Ryder's 16 Week Old Trick

Whheeerrreeee's Ryder???

THERE he is!!!

Ryder is 16 weeks old today! Happy birthday man!

Holiday Wrap Up

Many of you may or may not know that each time a holiday rolls around, we've got on average six stops along the way. Lots of people don't seem to understand how we do this with a little baby, etc., etc., but we're just thankful that we have so much family. Plus, we really don't know it any other way. We're just happy that no matter where we go, we know we'll always be back in our own bed that night.

Stop #1 - JM's extended family - Yazoo City

Stop #2 Dad & Becky's - Sunday before Christmas

Stop #3 Meme's in Greenville - Christmas Eve (Ryder was napping)

Stop #4 JM's Parents in Vaughan - Christmas Day

Stop #5 Mom & George's in Clinton - Day after Christmas (note Ryder in the corner)

Stop #6 JM's Aunt Kathy's in Benton - Two Days after Christmas

Sorry - No Photo...Camera was probably dead by then!!!

We should win some type of award!

Really good holiday recipe - PEANUT BUTTER CLUSTERS

1 1/2 package Almond Bark

1 cup peanut butter (creamy)

3 cups rice crispies

2 cups dry roasted peanuts

2 cups mini marshmallows

Melt bark in the microwave. When creamy stir in peanut butter and add other ingredients. Drop on wax paper and refrigerate for a couple of hours. Take out about 30 minutes before eating.

First Picture with Santa

This was taken about a month ago at The Cupboard in Clinton. He's really changed so much since then. Merry Christmas!

It's only 3 days until Christmas and John Michael and I don't have a single gift for eachother. Someone gave JM this idea the other day, and I think we're going to do it. This guy and his wife can never decide what they want from their spouse, so this year they are setting a limit and going out to buy themselves gifts. They will wrap the gifts and open them Christmas morning and neither one knows what the other got... make sense? I think we'll try it this year. On another note, when people ask what we're getting eachother and I tell them we haven't gotten anything yet, they always say, "oh it's okay, I know you're too busy spoiling Ryder with gifts." Well, not quite. Are we bad parents? He's just got so much right now and there is nothing we can buy him that he doesn't already have. So, we have decided to give him the gift of college! That's right, we started him a college fund so that when he gets to that point, hopefully he won't have to worry about taking out loans and this will encourage him to be something really really great and then he'll be able to let us retire young and it'll all work out for everyone =). Just kidding, but really, we decided this would be the best gift from us to him. We know that grandparents will get him the things we would like to buy such as clothes, books, etc., so we'll let them do that and we'll do this. I think it's a great idea!

Ryder is 3 months & 2 weeks today. Last night I layed him in the crib the same way as always and when I woke up this morning and looked on the moniter, he was faced the complete opposite direction. The funny thing is he is all swaddled up so that little worm wiggled all the way around with just his booty I guess?

Ryder & Papa

sweet sweet boy

Ryder & Grandaddy


Tons of little cousins on the Wilson side

Who Said I Can't Track?

Okay... confession, John Michael and I are a little overbearing when it comes to the so called "milestones." We (yes I said WE) read all kind of stuff about what Ryder should be doing at this point, etc, etc. Well at his 8 week appointment Dr. Penny noticed he wasn't tracking very well with his eyes. We had already noticed that and been concerned because of all the books we'd read. Well at the appointment she said he was thriving and there was more than likely nothing to worry about. Next thing I know, she is calling at about 12 weeks and says she is just wanting to follow up on our appointment and wanted to know if he was tracking any better. P.S. we LOVE her... side note! We said that we had noticed it was a little better, but not 10o%. Well we set the appointment for a week later (which was this past Thursday, December 10.) He had made a huge change and was looking all over the place, following objects and lights. We felt all along that things were fine, but since the opportunity was offered, we could not turn it down. Dr. Penny said he is following perfectly. NOW...let me tell you why I love John Michael. I didn't even discuss this with him because secretly I want him to think this is just how it's supposed to be, but any time there is anything to do with Ryder, he automatically assumes he will be in attendance. When I made the appointment, I told him about it and he was like okay, I'll mark it on my calendar. I know to alot of you this may not be a big deal, but the few times we've been to the ped dr., I've noticed it's always just the mom. Well, not us, we're going to bring the clan. It was not even a question if JM would be there, it's just an obvious. I have never asked him to come along, he just assumes he'll be there, and I LOVE it! He is such a dedicated dad. I've never seen anything like it. And best of all, he's had morning shift since Ryder's birth. It has been so helpful. I HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE waking up early. So, since Ryder is sleeping until 5 - 6 am, JM has gotten up with him and takes him to Connie's (babysitter - great by the way!) He'll feed him and go back to sleep until I wake up at about 7 ( don't have to be at work until 8:30 and I work 5 minutes from my house). Fact about myself, I am an over-analyzer (sp?). I worried the entire time I was on maternity leave how in the world things would work going back to the career world. How would I pump enough for him to have...(are you kidding me? We literlly have 25 bags of frozen milk in the deep freeze). When I say I over-analyze, I OVER ANALYZE!!!!!!!!!! I do think that this year I've done alot better. Ever since giving childbirth, I've calmed down alot for whatever reason. I was so OCD before, but now I just kind of go with the flow.

Psssstttt.... another fact about myself that I've learned since giving birth: I was so adamant about not going back to work. What was I thinking? Going back to work has truly been wonderful for me. I love my baby more than anything, but having a break is nice, and any mother that says otherwise is fibbing... a nice word for LYING! That could very well be because I love my job though. Either way, I love being a working mom (however part time would be REALLY nice, and I'm working on that). Ta-ta for now!! =)

It's GONE!

I know this is weird to share, but I'm really excited about it... all of a sudden I noticed that line you get on your belly while pregnant has disappeared! It looks soooo weird now! I kind of miss it??? Not really... Anyway, I've kept all kind of notes in my journal from the day I found out I was pregnant so that I can share things with friends who have questions, or so that I can look back and make sure everything is on track for the next time around. So, for anyone who is wondering when their line will dissappear, mine left 3 months to the date after my delivery.

Happy 3 Months Ryder

I can hardly believe it's been three months. I know all you moms out there are thinking 3 months is nothing, but still!!! Ryder is doing good staying up when propped against a pillow, he is looking around and very alert, smiling up a storm (mornings are his favorite), eating between 4.5-5 oz bottles every three hours, and best of all, sleeping through the night for the most part. He woke up Sunday morning at 8:00 after going to bed at about 10:00. We put him on a schedule pretty much from the day he was born, and it has paid off, majorly.

Egg Bowl

Cute Christmas outfit from Nanni