Becoming a mom

These two pink lines are what made me fall in love with you.  I found out about you on October 13, 2009. I could not wait to tell your daddy because I knew he would be just as happy as I was.  And he sure was.  My love grew for you every single day.  I would talk to you and read you stories.  Daddy thought I was nuts, but I knew you could hear me.   We found out you were a boy on December 9.  Honestly, I wanted a girl.  But I would never trade you in for any other little girl in the world.  Daddy wanted you to be a boy and the look on his face when the ultrasound tech told us you were a boy was priceless.

I watched my stomach grow and grow every week.  I loved being pregnant.  I loved every little thing about it.  I especially loved knowing that you would be my outcome.

I looked forward to doctor appointments, to hearing your heartbeat.

The moment you were born, at 4:55pm on Wednesday, June 16 was the absolute best moment of our lives.  Holding you was overwhelming and simply amazing.  I could never put into words how amazing you are.  You are perfect.  P e r f e c t.

Becoming a mom has been the best thing that has ever happened to me.  Our lives are better because of you.  Our marriage is better because of you.  The world is better because of you.  The sun shines brighter because of you.  You light up the lives of so many people.  & You are ours.  Your needs come before anything else.  You come first.

Everyday you amaze me.   I have fallen even more in love with your daddy because of you.  I love to watch him hold you and play with you.   That's one thing I love about Tim, we parent the same.  We agree on things when it comes to you.  Your wants will always come before our needs.

I see so many people every day who put themselves ahead of their children.  How can you call yourself a good parent when everything you want and desire comes before your child?  Some parents just don't understand that their actions affect their children.  Being a good parent isn't about taking your child to Chuck E Cheese and blowing a bunch of money on tokens, it's not about buying them everything they want, it's not about doing everything for them so they never learn for themselves.  It's not about what you can buy.  Some people just don't get it.  & It's a shame, because your child is the one who suffers.

Teach your child morals.  Teach them to be a good person.  Teach them to help others.  Teach them to love.

The best thing in the world.

My beautiful, growing family<3

Food

Always reading!  We read this book from Elyse all.the.time. 

Ryan has rice in his hair, on his tummy, and on the side of his nose.

Checking the temperature of the water.  He always watches mommy do it, so now he always does it too.

Pulling his blanket through the crib rails.  He's holding his yogurt cup.  Gross.  If I throw them away, he always digs them out.

PERFECT!  I always check on Ryan at night, what mom doesn't?  He wasn't quite sleeping yet, but he was excited to see me :)

Tomorrow is my last day of work until I get over 2 months off!  I am so SO excited to spend all day everyday with Ryan for over 2 months.  Love my baby.  Tomorrow is half day at school so we get out at 11:30.  I have everything ready for my sub.  The only thing I need to do before I leave tomorrow is turn in a copy of the kids' report cards to the principal (which are sitting nicely on my desk!) & write the first week of lesson plans for the long term sub.  My goal is to be out of work at (or before) 12:30 & rush home to snuggle with Ryan!

A year ago today was the day before Ryan turned 6 months old.  We gave him solids for the very first time.  Some people choose cake for their first half birthday- I chose carrots.  Ryan's first food was carrots because his cuzzies, Aiden & Rian, also had carrots for their first food. 

It's 9:00 at night, baby is sleeping, daddy is watching some boring history thing on tv, I'm going to take a bath and read my book, "Handle With Care" by Jodi Picoult.



Christmas pictures

Ryan had a mini shoot last night so we could get a picture for our Christmas cards... that I just ordered about half hour ago.  Ahhh.  The estimated delivery is December 20-24.  Yikes!  That's really cutting it close.  If you get a Christmas card from me late, you know why.  It's not because I wasn't thinking about you.  I can not stop staring at his pictures, he is just so so cute.  I'll post his Christmas card picture on here after the cards are mailed out- didn't want to spoil the cards!

Randoms

<3

Thanks Loni!  I need to get it printed and hung on Ryan's wall. 

Two weeks ago, Ryan & I tagged along to a photoshoot with Tim.  Tim usually snaps a picture or two of Ryan during his shoots.  I found some today!  Look how cute my monkey is.

Not quite ready...

Perfect.

& our end result after waiting to see Santa.  You can even see cookie crumbs on Ryan's tongue.

Sweetest little dude in the world.

Weekend Recap

This weekened was nice!  Other than the fact that Tim worked all weekend and I missed him =(  My mom got into town a little after 4 o'clock on Friday.  Tim's mom was at our house watching Ryan while Tim was working.  Since both Grandma's were over- I stayed at work a little while longer.  I need to get ready for my maternity leave and it hit me that I only have ONE WEEK to do so!  I made all the copies for 7 weeks for language arts & shared reading.  Meaning I still have bell work, science, social studies, and writing!  Phonics & math are the only two subjects where I don't have to make copies because we are provided with them.  I figured out what will be taught in each subject for the two months I will be gone, I just need to finish making copies.  The other second grade teachers I work with will be typing up lesson plans for my sub.  I type up my own lesson plans and give them to the lady who teaches next to me.  So she's going to do it for me for 2 months.   I have 5 more days to prepare!  Including finishing up report cards that go out on Friday.

Our last day of school is December 16- we get out at 11:30.  We go back on January 2nd.  I haven't yet decided if I will start my maternity leave then, or go back to work for a week until my due date.  I've been thinking about it for weeks and weeks and I don't know what to do!  I know it will be tough to work my last week being pregnant- but I'll also be somewhat refreshed since I have all of week 37 & week 38 off of work.  Regardless of when I begin my maternity leave- I'm pretty sure I will go back to work on February 27th- right after Rodeo Break.  Decisions decisions.

Okay Okay-  When I got home from work on Friday, I dressed Ryan up and we went to go see Santa!  Ryan was already whiney and fussy- which he has been all week.  I knew he would not sit on Santa's lap, which he definitely didn't want to do.  He screamed!  But the picture is just too cute- which I need to scan! 

Ryan told Santa what he wants for Christmas!  He wants puzzles, a push buggy, a ball pit, books, and new sippy cups!  He's been a very good little boy this year so I'm hopeful that Santa will get Ryan everything he wants.  & Mommy & Daddy will find more stuff for him.

When my mom comes into town we like going to Fuddruckers.  Just thinking about it now is making my mouth water... yuuuumm.

My mom helped me do the things that were on my to do list.

1. Take Ryan to see Santa

2.  Get Number 2 a crib and dresser

3. Clean up the house a bit

4.  Make tissue paper pom poms for the boys' rooms

5.  Take stuff to Goodwill

6.  Go through clothes at home to take to school and donate

7. Decorate the Christmas tree

8. Dishes & Laundry

Success!

Got Ryan some new Christmas jammies at Kohls so he can match his cuzzies :)

Ryan's getting pretty good using a plate (without dumping it) and fork.  Check him out!

I was sad when my mom left today!  & Tim was working and Ryan was being a grump.  Boo.  Ryan's been so whiney lately.  I don't know what's wrong with him.  He had a fever a few days ago.  I'm guessing maybe he is teething.  He was 4 teeth on the top and 2 on the bottom and he was fine when those came in.  Maybe he's getting his molars.  It makes me sad to see him so whiney and grumpy when he's always so happy.

After trying to take out his 6-9m shirts and short sleeved 12m pajamas wasn't too successful, I decided to just play with him.  & What do you know?  That sure made him happy.  I chased him down the hall.  Tickled him.  Played Peek-A-Boo behind mommy's door.  & Played blocks.

He passed out a few minutes after I laid him in his crib.

Dun Dun Dun.. A few things for Number 2!

His dresser, so far.  With a red cap from Tim's shaving cream that Ryan stuck in there.

3 homemade blankets :)

His diaper stacker.  Mom made both.  Number 2's is on the left.  I need to add diapers!

& pom poms!  I like the way they turned out.  The took forever though.  Mom & I were doing them Saturday night and I started falling asleep so we decided to go to bed.

One more thing, I'm 36 weeks today!  28 days to go.



After I wrote my last post, Daddy got sick the next day.  I had Ryan sick on Wednesday and Tim sick on Thursday.  Tim is just as much as a baby of Ryan is when he's not feeling well.  Well, Tim might actually be worse :)  Last Thursday I also had my 34 week check up.  Number 2 is still measuring perfect.  Grandma Rios came with Ryan & I .  She got to hear his heartbeat for the first time. I decided it was time to get my flu shot too.  After my doctor appointment we headed over to Walgreens to get my flu shot.  I need to get Ryan's flu shot too.  Which also reminds me that I need to schedule his 18m appointment.  My baby will be 18 months next Friday!!  That is just insane.  & I can still squeeze his little self into 6-9m clothes. He mostly wears 12m shirts though.

Sleeping peacefully Wednesday night.  I thought he would have a rough night, but he didn't.  What a trooper.

On Friday, my stomach was hurting in the morning when I was at work.  I wanted to go home early, but I only get 5 sick days a year and I'm saving those for maternity leave.  I had to wait until 1:30 in order to not get docked any pay.  By 1:30 I was feeling better- but they told me to leave anyways.  I went home & Ryan was still awake so I layed him down and then took a nap.  We slept until 4:00.  We must have both been so sleepy.  Being 35 weeks pregnant is making me sleeeepy. 

Saturday rolled around.. Ryan & I were so lazy!  I didn't want to do anything.  We stayed in our pajamas most of the day.  Our house was cold!  I decided it was finally time to turn on the heater when I checked the thermostat and it was 60 degrees.  Turned on the heater and it was broken!  I had to call someone to come fix it.  After naps, Ryan and I were still in pajamas.  We snuggled on the couch and watched Barney and ate chocolate ice cream.  I know this picture isn't flattering- but it basically sums up our afternoon together.  Pajamas, blankets, and ice cream.  :)

Saturday night we finally went and got our Christmas tree!!  Except it was raining that night so it sat on our front porch because it was so wet.  .. & again on Sunday because Tim was sleeping when I wanted him to put it up!  It finally got put up on Monday night and the stinkin thing is huge!  It looks so funny. 

This quilt was made for number 2 from a friend at work :)  I love it & so does Ryan.  This week we also received Number 2's afghan from his Great Grandma Merrill.  Now Elyse, Ryan, and the new baby will have matching blankets :)  I love homemade blankets!!

Ryan's actually screaming at me in this picture.

Ryan's so silly after bath time lately.  He always gets his towels and puts them on his head and walks around his room.  When I start calling him (like I don't know where he is,) he stops walking and just stands there.

Where's Ryan??

40 minutes after bedtime- still awake playing with his mobile.

An hour after bedtime, finally slasleep with his butt in the air.

Hmm.. what else? 

I had my 35 week check up yesterday afternoon.  Dr. Riley said I'm a teeny bit dilated- not even really to a one yet.  As of today, there are 30 days left until my due date.  So in 30 days (or more.. or less) I'll be a mommy AGAIN.  Nuuuts.  It still doesn't even seem totally real.  Tim & I talk about it all the time though.  We are SO in love with Ryan.  I'll have to let you guys know in a month if it's possible to be in love with two little babies equally.  Everyone says yes-- we will see!   But before Ryan, I never even could image how perfect he would be and how much he would change our lives.

Sneaking in some time on the iPad.

I am super excited for this weekend!  My mom gets off of work today at 12 and then she's coming into town.  She gets half day at work on a Friday every year in December & she always comes into town that weekend.  So she should be here today around 4 or so.  Then we are going to take Ryan to see Santa.  We're also going into Winterhaven- It's a huge neighborhood where everyone decorates their houses with lights.  Ryan's going to love it!

Tomorrow I'm FINALLY getting more maternity pictures done.  I've had a few so far, but we're doing maternity, family, and Christmas pictures.  We're getting the babies crib & changing table too! I've really been looking forward to putting his dresser together and folding all of his clothes :)

Okay- was that long enough?