Cheerio!

The first taste and experience of Cheerios! Oh, the joy of watching your child change and grow. I really cannot believe that he's almost 7 months old! He seems to change right before our eyes.

Back to KC!

Ryan and I took a quick trip to Kansas City a few weeks ago. I hadn't been back since we moved over 10 months ago. We went to visit a friend of mine who moved to California but had a little girl just a few days after Ryan was born. They seemed to get along pretty well. They also have an almost 3 year old who was collecting acorns outside when I got there. It was so good to visit with Melissa as well as Cindy, Najia, Jeff and Leo whom I also saw while I was back there.

Nebraska City

Recently we took a short afternoon trip down Highway 2 to Nebraska City and did a little sight seeing as well as spent time at the ArborDayFarm. To explain the pictures of the "whispering bench"...the bench was made so that if you whisper something at one end into the wall of the bench it can be heard by the person sitting all the way on the other side! And I know it actually works because we tried it!

I know I've been to the Arbor Day Farm before but it's been several years and it was a totally new experience being there with Paul and Ryan. The trees were gorgeous! That was the main reason we went, to see the trees. Nebraska City is home to the man who started Arbor Day or tree planting day. So, as you might expect, there are a lot of trees there! We walked a 2 mile wooded trail and saw a huge owl as well as lots of beautiful colors on the trees. Then we picked some pumpkins, got two free trees, and bought some amazing apple and cherry wines....oh, and a sooper-dooper yummy apple turnover!

Just thought I'd share a few pics of the adorable little man in our lives who's growing up so quickly. I think we fall more in love with him every day!


What a wonderful life!

Happy Friday!

Put 'em up!

Yo! What up!

You lookin at me?!

1st hair cut...

I don't think you'll be able to tell any difference but we had to cut Ryan's funny looking, extra long pieces of hair. He's changing every minute and we're loving it all.

still shots

It's been so fun experiencing life with Ryan. He really enjoys interacting with people and with his toys. In the last few days I've been realizing that he really loves to sit up and be able to look around at his surroundings. He doesn't want to miss out on what might be happening.

- Little pooh bear -
- camo boy - learning to be like his daddy!

- dirt -
- lion -

- dreaming -

Painted

Long time friends of both Paul's and my family are the Clarks. Bryan used to pastor the Berean church in Broken Bow, where Paul is from, and now is the pastor at LincolnBerean. Bryan's wife, Patti, is an extremely gifted painter and just really creative in general.

- Patti, Mom & Ryan -


She took this picture...

... and made a painting out of it.

She came over the day we got home and presented us this unique and amazing gift!

And the card that she made to go with it is pretty amazing too!

It's a pretty amazing thing to see your very own child painted like that. I will never forget that moment and will cherish this gift forever.

thrifty

So, lately I've really gotten into being thrifty and looking for the bargains. Some of you could spend hours reading blogs about the environment and political views...me, I could spend hours looking for coupons and reading others ideas on being thrifty! LOL

Anyway, leading up to and having our first child has caused me to try and be even more economical and thrifty; especially since I'm staying home now with Ryan. Even though I'll be working PRN at the hospital and doing resumes from home we're still loosing my income which is never easy but it CAN be done! I've really enjoyed reading BabyCheapskate since I first became pregnant. They provide specific sales in their area but also list online sales and coupons specifically related to babies and children. Oh, and they have great ideas for entertaining your children; both places to go and ideas to get off the internet.

So, in honor of their site and my own desire to share the wealth...here's a coupon to use at Target for Luvs diapers...$2OFFLuvs!

Daddy's Love...

My husband is one of the greatest men I know and now the greatest dad a little boy could ask for. Fatherhood came so naturally to Paul and sometimes I get choked up just thinking of how much Ryan is blessed to have a daddy like Paul. I watch Paul interact with Ryan knowing that his love for his son is unmatchable. Well, somewhat unmatchable. Having children makes you take into consideration what our heavenly daddy did for us by giving up his perfect and only son to die a horrible death so that we might choose to love him and spend eternity with him. The thing that gets me is that even though Christ's death guaranteed that all of us have the opportunity to spend eternity in heaven, not all of us choose that. How sad! For those of us that have chosen and have children...be reminded today as you think about your children, the love you have for them, and how much more our Father loves us!

Almost 3 weeks!

It's hard to imagine that in less than three weeks time we've gone from this...

To this...

Tomorrow Ryan will be three weeks and it's already flying by! Paul and I are constantly amazed at how perfect he is and still just sit in wonder at all his preciousness. I do admit that I may be more of a baby-hog than he is but that's what mommies are for! :)

Life is wonderful and amazing...life with a baby just adds to what blessings God's already given us!