? After i sort out an email related to the dancer's competition weekend in March, I'm taking the rest of the month and a good part of Aug off from dance and need to concentrate on my dissertation. I think I have narrowed down the topic. Just need to plan the proposal rewrite with the goal to submit in September. Then I will hopefully be able to figure out a completion schedule - and then plan for the next degree program (law).

I reviewed Liam's pictures since December to consider pictures to submit for a campaign. He has changed so much. I am amazed at how much he has grown in 6 months and can only imagine what I'll be saying when he's 1, 2, 4, 10!!!

Trying to plan our September vacation. We're thinking that we need to take Liam. Still can't decide where to go though (Boston or Vegas). So I guess we'll keep looking at scenarios and see what would work best for us and our 5th anniversary.

What I am looking forward to: Cup Match Holiday (thinking about spending part of the day by the pool for lunch and swimming at Cambridge Beaches on the 28th); Aidan off to Ottawa with both bands next month.

Liam - Week 27

Date/Week: June 29th; week 27


My Total weight gain/loss: -35.4 lbs (5.4 under pre-preg weight.... but so not in shape!)

His Stats:

Milestones: Lower gums starting to bulge visibly - are we close to his first tooth; does #1 & #2 automatically on the toilet when we put him there upon waking up (it could be a fluke but we're not complaining); my parents have experimented BLW with steamed carrot sticks with Liam and it went well; stood on Sunday holding on to the top of the pew on his own for a bit; chased the dogs around the bed (combination of rolling, combat crawling and pushing off with his legs) - I wish I had the video camera for that one!

Developmental Progress: We've been playing games with him by putting his pacifier or a tow a distance away from him to see what he does to retrieve it. He is very determined and uses a number of techniques to achieve his goal. He's gettimg more precise with grabbing but is awkward using his thumb. However, he's starting to use his fingers to try to pick things up (vs his whole hand). He loves to eat at the table. He knows he's going to pick things up and now is going after utensils, the placemat, etc. Yesterday, he was in his teacher's lap at school and she had a cracker - he grabbed it from her and had it in his mouth so quickly that she was caught off guard. When he has oatmeal at school, he's begun expressing interest in holding his own spoon (doen't know what to do with it though...). His babbling is getting more complex.

Energy level: It's been a rollercoaster week. I must be fighting off Liam's cold but I am thankfully not sick myself.

Exercise: We went running last night. Only a mile but it was good. I am hopeful that we go again on Thursday and Saturday.

Thoughts and Feelings? Still playing catch-up. Some days are better than others. Trying to just stop and breathe.

What I am looking forward to: Need to think about vacation in September

Liam - Week 26

Date/Week: June 22nd; week 26 - 6 months old!

My Total weight gain/loss: -33.2 lbs

His Stats: 16 lbs 14 oz and 26.5 inches long

Milestones: First Father's Day, 2nd time at the beach, registered for 2nd kindergarden programme (Catholic school), 1st day at school with regular food (a bit of cereal with apple) in his lunchbox (along with his milk)

Developmental Progress: Starting to push up on his legs when he gets his hands on something solid (like one of us...); More precise with the activities on his exersaucer; Expects to be able to eat when seated at the table (he tried to grab food off of Aidan's plate at brunch); has tried pineapple and honeydew melon in the last week.

Energy level: I have been pretty good - that's partially due to good sleep since Liam's been getting up to eat only once at night recently.

Exercise: I finally went to the Chiropractor because my lower back, hip and knee were killing me. I was definitely out of alignment but it has been a year (and a c-section) since I was last adjusted. Talk about heaven. When I danced that evening I felt more like my old self - the ease of movement, that is. My back is tight so I really need to start doing some resistance training again... if I can find the time...

Thoughts and Feelings? Hectic week but somewhat organized. A bit overwhelmed with dancing stuff but trying to just get through it. We're enjoying Liam so much! His 6 month appointment was fun (him playing with the exam room paper) and sad (his startled reaction to the needles and another ear infection - no antiobiotics this time though) but he was his old playful self in no time. Elimination communication is fine - we're taking it easy. I think we're going to start looking at some of those baby signing dvds and see what we can do with Liam (past doing the toilet sign everytime we put him on the potty).

What I am looking forward to: Pizza night on Friday; having my nieces at dance class on Saturday

Liam - Week 25

Date/Week: June 15th; week 25


My Total weight gain/loss: -33.2 lbs

His Stats:

Milestones: First pee and poo on the toilet; First visit to the Aquarium; First meal at Speciality Inn

Developmental Progress: Is able to keep himself entertained by playing/talking to his toys; very accurate with pacifier in relation to putting it into and taking it out of his mouth; Sitting longer without support; will get on hands and knees for a toy but prefers to stand.

Energy level: I feel better but am a bit sluggish

Exercise: After last week's illness, I've decided that I need to do something to exercise regularly, no matter the weather. I've purchased a set of DVDs and plan to do 20 minutes in the morning before doing bottles and lunch, etc.

Thoughts and Feelings? I feel like I'm in catch up mode now that I get a little more of a breather from Liam in the evening. It will probably be good timing after July 2nd because I think I will need to make some decisions about my dissertation and what time will I have to work on it in the fall. Other than that, Boston for September is back on the table. I need to do some research into that.

What I am looking forward to: Stephen, Angela and the girls arrive tomorrow; Aidan's first Father's Day; Spa Day on my Birthday!