Ryder's Birth Story

I haven’t been great about writing down memories of Ryder. I didn’t document when he rolled over, smiled, walked or laughed for the first time. Facebook has been the best “journal” I’ve created. I have some memories posted on there, but overall, I suck. ☹ It’s so crazy how you think you’ll “never forget” the funny things they said or did. But you just do. You’re busy and time passes. You forget the little details. I hope that with this blog I will be able to capture experiences and document what a joy Ryder has been in our lives. So to start, I thought I’d write about his birth story. 

I’ve wanted to write down Ryder’s birth story for two years! I realized the other day that before I know it, I’ll be having this baby girl and then I’ll need to find time to write down her birth story. Time is flying by so quickly. That sounds cliché, but it’s SO true. I never felt the time pass by so quickly as I have since becoming pregnant with Ryder and throughout his life. The time is slipping through my fingers and I cannot believe in less than one month our little baby boy is going to be TWO. 

My pregnancy with Ryder was great. I felt great most of the time and was able to continue working out and eating healthy-ish most of the time. (Don’t get me wrong – I indulged a lot, too!)  At week 26 I went to the Taylor Swift concert with a girl friend. (Yes, I LOVE Taylor Swift and I am not ashamed!) We were looking forward to this concert for months! 

That morning I woke up and just felt achy. Tooth and I went to church and sitting still in a chair for an hour made me want to cry. Seriously, I wanted to cry. But I couldn’t quite put my finger on what was wrong or what I was even feeling? I just knew it didn’t feel good or comfortable. 

After church we went over to a friends house and I pretty much just laid on the couch trying not to cry the entire time. Tim tried to talk me out of going to the concert but YEAH RIGHT. So, my girl friend and I met up for dinner and I couldn’t explain to her what was wrong but I just felt achy or something. I wasn’t sure if I needed Tylenol or Tums?! I was confused LOL. We went to the concert and I got worse, fast. We left the concert early and I remember calling my mom on my drive home saying “if this is how the rest of my pregnancy is going to be – I can’t! I can’t do it!” She encouraged me to call the doctor but I refused. I’m quite stubborn! I had this fear of being the girl who called in every time I had an ache or pain and them saying “oh, you’re uncomfortable?! Yeah, you’re pregnant!” So I didn’t call and went home to get some sleep. 

The next morning Tooth called me from work saying “I think you should call the doctor”. I was annoyed, but knew he was right. So I called. They told me to stop what I was going and go to hospital right away. When I got there, they wouldn’t even let me walk. They made me ride in a wheelchair up to the room where they would examine me. I was so embarrassed by this thinking “oh geez, they’re going to wheel me up, check me out and send me home because everything is going to be fine and I’m just being a big baby! No one said pregnancy was comfortable or easy”. 

But once I got in there and hooked up to their machines they told me I was having contractions every 2 minutes. I was in shock! I pictured contractions to feel so different. SO painful that you can’t talk, etc. And I pictured them to aggressively come and go. But that’s not what I experienced. I just felt constant discomfort around my entire mid section and back. I wouldn’t have ever thought I was experiencing contractions. They continued to check me out and make sure everything else was ok, which it was. The baby was ok and I hadn’t lost any amniotic fluid. It took over 7 hours for them to be able to slow down my contractions. They never stopped fully, the rest of my pregnancy. I was put on Rx to help continue slowing the contractions and put on “semi” bed rest. I wasn’t supposed to be on my feet more than 2 hours a day. That is REALLY hard to do, FYI. 

But the baby was fine and the rest of my pregnancy was normal. I would feel the contractions come and go and tried to take it easy when possible. I was just hoping to make it as far as possible into my pregnancy. I was so worried he was going to come early and I knew he still needed to “cook” a while longer in there. 

Fast forward to week 39.5. My contractions were coming back but nothing too intense. I’ll spare you the details of some other indicators (LOL) that led me to believe he was ready to come out. So Tooth and I grabbed a bite to eat, some Starbucks and headed to the hospital. (Fun Fact – we were in the same hospital room Guilana and Bill Rancic were in when their surrogate delivered their son, Duke.) It was nice that we weren’t really in a rush and it was surreal checking into the hospital. I just kept thinking “this is it!” I was so excited and SO afraid of the unknown. I was afraid of pretty much everything - the not knowing, the pain, the epidural, recovery, everything. 

I was in labor for 18+ hours. I went about 8 hours without drugs because as afraid as I was to experience labor, I wanted to. But after 3 BAD hours of contractions, I was ready for the drugs! I was so nervous when they came in to give me the epidural, my legs were shaking like leaves! Seriously! The nurse and Tooth had to hold down my legs while he gave me the drugs because I was moving so much from the shaking. 

I was asleep (they gave me a sleep aide so I could get some rest) when suddenly 8 nurses came running into the room. They didn’t explain what was happening but put oxygen on me, and starting flipping my body all around. They finally told me that baby’s heart rate had dropped significantly and I was SO scared. I remember looking at Tim in panic and him comforting me saying, “It’s gonna be ok. He’s gonna be ok”. They were able to get his heart rate back up but OMG it scared us so bad. 

A couple hours later, it happened again. This time not only nurses came running in, but my doctor (who I adore) came RUNNING in full speed in her 5 inch heels! I could tell that she wanted to do a C-section right there but I begged her to let me wait it out. His heart rate regulated again and she agreed to wait. She told me “three strikes, you’re out. Anything weird happens again, we’re going in”. And I agreed. I obviously just wanted a healthy baby but wanted so badly to try a natural birth. 

A few hours later I paged the nurse because I had the urge to push. The nurses came in, along with my doctor. I didn’t know why they were in such a rush but I guess his heart rate started to drop again. I was so ready to push and so excited that I was finally 10cm dilated. But they couldn’t get his heart rate to regulate this time. I felt like Elizabeth Banks in the movie “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” where she’s like, “but I typed it!” about her birth plan. Because I really had typed it! I had a very specific idea of how I wanted the birth to go. I knew that it wasn’t likely going to be exactly the way we planned, but we did have a plan. So I was devastated when suddenly a nurse threw scrubs at Tim and they were wheeling me down the hall in a mad rush! It all happened so fast. I just remember Tim not being by my side as I was rolling down the hallway and screaming “TOOTH! TOOTH!” I’m sure everyone there was like, “HUH?! Who’s Tooth?! Crazy pregnant lady.” LOL

We got in the room and they were not messing around. It happened very fast. My epidural had started to wear off and wasn’t as strong as they would have given me if they knew I was going to be having a C-section. They kept upping my dose but it didn’t take effect fast enough and I felt more than I should have during the surgery. Ew. But Tooth was great. He videoed the delivery (not the gross stuff!) and stood by me the whole time making sure I was ok and was so encouraging. Telling me to breathe and that things were going great. 

Before I knew it, he was out. I remember the doctor and Tim both saying “He looks like you!” The doctor lifted him up over the curtain so I could see him. It was SURREAL. THERE’S MY BABY! The nurses took him to the other side of the room to clean him up and check him out. Tooth went with him and would come back over to me every couple minutes to give me updates. He was born on July 15th, 2013 at 5:00pm. He was 6 pounds, 14 ounces and 21 inches long. And he was perfect. After a little while Tim brought him over to me so I could kiss his sweet cheeks and say hi with tears streaming down my face. I was in love and I was SO upset that I wasn’t able to hold him and have immediate skin to skin. But Tim was able to hold him right away and that was better than nothing.

As it turned out Ryder was stuck in my hip structure and that’s why his heart rate kept dropping. My doctor told me he was stuck and she was so glad I didn’t spend hours pushing when I would have ended up a C-section anyway. He came out with a major cone head but it was back to normal about 10 hours later. 

Eventually, they took me to the recovery room where I waited for the drugs to wear off and the doctors could check in on me to make sure I was ok, along with Ryder. I was able to nurse him about 2 hours after he was born and again, so surreal. He was so tiny and cute. When we were taken to our room my Mom, Kristin (my best friend) and her husband Derek were waiting for us. They were so excited to see baby Ryder (who was still nameless at that time). I was so out of it from the sleeping aide, the drugs and the surgery. I was exhausted!!! The next few days were a blur but so special. We had wonderful friends stop by to give our baby boy hugs and bring us food and gifts. It was perfect. The nurses we had were amazing and I was so happy to have my baby boy in my arms. 

We also did a photo shoot with the photographers that work within the hospital. We set up an appointment for her to come by the day after he was born. We took some pictures in our hospital room and these are some of my FAVORITES of Ryder. He was so tiny and brand new. Fresh from heaven. 

The day after Ryder was born Tim pulled out a present for me. I felt silly accepting a Push Present at that moment because my baby was gift enough. But my hubby is one thoughtful man. He’s always been a great gift giver and somehow always manages to surprise me. He got me the most beautiful ring that I will cherish forever! Every time I look at it I think of him, that day and Ryder. It reminds me of so many blessings in my life and I just love it. I didn’t remember this but Tim reminded me that last time we were at the jewelers (getting my wedding ring cleaned) I saw a gorgeous ring and suggested to Tooth that I get it. LOL I was joking but my oh my, it sure is pretty. The same night I saw that ring we found out we were pregnant! I would have never connected the dots or remembered the timing. But Tim said that when we found out we were pregnant he knew he was gonna get me that ring. It’s such a fun ring that catches everyone’s eye and I love telling the story of how my hubby surprised me with that ring the day after we had our baby boy. 

TJ came to visit us the day after Ryder was born and he was SO excited. He wanted all the details about the delivery, how much he weighed, everything. It was so cute. TJ was 8 years old and we could tell immediately that he loved his baby brother and was going to be an amazing big bro to him. He asked a lot of cute questions while he was holding him for the first time. I’ll never forget this precious moment. He sat in bed next to me and held Ryder. He couldn’t WAIT to learn what we named him (we kept it a secret from almost everyone). He asked “why is he wearing this hat?!” Valid question considering it was mid July and hot, hot, hot outside. “Can I see his body? Is he hot all wrapped up like this? Have you changed his diaper yet? Is his belly button still on?” It was really cute. Through our conversation Ryder’s hat started to lift up off his head. TJ gasped and said “He has ears!!!!!!!” LOL It was oh so cute!! Ryder got TJ a gift  - a new bike! He was very excited about it and called every day to check in (if he wasn’t coming into the hospital to visit) until we went home, where TJ joined us as we settled in as a family of four. 

Our birth story wasn’t what I’d thought it would be ... even though I typed up the birth plan! LOL But it ended up being a great experience and we’re just so thankful for all the love and support we got from friends and family. We felt (and still feel!) so blessed to bring home a healthy baby boy. I instantly felt that this was my calling in life – to be a mom. There is no greater gift in life than God giving you a perfect little angel to care for. I am so grateful for Ryder and look forward to watching our family grow as we bring home our baby girl in just five short weeks!

These pictures were taken in the hospital and Ryder was just one day old. I LOVE these pictures of my teeny, tiny baby. Fresh from heaven!

Ryder Paul

Born on July 15, 2013

6 pounds, 14 ounces

21 inches long

These wrinkled little hands and feet led us to calling him "Benjamin Button" while he was nameless for three days. LOL Cutest little wrinkled hands I've ever seeeeeen.

             

Traveling with Babies + Toddlers

I had a few friends ask me about traveling with a baby and/or toddler. I thought I’d post about it since I wish I had known these tricks before we started traveling with Ryder! Traveling with little ones can be tough, but I really didn’t want to be the family who stopped traveling just because it’s difficult. EVERYthing you do is harder with kids! LOL But I didn’t want that to stop us from taking trips and experiencing new things as a family.

Things are different traveling with a baby vs. a toddler. Once Ryder could walk, it was a MAJOR game changer. Gone were the days he’d sleep in my arms. Gone were the days I could nurse him to soothe him. Enter the days where he runs FULL speed from me while I’m standing in line at security, to board the plane, etc. HA.

Plan Ahead for Sleep
I always reserve a crib through the hotel we’re staying at. Almost all hotels and/or homes you rent for vacay offer some sort of crib. I prefer a pack-n-play because some of the “real” cribs are HUGE and take up the whole room! Also, with a pack-n-play I can put on my own sheet from home for Ryder and it just feels cleaner and he loves his super soft sheets from Pottery Barn!

The last couple times we’ve traveled I have called the hotel in advance to ask if the pack-n-play will fit in the bathroom. LOL Sometimes they answer and it’s no biggie. And sometimes they act like that’s the weirdest question they’ve ever heard!

There have been a couple trips where we needed to bring our own pack-n-play and we just curbside check in at the airport. Check all our bags, car seat (if baby doesn’t have own seat on plane) and crib. Easy. And baby things are FREE to check!

When we get to hotel I always try to make the crib/pack-n-play fit in the bathroom. This way I can shut the door at naptime/night and he’s in a dark room with his sound machine on. This gives us the best results for sleep and then Tooth and I can still stay up, order room service or watch a movie on TV. Ryder sleeps so well when he is in a dark room. Just remember to brush your teeth and pee before you put the baby to bed! LOL ☺

One time we couldn’t fit the crib in the bathroom of our hotel. It makes it so hard for him to fall asleep and stay asleep when he can see us and/or when the room isn’t dark. This is hard on you and your hubby, too, because then when the baby naps or goes to bed at night, you have to sit in the dark. Sometimes taking a nap sounds wonderful and other times it sucks because you’re not ready to go to bed at 7:30 on vacay! So we started packing a dark sheet and some pushpins to use at hotels. We then tucked the pack-n-play in the corner of the room and hang the dark sheet up (tacking it into the ceiling) so he can’t really see us. This is not ideal though because he can still hear us and we have to turn the TV off and be very quiet.

This is where renting a house comes in handy because then the baby can have his own room and you don’t have to worry about disrupting their sleep. We’ve also considered getting two hotels rooms that conjoin so that he has his own room and we don’t have to sit in silence when he goes to sleep early at night.

When we’re home I like to keep Ryder on a schedule as much as possible. I HATE not being home for naptime. For Ryder’s sake, and mine. But when we’re traveling, the schedule goes out the window. It’s too stressful for me to worry about him being on a specific schedule, and it isn’t realistic. We let him sleep on us, in the car, in the stroller, etc while on vacation. I used to be really worried about getting back home and him refusing his usual nap schedule and sleeping in his crib, but to my surprise he LOVES getting back home in his own crib. Sometimes the sleep schedule is a bit off for a day or two, but then it’s back to normal with little to no fuss.

Pack-n-Play I use if hotel doesn't have one is HERE. Pottery Barn sheets Ryder loves HERE. Dark sheets (to create a wall) HERE. We always get a second carseat to travel with. Something less expensive that we don't mind getting banged up. (We also use this as our second carseat in Tim's car when we're home.) Infant carseat HERE. Toddler carseat HERE.

Diaper Bag
Laptop (I rarely travel with this), Nursing cover (with baby), headphones, iPhone, Baby Advil, Chapstick, wallet, diapers, wipes, hand sanitizer, sanitizing wet wipes (I try to wipe down the tray, armrests, etc., once in our seats), sunglasses, lots of snacks, blanket, toys, sippy cup with either milk or water and books. I have a couple movies for him downloaded (or some music/lullabies he loved when he was a baby – helped put him to sleep) on my iPhone so he can watch a movie (sometimes only in 5 minute increments, but it works!). I just turn the volume loud enough that he can hear it but not so loud that it’s annoying everyone else on the plane. But honestly, if you were sitting by a toddler, wouldn’t you rather listen to “Frozen” then a screaming kid?? Or be the mom of the kid who is happily entertained? For me the answer is YES!

You can see my favorite diaper bags HERE. Nursing cover HERE. If you're interested, my favorite nursing bras are HERE.

In My Extra Carry On
Small Sony Camera, extra shirt for me (in case I get pooped on, etc.), extra top and bottoms for Ryder, crib sheet, black sheet to create dark space in hotel, more snacks (or baby food pouches when younger – they let you carry this through security. You just have to take it out as a “liquid”), sound machine, sleep sack (when he was little), extra binkies, extra blanket, extra diapers, and anything else that he can’t live without. Just depends on age, etc. But usually some toys, or maybe an extra bottle with some formula (I carried formula even when I was exclusively nursing just because … you never know! Right?!).

Sony Camera HERE. Sound machine HERE. Binky Ryder loves HERE. Binky cord (so you don't lose your binky) HERE.

Play Mat
I bought a play mat that I love (Monkey Mat) that folds up really small. When he was little I’d pull this out on the floor at the gate and let him roll around and play with toys before getting on the flight to get his wiggles out and try to get him really sleepy. I just couldn’t handle the thought of him crawling around the airport floor. EWW. So gross!

Monkey Mat HERE.

Stroller
I always have a stroller with me at the airport (see Security below). This makes my life so much easier. I love traveling “hands free” and having my basket underneath the stroller to hold my stuff. I put Ryder in the stroller, my diaper bag in the stroller and have my very easy rolling carry on. I can also shove the car seat underneath his seat, too! Super easy.

Security
Security is always a pain. No way around it. But I’ve gotten faster and know what they’re going to give me a hard time about. If you have any formula, milk, water, baby food in pouches, etc., they are considered “liquids” and need to be visible. So I put his snacks, baby food, etc., in a big plastic baggie in my bag so that at security I can just whip it out and they can see what it is. I take the baggie out, take the seat off the stroller and put them both in a bin and send them through the x-ray machine. This is an annoying extra step but I really prefer to travel with my Uppa Baby stroller rather than my umbrella stroller. Some people much prefer to travel “light” with their umbrella stroller but I personally love having my big basket and extra space, so I never travel with my umbrella stroller.) Then I put my bags through the x-ray machine. If I have a laptop, this needs to be taken out as well.

I try to take everything out and apart while Ryder is still buckled in his stroller. Then at the last minute I take him out. Hold him while I take apart the stroller and then carry him through the x-ray machine. I used to be embarrassed or afraid to ask for help. I’m always surprised how little people offer help! But I ask now. If I need help folding my stroller or picking up the car seat to put on conveyer belt, I ask an employee. They are usually very nice and willing to help. I think they just don’t know how to help so they just stand there watching. LOL

Once we’re through security and near our gate I let Ryder out of his stroller so he can walk and run around. Again, just trying to get the wiggles out. When he was a baby I carried him on me in my Lille Baby carrier. You can wear them through security and this was so easy! Also, when they’re little I check the car seat because I didn’t buy him his own seat yet – so there is one less thing you have to worry about carrying around.


Uppa Baby Vista Stroller HERE. Double City Select HERE (second seat HERE). Umbrella stroller HERE. Lille Baby carrier HERE - love this!

Before Boarding
I always change his diaper last minute before boarding the plane. When he was really little I could change a wet diaper in my seat with him on my lap in one second flat! But once they get a little bigger this is hard. Most planes have changing tables in their bathrooms, which is nice. But it’s tight in there!

You’ll need to get tags on your stroller and anything else you plan to gate check. Just ask the employee at the gate when you get there and that’s it!

Boarding
Getting from where I’ve gate-checked my stroller to my seat is always hard. I’m usually holding Ryder, (he’s a runner and I am looking forward to when he’ll understand that he needs to stay next to me), my diaper bag, a car seat, pushing my carry on and holding his drink or some food I got for us in the terminal to eat on the plane. This is why I dress comfy! LOL It’s hard work traveling with a baby/toddler!

Usually someone standing in line near me waiting to board plane will say “can I carry something for you?” and I’ve learned to gratefully accept the help. If no one offers I just wait until I can see a flight attendant. Then I’ll tell her where my seats are and ask for help. They are almost always friendly and willing to help. I usually give them the car seat, since that is the hardest thing for me to carry, while also holding Ryder. Sometimes the “help” spreads like wildfire and suddenly three people are helping me carry all my things onboard. This is a HUGE help and I am so thankful for their kindness! Note to self: When traveling alone, always offer a helping hand to a mom in need! ☺

Flying Time
When they are babies this is so easy because you can nurse them or give them a bottle and they’ll usually take a nap for at least part of the flight. I always tried to keep Ryder up through lines, security, etc., until we got on the plane and he always slept most of the flight until he was about 14 months. Now he won’t sleep on the plane no matter how tired he is because there is so much noise and so much to look at. We took Ryder to Hawaii when he was 5 months old. This was his first flight. We were nervous about flying with him. But we had a red eye flight and he slept the ENTIRE TIME to Hawaii and on the flight back! Which was amazing. I just nursed him to sleep and then kept the blanket kind of over one side of his face so the lights and noises wouldn’t wake him. If they are awake, it’s so much easier to entertain a baby than a toddler. One flight he played with his sock and a water cup the entire time. HA!

Here is my usual routine: watch a movie for 5 minutes, eat a snack, watch a movie for 5, read a book, watch a movie for 5, walk the aisle of the plane ten times. You get the picture. Letting Ryder get up to walk around once or twice (depending on the length of the flight) really helps get the wiggles out.

Since he could walk, we’ve gotten him his own seat for flights. This is a HUGE help because you can take their car seat on the plane and lock them in! He doesn’t dislike this because he’s used to it in the car. No wrestling with them and trying to explain to a one year old that they “have to sit still” or “you have to wait until the captain turns the fasten seat belt sign off.” Impossible!

Last Resort Secret
I always carry Dum Dum suckers with me. This is the only time I give Ryder suckers and he loves it! I try to save it for moments he really needs to be distracted. We usually make it until we are at the end of the flight before I resort to this.

BAM. Done and done. It isn’t easy, but it’s totally manageable!! When I travel somewhere with Tooth, it’s just a bonus to have extra hands. I am, however, afraid to travel with TWO little ones! Do you have any advice for traveling with two babies in tow??

Other things I always have:

Hand Sanitizer

Baby Wipes

Headphones (for toddler)

iPad + kid-proof case HERE

Swaddle Blankets - LOVE this compant

What are your tricks to make things go smoother while traveling with kiddos/babies? I’d love to hear your ideas and comments.         

Bye Bye To Ryder's Baby Room

This week we are switching Ryder into his new “toddler” room. I say “toddler” in quotes because he’s still going to be in a crib. I’ll keep him in a crib as long as possible! But we’ll be switching him out of the nursery and giving that room to the new baby. We’ll be adding some pink things in there for her, but other than that it’ll stay pretty close to the same room Ryder had. I LOVED Ryder’s nursery. It’s so peaceful and calm. And I really think he loves his nursery. When he gets really tired he’ll just point to his room or say “bed” and the second we get in there he tucks his head on my shoulder. It’s the sweetest!! I hope he loves his new room as much.

Something about him leaving his “baby room” is so emotional for me. Time is moving too fast and I just can’t believe he’s going to be TWO soon. I’ve been delaying this switch for a long time. I just can’t stomach the idea of my baby being such a big boy. I still call him “baby” and my husband is always saying “he’s not a baby anymore”.  But he IS. He’s not even two yet. Listening to him be such a chatter box is so cute but it’s just constantly reminding me that I can’t stop time. And he won’t be little forever. I’ve said it a milllllllion times but I feel the time slipping through my fingers. I have looked forward to this “mommy” phase of life since I was a little girl dreaming of being a mommy and pushing my strollers around my neighborhood cul-de-sac.

I love that we have toys all over our house and that I find random toys in unusual places while he’s napping or down for the night. Like the other day I found his screwdriver in the fridge! LOL Sometimes I find a toys in the hamper, binkis in my shower, etc. Every now and then I'll pull up to the house to see my hubby and Ryder playing in the driveway and toys are all over the yard and I just love it. So strange, I know. But they are all just little reminders of my mini love-bug and oh my … it’s so fun watching him grow. I love that I have little baby hand prints on my mirror in my bathroom (sometimes he’s sits up there while I’m brushing my teeth or I’m slapping on some mascara for the day). And it doesn’t even bother me that the back seat of my car is covered in crumbs, milk stains and a random collection of toys he’s selected for the day. I love it.

Something about him switching moving out of his baby room just breaks my heart. I feel like before I know it he’s going to be five and headed off to school. I’ll miss him so much. Its so true that when you have a child it’s like a piece of your heart and soul are out walking around outside of you. It’s beautiful and painful all at the same time because I just want to squeeze him and eat him up!

Tonight was Ryder’s last night in his baby room. I don’t know why I’m so emotional about it. I really wanted to get some pics of his room because I love it. LOVE IT. And it’s going to be baby girl’s room now, so it’s going to change a tad. I asked my hubby during dinner tonight if he had any feelings about it and he just doesn’t. LOL Men and their oh, so logical brains! He said he just hopes the transition to his new room is smooth. Which I’m sure it will be. He doesn’t understand why I hold so much emotion toward that room. But I do.

We brought our baby home to that room. When I was pregnant, we sat in there daydreaming about what he would look like, what we were going to name him, etc. I have memories of just sitting in there on the floor day dreaming about him and about becoming a mom. What it would feel like to see him for the first time. To hold him.

I had told Tooth I wanted to get some bookshelves from Ikea (I really wanted two bookshelves - one on either side of the crib) and he said “IKEA?! I think we can do better than that. I’ll build some”. My hubby is reallllly handy. But you guys, I had NO idea my hubby was capable of just whipping together some amazing bookshelves from scratch! That’s a BIG deal!!!!! He had me show him some pictures of bookshelves I liked. The style, the trim, etc. He asked me questions about what I wanted the doors to look like, how tall I wanted them to be, etc. and BAM he made them. It took a lot of time for him, but I think he really enjoyed it. And OMG I LOVE them! They look amazing and I’m in awe of his humble ability to just have an idea and do it. He’s never built anything like this before and … I mean, look! He’s very talented. I was very impressed and those bookshelves are a wonderful memory to me.

I had this idea of something I wanted above Ryder’s crib, but I couldn’t figure out where to buy it. I showed it to my mom and she said “oh, I can make that”. She ALWAYS says this. LOL And she’s right, she can almost always make ANYTHING I show her. It’s amazing. We showed Tim and asked him to cut the wood and make it, and he did. My mom and I painted it and she wrote the saying of my choice on it. I LOVE IT!!!!!!! My mom is SO talented. I love, love, love this piece and will keep it forever. I also showed her this ruler/growth chart I wanted and we made that as well. It was really fun to have projects with both my mom and my hubby for our baby’s room. I look around and see little memories and it just warms my soul.

The light fixture and rocking chair were both splurges and I’ve loved them both so much! Totally worth it. I went through about 4 rugs before I got this white one and fell in love. This rug is amazingly soft!

Tonight we took pictures of his room before I put him to bed. About five minutes after I put him to bed I was in my robe and crying. I went back in to hold him again (something I never do). I picked him up and rocked him while tears were streaming down my face. It took everything in me to not let these tears turn into a loud, sobbing cry!! I didn’t want to wake him or worry him. I just kept squeezing him and thinking about all the memories in that room. All the baths he’s had. Being a goofball and laughing hysterically at the bubbles.

This is where I spent my nights. Rocking him and nursing him at all hours of the night. Just me and him. And Lincoln. Lincoln was ALWAYS there. Sitting on the ottoman. It didn’t matter how many times Ryder woke up or how long I stayed in there with him, Lincoln stayed in there with us. Every. Time.

I was rocking him, crying, remembering that my dad named this room the “womb room” (which he thought was hilarious) because Ryder’s sound machine makes the noise of a womb. It’s supposed to soothe them when they’re little and I’ve just always left it on that setting.

So many books were read in this rocking chair. So many back tickles and songs in his little baby ears.  So many poopy diapers. So many late nights and early mornings. So many outfit changes. So many giggles. So many “I love you’s”. So many tears were shed (sometimes Ryder’s and sometimes mine).  So many kisses and cuddles in this room.

When I look around this room I can’t help thinking of all the memories that were made and how much I love him. I’m so proud and blessed to watch him grow. But OH! I just wish he could stay little forever. Be my baby forever. Things are changing – they are always changing and it’s so exciting. And so hard. Motherhood has brought me so much joy. More joy than I know what to do with… it’s like I’m bursting at the seams!!

I love this little boy so much and for some reason this room change is just another reminder that he’s growing. And things are changing. I swear we just brought him home from the hospital last week! I remember standing in his room taking pictures with Tooth the day we went to the hospital to have him. I had NO idea how much my heart was going to grow. In an instant (well, after several hours of labor and a c-section!).

We’re entering a new phase of life. Ryder’s growing and we’re bringing home a new baby girl soon. And that phase of life will bring a lot of joy, too. I’ve just never experienced such an overwhelming amount of love before. I’ve never experienced wanting to “freeze” time before. I wish I could put these memories and these sweet little moments (like rocking him and feeling his breath against my chest) in a bottle and revisit them later.

Something about knowing we’ll never be in this room doing all those exact same things again breaks my heart. I’ll never rock him to sleep in that chair again. I’ll never change another diaper of his in that room again and I’ll never give him a bath in that bath tub again. Breaks. My. Heart. I’m sure the future phases of life will be just as much fun. But oh, my baby. #StayLittle

Those little foot and hand prints are from when Ryder was two weeks old.

All but one picture in his room is from the hospital. He was one day old here with Daddy.

This picture was given to me at my Baby Shower for Ryder that was thrown by my best friends.

We're holding Ryder's ultrasound picture before we even knew it was a boy.

Holding a real hammer... He's in heaven!

PB Crib

PB Dresser

West Elm Rocking Chair

          

Maternity Photo Shoot

I love maternity photos! I’ve always thought pregnant women were so beautiful and it’s so amazing to see life growing in someone’s belly! But when you’re the one pregnant… you experience it all… the good, the bad and the ugly. So getting dressed up and taking pictures to capture the “good” and the cute baby belly is always fun.

My good friend recommended a photographer she loves and we decided to shoot outside. I had this idea in my mind of shooting somewhere with lots of colorful flowers behind us. I thought it was perfect timing, being early May. WRONG. Classic Colorado. Snowing in early May. Snow came in and wiped out all the flowers that had bloomed. I was so bummed. But I decided to still go ahead with the location (Hudson Gardens) because it’s so pretty and it’s close to home. This way Ryder could swing by for a few pics with my bump as well without it being too much of a hassle.

We had the shoot planned and had to cancel because of the crazy rainy weather. What a pain! When we rescheduled it was another gloomy day with a 65% chance of thunderstorms. I was nervous we’d get all ready and then it would start to rain on us. And let me just say, I do NOT look cute wet. LOL This crazy lion mane of mine gets the tiniest bit of moisture and LOOK OUT. There is a reason one of my nicknames is “Simba”.

We went ahead with the shoot and it turned out great. It was the perfect temperature the entire shoot and the sun even peaked out for a bit. Our photographer found a tree that had white blooms on it and they look great in the pics! I was so happy to get some flowers in the background of a few shots. ☺ 

Our family has used lots of different photographers in the past. I love mixing it up and trying different styles of photography for different occasions. We’ve loved everyone we’ve used and been so lucky to get great family pictures. Anna from Newell Jones and Jones Photography was great! She gave us amazing direction. Telling us where to go, how to stand, what to adjust, etc. I loved the guidance. She was also so sweet and it was fun working with her.

To top it off, I love how the pics turned out! So happy with them and I know I will miss this bump once it’s gone. Having a big bump 24-7 makes even the simplest tasks difficult. But I remember when Ryder was very little that I missed my bump. And before I knew it I had baby fever again and looking forward to having a cute baby bump once again.

I’m so glad my hubby is willing to do these shoots with me. These are moments and pictures I will cherish forever. I already look back at some shoots we did when Ryder was little and my heart just melts thinking back on the different experiences and phases we’ve been through together as a family. Here are some of my favorite shots!

           

Newell Jones and Jones Photography

Me:

Both ASOS Dresses

Freshly Picked Crib Moccs

Similar Pink Heels HERE, HERE and HERE

Stella and Dot Bracelet

Crystal Bracelet

Crystal Necklace

Ryder:

Chambray Button Up

Khaki Shorts

Shoes

Tooth:

Jeans // White Shirt

Black Dress Shoes

See what I pack in my hospital bag HERE.

Favorite nursing bras HERE.

      

Seattle - Our Last Trip Before Baby Girl

My husband is an endodontist (root canal specialist) and every other year we take a trip for his continued education. About a month ago we traveled to Seattle for the endo meeting. These trips are hosted in different cities and it’s always fun to have an excuse to get away and to catch up with some of Tooth’s dental buddies. Neither of us had been to Seattle. I was prepared for it to rain the entire time. Which was ok with me because I had big plans to lie in bed watching TV and ordering room service all day long! But we actually got so lucky and had the best weather while we were there. We had a BLAST! 

I was nervous leaving Ryder again, but much more relaxed this time around.  We did a lot of lying around in the room eating, watching TV, reading, etc. But we were also able to walk around the city and had so much fun. Once again, our trip revolved around food! LOL We had so much fun at the Public Market trying different pastries, desserts, checking out famous hot dog stands, etc. We also spent one afternoon at the Space Needle … and the views – wow! We bought the “fast pass” wondering if it would be worth it and, you guys, it was!  We zipped through the line so fast and my pregnant feet and back were so thankful we didn’t have to stand in line for over an hour to get to the top!

We had tons of fun hanging together and relaxing on this trip.  We loved the city and had a blast catching up with Tim’s good friends each night at dinner.  

Walking through the Public Market trying new foods was so fun and so delicious!

Seattle's Famous Hot Dogs!

Most of my mornings consisted of pancakes in bed and watching TV while Tooth was in class. 

Space Needle adventures

Tooth has a fear of heights. LOL See his death grip ;)

The views were beautiful. The pictures never compare!

Our friend told us we "HAD" to see the famous Gum Wall in the city. It's so cool and so gross! The entire alley was covered in gum.

Our last night in Seattle and last day of vacation before our baby girl gets here.

28 week bump!

Tassel Earrings

Destination Maternity T's

Ray Bans