2017 Year End Review

I don't even know where to begin with 2017 - a wild and crazy year, to say the least.  The funny thing is we kicked off 2017 saying "this should be a quiet year". Unlike the past several years, we had no plans to move, no plans to buy/sell property, no plans to renovate, no plans to change careers, no plans to change companies, no plans to have a child....

Which brings us to January... :)

January.  Started out boring and cold until that one day at the end of the month where I asked myself "I can't possibly be pregnant, can I...?"  And that is when we discovered that 2017 would be another eventful year for the Sassers, with another precious baby joining our family (in September, of all months).  I still laugh when I think back on that day. And can remember James laughing when I called him out of a meeting (yes I did) to tell him.  Let the fun begin!

February. I traveled nearly every week of February between blustery cold New Jersey and warm, tropical, Florida.  On the weekends we had lots of fun around Middle GA. 

  

March. I turned the big 3-5, the kids each celebrated a half birthday, and we continued to spend our weekends exploring Georgia and spending time with friends in Atlanta.  We also spilled the news about the newest addition to the family!  

April. There were so many Easter activities this year, which the kids loved.  Egg drops, egg hunts, egg parties.  Every weekend they were sporting their matching, embroidered monogrammed bunny shirts that Mama made them wear.  Sis did not enjoy the Easter Bunny and it continued to haunt her the entire year. We hosted family for Easter then a dear friend another weekend. We love visitors!

May. A whirlwind month of school activities, birthday parties, baptisms, and celebrations with the kiddos.  And near the end of the crazy month, James and I escaped for the first time ever (sans kids) for a little babymoon in Savannah.  We had a blast!! 

We do love to travel with the kids, too, so we also ventured to Texas for the annual Memorial Day Crawfish boil at my family's house in Waco.  We loved seeing so much family, visiting friends, and doing so many fun Waco things (which didn't include the Silos - there is other cool stuff, y'all.) 

June.  Although I don't talk about my work much here on the family blog (not because it's super sensitive or secretive - it's just that HR Operations is not the most exciting topic!), one of the bigger (maybe one of the biggest) events in my career took place in June with the launch of our new global HR system.  18 months of blood, sweat and tears, many weeks spent in many countries and cities preparing for the event.  I am SO PROUD of our team for a seamless go-live across 96 markets for 100,000 employees.  

July. The doctor grounded me from flying as I started my third trimester in July, although James then hit the road for most of July and August (leaving me and the kiddos to get into all sorts of shenanigans around town, up to Atlanta, and around the house.) 

August.  Knowing that September (and the new baby!) was fast approaching, we crammed as much into the month as we could. Lake visits with friends, two sets of grandmothers to visit (and help while James traveled), several firsts (like an ER visit for Maryn, new preschool, etc).  I wrapped up work, knowing I wouldn't sit down at my desk for another 4 months - talk about some anxiety!

September.  And then....the Sasser's favorite month.  SEPTEMBER.  We celebrated Maryn's 2nd birthday, JB's 4th birthday, James' 40th birthday, and our 8th wedding anniversary.  And then we added a sweet, handsome, precious little fellow.  Wesley Robert, our little caboose, you completed our family and we couldn't be happier!

October.  Three kids 4 years and under is no excuse to sit back on our laurels. We had to keep up some special Fall traditions, like the Georgia National Fair and the Pumpkin Patch. Wesley went along for the ride, proving to be a rather easy-going baby (thank goodness!) One day I went to Warner Robins and came home with a Honda minivan....

November.  Still staying busy (even though dragging three young children around started to wear on us a bit), we had trips to Atlanta, birthday parties, baby showers and school parties that made November fly by.  A few days before Thanksgiving we made the last minute decision to stay home and eat Thanksgiving dinner as a little family of 5 at the Country Club.  Whew, good decision. 

December. A beautiful Christmas season with all our children and our families, nearly every week of the month contained an activity of some sort.  My last month of maternity leave, I made the most out of every day, enjoying JB, Maryn and Wesley and doing fun things (like day trips, movies, haircuts, and random ice cream dates). 

So much for a quiet year - although we wouldn't change a thing. Honestly I don't think either James nor I know how to sit still.  And our three children didn't necessarily come out of the womb as laid-back children. The Sassers don't know how to handle life if it's not go-go-go (though here's hoping 2018 is a little more chill...)  :)

Wesley Robert - Three Months Old!

Wesley has completed the first quarter of his first year of life!  It's really hard to believe. I go back and forth between "it seems like he's been here forever" and "didn't we just have him yesterday?" It's this way with all our children.  We still can't believe we have THREE of them.

And, speaking of three, month three treated little Wesley quite well.  It seemed his tummy issues got better and we found a set of feeding rituals (pumping first, walking while eating, pushing out the feedings, etc) that seemed to agree with him.  Although sleeping at night has become much more consistent, he turned into a little cat napper!  He has a hard time transitioning between sleep cycles, so about every 30 minutes he's wide eyed and bushy tailed. Sometimes I would just let him nap in my arms to get a long nap in...not that I'm complaining (it's absolute heaven).

So many smiles this month from little Wesley. He's quite fond of watching his brother and sister play, the rowdier the better.  (Fortunately there is no shortage of rowdy and chaos at our house!) He loves to watch himself (or me) in the mirror, and gives a few little snorts and chuckles now and then.  His daddy calls him "smiley". I think he's going to be a happy baby!

He's still a stocky little guy - everyone always comments on how BIG he is.  (Actually he's not that big - like 40th percentile - but he's definitely growing!) Wesley is a little man about town, attending so many events and dinners and parties because that is just what third babies have to do. I don't think we'll be able to take advantage too much longer, as he's grown fond of a little bedtime routine and seems to want it earlier and earlier.

This was my last month with him before returning to work next week.  I can hardly type it without my eyes filling up with tears. It's been such a sweet, precious time with Wesley that I wouldn't trade for the world.  There is a strong attachment between him and me - James says he's going to be such a Mama's boy. (I sure hope so!!!)

So here we go -  his three month stats!

Wesley's Measurements:

• Weight: 13lbs 10oz

At 3 Months Old,  Wesley...

…Eats every 3 - 3.5 hours during the day, and has fewer and fewer "fussy feeds" (as I call them). He's doing better with the bottle, but still doesn't love it.  Wesley is the first of all my babies to rock the dream feed. Doesn't wake at all and gets a good fill right before Mama goes to bed.

…Sleeps more consistently at night, woo hoo.  We found Wesley likes an earlier bedtime (8ish), and then sleeps very well until 7 or 8 the next morning (with the 10pm-ish dream feed and then another nightime feeding anytime between 3 and 5 AM.)  He's still in the RNP in our closet, I still sometimes turn on the automated rocking and vibrating, and he's still in a Miracle Blanket swaddle that he busts out of every night.  I have such good intentions about sleep transitions this month. Fingers crossed.  Naps are shorts, but we're aiming for 3 good naps a day with one cat nap before bed. Again, big goals this month!

...Wears some 3 month clothes, lots of 3-6 month clothes, and some 6 month clothes.  Long and stocky.  He moved to Size 2 diapers and he felt so comfortable that I donated nearly a full box of Size 1s.  Didn't even try to squeeze him in them.

…Loves this bath!!  He can be super fussy but the second you place him in the warm water he is happy, smiling and cooing.  I bathe Wesley nearly every night before his bedtime just because he loves it so much.

…Does not love...well, I'm having trouble pinpointing any specific dislikes this month. He's turning into a rather easy going baby!  

Month Three -  love all those smiles from you, little Wesley! Keep them coming!

Previous Updates on Wesley:

• Birth Story
• One Month
• Two Months

How does he compare?:  JB - Three Months Old ; Maryn - Three Months Old

(Note: when I look back on the other's blogs I realize I write nearly the same thing about each one AND that Wesley looks so much like both of them!  These three will never be able to deny one another as siblings.)

My 2017 Reading List

I set my reading goal (25 books) back in January, thinking I had a lot of upcoming work travel and children who finally went to bed at a consistent time. Then I found out that Wesley would be joining the family. I thought this may impact my ability to read as much, but it's amazing how much one can read when you're holding your baby for his naps (because he's your last and you choose to spoil him).  This (plus still lots of traveling for work) meant I surpassed my goal and actually read 27 books this year.  I can honestly say I enjoyed all of them. I am either a very easygoing critic or just a good book picker.

I actually had a lot of help picking books this year, as many suggestions came from blogs, published lists, or friends.  It's unusual that I'm so "trendy" with my book reading and can actually contribute to water cooler convos on the year's most talked about books.  I also focused more on novels this year for the first time in a long while (see last year's list - only 3!), and I loved the stories I read and the scenes these books created in my head.  Many have stuck with me long after I turned the last page - they were that good.

Per usual, I read few parenting books. Sorry, kiddos, looks like I'm winging the whole "how to raise my children" thing again this year.

So here we go, categorized by type, listed in reverse order of when I read them this year, with my favorites marked with an asterisk. (I really challenged myself with the asterisk, because I seriously loved all of the novels I read this year. Not a one disappointed me.)

Fiction

• A Man Called Ov, by Fredrik Backman *
• The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas
• The Years that Followed, by Catherine Dunn
• Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, by Gail Honeyman *
• Big Little Lies, by Liane Moriarty
• Fool Me Once, by Harlan Coben
• The Nightingale, by Kristin Hannah *
• The Wonder, by Emma Donoghue *
• Snowflower and the Secret Fan, by Lisa See
• The Kitchen House, by Kathleen Grissom
• The Rosie Project (Don Tillman #1), by Graeme Simsion *
• Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald, by Therese Anne Fowler
• The Nest, by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney

Historical and/or Autobiographical Memoirs 

• And Then All Hell Broke Loose: Two Decades in the Middle East, by Richard Engel *
• Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis, by JD Vance
• Alone Yet Not Alone, Tracy Michele Leininger
• The Year of Magical Thinking, by Joan Didion
• Prague Winter: A Personal Story of Remembrance and War,  from1937-1948, by Madeleine Albright *

Non-Fiction - Religious

• Faithfully. Christmas through the Eyes of Joseph, by Adam Hamilton *
• Sacred Marriage, by Gary L Thomas *
• Kingdom Woman: Embracing Your Purpose, Power and Possibilities, by Tony Evans *
• All Things New - A Study of 2 Corinthians, by Kelly Minter
• Esther: It's Tough Being a Woman, by Beth Moore *
• She's Got Issues, by Nicole Unice

Non-Fiction - Parenting/Relationships

• Permission to Parent, by Robin Berman *
• Humble Inquiry: The Gentle Art of Asking Instead of Telling, by Edgar H Schein

Non-Fiction - History

• The Greatest Generation, by Tom Brokaw

Without meaning to, I carried multiple themes throughout this year. First, memoirs are not something that I'm normally drawn to, finding them a little 'fluffy'. However, I found that the ones I read this year (particularly All Hell Broke Loose, Hillbilly Elegy, and Prague Winter) used the personal experience of the author to provide an overwhelming amount of knowledge and information that made their history come alive.  I learned more about our world from those books than many non-fiction books on the shelves.

Secondly, I fell in love with quirky characters struggling to fit in with normal society, like Eleanor Oliphant, Don Tillman, and Ov. While these books are considered comedies, I think I cried a few times (and couldn't blame it on pregnancy or post partum hormones).  I wanted to befriend them, hug them, take them with me to the next novel.

A few other novels I picked up on a whim, not knowing anything about them other than they were a dollar on my (rarely used) Kindle app or sitting on a table at the library.  The Wonder had me mesmerized and telling everyone "you should read this book".  The Years that Followed made me sit and nurse longer than I needed to because I kept moving through the (short) chapters.  I found Snowflower and the Secret Fan at my fav little used book store in Midtown Manhattan, and since I love anything Lisa See I grabbed it quickly.  It may be my favorite of hers!   These books may never wind up on national reading lists, but I thoroughly enjoyed them. 

(I could keep going on these novels and how many wonderful places they transported me this year.  1920s Spain, 1790s Virginia, 1940s France, 1800s Ireland, 1800s China, present day inner city US... Maybe I should go back and asterisk all of these books!!)

Lastly, my bible study group ensured I stayed very active in reading and understanding the Word of God.  Even though I've been a practicing Christian my whole life, I'll be the first to admit that my knowledge of the bible is lacking.  (My understanding of it - even more so!) I'm so grateful for a leader and group of women that keep this a strong part of my yearly reading.

Not sure what 2018 will bring in terms of reading, but setting a lower - though more realistic - goal of 20 books.  I'm nearly finished with The Orphan Master's Son (the 2013 Pulitzer winner - it's haunting me), so I may stay on the Pulitzer list for a while.  I'm always open for new ideas so, people, send me your favorites. Just nothing so enthralling that I neglect my family or sacrifice my sleep (which I tend to do with a good read).  :)

Santa Pictures - the best yet!

As we wrap up the Christmas season I realize that I never posted our Santa pics from this year. I can't believe I forgot them because they were the best yet.

I can't believe we'll ever top these - but you can rest assure I'll try next year. I don't see Little Miss Red loving the big guy any time soon.

Although I used to say that about JB, but he loved Santa this year!  He was all smiles...and tongues...but I love that last picture because it captures our sweet, silly 4 year old boy.

And how special is a first Santa picture.  Little Wesley - my little doll baby - looked so peaceful in Santa's arms.

We took the pictures in November with a rather famous (infamous?) Santa photographer in Atlanta.  He is known for screaming Santa pics.  What I didn't realize when we arrived is that he transformed his studio into a winter wonderland for the photoshoot.  Fake snow, toy factories, a station to write and send letters to Santa, a place to decorate Christmas cookies...  Such a neat experience for the children!

MAGIC, I tell you, these ages are magical at Christmastime.

Merry Christmas!!

I can't believe that Christmas day has come and gone! Although it seemed like such a long December and Christmas season, the day itself went by in a flash.  We celebrated here at home in Middle Georgia (and, fortunately, get a second little Christmas celebration later this week when some of the Texas crew comes to visit).

I was terrible with the camera this year because three little kids leaves very few hands.  I try to tell myself to put the camera down and just enjoy the moment.  (However, because this blog is our family journal, I also want to remember these moments in 20 years. I'm always torn...)

Christmas Eve Eve we hosted Chris, Nicole, baby Addison and Gia.  Beef tenderloin, yummy sides, and lots of gift giving between all the little kids. I'm so thankful that these cousins (and future cousins - from them, not us!) will all be so close in age.  Makes for a fun, chaotic time.

We feasted Christmas Eve at the country club (their normal Sunday brunch buffet - the best in town), and then went to services that night at church.  Did we get a picture?  NOPE! 

We came home after services and attempted to feed the kids, bathe the kids, wrangle the kids in bed...all while I made a shrimp and corn chowder. We didn't sit down to eat until nearly 9PM.  I made a commitment to myself (and to my family) that future years I will not try and cook a Christmas Eve dinner and that we'd pick up a bucket of fried chicken from Maryland's on the way home from church services.  That got big thumbs up from the fam, so let that tradition start next year. 

Poor Santa spent a lot (A LOT) of time setting up and setting out all the gifts.  Kid kitchens nearly need a GC to put together.  Santa(s) didn't get to bed until well after midnight.  Just in time for baby Wesley to wake for his nightly snack.

But Christmas morning.  SO MUCH FUN!!!!  The kids' faces made all the stress and all the time totally worth it.  JB received the huge batman toy he asked for, a huge teddy bear he loved from Santa's workshop where we got our Santa pictures, new rain boots, plus lots of other little things. Maryn received her very own kitchen, rain boots (the kids are obsessed with rain boots), and other little things.  Wesley got a walker - something his Grammy has encouraged us to get for every child now - plus some other necessities for the upcoming year (teethers, tummy time toys, etc). 

But the big surprise outside...a new riding toy that both kids can ride on! Santa left a note for us to "look outside" and the kids were thrilled when they saw it.

We were blessed that Gia joined us for Christmas and the kids loved every second playing with her.  Everybody opened even more gifts, the adults were spoiled with all sorts of goodies, and we also cooked (oil-less fried turkey - thanks to one of James' new outdoor gifts - breakfast casserole, twice baked potatoes, lima beans, Italian cream cake, so much good food) and fed several friends and neighbors all day long.  For a "quiet" Christmas at home, it sure was lively! JB slept on the couch till nearly 5pm.

What a beautiful day and a beautiful Christmas!  I may not have many pictures, but we have lots of wonderful memories. 

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  (Luke 2)