Oh my Little man!

I can't stand it! I'm so in love.

    This first week as been crazy and wonderful. SO full of indescribable love, sleeplessness, excitement, tears, anxiety, fear, laughter, skyping, and love, lots and lots of love!  I feel like I have so much to blog about but all i can really think about right now is my sweet son.
   William James Merrell was born on Friday the 17th of January 2014 at 12:52 pm and Madison Memorial Hopital. He weighed 7lbs 14oz and was 20 and 1/2 inches long. Ever since Chad and I laid eyes on him, we've been completely smitten. This first week has flown by..I hate it! I can't believe how much he has changed and how much Chad and I have grown too! Liams already accomplished so much  (in my eyes at least) and he's had a LOT of firsts! I thought instead of starting with the birth story or one of my countless hilarious new parent stories, I'll start with the center of my universe, William, and all the things I love about him!
But first, something I never want to forget...
    I wondered about Chad. He's never been a Dad before, and while I knew he would be an incredible father, I wasn't sure if he'd fall instantly in love with Liam, but he exceeded all my dreams of a Father for my son already, from the moment he was born. The look on his face as he watched me and my son snuggle those first few moments of his life, I knew Chad had never been happier than he was right then. With tears in his eyes, he stared in amazement at our son and me for the 2 or 3 hours after Liam was born. Chads a dad and he's totally committed to his new exciting role. It's a dream come true.

Things I never ever want to forget about the 1st week:
Photo Cred: Samantha Merrell (thanks again!)

 

-His darling little lips and tiny mouth. He has the smallest mouth I have ever seen on any baby (which make all of his other features look huge) It has also made breastfeeding a fun little challenge. ( I say that with all the optimism in the world, it's been rough). Sometimes he makes these faces where I'm sure he's just trying to brag about how small he can make his mouth look. They're perfect and while I have to really aim, I could kiss them all day.

-His stretched out wegs. BTW when I say wegs I mean legs...but now that I've seen how cute his legs are, I can't call them anything but his cute wittle wegs! He loves to be bundled up tight when it comes to bedtime and nursing but when he's full and awake, he likes to stretch. He especially likes when I massage his wittle wegs with lotion. He'll stretch them all the way out and point hit toes as I run over them with my hands. He gets that from me. we like to be pampered.

-His fur. I had really bad heartburn throughout my whole pregnancy and I kept thinking "it'll all be worth it when he comes out like a little furball!" And he did! Full head of beautiful shiney hair and a glowing coat of peach fuzz all over his perfect little body that I'm constantly brushing up against my cheeks. I especially like the fur on his ears and legs...too darling.
-He's my little turtle! He's so small and thin that when he lifts his big head up to wobbley look around, his little neck, big eyes and small lips make him look like a turtle. A very cute turtle.
-Those dimples, they're too much. After his feeding is my all time favorite bonding time. He's so drunk on milk he just wobbles his cute little head and smiles at his mama. Breastfeeding has not been easy, but Liam and I have really worked through it together. Each feeding is a step forward and I know it sounds funny but we've grown so close, learning and struggling together. I see him trying so hard and he knows how much I want to be the best mom for him and we're struggling and through the nights together, but we also have our little victories.

This weeks little victories:
  -Liam slept 6 hours on his 6th day here! It freaked me out but turns out, he's just a great sleeper, he's been sleeping 6-8 hours a night fora while now! Chad and I are adapting very well to the lack of sleep. I thank my dad for that, me and him have always functioned well with less sleep but Chads had to get used to it on his own and he's doing great.
 -His poops normal! It's the little things that we get excited about here at the Merrell house.
 -We moved him from the front room to the crib after 5 days. Now he sleeps in mommy and daddys room and we are trying to use grandma a little less so it's not so hard when she leaves.

We're loving parenthood and are completely wrapped around Liams darling fingers.

Welcome to the family little man!