Ryder's First Christmas

   Ryder had his first Christmas this year. It was the best Christmas I've ever had! It is hard to believe that last Christmas, I had no idea Ryder would be here. Last year, my life was on a totally different path, but I'll save that for another post. I would never have imagined having a baby by this Christmas, but I wouldn't have had it any other way.

   Ryder hit two months on Christmas Eve. He has become so alert, and loves to watch everything that's going on. He is starting to regularly smile and lift his head up. He won't remember his first Christmas, but I always will. 

   With Ryder being so little, I didn't personally do much this year. I did, however, take in all the different ideas and traditions that others have. Next Christmas will be a lot of fun because Ryder will kind of have an idea of what's going on. I will probably start a tradition or two next year for my little family.(:

Christmas Eve real life, Ryder did not want to be lain down at all the night before Christmas.  

   If Christmas is your favorite time of year, and you don't have any babies yet, just wait. I've always loved Christmas, but now that I get to share the magic of it with my son, I absolutely adore Christmas. I'm so excited for the years to come! I'm excited to have Santa Clause, Christmas lights, a Christmas tree, Christmas Jammies, and so much more.

Mean muggin on Christmas Eve, is he not the most adorable baby??(:

   I hope everyone had an amazing Christmas, and I hope everyone with new babies took it all in and just etched the memories in their mind. I hope everyone took too many pictures, and had too much fun. I hope you spent too much time with family, and spent a little too much money on presents. I hope everyone ate too much good food, and took too many naps. I hope you all shared too much love and cuddles, and gave one too many smiles to a stranger.(:

Merry Christmas from my little family.(:

xx

Eight Weeks and Responsibility

   Eight weeks feels like forever and yet it feels like no time at all. It seems like I just brought my baby home from the hospital yesterday. I cannot believe Ryder is eight weeks old. My little lanky baby is growing everyday. 

   When I say eight weeks seems like forever, I mean that I can't imagine my life without Ryder. I was happy before this little baby came into my life, but I don't understand how. I don't understand what I was doing before having this little baby. This baby that God gave me is my everything and makes me want to wake up every morning.

   He is smiling now, all the time. He reminds me of Toothless the dragon from How to Train your Dragon. He is lifting his head like a champ. He doesn't need help anymore unless he is tired, then his head starts flip flopping a bit. He grabs things now, such as my clothes and hair (ouch!). He is so aware, and he just takes everything in.

   He looks at me like I'm his world. I will be doing something, and I'll glance over, and he will just be looking at me. He will be studying me, and it just make me feel so proud and happy. It also reminds me of the responsibility I now have as a parent. Proverbs 22:6 states, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." 

   I have such a serious little boy!

   I am this little boy's mother. He will watch me as he grows up. He will be a mini me, and a mini of whomever he grows up around. He will see how I act and handle situations, and he will more than likely act and handle situations similarly as he grows and matures. 

   I pray I will always remember that, and that I will be a good role model for Ryder. I pray Ryder continues to be healthy. I'm so thankful for my baby boy.<3

xx

PS I'm sorry for my almost two week blog hiatus. It is a busy time with Christmas approaching. ONLY FIVE MORE DAYS !!! 

  

Six Weeks Post-Partem

   I had my doctor appoinment today. It was so weird being back after not going for so long. I am officially four pounds under pre-pregnancy weight (go me!). Now to just keep that weight off! I am healthy and everything looks good. I have felt awesome, so I would have been surprised if everything hadn't been good. 

   Ryder has hit the six week mark, and is growing like no other. He has learned so many new things lately. Because he is going through a growth spurt, he wants to eat all the time. Every two hours (sometimes less) he is hungry and wants to eat, and nothing else will do till he gets some food, otherwise, he is an extremely happy baby.

   Ryder has started holding his head up, grasping, and smiling. He still needs help when he holds his head up, because he gets tired after a short amount of time. He has really started grasping, like if I go to lay him down, he will have a handful of my short or hair. He does not like to loosen his grip either! My favorite thing he has learned is that smile of his. I am just a puddle on the floor when he smiles at me. His smile is like telling me that I'm doing something right. I adore it!<3

   Six weeks into parenthood and I'm still loving it. Things are so good, and let me be real for a bit. There are things about parenthood that are not fun, and are a little stressful. The other day, Ryder decided he was hungry while he was in the car. He cried almost the whole way home and I felt so bad. It wasn't a long ride, but it still tugs on my heart strings. Being a mom is such a responsibility, but it is also the best thing in this entire world. I love him so much! 

xx

   

Five Weeks and Change

   Ryder is a little over five weeks old. He is getting so big so fast! I took him to the doctor today because he has been congested, and got his stats. He is 10 lbs. and 7 oz. and 22 and 1/4 in. long!! It makes me so proud that he is growing so much!

   

   This picture made me want to cry though! This is a four week difference. I did not think that there would be so much change in four weeks, but oh my goodness!! He stretches out now and he plumped out just a bit. 

   

   He just started smiling the other day! The day before Thanksgiving, he smiled on purpose for the first time. I haven't caught it on camera yet, but I'm sure I will soon.(: He is also holding up his head so well. I am gonna have to get the bumbo seat out soon and see if he likes it.(: 

   I'm so excited for Ryder's first Christmas! I just put up a Christmas list post up before this one, and I'll be putting up a gift guide of sorts tomorrow (I promise, it is already written, I just have to detail it and finish it up!!)

xx

Christmas Lists

   Every year, my parents would ask us kids to write down a Christmas list. That is seriously one of the hardest lists to write for me. I never knew what to put down. I didn't want my parents to think I was selfish by asking for stuff too expensive or too much stuff, whereas on the other hand, I did want to make a small list and only get what was on my list! 

   Besides the fact that Christmas lists are hard for me to write, my parents always knew exactly what to get me. They've always gotten me the perfect gifts. My parents know me better than I know myself for sure. 

   Well, I made a list this year for Christmas. I made two, a list of things I really want right now, and a list of things that I'd like to have. I'd like to share these lists with y'all (partly because I know people will ask me what I want for myself and/or Ryder, and I can direct y'all to my handy dandy blog post, but mostly because my parents asked me for my list too)! 

1. (and 4.) Gift Cards

   They looked better not put together, but they are the same thing pretty much. Gift cards are the best gift in my opinion. It is better to get one item and a really nice gift card rather than get a lot of items. I love gift cards because I can buy exactly what I want or need, when I want or need it. And let's have some real talk, I hate when I get a gift that I don't really like (especially from someone I do like). It happens to all of us, but you can't go wrong with a gift card. I can say thank you and really mean it!(:

2. A TV Mount

   I'm asking for a TV mount this year because as of right now, my tv is being tilted to where I can see it without a glare with a pair of rolled up shorts. 

3. Hunter Boots

   I've always wanted a really good pair of rain boots, but never could find some that I truly liked. I've researched rain boots because I wanted to get the best rain boots. These hunter boots in grey are exactly that (the best rain boots). Everyone who has a pair, loves them, and they are simple and sleek. Grey is my color, it matches everything!(:

4. See number 1.

5. Diapers

   I need diapers. I thought I'd get a lot of diapers at my baby shower and as gifts, but, surprisingly, I was only given about four packs of diapers before Ryder was born. Any guesses on how long four packs of diapers lasts?? (Not long... At all, ha) 

6. Wipes

   Guess how many packs of wipes I got (half of the amount of diapers). Again, wipes are a necessity for babies!! 

   So, in conclusion, a pack of wipes or diapers and a gift card is literally the perfect gift! Hope this helps with my Christmas gifts!;) A second, more broad list of things I'd like for Ryder will be up in the next post! This second list will also be helpful with ideas for any babies!(: 

xx