Sunday, April 24, 2011
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
It's a new year and we're moving on to new things...
Nothing too major, but with the new year has come some big changes for our family.
The best change has been with Ryan. Christmas was a rough one this year. We spent it with my family in Washington and ended up making the 6 hour trip back early because Ryan was over-the-top fussy. At first we figured it was the change in atmosphere... staying in a house with 4 other kids, plus with having the rest of my family over to visit, things got a little loud and crazy.
A few days after we got back into town Ryan had his 6 month check up. Thanks to a lot of praying by Nate and I (plus some fasting and praying by our family, and another Priesthood blessing), a few days before that I had an "aha" moment.
Before we left for Christmas I hadn't gone grocery shopping because I didn't want what we didn't eat to go bad in the fridge.... and Ryan was an angel. Then while we were in Moses I pigged out and ate all the amazing food that Jaycie put in front of me... and Ryan was grumpy. Then after being home a few days, and before going grocery shopping (besides some basics), Ryan was happy again. So long story short after the doctor's appointment I'm on a new diet. And so far we are moving on to week 3 of a happy baby. And I mean a completely different baby. He is so happy and so fun. And it almost brings me to tears... I am that happy that he's not hurting anymore. My life, in that regard, has become so easy!
And just in time, too. Because the Monday before we went to the doctor the Bishop asked if he could come by our house. I was completely blindsided when he asked me if I would be willing to serve as the Young Women's president. Yikes! One of the Laurels reminded me that I had mentioned once in our Sunday School class that I loved working with the Young Women and that I missed it.
So that week was basically one of many answered prayers as we were able to help Ryan with his problem and I was able to determine who were supposed to be my counselors. I'm excited (and a little nervous, but mostly excited) to dive into 2011!
Ryan's 6 month stats:
weight- 18 lbs 9oz. 70th percentile
head circumference- 88th percentile
height- 56th percentile
hair length- 3 1/2"+ He got his first trim on the 11th just to get it out of his face... I'm not quite ready for it to all come off yet.
His favorite things:
chatting in his crib in the mornings
making funny faces, including an angry face and an old man face
chewing on EVERYTHING!!!
making growling noises
shaking his head "no" to everything Mom and Dad says
Daddy (he doesn't even give me the time of day anymore)
being naked... his favorite time of the day
ABC song and "I wish I were a little bar of soap" song
the game "Where's Ryan?"
eating his feet- sometimes when I'm a little slow getting him out of his crib after a nap the tips of his socks will be drenched.... pretty funny, I know...
peeking around corners
rolling around on the floor
rocking in the glider... it's probably when he's the most vocal
pureed mac and cheese with garden vegetables, prunes, bananas, and mangos
Things he's not so fond of:
his swing (the magic's worn off)
green vegetables and Gerber's "peach cobbler" puree, the former leads to some pretty funny disgusted faces, the later sends him into a screaming fit.... I think it may be the cinnamon?
getting out of his bathtub
sitting in his highchair
rattle noises
The best change has been with Ryan. Christmas was a rough one this year. We spent it with my family in Washington and ended up making the 6 hour trip back early because Ryan was over-the-top fussy. At first we figured it was the change in atmosphere... staying in a house with 4 other kids, plus with having the rest of my family over to visit, things got a little loud and crazy.
A few days after we got back into town Ryan had his 6 month check up. Thanks to a lot of praying by Nate and I (plus some fasting and praying by our family, and another Priesthood blessing), a few days before that I had an "aha" moment.
Before we left for Christmas I hadn't gone grocery shopping because I didn't want what we didn't eat to go bad in the fridge.... and Ryan was an angel. Then while we were in Moses I pigged out and ate all the amazing food that Jaycie put in front of me... and Ryan was grumpy. Then after being home a few days, and before going grocery shopping (besides some basics), Ryan was happy again. So long story short after the doctor's appointment I'm on a new diet. And so far we are moving on to week 3 of a happy baby. And I mean a completely different baby. He is so happy and so fun. And it almost brings me to tears... I am that happy that he's not hurting anymore. My life, in that regard, has become so easy!
And just in time, too. Because the Monday before we went to the doctor the Bishop asked if he could come by our house. I was completely blindsided when he asked me if I would be willing to serve as the Young Women's president. Yikes! One of the Laurels reminded me that I had mentioned once in our Sunday School class that I loved working with the Young Women and that I missed it.
So that week was basically one of many answered prayers as we were able to help Ryan with his problem and I was able to determine who were supposed to be my counselors. I'm excited (and a little nervous, but mostly excited) to dive into 2011!
Ryan's 6 month stats:
weight- 18 lbs 9oz. 70th percentile
head circumference- 88th percentile
height- 56th percentile
hair length- 3 1/2"+ He got his first trim on the 11th just to get it out of his face... I'm not quite ready for it to all come off yet.
His favorite things:
chatting in his crib in the mornings
making funny faces, including an angry face and an old man face
chewing on EVERYTHING!!!
making growling noises
shaking his head "no" to everything Mom and Dad says
Daddy (he doesn't even give me the time of day anymore)
being naked... his favorite time of the day
ABC song and "I wish I were a little bar of soap" song
the game "Where's Ryan?"
eating his feet- sometimes when I'm a little slow getting him out of his crib after a nap the tips of his socks will be drenched.... pretty funny, I know...
peeking around corners
rolling around on the floor
rocking in the glider... it's probably when he's the most vocal
pureed mac and cheese with garden vegetables, prunes, bananas, and mangos
Things he's not so fond of:
his swing (the magic's worn off)
green vegetables and Gerber's "peach cobbler" puree, the former leads to some pretty funny disgusted faces, the later sends him into a screaming fit.... I think it may be the cinnamon?
getting out of his bathtub
sitting in his highchair
rattle noises
Friday, December 17, 2010
Life is good. No, really good...
So when Nate and I found out we were pregnant my first concern was that we have a healthy baby, but a close second was that we have a cute baby. Nate and I look so different that I was a little worried about how exactly our genes would mesh together and I was adamant that our child be adorable.
Wish granted. From the minute I laid my eyes on that baby with his long eyelashes and amazing head of hair I determined he really was the cutest baby I've ever seen. Definitely love at first sight. I'll never forget those bright coral lips...
Sadly, while I was so concerned about looks I neglected to worry about personality... and boy does he have a lot of it. There have definately been times where he has worn me out physically as well as emotionally. He is definitely NOT an easy going baby. There have been times where he has been down right difficult. There have been days where the smiles were far and few between, where instead of laughter there was only whining and crying. Then there were brief moments, a week or so here and there, where he was content, even happy.... and I LOVED those days...
Well, the last month was rough, I'm not going to lie. I would go to church and see all the other mothers sitting with their happy babies on their laps and wonder why Ryan couldn't ever just be that happy. I missed seeing him happy... it was so hard to feel like I could never make him happy... I'm sure he was just having tummy troubles or teething pain, but I was starting to feel like I couldn't do anything right. I got online and read about mothers who felt like they were "playing with their babies wrong" and I felt like I could totally relate.
And to add to my frustration Ryan went from sleeping 10-12 hours straight a night (which he's been doing since about 3 weeks old... well at that time it was 7-8 hours straight... definitely lucked out there) to waking up every 3 hours.
One night after saying my nightly prayers this thought popped into my head that I should have Nate give him a father's blessing. I know it was more for me than Ryan. I needed some sort of comfort. So this last Sunday I held Ryan on my lap while Nate gave him a Priesthood blessing.
Now I don't want to jinx it, but since that night Ryan's been sleeping his usual 10-12 hours and has been a little sweetheart. I've been LOVING every single minute. We've been playing together this whole week and I don't think I could get him to stop smiling and talking if I tried.
Nate reminded me that I need to remember these times so when/if he gets grumpy again I can be more patient with him and realize that he's probably in pain, but that with some time he'll be a happy guy again.
I just love my little peanut. He really makes me so happy and I feel like I have a purpose for probably the first time in my life. I feel like I was meant to be a mother. I feel like it's made me a better person. I look forward to seeing Ryan grow up and learn new things. I look forward to having more kids. And I'm definitely enjoying every minute while it lasts.
Wish granted. From the minute I laid my eyes on that baby with his long eyelashes and amazing head of hair I determined he really was the cutest baby I've ever seen. Definitely love at first sight. I'll never forget those bright coral lips...
Well, the last month was rough, I'm not going to lie. I would go to church and see all the other mothers sitting with their happy babies on their laps and wonder why Ryan couldn't ever just be that happy. I missed seeing him happy... it was so hard to feel like I could never make him happy... I'm sure he was just having tummy troubles or teething pain, but I was starting to feel like I couldn't do anything right. I got online and read about mothers who felt like they were "playing with their babies wrong" and I felt like I could totally relate.
And to add to my frustration Ryan went from sleeping 10-12 hours straight a night (which he's been doing since about 3 weeks old... well at that time it was 7-8 hours straight... definitely lucked out there) to waking up every 3 hours.
One night after saying my nightly prayers this thought popped into my head that I should have Nate give him a father's blessing. I know it was more for me than Ryan. I needed some sort of comfort. So this last Sunday I held Ryan on my lap while Nate gave him a Priesthood blessing.
Now I don't want to jinx it, but since that night Ryan's been sleeping his usual 10-12 hours and has been a little sweetheart. I've been LOVING every single minute. We've been playing together this whole week and I don't think I could get him to stop smiling and talking if I tried.
Nate reminded me that I need to remember these times so when/if he gets grumpy again I can be more patient with him and realize that he's probably in pain, but that with some time he'll be a happy guy again.
I just love my little peanut. He really makes me so happy and I feel like I have a purpose for probably the first time in my life. I feel like I was meant to be a mother. I feel like it's made me a better person. I look forward to seeing Ryan grow up and learn new things. I look forward to having more kids. And I'm definitely enjoying every minute while it lasts.
Wait for it...
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Funny, huh?
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