Liam - 2 1/2 years (30 months)

How are you 2 1/2 years old?  You have grown up so much in the last month. You are all about being a big boy, and you love helping all the time.

Clothes: You are so tall, and skinny so it's hard to find the right fit of clothes. You needed new shoes so I sent your daddy a picture to pick which ones we should get. He wrote back, and said you picked the ones in the middle which were a great choice because they go with everything!

• 3T tops, 24 month or 2T bottoms, and size 5 pajamas
•  Shoe size: 8.5
• size 5 diapers, and size 6 night time diapers

Sleeping: You are sleeping so much better since your surgery. You nap from 1 to 3-3:30. You sleep through the night most of the time. We still lay with you in the guest bed to get you to go to sleep. 

Eating: You are starting to eat better again too. We keep introducing you to knew foods, and occasionally you will try them. The things you eat consistently are yogurt, cheddar bunnies, gold fish, popcorn, strawberries, bananas, grapes, apples, and guacamole.

Words: You have too many to count! My favorite right now is Bailey, and baby sister. You mimic everything, and we have full conversations now. We love to ask you what you have done for the day, and your answers are so cute. Sometimes you tell us stuff that didn't happen so we wonder if you are telling us what you wanted to do. You have gotten much better with using your words when you are having a fit which helps us all calm down, and know what to do.

Tricks: You are such a good dancer, and try to copy moves you see. You can throw, kick, and jump. You are also able to climb in your carseat which is super helpful. You've also gone pee pee in the potty a few times. You've known your letters and numbers for a while, but now you know your letter sounds!

Likes: Being outside, Playing with friends/family, singing, dancing, playing in your box from Bailey's dresser, Playing with Daddy, rocking Bailey, cuddling, playing with my hair, going to the park, sliding, swinging, surprises, going to church to see your friends, playing in your sand box, and you like to go to nap or bed with your Elmo.

Dislikes: Having your diaper changed, meat, leaving your friends/family, Bailey crying, time out, waiting patiently.

Liam you are the most amazing little boy, and we are so blessed to be your parents. You are so funny, loving, caring, and energetic. You make so many people laugh, and I always get compliments on your behavior when we go to church, bible study, or the gym. You amaze us everyday, and I look forward to all of the great times we are going to continue to have.
Here are some pictures of us from the past couple of months...

Funny Boy

You were in a fashion show at Bering's

Sharing popcorn with Aunt Stasia

Cuddles with Grandpa

Dancing with Gigi

Cuddles with Daddy

Cuddles with Gigi, and Sipsey

Meeting Bailey for the first time

Picture with Daddy after your first shower

Helping me burp Bailey

Neighbor's night out parade with Ta-T (Easton)

Superman loves popcorn

"Oh mom"

You sat in the chair all by yourself this time!

Jumping at the Pumpkin Patch with Whitey (Wyatt)

Halloween as a Fire Chief and Bailey as a Dalmatian. You even trick or treated for the first time, and had a blast!

Bailey's Birth

This is a mix of what I wrote during labor, to Bailey, and what I added in during/after everything. Enjoy!

 10/1 I realized I was having contractions around 9:18pm. They were 4 to 7 minutes apart for an hour so I called Dr. R she said to call back if they were still happening as frequent for 30 more minutes. They were so we called back, and she said to go to the hospital. Treston said a great prayer for us in the car, and we were ready. He also ran a red light when I had some stronger contractions 2 min apart!
  At the hospital I was put in an observation room. I was dialated to a 3 or 4, and 70% effaced. That was around 11:20pm. Towana said she would monitor me for 30 minutes then see what doctor Robert's wanted us to do. Bailey kicked the monitors,  and moved around a lot!
   I was told to stay in case Bailey came early. Checked me and I was a 4 or 5.
  Got to the delivery room, and met Geraldine. She was really nice, and helpful. Took another nurse to get the iv in right.
  Tried to sleep at 2am. 6 am and I had slept on and off. No contractions for 30 minutes. I was told I could get pitocin now and have Dr. R break my water,  or have my water broken then get pitocin.
  They gave me pitocin at 6:30am to speed things along. We called all of the family to let them know you would be here today. Everyone is super excited,  and I can't wait to see your precious face!
  Dr.Roberts just came in, and broke my water at 8:15am. Treston made me laugh, and it made more water come out! My new nurses are Casey, and Kathy.
Gregg and Cindy came :) Cindy helped me to remember to breathe through the contractions, and told me to find a focal point. She recommended a picture on the wall that was of a hummingbird.  It was perfect! I've always loved humming birds. Gregg puts out a bunch of feeders every year, and I love to just sit and watch them. My friend Miranda also loves hummingbirds,  and has a special reason behind it. She is a great friend who always knows the right thing to say to encourage me, or calm me down. All of these things helped me to relax as I looked at the picture, and breathed through the contractions. 

 10 am contractions were getting longer, and more intense. I was having a hard time focusing through them, and breathing so I had to have oxygen. Bailey's heart rate would go down. Once it was up I got the Epidural at 10:45. Tommy, Shallie, and Josh came. Oxygen at 11:15 again. Isabel and Ashley came.

Dr.R checked me at 1 and I was 8cm! 


Everyone went to grab lunch, and Shallie stayed with me while Treston ate in the waiting room. We had a wonderful conversation. I Felt a little pressure, and thought I might need to click the epidural button so we called the nurse. They checked me and Bailey's head was very close. Cassie called Dr. Robert's and they prepared me for delivery.

This was taken less than 20 minutes before Bailey got here! 

She is here! 2:19 pm, 8lbs, 21 1/4 inches. 5 pushes, and breastfeeding like a champ! The delivery was wonderful. It was just me, Treston, Dr. Roberts, Cassie, and Kathy. Everyone was talking softly and very encouraging. I did my first set of pushes, and went to do my last one of the second set when Dr. R told me to stop because Bailey was out! I couldn't believe how easy, and peaceful everything was. I joked that I could have 15 babies if they were all as easy as Bailey's delivery. Cassie said I was stoic through all of it. 

Cindy, Liam, Nana, Zach, Ashley and Dustin,  Lauren S all came to visit. Treston took Liam home to do bedtime so Lauren stayed with me until he got back. Lauren couldn't believe we weren't in our new room yet and then I realized no nurse had seen Bailey. We weren't sure if she was supposed to be seen since the new policy was to keep the baby in our room. Maria walked in at that time (about 10pm). She was super great and let us know that we were supposed to have a nursery nurse, and that she was ours for the night. We finally made it to our room around 12 (still on the 3rd floor). Bailey slept for 3 hours,  and then 4 hours which was great!  I couldn't sleep because of all of the noises/nurse checks. 

 The next morning we had Brandy as my nurse, and she did everything she could to get us ready to go home that day. Everyone kept telling Bailey how beautiful she is, and that she looks like Liam.  Amy, Miranda, Christina, Lee, and mama Mitchell (Mrs. Mitchell) all came to see her. Becca was going to come if we didn't go home early.
Gail was her day nurse, and she got all of her testing done asap so the pediatrician could clear us to go. The on call obgyn came around 5pm and we were cleared to go home! 

Bragging on my Baby Boy (June 22nd)

Dear Liam,
 You are so amazing! We have been having such a fun time lately, and you amaze me more everyday. So many people have been giving me compliments on how sweet, well behaved, and polite you are. You are also very active, all boy, and tough. I love your personality, and your daddy and I talk about how cute you are. Here are some of the things you do now:
1. If we make a loud noise, or say "ouch" you ask us if we are ok "you, k?"
2. You say "no" in a very polite way (unless you are throwing a fit)
3. When you are throwing a fit we ask you to look at us, and use your words. It really helps you to calm down, and let us know what you want.
4. You will occasionally tell us "I love you Mama, or I love you Dada "when we tell you we love you.
5. You give me a good night kiss before you go to bed.
6. You get super excited when Dada gets home, and you run to him squealing.
7. You ask for family members all the time, and want to go see them, or call them.
8. You also want to go in the "poo" (pool) all the time .
9. The other night you told us "No, Thanks" when we asked you if you wanted more food.
10. You say some words in what I call a "man grunt."
11. You will randomly repeat things we say, or will start telling us things in a whole sentence.
12. This morning I told you we were having friends over so you kept running to the door say, "Friends?"
13. Since we have been doing a lot of play dates you are learning to share, and play well with others. It is so cute to see you interact with them, and y'all like to give hugs. If anyone gets upset, and cries you get very sad and look like you are about to cry.
14. You love to cuddle, and if Bailey kicks you you say, "tickles".
15. When I rock you to sleep you like to cuddle my belly, and put your hand on my belly button.
16. You have your favorite shows that you ask for, and have started to sing along with them, or act out what they are doing.

We are constantly reminded of what a blessing you are, and we love you so very much. Thank you for being the best little boy we could ever ask for.