A Year Ago

So, let's forget dates for a second and just think about days....a year ago, tomorrow morning (It was Monday May 2, 2011) I got up for an early morning appointment with my OB/GYN. It was at 8:30am and it was going to be the last one before my scheduled c-section on Friday, May 6, 2011 at 12pm. Pat would fly in sometime that week and Friday at 10am we would head to the hospital...God's plan was AWESOMELY different.
At my appointment on Monday, I did my pee sample like I had done 2 times a week for the past two months. I then got weighed and noticed that I had gained 18lbs from the last Thursday (for a total of 30 lbs in only ONE WEEK).
I had noticed swelling all weekend and had had a headache on Saturday. I also noticed stretch marks for the first time that week (AGH-I had made it 37 weeks without them and then BANG they were there). The swelling was so bad, actually, that after going to a baseball game with my sister on Sunday, May 1, I had to wait 3 hours to take my "skinny" pregnancy jeans off because they wouldn't pull down my thighs and had to actually cut the seams by my ankles because they wouldn't fit over them still. But-despite all of the signs-I never thought about pre-eclampsia. However, my doctor knew EXACTLY what was going on (thank God she went to med-school, ya know?) At 9:08 am, Dr. Gregory walked in to the room where I was hooked up to the non-stress test monitoring Ryder's heart rate, and she asked, "are you ready to have a baby?"
SAY WHAT?!?!?!?!
No I wasn't ready-that's why we had scheduled a c-section, so we would know EXACTLY when my baby bear would be here. My husband wasn't here, my mommy wasn't here, my dad wasn't here!!!! I sent out a massive text saying "He'll be here by 4:30" and I think most people thought I was talking about Pat and not Ryder, but when they figured it out-I got calls...I called my mom right away and let her know and she made sure to get on the first available flight (which was difficult because of all of the red-cross workers flying to Alabama for the previous week's HORRIBLE tornado damage). I then called my sister crying. Thank God she was there with me through the whole process. She was walking into a meeting but she came to my rescue and waited in my room with me until the epidural and was then in the OR with me during the c-section, holding my hand and taking pictures. She was the very first person to see my baby, besides the doctors and I am so thankful that she could be there...It was a day I (hopefully) will never forget-EVER-not one detail.

Baby Fever...

In less than 1 month I will no longer have a baby...this past year has gone by so fast. I can't believe we have gone from this....

to this...

A few friends of mine are having babies soon and since I'm about to get a little boy as "my baby" turns 1, I have started getting baby fever again. I know we don't need another baby yet-I don't have time because of school- and we can't afford one...but, as excited as I am to have a 1 year old, it is bitter sweet...

If any of my friends having a baby soon would like to move to San Diego--I fully support you and that decision.

Project 365-Day 7 and Day 8

January 7, 2012

So for day 7, I took a picture of Ryder's new, 3-in-1 car seat. We had 2 infant travel systems, one Chicco and one Baby Trend. Well, we never used the Chicco one. We tried to return it to get a giftcard, but the color is "discontinued", so they wouldn't take it back. We "sold" it to some friends in Virginia who are expecting a baby girl this year...SOOO EXCITED FOR THEM... I went to Babies R Us with Ryder tonight and got him one I can use from now until he is 100 lbs in a booster...I'll keep this one in my car (YES- I FINALLY have my car and I am able to drive it!! woot woot) and Pat will keep the BabyTrend in his truck for the days when he picks Ryder up from daycare.

Well, while mommy and baby went shopping, daddy went shopping, too!!! Look what I came home to!!

January 8, 2012

Today, Ryder and I went and tried a new church. It is called Coastline Church and is in Carlsbad, CA. It is a little bit of a drive but so worth it! It is connected with ARC, a program for establishing churches that Church of the Highlands started. It is the only church that, when I walked into it, I didn't compare it to COTH. It was a lot smaller, but everyone knew everyone. Ryder did GREAT in the childcare. There were only 4 babies there and he was the only one who didn't cry. I was so proud.
These are pictures of daddy getting Ryder ready for church.

Project 365-Day 6

I love watching Pat with Ryder. I love them both so much and seeing my two favorite people in the whole world play together and laugh together is the most amazing thing in the world.

I love the picture of their two feet. Ryder, though he clings to me right now, will soon look at his daddy and want to be just like him. He will want to wear his daddy's shoes and walk the same road his daddy does. He will watch EVERYTHING that Pat does. I pray that he walks a straight road that will help lead our baby boy to Christ, our Savior. As mommy and daddy, our number one job is to share/show Christ's love to that sweet gift that God sent us. I will forever be thankful for my baby bear!

Project 365-Day 5

So, I'm a little bit behind. Of course I am. Would you expect anything otherwise? haha. Anyway... These next few posts will catch you all up on what has happened...all through pictures.

I have found a perfect cage for my child!! Haha. Ryder has learned to crawl (as of yesterday officially) and before that, he was doing an army crawl. Now he is EVERYWHERE!!! Everything everyone tells you about your child...all the cliches...they are all so, well, cliche...Until you have a baby. Time really does go by so fast and they really do go everywhere and get into everything.

But I LOVE IT!

Project 365-Day 4

We left bright and early on the morning of the 3rd. GranJan and Big T met us at the airport, after Michael dropped us off, to say good-bye. It was sad because we don't know when we will see them next.

I also posted this picture as motivation for myself. 8 lbs gained over the holidays=NOT OKAY! I didn't work out like I wanted to (not at all while we were in Birmingham) so now I have to work extra hard...

My goal is to look back in 12 months and be able to say "Who is that girl?!"

Project 365-Day 3

So these are some cutie patootie babies, dont ya think? Nickole Byrom did such a great job!!! It was so cute to see my son and nephew play with each other and to see their different personalities come out. Carter had tended to be the alpha while we were at GranJan's. Which makes sense, GranJan's house is his house...he is usually there more than Ryder (obviously) and hasn't had to share it with Ryder. Well, when we put those babies in the frames, it looked like Ryder was trying to push Carter out of the frame. He was trying to take over and be the alpha.
The swing made both mommies a little nervous. We were trying to make sure the boys didn't fall and every time the swing would move, they would hold on for dear life...
The pictures are priceless!!!

Make sure to check out Nickole and Beautiful Treasures Photography

Project 365-Day 2

One of my friends came and took pictures of Ryder (and Carter). She is awesome!!! I absolutely loved these pictures and wanted to share these with you...don't I have the cutest little boy ever?!?!?!

Check out Beautiful Treasures Photography!!!

Project 365-Day 1

These were technically taken on December 30 at Pat's birthday lunch but I wanted to post them for JANUARY 1 because they were just so stinking cute!!! What better way to start the year (on my birthday) than with cute pictures of mommy and baby!!! He was all smiles and was giving me kisses.
Ahhh...I am in love:)

Santa! I KNOW HIM!!!!!!

I've been in the gym 5 of 7 days this week...lost inches but no lbs....soooo frustrating.
Ryder has been doing an army crawl from one side of my parent's family room to another. It is so funny to watch him. If he sees a toy he wants, he will do anything to get to it-when he gets frustrated, he simply cries and his Grammy comes running to the rescue.
We went to the Millenia Mall here to see Santa. We got such a cute picture of the REAL Santa. I was so excited...it was just another stranger to Ryder haha.

Grammy and Ryder playing while we waited to see Santa

The REAL Santa

Christmas Time 2011

Well-We made it safe and sound to Orlando. Everyone was so excited to see Ryder and we was excited to see anyone else besides his mama who held him still on an airplane for 6 hours haha.We got in at 9pm and went straight to my parent's house. Ryder stil has NOT adjusted to the time change and I am running on very little sleep.
We have spent a lot of time with my grandparents and I am looking forward to my cousins and sister coming into town (as well as Kori's husband, my brother in law and MY HUSBAND). My brother came in early from school, too. He'll tell you it is so he could hunt but it's actually so he could spend more time with Ryder.

Yesterday, my grandmother took me and Ryder to get his christmas pictures taken. There were some cute ones...The above pics are some of my favorites