Nine and Half Months!

When Ryder entered the world back on June 6, 2011, he came out red as could be (this picture doesn't do it any justice).  He was as red as a mad hornet, and his attitude has stayed that way for 9 1/2 months.  

I can understand post partum, I can understand shaking baby syndrome, I can understand walking away from your baby.  I get it now.  The past 9 1/2 months have been filled with more challenges with our very strong-willed second child that I hope we never have to go through again.  Ryder was a cranky, cranky baby from the get go.  I tried taking everything out of my diet, to see if it was something that I was giving him when nursing.  We resorted to formula (which quite frankly, I was totally okay with since I'm not a huge fan of nursing...but do love the benefit of WEIGHT LOSS from it!).  We tried different kinds of formula, and finally decided that maybe he was lactose.  Why?!  He just cried all the time!  So I figured it had to be because of his food.  I tried different kinds of bottles.  We did different bloodwork to make sure that all everything was alright.  I tried carrying him, rocking him, singing to him, keeping the house quiet, everything.  Many days, I would place him in his crib (screaming!), close his door, walk to our bedroom, close our door, turn the tv on for Ezra, and curl up in the fetal position and cry myself.  I couldn't understand what we were doing wrong, or what was wrong with him.  FINALLY, after having this look of "I'm losing it" to our family doctor, and handing him another spit up bib, we thought perhaps he had GERD (reflux = heartburn).  So onto a medication he went.  That seemed to help some, but Ryder was still a cranky baby (by the way, this is at about 3 months).  

Another 6 months passed, of a cranky baby that seemed to only be happy in 30 second intervals.  30 seconds of happy and about 3 minutes of crank!  Then 30 seconds of happy with 3 minutes of crank.  It was a continuous circle.  I never liked leaving him with anyone (including his grandparents), because I knew that he would be cranky.  Case in point...when he was a month old, we left him for 24 hours with one of my bestie's: he screamed for her for the full 24 hours.  It was so hard for me to find out that he would not stop crying.  It really got to the point that we just accepted that this is how he was going to be and we prayed fervently, that this to would someday pass.  

It is so hard to truly love a child when they cry all the time.  I would tell Ryder "I will always love you...you are just making it hard to like you right now".  I'm sure that this is some of the reason why it has taken Ezra so long to love Ryder...who wants to love a screaming baby.  Really?!?!??!

A couple of weeks ago, we headed up to Edmonton for 24 hours as a family.  I was super duper CRAZY worried about this trip.  Would Ryder scream the whole time and drive us crazy.  How would we manage in the hotel?  What would the full day in Edmonton be like?  

Crazy enough, the drive to Edmonton was decent.  He slept for some of it and I fed him treats for some of it.  He did really well while we were out for supper at Olive Garden (which I will mention, is a first - the doing well part! - ...dining out for us had gone on hold because who wants to listen to a crying baby in a restaurant...not me!).  That night in the hotel room was horrible, as I had expected.  He was essentially up for the whole night crying.  At 4:00am, Steve came out of the bedroom door, only to find me sitting on the floor by the door with my head in my hands (we stayed in a suite with a separate bedroom).  I didn't know what else to do...so I'd left him in his playpen crying.  Steve took over and I was finally able to get some sleep!  As did Steve, once he got Ryder back settled after another 1/2 hour.  We were exhausted in the morning!  

But you know what....once Ryder woke up that morning....he has been a changed boy since!  He was happy the whole day, slept all the way home, and there hasn't been any turning back since.  It truly was an answer to prayer.  I have had 2 amazing weeks with a beautiful 9 1/2 month old!  Ryder is fun to be with, fun to be around, and fun to LOVE (and like!).  It was a long 9 1/2 months....but today, I love my second child more than anything.  That love is like nothing else!  

Swimming Lessons!

I can't believe that Ezra's swimming lessons come to an end tonight.  We have had such a great time with Auntie Janel and Logan and Ezra has become quite the little fish (although the back float still requires some smartie bribing :)  ).  Last Wednesday, I sent mom into the pool with Ezra, and I headed in as well, with camera in tow.  Here are some fun pictures of what we have been doing each Monday and Wednesday for the past few weeks!  

They have to ask to come in the water....since Ezra's speech is still a work in progress...he stands there...thinking...than says yes pleeeeaaaassseeee :)  

Turtle song that results in front float and the dreaded back float :)

Ezra's (and just about all of the kids) favourite activity.... "5 Green and Speckled Frogs".  He get's to jump off the ledge into the water.  

 A new fun activity!  Who ever came up with this idea was brilliant!  Ezra was all over going through it on Wednesday.  

Treasure Hunt Time!  The kids stand with their eyes closed and she dumps a large container of toy.  When they are allowed to open, they go on a treasure hunt and put them back in the container.  It's amazing how small things can amuse them.  And just so you know - I tried it with toy pick up....it doesn't have the same affect :)  

A few weeks ago, when she asked if they would like to go on a treasure hunt...Ezra looked at her and took his pirate stance, and went "arghhhh".  It took everything in her not to laugh :)  

One wouldn't think it would be hard to get a picture of Logan and Ezra (after all, both of us mom's scrapbook....not like they don't know what to do when a camera comes out!).  

I give up :)  

We will miss swimming lessons each week...more, we will miss seeing Auntie Janel and Logan twice a week!

My Red Ball

We have quite a few Discovery Toy toys in our home for the boys to play with.  One of the toys is a red "spongy" ball that smells like strawberries and you can squish (and while it is being squished, it squeals).  Ryder loves this ball!  The other day, he had a hold of it and played away with it and just loved it!  

He even had fun with it while in his jolly jumper!  

What a fun little boy!

Brotherly Love

We have had many changes in our home the last couple of weeks and one of them has been a small budding friendship between our two boys.  Ezra does not like to share or have anything to do with his brother, and Ryder has no problem bawling Ezra out on a regular basis.  Steve and I are confident that there will be many, many battles in their childhood/teenagehood and possibly adulthood!  However, in the last few weeks, Ezra has started to play, occasionally share and even more seldom occasionally hug his brother.  Tonight, was one of those nights that the brotherly love was coming through with them both.  So I grabbed the camera and took some shots.  Just so that during those heated moments, I can take them both by the arm...show them these pictures and remind them that they really do love each other!  

Ryder's First Haircut

Ryder has needed a haircut for a very, very long time!  I have been delaying it as it just didn't seem right that we needed to cut his hair before he was one.  But this past week, it was a little extreme, so onto the phone and lucky us, Lanaya had an opening, so off Ryder and I went.

He did so super well and smiled away through the whole process.  

As well, not only did he get his first hair cut at 9 months and 3 days, he also got his first tooth that day!

He is growing up!

9 Months Old and Counting....

We have been working on trying to help Ryder learn to crawl.....so far we are very unsuccessful.  The other morning, I spent close to an hour on the floor with him on his stomach, encouraging, praising, and placing toys - just out of reach.....all I got was smiles.  And then when the bowling ball came out, he snatched it up like he was such a big boy and I gave in to the "learning to crawl".  

Week 24

Here's a picture of week 24 for you all.  

She is a very active baby and is still treating her mommy with great respect!  I commented to Steve the other night that not only have I not had morning sickness, craved nothing serious, but those wicked painful charlie horses/leg cramps in the middle of the night when I "don't mean to" stretch my legs...have yet to appear!!! :)  :)  

Do You See What I See??????

No?!  Well, let's try a different shot...

Still no?!  Maybe you should try cleaning your glasses :)  Here's an even more close up!

Okay, I'll make it easy one you! 

We had our 22 week ultrasound a few weeks ago....and yes, I will no longer be completely outnumbered come the end of June! :) :)  

As Steve says, I just about did a backflip on the ultrasound table when they confirmed my own "gut instinct" :)  And as the above pictures says...Ezra is pretty excited too!  

For those of you that we were wondering how we told our parents....I had great plans of a super cool way, but ran out of time (I'm not going to share my super cool way, incase I get to use it another time!)....instead, we asked Ezra "what's in mommy's tummy", which he would reply "aby".  "What kind of baby?"  "Girl".   Steve's mom didn't believe us at first and his parents had the kind of reaction that we figured they would have....great big smiles on their faces (once they got over their we-aren't-going-to-believe you!) and Jan lept out of her chair with hugs for us all.  

I am so excited to have a daughter!  I just know that her and I are going to have so many great memories!