
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Oh My.....

Brusha, Brusha, Brusha!


I apologize for the poor pictures, my other camera wasn't cooperating, and neither was this one!
Ready Set CRAWL!

This is fun time though, but she is fast and only getting faster, I have to step up my workout just to keep up!!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
"Lessons From a Baby"
She asked all of us new moms to tell a story about the one lesson (of many) that we learned from either our pregnancies or raising our babies. I chose this lesson and here is the story I told her-lets hope it will be in her book one day soon-she is very talented!
Prior to having Ryan I felt fairly certain that I determined my own destiny, created my own chaos and was trapped in a cul-de-sac of self-righteousness, my way IS the right way. I was childlike however in the manner in which I ran my life, doing only what was absolutely necessary to maintain dignity and riding coat tails. When we first started trying to conceive and it wasn't working, my "take action" side kicked into gear- just go through the check list of what they need us to do, show up and do it, and then we will get pregnant. Ok, well, I marked off all the things on their check list, went to every appointment, and took every drug they asked and nothing. For 7 years-nothing! I spoke to friends, family, strangers who would listen, doctors and I was told over and over again the phrases that haunts most who cant conceive-"Just let go.", "Stop trying.", and my personal favorite, "Stop thinking about it". Not succumbing to cliche, I persisted on, trying all new treatments, prayer, hypnosis, the works. Then finally a new doctor told me in January 2007 that this will never happen for us and we should look into adoption if we really want children. Devastated we returned home to a "normal" life and and my husband began to pursue a new job. The search and interview process took some time, but finally he got the job and we decided to put the adoption talk on the back burner until we moved and got settled. The time line consists of him interviewing in May, getting the job in June, and moving August 6, 2008. On August 8th I had a job interview and was getting ready. I had to dig through mountains of boxes to get everything I needed to shower and beautify, and while on my "bathroom" expedition, I stumbled upon an old pregnancy test. I was a few days late, which wasn't all that uncommon, normally all I have to do is take a pregnancy test, get a negative result and it comes within minutes. So thinking I was late because of the stress of the move, I decided to take the test in hopes of "jump starting" my period. It was positive. Say again? It was positive. Right there, in that moment, with the shower running and in the middle of moving boxes, I had an epiphany. They were all right, the cliches were right. Just when we sincerely and genuinely let go of the idea of ever being able to conceive, just when we truly stopped thinking about it, and just when I gave up on having any sort of control over the situation is when the miracle happened. From that very moment, to the pregnancy itself which is a total exercise in letting go, I have learned that none of us have complete control over everything. We can guide ourselves to be sure, we can make decision in our everyday lives that better our situation, certainly. But it is in the letting go when truly miraculous events can and usually do occur.
Jump to 10 months after Ryan being born and she reiterates the point every minute of everyday in a thousand beautiful ways. Plans, with all their good intentions, are thrown out the window because you just don't know when she will sleep, or get hungry, or have a cold, or a dirty diaper. You can't plan when they will say they first words or crawl or walk. You set up the most fabulous photo shoot to capture her lovely face and she cries the entire time only to smile when the camera is down and it isn't until later when casually taking pictures she flashes her brilliance. Now, I will admit, I still try, every now and then to dictate the order of things, usually unsuccessfully, but out of all the lessons she has taught me: the love I didn't know I was capable of, and patience I didn't know I had until now, still my motto remains "Go with the flow!" and that was the best lesson my daughter taught me from the minute she was conceived!
Monday, January 12, 2009
Ryan made a friend...



So Ryan really attracts people every where she goes. I can't explain it. She doesn't make much noise or make large gestures, just sits there and they come to her like a moth to a flame. This cutie pie little girl came over to us while we were waiting for the swings at the playground. She walked right up and held Ryan's hand. If Ryan was bugged or annoyed, you would never know it. She was just as sweet as could be and the little girl helped Ryan out with her paci, it was a very precious and memorable moment.
This actually reminded me I need to tell the story about us picking her up from daycare and when we got there all the kids were circling Miss Linda. I made a comment about her having a captive audience, and she said, "Well, its not for me, its for Ryan" It was only then I noticed Ryan sitting at the play piano with all the kids watching her bang on those keys....truly hilarious moment! She had those kids eating out of the palm of her hands! The song was hideous though...
Who does she look like most???? HMMMMM


But there has been much debate surrounding us and for many they are convinced she looks exactly like one or the other!!! It is so funny to hear-Oh my God Jen, she looks just like you!!! Wow Jen I cant get over how much she looks like Jamey. No one seems to say she is a nice blend, or cocktail if you will of each of us. So based on these pictures, what do you think....Jamey or me??? (Just FYI-I think she looks just like Jamey-for the record).
Not many days like this in January...



Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Ahhh...Disney at Christmas!





As much as I wanted to take Ryan to Disney for her first Christmas, there was no way I was going to pay like $80 a person for something she wont remember anyway. Yes, yes, I know I would have the memory of taking her, but that is quite a costly memory! Also, my parents live there, Disney is in their backyard, I think we will make it a few time in her lifetime-certainly no rush. However, I do love the Disney/Epcot area at Christmas and did want to go for a visit. So my mom, myself, Jamey and Ryan spent the day wandering around all the resorts (do you know how many resorts there are now? Back in my day, orange groves outnumbered the resorts-now I'm not so sure). Anyway, she got to hit the highlights anyway, the Wilderness Lodge, and then we hopped on the monorail for the resorts on that list (plus you can see the park and the castle). We ended up at the Boardwalk and hung out there for a bit. While she did awesome in all these places, I could tell that it may have upset me if she was so casual about the sights had we actually gone to the Disney...not her fault, but still. She did seem to like all the characters in the stores and people made quite a fuss over her! Our favorite part of the day was when we were at the Wilderness Lodge and decided to hang out by their pool (yes, we crashed the Wilderness Lodge's pool-hooligans) we noticed there were ducks in the pool and all around the grounds were friendly bunnies. Seriously, I dont know how Disney does it, maybe they put something in the water, but how do they make the real animals behave like cartoon characters? Unreal! Only Disney! I do know this, we will go next year, and I will bring more comfortable shoes.....
Friday, January 2, 2009
If you HAVE to spend Christmas in Florida....




Christmas Day





Also, Aunt Judy, as you can see Ryan is no longer afraid of the cow...Carol the Cow to be proper. :)
Orlando vs. New Orleans- A Fan is Born!




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