Harvest Party 2009

The plan was to dress up as a SeaGal.

But at the last minute, talked us into this adorable ladybug costume.

It was pretty cute.

Cake walk. If you know Lexie, you know her love for sugar.

Handsome little man was only 10 days old. "Linebacker Liam."

We had a great time on Halloween, we spent it at our church's Harvest Festival. So lucky, to have a safe and fun alternative to trick-or-treating. So many weirdos out there and I just know Lexie would have nightmares for weeks about some of the things she would encounter.

Lexie enjoyed the games, friends, rides, and cake walk. She can't stop talking about the fact she won a whole cake.

Liam was on his best behavior, sleeping in the stroller all night while we chased after his sister.

Liam's 1st week home

Heading home from the hospital, first time we really heard him cry!

3 days old in the comfy swing that sister loved so much as a baby.

Liam and Nathan. My dear friend Aimee had her son, Nathan, on October 11th. Our girls are just 3 weeks apart. No we didn't coordinate that either : )

Meeting Gammy and Papa.

Like father, like son.

Our first week home went pretty smoothly. Lucky for us, Travis was able to have the whole week off. Lexie was so happy to have him around and he helped a ton with her. He even took her to a playdate at his cousin's house.
We were blessed to have friends and family bring us meals for the first days home. How nice it was not to have to worry about cooking. Lots of our loved ones, dropped in to meet our handsome new man.
Looking at these pictures, you would think that Liam is a typical newborn who likes to sleep all the day. Not the case! He is sleeping very well at night for a newborn (3-5 hrs at a time) and goes right back down after feedings. However, in the daytime he is up A LOT. I am not complaining because he is very content and doesn't give me any trouble, it is just crazy to me how alert he is. He is usually up for 3-4 hrs straight a day. Very different then Lexie, who I couldn't seem to wake up during the day.
He is nursing really well and seems to be already growing like weed. Big sister has been nothing but sweet to him. Always making sure he has his Curious George Monkey and favorite blanket.

Liam's Birth Story

I thought I would document the crazy little adventure that was Liam's birth story. I have to apologize if it seems like too much information for you, but I have decided to turn this blog in to a journal/scrapbook and print it off for the kiddos someday and I want it to have all those little details for them.

Around 36 weeks my doctor thought that the baby was trying to come early and made me take it easy until I was 37 weeks, out of fear that the lungs weren't ready to go. So, we followed his orders and got all ready for this kid to arrive early as expected. Well, we made it to the 37 week appt, only to find out there wasn't any progress (which was good) doctor still told us it should be anytime since I was nearly completely effaced and dilated. So I resumed my usual activity level of chasing Lexie, working out, and going up and down the stairs about 100 times a day : )
Made it to the 38 week apt and still no progress. At this point, I was starting to wonder about my doctor's prediction that this kid would come early. Nonetheless, I was happy to hang in another week or so. Between the 38 and 39 week I did start loosing my mind a little. As any women who has ever been waiting on a baby knows, it is mentally and physically exhausting to nest day after day. I would tell myself, this might be the last time I ________ (go grocery shopping, take Lexie to a play date, go out to dinner) without the new baby. And then I found myself doing it again and again! I started working out pretty hard, hitting the highest incline on the treadmill and swimming.
On October 20th, at 39 weeks and 6 days, I had a doctor appt and finally had some progress, doctor stripped my membranes and said it should help jump start labor. I wasn't really buying anything he was telling me at this point but was hopeful. When I was pregnant with Lexie, I got my membranes stripped and had her within 48 hours. We set up an induction for October 22nd if I didn't go on my own by then.
Well by 7pm, I was having contractions that were 5-7 mins apart. I gave my Dad a text to give him a heads up, in case this was the real deal and we needed him to come stay with Lexie. He sent us a text about an hour later saying he was on our door step : ) Got to love a fast responder (thanks Dad.) Contractions continued to get more steady, so Trav and I headed to the hospital around 11pm. Got to the hospital, where there were a ton of nurses hanging out and hardly any patients. To make a long story short, they sent me home around 2am because I wasn't 4cm dilated and contractions were too irregular. We were so not happy to be sent home, especially because I set to be induced within 30 hours and my contractions were very painful I was unable to sleep.
The morning of October 21st (due date) contractions were slowly getting closer together and more painful. I was determined not to be sent home again without a baby, so I was waiting until I couldn't handle it anymore. My Dad was so patient, to just hang around the house with us and help with Lexie. Trav took the day off. We went to lunch at Red Robin around noon, where I was timing contractions the whole time. By about 3pm, we called the hospital and told them that contractions have been going on for almost 24 hrs, the nurse said they more then likely would take me at that point.
L & D was crazy when we arrived, we got the last room and we could hear laboring moms screaming. The nurses were sharing patients. Around 4pm, got admitted, I was 4cm and almost completely effaced (had been that effaced for 5 weeks though.) Since, labor seemed to be going slowly they said they would have to start pitocin. Knowing this would bring on very painful contractions but likely get the ball rolling, I told them to bring it on. The nurse mentioned that my doctor was "somewhat out of town" but should make it for delivery. We thought maybe Seattle or something, but honestly could care less at his point.
The Pitocin wasn't as bad as I had heard and I just visualized the more painful, longer contractions bringing the baby down. Travis was fabulous, as he was with Lexie's delivery as well. He stayed really calm and did whatever I asked of him. We couldn't do much walking because of the pitocin in the IV but we did move around the room and use the birthing ball. The nurse was rarely in the room but we come in and bump up the pitocin about every 30 mins. I was progressing steadily and asked them to brake my water. Nurse said only doctor could and he was still in an unknown location. Nurse was a doll and tried to "ding" the bag of water during checks. Didn't work though.
About 8:30pm, I told Trav this has to be it because I was feeling a TON of pressure and felt like I had to push. He went out to tell the nurses, and while I was alone in the room my water broke all over the place. At this point, I started to really panic for the first time. There wasn't anyone in the room, I knew the baby was crowning, and my doctor wasn't there and I had no epidural or pain meds.
When Travis came back in, he saw my water broke and screamed out in the hall for help to deliver this baby. He found an on-call doctor (who looked about our age) and some nurses came in to get things set up to push. I remember feeling like I wanted to vomit and jump out of the window, in so much pain and frustrated with the lack of help from the medical staff. Well, right as we start pushing, doctor comes in jolly as Santa with a red sweater on and said, "I'm here!" I think I said, "I could care less." It was very chaotic. Travis was the only one helping me count with pushing. I only pushed for 5-7 mins and our little man was here. He had the cord wrapped around his neck and was very purple. And very big and healthy. We later found out, our doctor was hanging out at the Tacoma Holiday Food and Gift Show. Something we can laugh about now but wasn't so funny then.
I was so shocked when they weighed him and he was 9lbs 12oz. Never, ever thought I would have a kid that big after Lexie was only 7lbs 8oz (even though she was at least 2 weeks early.) The only person that kept telling me I would have a 9 pounder was my mom, apparently she called things right. Ignorance is bliss, I tell you. If I would of known I would of gone in begging for a C-section or all the meds in the world.
We had a few names that we brought to the hospital, but wanted to see the baby first before deciding. It actually was really easy to decide once we got to hold him. We chose Liam Richard, for 2 reasons. First, to honor both grandpa's. Liam, is Irish/Scottish for William (Travis's Dad) and Richard is my dad. Travis has both his paternal and maternal grandpa's names as well. Second, Liam means strong/powerful and there is no doubt our little man fit that description.

It was a much crazier ride this time around as far as the pregnancy, labor, and delivery. But in the end it all worked out amazing and we are so happy our little man has joined the family!

Baby makes 4!

Liam Richard Brock
October 21st, 2009 @ 8:41pm
9lbs 12 oz, 21 inches

Precious!

Right after our healthy baby boy arrived

Took a while to pick the name but we came up with the perfect one.

He is the size of a 2 month old : )

37 weeks

Looking HUGE and proud of it : )

Made it to 37 weeks. It felt good to make it through Lexie's birthday without having a baby. At my appointment last Thursday, Travis and Lexie were there. It was neat for Lexie to hear her brother's heartbeat for the 1st time. She was really well-behaved and interested in what was going on.
All that taking it easy must of worked because I hadn't progressed anymore over the week! Yay! Doctor still said it could be anytime, so he encouraged us to be ready. He also recommended trying to get the Swine Flu shot this week if I could find it available. I am still so not sure on this one. I am very concerned for the new baby with this going around and want to protect him but am not sold on the safety of the vaccine. Lexie and I both did get our regular flu shot and Travis should be getting it within the next week. We are diligent hand-washers and wipe down everything (wet-ones are my best friend.) Hopefully these good hygiene skills and the kids not being in daycare, will help us stay healthy.
Here is a picture of me in the "nursery." Also known as, 1/4 of our master bedroom. As most of you know, this baby gets the joy of rooming with us for at least the first couple months or even up to the first year, depending on a few pending factors (his sleeping skills, Lexie's maturity with a baby.) I actually think the "room" looks great and we are blessed to have everything we seem to need. I am glad we got a neutral bedding set when we had Lexie because they are just so expensive and are only used for such a short amount of time. He is going to have a humble little beginning and Trav and I both feel it will be good for the kids to share a room for a while...builds character, right? Lexie tells everyone where all her, "brother's clothes, diapers, and toys are." She is already a little mommy.

Lexie's 2 year stats and update

I took Lexie in for her 2 year appt today and she just had a great time at the doctor's. I kid you not, our little girl loves the doctor's office. We bought her a fisher price doctor kit for her birthday and she loves checking our BP, heartbeats, giving us shots, and band aids. I think it has helped take the fear out of going to the doctor. Ironically, she also got to go to my OB appointment the day before (wasn't planned but we had to in a pinch), so I think that also helped her think it is something "cool."

Opening the doctor kit on her b-day.

She is growing on the exact same growth pace as she has since birth. She has been in the 50% for weight and 90% for height since the day she was born. She is 26 pounds even and 35.25 inches long.
She talked to the doctor in almost complete sentences and followed his instructions throughout the exam (opening mouth to check teeth, laying down to check stomach, etc.) He was really impressed with her comprehension and vocabulary skills. She got 2 shots, one of them being the regular seasonal flu and didn't cry at all. I was amazed.
She is such a joy. Travis and I are convinced she is an absolute genius. Here are some of our favorite traits and skills she has right now:

* Talking in 3rd person all the time. ("Lexie play baseball?" "Lexie hungry." "Lexie put on her shoes.") You get the picture.

* She loves structured activities. She loves story time and "Play to Learn" at our local libraries. During Play to Learn, she sits with the 3-4 year olds and the craft table. She loves art. Those who know me, know that I can't help her much in this subject : ) She also really loves Sunday School and does very well. She is moving up to the 2-3 year old class this week and the teacher thinks she is more then ready. She basically had the curriculum in the 1 year old class memorized.

* She loves being outside. We had a great summer of daily park trips, fun in the backyard, and lots of walking in the stroller. It is going to be tough adjustment to winter but I think we will just bundle her up and keep getting fresh air as long as we can.

* Lexie can now sing the whole ABC's. Very clearly!

* Takes 1 nap a day. Usually 1.5- 2.5 hours long. It is taking her longer and longer to wind herself down. She usually will just talk to her dolls and play in her crib for about 45 mins before finally crashing. She still falls asleep in the car too so sometimes we use that to our advantage. I just pray she keeps napping this well over the next year. Nap time is mommy's time and I really hope to use it to workout on the treadmill once the baby is here (he can come out and swing or be in the bouncer, like she used to be.)

* She loves to sing in general. Her favorite songs being "Rain, Rain, Go Away," "Twinkle, Twinkle," and The Sesame Street theme song. We just love when she starts singing "Sunny Day, sweeping the clouds away" in her little voice. She always directs others to sing too. "Dada's turn!" This makes for some pretty funny car rides.

* Learning about the potty and trying it out at least once or twice a day. We are just still kind of introducing it to her. I plan to start really trying right after the new year, after we get some kind of routine going with her baby brother (he will be about 3 months old.) She is so smart, I have no doubt she will catch on very fast, especially if rewards are involved.

* Has her moments of terrible 2's already. Let's just say that grocery shopping isn't what is used to be. She asks to get out of the cart and walk. She also points to things and says, "I want it!" Not our typical polite child. I know that the year ahead will hold many behavioral challenges but for now she seems to be doing fairly well with correction and punishment. So it is all to be expected I guess.

* She loves her night time routine. Travis has been doing the bath every night he is home now. They have quite the time singing "Rub-a-dubba-dubba." I have some new video clips that I will have to post on here. She obviously gets her love for singing from him. After bath, he reads to her in the most awesome character voices. My favorite part of the night is after we say our prayer and tuck her in, she says "sweet dreams Dada and Mama." Very precious.

The Birthday Night

"Wow...this is all for me?"

Blowing out the number 2 candle...

Digging in!

Her new guitar from Dada. Aunt Rachel teaching her some chords.

Cute cousin Maggie!

She's got her guitar strapped on and ready to hit the road. Hobo style.

Maybe she will just hang around and play for us : )

We just had a small little get together with Travis's parents, Grandparents, sister, and Maggie. It turned out to be a great little celebration. Memory brought the most fabulous ice cream cake and cupcakes. Lexie seemed to really like the fact that it was her turn to blow out the candle! Big thanks to everyone who came and celebrated our little girl's special day.