Christmas with the Everhart Family

We had a great time with the Everhart's on Christmas eve and Christmas day. Here is a slideshow with a few of the highlights...

Over the weekend

After almost two months of sleeping in the bassinet in our room, Jordan and I decided maybe Rylin should move to his crib in the nursery (afterall, we did a lot of work to get it in there on time!) This was definitely harder for me than it was for him. I like being able to hear his little coos and know that he is sleeping soundly. I carefully set up our video monitor and tried to go to sleep myself instead of stare at the little screen. Needless to say, we both made it through the night, though I had to get up and re-swaddle him a couple of times. I think he's officially outgrown the swaddle blanket and I'm not convinced I can get a regular blanket wrapped tight enough so that his strong little arms and legs don't wiggle their way out.

He was once again at the top of the size bracket when we went to his two month check up today. Now measuring over 13lbs and almost 25inches, he's seems to be growing fast. He smiled and cooed at the Dr., that is, until he got his shots! We spent the rest of the day taking it easy with Rylin sleeping off the Tylenol.

He got lots of love from my side of the family this past weekend at our Taylor Christmas party. Everyone fought over who would hold him next and be the first to make him smile, and even the some of the guys insisted on their time with Rylin. Here are just a few pics...thanks Donna, for posting some of yours.

My cousin Valerie (who happens to be in labor as I type this with Rylin's cuz Bonnie!)

Valerie's hubby, Bud, practicing...

sweet baby face :)

cousin Jonothan catching his attention

my cousin Crystal...she's a natural

a rare picture with Mommy...I usually have the camera!

Sweet Dreams

Christmas Traditions

Christmas has always been a big deal in my family (though Easter is a close second). I know my parents made these holidays important because they remind us of Jesus, how he came to earth as man, and how his life was given for us. Our whole purpose is rooted in these beliefs...so of course we celebrate with friends and family and use the season as a time to show love to those around us. So to get everyone in the right mood...my Mom goes all out on decorating the house. There's Johnny Mathis Christmas playing, a tree with way too many ornaments (mostly homemade), stockings with our names and little felt appliques that my Mom sews on for each year's hobby or accomplishment, a ceramic nativity on the mantle, mistletoe in the doorway, cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for Rudolf, and apple cider and hot chocolate. Somehow it has always been the one time of the year when me and my brothers don't argue because we are too excited about Mom cooking lasagna and getting to open presents...which we know will be PJ's from Mom & Dad on Christmas eve, and the good stuff from Santa on Christmas morning. And then there's the stockings...full of fruit and nuts, chocolate kisses, a Pez dispenser, underwear, and some random gadgets...Mom usually gets IOU's in her own stocking!

I remember the first year my oldest brother spent without the family after he was married. I knew he was sad when he called on Christmas morning to "check in", but I didn't really understand until I spent my own first Christmas away. Getting older has changed the fond Christmas traditions for me, but some feelings never change. I still love spending time at my parents house around the holidays because it makes my insides warm and fuzzy! It brings back memories of Christmas's past, happy times with family, and a special mystique around how a fat man in a red suit really fit down our chimney. I told Jordan that as a kid, I believed in Santa because I knew my parents would never buy me the kind of things that showed up on Christmas morning...they were too practical and modest for that! Santa still visits at the Wines house, though he mostly brings toys for the grandkids now. Johnny Mathis can still be heard, though a CD replaced the old record player. My brothers and I still manage to get along, though they haven't gotten much more mature! There are a few more stockings, the tree is newer, but it still feels special.

Jordan and I look forward to making our own traditions and I can't help but get a little excited that this year will be the first of our own family memories. I hope that we can make it as meaningful as my parents did for me, and I hope that when Rylin thinks of Christmas, he thinks of the love of his family, the gift of a savior...and gets a warm and fuzzy feeling too!

Reason to Celebrate

Our big guy slept two nights in a row for 8 hours straight! We're hoping this is a new trend, but not holding our breath. When he's not snoozing, one of his favorite things is to watch the monkeys in his bassinet. He swings his arms around and really looks entertained. I wish I knew what he was thinking!

Dining Out

Rylin had his first dining out experience today. After a Dr.'s appointment downtown, Jordan and I decided we would try to have lunch at one of our favorite places to get a hamburger; the Stoneleigh P. Rylin slept while we woofed down our burgers in anticipation of the beginning of what I like to call, the car seat melt down. As long as that seat is moving, he is a happy camper. Once it stops...all bets are off. We did manage to make it through lunch, as you can probably tell by the photo below where our little squealer is still snoozing peacefully. Don't rest that car seat for long, Jordan...

Santa Baby

When I was a kid, I used to love looking through the photo album my Mom kept filled with me and my brothers yearly photos with Santa. You could say that Santa changed almost as much as we did from year to year, and that always confused me. Somehow my Mother made me believe he was really just a stand in for the real Santa who was busy at the North Pole getting ready for Christmas. (thanks Mom for the logical explanation) So in keeping with a little family tradition, me and my good friend Bethany bundled up our babies today and headed to the shopping mall (on a Tuesday after lunch hoping to miss the crowd). Rylin decided that sleep was more important than meeting Santa for the first time, but he did give a little smile for the camera.

The Boys

Duke is still fond of his new little buddy, but not overly interested in what he's doing all the time. That is, until Jordan pays attention to Rylin. This is a moment I caught the other day with all the guys.

Duke likes to rest his head on things. Anything. So Rylin's tummy was a natural perch. Rylin didn't seem to mind. I think I even caught a little smile. Dang that Duke...he would be the first to make him smile!

1 Month Old

Rylin turned one month old the day before Thanksgiving and we had our Dr. appointment yesterday. He weighed 11lbs 13oz and was almost 24inches! They told me he was off the charts for all his measurements (and intelligence) and it confirmed our suspicions that he has been growing like a weed. He now is awake a lot more and likes taking a bath.

I got a smirk out of him today, but I'm still looking for a big toothless grin. We have been getting out now too, and Rylin likes to be lugged around in the sling where he can get cozy and take a nap. He is also sleeping for 5 hours straight at night, which may not sound like much, but to us seems like forever! We still feel so blessed and we love him more every day!

100% Adorable

Notable Firsts

This was a week of notable firsts. On Thursday Jordan's parents brought us Thanksgiving lunch and then we made our first road trip with Rylin to my parents two hours away. Needless to say, he slept the whole time! He got to meet my extended family on both my Mom and Dad's side and was passed around and loved on by EVERYONE.

The Wines Family

The Great Grandkids and Grandmother Wines

The trip back home on Friday started out rough, but Rylin passed out after we got on to the highway. Sunday, we made our first trip to church together. Once again, he was a champ. Doesn't he look cute in his Polo corduroy overalls and boots? Thanks Lindsay!

Sunday afternoon Tess, her Mom, and her Sister came over for a late Thanksgiving lunch. Tess's sister was at his birth, but lives in Austin, so she hadn't seen him since. We had a good visit with all of them.

Rylin & Aunt Oren

Newborn Photos

Since I have been less than creative with taking pictures of Rylin, I enlisted the help of my good friend and photographer Jennifer Sebby to take some newborn pictures. We decided it might be fun to take a trip to Scott+Cooner (my old employer) to find some inspiration. For six years I worked in sales among some really cool modern furniture (not too mention some cool modern people), and I knew that we would find more than a few unusual props in the showroom. So we packed up on a Saturday, and headed downtown. Much to our surprise and relief, Rylin slept through the entire shoot! We had a lot of fun, and I think the pictures turned out great! Here are just a sampling. You can check out more of Jenn's pics here.

Thanks

I know, just what you want to read...some sappy blog about Thanksgiving. I really feel overwhelmed by the thought. This year Jordan and I have so much to be thankful for, and I think I could write for hours about all our happy blessings. Just last year we sat in the middle of what seemed like the most frustrating holiday season. We were on a break from fertility treatments, and watching everyone around us get pregnant. I told myself that if I ever did finally have a family, I wouldn't take ONE thing for granted. So on that note (with a nod to all my good buddies out there who still hope and dream for a family blessed by children too someday) here are a few things that I can genuinely say I'm thankful for this year, because I remember what life was like without them.

lack of sleep dirty diapers 2 am feedings baby crying inability to shower daily achy back spit up and drool getting peed on fading social life cranky husband no spare dollars irrational fears lack of space no more packing easy dirty laundry less me time romance slow down early to bed smelly formula shortest bathroom trips crusty boogers waking early messy house soiled blouses noisy car rides

Our New Favorite Thing

So I read a lot of other Mommy blogs and I have found some cool baby products that way. I thought it appropriate to share one product that we don't know how we lived without. Rylin has enjoyed his soothie pacifier (those they give you at the hospital), and he takes it whenever he's sleepy. The only problem is that he tends to suck a little hard and pop it out of his mouth...which then involves one of us getting up every 5 minutes to put it back in. While visiting with my good friend Allison about my dilemma, she recommended our new favorite thing...the Wubbanub. Its a pacifier with a plushy on the end of it. Not only is it harder to loose (when dropped on the wood floor at 2am), but Rylin wraps his hands around it and it STAYS in his mouth. What a great invention...and pretty cute if I do say so myself!

Cruising

So the last three weeks we have been a little couped up in our house due to Dr.'s orders not to go out. I HATE that the season has kept us from exploring things together, but we have taken resolve in walks around the neighborhood. Because the weather has been so beautiful, we have made them a daily ritual. Rylin loves his stroller as long as its moving, and Duke is finally getting the hang of walking next to it at the same pace.

the Many Faces...

Squeaky Clean

My cousin Candyce stopped by today to visit Rylin and it allowed me to get a few things done around the house, and to take a shower (something that has become a real chore lately).

Some time during the day, I went to change Rylin and discovered that his umbilical cord had fallen off. This prompted a detailed search of the house to find it (gross). After finally deciding that Duke had eaten it, I discovered it in the swaddle blanket.. So, Rylin got his first real bath today. He didn't like it a whole lot better than the spounge bath, but I did manage to catch a few pictures of contentment.

2 weeks and counting...

Two weeks old, hanging with Mr. Bulldog

I can't believe it, but Rylin was two weeks on Sunday. We went to the pediatrician on Monday for his check up and he weighed 9lbs 7oz! Definitely growing. He actually was not so happy about the appointment and made his momma proud by screaming through the majority of it. The good news was that it warranted a long nap when we got home! Here are a few pics of a much happier two week old...

hanging out in his swing