Loved By So Many!

AJ is blessed to be loved by so many people! We apologize if you have visited AJ and we forgot to get a picture of you with him!

Grandma Glandon

Grandma Sauer

Grandpa Glandon

Uncle Eric

Grandpa Sauer

Aunt Aimee

Great-aunt Ruth

Great-uncle Ed

Uncle Dave

Great-aunt Connie and cousin Emma (1st cousin once removed I believe)

Great-uncle Mark

Great-aunt Beth

Great-aunt Barbie

Daddy's friend Dennis

AJ's Room

He are some pictures of the completed baby room!

The First Two Weeks

Wow! I can't believe two weeks have already past, and at the same time I can't believe it's only been two weeks (and to think my official due date is still two days away)! Brian and I are loving every moment with AJ, and are quite in awe of him. I am enjoying being home, and AJ and I are slowly settling into our own routine. Grandma Glandon helped us out tremondously the first week, but now we are mostly on our own!

AJ is a good baby, who really only fuses when he his hungry or naked. He's sleeping quite a bit, but does seem to be more awake during the day than at night. I have been having to wake him every four hours at night to feed him. He enjoys his bouncy seat and spending time on his tummy when he is awake. His favorite activities include eating and sleeping, and his least favorite activities are diaper changing and bath time (notice the common factor - he hates being naked)!

We just had his weight checked again today, and he has successfully made it back to his birth weight plus a few! He now weighs 8 lbs. 9 1/2 oz. I think I will let him sleep longer at night now!

Here are some pictures from the past couple of weeks! ENJOY!

AJ's first Buckeye basketball game! The Bucks were playing their sweet 16 game the night AJ came home from the hospital.

My boys - Nuge, Brian and AJ!

AJ's first experience in the bouncy seat. He loves it when we turn on the vibrate button.

AJ's first walk (3/25/07)!

AJ's first Dr.'s appointment (3/26/07). He only weighed 8 lbs. and a 1/2 oz. at this appointment, and was still only 19 1/2 inches long.

"Who's that handsome guy in the mirror?"

AJ's first real bath. He hated every moment of it, and continues to hate them!

One of my favorite pictures. He looks so sweet!

Look at me!

AJ can already hold his head up and turn it from side to side. He seems to like tummy time.

WHO CAN RESIST A SLEEPING BABY?

Passed out after a good meal!

All snuggled up!

Both mom and AJ getting some much needed rest!

Here's AJ after taking a walk. He looked so peaceful that I just let him sleep in his carrier.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALBERT JOSEPH (AJ) SAUER!

HE'S HERE! And here early! AJ Sauer arrived on March 20th, 2007 at 8:00 a.m. He weighed in at 8 lbs. 7 oz., and was 19 1/2 inches long (good thing he was 16 days early, otherwise he would have been a 10 pounder)! Brian and I actually went to the hospital around 10:30 p.m. on March 19th because I was having trouble feeling AJ move. Everything checked out perfect, he started moving, and we were sent home. Four hours later at 2:30 a.m. on March 20th, my water broke (a gush not a trickle). Brian went into panic mode thinking I was going to deliver right then and there on the bedroom floor, but we both managed to get our stuff together and were on our way to Mount Carmel East Hospital a little after 3:00 a.m. We turned around once to get Brian's cell phone, and we did have to stop and get gas. The contractions started in the car around 3:15 a.m., and we arrived at the hospital around 3:30 a.m. The nurse that sent me home earlier was still there and was with me through most of my delivery. By the time I was settled into the labor and delivery room I was already 100% effaced and 3 cm. dialated. The contractions were bearable for a short while, but the pain was all in my back and quickly intensified. By 6:00 a.m. I was 6 cm dialated and asking for the epidural (there is a reason these Doc's are God-like on a labor and delivery floor). Brian later told me that he about gaged as he watched him insert the needle into my back (all I felt was the previous numbing shot). At this point I thought I might get a couple of hours rest as I relished in the joy of modern anethesia medicine, but to my suprise I was complete and ready to push a little before 7 a.m. I couldn't feel a thing as the pushing began, so the nurse had to watch the monitor for my contraction to let me know when to "bear down." An hour later, our precious, perfect little son was born! We have been so blessed!

Dr. Friday showing off our new son! He came out screaming!

It's cold out here... someone get me a blanket!

Our little addition.

All together as a family!

I look just like my Daddy.

Even though it said "newborn," my going home sweater was a wee bit big!

Going home!

Into Week 38!

I saw the Dr. yesterday and the only change to report is that I have dilated another 1/2 centimeter. Labor could start today or three weeks from today! Please pray that it starts SOON!

Baby Growth in Week 38

Babies size vary around the last several weeks of pregnancy, but most likely your baby is between 17 and 20 inches long and weighs 6 ¼ to 7 ½ pounds.

Your baby is continuing to grow, but the vast majority of his/her organs are mature and fully functioning. The only exceptions are his/her brain and lungs. These two organs are at a point that they will function outside of the womb, but will also continue to mature during childhood.
You may have an idea of what your baby will look like. Maybe you want your baby to have Aunt Ellen’s red hair, your partner’s green eyes, or your father’s long legs. You most likely will not be able to tell right away what color of eyes your baby will have unless they are brown. If they are brown there is a good chance they will stay that way. However, if your baby’s eyes are gray or blue, they can stay that way or turn green, hazel, or brown. Normally this occurs by the time your baby is nine months old.

It Just Keeps Growing!

My belly looks bigger everyday, and everyday I wonder how it can possibly get any bigger! Here I am at 36 weeks and 5 days. When I saw this picture I thought to myself, "I can't believe I am walking around looking like this!" It's ALL baby!

The Final Shower!

Wow! AJ is already so loved! We spent this past Saturday at my mom's house for our last shower with my dear aunties and wonderful ladies from church. We played lots of games, ate good food and cake, laughed, and of course opened presents! We now have our stroller, changing pad and covers, crib sheets, more books, blankets, toys and clothes, and cousin Heidi's swing. Brian and I then made a trip to Babies R' Us to pick up the last few essentials with our gift cards. Mom and I are now busy finishing preparing for AJ's arrival (thank you mom - I'm not sure it would get done without you)! Thank you to all of our family and friends for your continued love and support! We are so very blessed!

Into Week 37!

I have been deceived, but in a VERY good way. All this time that I thought AJ might be lying sideways, he has actually been head down! I went to the Dr. on Friday and she told me that he is at a "-1 station (a baby still floating is at a -4)." When he reaches 0 he will be engaged in my pelvis, and he'll reach a +4 station just prior to delivery! When my Dr. realized how far down his head was in comparison with the rest of his body, she finally admitted that I will NOT be delivering a small baby (well, duh)! I am also 80% effaced and 1-2 cm. dilated. Hopefully, this means I will go into labor sooner rather than later! This was all very good news, and made my day. I think I would have cried if my body hadn't started doing anything! This Dr. visit made me believe that AJ is going to come out!

Baby Growth in Week 37

Your baby is most likely between 16 ½ to 19 ½ inches long and weighs 6 to 7 pounds.

Even though by the end of this week your baby is considered full term, it is still better in most situations for the baby to remain in the womb until he/she signals that they are ready to come out. If your baby has not turned and is not in the head down position, you should begin talking with your health care provider and partner regarding the various options that are available. There are several ways that babies can be turned. There are both natural techniques and medical techniques. Remember that breech presentations occur in about 1 in 25 full-term births.

Into Week 36!

Less than five weeks to go! My Dr. made the comment yesterday about the count down beginning next week when I start to see her on a weekly basis. I told her that the count down had already begun! She did mention that the baby's head might be down, but I don't think she's willing to make any good guesses until next week when "all the rules change." When I mentioned being nervous about AJ's size she assured me that I was measuring exactly what I should be (35 cm), but then made the comment that I am "all baby (have only gained 22 1/2 lbs) and he might be hiding something from us" (that's reassuring). I really doubt I am having a 6 pounder like my dear sister and cousin!

Spent several hours today at school preparing for my long-term sub. Have a tub full of materials ready for her, so now I can relax some about that. Now I need to work on making sure we have everything ready at home! Also, need to start thinking about what we need/want to take to the hospital and begin packing.

Baby Growth in Week 36

Your baby has grown to be between 16 and 19 inches long and weighs 5 ¾ to 6 ¾ pounds.

The fine downy hair, lanugo, that has covered you baby’s skin is beginning to disappear, along with the vernix caseosa. Vernix caseosa is the thick, creamy substance that has protected your baby’s skin while he/she has been submerged in amniotic fluid. Both of these are swallowed by your baby, along with additional amniotic fluid, which combine together to form meconium, or your baby’s first bowel movement.

Your baby should be in the head down position, but do not panic if he/she has yet to attain this position. If by next week he/she is still not head down, then your health care provider may suggest trying external cephalic version (this cannot be fun).

Work Shower!

What can I say? I work with an amazing group of women (and a few token men) who were sweet enough to have a shower for me after work on Wednesday. We now have our pack 'n play, my nursing stool, a boppy, a baby Bumbo (a special baby chair so the baby can sit and play on the floor once he has head control), a baby OSU dinnerware set, diapers, wipes, books, and more cute outfits! We even got a gift certificate for 4 free hours of babysitting. Looks like Brian and I might get to have a date night once AJ is born after all! Thanks everyone!