Lovies and a New Hobby?

We've now reached the point in Liam's life that he has adopted a "lovey". I call it a lovey, but it's actually his security item. Lovey just sounds so much better than diaper rag...yup, he's chosen a diaper rag as his special snuggle buddy. I guess in a way it is perfect. I have a million of them. I can bleach them. They are relatively soft and snuggly. But I had grand visions of him dragging around a blanket a la Linus from Charlie Brown (and Jessica from the Rogers family), but no. Not a stuffed animal either. He even has small stuffed animals attached to the ends of ridiculously soft, small blankets. They are absolutely adorable...but no such luck. Every morning, when I go up to his room, there he is. One arm thrown over his head, the other clutching his lovey in a death grip, usually right up by his cheek. Oh well, you can't win them all.

Although almost everything he does is a "first", we are about to approach some fairly significant firsts. First Halloween - where he will be making an appearance as a giraffe. First Thanksgiving - which is almost in time for first solids. First Christmas - which is probably why I've been on Etsy non-stop. I have to find us our family stockings (I have my eye on some Fair Isle ones at PBK). I also want Liam to have a few awesome things. All he really "needs" is clothes, but I'll be getting him a few handmade special things from people that are far more talented than I. Speaking of...I had this bright idea this weekend that I was going to learn how to knit so I could knit baby blankets for all my friends that are having babies. I bought yarn, needles and book. I learned step 1 (casting on in official knitting terms) rather quickly and was very impressed with myself. However, step 2, aka the actually knitting part...ha. I watched 47 youtube videos, read three pamphlets and still can't do it. Oh, I know how...I totally understand the process, the mechanics of it. I just can't do it and end up with the product I'm supposed to end up with. My yarn is too loose. Let's just say the knitting needles ended up on the other side of the room...several times. So much for finding something calm and soothing to do at night once Liam is asleep.

Tummy Time

I didn't know something called "Tummy Time" existed prior to reading a gazillion baby books, but apparently, it's extremely important. So, in order to work his muscles, build his confidence, keep his head from becoming flat, and all the other millions of things the baby books claim tummy time does, we have a tummy time session at least once per day. We are definitely making progress...I'm a little biased, but I give Liam an A+ in tummy time. He can lift his head up 45 degrees (sometimes a little more) and is starting to make motions like he wants to roll over - he just can't get all the parts and pieces going at the same time. He got a pretty big assist for the "on the side" picture below.

I've learned, through experience, that tummy time should always be on a blanket, even if he's already on something soft, like our bed. Unfortunately, things tend to leak during tummy time...diapers, regurgitated formula...let's just say our sheets saw the washer a few times one week and then we finally got smart (and bought a second set of sheets, just in case of a sanity lapse).

I like tummy time because I get to use it as a chance to take really awesome Liam pictures. He's so darn cute when he's trying so hard to get it all in motion. Okay...again, biased mommy...he's cute all the time. Here's some pictures from today's tummy time session. I was having more fun than he was.

I need tummy time, too, apparently. Even though I weigh less now than before I was pregnant, somehow, all the squishy parts did not go back to normal. The squishy-ness has banded together and formed a pouch (really...like kangaroo pouch minus the hole for the baby roo). I'm not even sure how you go about getting rid of said pouch. It's not where normal squishy resides...it's traveled a little farther south. Fortunately, I can pull my pants up over it AND I have shirts that have a little room at the bottom to help hide it, but still...it's not fair when I manage to delete a fair amount of squishy molecules and the remainder decide to mutiny and band together to cause ridiculousness like kangaroo pouches.

I know, I'm a broken record with the tummy troubles. I guess I figure if I bitch about it enough, maybe I'll be motivated to get off my butt and do something about it. Step one would be to give up drinking the sodas...fat (pun intended) chance. Then, I wouldn't be able to function let alone contemplate exercise. With all the amazing things that science can do, can someone please invent true "diet" Dr. Pepper?!?

Surviving and Thriving

Yesterday marked two months for Liam - it's hard to believe how much he has changed in just this short amount of time. We both managed to make it through my first week (okay, three days) of work, but that boy is bound and determined to make a morning person out of me. He likes to get up bright and early in the morning, earlier than I consider acceptable. I can't complain too much - I do get to catch up on the TV I miss at night by watching the DVR at 5:30 in the morning when he's having a bottle - but I've been up at 6am both days this weekend. I can't tell you the last time I was up that early on both days of the weekend...it may not have ever happened. Even during pregnancy, I'm used to having Thomas yell at me (for the fourth or fifth time) to get out of bed at 10am (or later). The result of the early morning wake-up calls? I've turned into Thomas and go to bed while the sun is still up.

I've lost all my pregnancy weight and then some, so my new goal is to now get the belly back in shape...not that it was really in shape to begin with, but something a little more solid than the bowlful of jelly that I'm working with now. I've done plenty of Liam curls, dead-lifts, and squats, but those aren't going to make the stomach conform. I can, however, carry groceries into the house now by the double armful now. I guess that counts for something, especially since I braved HEB by myself today (sans Liam - he was at Oma's) while Thomas went to the Texans game. Liam or no Liam, HEB requires two people - at least for this family. One person to push the cart and one person to run all over the store as we realize things we forgot, even though they are on the list right in front of us.

Mommyhood has brought on several new hobbies/habits. First, I've become a coupon clipper. No, not one of those extreme coupon crazies, but either Thomas or I will take the time to go through the Sunday paper to see if any of the deals work for us. We've been managing to save about $20 each HEB run...I consider that fairly successful, and we can't believe we haven't done this all along. Second, I'm addicted to Etsy. I haven't bought anything yet, but with so many friends either with babies or having babies, plus Christmas coming on, my credit card is about to see some serious action. I don't have time to be Martha Stewart, but I do (typically) have the means to pay for other people to be! :) I've also been playing fantasy football with the boys, and have managed to be in 1st place for the past two weeks (this has caused some hostility...apparently girls aren't supposed to be good at fantasy football). Not to worry too much, boys. Now that I've returned to work, I can't really spend any significant amount of time doing research, and I see a few rough weeks in my future.

Our lives have been completed turned upside down the past two months, but I wouldn't trade our life now for anything, jiggly stomach included...that's why Spanx exists!!