The Fountain of Youth

When you hear about the "fountain of youth", keep in mind that I think of little youthful baby boys. Ryley continues to pee on me when I don't make the draw quick enough and I am looking forward to him gaining some control! The first time Chad changed him I warned him and I was the one who got it... I walked by the changing table to hang up clothes in the closet (Chad happened to miss the whole thing as he was concentrating on the diaper), and an unexpected sprinkler got me practically head to toe! Boys!!!

Hood River

This past Saturday Chad was scheduled to work so the kids and I headed to Hood River to watch Ruby play softball. It rained on the way there and I was afraid the game was going to be called off but by play time it was just sprinkling. It was really cold and the umbrellas were up some of the time which is one reason I don't have any pictures. Afterwards we hung out at Tod and Jill's and in the afternoon we hit the Saturday market and good ole wally world. We miss not having a Wal-Mart near by for all the basic needs like t.p. and Pine sol!

In the evening on the way home we stopped to see our friends the Mansfield's. Here is a picture of Jenney (who had her 4th child this morning, also a boy). We miss them tons and we can't wait to see them again.

It was nice to make the short trip but we couldn't pull an overnighter because we had tons of already missed engagements here at home. But, this weekend we will make it back up for Ryley's blessing on Mother's Day for another quick visit.

David

This is David one of my best friends nephews. His mom Jayne, and her twin Gretchen (only a year younger than me and also my friends), are in the Air force and have been stationed several places since graduating high school. When we went to Eugene two weekends ago we met for dinner and a nice long visit. The kids had only met once when they were babies but by the end of the night Maisey was saying that David was her best friend.

He's doing something funky with his mouth and the sunset was in their eyes but he is such a cutie with his big blue eyes!

My First Trim

Ryley got his first hair cut, or trim this past Saturday. I'd been wanting to cut it since before he was born and I even took scissors to the hospital! However, I don't know how to cut little baby hair so I just trimmed all along his neck and his side burns (which I need to buzz but won't). I heard from a friend who is does hair that you're not suppose to cut it before 1 year because it can permanently ruin their hair line. Surely he doesn't need any caliocs like his dad, so I'm walking on egg shells here. It is getting a little crazy in the back on top and I am contemplating trying out some pomade or wax on the little guy. I know that may sound terrible since he is so small but when it dries it is curly like Cramer from Seinfeld and he doesn't need big crazy hair!

Making Weight

I've surely never had a problem with loosing too much weight too fast but both my kids have. Maisey was very petite until 3 (despite the chubby cheeks), and Ryley seems to be following her lead. With Maisey I always felt guilty at the doctor's office and I thought I was going to be reported to child services. Dramatic, maybe, but I'm totally serious! Before leaving the hospital they made us supplement but just this last week we were able to stop the 2 oz. of formula. Thank goodness! It was such a pain breastfeeding from each side, formula feeding, and pumping, plus the formula stunk! He only gained a small amount over the last week (now he's 9lbs 11 oz.) but I told the nurse we'll take it. The problem is both of my kids are snackers. They barely eat 5 minutes and if they eat for 10 I'm elated. Hopefully he will continue to gain because he seem so small and I'm tired of people saying, "he's so tiny, goodness, how much did he weight when he was born?" It is like memory road all over again... Luckily he has his cute cheeks and baggy clothes to make his little body look fuller.

He's sure getting long! The 1.5 oz. he gained last week was probably in length, but I told the nurse we will take it!

Postpartum Support

Boy, if Ryley makes a peep, and before I can even get to him, Maisey tells me to feed him. She tries to participate and I have to explain that it is my body and that I've done it before and that I don't need her help. I didn't think she would be as involved as she is in mothering him but I sure was wrong! She has become pretty bossy and I find myself constantly saying, "Maisey, please don't tell me how to take care of him" which only brings a scowl to her face. Maisey is so in love with him and it is really nice to see despite their age gap. I know that she will always look out for him as she already gets very defensive and protective of the littlest jokes.

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