Video: Sawyer Playing

Sawyer is loving his play gym so I just had to get some videos of him playing. I love how intense his face gets!

Sawyer: 10 weeks

Although 10 weeks is not very long in normal life...in baby life it seems forever developmentally. Sawyer had grown and changed so much in these past 10 weeks it amazes me everyday.

We bought him an activity gym yesterday and he loves it! He kicks and reaches for the toys, laughs at the spinning birds and looks at himself in the mirror. We also went ahead and tried a little bit of rice cereal last night. He was still acting hungry after his night feedings so we wanted to see if it worked. We just gave him a few small bites but as I suspected, this boy has no problem eating off a spoon. If it involves food, he will figure it out. Since he did so well, we might try giving him the full recommended amount tonight.

The worst part of him turning 10 weeks is I only have 2 weeks left off work. While I am excited to see my coworkers and get back into my routine, I am going to miss him like crazy. I just need to not think about it!

Wow this is new!

and it spins!!

What is that?

Ha! I think I am going to like this!

More, please! 

Matching daddy in his pearl snaps

Unbelievably adorable gift from Auntie Trina

Beautifying our yard

I've got the best hubby! Besides working 50+hours a week, helping me with Sawyer and housework, he somehow found extra time to do some landscaping. I didn't even help him at all, which makes me feel terrible. So this post is to brag on his good work! Thanks babe, the yard look stellar!
He added Cyprus mulch, elephant ear bulbs and gladiolus. The Dianthus ‘Firewitch’ perennials (they're the little purple flowers) came back looking amazing! So did the knockout roses and the lilac tree. I'll post a picture mid-summer when the rest of the plants bloom.

A new family tradition

I grew up going to church every (well most) sundays. I have very fond memories of going to sunday school and hearing the children's reading. John and I want that same thing for Sawyer, a weekly positive activity we can do together as a family. We decided we are going to try to go to church every sunday and then have breakfast together. We would like to have that one family breakfast "spot" we go to every week, but we haven't decided where yet. Today we met my parents at 8 a.m. service at our church, Redeemer Lutheran, and then went to Gailey's. Always a delicious choice, they are definitely in the running for our weekly family tradition. Sawyer loved it too, slept the whole time and actually didn't wake to eat until 6 hours after his morning feeding. He is definitely a morning baby.

I love family Sundays!!

I had the "Executive" and John went just for B&Gs and pancakes.

Got in some playtime after church

Saturday Wildlife Hike

My mom, dad, Sawyer and I, headed to the Springfield Nature Center this afternoon since the sun was shining. We did the long hike and were lucky enough to encounter some pretty cool wildlife. First we saw a mess of water turtles and then a bass spawning. When we came around the corner a family showed us where a bunch of does were bedding down and a few were walking around too. There appeared to be around 5 or 6. Then we heard some turkey calling so my dad thought he would try to get them to respond to his calls. Not only did they respond, one came over out of the woods over to us.  It was a pretty big bird and super cool to see up close.

Can you see the deer?

Yep, he slept the whole time.

Here are a few videos
This video is of my dad calling and getting a response



This video is when we notice the turkey is actually coming towards us. You have to look pretty close but by the end you can see it right in front.



This final video is a better view of the turkey and one more good reponse

Getting Out

It's a fact, I just don't get to be as social as I used to be. Obviously I have a new priority with a little dude around. I'm not complaining, I love mommy-hood. But I am trying to get out every once and a while because hanging out with a baby 24 hours a day probably isn't the best for my sanity.
Thursday, we had our monthly Girls Supper Club. I brought Sawyer with me and he seemed to love it. He got to flirt with all my girlfriends, all while enjoying 70 degree weather on Galloway's Patio.
Friday, I decided to go out solo. Sawyer went to grandma and grandpa's until John got off work. I met up with Trina, Megan and Jammi for our annual Rock N Ribs VIP night party. It was FREEZING, but it was so nice to get out and socialize. Honestly, most my conversations reverted back to Sawyer and me bragging on him like the proud momma I am. I am not ashamed! By the end of the night (I only made it to 9:30) all I could think about was getting home to snuggle him.

Photo my mom sent me of Sawyer playing with gma

Sawyer's 2 month checkup

Sawyer had his 2 month wellness checkup with Dr.Nitta this afternoon which meant shots. I totally understand why they say it's harder on the parents. John and I both had tears in our eyes as he got the 3 shots in his little thighs. Dr. Nitta said he is a very healthy baby and doing great on all his milestones. He is in the 75th percentile for weight and 25th for both his height and head circumference. His next visit is in June for his four month.

Tummy Time before the dreadful shots

Report Card

St. Louis Road Trip

Sawyer is a little Road Warrior, for his first road trip he was a champ! He slept 6 hours on the way up and seemed to really enjoy the ride. We used the hotel's crib and he didn't seem to mind at all. On Saturday night he slept 8 hours in a row, holy cow!! The purpose of the trip is to finally introduce him to his great grandparents (my mom's parents). He also got to meet his great aunt Ruth & Debbie for the first time and then also get to see my grandmother's boyfriend Joe, his great Aunt Julie and Uncle Scott, 2nd Cousin Meghan and Julie's Parents Jim and Cookie. Even after being passed around for 2 days straight, he only had a couple breakdowns. Even when we took him to PF Chang's, Chevy's and Krieger's he just slept while we ate. I think traveling agrees with him. Lots more trips to come. He did have a HUGE blowout on the hotel pull out bed which led to an unexpected bath in the hotel room jacuzzi, it was pretty hilarious actually. My parents shared a suite with us and it was so fun to wake up and have them around to see his "morning" side. He loves to laugh and giggle in the morning and it was so cute to see him trying to talk to his grandma & grandpa.

Great Aunt Ruth came to visit from Chicago

Great Uncle Scott and Julie's parents Jim & Cookie 

The boys and his second cousin Meghan

This is the before shot of how happy Mr. Sawyer is about his blowout

And this is the after shot of the clean up. 

Having a blast!

He was pooped when we got home!

Sawyer: 2 Months

Sawyer turned 2 months old today! Today is also the 2 year anniversary of when John popped the question. Who would have thought 2 years and 2 months later we'd be blessed with this little guy.
We go in for his 2 month check up this thursday so I will be posting an update on his growth. I only have 4 weeks left off work and I am trying to soak up every moment.
Some milestones he has hit since month 1 is sleeping 8 hours in a row, sitting in his bumbo, interactive smiling and laughing, cooing and ahhing and he even reaches for his toys. He is still in size 1 diapers and is wearing his 3-6 month outfits. Here are some pictures and videos to celebrate his 2 month.

This Bumbo is exhausting

Kitchen Experiments: Funfetti Dip

Being a new mom is busy! Needless to say I don't get to cook very much anymore. And when I do it is something quick and easy. I wanted to bring something to Easter brunch at my parents tomorrow but knew I wouldn't have much time. So thank you to my friend Amanda for introducing me to this yummy dip that takes literally 5-8 minutes with only 3 ingredients.

Funfetti Dip

Ingredients

Cool Whip

1 container plain yogurt (I used vanilla)

Funfetti cake mix

Steps 
1. Mix all ingredients in bowl
2. Dip either animal crackers, fruit, graham crackers, etc in dip and Enjoy!

That's it, seems to good to be true. This stuff is so addicting I could probably eat the whole recipe.

j+k

Atrial Septal Defect

As you may recall when Sawyer was born he had to get an Echo before we were released to go home. There appeared to be the presence of a heart murmur. They couldn't determine completely what it was so set us up with an appointment to follow up 2 months later. We went to his follow up appointment at Pediatric Cardiology of Springfield yesterday and after 2.5 hours of tests, Dr. Shapiro determined Sawyer does have a heart condition but not a murmur. The condition they diagnosed him with is ASD or Atrial Septal Defect, a congenital condition that is basically a hole in his heart between his atria. All babies have the presence of the hole in utero to allow blood flow from the uterus to the baby but it closes when they are born. Sawyer's didn't close completely. His ASD is small to moderate (5-6mm in size) and may require a procedure when he is 2-4 years of age to close. Dr. Shapiro wants us to come back to see if the size of the hole has changed in November and then determine the next step.
Good news is this shouldn't affect his ability to be an active child and he should live a normal life.  While no heart condition should be taken lightly, he should be able to do everything we hoped he could.
I reached out to my Aunt Julie who works in the clinic at Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital in St. Louis and she went and spoke to their heart team about it. They were very encouraging saying not to worry and there is even a possibility it could get smaller as he gets bigger. They pointed me in the direction of their website for more info, it had some really great info. Thanks Aunt Jules!!
Here is the link: http://www.cardinalglennon.congenital.org/?id=atrialseptal1

The arrow shows the hole location

Sawyer & Evan at the Park

We had the pleasure of taking our birthing, CPR and breastfeeding classes with our friends and my coworkers Hugo & Wendy. Our due dates were only a few days apart and we talked about how fun it was going to be to introduce our boys one day. Evan was born exactly one week after Sawyer and this past Sunday we were able to finally get them together at the park. They are built completely different...Sawyer short and stout and Evan, long and lean. They are some handsome dudes!

Proud Poppa's checking out each other's sons

had to show off his cute new socks

We won!

Sawyer's Nursery won Project Nursery's Reader's Favorite Nursery of the Week!!!!
Thanks to all our friends and family who voted. His room had 87 likes and 2,151 views. Holy Cow!!
Also thanks to everyone who helped makes his room what it is!
Check out the site here: http://projectnursery.com/projects/71574/

Sawyer's First Easter

There are so many "firsts" with a newborn and most of my posts for the next year with probably be Sawyer's "first" something. This one is Easter and it was full of new experiences for him. For his first time in church, he did excellent! On Easter Sunday, we didn't even have to take him to the "cry room". He looked so handsome matching daddy with his little bow tie. The "Easter Bunny" got him his first Easter basket with his new favorite doggie toy.

Matching with Daddy

The Family

with auntie Trina

Sawyer with Pastor Sippy

Sawyer with his Grandma & Grandpa Engel

Sawyer with his aunts

I love my new doggie

Such a big boy!

Sawyer's First Easter Basket

Hanging with Momma 

Food Comma!