Leema and Magets

 Good News People!

   I finally chose a doctor yesterday, I'll be seeing a delivering with Dr. Huish at University OB and I'm feeling really good about it. The office is run a lot like seasons medical in Rexburg, which means very busy but you see your Doctor at every appointment and whats even better is that he's the only doctor in the practice so I'll be delivering with him! He's a great guy and talked with me for a while about my past delivery experience, my likes my dislikes, my concerns and what my dream delivery would look like. Very optimistic, kind and experienced.
   I'm 24 weeks, measuring right on track, baby's healthy and moving a lot. I have my glucose test at my next appointment in February. Did you catch that? My NEXT appointment...as in, I'm going back! So glad I have a doctor, now I just need a bouncer, swing, carseat, diapers and pretty much everything else.

   I wish I could wear a go-pro and record every minute of every day with Liam! Lately he has been so funny and is talking every second he gets the chance. He's singing more, telling more jokes, giving us recaps of little events throughout the day and "reading books out loud, insisting that we "Don't help". I can't believe in 3 short months, he's going to have a partner in crime to read, sing and talk to all day long! We sing the ABC's to the baby every night before bedtime and Liam gives my belly a big squeeze an says, "goodnight brother, see you marrow!" I can't wait for the actually tomorrow to come when we get to wake him up and say, "brother's here!". We've agreed, loosely, on Matix for the babys first name (middle name is still in question) so when we say prayers, that's what we refer to him as, baby Matix. Liam lovingly calls him baby magets...hilarious. SO between his name, which he pronounces Leema,  and his brothers, they are the top two words he can't pronounce, with Daniel Tiger as a close third, which he calls Dada Hepp.

We are loving our time with just Liam and spend a lot of it just soaking up his unique mannerisms and watching him figure stuff out. I have to record some of our favorite phrases and situations we find ourselves in on a daily basis. I never want to forget this!

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When Chad and I are hugging or just showing close affection without involving Liam, he quickly wiggles between us and say "wait, wait, wait guys wait!"

When we're playing with toys and Liam does something playful, like pretending he's going to run into my feet with his walker or scares me with a roar, he says "Sorry mama, I just teasin' you!" Even if we're both laughing, he makes sure I know it was just a joke.

When I leave Liam with Grandma or Dani for the day while I go to work, he greets me when I come to get him with a huge hug and says " Mom I just miss you so much, you my best buddy!"

Every time we read a book, "That's a good one, I like that story!"

When ever he almost falls or almost hits something he says, "Whew, das a close one!" or "whoa! Don't fall!"

    We've really been working on transitions and routines lately, bedtime is pretty established, he knows we take a bath, get on PJs, read scriptures, say prayers, and sing a few songs on our way to bed. But transitioning from activity to activity throughout the day is something he's struggling with. We sing some songs to help us remember that its ok to be done with fun activities because we'll do something else soon. We say, "That was fun but now its done!". We've got a long way to go, but when he's in a good mood, and most often when were on our way home from Grandma or Danis house he'll sing "That was fun but now its time to go home!"

   This kid can remember every detail of every situation from the past week and he likes to talk about it! He particularly remembers time outs, treats, and outtings, but our favorite is when he recalls time outs and tell us what happened, what mama said, what he did in time out and what he learned. He'll say, "I run away from mama, an mama say, 'mama say come here, you come here." I go to time out, isa bad choice and i go in my bed. I cryin in there. Then mama come got me out and i make better choices next time!"... simple but profound truths...when mama say come here, you come here!

When we're going somewhere or talking about something, I normally ask him how he feels (trying to help him label his emotions a little bit), most of the time its a simple, "that makes me feel happy" or sad, excited, scary, grouchy etc. But every once in a while he's so excited about something he'll say "Oh mama, I so excited!" to which I always reply "Me too!" and when he's REALLY excited he'll respond further with "Me too, too!"

The other day we were just sitting on the couch, I had the laptop on my lap and was paying bills and Liam was eating snacks and reading a book right next to me. He tapped on my shoulder and put his face between mine and the computer screen and said, "Hi mama, I love you! You my best friend!"
*heart melting
So the natural response was for me to throw down my laptop and kiss his neck till he cried from laughing so hard. I love that little booger.

Other favorite phrases
- I sleep good
- I love you peices
- (As soon as he wakes up) We going to see dada tonight?
- (When playing with his blocks) Its King Benjamins tall towa!
- Mama, you sing it, ok?
- I'm all done mama, look, I ate so good?
- Its a scary monster, he say roar.
- Thumbs up dude
- Nice a meet choo
- I so excited!
- I wanna sit necka you (next to you)

Oh Liam, enjoy these last few months when we get to call you our favorite before your brother comes. I think you'll agree, its a title to be shared!