Happy Birthday Bo!

Yesterday Bo turned 29 years old!  Can you believe in one year he'll be 30?!

We enjoyed crab bisque and chocolate cake, per Bo's request and had a great evening!  We love our daddy so much and are lucky to have him!  Happy Birthday!

Pumpkin Carving

Brodie and I planted some pumpkin seeds a few months back and we actually got 4 pumpkins so tonight we did pumpkin carving for Family Home Evening!  Fun Stuff!

Here's Brodie creating a face for his pumpkin...

Then Daddy helped him cut the top off

I think he thought we broke the pumpkin...

Scooping out the guts!

I love his little "thinking hard" lips

And our family of four... except unlit because my candles didn't want to work.

Mommy, Ryker, Brodie, and Daddy.

Ryker's pumpkin was still a little green, but it worked out because like the pumpkin, Ryker wasn't quite ripe either.  His pumpkin also has a sleepy face, 'cause that's what Ryker does best!

And here is a picture of the little cutie!

One Week Old

Yep, Ryker has already been with us for one week!  I'm not going to say it was an easy week, but I have been loving every minute of it!  Ryker was pretty fussy at the beginning, had a hard time nursing, and was succumbing to jaundice.  One week later - he's waking up every four hours, his skin is looking better, and he's become a nursing champ!

I know this is a horribly fuzzy picture, but I never seem to have my camera around when this kid has his eyes open, so it will have to do!

Sunbathing in his swing.

Brodie rocking out a tune on the stereo.

Brodie has been adjusting better too.  He is very affectionate towards Ryker... almost too affectionate and I think he's getting used to sharing Mommy's attention.  He loves helping me change Ryker's diaper and always seems very concerned when Ryker is crying. 

I just love my boys!

Ryker Steven Scott

Introducing Ryker Steven Scott

5lbs 14oz, 18.5 inches long

Healthy and Cute as can be!

And so the story goes...

Tuesday morning 10/12/2010 I woke up around 7:30 am and felt like I was having real labor contractions.  No way right?  I mean, I was only 36 weeks along.  Bo thought he should stay home, but I honestly thought there was no way I could be in labor so I sent him off to work.  About an hour later, I called him and told him he better come home from work.  My contractions were 4-6 minutes apart, lasting anywhere from 30-60 sec, and slowly intensifying.  I called my doctor's office and asked if there was anyway I could change my weekly appointment to that day because I thought I might be in labor, but I wasn't sure.  Of course my doctor was off, but they got me in to see another one.  At 1:00 I drove myself to the doctor and had an examination - 4 cm!  Ok, this was real.  The doctor was concerned and didn't feel comfortable sending me back home because I was only 36 weeks along.  He recommended that I go to the hospital to see if they could stop my contractions.  This is where I decided it probably wasn't a good idea for me to drive myself to the doctor.  After a mini-break down, I met Bo and Brodie at the Park and Ride and we headed to the hospital after dropping Brodie off at one of our friend's house. (Thanks Jill!)  Bo and I were very unsure about trying to stop my labor.  Our philosophy has always been to trust my body and what's going on with it and let things come as natural as possible.  We checked in with the hospital and I was taken to the ER, where I was put in a very small tiny room.  I hadn't toured the hospital yet, so I first thought that this was the birthing room and I was freaking out!  There was no way I was going to deliver my baby in a room the size of closet on half of a bed.  Turns out they had to take me there first because I was under 37 weeks.  They monitored the baby and I for an hour to see if things were progressing.  The baby was doing great and I had jumped up another centimeter, so they told me I could walk around and then check back in to see if things were still progressing.  It felt so nice to finally walk around and Bo and I strolled outside taking breaks to fight through the contractions.  We checked back in again and they finally decided to check me into the delivery room, which was MUCH more suitable!  I continued to labor and labor and it was awful!  I completely understand why women want epidurals.  This labor was extremely different from the one I had with Brodie.  In both good and bad ways.  The labor seemed to go on forever, my water refused to break on its own, and it seemed much more painful.  Once I reached 9.5 cm I told the doctor he could break my water and at 7:50 pm it was time to push and Ryker emerged at 8:16 pm!

I was not prepared to be having a baby this early.  I thought for sure he would come on Halloween and I would have holiday babies.  Or at least that he would wait a few more weeks to make his grand entrance!  But, although a little small, he is healthy and happy and we couldn't be more thrilled that he is here! 

I have to give a quick shout out to my doctor and nurse.  I was very worried about not being able birth this baby on my own terms, but they were amazing and very accommodating!  I was in complete control and was able to do things exactly the way I wanted.  There were no interventions (other then when I told the doctor to break my water), I was able to drink fluids and eat a meal, and afterwards I felt amazing!  I really couldn't believe how great I felt after delivering Ryker.  I was able to get up, walk around, eat some more, take a shower...that part was a wonderful experience and something I couldn't do after delivering Brodie because I was so exhausted and weak.

Brodie is taking things pretty well.  It's hard to share Mommy's lap when you're used to having it whenever you want, but he's been giving Ryker hugs and kisses and I think he is going to be an excellent big brother.

4 Is A Magic Number!

By the way, Bo did a great job too!  He seemed a lot more confident this time around and was a great coach!

Ryker, we are so happy to have you in our family.  You are precious and we feel blessed and lucky that you are ours forever!

(Fun Fact: the name Ryker means "Becoming Rich" and we definitely feel that way!)

Duck Hunting Practice

Every mom knows that when your child is quiet for a short period of time, something bad is usually going down...

This morning while I was doing the dishes Brodie was being particularly quiet, so I decided to search for him and see what he was up to. 

Lucky for me he was being a good boy pretending that he was sitting in his duck blind... shooting the duck in his room!

How cute is that?  He even put his ear protection on.  That's my boy!

Pumpkin Patch, Red Lobster, and CHICKENS!

Yesterday after Bo got done with work we traveled down to Redding for some family fun and to run a few errands.  We stopped off at the Nash's Pumpkin Patch first and had a blast!

Here's Brodie riding the petting zoo animals... I'm guessing this was probably against the petting zoo rules... but oh well!

Brodie LOVED the little goats

And here's Brodie acting like a turkey while pointing at the turkey - another one of his animal favorites.

Brodie on the other hand does NOT like pigs.  I don't blame him, the pig had a yucky nose.

Farmer Brodie

Our Harvest Family Picture.

No... I'm not concealing a pumpkin under my shirt...

This is the pumpkin that Brodie wanted.  I tried to nudge him into picking a different one, because this one had a few defects, but he wouldn't have it.

Such a big helper!

And here's our family of 4!  We debated wether or not to find a pumpkin that had a weird growth on it to represent my pregnant belly, but I was really loving this white pumpkin I found, so we're just going to hope that baby #2 is here for Halloween.

Next we went to Red Lobster.  We try to make it to Red Lobster once a year - usually for Bo's birthday, so we decided to celebrate his birthday at the beginning of the month instead of the end and I am so glad we did.  Wow that food is good!  And best part... I get the leftovers for lunch today!

At first Brodie wasn't sure about the crab... but that's because Daddy was teasing.

However Brodie LOVED everything that we gave him.  Rolls, Lobster Pizza, Lobster and Shrimp Pasta, Coconut Shrimp, and Crab Legs.  I don't think it gets any better then that!

I think it's the most I've ever seen him eat.  We may have to start going to Red Lobster for his birthday too!

We ended our evening with picking up some chickens!  My summer project is officially complete and I can't wait to start getting fresh eggs!  Brodie and I have been loving watching these hens peck around. 

Bringin' Home the Bacon...

..... Well ....Venison.

Jerky Anyone?



October

I can't believe that September is over!  My goal for September... well let's be honest... my goal for March, April, May, June, July, August, and September was to clean my room.  Our house is so small and everything gets crammed into our room and it has been driving me nuts.  Well I am happy to report that it is clean!  (And mom you will be getting a tour on skype tonight) 

Can I just ask... how in the world does this happen?

All our mis-matched socks.

I got a lot of them matched, but that diaper box in the background is still jam packed full of socks that don't have matches!

Anyways, I think October is going to go by even faster.  We have a lot of things happening for us this month.  This weekend is Bo's deer hunt, the following weekend is the duck banquet and opening season for Duck Hunting, then the weekend following that is opening season for Chuckar Hunting, then it's Bo's birthday and he just took in a new dog to train... ok, ok, we don't have a lot of things going on.... BO has a lot of things going on!  But... I have the most important thing going on.... 

Today I am officially 35 weeks - wow!  I'm technically due November 1st, but I just have a feeling this baby is going be here by the end of October (at least if he does what his brother did.)  I can't wait to have another little baby in our home!  Brodie has brought me so much joy and I can't wait to double the fun!