Ryder--1 month old!

How can my baby be a month old already??? On one hand it feels like we just brought him home from the hospital, and on the other it seems like he's always been part of the family. I can't imagine not having him here. He has definitely changed over the past month! He's getting stronger by the day--he does a great job of holding his head up and looking all around, and when he kicks his feet out and locks his legs, you better have a good grip on him! He's now wearing 3-6 month onesies. Because he is so long, the 0-3 month onesies were looking more like v-necks by the time we fastened the snaps below his diaper. A big fashion no-no! Just in the last two days he has begun to smile at me and Andrew when we make eye contact and talk to him. I got to witness his face light up today when Andrew was holding and talking to him. I don't know who was smiling more--baby or Daddy! :)

Ryder likes... eating, car rides, cuddling with whoever wants to hold him, snuggling in bed with Daddy, his little lamb swing, listening to music, diaper changes (as long as he isn't hungry at the time), and bath time (as long as warm water is constantly being poured on him)

Ryder dislikes... having lotion put on him after his bath, having shirts pulled over his head, and the hiccups--he gets so frustrated!

I guess we better add "Mommy's photo shoots" to Ryder's dislike list! Right after this picture was taken, he spit up all down the front of his sweatshirt, letting me know how he really felt!

A busy weekend

Saturday after lunch we piled in the Suburban along with our friends Mike, Jen, and Kendall and headed north to visit Aunt Alison and Uncle Steve. They hadn't seen Ryder since he was only 8 days old, so they definitely noticed a difference in his size. We had a great time visiting, and the girls even had a chance to go do a little grocery shopping while the guys stayed at home with the kiddos. Another couple came over in time for dinner with their 2-month old twins, so there were babies everywhere! We did a little comparing, and Ryder is definitely longer and heavier than the twins. I have a very "sturdy" little boy. :) Alison said this was her first "baby dinner party", and I think it was a great success!

Alison fed Ryder a bottle when we first got to their house. Unfortunately, a spit-up incident forced her to change her clothes soon after! Sorry, Auntie Alison!

Kendall (7 months) is crawling everywhere! I managed to get a picture of her resting on her quilt before she took off again.

snuggling with Daddy on Sunday morning

Sunday afternoon our friends Nick and Christine came over to visit and bring us a late lunch. Christine got a chance to get her "baby fix" and hold Ryder until he got fussy because it was chow time. After being fed, he snoozed in his swing so the four of us could eat together and catch up since we hadn't hung out in a few weeks.

Mommy's turn to cuddle!

Get a grip

I put Ryder on his playmat again this morning while he was awake and looking around. I jiggled one of the rings that was within his reach, and he didn't hesitate to grab onto it! He has quite a grip and loves to hold onto our fingers, so it didn't surprise me too much that this orange ring hanging by his face looked appealing. What's funny is that he ended up wearing it more like a bracelet as he flailed his little arms around. :)

        

What a fashionable fish bracelet!

Finishing touch

As far as decorations go, Ryder's room has been complete for a while. I didn't realize what was missing until a long-time friend of Andrew's family sent us the perfect finishing touch--a quilt she made especially for Ryder that matches the bedding we picked out for his crib. My bargain wall art that was hanging over the changing table was immediately displaced and moved elsewhere so that the quilt could be hung where Ryder could see it multiple times each day. Thank you, Fran, for such a beautiful and thoughtful gift!

Baby, Dogs, and Toys

The dogs haven't quite figured out who Ryder is and why we decided to bring this little noise-maker into our home. They are creatures of habit (very much like their owners!) and their world has been turned upside down. The other day Andrew was on the floor with Ryder, introducing him to his play gym, when Ashley decided to crawl into Andrew's lap. Yes, this 100+ pound dog still thinks she is a lap dog! And why else would Andrew be on the floor but to play with her?  She snuggled her head between Andrew and Ryder, and I couldn't resist this adorable picture! 

No pictures with Cody yet because he still keeps his distance--he's like a nervous old man. Although I think he's starting to warm up to Ryder. Yesterday I put the baby down for a nap in his crib, and about an hour later when he started fussing, Cody nudged the bedroom door open with his head as if to say, "The baby is crying in here. You better go check on him." I guess we could have saved money on the audio/video baby monitor we bought and just used the Golden Retriever we already have! And in the middle of the night when I go into Ryder's room to nurse him, Cody lays by the foot of the glider; he only leaves the room if Ryder gets really fussy. I'm sure he'll come around--he's an old dog set in his ways!

I love those navy blue eyes!

I took advantage of Ryder's awake time yesterday morning to lay him down under his little play gym. He's starting to focus more and more on different objects--he seems obsessed with the floor lamp in our family room!--so I thought he might enjoy all of the dangling toys and links. He focused the most on the stars hanging directly above him, and he looked pretty happy about it!

A Sappy Moment

Some thoughts and feelings I want to remember...


After Andrew left for work last night, I sat in the recliner, snuggling with Ryder. He had just finished eating and was lying on his tummy against my chest--his favorite position no matter who is holding him. I looked down at him, and out of nowhere I just started crying. I think the realization finally hit me that the baby I had waited so long for was finally here. And he's perfect! Even at 2 a.m. when he's screaming because he does NOT want any part of being undressed to have his diaper changed, I smile at how adorable he is. I love to watch the faces he makes as he drifts off to sleep, and I look forward to the day he smiles at us on purpose because he recognizes who we are. I've always heard from mothers that you just can't explain the love you instantly have for your child, and only now do I understand how true that is. My heart swells with pride when I see Andrew and Ryder together; watching Andrew step into the role of "doting daddy" as well as being a wonderful husband has made me fall in love with him all over again. I love the fact that the two of us "fight" over whose turn it is to hold the baby; there is no doubt he is extremely loved!

How can this picture NOT make you melt???

Playdate

After taking my parents to the airport yesterday, Andrew and I decided to visit some friends before driving back home. It was nice to get out of the house, and Ryder was such a trooper despite his feeding/napping schedule being thrown off a bit. Our first stop was Tim and Heather's house because we hadn't seen them since before their little girl Rylan was born at the end of September. The babies really aren't much different in size despite being 3 months apart in age!

Rylan and Ryder

Ryder enjoyed Rylan's play mat. Now that he's taking in his surroundings so much more, we'll have to get out his play mat at home and see what he thinks of it!