Hayes Days

Project Pretty Christmas

2012-01-26T11:30:00.002-05:00

Ever since my mom and I made Ryan's birthday banner we plotted to make a Christmas banner. So, last November we did just that. Well, actually, we made a 'bunting'. The difference? It appears, according to Etsy, the difference is words. As with the birthday banner, my contribution was the idea, the fabric, and my superior cutting and ironing skills. My mom did all the sewing. I absolutely LOVE the fabric. Do you know how hard it is to find modern Christmas fabrics in a world of ultra-ugly fabrics?

Upcoming projects: curtains for Ryan's room and curtains for the twins room.

Pondering TWINS

2012-01-06T08:00:00.001-05:00

Though many people know we have fertility issues (its not like I keep it a secret), there are many that do not. The response, after hearing I'm pregnant with twins, is always "do twins run in your family" - see video below. Most times I don't feel like explaining our fertility issues so I say "My grandma is a twin". It's a true statement. And, hey, twins do skip a generation. Well, what I don't bother to clarify is that she's not my biological grandmother. Details.

Theres really no preparation for the obvious day to day complications of caring for twins, however I can prepare for the logistical issues that will arrise...

Car
I'm not certain the appropriate 3 carseats will fit in my car. There's a slight chance they will fit in Chris's car. If not, we need a new car. Car. Not minivan.

Stroller
I need a stroller to accommodate a 2 year old and 2 infants that also fits in the trunk. I'm thinking of a sit and stand option. In the beginning, Ryan can sit in the actual seat and the baby can sit in the infant carrier. As the babies get older, one of them can sit in the seat while Ry sits/stands in the jumpseat. While one baby rides on the stroller, the other rides on me. This beats a triple stroller. I think. Or maybe a side by side...

Sleeping arrangements
Chris and I've talked a lot about how to accommodate the babies in our rental house. We have an upstairs that we don't really use but I can't fathom taking the babies up and down on a regular basis so we've decided to keep everyone downstairs. In the beginning the babies will stay in our room. Once we want to transition them out of our room we will move us into the small playroom and the babies will get our current room. Downside is no playroom, but between Ryan's room and the babies room I think there will be plenty of play space.

By the time the babies need more than one crib Ryan will be out of his crib. Sweet.

Feeding
As of this early moment I plan to breastfeed both babies and supplement as necessary. I've already looked into it and realize I have to feed them both at the same time or else all I'd do is nurse. So, I watched a youtube video on just how to do it. Totally possible.

Travel
It occurred to me that I will no longer be able to fly to Texas without Chris. Not only would it be impossible to fly with 2 babies and a toddler but I'm fairly certain the airline won't allow it. I foresee my mom flying to Virginia to turn around and fly back with us (afterall she did it once so I wouldn't have to fly alone with Ryan).

In addition, it seems rather impossible to take 3 carseats and 3 children on a plane. Not to mention the fact that our family members don't have a single car that can accommadate us all. So, I expect we'll have to rent a car, um I mean minivan, complete with carseat rentals as well.

Diapers
Yes, I realize I will have THREE babies in diapers at the same time. I feel like the we'll need to wait as long as possible to potty train Ryan (rationale: so the twins are older and slightly less demanding). We'll likely wait until Ryan is at least 2 and a 1/2, which I hear is plenty early for boys.

I'm going to look into cloth diapering both babies...with Ryan we didn't start cloth until he was 6 months old and while that worked really well I'm tossing around what to do this time. While I'm much more educated about cloth, I know newborns are different and there are TWO to consider.

Random Cuteness

2012-01-04T08:00:00.001-05:00

A couple months ago we bought a new camera. A standard compact digital camera with HD video. After all, we can't watch our family videos in standard def, now can we? As it turns out, this bit of safistication took us until now to be able to download. Hence, these random videos...

thoughts of a pregnant woman - 4 months

2012-01-02T08:00:00.003-05:00

~ The all day sickness has passed for only occasional sickness. Hallelujah. Ten weeks of straight nausea was plain torture. I just now started enjoying food again. And meat. I went 9 weeks without any meat. I started thinking one of these babies was a vegetarian. But, alas, I'm back to being a carnivore.

~ I've gained about 9 pounds to date. I've been instructed to gain about 1.5 pounds a week from here on out for a total of 45 pounds! 45 pounds. Are you kidding me? My doc said I'd look full term at 28 weeks. Oh. My. Goodness.

~ I'm only slightly bigger than I was with Ryan at 16 weeks. I'm wearing clothes with either no defined waists (dresses), drawstring waists, or elastic waists. With that said, I can still completely hide the belly if need be.

~ I just had an ultrasound and the babies are currently laying one on top the other. They look perfect. Baby A is slightly smaller (4 oz) than baby B (5 oz). Baby B was more active and had a higher heart rate of 160. Less active baby A's heart rate was 140. We will have plenty of opportunities to see these little babies as I will have monthly ultrasounds until 32 weeks at which point I move to weekly. I learned the need for increased ultrasounds is simply because there is no other way to see how much they are growing (with a singleton they measure the belly for such).

~ The headaches have surpassed. At least the major ones have. And heartburn has set in, big time. I went from tums to zantac which was incredibly helpful. My doc said I will likely graduate to prilosec sooner than later.

~ And now for belly pics...

9 Weeks

11 Weeks

12 Weeks

14 Weeks

16 Week (turned around to get that pesky doorknob out of the pic)

2012 - Year of BOYS

2012-01-01T08:43:00.003-05:00

That's right. The new year will bring Ryan not one, but two BROTHERS!

Surprise...it's TWINS

2011-12-30T08:00:00.000-05:00

Keeping this secret for nearly 2 months has been exhausting to say the least. So it was quite a relief to let the cat, or shall I say cats, out of the bag on Christmas.

Each parent received the same gift; a framed ultrasound picture with a note 'Surprise, its Twins!'. Since we were in NY for Christmas, Chris's parents received the picture directly from us. As Judy opened the gift she said 'I think I know what this is' to which I replied 'I'm pretty sure you don't!'. She was surprised.

For my mom, I sent the gift home with her from her last trip here, only I had put someone elses name on it so she wouldn't open it before Christmas. Sneaky me. I then called my brother and asked him to switch the tag on Christmas day and record her response if possible. Apparently he was caught a bit of guard when she first opened it but here she is a few seconds later...

My dad got the same gift, delivered by my brother. Though Dustin did capture his response on video, I've yet to see it. However, my dad did tell me it was the best Christmas present ever.

all things Ryan: 18 months

2011-12-28T19:50:00.000-05:00

My baby boy is 1 and a 1/2 years old. These last 18 months flew by and they are quite a blur. I can't believe how many milestones we've witnessed in such a short time. And now my baby boy is going to be a big brother! I can't even begin to describe how much I love this little boy. His laid back personality has undoubtedly eased my transition to motherhood.

He's weighing in at 25 pounds. He's got a mouth full of teeth, I'd report how many if he'd let me look in there for more than 2 seconds. What I do know is he gets several teeth at a time and he handles it like a champ. Here's a very tired chair picture...

~ He's so caring. When another child is crying Ry looks at me panicked, like 'mom help him'. He has to be reassured the child is ok or he starts crying too.

~ He's become quite the snuggle bug. He loves to give kisses and hugs. Sometimes he's in the middle of playing, stops, gives me a kiss, then carries on. Melt my heart.

~ There can't possible be a more regimented child out there. He loves his routines. And I love that I can count on his routines to bring us peace.

~ Speaking of routine, here's our current bedtime routine...Chris gives Ryan a bath, brushes his teeth and hair, and gets him in his jammies. Then we read him a book as a family. Ryan and Chris each offer me a hand to pull me up off the floor or out of the chair (he's such a copy cat). Chris carries Ryan to his bedroom, I turn on the 'rain', and we put Ry's baby to bed on the changing table (more on that in a sec). Then we play a game to get Ryan to Mama (fly to Mama, hide from Mama, jump to Mama, etc). Once he's in my arms Ryan leans in for a family hug, he presses my head and Chris's head together to make us kiss, and then he kisses each of us (sometimes its a triple kiss). Then Chris leaves the room. I put Ryan in his bed, we turn on the fish tank and the glow worm, Ryan gives me a hug from bed and then waves me goodnight. I love this routine.

~ Ryan's been loving on his baby doll. He gives her kisses and hugs, pats her back, and claps her hands. A couple times he was holding her while I was reading touch and feel books and he touched her hands to the different textures. So sweet.

~ He has wild and crazy, beautifully blonde, curly hair. His many cowlicks will give him trouble for years to come. He's had 2 haircuts thus far, of which he's certainly not a fan.

~ He mimics everything. It's amazing what he's learning when no one is looking. He brought me my robe and slippers one morning when he wanted me to get out of bed! In addition to copying us, he likes us to play 'copy cat' with him.

~ He throws a mean temper tantrum.

~ He's got quite a fascination with babies, which is obviously a good thing right now. He loves to look at babies when we are out and about. He particularly loved his baby cousin Carter. He wanted to hold his hand and kiss his head. And when Carter was lying, peacefully I might add, on the floor, Ry insisted I pick him up (which I did happily).

~ He throws when he's angry or frustrated. I hope this is a short lived phase.

~ He can point to his head, neck, eyes, mouth, tongue, teeth, nose, feet, toes, legs, arms, hands, fingers, and cheeks. Just watch out when he's pointing to your eyes!

~ He requires all his 'hurts' be kissed.

~ He loves the outdoors. We have to drag him back inside. He particularly loves to go searching for squirrels (or as we call it - squirrel hunting). Oh, and extreme temperatures are of no concern to him.

~ He's a pretty quiet kid. When he does say words its in a whisper and with a smile.

~ He dances when the mood strikes but not on command!

~ He is still the most loved baby in the whole world!

thoughts along the way...

2011-12-26T09:00:00.001-05:00

Even though many aspects of this adventure have been kept hush hush I've been keeping a 'blog log' to post when the time is right. And its time.

Written 10-17-11
We had 12 frozen embryos from our previous IVF. The plan, same as last time, transfer 2 embryos. Initially, 3 were defrosted, only 1 survived. So, 3 more were defrosted, 2 of which survived. Yes, that makes 3 'survived' embryos, but only 2 were used.

Which brings me to this, every once in awhile I totally panic at the thought of having twins. Sure, the odds are about 30% that there are 2 babies, but that means the odds of having only 1 baby are 70%! Taking care of a newborn and a toddler is already daunting. Taking care of TWO newborns AND a toddler is bound to be downright impossible, right? So, why put in 2 embryos and risk twins, the answer is easy; We put in 2 last time and only 1 hung on. Don't get me wrong, whether this pregnancy results in 1 or 2 babies, I will be thrilled. Twins just present more, um, challenges.

When I'm not totally panicked about having twins, I'm worried about miscarrying. It seems as if I know hundreds of people who've recently lost pregnancies. Ok, maybe that's an exaggeration but its been several people. I'm sure also playing into the fear is the fact that I was told I lost the pregnancy last time (which of course I didn't). Anyway, as my hubbie says, positive thoughts!

Written 10-21-11
I've had a headache for three days now. Of course, I can't take my usual arsenal of drugs. It wont go away! I took a percocet two nights ago and not only did it not help but it made me sick! I just took a lortab and while it did work, It makes me feel drunk and very sleepy (which really limits it's usage when caring for a toddler). And the trade off is headache for stomachache. Let's just say it's not a fair trade.

Written 10-28-11
We have 6 days til we get to see our baby, or babies, that are causing me so much trouble. My debilitating headache passed (after a trip to the OB and some demerol) just in time for severe morning sickness to settle in. Or rather, ALL.DAY.SICKNESS. With Ryan I was somewhat sick but this takes the cake. My nausea laughs at the efforts of phenergan and zofran. Today is day 7 of complete misery. I have a stash of saltines by my nightstand, in my car, in the diaper bag, and at work. I'm so sick of saltines, no pun intended.

As all this was going on my mom happened to be in town, I had to practically lie to her all weekend. Not only did I hide 'all things fertility' such as drugs, needle boxes, and our precious embryo pictures, I even said we were planning to try for #2 after the holidays. I wonder if she figured it out and is waiting for me to tell her. Seriously, I have no idea if I'll make it til Christmas!

Written 11-4-11
Yesterday, Chris met Ryan and I at the RE's office for an ultrasound (7w4d). I was so nervous I was shaking and sweating. Chris held Ryan in one hand and held my hand in the other. As soon as the image appeared on the screen Chris and I saw exactly what we both suspected, more on that in a minute. The doctor immediately moved the wand to look at my ovaries and as he did so he reassured us that things looked ok and that it would take him a minute to get oriented (such a crock but I still loved the reassurance). He then moved over and showed us our sweet baby, measuring about 10mm, with a fluttering heartbeat. He said 'looks great!' Then he moved over and showed us baby number 2, measuring about the same, also with a fluttering heartbeat! 'Both look great, congratulations!' TWINS. That first image Chris and I had seen was both babies!

I was instructed to continue my drug regimen until 12 weeks, have a few more drug level labs, and to make an appointment with the OB (which I did and is scheduled for 11-16-11).

Written 11-6-11
It's officially been 2 weeks of non stop nausea. It's taking a toll of my mental sanity. I've resorting to investigating alternative therapies like ginger and motion sick bands...desperate? Yes.

Written 11-16-11

First OB appointment was fairly standard. Labs, flu shot, pap, education, ultrasound, etc.. Everythings looking good.

Written 11-24-11

We couldn't wait any longer. The cats out of the bag. Well, at least one cat is. We're saving the news of twins for Christmas.

Written 12-15-11

Second OB appointment. This was the first time we got to hear the babies heartbeats. I love that sound. Both heart rates were in the 160's, perfect. I learned I will be seeing my OB every 2 weeks til 20 weeks and then weekly after that. Seriously? Seems like overkill to me but better be safe than sorry. The good news is I will have an ultrasound monthly to check on the babies growth!

Written 12-19-11

Both Chris's parents and my parents have asked if it was twins and we said no, a singleton pregnancy was confirmed. My mom was in town this weekend and directly asked me if I was having twins and just holding out on her. I said no. Does she believe me? Not sure. Only 6 more days til the secrets out, thank God!

Written 12-20-11

I'm 14 weeks and 2 days today. That's 2nd trimester. Why, oh, why am I still so sick? All I want for Christmas is relief.

Written 12-25-11

The secrets out. More on that soon.

Ryan & Santa (and Mama)

2011-12-12T08:43:00.002-05:00

I had no intention of getting Ryan's picture with Santa this year as he's in peak stranger danger mode...and whose stranger to a toddler than a fat man in a red suit with a long beard? Well, we happened upon a Santa at a party, and as suspected, Ryan wanted nothing to do with the big guy. The plan was for Santa to leave, let us sit down, then sneak behind us. As you can see by Ryan's expression, he caught on.

FET #1

2011-12-06T20:10:00.003-05:00

Yes, I'm pregnant. No, it didn't just happen! We found out on Ocotober 10th that our first attempt at FET (frozen embryo transfer - the same as IVF except we used embryos from Ryan's cycle) was successful. We planned to wait til Christmas to tell our families but the wait nearly killed me, so we made it a Thanksgiving surprise instead. For those of you who want the details here they are...

FET #1:

Mid-September 2011: Start estrogen pills

September 25th: Start Progesterone injections

September 27th: Antibiotics (4 times a day for 4 days)

September 27th: Steroids for 4 days

September 30th: Valium then transfer of 2 perfect blastocysts!

October 10th: BFP! 10dp5dt - HCG 414

October 12th: 12dp5dt - HCG 840

October 14th: low estrogen level, increase estrogen pills from 2 to 3 X a day

November 3rd: 40 IM (um, big) shots thus far (oh, as if the pain wasn't bad enough, I developed a allergic reaction-itching!), 7w4d US = happy healthy heartbeat!

November 11th: Estrogen and Progesterone labs, estrogen pills decreased to 2 X day, progesterone decreased from 2ml to 1.5ml

November 16th: first OB appointment, 9w3d US = HR 170!

November 31st: more labs, decreased estrogen pills to 1 X day, progesterone decreased to 1ml.

December 4th: After nearly 80 shots (in a mere 2 spots on my behind) and countless pills, I'm FINALLY done with meds! First trimester DONE...let the sickness subside (more on that later)!

So Thankful...

2011-12-01T07:45:00.001-05:00

Ry's First Haircut

2011-11-25T11:49:00.004-05:00

Chris has been pushing for quite awhile for Ryan's first haircut. Unable to bare cutting off his curls, I held off as long as I could. But, alas...

Before

Notice the hair over his ear on one side and the hair that just sticks straight out on the other side

This is how we started

And this is how we finished

I can only imagine his confusion about what was taking place. Poor baby. The hairdresser cut his hair as he hugged me tightly. When he turned his head, she just switched sides. Not the best cut, but certainly the best under the circumstances.

After

Still precious!

Grandma Comes to Visit

2011-10-07T07:14:00.002-04:00

I had a few days of computer training last week and our sitter wasn't available, so Grandma Hayes to the rescue. Though they don't see each other often, he took to her instantly.

First the children's museum...

Then to the park to see the animals...

Look who showed up...Grampa!

Thanks for all your help Grandma!

All things Ryan: 15 months

2011-10-06T08:52:00.001-04:00

My plan is to continue 'All things Ryan' every 3 months (15, 18, 21, 24) for year 2. He currently weighs 22 lbs & 14 oz (30th-ish percentile). That's only 14 oz more than 3 months ago. No worries though, its not uncommon for weight gain to slow for an active toddler.

*Side note: I know he may be a toddler per textbooks, but he's still a baby to me*

He's 32.5 inches tall (85th percentile). Up 1.5 inches from 3 months ago.
Oh, and his head remains in the 95th percentile. His development is where the most growth has occurred.

~ He mimics everything we do. Cute sample, we have to kick the bottom of our front door to get it to open in high humidity. Ryan now stands at the door and lifts his leg (he looks like a puppy marking his territory) and pretends to open the door.

~ He's outgrown his first pair of shoes (sniff, sniff). But he loves his new pair!

~ He follows almost all commands. Correction, he's capable of following all commands though he follows only those he chooses.

~ Prior to the last month, Ryan was relatively quite. He only babbled with the 'M' sound. Over the last couple weeks he's picked up 'N' and 'B' sounds as well. It's amazing how a mere 3 sounds can make such elaborate and often very serious sounding conversations.

~ Upon entering our house, every child between the ages of 10 months and 2 years heads directly to our stairs for a climbing expedition. Every child except our own that is. Yes, he's never shown much interest in exploring the upstairs until...well, funny story...I was cooking him breakfast when I didn't hear him for a minute or two so I did my usual 'wheres Ryan' in which he normal pops in the kitchen laughing. Another 'wheres Ryan' and I hear a half giggle, half panic from UPSTAIRS! As I looked at him from the bottom of the stairs I saw my chances of winning mother of the year dissipate. A gate was ordered and installed that day!

~ Ryan loves all things outdoors. Our new house offers new playing opportunities including grass suitable for barefoot play and a screened in back porch equipped with a water table. And we live within walking distance to a park (and a library). Boy love.

~ He signs more, eat, shoes, book, and 'itsy bitsy spider'. He points. He shakes his head no (more often than I'd like).

~ We got a family membership to the areas children's museum. He loves it. The shot is of our playgroup...they grow up so fast!

~ Ry's still a pretty chill kid. And he loves to people watch other kids, especially older ones.

~ He's still the most loved baby EVER!

One Year: Part 2

2011-10-01T20:05:00.002-04:00

Here are a few things about Ryan's first year, my first year as a Mother, I want to remember...

I loved breastfeeding. I knew it was the best option for Ryan but I had no idea I would enjoy it so much. I suppose it was a combination of bonding and ease. The milk was always ready, always the right amount, and required no scrubbing bottles with long brushes and hot water. The ability to calm Ryan at any given moment was also a perk.

I surprised myself when it came to feeding Ryan, post-breastfeeding that is. Fresh, organic, healthy...I'm very picky as to what he eats. Oh, and he never ate pre-made baby food...ewww!

I love myself some TV, but, ironically, I've yet to allow Ryan any tube time. In fact, at least as of now, the TV isn't even on when he's awake.

Even I would have bet high stakes against me using cloth diapers....though now I'm a dedicated cloth diaper-er! Who knew?

I'm picky with what he wears. I don't like zippers directly on his skin (rules out most jammies). Don't like the oh so popular appliques on so many tops (I certainly wouldn't want my shirt to be rough). I'm even picky about the type of waist band on his bottoms! And this doesn't even touch on style!

I'm not exactly known for my patience. However, I've surprised myself with the amount of patience I have with Ryan. Now, my patience with other people, that's a whole other story.

Of course I love my child. I expected that. What I never thought about, prior to Ryan, was how much I would love his affection towards me. I'm not sure if, at his age, its love or simply security but I LOVE it when he wants me. Whatever the reason, hurt, scared, happy...its the best.

In addition to becoming a mom, 15 months ago, I got to watch my love become a father. He was a natural from the get go. We make a great team, if I do say so myself!

The Hayes Home

2011-07-24T08:15:00.000-04:00

In an attempt to shorten Chris's commute we put our house on the market. Of course, its an awful market for sellers. On the flip side, its a great market for buyers. Or so they say. Well, after 5 weeks on the market, it sold. Woo hoo! Five weeks of keeping the house in show condition, not to mention having to take Ryan and Mazie out for said showings, was enough! Closing is in 2 weeks. Its certainly bittersweet. This was our first home together. Where we came home the day after we married. Where we brought Ryan home from the hospital. On the sweet side, we'll be in a more desirable location, 30 miles closer to Chris's office, and in our neighborhood we're fortunate to have sold at all.

As for our new address...its less than ideal. Let me explain. We couldn't find a house. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't for lack of trying. I looked at many, many, many houses. We actually fell in love with one. Put in an offer. Lost. As for the other homes, well, there were no sparks. So, with our impeding closing date we chose to rent a house for the time being. Its comparable to our current home, in an ideal location.

We're as packed as we can be with 2 weeks til the move. We signed a year lease, with a clause allowing for termination of the lease with a 60 day notice. While I don't want to move right after moving, we'll keep an eye on the market.

Sweetest Birthday Boy Ever

2011-07-19T20:04:00.002-04:00

We celebrated at home...

In New York...

And at playgroup...

Seriously, he's the sweetest, most loved, birthday boy ever!

Fourth of July - 2011

2011-07-10T19:26:00.007-04:00

One year after Ryan's due date, our little family of three went swimming at Pocahontas State Park. It was Ryan's first water adventure. He loved the water, the kids, and the commotion...all one hour of it!

All things RYAN: 1 year

2011-07-07T09:37:00.002-04:00

At 10:39pm on June 27th, 2011, my sweet baby turned ONE. Bittersweet for sure. On one hand he's growing into a wonderful, loving child and on the other he's no longer my little baby. He weighs 22 lbs, 4 oz and is 31 in tall. That's a lifetime weight gain of 16 lbs, 5 oz and a 12.5 inch increase in length.

~ He actually respects the word 'no'. How many people can say that about their 1-year-olds? I'm fully aware this is liable to change at any given minute.

~ Because he recently hit the 30 inch mark, he just transitioned from his infant carseat to his big boy carseat.

~ Ryan still gives open mouth kisses to things/those he loves...people, feet, and animals in his books. But my favorite of his affections is the head nod. It's kinda his signature hug. Sometimes, when someone asks for a kiss, and he doesn't want to kiss them, he simply leans his forehead forward for the said someone to kiss. Even better, he bumps foreheads at random when he wants to show affection. It's so adorable.

~ His blond hair is getting longer and I just love how the curls around the bottom fly out. His cowlicks are going to be lifelong trouble.

~ He continues to give our feet undo attention. He will kiss them repeatedly!

~ He's a great sleeper so long as he's in his bed, sound machine on rain, aquarium nearby, and glowworm in hand. He takes still takes 2 naps and he 'rests quietly' in bed once too. He goes to bed around 6:30pm and sleeps til around 5, 5:30am. It doesn't matter when he goes to bed, he gets up at the same time every morning.

~ He has awesome blue eyes!

~ He is truly a mellow child. Sure, he's active and into everything, but he's actually quite calm. And he's such a good baby.

~ He had his first mall-water-fun experience. He seemed to think it was only so-so.

~ Trying to put shoes on Ryan is like trying to wrangle an alligator.

~ He's a very regimented little boy.

~ He's a great eater. Sure, some days he likes carrots and some days he doesn't.

~ I'm pretty certain he loves the tuperware that houses his blocks more than the actual blocks. Best of all, we play 'smooch face' with the lid. We all do it. Sometimes we kiss each others smooch face.

~ Recently he started playing with pillows. He gets on his knees, holds the pillow up, and then falls down with the pillow. You might need to see it to understand but it's so cute and can entertain him for a good 10 minutes.

~ He still digs a good game of peek-a-boo. Variety keeps it current.

~ He loves practicing walking with his super cool car!

~ He is the most loved baby ever!

1 Year & 1 Day

2011-07-05T08:51:00.002-04:00

On June 28th 2011, just 1 day after turning 1, Ryan took his first steps! His actual first steps caught me by surprise and weren't caught on camera. But, of course, his next ones were!

Year One: Part One

2011-07-04T19:41:00.017-04:00

- 1 month -

- 2 month -

- 3 month -

- 4 month -

- 5 month -

- 6 month -

- 7 month -

- 8 month -

- 9 month -

- 10 month -

- 11 month -

- 12 month -

Catch Up

2011-07-03T11:21:00.006-04:00

It's been crazy around here lately. We sold our house (more info pending). Our computer crashed. I taught a mini-mester for the local community college. So, Hayes Days got the backburner, but I'm back! I'm going to post according to the actual dates things happened, so take a sec and look back starting with his 11 month post.

all things RYAN: 11 months

2011-05-23T07:49:00.026-04:00

I can't believe the countdown to one year is underway. It's quite surreal actually. But enough of that. My baby's 11 months old, in other words, he's into everything. I love that he's so curious. I love that he can be entertained by almost anything...a box of tampons...a hair clip...an envelope.

He's holding steady at 20.5 lbs, but getting taller, 30.5 in. He hasn't gained any weight in a couple months; It'll be interesting to see if his pediatrician believes it's due to his increase in activity or not. Here are his latest happenings.

~ He loves to play in the tupperware cabinet. This, with his barn magnet set, keeps his attention for quite awhile in the kitchen. And I love that he can stay busy for just enough time for me to get his food ready.

~ He's picked up speed! I love how the more excited he gets, the faster he gets. Sometimes he gets so excited his arms don't go as fast as his legs and he tips forward. Its actually quite cute.

~ He uses us as a jungle gym, crawling over our legs simply because he can.

~ He's pulling up on everything and walking while holding on. I've seen him stand for only a second before he realizes what he's doing and sits down. In his effort to climb, he lifts one foot off the ground while holding onto a chair. So cute.

~ He gives a big, cheesy smile when he sees the camera!

~ He continues to be the most loved baby ever!

He looks just like...

2011-05-16T15:07:00.010-04:00

you...Chris! I actually think he's a great combination of the two of us, which, of course, he is, so, well, it makes sense. Nevertheless, who do YOU think he looks more like? Here are some pictures of Chris and I as babes for comparison. Vote on the left!

- Chris-

- Jenn -

It's Official...

2011-05-15T12:01:00.001-04:00

Ryan's into...

under...

and on, EVERYTHING!

Good thing he's so darn cute!

Ryan and his Daddy

2011-05-14T15:40:00.009-04:00

Stare down...

At Arts in the Park...

Getting some culture at the Fine Arts Museum...

Resting in the kitchen floor...

all things RYAN: 10 months

2011-05-03T08:00:00.000-04:00

Double digits! It's hard to believe. He's weighing in at 20 lbs, up only 1/2 lb from last month. He continues to be an incredibly happy little man! Here are his most recent quirks and happenings....

~ He's advanced from army crawling to actual crawling, though sometimes the tried and true army crawl is just plain faster

~ He's clapping more and more. I love it when he stops crawling to clap for himself.

~ He survived his first virus :(

~ Of course it depends on the brand but he's wearing close to the recommended sizes. Usually 12 mo tops, 18 mo bottoms (cloth diapers give him quite a little ghetto booty), and 18 mo for jumpers since he's so tall

~ Little by little he's been pulling himself up. Mostly he makes it up on his knees. Only once has he made it to his feet. The usual routine is to sit where he wants to stand and look at me, aka the sucker, until I stand him up.

~ He continues to be an excellent eater. However, he refuses to touch any foods that don't feel like a cherrio or puff. He still only rarely sips from his sippy cup and he outright refuses a bottle.

~ He got 2 more teeth, for a total of 4. This month he got his top left incisor and his top left canine, neither of which caused any problems coming in. In fact, just like the last 2, we didn't even notice them until they were all the way in.

~ He's such a copy cat. You put something on your head, he puts it on his head. You kiss, he kisses.

~ He still loves Mazie and she still finds him only tolerable.

~ He's always used his feet as an extra set of hands but now he actually holds his books with said crazy monkey feet.

~ His favorite toys, as of the moment, are his dump truck with mega blocks, his HABA block set, and his Playschool pop up thingy.

~ He loves to hear me sing, and trust me, he's the only one. The ABC's and the itsy bitsy spider are big hits.

~ He loves to be chased while someone holds him. He laughs hysterically at this. Of course, he may be laughing at the crazy way we say 'I'm gonna get you' over and over...

~ He is still the most loved baby ever!

A visit from Grandma & Grandpa Hayes

2011-04-27T19:31:00.007-04:00

"Look what they brought me!"

We went out to eat and, of course, to look at the fishies...

Then to pick strawberries...

"Look Mom, berry"

PlayGroup PlayDate

2011-04-26T19:29:00.010-04:00

Ryan met up with Bianca, Chloe, and Charlie at Maymont Park. It was an absolutely beautiful day. Before the others arrived I snapped a few awesome pics of my sweet angel.

It's getting harder and harder to get these babes to cooperate for a quick pic. Notice how Ryan is smiling for the camera.

Ryan's still being a good sport about getting his picture taken...

"What are you doing Charlie?"

"Oh, no you didn't! I'm outta here."

Just the boys. Keep in mind Charlie is 3 months younger than Ryan!

All babies and mamas had a great time!

sick little bunny

2011-04-24T17:43:00.000-04:00

I'd hoped to make it past his first birthday before he caught his first bug, but no such luck. It's a miracle he made it this long considering the germs Chris and I (but mostly Chris) bring home from work. In fact, in the almost year Chris's been out of the hospital and in an office he's caught more things than all times combined in his life, ever (or at least that he can remember). Getting back to Ryan...he caught his first bug. I've since learned my mommy thermometer is accurate, and that Ry's temperature comes down quicker with ibuprofen than with tylenol.

Just when I thought his fevers seemed to be over and done with they showed up again, and his snotty nose continues to persist. Those years of holding down kids to suck out their noses finally came in handy. Ryan certainly thinks its a form of baby torture and tries to alert the neighbors when a tissue (or worse, the bulb syringe) comes near his face. Hopefully, we are in the homestretch. Poor baby!

Here are some pics of Ryan opening his Easter basket his Nonna sent him. Ryan is typically all smiles, all the time. The lack of smiling is telling evidence of this sick bunny.

After thoroughly exploring the basket we went outside to swing where he nodded off for a few minutes...sooo not his usual style.

The next day...still playing with the box and packaging Nonna sent!

Sweet Sleep

2011-04-20T20:08:00.000-04:00

For the first couple months (of life) Ryan slept in a sleep chair next to our bed. Then he moved to his pack 'n play in the corner of our room. For a short while we moved the pack 'n play to the office/playroom connected to our bedroom. After gearing up for him to move to his room downstairs (our room is upstairs) we decided it was not logistically ideal so we moved his crib upstairs to the office and there it remains.

Thankfully, Ryan has been a good sleeper for many months now, but over the last couple months his sleeping routine has been particularly sweet. Our routine is as follows:

~Chris bathes Ryan
~Dry off, brush hair, lotion up, diaper on, jammies on
~Chris and I alternate holding him and reading a bedtime story
~Chris carries him upstairs, gets him in his sleep sack, they exchange kisses, and Chris passes Ry to me as I wait in a nearby recliner, and then he turns on the sound machine on his way downstairs

Until a couple months ago I would breastfeed Ryan before laying him down. But about two months ago he decided he longer wanted to breastfeed. He simply refused and there was no going back. So, our routine continues and Chris still hands Ryan to me and leaves the room. Here's where it gets particularly sweet....Ryan snuggles me for about 5 seconds until he tries to play. At that point I turn on his crib aquarium and he nearly leaps from my arms to his crib. I hold up his glow worm for one song and then lay it next to him for another as I leave the room. No fighting. No crying. To top it off, he still hums himself to sleep. Such a sweet sound!

Then before Chris and I go to sleep, we stop by Ryan's crib to see what crazy position he's landed in and admire our perfect baby.

And because I don't have any related sleeping pictures, here are some unrelated but super adorable recent pictures...

happy{star}birthday

2011-04-03T20:01:00.006-04:00

In an effort to create some family traditions, my Mom and I made this birthday banner for Ryan (and perhaps his future siblings). I admit, I brought the idea and my cutting skills to the table, Mom did all the sewing. Go teamwork. I can't wait til Ryan understands his birthday and gets excited each June 27th when he wakes to his special banner hanging in his room.

I see holiday banners in our future...the ideas are endless!

all things Ryan: 9 months

2011-03-30T16:17:00.001-04:00

My baby is 9 months old! He's still as sweet as can be and he's up to 19.5 lbs (40th %) and 29 inches long (80th %). Here are his monthly chair pics and his current quirks and happenings...

~ He kisses! Of course, he's been getting kisses regularly for 9 months now. We didn't teach him to kiss. In fact, I first noticed him kissing the animals in his books. Now he kisses us. Normally he waits til we ask for a kiss but today he started copying us kiss one another...so in other words, when I kiss Chris, Ryan leans in and kisses Chris too. He kisses with an open mouth and sometimes he slips in a little tongue. And like us, he can't help kiss himself (or rather his reflection in the mirror).

~ He's such a happy, easy going baby, however he certainly requires his sleep. He currently takes 3, 1 hour naps a day and sleeps about 10 hours at night.

~ Ryan said his first word: Mama! He's been practicing his 'mmm' sounds for quite sometime now and there were many times I heard mama or mamamamama in his conversations. It wasn't until Chris got up with him in the middle of the night and Ryan said 'Mama' that I knew he was saying it.

~ He's working on waving. He's done it a few times, with a lot of coaching, but he's not sure it's something he wants to stick with just yet.

~ He's starting to army crawls towards more than cell phones. And his technique is improving.

~ He loves playing with paper. In fact, he gets a present from the mailbox everyday! I knew that junk mail had purpose.

~ Still no significant drinking from the sippy cup but he does take sips here and there. I've tried inticing him with apple juice (100% organic and sugar free of course) and homemade prune flavored water (cause he loves his prunes) but he just refuses most of the time. Oh, and unless he's laying on his back he won't even entertain the idea of putting it in his mouth. And bottles, absoultely not!

~ He's such a ham! He loves to make his silly face for the camera.

~ He couldn't be a more loved baby!

Baby's 3rd Visit to Texas

2011-03-27T20:27:00.017-04:00

We all had to get up at 4 am to get to the airport on time. Chris wasn't able to come with us this time around, so Ry and I were on our own for the flight. Fortunately, he was great. He flirted with everyone! Unfortunately, he was so excited he couldn't sleep. And he certainly wasn't willing to sleep at Nonna's house. So, by the time he fell asleep in the car, on the way to his Great Mamaw's birthday party, he was over tired. Apparently an hour nap in the car was not sufficient because he was so overwhelmed when we arrived. He wanted nothing to do with anyone other than me. At least at first.

This was the face he made when anyone picked him up or even looked at him. Poor sad baby.

He warmed up to Uncle Dustin, so long as I was right there.

The following day he was back to his usual happy, rested self...

Nonna accompanied us on the flight back. He played full force for the first 1.5 hours.

Then passed out for the last hour...

Happy 88th birthday Great Mamaw!

on the move...

2011-03-19T20:59:00.004-04:00

For the last several weeks Ryan has been perfecting the army crawl.

Although you can't see Chris, Ryan's face tells you just how silly his Daddy looks crawling on the floor.

He only travels for something incredibly important: cell phone, computer, crisp sheet of paper. He's certainly in no hurry to become more mobile, and I'm enjoying the little time before he's in constant motion.

1st Trip to the Zoo

2011-03-06T10:49:00.015-05:00

Chris, Ryan and I went to the Richmond Metro Zoo this weekend with our friends, Kevin, Jenn, and 16 month old Patrick. It was a totally different zoo experience this time around as it was the boys first time to see all the animals. Both boys, and all the parents, had a great time!

"Brown bear, brown bear what do you see?" "I see a Ryan looking at me."

"Wait, I thought I was a monkey?"

Patrick and Kevin admiring the birds

Jenn befriending the penguins

Cause, everyone needs a picture of a warthog...

They keep Mommies here...

Good times feeding the giraffes!

Ryan and the Rino's

The zoo is exhausting!

backyard fun

2011-03-02T08:00:00.001-05:00

wind blowing through his hair...

spending quality time with Mazie...

enjoying a book in the great outdoors...

hamming it up for the camera...

mesmerized by the blowing leaves...

ok Mom, enough with the camera...

all things Ryan: 8 months

2011-03-01T08:30:00.003-05:00

EIGHT months already! He's weighing in at 18 lbs, up, I mean down 1 lbs from last month. Uh, oh. As for length, he's 28.5 inches tall, up 1.5 in from last month. Here are just a few of the many things I hope to remember about this month...

Monthly Chair Picture

~He's such a mellow baby. Don't get me wrong, he's constantly exploring while awake. He loves playing with his toys, books, zippers on my clothes, and just about anything else he can get his hands and mouth on. Along with being calm, he's also a pretty quite baby.

~He will bend over backwards to see a TV or get to our computer or blackberry.

~He continues to sleep through the night, most of the time. If he does wake, he nurses and then it's back to bed.

~He's started squishing his face. He started doing it when he was frustrated, but now he does it just to be silly. It makes me smile every time.

~He wakes up incredibly happy. He usually plays in his crib awhile before requesting to be let loose.

~He still sucks his thumb when he's sleepy or upset.

~He still uses rolling as his primary method of movement but he's now incorporated a slight army crawl. He seems to have zero interest in getting on his knees for a true crawl.

~He still loves the Moby. Here he is being my taste tester. Mmmm.....pureed prunes!

~He's become a bit more selective with his foods. He prefers fruits over veggies. His most recent new foods are whole milk yogurt and blueberries.

~He's decided to completely refuse the bottle. He won't even entertain the idea of the bottle. He swats it away as if disgusted by the thought. This has, by far, been the most challenging issue this month. We've substituted one daytime bottle for solids. While we offer a second bottle during the day, he generally refuses, so we then mix some milk into his solids and he takes it like a champ. To top it off, he won't take a sippy cup either! This is likely the cause for his weight loss which we are working on.

~He recently found his penis! Grabs it at every opportunity. Perhaps this is what prompted him to learn to undo his diapers...

~So, add ortho to the list of specialists seen. Nonna noticed Ry's thumbs were unsymmetrical. Yes, his doctor father, nurse mother, and his pediatrician didn't notice this. Anyhoo, his right thumb is smaller than his left. Diagnosis, uh, unequal thumbs. If his function is compromised it may need medical intervention in the future but I highly doubt it.

~He continues to be such a happy baby. He laughs at the silliest things which in turn makes me do the silliest things. But few things are funnier to Ryan than Mazie...eating ice, scratching her head, tap dancing for food, hilarious!

~Just when I think I couldn't possibly love him more, I do!

~BONUS~

He was being such a ham during the 'monthly chair photoshoot' I just have to share...

PlayGroup: Part II

2011-02-28T10:24:00.011-05:00

Click here to view the group back in November

Chloe (red shirt) is 2 weeks younger than Ryan and Bianca is 2 weeks older.

"Man that looks tasty."

Everyone look at your Mama!

Flirting with Chloe...

"What's wrong with her?"

Not sure who has more fun, the babies or the mama's!

Introducing Doctor Ryan...

2011-02-22T10:31:00.009-05:00

Diagnosis: Adorable!

"Daddy, is this how you do it?"

Like father like son...

Thanks Aunt Paula!

all things Ryan: 7 months

2011-01-25T10:16:00.020-05:00

I'm constantly amazed at how fast Ryan is growing and developing. Watching him learn is so fascinating and fun. He's weighing in at 18 lbs, up 1 lb from last month, and my attempt to check his length was completely dismissed by my wiggly little man...

7 Month Chair Pic
-click HERE for a flashback-

The Photoshoot

Here's what he's been up to this past month...

~He sits! And only occasionally topples over!

~He's been rolling for many months but now he can direct his rolls. In other words, he rolls with purpose. He gets his bum in the air and pushes it over to cause him to turn a certain direction or he scissors his legs to make him move a certain way.

~Who needs to crawl to get a toy when you could just pull the quilt that the toy sits on. Smart boy!

~He loves eating and has been trying out Cheerios (see last post).

Mmm...Peas!

~He's started putting his arms up to be picked up. I'm pretty sure putting his arms up also mean 'I love you Mama!'.

Teeth and a Mohawk!

~Ryan has had unequal pupils since birth and we finally got around to taking him to the ophthalmologist this month. He has what Chris and I suspected, Anisocoria. It's a fancy word for unequal pupils. It causes no problems and he may or may not grow out of it. The doctor did a full eye exam and said he couldn't have more perfect blue eyes and I have to agree.

~Sleep is a surprise every night. Ry wakes up multiple times a night but often puts himself back to sleep, occasionally needing help from his Mama. With that said, he normally sleeps between 10 and 12 hours a night.

~Ryan couldn't be a happier baby. He plays hard. He laughs often. Chris and I are so in love with our sweet little boy. He brings more joy to our lives than we could have imagined.

~He is the most loved baby ever!

Baby Love - Baby Food

2011-01-24T11:46:00.011-05:00

Soon after Ryan was born I remember someone asking me if I was going to make my own baby food. I'd never given it any thought. Then I was given this book. After reading the benefits of homemade food I was hooked. And its actually super easy! With that said, I now make all of Ryan's food. In fact, he eats better than we do! Everything's fresh, except for peas (cause shelling peas is a pain), peaches (cause they're out of season), and prunes (cause plums are out of season). And I buy mostly organic. The biggest challenge has been finding frozen peas without salt, frozen peaches without additives, and prunes without additives (Whole Foods, BTW). So far he's loved everything we've given him. Here's the list of fruits and veggies he's eaten so far:

-apples
-pears
-avocados
-bananas
-sweet potatoes
-butternut squash
-carrots

Except for bananas and avocados, I freeze the purees in ice cube trays, store the foods in snack size ziplocks, and defrost daily as needed. Check out this latest batch of apples. I always puree with the skins on and the color heavily depends on the type of apple. These turned a beautiful pink.

Up next:
-peas
-peaches
-prunes

Other foods:
-We sometimes use rice cereal or oatmeal cereal to thicken his foods
-He eats apple slices and bananas (and soon frozen peach slices) in a mesh teether
-Cheerios

I love to watch him eat Cheerios. He hasn't mastered the pincer grasp so he picks the Cheerio up with his whole hand and then puts his whole hand in his mouth. Sometimes they make it in his mouth, sometimes they get stuck on his face, sometimes they fall in his lap. Then he gums the Cheerio slowly opening and closing his mouth as wide as he can (looks like he's chewing with his mouth wide open). It's so cute to watch!

At this point, I want the majority of his nutrition to come from breastmilk. I'm pretty sure he'd eat a ton of food if I let him, but then he wouldn't take as much milk.

I also rely heavily on wholesomebabyfood.com for recipes and tips (like plumping prunes and shocking peas!). And here is my sweet boy with a smile that says 'feed me'!

Going Green

2011-01-13T08:00:00.001-05:00

We've been cloth diapering for a couple weeks now and so far so good. And doesn't he look adorably happy in his cloth diapers?

I plan to use them for as long as they work for us...

Baby's 1st Christmas & 2nd Trip to Texas

2011-01-08T09:54:00.028-05:00

Our holidays started off in New York for Thanksgiving where we were able to celebrate with both the Hayes and Micho families. We had a great time and Ryan got to meet many new faces including his great-grandma Micho. And as a side note, we drove 8 hours overnight (as to not disrupt the Kings sleep routine), each way and he did awesome!

-Ryan's New York Christmas Loot-

Once back in Virginia we visited Santa in a small, local shop. There was no line, you used your own camera and it was FREE. Ryan checked him out closely and agreed to sit in his lap, briefly.

Ryan also saw Santa when we attended a work event. Not only did Ryan sit on Santa's lap, so did mom and DAD! Sorry, no pics.

Before heading to Texas we opened presents at home for the first time as a family of three. Ryan sat in his bumbo and enjoyed the commotion and the paper.

Then it was off to Texas. I was quite nervous about the plane ride with my very active boy but he did great. After thoroughly checking out his surroundings he closed his eyes and went to sleep in my lap. We celebrated Christmas Eve with the Wheat's: PopPop, Aunt Kelli, Uncle Dustin, Uncle Tristan, Great Grandma Wheat, my cousin Bryce, my Aunt Paula and her husband Rick.

After waking up at Nonna and digging into Ryan's stocking, we headed to over to celebrate with the Cabe clan: Nonna, G-Pa, GiGi, Uncle Austin, my Uncle David, Aela, Lynn, Cherria, and Jeff.

Oh, we ate BBQ on Christmas Eve and Mexican on Christmas. Gotta love Texas!

Because of the bad weather on the East Coast, and the fact we were flying standby, we had trouble getting home. Chris was able to get a flight back (he had to return to work) but Ryan and I had to stay a few days longer in Texas. Ryan smiled and kicked when he saw his Daddy via Skype each day. It was precious.

-Ryan was ok with this reindeer so long as it didn't sing to him-

Overall, we all had a wonderful 'baby's first Christmas'...

all things Ryan: 6 months

2011-01-01T20:02:00.017-05:00

My baby boy has been in this world for half a year! Ryan is now 16 lbs and 15 oz (yep, one ounce shy of 17 pounds) and 27 inches long (up a one pound and one inch from last month). This puts him in, about, the 45th percentile for weight and the 75th for height. His head circumference continues to be in the 95th percentile. I love the way he's so mesmerized with absolutely everything! He laughs at the most random things and Chris and I do the most ridiculous things to hear him laugh. Seriously, you would think we're certifiable the way we act over here! Here's his monthly chair pic, followed by a few of this months many quirks and accomplishments...

~He got his first tooth on December 17th (5.5 months) and his second tooth just over a week later on December 27th. Both bottom teeth. They are visible when he smiles big but they are nearly impossible to catch on camera. They came in without any trouble.

~He continues to LOVE being naked and sometimes I undress him when he's cranky! And, yes, sometimes pee happens.

~Ryan's such a happy baby. He's even started smiling at strangers...sometimes.

~Just like his Mama, he gets punchy when he gets tired! Yep, we both laugh at everything when we get tired. Hey, its better than getting cranky.

~He continues to roll to get around and he's enjoying playing on his tummy more than before.

~Right after Thanksgiving Ryan got a jumperoo. He loves it! And I love that he loves it!

~His feet are still tasty toys...

~He plays so hard. He loves his toys. A couple rattles, his glow worm, a few talking toys, and a couple teethers are among his current favorites. He also loves reading books...anything with bright colors that he can chew on are favorites.

~We tried feeding our little monkey rice cereal at 4 months. He declined. We then tried off and on until 5.5 months when he finally decided to open his mouth. In addition to rice cereal, he eats sweet potatoes, bananas, avocados, and apples. Carrots and pears are up next. Everything is made with love by Mama! Oh, we do use Mazie to entertain him during feedings, take a look...

~Sleep! We are finally getting some sleep! Sometimes he gets up once during the night, sometimes not at all. We are looking for some blackout curtains to help him sleep better (he slept in a really dark room during our visit to Texas and he slept so well there). He's been going down for the night around 6:30 or 7pm and is up about 12 hours later. Naps are still touch and go and afternoon naps are rare.

~He still loves when Daddy comes home from work. In fact, when Chris was in VA and Ryan and I were still in TX (thanks to the blizzard on the East Coast) we skyped and Ryan was so happy to see and hear his Daddy on the computer. It was so sweet!

~And, of course, he is still the most loved baby ever!

Chris's TV Debut

2010-12-23T09:50:00.001-05:00

Chris was asked to give the local news a bit of information on seasonal depression. Click here to check it out!

Mazie is SO funny

2010-12-16T20:26:00.008-05:00

Recently Ryan has become more and more interested in Mazie. Meanwhile, Mazie continues to be completely uninterested in him. Here are a couple video clips of Ryan laughing hysterically at Mazie. I so love his baby laugh, it just cracks me up!

Tilt your head because I've yet to learn to hold the camera correctly...

Oh, don't you just love Chris's pants?

Little Love Bug

2010-12-13T21:15:00.000-05:00

I love this picture of my sleeping Angel with his pants off, boots on and thumb in his mouth. Such a love bug! Don't ya just wanna kiss him?

Paternal Aunts & Uncles

2010-12-12T21:02:00.000-05:00

I did a previous post on the Texas Aunt and Uncles (click here to see). So here's the other side.

Aunt Katie (back when Ryan was just a tiny little guy)

Auntie K

Uncle Rufus (aka Uncle Matt)

Uncle James

Uncle Mike

All we're missing is Uncle Chad who I'm pretty sure didn't come near Ryan during our recent visit to Homer.

all things Ryan: 5 months

2010-12-11T13:21:00.013-05:00

Ryan turned 5 months old two weeks ago and I'm just now finding the time to write about his past month. Needless to say he keeps me busy! He weighed in at 16 pounds and is 26 inches long, up one pound and one inch from last month. Following this months chair picture are just a few of the many highlights of my sweet boys last month.

~Ryan's favorite time of the day is when his Daddy comes home from work. He gets sooo excited! He kicks his legs like crazy and his smiles quickly turn to giggles. Of course, I wasn't prepared with the camera when he started laughing so this was at the end of his 'happy laugh'.

~He's crazy about his feet! Grabbing his toes, pulling his socks off, putting them in his mouth, who wouldn't love his cute, little toes!

~He dressed up as superman/superbaby for Halloween. He pooped through his costume within 15 minutes of putting it on...

~He also trialed his scarecrow outfit.

~He's wearing mostly 3-6 month clothes and size 2-3 diapers.

~He loves it when I sing to him. Any song will do... I'm not sure if he smiles and laughs at the songs or my awful singing voice!

~His naps are all over the board. And because he rarely takes a third/late nap he's ready for bed by 6pm. Yep, he's down for the night by 6:30 at the latest. He goes down smoothly and generally gets up once during the night. He's up between 5:30 and 6 in the morning. Now, this is the norm. He alters the norm without notice!

~He's starting to play more and more each day and I'm loving watching him learn. He rolls like it's a method of transportation! If I leave him for a minute he will roll right off his quilt (he even once rolled into the closet!). He gets his butt in the air sometimes but he still doesn't use his arms as much as he could.

~This is only a snapshot of my little sunshine and, of course, he continues to be the most loved baby ever!

Four Generations X 3

2010-11-30T09:35:00.005-05:00

At Birth with Mom, Nonna, and G-Pa

Six weeks old with Mom, PopPop, and GreatGrandma Wheat

Five months old with Dad, Grandma, and GiGi

- Shutterfly -

2010-11-20T14:43:00.005-05:00

I'm an loyal Shutterfly user. Have been for years. Now that I have a baby they're making a killing off me! I've already filled an entire album in Ryan's first three months! What can I say, the kid is adorable. Shutterfly is giving bloggers 50 free cards (click here for details) for doing a little shameless promo, so here it is.

I suppose I have two decisions when it comes to THE card. First, choose a picture. Second, choose a card. So many of both to choose from. This card will be the first Christmas card as a family of 3 (plus one Lazy Mazie, of course) so it's gotta be a good one! Here are a couple of my favorites.

Something Square?

Something Whimsical?

Something Classic?

Click on the above cards to make your own!

I'm leaning towards a Peace and Joy card. Maybe something less traditional. I'm thinking a one picture card this year. Simple. Decisions, decisions.

PlayGroup

2010-11-19T10:00:00.000-05:00

Ry has a biweekly playdate with Chloe (2 weeks younger), Bianca (2 weeks older), and Charlie (2 months younger). This week we met at our house where we captured these cuties on camera. Enjoy!

"Ryan and his women (Chloe and Bianca)"

"Ryan, the ladies, and his sidekick, Charlie"

Reminiscing. Video Style.

2010-11-18T20:41:00.005-05:00

all things Ryan: 4 months

2010-11-10T14:00:00.000-05:00

Time is flying by! Ryan turned 4 months old on October 27th. He weighed in at 15 pounds and measured 25 inches long. The doctor is happy with his growth. While he is a big boy, he's not much of a chub, yet. Overall, he's a very happy baby and constantly cracks me up!

4 Month Chair Pic

Here's what he's been up to this last month....

~He no longer acts like a fish out of water when on his tummy! He still isn't interested in doing push ups and if he gets frustrated on his belly he just puts his head down (what can I say, he's smart). He can now roll both directions (back to belly and belly to back).

~He loves to watch himself in the mirror. Who wouldn't want to look at someone so handsome?

~He is more interested in toys. A friend recently sent him a box of toys and he loves them. Of his favorites is a plush giraffe rattle.

~He is reaching more and grabbing things.

~He loves to suck on his fingers/hands. Sometimes he is actually playing with his tongue! So funny!

~He is much more vocal. He has conversations with himself and he must be pretty funny because he laughs at himself! That brings me to the best sound ever, his giggle!

~His umbilical hernia is sooo much better.

~His head is growing a bit faster than the rest of him and consequently the doc ordered an ultrasound of his noggin. Turns out his head is slightly larger due to the fact he's just so smart (big brains take up a lot of room, ya know).

~He can take or leave bathtime.

~Sleep is all over the place. Most of the time he gets up at least twice during the night.

~He has developed a self soothing hum. He makes the sound when he is sleepy or trying to calm himself down. It is so precious!

~He continues to be the most loved baby ever!

my little roo

2010-10-21T08:14:00.002-04:00

Ryan loves to be worn....most of the time! And I love having him so close...most of the time!

The Moby "then" (1 week old)

The Moby "now" (3.5 months old)

The Bjorn "awake"

The Bjorn "asleep" (shopping at IKEA is exhausting!)

Random sling thing I can't quite figure out yet...

I wear him while doing everything from household chores to shopping. The baby bjorn gets ease of use points but tends to make my back hurt more. The moby was originally hard to use, but now I can get it on just as quick as the bjorn. And the multiple wide straps make it much more comfortable for me. Ryan seems to like either just fine so long as he's facing outward so he can investigate his new world!

he melts my heart....

2010-10-12T08:15:00.011-04:00

My Little Longhorn!

Super Sweet Boy!

Daddy and Ryan Playtime!

Don't ya just want to kiss him?!?

"What up mom?"

Story time with Daddy.

Caught sneaking some football on the old tube!

Rockin the Hoodie...

The Cutest Pumpkin in the Patch

2010-10-08T08:00:00.002-04:00

"How Tall This Fall?"

Happy Man!

Our best attempt at a family photo

$20 for all you can carry

Our little pumpkin

all things Ryan: 3 months

2010-10-07T13:38:00.000-04:00

He's growing up so fast! Seriously. He's growing before my very eyes. In a mere three months he's more than doubled his birth weight, weighing in at ~14 pounds. And he's gone from 18.5 in to 24 in long! He has a box of outgrown clothes to prove it (in case you don't believe me).

Monthly Picture (click here to compare to last month)

And one second later...

Here's what my little chunky monkey is up to...

~He's learned to roll from his back to his belly. However, since he doesn't like being on his tummy and he can't yet go from belly to back here's how this activity goes: roll from back to belly, scream, mom/dad puts arms underneath body to encourage mini push up, scream, mom/dad rescues baby, repeat, repeat, repeat~

~He's now wearing size 2 diapers and mostly size 3-6 months clothes~

~He smiles all day:)

~He continues to love bath time. Since the time his umbilical cord fell off we've been putting him in the bath with one of us rather than in his little tub. And although less environmentally friendly, so much more fun! He swims around, kicking his legs with a great big smile on his face~

~Our nighttime routine starts around 6pm and is a family affair. First up, bath time. One person gets the bath ready (and bottle warming for afterwards), while the other person gets the baby naked. Then in the tub goes either mom or dad and then baby. Once dry and in his pj's comes story time in the glider. If mom holds then dad reads and vice versa. Up next daddy gives Ryan his bottle while mom gets the room ready for bed (curtains closed, lights off but dimmed for later feeding, room picked up, etc.). I kiss him goodnight and Chris lays him down~

~At night, he (usually) sleeps between 5 and 7 hours, breastfeeds, gets up three hours later to feed again, sometimes he goes back to sleep for another hour, sometimes not. Apparently, this is subject to change, without notice, any given night~

~He now loves music and sounds. We particularly love to rock out to the Rolling Stones Rockabyes (thanks Shannon)! ~

~He sits in the Bumbo for a few minutes at a time~

~Though his umbilical hernia is getting smaller, it's still a whopper~

~He's getting more hair on the top of his head (yes, Chris is jealous)~

~His eye tracking has greatly improved. It is soo adorable to watch him watch his daddy getting ready in the morning~

~His eyes are still blue! Woo hoo! ~

~He loves to play on a blanket or in his play yard. He watches the ceiling fan, the toys above him, and sometimes his crazy momma. And I love that he can entertain himself for 15 minutes this way!~

~He continues to be the most loved baby ever!~

My Men

2010-09-20T08:05:00.001-04:00

Ryan is one lucky little boy to have such a loving, goofy, devoted daddy. Watching the two of them together just melts my heart. Not only do I see the bond between a father and son, but every once in awhile I get a glimpse into our future. What do I see? Kicking around the soccer ball, of course. Silliness. And a lot of mischief, though I'm not yet sure which of the two will be ring leader.

-At birth-

-At 2 Weeks-

Chris is a very involved daddy. For the first month Chris got up every time Ryan woke in the middle of the night, changed his diaper, handed him to me to be fed, then put him back to sleep (or stayed up when Ryan had other plans). Chris also fed him one bottle in the middle of the night so I could get a longer stretch of sleep. Now that Chris has returned to work I've taken over the late night feedings and thankfully nights are much less hectic now. However, the weekends we split; I sleep in on Saturdays, he sleeps in on Sundays.

-Watching the World Cup-

-Out for a Run-

Chris always makes sure I get enough rest. He's not dumb. Let's just say I'm a much nicer person when well rested. In fact, a few nights ago Ryan was up a lot during the night. When Chris got up for work he took Ryan downstairs with him, entertained him while he ate and then put him in his bouncy chair in the bathroom with him while he showered and got ready. And I slept for a glorious, much needed half an hour!

-Night Time Feeding-

-A Pose Before Work-

-Tummy Time-

While Chris is busy teaching Ryan all about sports, chemistry and the ways of the world, Ryan teaches Chris about patience, love and flexibility! What a team.

Swinging with Nonna

2010-09-10T03:27:00.000-04:00

Admiring the swing from afar...

Swinging is exhausting!

- Ryan meets Cousin Alison -

2010-09-09T04:19:00.000-04:00

Both Ryan and Alison were, at first, unimpressed...

Alison was unsure what to think of sharing her Grandma.

But she warmed up. This was my less than successful attempt at capturing Alison giving Ryan a kiss...it was adorable, use your imagination!

Of course, Ryan got to meet his Aunt Katie...

And see Grandma Hayes again!

For some fun (and shopping) Ryan took her to the best fountain in town...

And though she was skeptical at first, she jumped right in and had a ball!

See you at Thanksgiving Cousin Alison!

Shots

2010-09-08T13:08:00.014-04:00

I really wanted Chris to be there for Ryan's two month check up, aka the first shots, but I couldn't get an appointment for his half day. So, I put my big girl panties on and took him all by myself. I've always heard parents have a hard time with their babies getting stuck, but having been the 'sticker' before I thought I'd be fine (not good, but fine). Wrong. I teared up as soon as I laid eyes on the FIVE needles. Then as the nurse was talking to me about the injections the tears started running down my face. First came the oral vaccine. Ryan loved that stuff. Then came the needles. He screamed bloody murder while my tears hit his little head. Then I composed myself and comforted my sweet baby. He cried until we made it to the car at which point he crashed before making it out of the parking lot. I made his four month check up for Chris's half day!

A couple hours later, at home, Ryan screamed like I've never heard a baby scream. Tylenol, check. Warm bath, check. Still screaming, check. Poor baby! So, I went to the tried and true, the boob. Worked like a charm.

Along the same news, the doctor wants us to see a surgeon about his umbilical hernia. She's concerned it's too large to heal itself, though she doesn't think they will do anything for at least a few months, if at all.

And now for some cuteness...

I put him in front of the mirror to look at himself, but he was only interested in looking at the reflection of the fan! That fan is simply amazing...

"Must nap"

My little Longhorn sporting his khaki pants

"hey Mom, look what I found!"

2010-08-30T17:23:00.003-04:00

Video Super Star

2010-08-26T09:56:00.001-04:00

Turn your head to the left...

And an oldie but goodie for comparison...

Skype Sensation

2010-08-25T08:00:00.002-04:00

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

2010-08-23T10:55:00.022-04:00

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

2010-08-19T08:45:00.007-04:00

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.

2010-08-19T08:36:00.002-04:00

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'

2010-08-18T08:25:00.004-04:00

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

2010-08-12T07:12:00.000-04:00

- Uncle Austin -

- Uncle Tristan -

- Aunt Kelli -

- Uncle Dustin -

All Things Ryan: 0-1 Month

2010-08-11T18:30:00.002-04:00

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.

family photoshoot

2010-07-28T01:27:00.011-04:00

When Ryan was two weeks old we had a photographer, James Linkowitz, over to take a couple pictures...

where does the time go?

2010-07-26T13:03:00.023-04:00

It's been quite busy here around the Hayes household. To back up a bit, Ryan had a bit of a challenge with his weight. He lost more than the allowed 10%. He was born at 6lbs, 9.5oz and he bottomed out at 5lbs, 13oz. We found ourselves in the pediatricians office 5 times for weight checks and planning. The last visit he was up to 6lbs, 3.5oz. While it was progress, the doctor had hoped to see more. When he realized I was already at my prepregnancy weight he determined my breastmilk was likely low in fat. So, he put me on a high fat diet. Yep...you heard it correctly! In fact, he told me to eat ice cream daily, at which point Chris laughed and said 'she already does!'. We go back for another check this coming Thursday. In the meantime, we weighed him ourselves and he appears to have surpassed 7lbs, thanks to the chocolate ice cream with peanut butter swirls and chocolate covered pretzels no doubt! Now that he's on track I suppose the high fat diet is no longer in order. The good news is I'm back to my prepregnancy weight, not to be confused with my prepregnancy condition!

Time is flying...Ryan turned one month old yesterday! And after 6 weeks off, Chris went back to work today, leaving Ryan and me here by ourselves for the first time for more than an hour. I realize having my husband home for a month to help with the baby is more than most people get, but I also know it has spoiled me. Chris took the diaper and calming duties in the middle of the night, so all I had to do was breastfeed and go back to sleep. Also, Chris entertained Ryan during the day so I could nap. And now it's all me!

Mazie Meets Ryan

2010-07-16T08:00:00.000-04:00

'Interesting, I should get a closer look at this'

'Yep, interesting alright, need to investigate more'

'Smells funny'

'A sloppy kiss will welcome him to our home'
(Don't worry Mom didn't allow such kisses)

Total Love

2010-07-15T14:06:00.000-04:00

Ryan is now 2.5 weeks old. It really seems as if he's been part of our little family much longer. Well, in the short time he's been here he's melted our hearts. I suppose every parent hopes for a healthy baby. And we were no exception. In fact, I think I was at a disadvantage because I work with babies and children who are sick, from birth or otherwise. So, when Ryan was whisked away to the NICU it was all to familiar ground, but this time I was on the other side.

He had a couple episodes at birth where he dropped his oxygen and required supplemental O2. I tried to be positive but the worst case scenarios flashed through my head. Fortunately, those problems were ruled out the following morning. And then his issues started resolving on their own.

We were lucky to have a NICU with private rooms so we could stay in his room at all times, and he was only held one day longer than me. His arrhythmia will be followed by his pediatrician and then with a pediatric cardiologist if it doesn't resolve by the time he's 2 months old.

Most importantly, he is just perfect! Both Chris and I are head over heels in love with our little boy. He is most certainly well worth the wait!

Ryan's Birth Story

2010-07-08T14:00:00.003-04:00

The beginning

Starting around 6pm on Saturday 6/26/10 I started having increased braxton hicks like contractions. I wasn't able to get comfortable while watching a movie that night and at 10pm I realized I hadn't felt the baby much over the course of the night. I tried all the tricks to get him to play yet nothing worked.

Off we went to the hospital for a check on the decreased fetal movements. The fetal monitor immediately picked up his heartbeat, sigh of relief. However, on ultrasound he wasn't moving like he should and the doctor picked up an arrhythmia. At that point we were told an induction was the safest option as baby Hayes was telling us he would be more comfortable outside the womb.

Our very limited birth plan had been to stay at home as long as possible and to walk around as much as possible before being confined to the bed with an epidural. So much for that. I was told due to the oxytocin and baby's arrhythmia I was to be on the monitor the entire time.

The labor

The contractions hurt. Bad. The epidural was weak. I had to be given multiple increased doses in drugs to sustain comfort. I hated my legs being numb. The doctor wanted to redo the epidural to get better control of the pain. I was on board as the pain of the epidural was nothing compared to that of the contractions.

The delivery

Very relaxed. My epidural was in full effect. I felt very comfortable pushing. 45 minutes later Ryan was born.

The timeline

11pm: arrive at hospital
1am: 1cm dilated, 100% effaced, 0 station, ultrasound shows decreased fetal movement and arrhythmia
2am: begin oxytocin
5:45am: epidural started
7am: still only 1cm dilated
2:30pm: repeat exam with manual cervical dilation, 1cm to 4cm, bulging sack
2:45pm: repeat epidural
6:45pm: 9cm, decided not to have water broken
8:45pm: exam and water spontaneously breaks, 9cm, +2 station
9:55pm: 10cm, 100% effaced, +2 station, started pushing
10:39pm: Ryan Christopher was born

The husband

I couldn't have asked for a better husband during the entire process. He moved my limp lower half as needed (no easy task). He was quiet as requested (and even asked if I wanted him to tell the chatty nurse to hush). He was very supportive and he made the entire process better.

The baby

Ryan was put on my chest directly after birth, though within minutes he was taken to the table in the room for being floppy and requiring oxygen. The pediatricians were called in to evaluate him. He'd perked up by the time the team arrived and they left happy with his 'transitioning'. Soon after he had another episode and the team was called back. This time he was taken to the NICU for further work up and evaluation.

Face Lift

2010-07-06T16:19:00.004-04:00

Chris and I were off work for a week before Ryan was born, and we did a bit of remodeling. Let me clarify; I told Chris what I wanted and picked out the colors. Chris did everything else. Gotta love that boy!

Old (look past the car, we forgot to take a 'pre' picture)

New and Improved! Bye-bye drab green...

On an unrelated note: This is from today. Seriously!

Introducing....

2010-07-02T19:51:00.010-04:00

Ryan Christopher

6/27/10
10:39pm
6 lbs 9.6 oz
18 in

Birth story to follow...

38 Weeks Down, 2 To Go??

2010-06-22T15:52:00.000-04:00

+ 22 lbs - No stretchmarks! - Still able to sleep - In slow motion -

Strange half way out belly button - Ready when he is!

I went to the doctor today and I'm still not dilated, however I'm thinning out. I also lost 3 lbs (which I knew from weighing myself at home, likely due to stress), doc was unconcerned. She guessed the baby's around 6.5 lbs right now. She also said IVF babies were rarely late. In fact, she said babies in general are rarely late and when they are it's likely due to incorrect conception dates. And, of course, I know exactly when this baby was conceived. Hopefully this will prove true...Oh, and she said I'd be in labor soon. Soon...really, of course I'll be in labor soon, I'm 38 weeks pregnant!

Chris's car recently bit the dust, thus the replacement...

Geared up for baby...notice Mazies rear investigating her new ride....

More last minute baby room details...

-Emma Hayes-

2010-06-20T10:41:00.000-04:00

How Emma joined our family...

I brought Mazie home in January 2000. She cried each and every time I left her alone. I knew she needed a friend. Though when I contemplated getting another dog I felt very guilty, I thought there was no way I could love another dog as much as I loved Mazie. But it was best for Mazie so I started looking for her a companion.

When I first saw Emma at Town Lake Animal Shelter she was in medical lock up, meaning she was waiting to be medically cleared for adoption. And though I couldn't play with her there was just something about her that drew me to her. I put my name down as someone interested in adopting her when she was available. I came back 2 days later and was able to play with her. She was so darn sweet and well behaved I just knew I had to have her. Apparently I wasn't the only one, there were 16 other names behind mine on the waiting to adopt her list.

After bringing Mazie up to the shelter to make sure the 2 got along, home Emma came. It was December 19th, the day we celebrated her birthday. The shelters best guess was she was 1 year old then. Oh, and my plan worked; Emma and Mazie were best friends right away. In fact, Mazie didn't cry the very first day I left her alone with Emma. What I didn't expect was to fall in love myself.

Emma's life as a Wheat/Hayes...

Emma moved with us (Mazie and me) 3 times in Austin before taking the cross country trip to New York where she would eventually meet her 2nd favorite human of all times, Chris. Oh, and she just loved playing in the snow. Then our little family of 4 moved to Virginia where Emma fell in love at first site with her huge backyard. She and Mazie shared a bedroom that also doubled as the family TV room. Can we say spoiled?

Emma's favorite things...

Ball

When she heard Chris's car in the driveway she would run outside and greet him with a tennis ball. Sometimes she would get so excited after getting the ball that she would run laps around the yard before bringing the ball back.

'Pets'

She absolutely loved being pet. If she could see your hands she would try and get you to pet her. Sometimes we would hide our hands so she would just relax.

Snuggles
She preferred to be right beside us or in my lap when indoors.

Outside
She could stay outside all day so long as Chris or I were outside with her. She'd catch (and kill) birds and moles and make a valiant attempts to catch squirrels.

Car rides
She would run and jump in the car, tail wagging, ready to put her head out the window. If it was a long trip she refused to ride in the back, insisting on sitting in my lap, pregnant belly or not.

A few Emma quirks...

She liked to dangle her head lower than her body (ex: off the couch).

She refused to kiss or even look at you when she was mad, which was rare (vets office, in the bathtub, etc.).

Even though she was small, she wasn't a fan of being carried. She preferred her feet to be on the ground.

When Mazie and Emma were given a bone, Emma would hold onto hers until Mazie was done, only to tease Mazie with it. In fact, Emma often taunted her sister. I swear she was just trying to get Mazie in trouble.

The worst day of my life...

Emma passed away in 2010, two weeks before baby Hayes due date. She didn't suffer, and Chris and I were with her. She took part of my heart with her. Never in my life have I ever been so sad. She will always be missed and will never be forgotten.

Unemployed

2010-06-18T11:38:00.001-04:00

We are officially unemployed! Chris and the other three chiefs handed over the keys to the kingdom to the incoming chiefs Monday night, and after a couple hours in my office yesterday I'm done as well. If Baby Hayes waits til his due date to make his grand appearance then we'll have a couple weeks to ourselves....though I welcome his birth sooner!

Of course, Chris starts his new job the last week in July and I go back a couple months after the start of motherhood.

This Monday night we went to Chris's boss's house for a farewell dinner. The department chair, program director, and assistant program directors praised each outgoing chief for their work over the last year and teased them for their quirks. Everyone talked about what a wonderful asset Chris has been over the last year and how disappointed they were he was leaving. It was clear he will be missed.

Chris listening to people talk about him....I'm pretty sure this was when Chris was being teased for his spelling/editing abilities. He received a dictionary to help him in his future endeavors!

The Team...

Osteosarcoma

2010-06-16T11:48:00.006-04:00

As I write this Emma is laying next to me sleeping comfortably. Her pathology report came back as osteosarcoma. Bone cancer. And while we were given the option to amputate we chose not to because we learned it would only extend her life by 4-6 months. I just couldn't put her through major surgery for such a short extension. So, we continued comfort care measures. She has good days and less good days. About a week ago she started having issues with her foot that I don't want to discuss. I'll just say she couldn't be left alone for any length of time and my heart started breaking even more. She certainly surpassed the 1-2 week prognosis she was given many weeks ago and I was so hoping she would make it to meet Baby Hayes. However, I now believe she only has a couple days left. With the exception of Mazie, I'm certain no other dog has ever been loved as much as Emma...

Full Term

2010-06-14T08:47:00.000-04:00

37 weeks! He can officially come anytime now. The earlier the better. My OB told me getting really uncomfortable at the end of pregnancy is natures way of making you fear the delivery less. It's working. I'm ready for him to make his appearance. While over the last week my feet have had a bit of swelling towards the end of the day, they blew up yesterday for the first time. It was insane. Here is a picture, though I don't think it does it justice.

I had another shower here in VA this weekend. Thanks Tonia! I got to catch up with so many people I don't see very often. It was a great time!

Chris played in a beach soccer tournament this weekend. My mom used the fact he was away (though only 2 hours) to come in town one last time before the baby comes. After all I could have gone in to labor and delivered all within 2 hours and Chris wouldn't have made it in time. Hey, the whole thing could happen in 2 hours! A girl can hope.

I'm a bit jealous about my baby having more to wear than me! I have a few minor things I need to pick up, but all in all we are ready to go. (this is only a fraction of his clothes!)

And here is one last picture of my sweet family watching the World Cup. Note: the futon mattress is sitting on the floor to accommodate Emma, and yes I continue to get my big belly up and down on this mattress.

36 Week Thoughts

2010-06-07T21:00:00.000-04:00

My feet hurt! They actually feel better when I'm working. Thank God for ugly nursing shoes.

The heat is getting to me. Hot + pregnant = cranky Jenn.

I think it's physically impossible to drink more water. All I do is drink. Well, drink and pee!

Less heartburn and fewer kicks to the ribs make me think he's working his way down.

He's still super active.

Even with the recent woes, all and all this pregnancy has been great.

Chris's last day of work is a week from this Tuesday and mine is the next day. Woo hoo!

I'm in serious nesting mode. I've cleared spaces in both the kitchen and bathroom for baby stuff. I'm almost finished organizing his room. I'm, as always, working on organizing the office.

The belly at 35 weeks...

Last minute room decor...

NY Baby Shower (Emma Update)

2010-06-03T12:43:00.000-04:00

We recently went to Upstate NY for a Hayes family baby shower. Or at least that's why I went. Chris went to play golf! It was great to see everyone and show off the baby bump. I can't wait to see everyone again and show off Baby Hayes! Check out this adorable cake made by my SIL, Katie.

My MIL, Judy

Need a better look at that shirt?

We officially have everything we need. I think. Well, I do need to get another mattress cover as I melted one in the dryer! Lesson learned.

EMMA UPDATE

Emma's been doing so well we decided to take her to the doggie oncologist today. We're currently waiting on the pathology results but the vet seemed optimistic. And by optimistic I mean it may be as simple as amputating the leg. And since she's been practicing on three legs for 2 months now she should adjust quickly, especially since the procedure should immediately remove the source of pain. So, cross your fingers and hope it's this simple!

Emma Update

2010-05-25T10:49:00.002-04:00

Her current medication regimen has transformed her completely. She still doesn't use her right back leg and soon after we switched her anti-inflammatory drug the swelling went way down. While not quite herself, she gets up more on her own and wags her tail a lot more. However, yesterday morning her right thigh was twice the size of the other. In other words, some days are better than others. And on good days it's really hard to remember she's not getting better, just more comfortable and happy.

Eating is still a challenge. Her appetite is still down and she's super picky. One day she'll eat chicken, the next she doesn't like it...just like a toddler. But my philosophy is give her what she wants. And not just with food, she also gets to nap upstairs with mom (see above), and more one on one time in general. Fortunately Mazie isn't noticing much at this point and she's pretty pleased with the extra treats to throw her off of what's going on from time to time.

Texas Showers

2010-05-24T11:09:00.008-04:00

A couple weeks ago the baby and I were showered with love and gifts in Texas. Kendall hosted a wonderful party and I couldn't have asked for more.

We received many great gifts...below is a nursery rhyme quilt my grandparents gave me. I can't wait to use it!

The day before the shower my Mom and I stopped by her office for a quick hello and we were both surprised with a mini-shower. There were balloons, chocolate cake, gifts, and a yummy sopapilla cheesecake! It was a very unexpected and sweet surprise.

My mom and I then went to see the movie Babies. It really makes you realize just how pampered little American babies are. And as a mom-to-be I'm very thankful I won't have to use my leg and a corn cob in lieu of diaper wipes! It was sweet and just perfect for a momma and nonna-to-be.

Breaking Heart

2010-05-18T21:30:00.004-04:00

My sweet Emma is sick. Really sick. What we thought was a leg problem turns out to be cancer of some sort. She continues to walk on three legs but due to weakness it's getting tougher each day. Over the last few days she's stopped eating more than a few bites of only the best foods...steak and peanut butter. She drinks water only when we bring it to her. She rarely gets up on her own. We carry her outside as needed. I haven't heard her bark in weeks. She rarely wags her tail (I think it hurts) but she does roll over to get her belly scratched on a regular basis. She still snuggles and kisses. We've decided not to put her through anymore tests or treatments. She's on pain medicines which she hates taking. The vet told me to expect 1-2 weeks, of course we hope she's wrong. I've accommodated my work schedule to be home more to be with her. I cry on a regular basis. And I'm so upset she may not meet the baby.

Into the Eighth

2010-05-13T11:48:00.009-04:00

I went to the OB this week for a check-up and I'm happy to report I got an A+. I'm measuring right on track, my weight gain is textbook, and little man's heart rate was 150. I was given permission to gently push the baby down, out of my ribcage, where he typically hangs out causing excruciating chest and back pain. I'm fairly certain he enjoys using my liver as a pillow while he practices his grasp on my gallbladder. Though the pain is immediately relieved when I move him, he doesn't go without a fist/foot fight. He should be approaching 4 lbs/17 inches and my doctor warned me that people my size, who look like they would be carrying little babies, often surprise everyone with a big one!

As for the rest of the pregnancy, other than the pain caused by his position, the constant heartburn/reflux, and the occasional jab at my ribs, all is well, though painting my toe nails and shaving my legs is starting to become quite challenging.

We did have a bit of a 'hmmm' moment last night when I had braxton hicks every 10 minutes. After 2 hours I called the doc and after following a few instructions in a lame attempt to relieve them, I was given the offer to come in and be checked out or ignore them. I chose to ignore them. Three hours in total before going to bed. I've had braxton hicks since around week 22 but normally I have about 6 a day, not 18 in 3 hours! So, we were a bit concerned but I woke up this morning back to usual. Who knows what was going on. Maybe my uterus is just practicing for the big day!

-A1A Beachfront Avenue-

2010-05-09T01:05:00.019-04:00

Are Chris and I the only ones who immediately think of Vanilla Ice when we hear 'A1A Beachfront Avenue'? "Hot girls, wearing less than bikinis, rocking lovers, driving Lamborghini's"...anyone? I digress. Chris and I recently went to Miami for what many call a babymoon. That last trip as a family of two. We stayed in Miami Beach, South Beach to be precise. We played the role of tourists well.

Tours of the city by bus and boat.
(most expensive house in Miami- 50 million)

Tour of the everglades...alligators included.

(This particular alligator was trying to attack me and the baby
when Chris wrangled him up and gave him to this nice gator ranger)

Miami Seaquarium.
I can't get enough dolphins, they are just amazing animals.

And of course we ate ourselves silly,
spent ample time at the beach,
and read to our hearts content.

(8 Months)And lastly, a couple of random pics.

(where we ate breakfast, not only could you get a muffin and the best fresh squeezed juice but you could also pick up a variety of medications, a sampling of lean body powders, and condoms. Talk about one stop shopping)

(Even the manikins have fake boobs in South Beach)

Emma Love

2010-05-08T12:00:00.006-04:00

If you know me well, you know I love my dogs like I birthed them myself. I brought Emma home from an animal shelter over 9 years ago. She has the sweetest personality you can imagine. She loves to greet Chris with a ball the moment he gets home from work. And more than anything she loves attention and being pet.

A little over a month ago, all of a sudden, Emma started walking on three legs. After a week, thinking it was a pulled muscle that would heal, I took her to the vet. Her Doc could not find anything wrong and put her on anti-inflammatory meds to help what she also thought was a soft tissue injury. A week later and no improvement we headed back to the vet for her to be sedated for x-rays. While she was still under sedation I received the dreaded phone call. "It's either a bone infection or cancer". "And, it's in both of her back legs". She wanted to take a chest x-ray and run more blood work, which turned out to show nothing. Basically the bones in her back legs are eroding. The right one at a much faster rate.

The doctor suspected it was a bone infection but couldn't rule out cancer. Let's just say treating bone infections is something Chris and I are very familiar with in humans and the possibility of having to treat Emma seems very daunting. And the idea of cancer in my baby just breaks my heart.

Oh, and after I picked her up from having the x-rays done, she wouldn't kiss me or even look at me for nearly 24 hours! She even held a grudge towards Chris who wasn't even there!

As it turns out, this was the first suspected bone infection our vet had seen. She told me what she wanted to do and I told her what I thought we should do based on how humans are treated. My idea won. Emma has been on antibiotics for a just over a week. Either the antibiotics or the disease process is causing her to lose interest in her food and over the last couple days she's been fighting taking her pills (just like a child).

Through everything her spirit remains good. She gets around great on 3 legs. We've made accommodations in the house so she doesn't have to jump. We were referred to another vet for a possible bone biopsy which Chris and I are thinking over. Poor baby!

Everybody Loves BABIES

2010-04-27T16:58:00.007-04:00

There's a new movie coming out, Everybody Loves BABIES. It's true. Who doesn't? This movie looks at one year in the life of four babies from around the world, Namibia, Tokyo, San Francisco and Mongolia.

Check out the trailer...the end is the best!
What a perfect movie for a mama-t0-be.

Employed--Wedding--Garden

2010-04-25T11:16:00.009-04:00

It's final. Chris made his decision. He took a position with a primary care office affiliated with a large hospital network in the area. Though he's still unsure if he made the right decision, I'm certain. I'm very excited that he's taking a month off in between jobs. We'd always planned on this but now the timing is perfect. I'm due July 4th and he's due to start August 1st. That means a month home with me and the baby!

In other new events, my best friend, Kendall, is getting married! While I'm thrilled for the happy couple, the timing leaves quite a crunch. They just chose early August for the happy occasion. This means I'll be traveling half way across the country with a one month old and fitting my postpartum self in a bridesmaid dress! Oh, and did I mention my husband can't join us? Yep, Chris has to take his boards. Fortunately I've recruited my mom as my date and babysitter (for the bridesmaids lunch, rehearsal dinner, and wedding). The real bummer is I won't be able to host any pre-wedding activities....the joy's of not being able to fly in late pregnancy.

And onto the garden. Last year Chris planted a small garden on the side of our house and it did surprisingly well. So, a couple weeks ago Chris planted once again. Cantaloupes, strawberries, lettuce, chives, squash, cucumbers, tomatoes...mmmmm!

Look Who's 30!

2010-04-20T15:00:00.005-04:00

10 weeks to go. 2.5 months. 70 days. Strangely it seems like I've got all the time in the world and no time at all. Hmmm.

Overall things are going well. I've upgraded from Pepcid to Nexium. Sometimes I throw in a Reglan or two, and, of course, Tums are still a regular supplement. In fact, with my Tums intake I figure this baby's bones are solid! Of course, I could also due without the nightly vivid, often downright creepy dreams.

I must say I'm constantly surprised at just how active the baby is. Judging from what I feel (and see), I can only suspect he's doing advanced yoga or perhaps training for the world cup. And he didn't slow down for the doctor today. He was doing backflips as she tried to doppler him!

I didn't gain any weight in the last 2 weeks. This means I've gained 1.5 lbs over the last 6 weeks. Strangely I feel like my belly has gotten bigger. Maybe my weight is simply shifting. Anyway, the doctor wasn't concerned so neither am I. As long as the baby is healthy, I'm happy to be on the lower side of weight gain. Plus, I have a feeling the the next 10 weeks will bring more rapid gains.

This picture is from last week. Certainly not my most photogenic moment... in fact, I look flat out dumpy in the picture:(

A Glipse Into My Future

2010-04-19T18:26:00.008-04:00

Chris plays on a rec soccer team. Before each game they email one another to state whether or not they can play. This past week one players email was a request for a game babysitter. Chris offered up my services.

He still has a few moves...

Letting his team play short to answer a page...

And, most definitely the cutest player...

Baby Space

2010-04-11T11:58:00.016-04:00

The baby's room had a few set backs. Our upstairs shower leak left a missing piece of ceiling drywall in little man's space. We decided it was better to place an access panel rather than replace the drywall once again. Yet, the first panel we put up fell down! We are currently waiting to see how panel #2 fairs.

Here's a before shot...still waiting on the final

The second set back, aka, pain in the butt, was the ceiling fan wall remote control. In our bedroom we have a wireless wall control but for some reason they no longer sell these! Well, the reason we need one in the first place is because our switches work plugs instead of the ceiling plates...its quite annoying. Anyway, we've resorted to using a regular remote which we placed near the door.

Out with the old...

In with the new...

We also repainted the ceiling, a much needed venture. And once all ceiling issues were finished up (thanks babe), the room just fell together....

Of course, there are some details to be tended to, but for the most part we're just waiting for the rooms occupant!

7 month check up

2010-04-09T00:28:00.004-04:00

Glucola- check
BP- check
Urine- check
Baby's heartbeat- check
Labs- check
Hernia- check
Weight- check

First let me say I was told to request the yucky sugar drink while I was waiting in the waiting room. I did, twice. They never brought it to me. I was later told they were to busy to walk 5 feet and hand me a premixed bottle. What's the big deal? Well, after waiting an hour for the drink, I then had to wait another hour before I could have the lab drawn. Why is it that you will be charged for wasting a doctors time yet they can waste yours? I now must wait for the results.

Of course I had to pee in a cup again. And this time I did better. I started going and stopped midstream when I remembered I was suppose to get a cup!

Baby's heart rate was in the 130's.

And I have a mild inguinal hernia. Only minimal pain at times. Doc's not concerned and even said if I ended up needing a c-section she would fix it while in there. My husbands response, "No big deal. I have one too." That's right folks, we have his and hers hernias. Super.

Weight gain over the past month was a whopping 1.5lbs. I actually trust this due to my scale at home confirming. Either way, if I didn't gain any weight then why to I feel so much bigger? Again, doc is happy with it, so I'm happy with it. This was my belly last week.

This officially puts my in my 3rd trimester! Only 12 more weeks to go!

57 minutes

2010-04-01T23:30:00.007-04:00

Last weekend Chris ran in the same 10k that my Mom (and I) ran in last year (click here to see that post). Chris ran only about 8 times in the weeks leading up to the race, so I think 57 minutes is quite impressive. He was simply happy to beat my Moms 62 minutes! Click here for a picture of Chris in the paper (scroll to picture #39). No, he's not the one chasing the nut, he's the one off to the left looking completely exhausted!