My Birthday Gift

For my birthday my in-laws and grandparents always give me money so that I can buy whatever I want most. I love the freedom of being able to spend it the way I want to... And this is how I spent it this year.

Each year I have always planted flower baskets and they've always died in the hot Hood River sun. I think that these will live since we aren't facing the sun most of the day and we have some shade too.

If not, I will just have to keep re-planting like years passed.

I only wish I hadn't left my old ones at our old house in Hood River because they were almost identical except they were semi-circles.

Ryley Bear

Our friend Jamie baked "Ryley" this cute bear loaf of bread. As you can see he is missing a nose and a limb... Maisey thought it was like ice cream and wouldn't stay out of it since we never eat white bread (except for when we are out of town at my grandparents). Thank You Jamie!

Catching Up

I've had several people tell me lately they have been checking the blog out and haven't seen anything new... I only wish the assumption that I'm probably too tired and I'm resting when he does was the reason- but that is far from the truth. Our life hasn't slowed at all. Which has me looking forward to the beginning of June when Maisey's current activities come to an end until the summer session- which we may and probably will forgo. Just yesterday I registered for summer term (boo whoo) and the term begins in about 6 weeks on June 23rd. We will probably swim as we do every summer each day and visit with friends, and along with school work we should be booked to the fullest. Luckily I will have a month off after summer term before fall begins!

I knew things wouldn't slow down much for us with another one in tow, but I am apologizing now because I have slacked on is taking pictures!!! It is true for number two, you aren't as eager as you were to capture each moment as you probably were with the first one. It has been a month since Ryley's birth and the last thing on my mind is taking pictures. However, don't quite checking in because more are on there way very soon!

Little Poser

We wanted to have some fun with our camera before we take Ryley to a studio and here are some photos we took... We are also waiting for his clothes to fit a little better! I'll tell you, he might be a big baby but his 0-3 month clothes are still huge!

One Chic Find

I ordered this cool nursing cover (the same print, although there are tons to choose from) and I totally love it. I never thought of such a thing but two of my gal friends pointed the same company out to me, as they knew it was something I would love. www.bebeaulait.com/

Thanks Alexa and Jenny!

Which will it be???

We have another "sucker" on our hands! I am giving all I can but we had to introduce a binky, or as it was named in our house, a "wubbi" this past week.

It took several different brands and various sizes to do the trick but...

We're pretty sure this is the one (the newborn MAM)! For now anyway... Maisey started out with one brand and size and switched on us down the road.

My Visitors

By this coming Saturday Ryley will have met the majority of the family. Here are a couple pictures of the people who love him and visited him this week on the Guenther side.

Aunt Carrie and Cousin Colby

Aunt Jill

Oma

Cousins Peyton and Colby

We will wrap up the end of this week with my side of the family and we can't wait!

Ryley Dean

Here are some pictures of our new "little son". Well, maybe he's not too little, but he sure is smaller than everyone predicted! He was born at 8:04 pm on April 7th and he was 9 lbs. 9oz. He has the sweetest little temperment and a little cry -which we've hardly heard! Although he sure follows after his big sis in regards to looks, he has proven to be much quieter-so far anyway.

We hope to go home soon (preferably today) and we are waiting on the doctor as we speak so that we can approach him again about our departure.Dad and Ryley after Dad helped give him his first bath.

Ryley is also awaiting his circumcision today!

Here is big sis and she sure is proud!

Ryley was quite stubborn and was still riding high in the womb well through the delivery. Because he was so high they had to do a lot of pulling to get him out, which included the vacuum. Now he has an elevated swollen mass towards the side of his head which at first caused some concern. However, he had a head ultrasound and things proved to be so far so good. Now we just have to be on the lookout for jaundice due to the blood vessel irritation.

I have a horrible case of "pink eye" which I somehow came out of recovery with (which also explains my absence in the photos). The c-section recovery or aftermath has been nothing compared to the incovenience and even pain from the pink eyes. Maybe I should re-think the pain meds and take a Vicodin!

Last Appointment

Today was my last appointment before Monday's c-section! I was so glad since I have been spending more time than usual at the doctor's office... I have seen more people in the last two weeks than I have my whole pregnancy! But as we all can agree, the payoff is priceless.

I will also be glad to take off some off this "baby" weight!

The Final Countdown!

On Sunday I realized that this is Maisey's last week as an only child.... Although I DON'T think her world will change very much (as many others do), I decided to take each day and treat it special. It is kind of sad because I don't think she has noticed (although she is very thankful she is use to doing these things all the time), but at least I did.

***I didn't have my camera with me because it was packed in the hospital bag but I still threw in some visuals.

On Monday we went bowling.

We didn't cosmic bowl as the picture shows, but this is the same ally. We love it because it has little metal ramps for the kiddies to put their balls on top of and they can basically roll them without any effort.

On Tuesday she went with Dad to the Children's Museum.

We just re-introduced Maisey to the clay studio and she loves it. We had taken a LONG break and I think she forgot it existed. Her very favorite thing to do, and she runs to it when we arrive, is paint her own face.

On Wednesday we went to playgroup and to a lunch play date afterwards. The girls made their own pizzas for lunch... Something Maisey loves to do at home for the entire family when it is her turn to cook!

Always a quick and fun meal for picky eaters!

Thursday we went to Pump It Up JR.

We don't know this kid, but he is at the inflatable party center which you can check out on-line if you're interested.

And for tomorrow, we aren't entirely sure but I think it will involve primping and more girly time of some sort.Maisey gets so mad when I get pedicures without her (and she ALWAYS notices and tries to guilt me with a "Hey Mom, you got your toes done without me, no fair!").

Last weekend we stayed home an entire Saturday (for once Chad was the one with cabin fever) and I cleaned out the garage. After wards Maisey and I had "craft time" and we made this "Final Countdown" visual aid to pass away the days until Ryley arrives. She made many things and I ended up doing most of it because she lost interest with Dad playing the Wii nearby... I plugged away until it was done and she has enjoyed keeping track.

The countodwn pages before assembly.

Starting with 12...

Down through the final delivery!

Pet Smart

Chad is so excited because he just took a job with Pet Smart. He has ALWAYS wanted to work for them but in the past the scheduling wasn't conducive. However, after working for some pretty nasty managers lately, the opportunity once again presented itself and he gladly accepted. He begins on Wednesday and he is very, very, excited to work as a Pet Specialist with the lizards, birds, snakes, fish, hamsters, and other critters. Maybe now he won't keep asking me for a pet! I am not a big animal lover...

Gentle Healer

I want this picture SO bad and today I just stared at it forever in the church bookstore... I want to buy it in the near future (I hoped to by now, but things have come up), so I thought I would post it so I can still dream about it whenever I check the blog.

Eye Opening

I have to take just a minute to post about two of the many books that left an impression on me this past term. These two specific books happened to be from my Social Change class which focussed on the lack of finite energy resources we have left. If you've never heard of peak oil, and it is reality that we have long passed our peak, you should read one of these eye opening books. Reading them has definately made me more concious regarding energy conservation and the future of our world.

Broccoli Salad

This picture doesn't do justice in its attempt to express the flavor in this salad. I made it for Easter and it is one of my favorites (my mom turned me onto it), and of course it's Paula Deen! Everyone has enjoyed it, so I thought I would post the recipe on the blog. I think it is a sure hit and it is so colorful!

Ingredients:

3 or 4 heads of broccoli

6 to 8 slices cooked bacon, crumbled (optional- I usually omit)

1/2 cup chopped red onion

1/2 cup craisins (optional)

8 ounces sharp Cheddar, cut into very small chunks

1/2 cup chopped halved cherry tomatoes

Dressing:

1 cup mayonnaise

2 tablespoons white vinegar

1/4 cup sugar

salt

freshly ground black pepper

eBay

I am so excited because I just posted my first eBay item up for sell. I thought while I am home over the next couple months I would make it a goal to learn to sell on eBay... Every year we get rid of tons of Maisey's old clothes but I have still hung onto many! It's kind of hard to part with them because her clothes (in my opinion), will never go out of style. Anyway, we are going to try to cash in so we can support our second child... We will see how it goes. If you know anyone looking for clothes, send them my way.

Easter

Just a couple spare pictures... Her hair finally fit into two little braids today!

Easter Treasures

Maisey was so thrilled that the Easter Bunny (partially my grandma), had sent her more than two pieces of candy this year. We try to avoid sugar but she got more than usual thanks to some outside contributions.... Her favorite was a chick that lays eggs that are really gum!

Easter

This year we celebrated Easter close to home at Adam and Carey's house. We had a delicious meal and the kids enjoyed hunting for eggs as usual (although indoors because of the yucky rain outside). Carey (my sister in-law) uses a wonderful color coded system with the eggs which works out great for the children. Each child is assigned a different color of egg to search for so that everyone gets an equal chance to hunt despite the possible age differences between the cousins.

After the hunt

Carey's 6 foot festive tree which she decorates for every holiday, including the kids birthday's and back to school... Something they will always remember.

The cute kids table

Annual Dye Time

Every year since Maisey has been born we have dyed Easter eggs in Hood River at Oma's and Opa's. However, this year we did not... Jill, Tod, and Ruby were out of town, Ryley is ready to arrive at any time, we don't live in Hood River, and Carey and Adam have been working a ton, so we dyed eggs with a smaller group (Adam, Carey, Peyton, and Colby) at our place. Chad was in charge of pictures and consequently, we didn't get too many (especially not good ones!), but that doesn't really matter because everyone had a great time tye dyeing, sponge painting, and decorating the many, many, many eggs.
Maisey and Aunt Carey


The beginning stages...

Shower Time

Last Thursday my visiting teachers threw me a baby shower and the turn out was excellent. With spring break, Easter, and it being on a weeknight because of my finals in the days leading up to it, I wasn't sure who would be able to make it... However, lots of people showed up to celebrate in Ryley's honor and have a good time. JoAnne and Cheryl (my visiting teachers) set everything up so nice and I really appreciate them taking time out of their busy schedules to do such a generous thing. I was really lucky to have them assigned to me when we moved in to the ward and they are great "mother-like" role models who balance work and family perfectly, while serving and living the gospel as we are asked to.

Not now...

Well, an update on the lottery outcome... The drawing for one particular nursing program I have been interested in was on Tuesday. However, my number(s) were not picked this year. I firmly believe that EVERYTHING happens for a reason and with the little guy on the way and less than a year left on this other degree, I am ok with that. After this year, I will decide which of the two programs I am interested in and decide which one(s) I want to pursue and I go from there. For the last several years when thinking of time I have naturally equated it with "terms", which after four equal a year, and I just don't want life to fly by as quickly as it does. Maisey is almost five and it feels like I had her maybe three years ago. I'm trying to slow down a little and do the simplest of things like keep better written records of found memories and funny quirks. Well, if that doesn't happen, and it isn't always easy, thank goodness for cameras, video cameras, and blogs!

I'M DONE!

No, not being pregnant (although that would be nice too), I am done with finals, which means I am done with one more term! And just in the nick of time... Since I got home from my weekend away I haven't been able to see my ankles. Despite these unsightly "kankles", I do realize that I am very blessed to have gone through this pregnancy without any hypertension, pre-eclampsia, or expensive weekly stress tests! Because of that I was able to "knock another term down" as I like to say and now I am so ready to meet this little, I mean big guy!

Mmmmm Baby!

This weekend while I was in Eugene my Aunt Michelle held an afternoon baby shower in my honor- I mean Ryley's. It was sweet and intimate with the ladies of the family (my side) and a couple of close family friends. Maisey enjoyed opening Ryley's gifts and she will really be excited when she realizes that he won't be able to open Birthday or Christmas gift for some time!

The cake was from my favorite bakery and had cherry filling (if you know of a good bakery in the area let me know because nobody comes close to this quality and flavor).

Thank You Aunt Michelle and Family!

Mr. Wolverine

This weekend Maisey finally got to debut as Wonder Woman when she accompanied my brother as his child escort in his high school's senior pageant. The pageant role was made up of 11 seniors and together, in less than 4 months they raised over $29,000 dollars for The Children's Miracle Network! These guys worked so hard on their skits and choreographed dances so that they could put on the best show- which they did.

In the picture below and to the right my brother is playing the guitar while the other guys join in for a song. He is a very talented musician and has had a band since he was in the 8th grade. For the last couple of years they have been playing gigs all around town at clubs and in bars (even though they are minors... but my parents are always there to cheer him on), and they have also recorded a CD. The name of his band is Trapped in a Mini-Van (you can look it up on Myspace). He sings, plays the electric guitar, drums, and pretty much does it all. Hey, he has so much musical talent maybe he got all of mine (I was born without any)!

On the left is a clip from the formal wear segment and he is escorting our mother.

Maisey looks up to her Uncle Chasey so much and her Aunt Erin too. She loves visiting Eugene and she loves all of the attention and treats that Grandma and Grandpa give her! She even commented while eating the "forbidden" chocolate cereal one morning, "Mom, I get to eat junk food here but not at home, huh?" Between a weekend of: rehearsal (and fruit snacks), performing (and treats that were awarded whether or not the child needed to be bribed or distracted), Chuck E Cheese (and a lolipop), Ryley's shower (and cake), a couple of nights at Grandma and Grandpa's (with gum and other hidden treats), and just all around fun, I think Maisey loves being the first grandchild!

He's a Whopper!

It has been too long since my last post but school has been wrapping up and my last final for the term is on Tuesday. Yeah!

Now, to the point...

We had an ultrasound on Wednesday and Ryley "weighed" in at 8 lbs. 4 oz.!!! I still have 3+ weeks to go and so he will probably end up being around 10.5 like the "Doc" predicted two or so months ago. My Doctor is also a Stake President and he is going to General Conference in Utah which happens to be right before my due date and he will be gone the last two weeks of my pregnancy. His first day back is Monday the 7th of April so I am scheduled for a c-section that afternoon (it will be a long day of fasting and of course an exciting night of bonding and adjusting). However, We will see if he chooses to come sooner or not!!! I really DID NOT want another c-section but when he was weighing in big at twenty-one weeks, I think that was when I really came to terms with the fact that a VBAC might not be possible. Hopefully Maisey (ok and I), will be able to handle the separation while I recover in the hospital for a few days.

We will keep you posted if he makes his debut any sooner!

Anxiousness

So I put up the crib and cradle a couple of months ago and now feel like I have nothing to do. Chad is tired of me going through Ryley's stuff again and again like I have OCD, but I am soooo excited for this month to progress! I have been so eager to "nest" and I don't have much to do because I usually do things the minute I think of them... School is coming to a close (I already finished one class, without consent 4 weeks was shaved off the term, but don't get me wrong, I am thankful). Now I have a little extra time and yesterday I managed to get in some exercise and I took Maisey for a good bike ride, cleaned out the car, set up some baby gear, swept and washed the patio, and cleaned the windows and tracks. I thought I should get my "Spring" cleaning done now so I don't have to worry about it when Spring actually arrives. Lately we have enjoyed the wonderful sun, its Vitamin D, and the extra energy that it is giving us as it takes us out of the house (not that we aren't gone enough)!