Six years ago, on October 18th we got a call from our doctor telling us to come to the hospital so we could have a baby. I was 2 weeks over due and our wonderful doctor decided today was going to be the day that baby Sayler was born. Jennifer, soon-to-be Grandma Sayler, and Carol came to the hospital and waited with us. We waited forever! This baby was a stubborn one. After being in labor for 20 some odd hours hours, Russell Cleveland was finally here, making his birthday October 19, 2002. Weighing in at 8 lbs 15 oz he was a very large first baby. It seems like just yesterday we called all our friends and family and told them the news. Russell has been a joy since we first held him, swaddled in a little hospital blanket.

A few facts about Russell:

• He once renamed himself Doody Dot. This confused the preschool screener who, when asking what Russell's name was, got the answer, "I go by Doody Dot". This name has stuck for quite some time.
• Russell has been to the emergency room 3 times. First he had an allergic reaction to an antibiotic. Second he fell and hit his head and needed stitches over his eye. Finally he fell again and broke his arm. Really, I am not as horrible of a mother as this makes me sound! He is a boy, he has accidents.
• He always enjoys wearing a blazer and suspenders.
• When he was a newborn, Russell would nap with/on R.C. daily.
  
• Dinosaurs have been a part of Russell since he was 2. We thought that the interest in them would pass, like most other things, but they have stuck with him. He is determined to be a paleontologist and travel to The Gobi Desert/Patagonia to dig for dino bones.
• Russell still has 2 of his blankets he received when he was first born. They are worn and tattered, repaired and patched, but they still need to be coving him each night in the say order. Silky first, then Blankie, topped off by any other blanket that is on his bed.
  
• He talks nonstop. I'm NOT exaggerating.
• Russell can spell really well.
  
• Still, after 6 years, he hates to have his hair washed. Each bath starts out fun and pleasant, but soon takes a turn for the worst when the shampoo is brought out.
  
• When he was 3, he announced to a table full of grown ups that David Bowie was his favorite musician.
  
• Russell is a very early riser. Except when I get up early, then he sleeps until 10:00am.
• Russell was not pleased with the name Grandpa and Grandma Soman. He renamed them Grandpa and Grandma Polka (because they used to dance the polka with him when he was a baby) and it is still the name of choice (even for Maxwell).
• Russell once sold a 2 week old newspaper to a woman for $0.25. He was dressed as a newsie and I guess she couldn't resist.

A few pictures to recap Russell (again I must complain about our computer. A few years of our lives, in picture form, have been lost. This is the reason for the gap between age 3 and now. All the others I was able to scan in using a real photograph and scanner. It felt so old fashioned to do it this way):

So, Russell, Happy 6th Birthday!