what we've been up to...

• I've started working again - a couple hours here and there in the evenings. We've been without ANY income since March and it's just not possible for me to stay home full-time while Brent is doing his internships. It's worked out so Brent can stay with Ryland while I'm gone so they've gotten some "man-time" together

• I've been trying to get more than just baby cuddling done during the day. We have AMAZING friends who have been dropping off meals for us everyday. After 6 weeks of not cooking, my first attempt was a GIANT fail. It's hard to get things done when baby-boy decides he's starving right before the oven timer beeps.

• Ry-Ry developed a nice case of baby acne - which pretty much broke my heart to see his perfect little face looking more like that of a 13 year old!

• Ryland is becoming more fun every day. He loves to be talked to and smiles when he's getting attention. He's also getting so big - I can't believe it.

• Because of all the growing he's been doing, Ryland fits in the stroller now! We've been going on lots of walks and he loves them. I was hoping riding in the stroller would put him to sleep but he is more alert than ever during our outings.

• Digital scrapbooking has been a hobby of mine since I got Photoshop, but I'm starting to put it to good use by making a book to document all of our new adventures. After making a year's worth of pages I'll publish them in a blurb book. Here's a preview of what I've been working on:

• and finally - I've been cleared to begin working out again. I am so out of shape and I'm pretty sure my ab muscles are non-existent now... I have a goal and I will not post on here the amount of weight that needs to be lost - ya'll can just know that it is in progress ;)

Dreary Days = Lazy Days

Today it is grey and chilly outside, Ry and I have spent the day playing and napping.

I love his very squishable arms...

we stayed in our pajamas...

toys are starting to become more interesting...

and momma is hilarious.

and there's the proof! (please ignore my annoying sound-effects!)

Meeting the Cousins

We took our first all-day trip with Ryland today - up to Anacortes for Brent's cousin's baptism.  Our nephews, Isaac and Ian, and neice Izzie met us up there for the event.  They LOVED Ry-Ry.  Notice Isaac's studly new glasses!

They were just too cute with him.  Do you see the pacifier in Ryland's mouth for every picture?  That particular paci can't leave our sights - he loves it and I only have the one, what would I do if I lost it?? Ry was pretty good throughout the day.  I have to admit I still get a little stressed about taking him anywhere because this little guy is sooo easily overstimulated and then becomes intensely overtired and makes for nightmarish night times for us after busy days. He was really hard to put down tonight (you should see how hard he fights sleep when he's over-tired!), guess he just had too much excitement for the day.  He was wide awake for the whole 1.5 hour car ride home (isn't every baby supposed to fall asleep in the car?!) I'm going to try to keep things a little more low-key and stay close to home until he's a few weeks older.  

The good news is our little Ry is sleeping for 5-6 hour stretches at night now.  I'm very thankful for this as it was 1-2 hours for the past couple of weeks.  The newest accomplishment: sleeping in the crib.

he falls asleep watching his aquarium :)

Bathtime

Holy rolls!!!  This boy has come a long way from the tiny wrinkly newborn he was just a few weeks ago.

I think he enjoys bathtime... although the expression never changes.

1st Mother's Day

Brent - the human swing.

Brunch at BlueWater

Playing at Green Lake

super cute baby.

1 Month Already!?

I can't believe it has been a month.  Here's what our little Ry is doing lately:

• sucking his thumb - although he has a really hard time getting it to his mouth. Sometimes he gets lucky.
• Rolling onto his back from his tummy (not really intentionally) - he is super active, always on the move!
• Looking at everything!  We have a hard time getting this guy to sleep lately - he just wants to check everything out.
• Cooing - he loves to hear his own voice
• Starting to smile when we talk to him, but it takes a lot of persistence on our part
• fattening up - this baby is getting heavy!  He doesn't even look like my little newborn anymore.

He still wants to sleep with us, which I love.  We've tried the crib a few times but I think that's still a ways off.

Mamaw and PaRay visit

My grandparents flew up from Louisiana to visit my family in Ephrata and meet their first great grandson.  They only were in Seattle for a few hours but it was great to see them!