The Boyer Family
What is your favorite family tradition?
With a baby and a toddler, our favorite family tradition right now, is all eating at the dinner table together. Soaking in the way our two year-old sees the world and watching our 6 month old interact with us more is just the best!
Tell us about your favorite family story.
Our favorite family story has to be when we brought home our youngest son, Henry. Our oldest, Jonathan, was 21 months at the time. My husband and I had no idea how he would react to a new baby. He has been the sweetest and best big brother since the moment he met his little brother.
Henry was born with cleft lip and palate, so he looks different than most babies. It is a beautiful thing to see that kids don't notice these differences. Jonathan loves 'his baby' and is constantly wanting to help feed, change diapers and loves to make his brother laugh.
What is your family's motto?
Always be kind
Is there anything else you'd like us to know about your family story?
Cleft lip and palate affects 1 out of every 700 births in the United States. We are a Cleft Strong family. I found out I was pregnant with Henry at 14 weeks, I was almost halfway and yes, I had no idea!
At Henry's 20 anatomy scan we found out he had cleft lip and possibly palate. This runs in my (Sarah's) side of the family. My grandma was born with cleft lip and palate. I believe my grandma is Henry's guardian angel!
Cleft lip means that either one or both sides of the lip have not fused together in utero. Cleft palate means some part of the roof of your mouth is missing. Henry has bilateral cleft lip (both sides of his lips are affected) and a complete cleft palate - meaning, he has jaw bones but if you put your tongue on the roof of your mouth, his is not there.
Since birth, Henry has been to countless doctor appointments, he has endured ten weeks of a Nasoalveolar Mold, also known as a NAM and he has had his face taped to help pull and stretch skin to prepare for surgery. Henry will have a total of three surgeries before he is a year old -his first is scheduled for St Patrick's day. Henry eats from a special Dr. Browns bottle and has to be burped a few extra times during feedings.
Other than that he is totally normal, growing and active 6 month old. We are a Cleft Strong and Cleft Proud family!
Share Your Parenting Wisdom
What's your number one tip for new parents?
Remember to be a team! It's so hard in the midst of new babies and newly becoming a mom/dad to remember to ask and accept the help from your family and spouse. It's not a competition of who is more tired, who has changed the most diapers or who has taken care of who for the longest. You are 100% a team!
What has been the most surprising thing you've learned as a parent?
Your kids do not care what your schedule is like, most days we are on their time. But in the midst of this time, we have a schedule for our family.
Tell us about your funniest parenting story (we all have them!)
My son is working on potty training, so we praise him whenever he uses the big potty. Recently, we walked into daycare and he yelled out 'Daddy, went potty on the big boy potty!' to which our director responded 'Wow! Good job daddy!' my husband responded with 'I am really working on it'. We laugh about this a lot!!
You can find the Boyer Family on Instagram at @raising.the.BOYers.