Introducing Cullen Andrew Saylor!

We are proud to introduce you to our amazing son, Cullen Andrew Saylor! He was born at 8:00am on July 29, weighing 8 lbs 15 oz (yay for less that 9 lb 13 oz!) and was 21 inches long.

It turned out that we were able to go in on Tuesday night to be induced. The pitocin began at 6:30pm so we had a long night, but were blessed first thing in the morning with our miracle of a son.

Mom, Dad and Cullen are all doing well and are back at home. We look forward to sharing more photos and stories with you along the way. Send us your email address if you haven't already received a link to more photos! (drewandsteph@gmail.com)

Love,

One Happy Saylor Family of 3

Thursday???

Just a quick update for anyone following the tale of Baby Saylor...

We had our doctor's appointment this morning and despite the efforts of Dr. Cotoli, we weren't able to get on the books to induce early this week. However, we are scheduled for Thursday morning, as long as L&D isn't too crazy with natural labor patients!

So as of now the plan is: Thursday, July 30
- 5 a.m. - Call L&D to check their patient status/saturation
- 6 a.m. - If L&D wasn't too chaotic, check in and begin procedures to induce labor.
- ????? - Baby Saylor arrives!
- 48 hour later, we bring him home!

Just a few days now! We'll keep you posted as best we can!
Love,
Steph, Drew, and Baby Saylor

Any day now...

Just 8 days until my due date! Wild!!!

We had a doctor's appointment this past Wednesday. The good news is that my body is preparing and I am already 2-3 cm dilated. When Dr. Cotoli felt my belly, she said "I think this guy could be 8 1/2 pounds already!" To get a better idea, she sent us in for an ultrasound on Thursday. The ultrasound tech took several measurements and came out with the estimate of 9 lbs 10 oz +/- 23 oz!!!! I am praying that he isn't "plus" anything, but especially not another 23 oz!!! That's a huge window, but even with the 9 lb 10 oz as the average, he's going to be a big one!

First thing Monday morning we have an appointment with Dr. Cotoli. Drew and I both got the feeling that we will probably be scheduling an induction or c-section if our little guy turned out to be big on the ultrasounds. So, it could be that our little man will be arriving in a matter of days!

We will keep you posted! Or..if you don't see anything posted early this week, it might be because we are at the hospital!

3(ish) weeks to go!

Every day is another day closer to meeting our little boy (still nameless for all who are wondering!) Drew and I have done almost everything we can to prepare, so we are getting into a waiting game now. We set up the pack and play (his crib until we are settled in NM) and installed the car seat today. I have a friend at the local health department who checks car seats, so I'm going to take it by her office this week to be certain our little guy will be safe!

Otherwise, many things are continuing on as normal. I've been teaching swimming lessons last week and will be again this week. I haven't had any trouble, but a little boy in another class asked me "Is that a ball?" while pointing at my belly! hahaha. I told him it wasn't, that it was a baby and he looked perplexed (I think he was only 3 or 4). At that point, I corralled my class into the water, deciding that he could ask Mom and Dad for more information instead of me!

I'm still loving swimming laps for exercise as it is way too blazing hot and humid to go for walks anymore. I stay indoors most of the time to be sure I keep myself and our little boy cool.

Dr. Cotoli continues to give us good reports at each appointment. We'll see her again in a little less than 2 weeks and weekly thereafter. It's so exciting to think that our little man will be in our arms soon!

Lots of love,

Steph, Drew, and Baby Saylor

5 weeks to go!

It is hard to believe that we are only 5 weeks from our August 2 due date! It seems like ages ago that we were spreading the exciting news at Thanksgiving! We are still happy and healthy and getting prepared for the big day!

Drew and I went to our childbirth class on Friday and gained some insight and lots of helpful tips for labor and delivery. All in all, I think there is only so much research and planning you can do for this type of experience, especially the first time around. We will be as prepared as possible and look forward to the day we get to meet our son.

We are still entertained by his movements and in the last month, his hiccups! Poor little guy gets the hiccups about twice a day! I can't help but picture how infants' entire bodies shake when they have them, so cute! I think the first noise he makes won't be a cry but a hiccup instead!

Our next appointment is July 9 and at that one or the next, our doc is ordering an ultrasound to see how big he is. I can't wait to see him on the screen again! We'll keep you posted!

Lots of love,

Steph, Drew, and Baby Saylor

Together Again

The best news for this post is that Drew is home! He arrived last night and is catching up on some much needed rest. He is such a proud father already, so excited to feel the baby move so much now. When he left for his deployment, the baby was kicking but it was harder to predict when and was more subtle. Now he does one of three things: boxing, kicking, or having a party (aka, full body movements!) I think the baby can feel my emotions sometimes. He was having a party the whole drive over to pick Drew up!

Baby and I are doing very well. We traveled to Virginia last week for some family time and a wonderful baby shower. It is always so nice to be back in my hometown, see lots of family, and catch up with some friends too. Even some of Drew's family were able to make it to the shower, which meant so much to me. This week we are headed up to visit Drew's parents in Atlanta and then I'm out of my travel window until our little boy arrives!

We are greatly enjoying the YMCA's swimming pool for exercise and I've even surprised myself at how much I can still do, including flip turns! We have our next doctor's appointment on June 15 but don't expect any big updates or news, just continuing our check-ups.

Love from the reunited family,

Steph, Drew, and Baby Saylor

30 Weeks

Baby Boy Saylor and I are happy to report that we are both doing very well at the start of week 30! As my mom mentioned in the last post's comments, I "passed" my three-hour glucose test so I do not have gestional diabetes! Hurray!

I had a doctor's appointment this morning and continue to be on the path of a healthy pregnancy. Baby's heart rate was 135 today, still going strong! Dr. Cotoli talked to me about taking "kick counts" every day. When she was explaining that she'd like him to kick 10 times in 2 hours, I laughed and said "Is 10 times in 10 minutes ok?" She laughed and said "definitely!"

We are both looking forward to having Daddy Drew home in just a few weeks, but until then, we are busy busy busy! United Way's big Open House for our new building is this week, I travel home to Virginia next week, and then it won't be long until Drew returns!

Love to you all,
Steph & son

6 Months

Yesterday morning I woke up and my first thought was "3 months til my due date!" Hard to believe that 6 months has passed, but we are getting closer and closer to meeting our little guy! He has developed a schedule for kicking and is growing stronger every day! Sometimes I am talking with someone and can't help but spout out a "oh!" mid-conversation because he gives me a good "Hey Mom!" kick. I love it though. When I lie down at night he always gets readjusted for about 10 minutes and I talk to him, even though I don't know how well my voice goes through. I wonder sometimes if it sounds similar to when you're super congested and hear your own voice resonating in your head!?

Anyhow, all is going well on my end. After my last appointment, I did have some lab work done that showed I was slightly anemic (no biggie-I'm taking iron supplements now) and I did "fail" my one-hour glucose test which sent me on to phase two: the three-hour test. (The test results will determine if I have gestational diabetes or not.) I did the 3-hour test on Wednesday morning and haven't heard from my doctor yet. I'm hoping that no news is good news!!

I am looking forward to working just part-time starting this week. I hope to accomplish several projects that I've put off before the baby arrives!

For the Hokies in the Crowd

I had to post this photo for all my Hokie fans out there! (If you can't read the script at the top, it says "Future Hokie." Thanks to the Saylors for this great maternity shirt!!)

All is well with baby Saylor and I. Our little man survived my longest workday of the year clocking in 20 hours straight for United Way's annual bass tournament and fesitval! He didn't complain one bit!

Drew and I celebrated our second anniversary this week from afar, but the distance didn't make it any less meaningful. What a wonderful two years we've had together! Our third year may be a little crazier than the first two, but having our first child and moving within a month will surely be memorable!

Quick update

Here I am starting my 24th week! The baby and I are growing pretty rapidly these days! In the last week, my work acquaintances and even people I don't know have started to say "Congratulations!" I guess it's safe to say at this point I don't look like I've just put on a beer belly or just letting myself go! I've gained about 16 pounds so far and am doing my best to stay active and eat well so I gain wait slowly as all my books and magazines recommend.

Our little baby boy is kicking more than ever. But I think it's his way of reminding me that even though Drew is gone, I'm not alone. What a realization that we are going to have a 3-person family soon!

Not much else to report on the baby front. I'm down to one month working full time and in May I'll shift to 20 hours a week until I feel that I've tied up all the loose ends at United Way. I'm planning to teach swimming lessons at the YMCA in May-June, which could be interesting. I can see the kids now "Not fair, Miss Stephanie! You can back float because that big belly holds you up!" It will be fun and a different take on a very familiar experience.

Love to you all,

Steph & son

It's a Boy!!!!

According to our awesome Ultrasound Tech, Angie, we are going to have a son!!!! She said she's not allowed say "it's a boy, 100%" but she did say "99%"! As you can imagine, we are both very excited to have this little insight into our baby's world and future of our family.

While that is the fun news, the best news is that he's looking healthy and growing right along! She said he weighs approximately 14 oz. right now and is growing just a little ahead of schedule (no big surprise in our families!) Angie pointed out all sorts of pieces and parts that I would never have been able to decipher, like his kidneys! We also saw his little heart beating away (about 150 bpm, which is good for a baby) and even saw the four chambers of his itty bitty heart. It's amazing to me how much growth has happened in the last 20 weeks. Now the next 20 weeks is his time to put on the pounds!

We are still talking about names, but we'll let you know when we decide! Love to you all from Drew, Steph, and Little Man Saylor!

Still Waiting...

Well, we were hoping to find out on Friday if we would be welcoming a son or a daughter into the world. Unfortunately, the doctor wasn't able to say for sure. She actually went back and forth on seeing signs of a boy, then a girl, yes a girl, no a boy...so she is leaving it up to the official 20 week ultrasound with an ultrasound tech. I'll be calling first thing Monday morning to schedule the ultrasound and hope that I can get in this week or next at the very latest.

The good news is Dr. Cotoli says the baby and I are moving right along as we should be. I've also been feeling the baby move for about 3 weeks now and I know we have a strong, active child already!

Sorry to disappoint all who have been checking in for the gender update! In the meantime, here is a photo of Drew, Baby Saylor and I taken today.

Baby's First Wedding!

Today, we head out to California for my sister's wedding week/family ski vacation! Kristie is marrying Jay Trembulak on Friday, March 6 at Squaw Valley near Lake Tahoe and we are all so excited for them! I've never been to California, so I'm really looking forward to it and hopefully the baby is too! (Since he/she has no choice in the matter really!)

For those wondering, I have (sadly) decided not to ski at all this week. It was tough to decide since I've skied my entire life but never out west. None the less, the baby is my priority now and so I will be enjoying the days with my mom and grandmother this trip! Four generations of fun!!!

I do plan to build lots of snowmen and maybe sled down a hill or two. I love snow entirely too much to skip out on the fun altogether!

I've been growing a little more each week and am only fitting into a few select pair of "normal" pants these days. Maternity clothes are so cute though!

Last bit of news...our next doctor's appointment is March 13, when we should find out if we will have a son or a daughter!!!

Moving Along

Although there is not much to report, I wanted to give a photo update! I'm posting a photo from this past weekend (in Mom and I's hotel in NYC, where we stayed for Kristie's wedding shower weekend). The photo shows the little bump I have at the end of 14 weeks.

I'm working hard to not "eat for two" but "eat twice as healthy" so I don't blow up like a balloon just yet!

Also, if anyone wants to post a "comment" but doesn't have an account, you can choose "anonymous" and just sign your name at the end of your post! (Thanks to future Aunt Lauren for that tip!)

First Doctor's Appt.

Today was a big day for us, our first OB appointment. I was a little anxious about how the baby and I have been doing health-wise and was anxious to meet my doctor. (I didn't get to choose a doctor, just that I wanted to have a resident so I could see the same person the whole pregnancy and delivery!)

The best news is that the baby is doing very well and is right on target (although already a "big baby" a direct quote from the doc!) And I am doing well and "off to a great start." All the things a mother wants to hear!

Secondly, my doctor, Dr. Kacey Cotoli, is wonderful. She's only a year older than me, was very personable, knew her stuff, and seems genuinely excited to be part of our miracle. She answered all of my "good" questions and ones that I felt a little silly asking too. She's very down-to-earth about everything and really believes in me trusting my judgement.

At the end of the appointment, we got to not only hear our baby's heartbeat but also see him/her! Seeing our baby on the ultrasound monitor made the pregnancy feel very real and even more exciting for both of us. Dr. Cotoli was trying to take a picture of the heart, but wasn't successful because the baby was moving all over the place! The baby was moving its legs and arms, and I truly believe I saw a beautiful breaststroke kick! One of the snapshots we got is posted (with my labels in case you have trouble deciphering it!)

We should find out in mid-March the gender and I should be feeling the baby move by then too!

Oh, and based on the baby's measurements, we are officially due on August 2, 2009!

The Blog Begins!

Hello Friends and Family!
Although it's taken me until now, I am officially becoming a mom of the 21st century! Since many of you are so far away, I want you to feel part of this exciting part of Drew and I's life.

To start, here's where we stand:

• I'm 14 weeks pregnant and, only by the basic calendar counting, am due on August 2.
• I see the doc for the first time in just 2 days (Jan. 29)!
• I have been blessed to have no true sickness, but just some constant queasiness, occasionally escalating to nausea. (I'll take it over sickness any day!)
• I have gained about 3-4 pounds (which is right on track according to my reading) and the books say that the baby is about the size of my fist.
• Today, I officially outgrew my first pair of pants thanks to my cute belly starting to grow. At this point, it just looks like I've been on family vacation for too long (mmm..but I do love the delicious food that comes with those!) Sometimes I think that people who know me, but don't know I'm preggo, are thinking to themselves "wow, she's let herself go since I saw her last!" haha.
• Drew is being as sweet as ever and is probably most excited that I can actually make a decision about what I want for dinner based on what sounds good v. terrible at the moment!

Now maybe you see why I haven't started this until now...not too much excitement happens in the first trimester! There will certainly be updates after the doctor's appointment on Thursday!

Love you all!