Announcing Liam Samuel

Remember the photography session when Liam was a week old? And the thermostat in the house turned up to 78 (for those of you concerned about him being cold)? Well, here's Part I of the results: the baby announcements. I'll share the family pictures later, but for now, the announcement proofs will have to do. Enjoy!

One Month Old!

Dear Liam,

A month ago today we welcomed you into the world. You were already greatly loved, even before you made your appearance, but after a few short weeks we cannot imagine a world without you.

You've had a busy month, getting to know your Mama and Daddy (and GrandMary) and lots of other family and friends. You had to learn to eat, pee, and pooh outside the comfort of the womb. Your belly button and circumcision healed. You've worn lots of cute little clothes. You've been the subject of digital cameras, Blackberry cameras, a Flip camera, and a professional photographer (and you slept through most of it). You've met the dogs.

Well, face it - there's a lot to do for a GrandBoy making his appearance into the wide, wide world.

The main thing you need to know right now (and from here on out, really) is that you are loved. You were lucky enough to be born to wonderful parents and into a big crazy family who will love you to the point of frustration when you're a teenager, but until then, enjoy it. Settle back and get comfortable in all the love.

Wish I were there to kiss your sweet face.

Love,

GrandMary

What's a newborn grandparent to do?

Well, GrandMary took her cue from Kate's Grandma Marie. Right after Kate was born, her Grandma Marie came to visit for a couple of weeks. A mother of six and a nurse, she knew just how to lend support without overstepping the boundaries of new-parenthood.

She took care of the the rest of the family while I was given the luxury of getting used to the baby's routines. Cooking meals, taking care of the laundry, making sure the rest of the family had what they needed, and holding Baby Kate while this new mama took the occasional nap or washed her hair made those first crucial weeks much easier.

Marie was a great role model for how a new grandparent can help during the early days. I'm trying my best to follow her lead, even when - ooooooh! - I just want to get my hands on Baby Liam!

Marie died last September. We all wish she were still here to enjoy the newest in the clan, Liam and his cousin Aidan. But she certainly taught this new grandparent the right way to be of help to parents with a newborn babe. And I hope I do her memory justice.

America's Next Top Model

Newborn photos are all the rage right now. At the recommendation of friends, the new mama and papa arranged for Amanda Treiger to showcase Baby Liam's star-potential. Yesterday morning was all about lights, camera, and as little action (great arcing streams of pee, fussiness, etc.) as possible. Fortunately, Liam is pretty calm, cool, and collected, even when naked and having his legs and arms tucked around him.

Our only instruction was to have the heat cranked up to 78 degrees so that the babe would stay warm. Once the photographer's lights, the fireplace, and central heating were on, it was like a sauna in the living room. The rest of us were sweating, but Liam was quite comfortable for his first nude photo shoot.

Amanda brings props but also uses whatever's available at the baby's home. Kate and Greg have a great black-and-off-white animal-stripey chair that worked as a very artsy-fartsy prop for GrandBoy. We also made use of the baskets, pillows, and backdrops that Amanda brought.

She knew just what to do and how to position the baby, mama, daddy, and GrandMary (yes, I got in on a couple of shots) for the greatest effect. Of course, Liam was the star, and it takes a lot of patience to wait for just the right mouth or hand position. I also liked that she made sure his little legs were crossed modestly over his private parts in every shot. Yes, his little behind shows, but that's the extent of the baby-cheesecake.

The whole thing took about three hours. We had to stop down for a feeding and, yes, had to clean up a couple of pee-accidents, but all in all, Liam took the whole thing very calmly. He slept through most of it.

We've seen a sampling of the pictures, and they are fantastic. Can't wait to see the rest of them. Thanks, Amanda, for a great experience and fabulous results!

Remembering Day One

Liam is a whopping 7 days old today. So much happened from 12:30am last Sunday, when we got to Piedmont Hospital's Labor & Delivery Room #14, until around 4pm, when we left the LDR for the postpartum room! I have a little list:

• The chatty euphoria brought on once the epidural took effect. The sheer relief of not having to feel the pain caused Kate to remark over and over "This is great! Why wouldn't everybody want this?" and wonder about the mental stability of anyone choosing to go natural. Hail, St. Epiduria!

• Greg sleeping on the floor of the LDR. I was on the couch, and he couldn't get comfortable in the rocking chair, so he made a pallet on the floor and crashed there. For at least 4 hours. Good thing, too, because he needed all his strength to help coach Kate through the pushing phase.
• Legally Blonde was playing on the TV during final labor and delivery. We chose that rather than the Sunday morning news shows. After all, w ho wouldn't want to be born during the movie that taught us all to "bend and snap"?
• It was all hands on deck once the pushing phase commenced, around 10:30 Sunday morning. Kate, of course, was center of attention. Greg had her back and counted her through the pushes. I held one leg, while a nurse had the other. The doctor was where she needed to be.

• Liam came out face up, just like his mama did. Neither one of them want to miss a thing, I reckon.
• The whole delivery team worked like a well-oiled machine - measuring, washing, testing quickly and efficiently. But everyone was warm and cheerful, not coldly clinical.
• As we were passing the nurses' station outside the LDR on the way to the postpartum room, one of the nurses told me to push a red button. It activated Brahms' Lullaby as Kate was wheeled to her room. We were told that every time a mother moves from LDR to her room the tune plays all over the hospital. True, because I heard it several times over the next couple of days wherever I happened to be - snack bar, on my way to the parking deck, in the gift shop.
• The folks and facilities at Piedmont Hospital are the best! Everyone was friendly and helpful. Kate was born there almost 27 years ago. Glad she birthed her son there, too.
• Greg was an outstanding labor coach. He did the counting during contractions, counting very slowly and keeping Kate focused. Excellent job, Dad!

• Kate was, as always, a real trouper. Her full speed ahead, let's git-'er-done attitude got her through the worst of it. Within minutes of giving birth, she said "Yeah, I can definitely do that again!"

So, for Liam, a little snapshot of events from the hours surrounding his birth. We're all in love with him. Looking forward to watching him grow!