HoPpY Easter!!!

We have been busy having some fun this past month but for starters a little update on Ryker's surgery. He has recovered so well! This past monday marked his 2 week mark and I was able to take off the remaining tape strips. The scar looks a lot better than I had ever imagined! He had about 15-20 stitches and they were the disolvable ones so they are all gone! Its amazing the things these drs can do these days, Im so grateful for them!
Besides Rykers surgery we have been able to have some fun too! Tonight we took Ryker and our friends the Bells met us down at the mall to have our kiddos sit on the easter bunnys lap. Ryker did so good-he didnt even cry! Next year may be a different story! But we sure had fun posing them with the bunny and with the decoartions they had sitting the bunny station.
I've decided that every other week Im going to plan an AdVeNtUrE DaY for Ryker and friends! So if any of you would like to join us please let me know...more the merrier! The first one was last Wednesday and we headed to Gardner Village to walk the Jordan Parkway and hang out for Gardner Village for a few hours. It was a lot of fun to get out and have some adult conversation while Ryker enjoyed being outside and enjoyed watching the ducks!
On another day my mom and I decided to take Ryker and my nephews to Discovery Gateway. The kids loved it, but by the time we left we were all exhausted!
One of the many reasons that I love this time of year is to get together with family to do our yearly tradition of dying easter eggs. This year I was even more excited to do this because it was Rykers first time dying eggs! He had a fun time trying to eat the hard boil eggs and dropping and cracking them :) The kids had fun putting on bunny ears and smiling big for the camera!
I cant believe how big my little munchkin is getting! Everyday is such an adventure with him! We have so much fun together! He is at such a fun age! He can sit up all by himself, smiles and giggles all day long...which in return allows me to smile right along with him, says dadadada...(sad day that was :) ), loves jumping in his jumping johnny, still loves his tubbies and LoVes to get down and play play play! Very active little dude he already is! I feel so privledged to be his mom!

Rykers surgery

Oh how I am glad this day has come on gone! Ryker was born with what is called a sebaceous nevi. Its a type of mole that can be cancerous once puberty hits. The drs recommended us taking it sometime before then or now because he wont remember the surgery. So we took there advice and had them remove it! I have been worried about this mole his whole 7 months of life...(I know weird, me worry???...hahah right!)He would often scratch it til it would bleed so I knew it must be irritating him. So we made the appointment and off it came! He had to fast for 8 hours!!! I was a little nervous about this because that is a long time for a babe who doesn't understand why he is starving and no one is feeding him, but he did awesome! Luckily, his appointment was at 8:45 Monday morning so he wasn't awake for an extremly long time without being feed. The staff were amazing and really helped ease my stress and worry! When we first got there we were taken into a room where they took Rykers vital signs and where I changed him into his little scrubs-too cute! They were just tiny! Then we met with the anesthesilogist, the surgery nurse and finally the dr. They explained to us what was going to happen. The anesthesilogist walked with us to a certain point then he said okay from here I will take Ryker. My heart sank,the river of tears came a flowin, we said our I love you's and off he went with some stranger...needless to say that was the most difficult part! Mike and I headed off to the cafeteria where we enjoyed some sweet rolls that some of our friends brought to us...thank you Bell's, they were delicious! We then headed back to the waiting room and waited for about 10 min before they called us back into the consiltation room. The dr said that they were able to get all of it and he is doing great! Yay!!! This was music to my ears! I was then able to go to the post op room and see my sweet boy! When I walked back into where he was and saw him laying on the bed drinking his bottle I was overwhelmed with the love that I have for this sweet little boy. The nurses were laughing and asked if he was mine. I said yes he is! They said he is the best baby, when he woke up from the anesthesia he was laughing, singing and talking. This brought a smile to my face because this is exactly how my little guy is when he wakes up! I was then able to pick him up and hold him. He head bobbing around, it was funny! We then moved into the recovery room where Mike was able to join us. We were there for about 30 min then we were able to come home! I am so grateful for the prayers that were answered and that our little guy is home, safe and doing very very well! I am SO glad this day is over with! I feel so blessed to live by such an amazing childrens hospital! Thanks for all the prayers,love and support that was shown to our little family on this day!

SIX Months!

I can't believe that my Ryk's is 6 months old! Where has the time gone?! We took him into the dr today for his check up and he weighs 17 lbs even (42 percentile) and is 27.5 inches long (59 percentile). He is a growing boy!

He is starting to get a little personality and I love it! He is the happiest, smiliest baby ever and he makes me so HAPPY!
At 6 months Ryk's can...
*Sit on his own for about 5-10 secs before tumbling over :)
*Eat solid foods...LOVES everything that we have given him...peas, green beans, squash, sweet potatoes, pears, applesauce,etc...
*Sleeps through the night!!!! YES!!! Goes to bed between 9-10 wakes around 6 for a feeding then back to bed and wakes around 830 for the day!
*Takes 4-5 naps a day
*Smiles ALL of the time
*Giggles
*Loves finding his toes and chewing on them

*Roll over on his left side from tummy to back...(hates tummy time!)
*Makes the cutest sounds like ahh and ooohhhh
*Sits in his tubby without the net
*Puts everything and anything in his mouth
*He is ticklish on his sides and giggles like crazy when we tickle him

He is my best bud and I Love him to pieces! I feel so privleged to be his mom! I love EVERYTHING about him and he makes me so happy! Happy 6 months tomorrow my sweet little Ryk...you make mom and dad so PROUD! We Love You!

Christmas & New Year's

We had such a fun, busy, eventful first Christmas with Ryker! Christmas Eve my dad and I did our annual Christmas Eve shopping tradition for my mom. Later that night we went to my Grandma Gunthers for dinner and presents then to Mikes grandparents for more dinner and presents. When we got home we put Ryker to bed and put his gifts from Santa under the tree! It was so much fun! I didn't wrap them this year because I figured it would be the one and only year that I wouldn't have to. Christmas morning Mike and I got up at 7 to exchange gifts with each other. Rykers gift to us this year was sleeping in until 8:15! Yay! Then the fun began...off to my parents for Christmas breakfast and gifts, then to Mikes parents for more food and gifts, then to my Grandpa Bruces house for more fun then to Mikes grandparent Stringhams and the last and final stop is to my grandpa Dick and Dee's house. It was a go go day but I wouldnt have it any other way! Ryker was a little champ and was just happy to be there. We got a lot of fun things this year..Ryker got money, jumping johnny, saucer, clothes...and MORE clothes...he will be outfitted for a good while. Mike got a wakeboard, cologne, shoes, clothes and money and I got a Cricut, clothes perfume, money, shoes, and the best gift of all was having Ryker there to share this special time of year with!
>For New Years we headed to Mikes aunts house for food to start the night off then we headed down to Lehi to our friends Ben and Allison's house where we had games and lots more food and celebrated the New Year with them and some friends! The next morning we took off and headed to Bear Lake. My family had gone up the day before so they were waiting for us. The lake was frozen so we pulled a tube behind the wheelers on the lake, it was a blast! Mike even went on a tube with Ryker...and he loved it...loved it so much that he fell asleep! :) 2009 was a fabulous year, I have so much to be grateful for...and heres to another fabulous year...hope 2010 brings you lots of happiness and good cheeer!

LoVE tHiS TiMe oF yEaR!

I have been such a slacker lately since becoming a member of facebook :) But hopefully I will be better! I had to update my blog because I LOVE this time of year! I love the Christmas decorations, the snow, the smells, lights, the special Christmas Spirit...but I am most excited to celebrate Christmas with Ryker! He will be 4 months old on Dec 11th...yep 4 MONTHS! I can't believe how fast time has gone by! He is growing too fast! Im not sure what he weighs right now we take him in for his 4 month appointment next week...but Im thinking around 15-16 lbs! He sure likes his food! He is getting a little more hair...and when I say little I mean little. But hey atleast we can still do a fauhawk! He is the happiest baby! He is always smiling, laughing, talking and making me us so happy! He loves to sit in his bumbo and look around acting like a big boy! I am a very lucky mom/wife to be able to share this special time of year with him and Mike! Recenlty Mike got put in as Elder's Qurom President. He still has lots and lots to learn but he is enjoying it. I am still on the enrichment committee and teaching the 16-17 year old sunday school class. Life is so good and we are thankful each day that we have together! We hope you and your families are all doing well too and wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Wonderful New Year! We love you! :)

...What a BLESsInG...

On October 11th not only did we celebrate Ryker's 2 months but Mike also blessed him that day. It was a perfect day! The blessing that Mike gave Ryker was amazing, Ryker was such a sweetheart during his blessing, we had delicious soups, breadsticks, and treats and were supported by our loving family and friends. Thanks to everyone that helped make Rykers blessing so special and memorable! We love you!