Baby Well Check

Sayer had his first baby well check on Friday. The doctor's office checked his measurements and overall health and everything checked out perfectly. Sayer had lost down to 7.6 pounds before he was released from the hospital, but 9 days later he had regained back to his original birth weight of 8 pounds. Very impressive as per the doctor! He said that whatever we were doing, to keep doing it because he is gaining weight just as he should be. YEAH - Success!


Sayer discovered his thumb this past week and has enjoyed comforting himself with it. What a cute sight. I tried to capture a picture, but I was a bit too late!

I have my 2 week post operative appt. tomorrow where hopefully I will be released to resume most normal activities - including driving. I am feeling pretty good, so I'll keep my fingers crossed that the doctor thinks I am doing as well.

Christmas Day 2008

Another long standing tradition, that was changed this year, was where Christmas morning was celebrated. Traditionally, Mom, Dad, Jason, Mike and I open our gifts on Christmas morning at my parents house. This year they brought the gifts to our house and we celebrated here.

We enjoyed a leisurely morning with breakfast, opening gifts, enjoying each others company and cuddling Sayer. I have to say that the only gift Mike and I needed this year came in a small package on December 17th. Having a healthy, happy baby boy is all that we could have asked for. Each and every day we feel extremely blessed by God's goodness!

Christmas afternoon was celebrated at Aunt Stacy and Uncle Ed's with the rest of the family. Kelly and Stacy prepared the entire Christmas meal so I didn't have to worry about a thing. I have the best sisters! They made sure that Sayer and I were comfortable and taken care of the entire day. We had a wonderful meal, then we had a great time playing Balderdash. I love it when everyone is home... Jason and Kelly are a riot when they are together.

We look forward to the holidays next year and are hopeful that Grammy and Papa will be in KC so they can celebrate with us!

Christmas Eve 2008

Christmas Eve was different this year in more ways than one! Not only did we celebrate with a new addition to the family... Sayer Michael, but we moved the location of the celebration.

Every year, for the past 32 years, Christmas Eve was celebrated at Grandpa and Grandma's house. With Grandpa's failing health and mental state, we determined that having Christmas Eve at his house this year would be too hard on him, so we moved it to Aunt Karen's house.

Change is always a hard thing... especially when you're changing a tradition that has been around for as long as you can remember. I know moving Christmas Eve to a new location was extremely hard on Mom and Aunt Karen, but we tried to focus on celebrating the positives... we had a new life to celebrate and we had another Christmas with Grandpa. Two things that I am so appreciative of. As I have stated many times in the past... one short year can bring such great change!

Four generations... Great Grandpa, Mom, Me and Sayer Michael.

Aunt Karen - you made this first Christmas away from Grandpa and Grandma's house very enjoyable and memorable. We look forward to celebrating many more Christmas Eve's at your house! To my entire family... I am grateful that we are all able to spend the holidays together! I love you!

Sayer's First Bath

Okay - I am back... finally! This new parent thing will really take it out of you! Mike and I are still trying to adjust to the lack of sleep and change of schedule that comes along with a newborn. Any opportunity that Sayer is sleeping I am taking advantage of catching up on my own sleep. Hopefully we'll begin to establish a better schedule soon.

Sayer had his first at-home bath on Christmas Eve and he was a pretty good little trooper, until the end. I think he was so cold that he just couldn't take anymore! A sponge bath is the only thing that he can have until his belly button and plastibell fall off.

A Rare Post by a Humbled Man

I should first let the reader know that this is Mike......not Ashley. Ahhh yes, those of you who know me, know that I have a tendency to make fun of Ashley for her blogging ways. So why would I submit an entry? I feel the need to express what I am feeling for Ashley and Sayer. You all know that Sayer Michael was born on December 17 at 8:19pm. Ashley, the love of my life, gave birth to our baby boy and changed our lives forever. You've probably heard this before from a new parent, but.......I never thought I could love something or someone as much as I love my beautiful wife and baby. I am a man of few words so I will wrap this up with by saying:

• Thank you Ashley for carrying Sayer in your belly, taking good care of yourself, and sacrificing many things to ensure our buddy is healthy.
  
• I love you, Ashley, more than words can say.
  
• Welcome home, baby Sayer, you will be loved by Mommy and Daddy.


• I love you, Sayer, more than words can say.


• Thank you to Grammy and Papa, Mimi and Grandpa, Uncles and Aunts, additional family and friends for surrounding our family with love.
  
• I am looking forward to the good, the bad, the easy, the difficult, the joys, the concerns, the ups, and downs of parenthood.

Merry Christmas Ashley and Sayer.............Daddy loves you both so much!

Braggin' Rights Game... U of I takes it again

Tuesday night marked the annual Braggin' Rights basketball game... MU vs. U of I.

Mike and I were excited to dress Sayer up for the game, but we couldn't agree on what to dress him in. I gave in and let Daddy dress him in blue for Illinois. I have to admit it was pretty cute to see Daddy holding his son in his Illini outfit. Thanks Grammy and Papa.

We did put a different bootie on each of his feet - one for MU and one for U of I. That's as much Tiger as I could sneak in for this game. Maybe next time?

I am sad to admit that the Tigers didn't pull out a win... as long as Mike and I have been together the Tigers haven't had a win in this basketball game. Bummer! I think Sayer woke up and was ashamed of how Mommy's Tigers played!

Slayton and Sayer...

Monday night Chad, Jonalee and Sayer brought us dinner and spent some time hanging out with us. It was cute to watch Slayton just stare at Sayer when he was crying. I tried to capture a picture of it, but everytime Slayton saw the red light, he would look right at the camera and smile... what a ham!

The four of us were joking that night about how much our lives have changed in 7 months... our conversations have taken a drastic change of direction to dirty diapers, fussy babies and parenthood. We wouldn't change it for the world!

Both daddies on the floor with their babies... such a change from when Chad and Mike first met 10 years ago!

More visitors...

Sunday night JoDe brought us dinner and watched over Sayer while we enjoyed it!

On Monday, Jodee and Brooke came to visit Sayer. Brooke had the touch and Mike and I are looking forward to using her to babysit in the future!

On Monday we also went to the doctor so Sayer could be weighed. The doctor was thrilled to see that he had gained so much weight since Saturday. He is back up to 7.11 oz. I will be anxious to see what he weighs at his baby well check on Friday.

I had to post this picture because it really is a good depiction of how long Sayer really is. He looks like a string bean... tall like his Daddy.

December 20, 2008 - Coming Home Day!

On Saturday Sayer and I were released from the hospital... YEAH! Mike and I were definitely ready to get home and start establishing a routine.

Daddy dressing Sayer in his going home outfit... what a little Rock Star! Thank you Uncle J for the outfit!

Our first ride in the carseat... the car put him to sleep.

Finally home and in my bouncy seat...

December 19, 2008

On Friday Mike and I began to adjust as much as possible to being brand new parents. We are learning more and more about our new son every day!

We know that he loves to be held and cuddled. And we love to assist. He is also a good little eater already! The one thing that we are still working at becoming better at is swaddling... we still can't figure out how those nurses get him wrapped so tight!

Sayer had several visitors on Friday...

Uncle J, MiMi, Grandpa, Aunt Karen and his Great Grandpa.

Aunt KiKi and Emma Grace. Emma Grace was so excited to see her new cousin. All she wanted to do was hold him!

Uncle Chad, Aunt Jonalee and Slayton. Sayer made Slayton look like such a big boy today! I can't believe only 7 short months ago he was this size.

G.G and MamaCita.

JoDe: