Liam - Week 35

Date/Week: August 24th; week 35

My Total weight gain/loss: -41.2 lbs (11.2 under pre-pregnancy weight)

His Stats:

Milestones: New foods this week: strawberries, grapes, vanilla teething biscuits, chicken; first scrap at school (someone tried to take his pacifier); first birthday partyl; first Babson event (and his birth announcement is in the fall alumni magazine).

Developmental Progress: he's waving - only when he wants to though. If you try to get him to wave he won't do it. He understands the word no. He has actually signed 'milk' to me twice this week (I think... he enjoyed the milk in any case).

Energy level: My sleeping is awful and it has nothing to do with having a baby. It is totally school related!

Exercise: Mostly walking

Thoughts and Feelings? I am ready for a vacation. This month has been brutal and it isn't over yet. That said, I received a full-time job offer and the first thing that I did... I began researching the next degree I want to pursue. I really am ridiculous.

What I am looking forward to: Boston in September for our Anniversary and Aidan's B-day; Dance classes starting again; finishing the revisions to my fdissertation proposal and submitting it; Our Christmas Open House; the birth of our nephew (our first nephew!!!); Liam's birthday; Christmas!

Liam - Week 34

Date/Week: August 17th; week 34 

My Total weight gain/loss: 

His Stats:

Milestones: New foods this week: pasta; cereal that he can pick up; pork; meatballs; apple juice. first two falls after trying to stand on his own once he had pulled up on something; Welcomed his daddy back from a trip for the first time; Enjoys his shopping cart rides!

Developmental Progress:  Definitely shows separation anxiety. Crawling is getting more consistent. He is getting better at waving hello - he doesn't just stick his arm out anymore. Boy, can he babble!

Energy level: Late nights and early mornings make for a moody me...

Exercise: Mostly walking

Thoughts and Feelings? My thoughts are on my dissertation. I've been reading a lot and am finally ready to write something. I am hopeful that the first draft will be ready for mid-September for submission!

What I am looking forward to: Boston in September for our Anniversary and Aidan's B-day.

Liam - Week 33

Date/Week: August 10th; week 33

My Total weight gain/loss: -37 lbs (7 below pre-pregnancy weight)

His Stats:

Milestones: tried kiwi and didn't care for it; first time daddy has been away; first time sitting in a shopping cart

Developmental Progress: Goes from sitting to crawling quickly; offers his pacifier to you at night; does not need his pacifier very much during the day; seems to understand more words (like no and milk)

Energy level: Pretty good this week but I am stressed so it could be adrenaline

Exercise: Mostly walking

Thoughts and Feelings? My meds are finally going to be changed so I am going to have to stop breastfeeding at the end of the month. I hopefully have enough milk stored for Liam to get through to the end of October and if I mix it with formula we could perhaps stretch it to December. I feel sad about it but I am grateful that I was able to breastfeed for 2 months longer than expected. The hope is that with the meds my system can get back to balance and after 6 months or so, if we decide to TTC I can come off of them again and back to pregnancy friendly meds. Guess this is more info for our discussion in September!


Update - I ended up sending the names of all of the meds I've taken or take and the LLL leader had researched them and contacted a doctor who writes books and does studies on meds transmission via mother's milk. The advice then was to nurse two hours or more past taking the meds. I sent the info to my doc. We'll see what she says!

What I am looking forward to: Aidan coming home from Canada; Boston in September for our Anniversary and Aidan's B-day; more classes.

Liam - Week 32

Date/Week: August 3rd; week 32 

My Total weight gain/loss: 

His Stats: 

Milestones: First swimming class; first time underwater; tried sweet potato, watermelon granita and brussel sprouts (loves them!); has begun the process of being weaned from his pacifier - he only gets it in the crib/bed and sometimes in his exersaucer but if he drops it he doesn't get it back

Developmental Progress: At this point we wonder whether he will walk before he crawls or vice versa. He's making progress towards both and perhaps more progress towards the walking. If he has pulled up to standing on something, he has been trying to reach out to another object to get to it. So we'll see what happens first. Swimming is interesting. He does not like being on his back or going underwater. I know it will come with time but he howls at those two activities during class. 

Energy level: I've come down with something and am desperately trying to get back to 100%

Exercise: Some Zumba, swimming and some walking. Think I want to get those five fingers shoes for running in the fall.

Thoughts and Feelings? Aidan is off to Ottawa on Saturday and I am 'back to school' on Monday. I am hopeful that with these two pressures upon Liam's schedule that we'll get through at least the week that Aidan's away without too much difficulty. As for the rest of the school year, I am positive that it will be doable! 

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

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.