He's one step closer to freedom!

So tonight for the first time I came up with the courage to put my son in his crib to sleep. I sat in there with him and sang to him until I could see his eyes were getting heavy, then I just hummed until he finally fell asleep. As I stood there over him watching him sleeping in his very own crib, in his very own room (which is not my room anymore) I was overwhelmed with two very different emotions at the same time. First, I was sad. My son was making his first step to freedom, he's not sleeping in our room anymore. I used to be able to wake up in the middle of the night and hear him breathing and lay back down knowing my son was right there and he was okay. Now he's in his own room and sleeping in his own crib and I think that I'm probably going to cry myself to sleep tonight as I think about him growing and all the "steps" he'll be taking until one day he spreads his wings and flies for himself. With all that being said, there is the other emotion that I was feeling as I watched my son there sleeping in his room, in his crib. I was so proud of my little man and his first step towards independence from me. I then saw all the times that I will be proud of him as he makes his transitions toward freedom some day. It made me think of the day that he will ride the bus for the first time, or the first time that he stays overnight somewhere other than here. Or when he graduates from high school and makes his move to manhood and goes off to college all on his own. The thought of those mile stones make me incredibly proud of my son and all that he is going to accomplish along the way. So tonight I'm kind of torn... I'm very proud that Leyton is moving out on his own, but deep down I'm kind of bummed out that my little man wont be there when I wake in the middle of the night. So tonight I may cry it out a little, but tomorrow Ill be okay!

He needs me...

The other night Leyton was laying on my lap on the couch sleeping. In the middle of his sleep he started to get a little fussy. I don't know if he was just having a bad dream or what but it was bothering him. So I put my hand down there to let him know I was there and he grabbed hold of my finger. As he was holding my finger I quietly was saying "don't worry daddy's here." And believe it or not he quieted right down and fell back to sleep. So I continued to whisper "daddy's here" a few more times until I knew he was good and out and as I was doing that it hit me pretty hard that he needs me. Not in just the obvious ways like he needs me to help feed him and change his diaper and transport him places, but he needs me to let him know that I'm there for him and that Ill be here to protect him... It's kind of a heavy load, but I was so happy to know that in that moment what he needed what his daddy to tell him it's okay and not to worry because I'm here. I really cherish the role of his father as he is growing and developing. The things that he needs from me continue to change as he does and it's extremely exciting for me to be here during all of it and give him what he needs. Now it's just the sound of my voice and the touch of my hand that helps. Soon its going to be the touch of my hand as I steady him as he takes his first steps. Then it will be his first ride on a bike. Soon he'll need me to teach him how to hit a curve ball (I cannot wait for that day!), and how to read defenses on the football field. He's going to need me to show him how to swing a hammer and turn a wrench. But he's also going to need me to comfort him someday when that first girl breaks his heart, or his first friend abuses his trust. The boundaries of the things that he needs me for seem limitless now and will only get greater as he grows. To be honest I really cannot wait for each one as the time comes and he needs me for something new. So Leyton, whatever this world brings to you over the years don't worry because daddy's here!

Oh how time flies!

It seems like just yesterday I was heading back to work after Leyton was born. I went to bed one night and woke up and my son is four months old already! Okay so it's been a REALLY long time since I have blogged last, I'm very sorry about that. The three of you who read this have been deprived for too long and we are back. Now that we are back Anna has vowed that she is going to get on and blog every once in a while also! So you have our word that we will keep you up to date much more often.

So what has been going on with us for the last four months? Leyton is growing very big very fast. He is four months old today and is nearing 20 pounds! Last Sunday we noticed that he has his first two teeth through the gums. We are very blessed that with these teeth came no side affects. No real fever to speak of, not fussy at all, nothing out of the ordinary! God has really blessed Leyton and Anna and I with that one. Leyton sleeps almost through the night. He wakes up only one time a night to feed, and every once in a while sleeps all night long! Again, Anna and I have been very blessed! Leyton is very aware of his surroundings and laughs a lot. Anna and I can both get him to laugh at us for a prolonged period of time also. He holds his head up completely on his own and sits up pretty well too. All in all he is a very happy baby and has made the transition into parenthood very easy on Anna and I.

Some things that Leyton does not like... Leyton hates baths. He screams the entire time hes in the tub. He screams the whole time in there as well as back in his room until I get him dry and dressed. As much as it saddens me Leyton doesn't seem to like Jimmy Buffett music either! Two different times we have put on some Buffett music and Leyton immediately started crying. So for now he and I are at odds when it comes to our taste in music. Just like me Leyton does not like being messed with right after he wakes up. Hes not much of a morning person yet...

As for Anna and I we are just trying to take it all in and not miss out on all of this as it comes so fast. We keep busy with work and church and it's softball season for me now. In closing its good to be back on and blogging. Please keep Leyton in your prayers as he continues to grow and develop that he remain strong and healthy!

Back to Work

I had the "joy" this week of going back to work. First thing Monday morning long before bright and early I got back into the routine of work. BOOO. I'm just joking, I am very blessed and happy to have a job during these difficult times but it is hard to leave my wife and my new born son at home all day while I go back to work. I have found that I cant put pictures up of him on my computer or anything because I find myself sitting there looking at his picture wishing I was at home holding him and talking to him, explaining the infield fly rule to him... But it's important for me to get back into that routine and making money, not much but money none the less. Being back at work makes coming home from work my favorite time of the day. Pulling into the driveway and seeing Anna and Leyton waving to me from the front window is the best sight I will have seen all day. Walking up the porch and into the house and getting to hug and kiss my wife and hold my son, usually followed pretty closely after by a diaper change because, "Anna has been changing them all day." But that is my favorite part of the day.


Leyton had his first doctors appointment on Tuesday with Dr. Borrelli. He tipped the scales at 8 pounds and 14 ounces! Gaining over a pound since he had left the hospital. He got a good once over and the doctor said that everything looked great! We get to go back in about six weeks and have another check up and he'll get his first set of shots since leaving the hospital. Not looking forward to that. Other than that not a lot new. Lots of eating, sleeping and pooping and he is very good at all three!

Time together at home.

Leyton, Anna and I got to come home Saturday afternoon. After two days of checkups and tests the doctors and nurses decided that Leyton and Anna were healthy enough to come home! We packed him up in his car seat, covered him up in blankets and headed home. Anna's mom is staying with us for a while helping out around the house. We are figuring out his sleep pattern and how often he eats and how much he eats. He is a great sleeper, eater and pooper. Those three things he has down! He is not a fussy baby, he only really lets us know hes upset when we are changing him. I have this week off work so I am here all day helping out where I can.

It has been a pretty smooth transition from hospital to home. We had been told over and over that we need to sleep when he sleeps so we have been doing that and sleep has not been an issue for us yet. We worked out an on and off pattern where I stay up with him after she feeds him so she can sleep, and she lets me sleep while she is feeding him. It has kind of worked out for us so far. We just try to remain patient and flexible because I'm sure it will not always be this smooth.

Anna and I both have posted some pictures on our facebook pages. Feel free to check them out there. I will keep everyone up to date and try to blog again in a day or two. Please continue to pray for Anna and Leyton and I as we figure out schedules and routines. Pray for continued good health and wonderful times spent together.

Leyton James Brillhart

My son, Leyton James made his debut to the world this afternoon. At 4:31 on January 28th. he came and graced us all with his presence. He was 21 and 1/4" long and tipped the scales at a whopping 8 lbs 1oz. Mom and Leyton are both doing wonderful and resting.

Ill keep you updated in the next few days. But thank you to everyone who kept Anna and Leyton in their prayers over the last few months. They were definitely heard as we were blessed with a great delivery and great health!

Any day...

We had another appointment today. Anna is officially 39 weeks pregnant tomorrow. The doctor listened to the heart beat and measured her belly and said everything looks and sounds great. He said that she is 1 cm. dialated. Then he ended it by telling us that she could go any day now.

At home I have the nursery 99% of the way set up. I got the crib and both dressers all put together. Also we have the glider (rocking chair) set up and all the wall hangings and decorations on the walls. Anna has laundered all the new clothes, separated them and put them away in the dressers. My mom and dad came over this past weekend and helped us get the rest of the house ready. My wonderful mother and wife spent most of their day cleaning the house from top to bottom. While they were cleaning dad and I anchored all the wall hangings and decorations to the walls. He also helped me move some of the heavy furniture to exactly where we wanted it. So the house is as ready as we can possibly make it. I had a sit down and heart to heart with the dogs. Roxi and Hurley were concerned about what bringing a baby into the house would do to their mommy and daddy time. So I assured them that Anna and I would still have time for them.

Now here's my problem... A while ago I blogged about the things that I do know about babies. Between then and now I have learned some things but I'm still in the dark about what to do with this baby when I get him home. How often do we feed him? When does he go to bed at night? Will he eat regular wings or do they have to be boneless? When he starts to cry what does he want? How many times a day does he go to the bathroom? Which is the front side of the diaper? How often do we give him a bath? Some of these questions are jokes, but honestly some are real. Anna and I are incredibly thankful for the wonderful friends and family who have shared all of their valuable wisdom about the above topics with us. Because without all of you we would be very lost. I'm sure we would eventually figure it all out but at the expense of our son and our sanity I'm sure.

So, to all of our friends and family who have been so helpful to us during this whole pregnancy we can not say thank you enough. For all of your wisdom and insight, for all of your time, dedication and prayers Anna and I would like to say thank you very much.

Keep Anna and our son in your prayers over the next few days. Who knows the next blog I write may be as a new dad!