Grampa Dave

My dad came to visit us (really to visit Saylor) this week. It's so fun that he is retired and can come up in the middle of the week, just to get a quick fix. He was able to re-arrange his classes (he now teaches ESL) and many games of tennis, and we had a really fun time! I really enjoyed getting to see my dad interact with Saylor - he was great! He baby-sat her while I went to the doctor, gave her a bottle, rocked her, sang to her, went on walks with us, and even shopping to Target. He even got a few really cute smiles out of Saylor! Thanks, Dad, for coming to visit!

Ellen is also here visiting this weekend. I so appreciate her coming up, even though I know she has soooooooooo much studying to do. My sister is in PA school at Baylor in Houston, and her classes are super hard. But she is a champ and really smart (definitely the smarter of the two sisters!) and took a break to come see her niece. So much fun to have her here with us. Sometimes I am sad that all of Matt and I's family live in Houston and we are here...but I am thankful that the drive isn't too bad and we get to see everyone pretty often.

Pictures from the big day

Our friends Jason and Kelly had their baby daughter on Monday of this week. Mae Elizabeth is beautiful! We feel so blessed to have such a good friend with a new baby so close in age to ours!

Visiting them in the hospital brought back a wave of recent memories from the day Saylor was born. I wanted to share a few pictures from that day (don't worry...nothing too graphic). :) It's funny how one day can change your life forever...

Here is a slideshow if you want to take a look:

I love this picture...and other random thoughts and updates

Oh how babies love to sleep, and oh, how I love to sleep too - I never knew that about myself until now, since I'm not getting much of it these days!

Saylor went to her two week check up today. She gained 13 oz in one week! Chunky monkey is now at 9 lbs 2 oz and Dr. Yeager gave us the green light to let her try to sleep through the night. This might be do-able, since her worst time of day is from about 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. She is just fussy and seems to be constantly hungry during this time, but then does seem to calm down for the wee hours of the morning.

Also, good news - the heart murmur seems to be gone! Very thankful for the Lord answering our prayers on that one.

Think I am going to STOP reading these dumb baby books. They seriously all tell you something different and it's driving me crazy. Maybe I'll just try to wing it, though admittedly I have no idea what I'm doing, so that could be a disaster.

Speaking of disasters, we ventured out to church last weekend with Saylor in tow. I took her to the cry room to feed her, and as is often the case, she wouldn't wake up. So, I decided to change her diaper (cool air/cold wipe on the bum doesn't gel with sound slumber). During this process, she in turn, decided to projectile poop all over my right hand, diaper bag, and part of my watch. I basically stood there frozen, with yellow poop dripping from my hand. No one else in the room, no more wipes, can't leave the baby alone on the changing pad to go look for wipes or rinse off my hand...what's a girl to do? Just as I was about to cry, my friend Emily Fabian from high school came in the room and saved the day. I will get you back for that one day Saylor - watch out!

Went to my friend Lauren's baby shower and supper club on Sunday. Wore normal clothes and make up and drove a car felt somewhat NORMAL! Very exciting.

Watching the presidential inauguration today makes me excited about Barak. It really is amazing how many people showed up for this event. To be honest, I haven't given any of it much thought until today, but it is remarkable to see so much of our nation coming together. I think the worst thing that those of us who didn't vote for him can do at this point it to NOT get on board with him. He was elected our leader, so now we need to get behind him and support him. And I think he will do a good job. Don't you love my deep political thoughts??? So profound.

This thought is somewhat along the same vein, and I apologize for the negativity here. But yesterday, as they kept showing clips of MLK giving his I have a dream speech, one thought kept running through my mind. He says he dreams that one day his children will not be judged by the color of their skin, but the content of their character, which is awesome. But I remember a few years ago when I found out that MLK was not faithful to his wife...I was extremeley disappointed and sad. Here is this great man who did such great things, yet such a hurtful thing in the most important relationship in his life. I mean, talk about character!!! I still feel moved and stirred by so much of what he said and stood for, but if I am honest, everything is clouded by that. Just my opinion. I realize that by even posting this I am passing judgment, which is not for me to do.

Ok, off to fold laundry batch number 3 for the day!

First week of life!

It's crazy how busy the first week with a new baby is! Wait, maybe that is every week with a baby and I just didn't get that until I had one????!!! :) We are slowly starting to settle into a routine and figure out what exactly what we are supposed to do with sweet little Saylor. My mom was here all week and was SO MUCH support - I could not have made it without her and cried when she left. Thank you mom! Luckily, Matt is able to work from home most of this week which is great.

After four visits to the pediatrician in five days, Saylor is finally in the clear with her billirubin levels. She is turning from her yellowy jaundice color to cute baby pink color. :) And as of today she is back to her birth weight, which they tell us is great for the one week mark. She is eating and pooping like a champ, though she and I are both still getting the swing of this breastfeeding thing!

One thing we would ask for your prayers for. The day after she was born, the pediatrician noticed a slight heart murmur, which still hasn't gone away. They all seem pretty unconcerned due to the fact that she is cardiovascularly strong and obviously healthy and gaining weight. They tell us that many babies have this and that sometimes there is a tiny hole between chambers which takes a little while to grow fully closed. They have advised us that we will just need to monitor it for now, and perhaps see a pediatric cardiologist if it is still present at her two month check up. I think this sounds more scary than it actually is, but we are praying and hoping that it goes away on it's own quickly!

Matt and I are still grappling to process this entire experience. Saylor is officially one week old as I type this post, and it is amazing to think how significantly she has impacted us in that short time. It is so much bigger than I can even begin to describe. Everything, from the labor, to her birth, to getting to know her funny faces and daily routine and the feel of her skin and smell of her hair is so profoundly deep and meaningful, and clearly pointing us deeper into the fullness of life that the Lord intends for us to have. I can't really get my brain around it.

Anyways, before I get too deep or cheesy, here are some of my favorite pics from the first week!

How is it possible to love something so little so much?

In the past 48 hours I have been through the most difficult, intense, beautiful, life-changing, and profoundly joyful experience of my entire life. Last night, after all our visitors had left, Matt and I sat in our hospital room in the quiet admiring our new daughter. We were suddenly both overcome with emotion. It's as if God has literally opened up the sky and poured down grace covering us. "From the fullness of His grace we have received one blessing after another." John 1:16.

We are so proud to introduce Saylor Grace! She was born January 5, 2009 at 3:56 p.m. 8lbs 5 oz and 20 1/4 inches.



We are leaving the hospital today and heading home. Stay tuned for lots more pictures. Thanks to everyone for all your love and support during this amazing time!

This week in wrap up...

Well, we are still waiting for this baby girl to make her arrival. I have learned the hard way that it doesn't matter how much or early a woman's body "progresses" towards labor - the baby doesn't come out until she is ready! We are set to induce on Monday morning, which we really didn't think it would come to and perhaps still won't. But, if it does we are ready, willing, and unbelieveably excited to finally meet her. I can't really wrap my mind around it - we really will be able to hold her and touch her in less than five days! We continue to trust God's plan and pray for a healthy baby and safe delivery!

Other things I have learned this week (or re-learned, as most of them are not new discoverings):

1. NONE of the things you are supposed to do to get labor started really work. (At least for me).

2. Braxton Hicks contractions are such a tease...

3. You can sleep fairly well in a sitting-up position as long as you have at least 5 pillows to prop you up.

4. When you can't sleep, it is better to get up and do something (read, pray, work on a jig-saw puzzle) than lay there and let your mind wander.

5. (Getting more serious here...). My natural tendency to try to control things can still rear it's head in ugly ways. And then when I realize things are out of my control, I just decide to worry instead, as if that will do something. It is really quite miserable. And funny how terrible I am about trying to change this tendency myself. Clearly something I continually have to submit, confess and ask for the Lord's help and grace to change. I am so thankful that "He who began a good work in me will carry it through to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Phil. 1:6).

6. I have extremely patient family and friends who have loved me and encouraged me through the waiting, despite my occasional emotional outbursts and irrational tirades.

7. My husband may truly be the world's greatest husband. He has an uncanny way of making me laugh when I need to lighten up. And just when I am sure he is fed up with me, he shows me his love again in another self-less, tangible way.

8. Patience and perseverance are things that must be prayed for on a daily basis, not a one time deal.

9. I have some of the greatest co-workers a girl could ask for. Of course I already knew this, but I was reminded yesterday on my last day of work at Baylor (at least for awhile). My team gave me a going away card and everyone signed up to bring us a meal each Tuesday through February. People are so generous and kind - and these gestures are so touching! I look back on the journey it took for me to get to Baylor on the TBI team (starting at Q Investments!) and can so clearly see God's blessing and providence in bringing me to this place. It was a very bittersweet day...