Lesson #6 Better Late than Never

Okay, so I have to begin with an apology for waiting sooooo long to blog again. There has been a certain nameless family member (but who resides in Texas and whose name begins with "M" and ends in "arcia") who has been giving me a lot of well-meaning trouble about falling behind in my blogging responsibilities. I have been feeling guilty about it, but honestly, I have been having such a blast with little Liam lately that I have to force myself to put him down or quit just looking at him in order to get on the computer at all. He is a beautiful distraction!

It has been 5 weeks since I wrote about Liam's (sometimes embarassing) non-verbal communication and so much has happened. Liam had his first plane experience to San Francisco for Aunt Amy and (now) Uncle Michael's FABULOUS wedding weekend which coincided with my first Mother's Day as well. He has had his first Easter in St. Joe at Hope Church and learned about the Easter Bunny. He has learned to giggle, which leads to even more laughter from those watching him. He has passed 12 and 13 pounds and is sneaking his way up to 14. He has attended the birthday parties of all 3 cousins and can't wait to have one of his own. He has nearly mastered controlling his head from flopping around like a Bobblehead and he now recognizes everyone that loves him, greeting them with that sly, sweet smile. I love to see him greet his cousins Benjamin, Jeremiah and Dominic with a grin while they respond with sweet hugs and kisses. He even seems to give Grandma and Mimi special, knowing smiles full of love and promise of a fun day to come. But the best are those knowing grins he throws at me and Ryan at bedtime or just after he wakes up, so unconditionally, that tells us he knows we are there, he knows that he is safe, and that he is loved beyond imagine.

In turn, I have done a lot too. I returned to work for 3 weeks, and cried the first 5 mornings but knew how lucky I was that Grandma Becky and Mimi were taking care of him each day; and I have to admit that it felt good to be back with my students and colleagues at West. Ryan and I also were able to go to Mexico for our friends Jessica and Matthew's wedding, but had to leave the little one here. That day we left was one of the most difficult of my life not because I was worried about Liam (who was in Mimi and Papa's wonderful care), but because I was worried about me and how I would do without seeing him everyday. But the following morning when I talked to mom and found out that Liam had slept 10 hours and was smiling and happy, the worry went out the window and Ryan and I had a fantastic and needed vacation.

So sorry for the late post, but better late than never. Lesson well learned.