Day 329

Ryan was born with long hair.  & boy, were we happy he had hair!  It has grown so much over the past 13 months.  The original plan was to get it cut on his first birthday.  A few days before his first birthday, Tim & Elyse approached me and both said they didn't want Ryan to get a hair cut.  Okay- so we weren't going to get him a hair cut.  Plus, I don't think I was ready for it anyways.  The ends of his hair are what grew inside my belly!  I don't want to chop it off.

So anyways- I decided that today was the day.  Plus Great Clips is having a 2 week hair cut sale of $7.99.  We could all get our hair cut for $24. 

Before the hair cut.

Putting on his little apron thing.  What are these things called?

Getting ready for the first snip.

Okay- that wasn't too bad.

Bangs are cut.  & A little silly all on his forhead. 

I let Ryan eat a lollipop!  I'm such a freak about what he eats.

Now it's time to cut off the cute little curls =( The worst part of the hair cut.

All done.

So handsome.

I got a hair cut for the first time since October, she cut 3 inches off and it looks soo much better.  Bye bye split ends!

&&& I'm 17 weeks pregnant today.  I took my first belly picture with Ryan at 17 weeks so I did this baby too.

17w Ryan.

17w #2.

Day 328

Again, not looking! Haha.  He was looking at a toy I was dangling next to the camera.

Messy baby.  Ryan is eating again!  Yay! 

Day 327

Does anyone ever notice how Ryan is never looking at me in pictures?  It's pretty much impossible to take good pictures of a mobile baby.  Ryan is good at making eye contact and looks at me when I call his name.  Then he sees the camera and he somehow doesn't hear me calling his name anymore or sitting right in front of him waiting to take a picture.

I'm going to be honest, I never thought I would put my kid in one of these swim t-shirt things.  Whatever they are called.  But Ryan did look pretty cute.  Plus we were going to a water park today and I didn't want him to burn.  Tim, Ryan, and I went to the water park today with all the people from Summer Camp at my school.  I had been working there this summer part time.  Mostly 2 days a week, and I took off Elyse's last week so I could spend time with her.  Anyways, today was the last day of camp so we tagged along.  They have a little kiddie area, so we mostly stayed in there.  The water is like 8 inches deep so Ryan could crawl around.  I caught him trying to drink the water a few times.  Gross.  We also spent a little bit of time in the wave pool.  We sat at the beginning of it and I put Ryan in between my legs.  He just sat there and his little arms went flapping every time a wave came.  He loved it.  Every time we do something fun as a family of three, one of us always says "I wish Elyse was here."  It just isn't fair that she misses out on so much of our every day lives.  I am so glad that Tim & I will never have to share Ryan and all future children we have together.

After the water park, we came home for about an hour and then went to the swap meet.  I don't know what it is about the swap meet, but Tim & I love going.  We never buy anything really.  It's just fun to walk around and look at things and Ryan loves to be pushed around in his stroller looking too.

Day 326

Listening to his Christmas book from Elyse.

Being tickled on the floor.

More books.

Once when Tim & I were at the mall, he made the comment to me that mothers always look at other babies with a look on their face that says "My kid is cuter than your kid."  Of course I think my kid is cuter than your kid.  & as a mother, I hope you think your kid is cuter than my kid.

As I became a mother I realized that other moms can be so judgemental.  Admit it, everyone is.  I think there are certain things where it's okay to be a little judgemental.  However, some things are not.  I know not everyone agrees with me.  I've talked to lots of mommies since I've had Ryan.

So- I think it's funny when moms brag about not getting an epidural.  Really?  I had an epidural with Ryan.  I still was able to enjoy my labor and delivery with him.  I was just in a lot less pain than you were.  & Honestly, next time I'm going to ask for my epidural as I'm checking into the hospital.

Breastfeeding vs. Formula.  It was my choice to breast feed my son.  Am I a better mother because I chose not to feed him formula?  No.  Just because you nurse your child doesn't make you any better than a mother who choses not to. I DO think that every mom should at least TRY to nurse their baby.   If it doesn't work out, at least you tried.  I do see newborns drinking formula and I always wonder why their mother chose not to breast feed.  It's cheaper too.  If you can breast feed, do it!  If you can't, oh well.  I don't think not having enough time is an excuse though.  After I went back to work, I didn't have enough time to pump all the time.  But I did.  I pumped in the morning before work when I should have been getting ready- and was late to work at lot because of it.  I pumped during specials at school and recess even though I should have been grading papers.  I pumped before I went to bed when I should have been sleeping.  & I even pumped during the middle of the night when I should have been sleeping.  At 8 months I had to introduce formula to Ryan because I wasn't making enough milk to feed him.  & by 10 months I was pumping about 6 times a day and only making enough milk for one bottle- so I switched to formula. 

Baby weight?  Some moms brag about how huge their baby is.  My baby is small- he isn't even on the growth chart- but he's still perfect.

& there are sometimes, I'll admit when I see something and freak out a little bit.  Seeing babies facing forward in a car seat before they are a year old?  Yes- because it's not what's safest for your child.  Walkers?  Every handout from my doctor's office says "Walkers are not reccommended."  Pacifiers at 3 years old?  Lazy.  Bottles filled with juice for infants?  Not necessary.

I guess I should stop there, before any one reading it gets offended.  Just because I feel a certain way about issues doesn't mean I'll argue with a mom who thinks differently.  I find it incredibly annoying when other people give "advice" on what's best for your baby, when you could care less.

Day 325

For the past week 1/2 to two weeks, Ryan's eating has been horrible.  He will eat all of his oatmeal for breakfast, but it's been hard to get him to eat lunch or dinner.  He has always been a good eater, and he eats whatever we give him.  But lately, he will take a few bites and throw the rest on the floor.  He picks up the pieces one at a time as he drops them over the tray of his high chair.  When I try to feed him, he will close his lips, use his tongue to push it back out, or just use his fingers to pull it out.

It's driving me nuts.  He is still too little to know that he has to eat what is given to him.  Tim & I both agree on eating habbits.  I may not like everything that Tim does, but when I was little I had to eat what my parents made for dinner.  Reguardless if I liked it or not.  Tim & I will teach Ryan that he will eat what we give him, and if he doesn't like, we won't be making any special meals for him.  But my baby is too little to understand that, so at this point I am trying to just feed him anything he wants.  We went to Frys and I bought a bunch of fruit.  For dinner, I gave Ryan watermelon, blueberries, pineapple, and strawberries.  He did pretty good.  But I'm hoping he just isn't eating as much because he's been teething like crazy.

Day 324

It was hard for me to get a picture of Ryan pushing around Elyse's car, he kept running into me.  He was going all around the upstairs pushing this thing around.  He loves cars.

Day 323

Ryan playing the piano Elye got him for his birthday.  Ryan usually just grabs for stuff- but lately he's been pushing stuff with his pointer finger- it's so cute.  When we check facebook & our hotmail in the morning he will get out his pointer finger and press buttons on the keyboard.  He's been pointing at stuff too.  I like when he learns new things :)

Day 322

We spent the evening with Grandma R and Kylie.  Ryan has fun playing with Kylie.  She loves him :)

At night I noticed Ryan's back was a little warm so I took his temperature.  I only have a basal thermometer and a pacifier thermometer.  Ryan won't keep the thermometer under his tongue so I stuck it in his armpit and it was 101.75!!  My baby's first fever.  Tim & I freaked out.  He looked up stuff on google and we called the on call nurse at his doctor's office.  She just told us to give him tylenol and to check on him through the night.  She said if his temp got up to 105 to take him to the ER.  105?? Seriously.  I don't think I would have even lasted to 102 without taking him in.

So he slept naked and I tried to keep his blankets off of him. I gave him some fever reducer- at 9:30 he was 100.9, at 10:30 he was 99.1, at 11:30- he was back to normal.  Thank Goodness- then I could go to sleep.  He acted normal all day- so I'm glad it wasn't really bothering him, at least he wasn't acting like it.  I hope he never gets another fever.  I was worse than he was.

Day 321

I love this little walker.  Ryan is so cute.  He will only walk straight with it so he always runs into the wall.  Then he will turn his little head and just stare at me until I turn it for him.  Or he will just turn his body sideways and push the car sideways.  He is such a good walker.  Walks with toys, holding hands, along the walls, couches, beds, everything, but he won't let go.

Playing basketball!  The scoreboard actually counts how many baskets you make.  Ryan will drop the ball and then watch the scoreboard, repeat.

More cabinets.  Pots and pans make lots of noise.

Day 320

Ryan woke up late today, around 11:30.  I layed him down for a nap about 2:45, I was going to wake him up in about an hour just because I didn't want him sleeping all day.  Well, he layed in his crib and just played and talked to himself for about 45 minutes before I just took him out.  He's so funny.  I'm glad he didn't throw a fit because he didn't want to nap, but that he just played in his crib.

& Here is a picture of his 6 teeth!  Cutest teeth ever.

Day 319

Ryan looves to go into Elyse's room and play with her dollhouse.  So many little toys and lots of stuff to get into.

Day 318

One of Ryan's favorite thing to do, get into the cabinets.  He likes this one the best, it has some plates and spoons of his, snack containers, and breast milk storage bottles. 

Yes, Momma, I'm in the cabinet.

Ryan grabbed this bat and was swinging it above his head, Tim & I were laughing at him.

Day 317

Ryan loves doors.  He's always crawling over to them so he can close them.  Here he is closing Momma's door.

Cutest little face in the world.

Ryan got tooth number 6 today!  Top middle on his left.

Day 316

Today I had to work, after 12 days of not working.  I was sad to leave Ryan.  I had the 9-5 shift too, so when I got home it was late and already time to make dinner, bath, and playtime.  I like getting home at 4 much better.

Tonight when Ryan & I were playing in his room, I was looking through boxes in his closet of clothes that were given to him and I came across 4 pairs of 12m jammies!  We were so excited, well I was, I don't think Ryan cared.  These are Cousin Aiden's old pajamas.  Thanks Aiden!

Day 315

Today while Ryan was taking his nap & Tim was out golfing with his brother and sister, I read a blog about a baby named James.  James was an 8 month old baby boy who had a tumor.  His parents had less than a month from the time he was diagnosed to the time he passed away.  This blog really got to me.  As parents, we think our children are perfect and we always think about what they are going to do in their lifetime.  We don't ever prepare for the worst.  After I was done reading it, I couldn't stop crying.  I walked into Ryan's room, picked him up out of his crib and just held him for a few minutes.  Thanking God that I am so lucky to have such a perfectly healthy baby.  There are so many people out there who have lost their children who wish they could hold their baby in their arms.  I am so fortunate to be able to hold mine.

So tonight when I laid Ryan down in his crib for bed, after I was done kissing him, I kissed him two more times.  Once for James's Mommy who can't kiss him, and once for Maddy's mommy who can't kiss her.

These two mommies of angel babies have such amazing faith.   It's so amazing to me.  Tim & I went to church for two years before Ryan was born and then stopped when he was here.  We decided it's time to start going back.  I want my son to grow up knowing Jesus.  & I pray for all the familes who have lost their precious babies to find peace.

Day 314

When my best friend, Rebecca,  got pregnant with her second baby she bought a box of pregnancy tests that had 3 tests in it.  She used the first one and tested positive and then gave the box to me.  When I was exactly 5 weeks pregnant with Ryan, I tested positive.  Then there was one test left.  A friend that I worked with, Shana, was also trying to get pregnant so exactly 5 weeks after me, I gave her my last pregnancy test and told her to test at 5 weeks also.  She too, was pregnant!  What a lucky box :)  3 different tests, 3 different pregnancies.

Our babies were born exactly 4 weeks apart and today, we went to his first birthday.  I can't believe that our babies are already a year old!  Shana became a stay at home mom and I miss her so much at work.  Brody is such a cute little guy.  & the party she threw for him was awesome!  There was a baby bar set up with puffs, baby food, take and toss cups, it was so cute.  Cotton candy machine, pinatas, a local restaurant even had a hot dog stand set up.  It was so fun.  There were so many babies around too.

After the birthday party, we went to the swap meet.  Got a few good buys.  Ryan started getting restless so we came home to put him to bed.

Day 313

When Elyse comes into and leaves town.  Tim has to fly to Chicago to get her or take her home.  I always hate that he has to be gone for the day.  This time and the last time she was here his return flight required him to stay over night =(  He was gone for over 21 hours stuck in airports. 

We missed him, but we're glad he's back.

Day 312

Today is the dreaded day we hate.  Elyse had to go back to Chicago.  It's always so hard.  & Because every time she leaves, she never is ready to go.  She was bummed out about leaving yesterday and today.  Yesterday, Elyse had asked me if she could pack all by herself.  I told her she could.  Asked her if she wanted to do her laundry.  She said no.  I did her laundry last night and put it in the dryer when I went to bed.  This morning her clothes were still wet!  I think something is wrong with our dryer because yesterday when we left the house at 3- Tim put his clothes in the dryer and when we got home at 9 the dryer was still running.  & This morning Elyse's clothes were still wet.  That was annoying.  Then Elyse couldn't find her iPod, then her glasses case, and then...  That's what she gets for not listening to me every time I told her to clean her room!  She couldn't find anything.  Then we had to brush her hair, which takes forever.  So finally, we're in the car leaving when Elyse freaks out about her DS wondering where it is, so she wants to run in the house and check.  So needless to say- we were late to the airport and they just barely missed their flight.

I had already left the airport when Tim called me to come back and pick them up.  There new flight left at 2:00pm.  Honestly, I was excited.  We never get to spend any time with Elyse on her last day.  We're always rushing and racing to the airport.  We decided to get some breakfast, we went to our favorite breakfast place and Elyse shouted "Jerry Bobs!!" when we got there.   She loves it too :)  All the ladies inside of Jerry Bobs loved Ryan.  They kept coming to our table to admire him and tell me how cute he was.  He is pretty cute. :)

We went to the mall to check out The Children's Place.  Got Ryan 3 new shirts, went to Target and got him two more.  I love buying clothes for Ryan.  He has more than enough but it still makes me happy.  Shopping for myself has become boring.

Then it was time to head back to the airport.  We walked around the small gift shop for a little bit to waste some time.  Then it was time to say our goodbyes.  Elyse hugged me, then Ryan, then me, then Ryan, then me, then Ryan.  She kept telling Ryan how much she would miss him. 

I miss Elyse so much already.

Ryan eating little ravioli things.  He was SO full of giggles tonight.  He is so so sweet.

Day 311

About 98.9% of the nights Elyse has been here, her and Tim stay up and eat popcorn and watch movies together.  Sometimes 1, sometimes 2.  Tim will miss it when she's gone!  I can't really watch movies at night.  They are too long and I usually end up falling asleep.  They can be snuggle bunnies at night when Elyse gets sleepy.  They are cute.

We spent most of the afternoon at Tim's mom's house.  Our niece, Kylie, had been out of town for the past week.  Elyse was super excited to hear that Kylie was back in town and really wanted to play with her.    She was over at Tim's mom's house so we all went over there, so Elyse could see her Grandma before she left and play with Kylie.

Day 310

I love the way Ryan sleeps with his butt in the air.

Pretty much stayed home all day and watched Disney with Elyse.

Day 309

Back in January we took the kids to Golf N Stuff, Elyse wanted to go on the go karts, we didn't have enough time so we told her we'd go next time.  She didn't bring it up during Easter break, but she's been bringing it up allll summer.  I kept telling her, no, we can't go because it's way too hot outside.  Today the weather was overcast and so nice so Tim & I finally decided to take her.

On her way there we stopped at two different 7-Elevens for their free slurpees for their birthday.  The free cups were itty bitty so we had to stop at a second one.  We got Golf N Stuff passes at a Food City for only $13 each!  They include one round of mini golf, 4 rides, and 4 game tokens.  We bought one for Tim & one for Elyse.  I can't do anything because I'm pregnant!  But I don't mind, I enjoy pushing Ryan around in his stroller and watching Elyse run around anyways.

Elyse was sooo excited.  She kept saying "I'm so happy!"  They played one round of mini golf.  Tim only won by 3 points!  Rode Go Karts- Elyse was the passanger.  They rode again and the attendant let Elyse ride all by herself!  She was so excited.  Priceless.  Then they played Laser Tag twice.  Tim told her that laser tag would hurt so Elyse was all scared and didn't want to play!  It was funny, I told her it didn't hurt.  The first time they played- I could hear Elyse saying "Daddy, I'm scared!"  I guess it was too dark in there.  They played again against two boys and Elyse was excited because she beat one of the boys.

After Golf N Stuff, we went to McDonalds for dinner.  Elyse kept running up in the Play Place and yelling at Ryan and he'd look all around until he found her and then he'd smile at her.  They are so cute.

Lastly, we took the kids to the park before it got dark.  Another thing Elyse has been wanting to do, but it's been too hot up until today.  Elyse can run around like crazy.  I put Ryan in the swings & he laughed!!  The last two times I put him in swings, he hated them!  I'm glad he likes them again.  We even let him go down the little slide by himself.  I was nervous at first.  I'd lay him down at the top and Tim would catch him.  Ryan loved it.

After I took the picture above, the camera battery died! =(

Day 308

We had a few things to do in the early afternoon.  Ryan didn't wake up til a few minutes after noon today.  Geez.  I kept checking on him to make sure that he was breathing.  He was :)  After our errands, we took the kids to Peter Piper Pizza for lunch.  We love that place.  It has the best pizza.  Elyse played some games and we all ate pizza.

When Elyse was cashing in her tickets- she got Ryan this little alien thing.  He was chewing on his head when I noticed he had blood around his mouth.  I took him to the bathroom to clean him up.  His 5th tooth had poped through and that's why his gum was bleeding.  5 teeth!  I can't believe my baby already has his fifth tooth.

After Ryan went to bed, Elyse and I played with her doll house, played board games, and made some cookies with her Easy Bake Oven.

Day 307

Elyse was squirting Ryan tonight w/ his toys.

She is so amazing with him.  It makes me so happy to watch them play together.  She is always chasing him and playing with him.  She lets him crawl into her room and play with her toys.  If Ryan & I are in his room, she will come into his room and play toys with us.  She gets excited and runs into his room when he wakes up in the morning.  She's usually (or always) the first one up.  She gives him kisses all the time.  When we go places, they sit in the back seat together and she makes faces at him & I just hear them laughing at eachother.  It makes my heart smile. 

Tonight we went to dinner w/ Tim's mom, his brother & his girlfriend, Tom & Caitlyn.  We love La Parilla Suiza in the Rios family!  I love to watch other people play with Ryan.  Casey, Tom, & Caitlyn always play with Ryan when they see him.  I love to see how happy Ryan makes other people.

Day 306

07/08/10

It's still crazy to me how my baby has been with me for over a year now.

I'm getting bad at taking pictures everyday, and even worse and updating this thing daily.  Thank goodness for backdating posts!

Day 305

Lemonade- 50 cents a cup!