Christmas has come and gone and Liam is looking forward to the new year. Some pictures of the Christmas excitement / embarrassment:
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| From Liam Pictures |
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| From Liam Pictures |
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| From Liam Pictures |
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| From Liam Pictures |
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| From Liam Pictures |
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Friday, December 15, 2006
On Smiles
Childcare hasn't been that tough. Okay, it has been a little difficult, but, in all honesty, no more difficult than any new endeavor. Granted, K- and I likely have it easier than some other parents, and K- is still shoulders the lionshare of responsibility. However, given the sturm and drang that experienced parents gave me in the run up to delivery, I was expecting something on par with a disaster film.
In reality, the first couple of months had a certain mundane quality. Sure, there were problems (why is he crying, how do I change him without being covered in unmentionables, etc.), but there were few surprises and more rhythm than melody.
That is until Liam began handing out the smiles. He has been doing it for weeks now - more and more every day - and there is nothing regular about a smile (Well, except maybe the smiles of flight attendants and Disney employees).
The smile of a baby is all the more a small surprise, because it is really the first positive communication you get as a parent. You get plenty of cries and whimpers to flag problems, but you rarely get an attaboy - especially from someone that is pre-verbal. Granted, 25% of the smiles are gas, another 33% are likely something shiny behind you, and at his age they are all indiscriminate, but a smile is a smile and
it is the small difference that breaks the every day.
Childcare hasn't been that tough. Okay, it has been a little difficult, but, in all honesty, no more difficult than any new endeavor. Granted, K- and I likely have it easier than some other parents, and K- is still shoulders the lionshare of responsibility. However, given the sturm and drang that experienced parents gave me in the run up to delivery, I was expecting something on par with a disaster film.
In reality, the first couple of months had a certain mundane quality. Sure, there were problems (why is he crying, how do I change him without being covered in unmentionables, etc.), but there were few surprises and more rhythm than melody.
That is until Liam began handing out the smiles. He has been doing it for weeks now - more and more every day - and there is nothing regular about a smile (Well, except maybe the smiles of flight attendants and Disney employees).
The smile of a baby is all the more a small surprise, because it is really the first positive communication you get as a parent. You get plenty of cries and whimpers to flag problems, but you rarely get an attaboy - especially from someone that is pre-verbal. Granted, 25% of the smiles are gas, another 33% are likely something shiny behind you, and at his age they are all indiscriminate, but a smile is a smile and
it is the small difference that breaks the every day.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Baby Summit / Battle Royale
Kaleigh and Liam had a baby summit over the Thanksgiving holiday. The conversation was brisk and positive at first.
However, like many summits, things turned dark. Shamefully, Liam threw the first blow, knocking Kaleigh back.
Kaleigh recovered quickly, hitting Liam with a hook.
It ended amicable in a draw, but I got the sense that this is not over.
Kaleigh and Liam had a baby summit over the Thanksgiving holiday. The conversation was brisk and positive at first.
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| From Liam Birth |
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| From Liam Birth |
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| From Liam Birth |
However, like many summits, things turned dark. Shamefully, Liam threw the first blow, knocking Kaleigh back.
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| From Liam Birth |
Kaleigh recovered quickly, hitting Liam with a hook.
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| From Liam Birth |
It ended amicable in a draw, but I got the sense that this is not over.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Grandma Kathy's Thanksgiving Visit
Grandma Kathy (thankfully) visited during Thanksgiving, giving us a night out and giving Liam a bunch of kisses. Here are some of the photos of their first meeting:
Grandma Kathy (thankfully) visited during Thanksgiving, giving us a night out and giving Liam a bunch of kisses. Here are some of the photos of their first meeting:
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| From Liam Birth |
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| From Liam Birth |
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| From Liam Birth |
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| From Liam Birth |
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| From Liam Birth |
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Catch-Up
You may or may not have notice that I have been more than derelict in my duties. I blame it on Liam. He is two months this week and I think that is more than old enough to take over his blog. He hasn't seen it this way.
Along with Liam turning the big 2 mo, other big excitement this week is K- going back to work and me watching Liam all on my own on Mondays and Wednesday through December. While a new challenge for every one involved, 3 days are down and things are already finding a new order for things. While K- will likely never now stop missing Liam every second of the day and I will never be able to decipher all of the giggles, grunts, and cries that K- can, Liam is still growing - healthy, wealthy, and wise.
I will spend the next couple of days trying to catch up on the back log of photos I have.
You may or may not have notice that I have been more than derelict in my duties. I blame it on Liam. He is two months this week and I think that is more than old enough to take over his blog. He hasn't seen it this way.
Along with Liam turning the big 2 mo, other big excitement this week is K- going back to work and me watching Liam all on my own on Mondays and Wednesday through December. While a new challenge for every one involved, 3 days are down and things are already finding a new order for things. While K- will likely never now stop missing Liam every second of the day and I will never be able to decipher all of the giggles, grunts, and cries that K- can, Liam is still growing - healthy, wealthy, and wise.
I will spend the next couple of days trying to catch up on the back log of photos I have.
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Do they know its Christmas?
For any new parent, you find yourself making certain compromises to get everything done. To make sure you have clean clothes, the bathroom doesn't get clean. To make sure you have food in the house, you don't wash your car. Every day is negotiation or outright robbery - robbing Peter to pay Paul (sorry Jesus).
With the holiday season coming, responsibilities multiply and so do the justifications. When the baby is just starting to smile and stare at the mobile, any new parent likely has to ask themselves "do they know its Christmas?"
More to the point, will he really know if the Christmas tree isn't up? Does he even know what Christmas lights are anyway? Can't we just set up a small set for photos, so that he doesn't think in the future that his parents were a bunch of scrooges.
For any new parent, you find yourself making certain compromises to get everything done. To make sure you have clean clothes, the bathroom doesn't get clean. To make sure you have food in the house, you don't wash your car. Every day is negotiation or outright robbery - robbing Peter to pay Paul (sorry Jesus).
With the holiday season coming, responsibilities multiply and so do the justifications. When the baby is just starting to smile and stare at the mobile, any new parent likely has to ask themselves "do they know its Christmas?"
More to the point, will he really know if the Christmas tree isn't up? Does he even know what Christmas lights are anyway? Can't we just set up a small set for photos, so that he doesn't think in the future that his parents were a bunch of scrooges.
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