Tummy Time with Daddy

Tummy time with Daddy makes it soooo much better! Although Liam looks happy in this picture, it didn't last long. Our tummy time, which we are lucky if we get to 10 minutes of it daily, usually consist of about 2 minutes of tolerating it followed by 8 minutes of screaming ending in huge crocodile tears that break mommy's heart. I know he needs but I really do wish he liked it a little more.

Liam's First Christmas

Although very delayed, I can't not post a couple of pictures from Liam's First Christmas. Much to our excitement we were home from the hospital 2 weeks before Christmas and were feeling comfortable enough to travel down to North Carolina for a few days to celebrate Christmas and all of the many blessings God has given us. "Our" original plans including spending Christmas in Hawaii with the entire Graning clan but God had a different plan for us. We were very sad to miss out on Hawaii but we were so excited to spend a wonderful Christmas full of tradition, excitement, and wonder with my family in Lumberton. Ian could not have been more excited to be able to hang out with "Baby Liam" (everyone in the south needs a double name) but did get a little jealous when both HIS mommy and HIS Mimi seemed to be more interested in Liam than him. However, Uncle Rolf made a great substitute giving Ian plenty of attention, attempting to keep up with this crazy 4 year old and his requests to play soccer or ride his bike (no training wheels) every waking minute. If Liam turns out anything like his cousin we are going to have one very sweet, very polite little boy with an abundance of energy. I don't know if I am ready for that.

Are You Ready for Some FOOTBALL?!?!

HERE WE GO STEELERS, HERE WE GO!!

My First Bath

Liam's first bath was pretty traumatic for all involved including Sadie who oversees all bathtimes with her head hanging over the edge of the tub. Here are a couple of pics:

"Can you not hear me? I don't like this at ALL!"

"Daddy, thank you for saving me."

My First Walk with Sadie...

Once we got home we knew that Sadie would need a lot of attention and a little extra loving. We wanted her to accept Liam as an important part of our "pack" so what better way to do that than by taking her on a special outting to her favorite place...the park. It was a nice day so we bundled Liam up for his first walk to the park. Since we were still on oxygen and the pulse-ox monitor just getting ready to leave the house took about 30 minutes but we made it out and took several walks while Rolf was at home with us. Here are some pictures from our first walk:

Going Home...

Although we have been home for almost 2 months, I still wanted to post the pictures I took of us leaving to come home from CHOP.

Mommy getting me dressed in my new outfit from my Mimi. I am almost too big for it!

So sweet.....

My favorite nurse Keegan! She took such good care of me for a lot of the time I was in the hospital.

Daddy trying to figure out the carseat for the first time.

This going home stuff is wearing me out...

My going home blanket from my Mimi. She knit it while she was waiting on me to arrive.

Daddy double checking my monitor.

Saying goodbye to Keegan. We are all going to miss you lots!

Stopping by to say goodbye to Bridget. She took care of me the night I was born.

Goodbye CHOP! Thank you for fixing my broken heart!

We are forever grateful to the amazing staff of doctors, nurses, and social workers who took such great care of us while we were at CHOP.

100 Things

My friend Stacy did this cute post and I thought I'd play along. The only directions are to bold anything you have done. :)

1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars.
3. Played in a band. (in 9th grade, my parents made me)
4. Visited Hawaii. (once for work and then on my honeymoon)
5. Watched a meteor shower.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to Disneyland.
8. Climbed a mountain. (Several times with my hubby in NC)
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sang a solo.
11. Bungee jumped.
12. Visited Paris. (in college with my 2 best friends from high school)
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.
15. Adopted a child.
16. Had food poisoning.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
18. Grown your own vegetables.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France. (we had to stand in line forever and I still wonder if it was worth it)
20. Slept on an overnight train.
21. Had a pillow fight.
22. Hitch hiked.
23. Taken a sick day when you're not sick. (I think they call it a personal day! :-))
24. Built a snow fort.
25. Held a lamb.
26. Gone skinny dipping.
27. Run a marathon.
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice.
29. Seen a total eclipse.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.
31. Hit a home run.
32. Been on a cruise. (in high school and then again in college)
33. Seen Niagra Falls in person.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.
35. Seen an Amish community.
36. Taught yourself a new language.
37. Had enough money to truly be satisfied.
38. Seen the leaning tower of Pisa in person.
39. Gone rock climbing. (Does the rock wall at camp count?)
40. Seen Michelangelo's David.
41. Sung karaoke. (but never by myself)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant.
44. Visited Africa.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.
46. Been transported in an ambulance.
47. Had your portrait painted.
48. Gone deep sea fishing.
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person.
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling.
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gone to a drive-in theater.
55. Been in a movie.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China.
57. Started a business.
58. Taken a martial arts class.
59. Visited Russia.
60. Served in a soup kitchen.
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies.
62. Gone whale watching.
63. Gotten flowers for no reason.
64. Donated blood, platelets, or plasma.
65. Gone sky diving.
66. Visited a Nazi concentration camp.
67. Bounced a check.
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy.
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.
71. Eaten caviar.
72. Pieced a quilt. (I have the pieces but I haven't put it together yet.)
73. Stood in Times Square.
74. Toured the Everglades.
75. Been fired from a job.
76. Seen the changing of the guards in London.
77. Broken a bone.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.
80. Published a book.
81. Been to the Vatican.
82. Bought a brand new car. (For the first time this past September!)
83. Walked in Jerusalem.
84. Had your picture in the paper.
85. Read the entire Bible.
86. Visited the White House.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had Chicken pox. (When I was 4, while driving cross-country with my family)
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury.
91. Met someone famous.
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Had a baby.
95. Seen the Alamo in person. (While visiting my best friend Rebecca!)
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake.
97. Been involved in a lawsuit.
98. Owned a cell phone.
99. Been stung by a bee.
100. Read an entire book in one day.