Sayer's Nursery - it's finally finished!

Finally Sayer's nursery is finished!

The artwork arrived late last week along with the glider. It is starting to fill with baby essentials as we have baby showers for this little boy.

I love the way it turned out. It is just what I wanted... a very cozy, warm, inviting room for this little boy to come home to.

This room has become my favorite place in the house to just go and sit and think and dream. Hopefully Sayer will love it as much as we do.

Week 32

Monday we hit week 32. I can hardly believe that we only have 8 short weeks to go in this pregnancy. It has all gone by so fast!

This week my son has been a very active little man. I think that is one of the things that I am going to miss more than anything else - feeling him kick and prod me and staring at my beautfil growing pregnant belly.

It's amazing how much change a short year can bring...

Sayer's Baby Shower!

On Saturday, Aunt Karen, Aunt Missy, Farrah and JoDe hosted a ladies baby shower for Sayer. We had such a great turnout and I saw several friends that I hadn't seen for quite some time. Grammy and Papa were even able to come into town for this shower and help celebrate the soon to be arrival of their newest grandson.

Saturday was a day of many sentiments and tears of joy. Leave it to my family to always give those gifts that are right from the heart! These are the gifts that are priceless...

Aunt KiKi gave Mike and I a book wrapped in Christmas paper (which I thought was a bit odd until I read the card that was attached). Ashley and Mike - You may recognize this wrapping paper is not entirely appropriate for a baby shower. There is a reason for that... I bought this gift for your baby when you were pregnant last year. That's a time not easily forgotten, not should it be. You have been blessed with a healthy baby boy to love and share this book with. Just know that we look forward to being there for every moment of this precious baby boy's life. With love - Kelly, Michael and Emma Grace.

Grammy made a blankie for Sayer. It matches the nursery perfectly.

Grandma Ballard (Sue's mom) made a quilt for Sayer. What a loving sentiment.

MiMi made a blankie for Sayer. The card read: I hope Sayer enjoys this blanket as much as I enjoyed making it for him. I remember how excited Mom was when she made yours - her 1st grandchild. I know I have "big shoes" to fill at being "Mimi." I felt Mom guiding my hands as I sewed Sayer's blanket. She would love this little guy so much. I am beginning to realize the love that she felt for you as my heart is so full of love for my first grandchild. Love you forever. Mom / Mimi

Mom and Aunt Karen gave Sayer (the first great grandchild) one of my grandpa's Pioneer hats that he always wore and his baby shoes that had been bronzed.

Also, Aunt Karen refurbished the bassinet that had been used by she and mom as infants and that they used for Jason, Justin and I when we were infants. She recovered the base of the bassinet with fabric to match the nursery. I love it.

I am so appreciative of everyone's kindness. Sayer received so many wonderful gifts. This cute stork basket was from Aunt Stacy and Lily.

Katie Dawn and Grandma Kathy made this diaper cake for Sayer. It is AWESOME - the picture doesn't even do it justice! I have it sitting in the nursery and I am not going to take it apart until just before (or maybe just after) Sayer's arrival. I know that they put a lot of time and effort into making the cake and it does not go unnoticed. It is amazing! Thank you so much!

Thank you everyone for such an amazing shower. We love you!

Slayton Update

Slayton underwent heart surgery this morning and although he will be in the PICU for the next couple of days, everything went remarkably well. He is such a little fighter!

Mike and I went to the hospital today to be with Chad and Jonalee and for what they have had to go through, they were holding up pretty well. I have such respect for their strengh and courage. I cannot even begin to imagine how difficult it would be to let your son go into surgery and then to visit him while he lies sleeping in PICU with all of the tubes, the monitors and the ventilator hooked up to him. They are an inspiration to all of us.

Continue to pray for Slayton's recovery and healing... the next couple of days are still a critical time for this little guy and continue to pray for Chad and Jonalee.

BTW on the right is a link directly to their blog where they are providing daily updates on Slayton's progress.

Week 31 Dr. Appt.

Today we went for our 31 week baby appt. My belly is still measuring right on target at 32 and Sayer's heartbeat is still strong and right where it should be. I gained another 3 pounds over the last two weeks so that puts me at 28 pounds total to date. Right on target according to the doctor.

Mike and I have been going through the doctor rotation with our last couple of appointments and we have really liked everyone we have met thus far. In this practice you don't really know who will deliver your baby... it just depends who is on call when you go into labor. So far we have been impressed and think that any one of the three that we have met thus far would be great!

Couple's Baby Shower!

On Saturday we had our first baby shower. Chad and Jonalee, Stacy and Ed and Kelly and Michael hosted it. We are so thankful for our friends and family. They mean the world to us and made this weekend's baby shower so special!

The cake matched the invitations... a hatched egg and nest. Too cute!

Sayer's first birthday cake... I had never seen such a thing. We wrapped it and put it in the freezer for him to enjoy on his first birthday. What a great idea!

I read the cards and let Mike open most of the gifts... listening to his comments as he opened the baby presents was pretty entertaining. We received some amazing things. I spent Sunday going through everything again and had just as much fun the second time as I did the first.

Mike opening the boppy... he thought that it was a neck pillow for his use while he feeds Sayer!

Jonalee and Chad got Sayer some Pirate gear. Too cute!

Thanks to everyone for a great evening and many wonderful gifts. And thanks Uncle Jason for making the trip back to KC to be with us on this special night! Sayer is so lucky to already be loved so much! Again, we are thankful!

Boss's Day

Thursday was Boss's Day and my staff surprised me with roses and balloons - aren't they beautiful? The fall colors in the rose bouquet are amazing. I have such a great team!

Week 30

Today marks the first day of Week 30. I can't believe it - time is flying! I love to see how much my belly has grown over the past 22 weeks.

8 weeks

30 weeks

Week 29 Dr. Appt. / Ultrasound

On Wednesday, we had our 29 week appt. and another ultrasound to check on the movement of my placenta. We were happy to learn that my placenta has completely moved to where it should, so I should be able to experience a natural birth!

We also learned that Sayer weighs approximately 3 pounds 10 oz. and has long legs (based on the measurement of his leg bones) just like his daddy! He also has hair. It is amazing to me that they are able to tell all of these things just by the ultrasound.

Mike and I both think that he has daddy's profile.

I am now going to the doctor every two weeks for appts - and only have 9 more scheduled visits (including one on December 22nd) if he has not yet arrived. Time is going by so fast!

Sayer's Nursery

I wasn't going to post pictures of Sayer's nursery until is was finished, but I have had so many people asking about the crib and the stripes that I thought I would share pics of the nursery in its current state.

I am working on a couple of projects for the walls and am waiting on some vintage sports art that we ordered on-line. Slowly, but surely it is all coming together! My hope is to have it completed, or close to completed when Grammy and Papa come into town at the end of October... in plenty of time for the arrival of our little boy!

Day of Fun with Will and Lily (CCB)!

Saturday Mike and I watched Will and Lily for a few hours. We had a ton of fun while we were with them!

First, I have to say that Ummie Mike dubbed Lily "CCB" on Saturday because she arrived at our house wearing a pumkin shirt and candy corn leggings. She was so cute. Will also had on his festive attire... a black long sleeve shirt with a skull and crossbones. Ummie Mike wore his Pirate Blackout shirt that had a very similiar logo to Will's so they could match! Will thought that was so cool... the only thing missing for Ummie Mike was a matching pair of black socks adorned with a skull and crossbones. Will informed me that he was going to buy a pair of those socks for Ummie Mike!

We watched Peter Pan, went to Bravo for lunch and then went to the new Barry School playground so the kids could play. It was such a beautiful day and they had tons of fun! Nannoo came and met us at the playground and brought the kiddos M&Ms - which of course they also loved!

After we were finished playing, the kids opted for a tour of Pathfinder, the new elementary school that is being built at the south end of the district. As kindergarteners this year, they really enjoyed walking through the school and asking Ummie Mike questions about what each room was going to be and where the lunchroom was. At the end of the "tour" they said that they thought the kids would LOVE the new school.

What a fun day with the twins! I can't wait for Sayer to meet his cousins... they are going to have so much fun growing up together!

Gestational Diabetes Update

The doctor's office called today and I passed the second gestational diabetes test.

YEAH!

I think I learned my lesson this time... always make the appt. first thing in the morning and fast before you go in. Sitting in the doctor's office for 3 hours is BORING!

Watch out desert... here I come!