"hey Mom, look what I found!"

Video Super Star

Turn your head to the left...



And an oldie but goodie for comparison...

Skype Sensation

Ryan regularly talks to Nonna and Grandma via Skype. It's a great way for family far away to watch him grow! Can't you just see his excitement...

He's started to really listen to voices. He even looks at the computer screen when being talked to, but I'm not sure he can actually see the picture just yet...

all things RYAN: 2 months

I can't believe how quickly he's changing. Everyday I think he's bigger and smarter! It's truly bittersweet. I love to watch him grow, but I know I'll miss these times. Here are a few of the many details about Ryan at age 2 months that I don't want to forget.

~He weighs 10 lbs 11 oz (13th percentile), is 22.5 in long (15th percentile), and his head circumference is almost 16 in (33rd percentile). Below is his monthly chair picture. Click here to see his one month picture.


~He loves his vibrating bouncy seat. Not only does it help him sleep but it helps him poop too! Though we've learned not to put him in it right after eating...

~He's now wearing size 1 diapers. We have to roll down the tops because they are so big but the NB size just wasn't cutting it any longer.

~He's very selective with his smiles. He often wakes all smiles but throughout the day he only offers them up when he's well rested and well fed.


~He's still wearing some newborn size clothes and some 0-3 months outfits. And I love shopping for his clothes!

~He switched from a soothie pacifier to a nuk and can occasionally keep it in his mouth without help.

~He is beginning to enjoy the car more. He now sleeps more often than not (before he would stay wide awake and cry). And I love the mirror so I can keep an eye on him.


~He continues to be a side sleeper. If you lay him on his back he immediately flips to his side (unless he's out cold). That is if he is sleeping in the pack n play or his crib. Recently he's been sleeping in his sleep n rocker which keeps him on his back.

~He loves the bjorn sling. He isn't a fan of getting in it but it puts him to sleep within minutes. In fact, I have to limit it's usage just so he doesn't sleep to much during the day.

~He enjoys the changing table. I don't know what it is about the this spot but he seems to really enjoy it. Perhaps it's because he gets to be naked up there!


~He will bend himself in half to look at fans and lights.

~He likes bath time with mom or dad.

~He has yet to establish a sleep schedule. At night, he usually sleeps for 3 hours, eats, and then goes to bed. Every once in awhile he goes for 4 hours. And from time to time he likes to host a 1 to 2 hour night time party!

~He has a whopping umbilical hernia. No worries, it should resolve on its own within the first year or two of life.


~He is mesmerized by the great outdoors. He calms down as soon as we step outside. Unfortunately, due to the heat, checking the mail is about as long as we can tolerate being outside.

~He continues to have belly issues (see last post). The doctor said it should resolve by 6 months...only 4 more months to go!

~He still has blue eyes like his Mama!

~He still doesn't care for tummy time. We practice head control in other ways...

~He's discovered his hands. Or at least his right one! It makes it into his mouth quite a lot these days, resulting in slobber all over his face.

~Most memorable of all is his sweetness. He is the sweetest boy in the whole wide world! Oh, and the most loved one too!

The Poo Factor

WARNING: Detailed poop conversation below.

I know poop is on the minds of all new parents. When did he go last? What did it look like? Is he going enough? Too much? Trust me, I understand all the excitement.

Ryan has what's know in the medical world as dyschezia and better understood by the rest of the world as uncoordinated pooping. Essentially he pushes down on his abdominal muscles and not on his pelvic floor muscles causing a lot of grunting and frustration and not so much pooping. And then when it comes it comes with a force unlike anything I've seen. Google.com has taught me this is not that uncommon and should resolve on its own. He goes just fine several times a day and then he has issues other times. There have been multiple related 'situations' but I will skip ahead to the most recent and most traumatic of all.

It's 4:30am. Ryan's on the changing table. He has a poopy diaper. I remove said diaper and place a clean one under his bum. And then it happened. Projectile poop! Six feet! It completely cleared the changing table and protective new diaper and hit the white comforter on our bed, the bottom and top sheet, a pillowcase, a good 3 feet of carpet, and of course, me.

This was no one person job so I woke Chris. Chris: 'what is it?' Me: 'There's been another poop incident. Watch your step.' Chris attends to Ryan while I run for the resolve, spray the carpet, grab the spray n wash, spray the comforter, scrub the carpet, put the comforter in the washing machine, hose down myself. I then breastfeed Ryan and Chris returns to bed.

Flash forward to the morning after. It was then I found poop on the sheets and on my pillowcase. Super! Washed all bedding. I also realized I did a terrible job cleaning the carpet so I repeated my efforts with much better success. Oh, and I also found trace evidence on Ryan's foot!

By the way, Ryan is never happier than after he poops! Ok, I digress. I feel the need to end this post with some cuteness!

super husband. silly daddy. FAMOUS doctor.

Ok, maybe famous is a stretch but his picture is getting out there. For those of you who don't know, Chris recently started a new job in a 6 practitioner office within a large medical network. Now he must build up a practice and for that he must get his name out in the communtiy.

The office...

A local magazine...

and inside...

A welcome to the health system memo...it even mentions sweet Ryan!

'crack heads need not apply'

How in the world am I suppose to return to work and leave my baby with someone else? Seriously, I don't know how people do it. How do you determine someone is worthy and capable of caring for the most precious person in your life? As I scour through applications in hopes of finding Mary Poppins I frequent the idea of not returning to work at all. And I'm only planning to work 2 days a week. That's 16 hours away from my sweet angel!

To make matters worse the applicants I'm getting are far from capable. One person wanted to bring her fiance because she thought she'd need help...seriously? Another person didn't even have custody of her own child...red flag. And then there was the one who had more rules for me than I could think of for her...come on people!

Just look at this face. I'm pretty sure he's thinking 'please mama don't leave me'.

Chris and I met a great couple, expecting their first baby in September, who we're trying to nanny share with. It would be a great set up if we can make it work. The boys would have a playmate and we would get a break in cost. Now we just have to find the perfect nanny!

Maternal Aunt & Uncles

- Uncle Austin -

- Uncle Tristan -

- Aunt Kelli -

- Uncle Dustin -

All Things Ryan: 0-1 Month

One Month Stats: 7 lbs, 13 oz (less than the 3rd percentile), 21 in (8th percentile), perfect growth for our perfect baby


He keeps at least one hand on or near his face, often looking as if he is trying to cover his eyes or hide. Sometimes he puts a fist under his chin making the most precious 'thinking man' pose. When not by his face, his hands are normally crossed over his chest, tiny precious fingers interlocking.


His personality comes out in his many facial expressions. He makes a great pout face, sometimes for reasons I can't discern. Nevertheless, I'm a sucker for the pout face. He often makes an 'o' with his lips while he is looking around. Not sure what it means but it's darn cute. Then he has his worried/ concerned look; furrowed brow and squinty eyes. I've assured him he has nothing to worry about. I could go on and on but I'll end with what I call his sour face. This is when he first attempts to latch on to the breast and he pulls off scrunching his face as if he'd just been offered a lemon. It cracks me up!

He takes his time waking up and he's cranky if you wake him to suddenly (he gets this from his mother). Though when he wakes up he stretches and makes a variety of faces that are simply adorable. I particularly favor his superman stretch, one arm straight in the air above his head, the other bent on his chest (made even better by daddy soaring him through the air for full effect). In fact, watching him wake up is a favorite time for both Chris and I.