Weekend Fun with the Fam!

The sweet baptism last Sunday was only a part of the fabulous weekend that I've not yet had time to post about.  (I was traveling Monday - Wednesday for work,  which will require a whole other post about how scary it is to leave a 5 month old…)

My parents came in from Texas to celebrate the baptism AND get in some good times with their grandchild (plus children). They had not seen JB since Christmas, so you can imagine that they were dying to get their hands on that child!  Because I had kept him up a little late to see them, there were quite a few tears as he got passed around.  Fortunately, he was all smiles for Grammy and Gran Gran by the next day.  

Grandson + Gran Gran + Green

Flirting with Grammy

Looking back on our pictures, the days were pretty much spent eating and drinking. Well, and loving on the little guy.   No complaints here - all things we love to do!  

We had a minor - make that MAJOR - brush with celebrity at the Colonnade during lunch.  I realized that the gentleman in front of us in line was Robert Redford, and tried to convince our group to no avail.  My mother doubted I even knew who Robert Redford was (um, hello, I'm not that young), but then he turned around, smiled at us, and we all melted.  YES, it was really the handsome Robert Redford!  They were scouting out the restaurant for a movie, and even followed us back to our table to see about lighting or something.  Part of his entourage commented on cute little JB, and I'm kicking myself for not responding "how cute would it be if Mr. Redford held him while I snapped a pic?"  Oh well…I'll just tell JB this story umpteen million times since we have no proof. 

In addition to baptisms, we also celebrated birthdays!!  Our sweet Godchild turned one year old, and was super adorable as she dug into her cake.  The party was star-themed, and so lovely.

Happy Birthday!

Although I kept forgetting, Saturday was also my birthday. (I kept forgetting because we were so busy, not because I don't appreciate another healthy year on earth.)  We celebrated with  two birthday cakes - one from my mother and one from my mother-in-law. Both dairy free and delicious. 

"Why are they all singing?!"

R is not quite sure about ice cream

"How exciting, Mama - you got paper!"

God blessed us with some beautiful Spring weather, and we took advantage by attending a little street party in Decatur.  JB was all decked out in his St. Patrick's Day gear, and attracted so much attention (and LOVED IT). 

"I'm accepting kisses, ladies - who's next?"

(And, yes, I had JB in his k'tan carrier and a beer in my hand.  This might be how you see us every weekend during festival season - don't judge.)  :)

After the baptism on Sunday - more good eating!  It was wonderful to get the family (and friends) together.  A very special way to round out a great weekend.

(A big thanks to my dad for capturing such great pictures and memories!  Those that are not iPhone pics can all be credited back to him.) 

God Bless Baby James Benjamin

Echoing the words of Dr. Gil this morning at our church:  "Today is a very special day in the life of James Benjamin Sasser."

Indeed!  Today little JB was baptized in the Christian faith.  I have been looking forward to this day since…well, maybe forever, as I've always, always loved the baptism services at church.  I find them so special, so sweet - and to think that this baptism was for our little guy made it all the more special!

Also very special:  JB wore the same baptism gown that his Daddy wore 36 years earlier.  Even more, his Grammy, Gran Gran, Gia, Aunt Wyllene, Uncle Chris, and Miss Nicole all came to share in this day.

We were a little nervous about how JB would behave during the service, because he can be quite a little rascal.  He has a tendency to stick out his bottom lip and start to whimper the second he realizes he is in someone else's arms.

Fortunately, he was extremely cheerful this morning, and seemed to enjoy the attention as Dr. Gil walked him up and down the aisle.

Our pastor says a beautiful little prayer after a baptism, once he has introduced the baby to his new church family.  A very humbling prayer for us to remember as his parents, as we guide him on this path and try to live as examples of our faith.

"Give him enough tears to make him tender, enough hurts to make him humane, and enough failures to know that all his successes depend on you, oh Lord."

Amen and Amen.  God bless you sweet James Benjamin!

What a Difference a Year Makes

For the most part, I'm pretty sure I have all JB's ultrasound photos safely tucked away in his baby book and my pregnancy journal.  And, yes, I said photos - plural.  We had ultrasounds done nearly every week.  I'm not sure how "normal" preggo ladies can make it with just two ultrasounds at 12 weeks and 20 weeks.  He has been one well photographed little bean from the time he was 5 weeks gestation!

This week I was cleaning out my desk drawer and came up on more ultrasound photos that I had forgotten about.  It was taken during the 9th week of our pregnancy, at our last visit with the RE before being turned over to the OB.   Such a special time, and such a miracle to think that this little gummy bear on the picture grew into our sweet baby boy.

Here is JB one year ago, on March 14, 2013:

And here is JB today, on March 14, 2014:

What a difference a year makes.  :)

You've Been Sass'd 300 Times!!

Yes, you read that correctly - I've sass'd you on this blog a mere 300 times since launching it back in 2010.   On one hand that sounds like a lot of posts, but on the other hand…well, it still sounds like a lot of posts!  Who would have thought I had that much to report on over the years?!

It's funny to see how the blog has evolved.  In 2010 and 2011, we were still in our traveling heyday - different city/country almost every week and weekend up on the blog.  A lot of it was for work, but a lot of it was for fun.  I see lots of pictures of friends and family…plus lots of pictures of food.

Most posts from 2012 were dominated by Enda.  That makes sense because she pretty much dominated our lives and every waking moment during that first year.

Then came 2013 - lots of eager anticipation until JB made his arrival in September.  Although I try to balance out my posts, I think we can all agree he's a pretty darn adorable subject for the majority of the blog's content right now.  (Plus, we're too tired to do much else, ha!)

So,  nearly 4 years of blogging, over 80,000 hits, and now 300 posts.  The main purpose of this blog has been and will always be a method of keeping friends and family up to date on what's going on with our family.  I love, love, love when friends reference something we wrote about on the blog, or tell me that they feel closer to us because of it.  (Secondary purpose will be to serve as a digital scrapbook for us, that we'll eventually print to show our kids how cool we were as a young family.)

Here's to another 300 posts - 300 more adventures for the Sasser fam.  I'm looking forward to it.   :)

10 Miles Through Atlanta

The Atlanta Half marathon is only two weeks away, and (truthfully) I will be ready to run that thing - or rather, conquer that thing - and be done with it.  But that is for a whole other post (about how you should never sign up for something while really pregnant in an attempt to prove something to yourself.)  :)

Today was yet another long run, and I kept it an easy ten miler so that Enda could join me. I decided to run one of my favorite routes, and then I thought it might be fun to share some of the scenes along the route with all of y'all.  So here goes: 10 Miles of Atlanta.  You're welcome. 

I, of course, start in the Peachtree Hills neighborhood, where we live in our lovely little 1920's bungalow.  

Heading south from Peachtree Hills on Peachtree Road, I have to first deal with lots of lights and then the dreaded cardiac hill! This long hill is the first of many challenges, but it allows me to pass Piedmont Hospital and the Labor & Delivery entrance.  I can't believe that only 23 Sundays before we were turning in to bring little JB into the world. Gets me choked up every time I pass it.  

Not a lot happens on my route until we cross over 85/75.  

This is 1.5 miles into the run, and when things really start to get more interesting. Leaving Buckhead, entering Uptown, and looking forward to Midtown. 

Although I have never counted, I feel like I probably pass 20 houses of worship on my route.  Obviously mostly Christian churches, but also the oldest synagogue in the city. I think it's a beautiful structure, and really wish one of our Jewish friends would get married there so I could go inside.  

If it's the afternoon, this is the point in my run where I am totally hating life and the hot sun in my face.  Although I pass a lot of cool things, I can barely see them. But I know I'll catch them on the return.

Finally I get further into Midtown and have some shade from all the new buildings.  Once I hit 10th and Peachtree, it's time to make some changes to the route; but not before I get a glimpse of two very important structures in Atlanta:  

The Federal Reserve of Atlanta is 10 stories high, with another 7 stories below the ground. This building - and its purpose - has always fascinated James.  A tour is on our list of future date nights.

Across the street is the home of Margaret Mitchell, where she wrote possibly the greatest novel about the South, Gone with the Wind.  Her life also tragically ended at the Fox Theatre not 6 blocks away.  I probably could not have told you her name before I moved here, but now know the life story of this important lady from Atlanta.  

I turn down 10th and run to what has to be the busiest intersection in Midtown: 10th and Piedmont.  Between Blake's and Zocolo and Flying Biscuit...plus the fact that the weather today was gor-geous...things were crazy. I had to carefully maneuver Enda through the choas to finally get to our next landmark: 

Ah, the Park.  A lovely, active place that Enda is particularly fond of.  Even brown, it's a great place to play and run.  Just a few more weeks until this place is green - I can't wait (where is the Spring?!)

My fearless running partner

A strategic run around Piedmont got me at least 1.5 miles, but somehow I realized I was leaving the park with only 5 miles under my belt. I messed up somewhere today on my route, so I decided to change it up and keep running South through the neighborhoods.  I quickly got to a point where things were getting a little sketchy.  I'd pass a $1M dollar bungalow, then a dilapidated bungalow, then a redone bungalow, then a boarded up bungalow.  Not a good sign.  I picked up some speed and somehow came out on Ponce, which is still a little sketchy but at least crowded.  Once I got to Mary Mack's Tearoom, I let out a sigh of relief. I doubted anything would happen to me with a line of 50 witnesses waiting for fried chicken.  

Finally I got back to Peachtree and started the run home.  From there, lots of history and art to pass the time for the next couple miles.

Fox Theater

High Museum of Art

Savannah College of Art and Design - SCAD

After SCAD, it's back over 85/75 and back to the 'hood.  This is when I normally start to get a little tired and question my motives for the run.  By the time I get to our old fav, El Azteca, I am wondering why I am out running and not enjoying a Dos Equis Amber on such a beautiful day...

But by that time it's only a couple more miles before we're home.  Just another 15 minutes or so up before Enda can get back to her squirrel stalking in the backyard. And I can get back to these guys, who've been waiting patiently for me to get home.  

My boys 

So maybe I complain a bit about all my running lately.  But on a gorgeous day like today, I am thankful for such a great run and route.  Hope you enjoyed!

Next weekend I'll taper. Then the next weekend it'll be 13 more miles of this great city. Can. Not. Wait. (For it to be over.  Just Kidding!)  :)

Crazy (Furry) Kiddos

My kiddos are driving me crazy.  To clarify, I'm not talking about my human child (he is just precious and the opposite of annoying these days.) I'm talking about the furry ones.  Specifically, the furry ones who insist on being disruptive day in and day out while Mama tries to make a living.  (Remember, I work from home 100% of the time, minus when I travel.)

Let's start with these little ladies:

What?  We're helping you work.

• Lupe insists on being under the lamp on my desk most of the time, which means she's mere inches from my speaker phone and computer.  Her purring, snoring, and hissing are quite audible, and her rolly polly body manages to take over most of my mousepad as she stretches out in her sleep.
• Carmen loves to jump up on the desk at the most inopportune moments, and has a special knack for knowing when there is a cup of coffee or a bowl of cereal that is waiting to be spilled.  
• Although I've rarely seen the girls play together in their 8 years as sisters, they've become quite feisty in their old age.  On really important calls, they'll decide to start chasing and stalking and play fighting in the office.  Lovely.
• And when the other culprit - Enda - decides to join in the festivities, it's an all out war that usually leads to two cats on top of my desk, HISSING and SPITTING at their canine sister.  I have a big desk, but there is only so much room for chaos.  

Speaking of Enda:

• Enda really doesn't want to be with me in my office…unless I have closed the door for an important call. Then, she decides it's of the utmost importance that she be inside, scratching and whining and barking until I have to let her in.
• Since she became a Big Sister to JB, Enda is quite sure every noise in our house poses imminent danger to the family.  Even when she is resting or napping calmly in my office, most anything will set her off and result in crazy anxious barking as she runs to defend the homestead. 
• She has also realized that I (admittedly) eat in my office.  Because she's used to licking our empty yogurt containers (yes, it's true, don't judge) or snacking on things that fall to the floor, she will stare at me and drool until I give her some of whatever I'm eating.  If it's obvious I'm ignoring her, she'll do something (bark, whine, scratch at my feet) to remind me she's waiting.  Every time.  
• Even when I try to keep her calm with an empty jar of PB or frozen Kong, she still finds a way to be super noisy.  Can you imagine the noises a dog makes when she's slurping that last bit of peanut butter out of the bottom of the JIF jar?  Or when she starts to break through the plastic with her teeth?  I'm pretty sure my Colleagues can.

What?  What did I do?

Not sure why, but the kiddos have been exceptionally rowdy this week.  And I've been exceptionally sensitive to the fact that I want to maintain a completely professional presence in my home office.  Now, I've never been called out for the furry creatures (nor do I really think most people hear them or - at least - know that the noise is coming from me!), but it's just another added stressor.  

However, I love them, so I guess they get to stay and continue to wreck havoc on my work day.  :)

James Benjamin - Five Months Old!

James Benjamin is FIVE MONTHS OLD!

That's crazy!  Time is a flyin', and he is a growin'.  It's definitely something new every day, and James and I find ourselves asking "when did he start doing that?" all the time.  You can see him concentrate on something for a while, and then use his little hands to grab, hold or bat at it.  Most everything goes into the mouth, of course.  He has started reaching out for our animals (not yet for his Mama and Daddy.)   The kitties seem to enjoy his sweet caresses (until he grabs a tuff of fur).  And Enda…well, she takes this as a welcome advance to start licking him like crazy.  It's a never ending struggle, but JB seems to enjoy all the slobbery kisses. 

Physically, JB is getting stronger and stronger.  He now can roll both ways, and can support his back very well when held or in his Bumbo.  When I try to get him to sit up by himself, he balances for just a quick second before toppling forward or sideways.  He still prefers to lounge on his back or "stand" on his feet.  Playing on his belly or sitting on his bottom don't interest him all that much. He also is growing weary of his infant seat and rock-n-play, and must be strapped in at all times since he tries to launch himself out of them. (Fortunately he's not been successful thus far.)

Tummy-wise, JB is feeling great! Still on Prevacid twice a day, and his food source is still 100% milk free.  Funny thing, though - he has started to spit up a lot.  Now, I know all babies spit up, but JB never really did until this month.  For the first time ever, we had to stock up on bibs!  Maybe another teething sign? Let's see if Month 6 brings a tooth.

If I could use a word to describe the difference this month, it would be aware.  JB notices everything, and really enjoys just watching others (Enda, the kitties, other babies, Mama and Daddy, etc).  He now faces out in the K'Tan infant carrier, and this has opened a whole new world for him.  We stroll through our neighborhood shopping center, and he takes it all in while smiling at anyone who will stop and say hello.

Some of the nicknames he has earned: smiley, rascal, stinker, bubs, strong baby, Spitty Gonzales, and home fries. (Mama mixed up "home slice" and "small fry", and it stuck.)

So here we go - his five month stats!

JB's Measurements:

• Weight: 14lbs 6 oz (thanks to our neighbor's baby scale!)

At 5 Months Old, JB...

...Eats every 3 - 3.5 hours.  He takes three 5oz bottles of breastmilk during the day, and then we nurse one to two times each morning and each night.  My little speed eater nurses in about 6-8 minutes, except at night when he likes to nurse and cuddle longer (melts my heart).  Overall, he is eating like a champ, and, after months of strikes and struggles, I am so proud!

...Sleeps…well, can we just skip this update for Month 5 and hope it's better by Month 6? (Just kidding!)  The positive developments - he goes down very well for his naps and night time, with minimal crying and protests.  As of week 4 of month 4, he is actually starting to nap longer.  Not every nap, but we've seen a couple of 2 hour or 1.5 hour siestas. WOO HOO!  But night time sleep continues to be a struggle. People told me it would take 3 nights or so to "wean" him off of night time feedings, but JB is not willing to give up that easily. It's been over 3 weeks,  and JB (plus Mama and Daddy) are still up multiple times a night.  I just tell myself we'll get there - one day!  Eventually he'll be a teenage boy who sleeps till noon, and then we can get some rest, too.  :)

...Wears mostly 3 - 6 month clothes, but some 3 month clothes, too.   He is still in Size 2 diapers. Although he is changing and filling out, not a noticeable growth spurt this month.

...Loves chewing on and playing with his burpies and wash clothes; being held; facing out in the k'tan; "standing"; Mama and Daddy; Enda; being outside; bath time and splashing in the water

...Does not enjoy a diaper or wardrobe change right after his nap.  (He wakes up grumpy - proof he is his Mama's child!)

...Has mixed emotions about his stroller.  I think he finds it confining, plus he can't see out like he can in the carrier.  Some walks he's fine, but other walks he can be heard "complaining" clear across the neighborhood.

I'm adorable and I know it.

Month Five - another great month with smiles, laughs, and a very playful, curious little baby boy!

(Sidenote: a very curious baby who is no longer interested in sitting still!  I think our monthly photoshoots are about to get a little harder…)

Don't worry - we caught him!  

iPhone Photos

Previous Updates on JB:

• Birth Story
• One Month
• Two Months
• Three Months
• Four Months