Jan 14th - Jan 19th - 5 Months

It has been pretty quiet around here for a few weeks. I am busy with work, Clint is busy with adding the finishing touches to his thesis, and Sawyer is busy growing up. We have enjoyed finally getting into a routine, eating healthy, being active, and doing some spring cleaning.

It is amazing how 5 months has flown and how much Sawyer has changed. He is such a boy. He is into everything. His hands, which are huge, are moving in hyper speed grabbing everything within reach. He can sit up on his own for quite some time, even without using his hands to support himself! He loves to rough house and has mastered every toy on his exersaucer. He also loves to drink from a big cup. He also is proud of some of the new sounds he can make. His favorite is to scream at the top of his lungs just because he can. He thinks it is hilarious -- Clint and I think it is annoying. He is getting really good at using his hands, reaching for stuff, and pushing up on his arms. Everyday he learns something new. He has grown out of all his clothes except his 12 months. Mainly because he is so long. Clint and I are both so in love with this little creature it is crazy.

In the pictures below Clint decided Sawyer needed a sweat band for some reason unknown to me. I guess because the Aichele boys like to wear them. So they are working out together. I think Sawyer looks like a contestant on the Biggest Loser.

Jan. 7th - Jan.13th - 4 Months

Sawyer actually turned 4 months December 19th, but we had his 4 month appointment this week. Everything looked great and he is off his iron now! He was 26.5" tall and weighed 19lbs. His is a big boy. He got his shots and hardly fussed at all. This month has been the hardest so far. He is so ready to play and is frustrated with himself because his lack of coordination. Also he got off his schedule over Christmas so we have had to fight going to sleep for bed time and naps. But we are back on schedule now.

He is all about laughing. Sawyer thinks Clint absolutely hung the moon. They are very much into each other. It seems they have a lot of fun together in the morning when I am at work. Here are a few pictures from just hanging out this week.

Dec. 31st - Jan 6th - "Lighten Up!"

I have been running a little behind on my blog entries because I decided that in 2009 I would make a little more time for myself. I have been using one of Sawyer's nap times to do something for me (not laundry, cleaning, cooking, blogging, or EATING) and it has been so therapeutic.

But it is now 2009. The best thing about 2009 is 2008 is now over. We had quite an eventful 2008 which ended up with Heidi in the hospital. We can say that all members of the family have been hospitalized and had our first IV's in 2008, Clint, Sawyer, Heidi, and myself. We don't do New Year's resolutions, but mottos every year. This year it is "Lighten Up". There are several areas we need to lighten up, but I have to start with the baby weight. My challenge for the month of January is to not eat my recent vices: alcohol, sweets (not including chocolate covered fruit -- that's just crossing the line), cokes, white bread, and chips. So far it is going pretty good. I may add saturated fats next month but I am not sure if I can give up cheese.

We had a nice quiet New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Clint and I were tired of holiday food and Clint had a cold so we didn't want to go out; we stayed home and made the biggest baddest sandwich we could (ignore me in my sweats with no make-up on). On New Year's day we took a long hike. Check out Sawyer in his OSU hat. With it on backward I told him he looked like an OSU frat boy.

Dec. 16th - Dec. 30th – Sawyer’s 1st Christmas

We left town early to start our Christmas celebrating with Drew Johannes and Cassie Lewis’s wedding. It was a beautiful wedding with a handsome couple, but not as handsome as Clint in his tux. It was Sawyer’s first wedding and the latest he has stayed up, but we learned he is a party animal. He did great!

We then spent a few days at Grammy and Duke’s in Stillwater. Christmas morning Sawyer was super excited to get up and see what Santa Claus had brought even though Daddy did not get out of bed (he had done too much Christmas Eve celebrating). Clint decided he and Sawyer should match to open up gifts. They have become two peas in a pod.



On Christmas day we traveled to Arkansas to have Christmas at Meme and Kimbo’s house. It was a lot of fun with Sawyer, Jackson, and fetus Titus. That’s right Julie and Taylor are having a boy! There will be 3 boys cousins all the same age. Baby Savannah also got to hang out with the boys.

We had one quiet day and then the Wright family came over for the annual Christmas get together. We had an ugly Christmas sweater party the day before. Clint was the winner! Jay came in a close second. My mom had a great idea to have it at the Chinese buffet in Siloam Springs, AR. Sketchy. But sure enough she made us all sing Deck the Halls with Fa Ra Ra Ra. Embarrassing if you weren't already wearing an ugly sweater. My dad is one of 6 and this year everyone made it. Look at the pictures of the grandkids and great-grandkids. It was a crazy day.


Clint got a cold over Christmas and with all the festivities we were ready to get home. It definitely was a memorable 2008!

Week 17 (12/9-12-15) - Santa Claus

It has been a quiet, but crazy week at our house this week. We have been trying to get ready for Christmas like everyone else. The highlight of the week was Santa Claus came to our house a little early! Clint and I did not get anything in our stocking, we assumed we were naughty, but he did bring Sawyer some goodies.

This Saturday Sawyer started to get much fussier. He has never cried much at all, but he has been fussier the past few days. He doesn't appear to be teething and he doesn't act sick. The upside of the situation is he is also much more giggly and interactive. He also is starting to actually play with toys. Do any moms out there have advice or had babies who went through a similar phase around 4 months?

Week 16 (12/2-12/7) - Back to Work

I started back to work on Monday, December 1st. I am only working in the mornings, but I started working on a different team so I am trying to get caught up. Work has been so busy so fortunately I haven't missed my Sawyer too much. I also know he is in loving, trusting hands with Mr. Mom (Clint) watching him. This is what I came home to one day this week. Notice that the pants, jacket, and shirt belong to 3 different outfits.

Actually Sawyer is never crying when I come home (but sometimes Clint is). He loves hanging out with his dad. We also got our Christmas decorations up this week. Because Clint and I are never at our house on Christmas, we always have a little celebration on the weekend we put up the Christmas decorations. We watch Christmas movies, bake cookies, eat breakfast casserole, get double doozie cookies, and try to turn it into a party. Sawyer enjoyed getting ready for the holidays too!

Sawyer is getting so strong. He is rolling over (though he lacks all motivation to) and playing a lot on his tummy. He coos all the time and seriously I mean all the time. He really likes to eat his hands and is starting to try and put other objects in his mouth. He also started giggling this week.

Week 13, 14, 15- Thanksgiving

November 11th - December 1st



It has been a few weeks since I have posted, but that is because I have been on the road. We left November 13th for Arkansas. On the 14th Clint flew to Pennsylvania to visit his brother and attend the AICHE conference where he gave two presentations. I stayed in Arkansas with my family. Clint returned on the 19th and we celebrated our 4 year anniversary on the 20th. We got to go out on two dates! We then celebrated Thanksgiving with my family and with his family. We returned to Houston on the 30th. We had a blast celebrating, I think Sawyer and I both gained about 5lbs each!

Sawyer is changing so much. Besides the fact that he is such a big boy, he is reaching for things and hitting at things, smiling and cooing constantly, rolling over a little, holding his head up, discovering how cool his hands are, trying to put whatever he can into his mouth (he still can’t grab very well so it is still hard) and just being absolutely precious. Of course I am completely biased. He is also such a good boy to sleep through the night.

Here is Sawyer with his favorite cousin Jackson.



Look how cute the boys are with their mommy’s.



Sawyer got to meet both of his great grandmothers. He is the twelfth great-grandchild for my grandmother Mammo and the first for Clint’s grandmother G.G.



We have a funny tradition in our family of dressing up like indians and pilgrims for Thanksgiving. Below is Julie and Taylor with my niece, nephew, and cousin. I had to put this picture up because Taylor put a picture on his myspace page once of Julie and me at thanksgiving when I was going through my awkward stage (that stage only lasted from 11-21). Sawyer, Clint and I didn’t get a chance to dress up this year because Clint went hunting all morning and Sawyer decided to be a pickle and I was just trying to keep him happy.



Here is Thanksgiving at the Aichele’s. Yummy!



Sawyer went on his first weenie roast at Grammy and Grandpa’s farm.



Clint and Sawyer are getting ready for the OSU vs. OU game. Clint got to go to the game, but Sawyer and I stayed back.