The best part of my day.

Almost everyday when I come home from work I eat a snack, feed Liam, and then settle in for a "snuggle nap" on the couch.

Liam bird lays on my chest and takes his best nap of the day while I doze or read blogs or watch The Ellen Show.

I'm sure there are plenty of people who think I'm ruining my child by indulging him in this behavior, but he's mine to ruin as I see fit. I know I could utilize this time a lot better by doing laundry or dishes or cooking but my baby is only going to be this little today. Tomorrow he will be a little bigger, and next week he will be starting high school. So for now, you can find me loving on my little bird pretty much every day between 3 & 5pm central standard time.



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Baby Love & Temporary Insanity

One of my dearest friends, Miriam, gave birth to a beautiful baby girl last night in my hometown.

Her sister, Kirsten, informed me Tuesday afternoon that Mir was going to be induced early Wednesday morning. We both immediately began taking steps to get Wednesday off of work, I fortunately already had today off. Once that was figured out, I did a load of laundry, packed for me and Liam, took a shower, gave Liam a bath, and the three of us were out the door and bound for North West Arkansas. At 7pm.

As you can imagine, we were flying high on baby-anticipation-adrenaline and talked 90 miles an hour the whole 9 hour drive (Liam slept the entire way without a peep). We pulled into the Pohle's house at 3am and by the time I got Liam fed and back to sleep I had been awake for 24 hours! So, then of course I was wide awake at 7am having just gotten 2 hours of sleep. We were too excited about surprising Miriam and waiting on the baby to sleep anymore.

We had a blast surprising Miriam and eating at our favorite local eateries. We were in and out of the hospital all day and had the pleasure of seeing both of my parents as well as some old friends.

Little Elloise Nicole graced us with her lovely presence at 9pm weighing in at 7 pounds 4 ounces and 19.5 inches long!




Isn't she a doll?! I am so excited that I have a close friend to share these early years of motherhood with now! And even more excited that, hopefully, Liam and Ellie will be lifelong friends!

Miriam handled her labor and delivery with such grace, it was so special to be able to see her throughout the process. We got to see them both once more this morning at 4am before we departed for Nashville. Definitely worth 18 hours of driving, and 6 total hours of sleep to get to love on my friend right afterwards!

Now, I'm counting down the days until we get to see them again in May and have the first of many E+L play dates!

I have definitely realized that I'm no longer physically able to function on zero sleep, but there was no way I could pass up the opportunity to be there. I felt like we were back to our spontaneous selves from college with the exception of the little boy tagging along with me! Liam was a prince the whole time, I'm so thankful that he is willing to roll with the punches so easily. He even stuck to his normal routine.


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Wordless Wednesday

Sleepy little man twirling his hair to fall asleep.

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V-day Recap.

Work, snuggly baby, jammies, risotto, criminal minds, new scarf, candy, homemade cupcakes, husby snuggles. Just an everyday kind of love story.


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Little Love Bug

Happy Valentine's Day from the littlest Hawk!




Someone was a little too excited about our date for a snuggle nap to smile for the camera. But I still think he looks awful sweet!
He's sitting next to the bear he picked out for his momma, I am so blessed by my two sweet valentines. I don't know what to do with all of the love. :)

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Good idea, bad idea

Good idea: using RIT dye to turn plain white onesies into cute red and brown onesies.

Bad idea: washing said onesies with all of the white baby clothes.

Poor Liam now has several lovely pink articles in his wardrobe. We've tried oxyclean, any other suggestions?


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Date Night!

(all fancified for date night)

Last Saturday Ryan and I went on our first date alone since Liam's arrival. We had a truly wonderful time! Erin came over to watch the bird and we went to dinner at Rumba. Rumba is one of my favorite Nashville restaurants and I bought a groupon for them last summer with the intention of using it on our first date after baby. They have the best mojitos in all the land and really yummy food as well!

We had a lot of fun and weren't gone long enough to worry about, or miss, Liam very much. It's really important to us to spend time together just the two of us. We were fortunate enough to be married for four years before adding a child into the mix and we want to keep the focus of our marriage about our relationship. I think a lot of times people allow their lives to revolve around their children and while Liam is the most important thing on this earth to us, our marriage is of extreme value as well. So, we are trying to welcome Liam into our lives, and not change our lives to revolve around him. I know that will become more difficult as he gets older, but I think with regular date nights we will stay on track. :)

(i love this man very very very much)

4 Month Update!

(February 1, 2011)

Dear Liam bird,

You are four months old! I cannot wrap my mind around how quickly you have grown up already! You weigh 13 pounds, 5 ounces and are 24 inches long. Both of these measurements place you in the 20th percentile. Your head is 40.5 centimeters round which puts you in the 10th percentile for head circumference. I am so proud of your growth! To think of how teeny you were four months ago, it truly is remarkable how much you have grown and so quickly. Dr. Davidson was very pleased with your progress today and celebrated the fact that you are finally on the growth charts by giving you shots! You did not appreciate this in the slightest and I had to nurse you to get you to calm down and stop breaking my heart with the big crocodile tears!

You are finally filling out your 0-3 month clothes and size 1 diapers. I went through your clothes the other day to weed out the newborn things that are too small now.

This month we have gotten to see your little personality emerge and that is such a joyful us to witness! You are a very happy little fellow and love to flash your gummy grins at us constantly. You have started laughing some and have started to find your little voice. You shriek and squeal at your animals that hang from the bouncy seat, it's too cute! You are quite the cuddle bug and you frequently object to us putting you down or walking out of the room. I can't blame you much though, your daddy and I are never happier than when we are all cuddled up on the couch together. I refuse to believe that we are spoiling you by loving on you, so do me a favor and prove me right!

You are still eating like a champ and I think we've got a good little routine down for your feedings. You eat six times a day, while I am at work you take two 5-6 ounce bottles and you nurse the rest of your feedings.

Little guy, you like your sleep and we are thankful for that! You have started twirling your hair to help comfort yourself to sleep for your naps and I love watching you do that, it's precious! You are still taking 3-4 naps during the day of varying lengths. At nighttime, you've been going down between 8 and 9 in the evening and sleeping until 8 or 9 in the morning waking once for a snack around 2 or 3 (which is when I usually have my snack, too! nursing is hard work!). We are still swaddling you at night and that seems to be the trick for keeping you asleep. I wonder what will happen when we stop?

You like to play in the floor but you aren't a huge fan of tummy time. You can lift your head and chest off the floor and you have almost mastered holding your head up. You have started kicking your legs a lot and wiggling like crazy so we think you are going to start trying to roll over soon. This month, you have really started to enjoy your Baby Einstein video. You still love to look at lights or fans.

This month you had your first baby sitters. Auntie Kirsten watched you while I worked and daddy was at a men's retreat. Erin watched you while daddy and I went on our first date alone, more to come on that. And, April watched you while I was at work and daddy and Rhett had a music meeting. You did great for everyone! Woohoo!

We are so thrilled that you are our little baby. You brighten my day, every day. I love love love coming home to you each day and seeing your face light up when you recognize me. You are the best gift we've ever been given and we thank God for you every day.

Love you forever,

Mama girl

(almost chubby thighs at the doctor)

Holy Cow.

I have a four month old baby! Craziness. Check back Thursday for his 4 month update. I want to get the stats from his doctor to make sure the weight and measurements are accurate.


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