Whew! Being a new mom in college is kicking my butt, but I'm making it work the best I know how. One major thing I have learned is that spending time with your family is the most important priority. No, I never want to have to fail a test because I spent time with my family instead of studied, but if it ever came to that then so be it. I have been having to study a lot lately, but I try to do it late at night after Liam is asleep, and if he naps during the day, with the exception of the day before exams when I study almost the whole day.
Liam has been getting so big lately. He holds his bottle on his own, for about half his feeding every time now, he  "talks" constantly and is starting to make very distinctive sounds that sound like mum, da, good, and hi. (not really words yet, but he's like a minute away from them being considered "words"), also he laughs and has started a little on baby food! He is just such a smart baby. For example, he will be cracking up, and you pull out a camera and he puts on his serious face. He does not like smiley pictures..... Ben says that Liam thinks there not manly bahahaha. Ben also thinks that since Liam doesn't smile in them, that he doesn't have to either. WRONG! haha
Another important thing I want readers to understand is NEVER be embarrassed of your children. Well, you can if they like fart in public or something, but it breaks my heart when parents are ashamed of their children. Children not smiling for pictures, or not as advanced as other children, or with medical problems, or cradle cap.... cannot help this stuff, and how dare their parents be ashamed of them. A good example of not being ashamed is I have a friend whose daughter had to wear a helmet for a few months, because she was sleeping in the same position all the time and her head wasn't quite forming roundly. This mom could have been embarrassed of her daughter, but she wasn't. She loved her just the same, she went out with her in public just the same, and she even decorated the helmet to make it more girly! I admire this mom so much!
Love your children unconditionally!

"Picture This"

Today's blog may be a little boring to some, so I apologize in advance, but I just really want to discuss the important of baby and family pictures. I know that in today's society almost everyone you know has a digital camera, or a camera on there cell phone, and many of your friends probably even have a DSLR camera. My point is pictures can and are taken of your children and family all the time, but although home shots can be great, everyone should invest in professional photographs, especially during the first year of your babies life when they are changing so much. There is just a special touch to letting someone else focus on the smiles, and hair being the right way, and of course the awesome editing they can do that you only wish as a new mom you had the time to learn. I know that professional photography can be expensive, but it is so so worth it. Some ideas are to check local listing because a lot of times there are photographer looking to build their portfolios for cheap, also save up while your pregnant and throughout your babies first year to get the pictures taken. Another good idea is register or request photo session or packages as baby shower gifts from family. Trust me you won't regret. I am already treasuring the professional pictures we have of Liam by Darci Ann Photography, and although we are loyal and faithful to her, we won a package that were looking forward too, and were also gonna help a friend build her portfolio so that will be exciting. Although every month would be awesome during the first year, that just isn't practical for all, so newborn, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year are the crucial for professional pictures.

"Emergencies and Take Offs"

Liam and me are finally back in the south... were we belong! D.C. has a few nice attractions, and some gorgeous old buildings, but other then that it has nothing else to offer to me. The place is enough to make me go mad if I had to be there much longer. We saw some of the craziest things, and met some of the rudest people, oh and btw if you are going to go to a parking garage, eat at a restaurant, or shop, do not expect to interact with a waitress/teller who knows how to speak plain English because there is no such thing. I think the craziest thing we saw was we were driving by this street with a few restaurants on it and we saw a Chinese man scrapping mushrooms off of a tree into a bucket..... I can't help but think those mushrooms were for the Chinese restaurant on that street... yikes. I am just thrilled to the bone to be out of that city and to have Liam out of it. I did not feel safe there with him at all, especially not when we were driving because people there are nuts, especially taxi drivers. I have no desire to be in a place where you can't park a jacked up truck lol.

On a different note, last night little Liam projectile vomited several times in a row and I noticed afterward that his right eye was really swollen. Like twice the size as is left eyelid all the way up to his eyebrow. I was immediately concerned so I did what any new mom would do... I called my mom. She seems concerned to and said she thought we should probably go to the ER or a ready care to make sure that it wasn't infected since the eyes are so close to the brain. We went to the Walter Reed ER which is a military hospital. Well when we got there they said that Liam wasn't in their system so they were gonna have to call all these people to have him put in it before they could see us. Long story short we spent forever there and the only thing they told us was it was not infected, but that it was something of concern so to see his primary pyscian on Monday. Now I want to know why in the heck that doctor couldn't tell me why it was swollen and why I am gonna have to see another one here in TN. Sounds like someone didn't want to do their job if you ask me. It was really scary to have to take Liam to the ER, but I'm glad we got everything checked out and he seems to be doing much better today.
Liam is an awesome flyer btw. We got a ton of compliments about how good he was on the way to and from D.C. He didn't cry at all, he mainly just slept and giggled. That's my boy!