Visitors

I loved all of our visitors! It's a shame we don't have pictures of everyone. But thank you to everyone who took time to come by and meet Hudson. We also appreciated all the flowers and gifts - they really brightened my room, especially since I opted to stay there for 4 nights.

Much love...

Ryker meets Hudson

This was special. Mom and Mamma brought Ryker to the hospital where me, Justin and Hudson were anxiously waiting for them. It would be Ryker's first time to meet his baby brother Hudson.

Ryker was all smiles when he walked into the hospital room. Looking handsome in his long sleeve striped polo. I think he was just as excited as we were. He quickly hugged me and (to my surprise) was not at all bothered by me being in the hospital bed. I would think most 2 year olds would be apprehensive about seeing mom in that unfamiliar room, but he didn't seem to even notice. He was more focused on baby brother than he was on me. He never stopped smiling as we asked him questions like "Who is that Ryker?" pointing at Hudson to which he responded "Baby Hudson". He kissed him on his foot and told us "He's going to get me. He's going to get you too Mamma". I understood this as he's going to play with us. It was so sweet. Priceless.

Ryker is going to be such a great big brother. I can't wait to watch these two grow up together! We promise to cherish every waking moment.

We were so captured by Ryker's reaction that we couldn't work the camera fast enough. So although we don't have as many pictures as I'd like (or video for that matter), it will forever be embedded in my heart and I will never ever forget a second of this special moment.

Ryker entering the hospital room, taking it all in.

Seeing Hudson for the first time

He was jumping up and down on the couch holding on to Hudson's bed. Made Mamma just a tad nervous! I think Hudson will have to get used to this.

My big boy!

Hudson Robert Reeves

Thursday, December 29 is finally here! This was our Christmas morning. It was time to meet our new son! A scheduled c-section is the way to go. My surgery was scheduled for noon. Justin and I arrived at the hospital at 10am and went straight to Women's Center where they admitted me to the room I would call home for 4 nights and they began to prep me for surgery. Mom arrived at 11am and the crew - Jill, John, Stephanie, Ches, Dad, Mamma, Aunt Shirley, and Anne - they arrived shortly after. (Ryker had school today) Like clockwork the nurse arrived at 11:45 with the annoucement that the doctor was here.

Justin and Mom joined me in the operation room where we first set our eyes on Hudson Robert. Our healthy baby boy was finally here!

Born December 29, 2011 at 12:23pm weighing 7lbs 11oz and 19in long; dark hair, dark blue eyes and long fingers - He is perfect! We are overwhelmed with joy. I can barely believe that I get to be the mom of 2 boys. God is good!

First Haircut

Daddy gives Ryker his first haircut (while Mommy was gone!).

Officially Walking

Ryker's been taking steps, 2.. then 4..then 5..then he got up to 9. But we aren't counting the steps anymore. He's taking off clear across the house!

Still a little Frankenstein-like, because he walks with his hands out in front of him. But I think he's just being smart. He's protecting his face from the fall (because we have had some of those - there was a moment when I thought he lost a tooth).

Yay, Ryker! You are a toddler now! **Sniff** Where does the time go??

Getting Around

About to digg into Cosmo's food. I turned my head for a second and he had dog pebbles in his mouth. Yuck! We have to beg him to eat carrots, but this he finds tasty?

He's so fast! I'm going to miss watching him crawl around the house.

Pushing his toy (thanks Riggs & Avery). He cracks me up because he's mastered manuevering this thing around. He basically runs behind it.

Look Mom, no hands!

Taking a couple of steps!

He's not walking, but he's up to 4 steps! Oh my little boy is growing up too fast!

Pretty proud of himself! Yay, Ryker!!

First Christmas

Thank you, Santa! And all the little elves who helped Santa put everything together!

I wish we would have gotten more pictures, but we got a little caught up playing with all of the new toys!

Learning New Things

Ryker,

Somewhere between your 4 month and 5 month birthday your personality has emerged and you have become a little mister man! You are laughing, smiling and talking (gibberish of course, but we get it), rolling over, eating with a spoon and you are just about sitting up all by yourself.

You have grown out of your 3-6 months clothes and are in a whole new wardrobe, this in itself, is a daily treat! In fact, we need to go shopping for you some new digs soon!

You are holding yourself up like a big boy and are now able to enjoy toys more. Which can only mean one thing - Christmas in July! Me, Lovey and 3 buggies later, you are now the proud owner of more activity mats, walkers, jumpers, high chairs and interactive toys that you can handle.

You are becoming more and more alert and observant. When you were first born, Daddy would call you the 'ceiling inspector' because all you were interested in looking at was ceilings. But now, you follow peoples voices and notice when we have entered or left the room. You are also more aware of Cosmo, Luie and Parker. Cosmo doesn't pay a whole lot of attention to you unless you are crying but Luie sometimes hangs out with you on your activity mat and licks your toes.

We traveled a lot this month, so I haven't been blogging about your milestones play by play so bare with me as I recap some of this month's special moments...

(Dear Readers - prepare for a Ryker overload! I'm apologizing ahead of time.)

We've started feeding you cereal by spoon. You don't really enjoy this but it sure provides us with endless entertainment.

Another one of your fun walkers. (Thanks Karena and Kat!) We keep this one at Mam-ma's house so you have something to play with when you are there.

The jumper. You are going to LOVE this one. You can barely touch the floor right now, so you haven't quite figured out what this one is all about, but once you do I just know you will go to town. Especially since you love being bounced around, thrown into the air and shook from side to side.

You are all boy! You love hearing us sing "Ride a Pony, Ride a Pony..." because it usually entails us bouncing you up and down on our knee and almost dropping you at the end of the song. You think this is hilarious. I love hearing your giggle, it's the best sound in the world!

Well hello there, good looking. Posing in one of your cute outfits.

My favorite picture this month! Checking out your new floor mat. You are getting used to this new play area.

Here you are figuring out all of the toys on your activity mat. Really, you'd much prefer us hold you, but we have to insist you learn to entertain yourself. However, rather than doing laundry or washing bottles, we find ourselves watching you entertain yourself. Can we get a life?

Anxiously awaiting your meal by spoon. You are thrilled.

"You want me to eat what?"

Oh, those cheeks!! I love my sugars!

Come bath time you are worn out.

But, you love your baths and your sleep, so when you can sleep while taking a bath - well, that s just the ultimate ending to a great day!

Roll Over

Thank God It's Friday

It's been a fun and exciting week, but whew...TGIF!!! Jill and Ross came in town so I was out of my normal weekly routine of wake up early-workout-work-workout- go to sleep early. But it was worth it! We had a great time!!

Steph, I really hate to break this news to you, but Aunt Jillian got Ryker to LAUGH! Oh yes, it was the sweetest sound we've ever heard. Lovey, Mam-ma and I were all there to witness it. Good thing because we would have never believed Jill if she told us. We have yet to get him to do it again!!

Jill was changing his diaper in Lovey's room when he started laughing. She hollered at us to hurry in and when we heard his sweet little giggle we all started squealing and screaming so loud with excitement that we practically scared Ryker to death. He dropped his lip and started sobbing! We'll know next time to celebrate silently. I know you miss him and are ready to give him some sugars! We'll be there in 3 weeks! Woo-hoo!

Wednesday night Mary threw a surprise birthday party for Sally, so we all went over there to celebrate. Ryker was an angel as always. I've posted all the pictures on my Kodak gallery website.

Lovey in her cute little romper

The gang

Aunt Jillian super excited to see her favorite nephew

Aw, the cute couple

Connor in Mary's shoes

Lovey put Ryker to sleep in her bed after he wet his sheets in his crib. How sweet is this?? He slept all morning like this. It took everything in me not to get in bed and snuggle with him! Don't you just want to crawl in??