Groundhogs, Bible Study and Lunch

Punxsutawney Phil emerged this morning to see his shadow meaning winter will last six more weeks! Ughhh! I think the only people who wants to see more winter are kids and school teachers! I have spring fever! It can't get here fast enough! I love a good snowfall, fire in the fireplace and hot chocolate on a cold winters night but you can't beat the smell of flowers blooming, longer days and enjoying the warmth of the sun in the spring.

Since Ryan seemed to be feeling better we attended Bible study this morning. He did great as usual and even took a little nap. Beth Moore's message today was amazing as usual. She has this way of revealing scripture in a insightful and enlightening way. She has such a gift and God really uses her to bring His message.

After Bible study we headed to lunch with my friend Anissa and her daughter Elizabeth. We went to one of my favorites, Olive Garden! I LOVE their soup Pasta Fagoli. I could eat it all day! So good and such fun fellowship. We came home and Ryan took a great 2 hour nap, woohoo for that!

Ryan and I are traveling to Connecticut in a few days to visit my best friend Rachel. I am so excited but I'm a little nervous about flying with Ryan. He's never flown before so I'm just praying he does well. We are flying out in the morning so I'm hoping he will take his morning nap on the plane. And I've gotten a couple new toys to occupy him during the flight. Does anyone have advice on flying with a baby? Any tips and tricks?

Little of this, Little of that

Ryan was feeling under the weather over the weekend. It began Friday night with a runny nose and a little cough. By the time we went to bed on Friday night you could just tell he was feeling bad! Bless his heart! It was pitiful! He didn't sleep well at all Friday night. Whenever he would cough he would wimper at the end of his cough, it was so sad! I called the doctor Saturday morning and they said just keep his humidifier on, elevate his mattress, and clean out his nose. Since he didn't have a fever they didn't ask to see him.

Thankfully by Sunday you could tell he was feeling better. We did miss church Sunday morning but we did let him stay in his pj's all day, ha!

Today we ventured out to the mall to do a little shopping. I love shopping and Ryan is a really good sport when we go. He is just his charming self. I found this adorable sweater on sale at Ann Taylor! It seems like it's been months since I bought any clothes (except some cutie shoes from Target last week). Can't wait to wear it!

I also bought a green sweater from H&M. I totally forgot they just opened an H&M so I finally checked it out today! Such cute stuff and good prices. The first and only time I've been to H&M was when my BF Rachel and I went to NYC a few years ago. Love me some H&M! Do you have an H&M where you live?

Ryan has totally learned to sit my himself and no longer needs the poppy pillow around him. He is continuing to get on all fours and rock back and forth. He is so close to crawling it's unbelievable! I keep waiting to see some white specs on those gums. He is drooling all over the place. At least he doesn't seem fussy with the teething, just wants EVERYTHING in his mouth.

Aquarium and a Baby Shower

Friday we decided to make our first of many trips to the Newport Aquarium. I bought a yearly pass b/c I'm sure we will be going alot this year. It's a great aquarium and something fun to do if it's cold or wet out. We went early in the morning and it wasn't crowded at all. Ryan took a short nap on the way there. He was great the whole time.

"Wow, do you see that shark right above my head?"

I have dreamed of the day I could take my baby to the aquarium and zoo many times! It was so wonderful to take Ryan and see him look at the fishies and aquarium life with that little boy wonder! I can't wait to take him to the zoo this spring!

"Look no hands!

Look at all the fishies, turtles and sharks oh my! So much to see!!!"

Today I went to a baby shower for a friend Erin. She is my aunts niece (Erin's mom Brenda is sisters with my Aunt Teresa). Does that make sense? It was a quant and fun shower!

Teresa and Brenda did a great job with all the decorations and fun games. Erin got some good and much needed items for baby Cooper who will be there soon. She isn't due til Feb. 18 but the doctors think she could go anytime.

How cute is this cake? So cute and sooo good! I even brought a piece home for Matt!

Cute decorations and great food! Thanks for such a fun time Teresa, Brenda and Erin! It was a great Saturday and now I'm ready to watch Miss America!

For Better or Worse

Since officially being a mom for seven months I feel like I somewhat have a good handle on this thing called motherhood. However, I will say there are some things that have been harder than I thought and other things easier. I thought I would make a list of some.

THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN EASIER THAN I THOUGHT:

• Childbirth itself - I was in ALOT of pain before my epidural but once I got it I felt great and really didn't have any pain when Ryan was born.
• Sleep deprivation - I've found I can function with little sleep. Even though I don't like not getting enough sleep I can go go go for a long time before I crash and burn.
• Ryan's sleep. When I was pregnant I prayed about Ryan being a good sleeper. God answered my prayers and he is a great sleeper. Of course I realize this could all change one day but right now he goes down great and sleeps so well!
• Taking him on road trips. He does great in the car even when we go 500 miles to Memphis.
• Going out and eating out with a baby! Ryan does well for the most part when we are out. He loves his stroller and enjoys getting out!
• Annabelle and Gracie adjusting to having a baby around. They have been so good and don't get too jealous of Ryan. They know their place in our family and still get lots of attention.

THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN HARDER THAN I THOUGHT:

• Breastfeeding - I took the breastfeeding class and knew it would be hard but it was harder than I ever imagined. I wanted to breastfeed so bad but it just didn't work for us. And I'm totally ok with that now!
• Losing the baby weight - Ughhhh Ok I knew it would be hard but it's harder than I thought it would be. They really mean it when they say 9 months on, 9 months off. I hate that saying by the way, just saying!
• Ryan's acid reflux - I never thought I would have a baby with reflux. It was really difficult at first but it got so much better once he got on prevacid. He was a much happier and pleasant baby once we figured out what was wrong.
• Looking half way decent - I am constantly covered in spit up, drool and baby food. Funny it doesn't even phase me now, ha!
• Dressing Ryan in cute, adorable clothes and keeping him that way for more than 5 minutes before he spits up or drools. Sometimes I don't even get the outfit on before he spits up all over it.
• Keeping a clean house and cooking dinner - I thought I would have much more time to clean and do stuff around the house. I don't like to cook in the first place but it's so hard to cook and prepare dinner with a baby. I'm gonna be in big trouble when Ryan begins to walk. Thank goodness for the exasaucer and jumperoo! =)

Tonight for the first time Ryan got on all fours!!! He has been pushing up on his arms and he finally pushed back onto his knees! I was just amazed! Matt had just gotten home from work so he was excited to see it too!

Like Father, Like Son

We had a low-key-good-day today! We went to the gym this morning! It was so hard to get up and going but it was worth it to have an afternoon to get things done! This afternoon we finally made it to Michael's and Target. I have been meaning to get there for days. And we even swung by Hobby Lobby!

I was looking at some old pictures the other night and found these pics of Matt.

I think we have a little mini me on our hands!

Even though Ryan looks a lot like his daddy he does look a little like my baby pictures as well! I only have one of my baby pictures on the computer. I will have to share that later!

Planning and Mommyhood

I am such a type A person! I love being on a schedule and having a "plan" for the day. I like to keep a calendar and I love to make lists. One thing I've learned over the past 7 months is planning and mommyhood don't always go hand in hand. And that's okay!!!

I love taking pics of Ryan! Some days I put Ryan in an adorable outfit, get him in position and he's just not having it. Or I get him all ready and as soon as I take his bib off he spits up all over his outfit! Can I get an Amen? Does this happen to anyone else? Ha!

Or the other day I was holding Ryan, packing his diaper bag, getting ready to walk out the door and he spits up all over me AND him! And did I change clothes??? Nope I just wiped it off and made sure you couldn't see any stains (I had on a black shirt and put on a scarf)!

Then there are days I have a full list of household things I plan to get done during naptime and Ryan refuses to nap! Somedays I have a list, he naps well and I get nothing done, ha!

Mommyhood has so taught me to just go with the flow. Now I will tell I have a ways to go but it's a work in progress. Even if nothing goes the way I think it should I absolutely cherish every moment with Ryan!

Scooter, Puffs and More

Ryan has been scooting around all over the place today! Matt thinks he is so close to crawling but I think it might be a little while. Today he was scooting to get his toys. I thought at one point he was going to scoot under his exasaucer, on the bottom part. When he finally does crawl he is going to be ALL OVER THE PLACE. He moves like he's on a mission!

This morning we went to the mall to walk then lunch with some friends afterwards! It was nice to catch up and get out! Ryan later enjoyed a nap at home while I got a few more miles in on the treadmill! I have FOUR lbs to go to reach my short term goal of pre-pregnancy weight!

I love Ryan's outfit he wore to church yesterday! He looks like such a little boy! I know I might be a little biased but he is so handsome!

Tonight while he was sitting in his high chair at dinner I put some gerber puffs on his tray and he picked up the puff and put it in his mouth...FOR THE FIRST TIME! I was amazed and so proud! The funny part was he would pick up the puff and go to put it in his mouth but his thumb seemed better and he would suck his thumb! Oh bless his heart, he will learn!