I am 7 months old!
Bonus video:
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Monday, June 25, 2012
A Baby Book Entry re: milestones
Ryder has grown and developed so much between months 6 and 7. I want to make sure I record the progress that has occurred in this time frame so I can use it for a reference tool if/when Blake and I have another bambino. Since I failed to keep a true baby book for Ryder, despite my intention to do so, this blog is my one and only resource of baby-related records for the little Spyder Monkey.
In the last few weeks, Ryder has completely mastered rolling in both directions. He rolls from tummy to back and from back to tummy with great ease. At night (and in the morning before I go get him), he travels ALL OVER his crib. Every time I check the video monitor, he is in a different position and location: on his tummy at the top of his crib, on his back at the bottom of the crib, then on his side in the middle of the crib.
Ryder can now find his own pacifier and stick it in his mouth. He usually has to play with it for a few minutes to try to find the correct end to stick in his mouth, but he can do it. As all parents know, this is a really nice development because they no longer have to depend on us 100% to "plug them up."
Ryder is such a good self-soother now that he can find his own pace and more importantly, now that we let him sleep with his lovey. If Ryder is sleepy and you hand him the lovey, he rolls onto his side, pulls the lovey to his face, and is asleep within seconds. I've got a true lovey-lover. And truth be told, mom and dad pretty much love the lovey too. Anything that puts my kid to sleep is a winner in my book.
Ryder can almost sit unassisted. My guess is that he'll master this milestone within the next month.
Ryder is FINALLY bearing some weight on his feet. Until the past week or so, if you held Ryder up in a "standing" position, his legs would just turn into jello and he would whine and slump down. The Labovitz clan (who watch him after school 3 times a week), and Darcy in particular, have been working with him on this issue. Darcy showed me how she lays him down, pulls him by his arms into a sitting position (kind of like the "sit-ups" that I described in an old post, which were used to help him develop his neck strength), and then continues to pull him by his arms into a standing position. At first, he wouldn't bear weight, but babies don't like to dangle from their arms, so he figured out how to balance on his feet pretty quickly. Now, when you do this exercise with him, he instantly bears weight and will "stand" (while you hold him by his hands or under his armpits) for an extended period of time. Bravo little man!
Ryder has not yet showed any signs of or interest in crawling. Although he does tolerate some tummy-time now, especially since he can easily roll himself back onto his back, he does not pull up onto his hands and knees. His neck and upper body strength are improving, which is a step in the right direction, but it may still be a while before he crawls (or even army crawls or scoots). This is fine by me, as I'm in no hurry to have a mobile baby. Even though Ryder can roll, he doesn't roll across the room or move more than a foot or two in any one direction. It's nice to be able to walk in the next room for a minute and know that Ryder will be right where I left him when I come back.
Ryder still enjoys the jumperoo for short periods of time but can still barely reach the floor with his feet. We put a pillow underneath, but his legs are still too short for much leverage. He is starting to bounce a tiny bit when he is excited though. I'm sure this development is linked to the fact that he is starting to bear weight on his feet.
Here are some random pictures from the last few weeks:
In the last few weeks, Ryder has completely mastered rolling in both directions. He rolls from tummy to back and from back to tummy with great ease. At night (and in the morning before I go get him), he travels ALL OVER his crib. Every time I check the video monitor, he is in a different position and location: on his tummy at the top of his crib, on his back at the bottom of the crib, then on his side in the middle of the crib.
Ryder can now find his own pacifier and stick it in his mouth. He usually has to play with it for a few minutes to try to find the correct end to stick in his mouth, but he can do it. As all parents know, this is a really nice development because they no longer have to depend on us 100% to "plug them up."
Ryder is such a good self-soother now that he can find his own pace and more importantly, now that we let him sleep with his lovey. If Ryder is sleepy and you hand him the lovey, he rolls onto his side, pulls the lovey to his face, and is asleep within seconds. I've got a true lovey-lover. And truth be told, mom and dad pretty much love the lovey too. Anything that puts my kid to sleep is a winner in my book.
Ryder can almost sit unassisted. My guess is that he'll master this milestone within the next month.
Ryder is FINALLY bearing some weight on his feet. Until the past week or so, if you held Ryder up in a "standing" position, his legs would just turn into jello and he would whine and slump down. The Labovitz clan (who watch him after school 3 times a week), and Darcy in particular, have been working with him on this issue. Darcy showed me how she lays him down, pulls him by his arms into a sitting position (kind of like the "sit-ups" that I described in an old post, which were used to help him develop his neck strength), and then continues to pull him by his arms into a standing position. At first, he wouldn't bear weight, but babies don't like to dangle from their arms, so he figured out how to balance on his feet pretty quickly. Now, when you do this exercise with him, he instantly bears weight and will "stand" (while you hold him by his hands or under his armpits) for an extended period of time. Bravo little man!
Ryder has not yet showed any signs of or interest in crawling. Although he does tolerate some tummy-time now, especially since he can easily roll himself back onto his back, he does not pull up onto his hands and knees. His neck and upper body strength are improving, which is a step in the right direction, but it may still be a while before he crawls (or even army crawls or scoots). This is fine by me, as I'm in no hurry to have a mobile baby. Even though Ryder can roll, he doesn't roll across the room or move more than a foot or two in any one direction. It's nice to be able to walk in the next room for a minute and know that Ryder will be right where I left him when I come back.
Ryder still enjoys the jumperoo for short periods of time but can still barely reach the floor with his feet. We put a pillow underneath, but his legs are still too short for much leverage. He is starting to bounce a tiny bit when he is excited though. I'm sure this development is linked to the fact that he is starting to bear weight on his feet.
Here are some random pictures from the last few weeks:
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| During one of Grandi's treasured visits |
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| Grandi and Ryder |
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| Chillin' in the pool at Great Uncle R and Aunt Linda's house |
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| At cousin Elizabeth's 4th birthday party. The fact that Ro, BudMo, Ryder and mommy all wore blue... pure coincidence (but it made for some cute pictures!) |
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| BudMo and Ryder |
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| Even though Ryder's not in it, still think this mother-daughter picture is blog-worthy |
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| My family (minus Gaudi) |
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| Daddy and Ryder in the pool at Amanda and Sean's house |
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Ryder's 6 Month Professional Photo Shoot (and stats)
If you want to know how Ryder's 6 month photo shoot went, then I'll direct you back to my previous post titled "Ro's Mother Day Surprise." We had a nearly identical experience. The 6 month shoot was equally catastrophic. Ryder pretty much cried non-stop and wouldn't let us set him down. He was needy and pissed off. Blake and I were pretty much in disbelief that things could go so poorly a second time. The weird thing is that we've never seen Ryder act that way under any other circumstances. We've wracked our brains and can't figure out why Ryder has gone ape-shit during both of his professional photo shoots. Name a theory and we've tested it. We wondered whether he is scared of large cameras since we typically take pictures with our cell phones at home. Blake pulled out his large, professional-grade camera a few hours after the failed photo shoot and Ryder hammed it up. It ain't a problem with the camera. Also, the two photo shoots were at different locations, during different times of the day, under completely differing circumstances... there were no common factors to explain Ryder's behavior. I don't think it's the case, but a couple of people have speculated that perhaps Ryder has a personal problem with Gara (my friend and the trusty photog). He doesn't appear to shy away from her or freak by her presence, but I suppose it's a viable theory. Personally, I think Ryder simply likes to watch mommy and daddy throw away good money.
Despite the dismal conditions, Gara again managed to eek out some pretty cute shots. First, here are Ryder's 6 month stats:
Ryder at 6 months old:
-14 lbs, 5 oz. (5th % for weight)
-25.75 in. (20th % for height)
-No-longer-quite-as-ginormous of a head... 48 % (17 in.)
Despite the dismal conditions, Gara again managed to eek out some pretty cute shots. First, here are Ryder's 6 month stats:
Ryder at 6 months old:
-14 lbs, 5 oz. (5th % for weight)
-25.75 in. (20th % for height)
-No-longer-quite-as-ginormous of a head... 48 % (17 in.)
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| This shot just begs for a close-up... |
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
"Lucky" the Stowaway Cat (a non-baby-related adventure)
On Friday, June 8, 2012, the strangest thing happened. It was truly bizarre. Here is the story:
Grateful that it was finally Friday, I shut down my laptop, packed up my purse/briefcase, and high-tailed it out of my office at about 5:15 p.m. I went downstairs to the parking garage to retrieve my car. [Side note: The parking garage for my building is valet-only. This means that you never park your own car in the morning or retrieve your own car in the afternoon.] I gave the lady at the garage window my ticket, and she sent one of the guys to grab my car. Because Blake's mother was in town, I had been driving Blake's car rather than my own. His car was pulled to the exit for me, and I hopped in. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary.
Within a minute of pulling out of the garage, I heard a strange noise. I turned off the radio and listened closely, but I couldn't tell where it was coming from. The noise quieted down and I resumed driving. Another minute passed and I heard it again. At this point, I admitted to myself that the noise sounded like a cat's meow. Certainly that was not the case, so I blew it off and kept driving. I heard it a few more times and was able to convince myself that perhaps there was something mechanically wrong with the car and the noise it was making merely sounded like a cat's meow. I almost called Blake to report the situation, but again- I thought I was being crazy and paranoid, so I continued to ignore it.
I had broken a nail that morning, so I stopped at my nail salon to get it fixed. This means that I drove all the way from downtown Fort Worth to the intersection of Hulen and Bellaire (where the salon is located), a route which is at least 50% highway driving. I parked, went in to get my nail fixed and was back in the car after about 20 minutes total. Almost as soon as I started the car, I heard the meowing again. My stomach sank. I knew that the sound I was hearing was the sound of a kitten meowing. I just knew it.
I had to pick up Blake from work anyway (again- Blake didn't have a car since his mom was in town), so I called him to give him the news. It went something like this, "Blake- I'm pretty sure there is a cat stuck somewhere in or on this car. I keep hearing it meowing. Either it's a cat or the car is making a noise that sounds EXACTLY like a cat." I knew that Blake would think I was crazy (a point which he later confirmed).
I arrived at Ajax a few minutes later. I turned off the car and opened the car door. At that point, I heard the meowing and it was even louder. The car was off and the noise persisted... so the mechanical malfunction theory flew out the window at that moment. It was definitely a cat (or at least an animal) that was in or on the car.
When Blake did not immediately come outside to meet me, I honked. I instantly regretted the honk, for fear that it would deafen or scare the stowaway creature to death (literally), but I was antsy for Blake to come outside and try to hear what I was hearing. It didn't take long. Blake walked up to the car and almost immediately heard the meowing. He scampered backwards like the wussy-scaredy-cat that he is (no pun intended) and his eyes were big as saucers. (Sorry Blake, but it's true!!).
Blake very reluctantly pulled out a flashlight to start searching the car. He then very, VERY reluctantly popped the hood. We looked and we looked, and even though we intermittently heard the meowing, we could not find a dang cat. Blake called Goodyear Tire to tell them about our predicament. They suggested that we swing on by so that they could put the car on a lift and take a good look.
We drove (as slowly and smoothly as we could within the limits of the traffic laws) to Goodyear. When we arrived, the mechanics asked whether the noise was coming from the front or back of the car. Blake and I both agreed that we thought it was coming from the back. They put the car on a lift, grabbed some flashlights and spotted "Lucky," as we now affectionately call him, within a minute. He was a tiny grey kitten hitching a ride behind the bumper. He was tucked into the undercarriage of the car, sitting on top of some piping. The craziest part is that he wasn't even stuck. He could have jumped, fallen or been sucked out at any time. The mechanics very carefully pulled Lucky out by his tail. He was petrified. He hissed and thrashed and squacked. (See video below). Nonetheless, he was freaking adorable!
Chapter 2: What The Hell to Do With a Tiny, Stray, Stowaway Kitten
The mechanics put Lucky into a box, all the while gawking and laughing. Apparently, mechanics occasionally pull out a mangled rat or cat from the hood of a car, but these guys had never seen a situation like Lucky's. Blake and I thanked the friendly mechanics and drove away, box-o-Lucky in tow. We both immediately began making phone calls and desperate Facebook pleas in an attempt to find Lucky a temporary or permanent home. Blake's allergies combined with the fact that I was not keen on the idea of bringing a petrified, traumitized feral kitten home to meet my 6-month-old fueled our desperation to find a place for Lucky. We tried the vet and the humane society but both were already closed for the day. We called the 24 hour emergency vet, but apparently they don't take strays. Period. (Trust me, I even begged). We called a few friends, looking for suggestions, but we weren't having any luck.
Unwilling to desert Lucky after all he had been through, we reluctantly took him home. Blake transferred him into one of Gaudi's old kennels, and we put a towel, bowl of water and wet dog food inside with him (which Lucky promptly stepped in and spilled everywhere in a desperate attempt to get as far away from us as possible). We kept him in the garage. The house was not an option (see prior comments regarding allergies and baby safety). I continued my desperate Google searching to try to find somewhere safe for Lucky to go.
FINALLY, Lucky's guardian angel saw my Facebook post and gave me a buzz. My friend, Jen Siegel, called when she saw the adorable picture of Lucky that I had posted on Facebook. She couldn't take him herself because she was at her Grapevine lakehouse, but she informed me that her cousin works for a no-kill shelter in Fort Worth. She also informed me that the humane society has an automatic euthanization policy for stray kittens, which was news to me. Neither Blake nor I wanted to kill Lucky. He deserved a chance after all he had been through. Jen called her cousin and her cousin called in a favor for us. Even though Buddy's Place (an amazing no-kill cat sanctuary in Fort Worth) was technically full, strings were pulled and they agreed to take Lucky.
As required by the shelter, we took Lucky to the vet who works with the shelter the next morning. They had to look him over before the shelter takes him to make sure he didn't have feline leukemia or any other diseases that would prevent the shelter from taking him. We said our goodbyes to little Lucky.
Blake called a couple of days later to see whether Lucky had been given a clean bill of health. Indeed, he had already been cleared and picked up by someone from Buddy's Place. We had to pay a $100 fee for Lucky's vet check in order for the shelter to agree to take him, but it was worth it. Blake and I are both softies and we wanted to ensure a long life for Mr. Lucky. He is now living a pampered life at the Buddy's Place sanctuary for cats, where they will attempt to domesticate him and adopt him out. If they are not successful, he'll live there for the remainder of his life.
In retrospect, the entire scenerio is even more bizarre than it seemed at the time. Lucky first made himself known as I drove away from my parking garage at work. The parking garage is smack-dab in the middle of downtown Fort Worth and I would have been parked on an upper level. It is extremely unlikely that Lucky's journey began at the parking garage. This means that he had to have already been on/in/under the car when I drove to work in the morning. I don't now where he came from or when he hopped under the car, but at a minimum, he spent 10 hours under there (including jaunts down I30 East and West). Craziness.
The moral(s) of this story:
1) If you think your car is meowing, you may in fact have a cat tucked in the underbelly or hood of your car.
2) Don't ever assume you are doing a stray animal a favor by taking it to the humane society. They are always over-crowded and many animals are euthanized immediately (before they are given a chance at being adopted).
3) Buddy's Place (www.thoughts4paws.com) is freaking awesome.
4) The mechanics at Goodyear on Camp Bowie are quite helpful and friendly. They did not charge us for their "services," and refused to accept a tip from Blake.
For your viewing pleasure, some videos/pics from our adventure:
Grateful that it was finally Friday, I shut down my laptop, packed up my purse/briefcase, and high-tailed it out of my office at about 5:15 p.m. I went downstairs to the parking garage to retrieve my car. [Side note: The parking garage for my building is valet-only. This means that you never park your own car in the morning or retrieve your own car in the afternoon.] I gave the lady at the garage window my ticket, and she sent one of the guys to grab my car. Because Blake's mother was in town, I had been driving Blake's car rather than my own. His car was pulled to the exit for me, and I hopped in. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary.
Within a minute of pulling out of the garage, I heard a strange noise. I turned off the radio and listened closely, but I couldn't tell where it was coming from. The noise quieted down and I resumed driving. Another minute passed and I heard it again. At this point, I admitted to myself that the noise sounded like a cat's meow. Certainly that was not the case, so I blew it off and kept driving. I heard it a few more times and was able to convince myself that perhaps there was something mechanically wrong with the car and the noise it was making merely sounded like a cat's meow. I almost called Blake to report the situation, but again- I thought I was being crazy and paranoid, so I continued to ignore it.
I had broken a nail that morning, so I stopped at my nail salon to get it fixed. This means that I drove all the way from downtown Fort Worth to the intersection of Hulen and Bellaire (where the salon is located), a route which is at least 50% highway driving. I parked, went in to get my nail fixed and was back in the car after about 20 minutes total. Almost as soon as I started the car, I heard the meowing again. My stomach sank. I knew that the sound I was hearing was the sound of a kitten meowing. I just knew it.
I had to pick up Blake from work anyway (again- Blake didn't have a car since his mom was in town), so I called him to give him the news. It went something like this, "Blake- I'm pretty sure there is a cat stuck somewhere in or on this car. I keep hearing it meowing. Either it's a cat or the car is making a noise that sounds EXACTLY like a cat." I knew that Blake would think I was crazy (a point which he later confirmed).
I arrived at Ajax a few minutes later. I turned off the car and opened the car door. At that point, I heard the meowing and it was even louder. The car was off and the noise persisted... so the mechanical malfunction theory flew out the window at that moment. It was definitely a cat (or at least an animal) that was in or on the car.
When Blake did not immediately come outside to meet me, I honked. I instantly regretted the honk, for fear that it would deafen or scare the stowaway creature to death (literally), but I was antsy for Blake to come outside and try to hear what I was hearing. It didn't take long. Blake walked up to the car and almost immediately heard the meowing. He scampered backwards like the wussy-scaredy-cat that he is (no pun intended) and his eyes were big as saucers. (Sorry Blake, but it's true!!).
Blake very reluctantly pulled out a flashlight to start searching the car. He then very, VERY reluctantly popped the hood. We looked and we looked, and even though we intermittently heard the meowing, we could not find a dang cat. Blake called Goodyear Tire to tell them about our predicament. They suggested that we swing on by so that they could put the car on a lift and take a good look.
We drove (as slowly and smoothly as we could within the limits of the traffic laws) to Goodyear. When we arrived, the mechanics asked whether the noise was coming from the front or back of the car. Blake and I both agreed that we thought it was coming from the back. They put the car on a lift, grabbed some flashlights and spotted "Lucky," as we now affectionately call him, within a minute. He was a tiny grey kitten hitching a ride behind the bumper. He was tucked into the undercarriage of the car, sitting on top of some piping. The craziest part is that he wasn't even stuck. He could have jumped, fallen or been sucked out at any time. The mechanics very carefully pulled Lucky out by his tail. He was petrified. He hissed and thrashed and squacked. (See video below). Nonetheless, he was freaking adorable!
Chapter 2: What The Hell to Do With a Tiny, Stray, Stowaway Kitten
The mechanics put Lucky into a box, all the while gawking and laughing. Apparently, mechanics occasionally pull out a mangled rat or cat from the hood of a car, but these guys had never seen a situation like Lucky's. Blake and I thanked the friendly mechanics and drove away, box-o-Lucky in tow. We both immediately began making phone calls and desperate Facebook pleas in an attempt to find Lucky a temporary or permanent home. Blake's allergies combined with the fact that I was not keen on the idea of bringing a petrified, traumitized feral kitten home to meet my 6-month-old fueled our desperation to find a place for Lucky. We tried the vet and the humane society but both were already closed for the day. We called the 24 hour emergency vet, but apparently they don't take strays. Period. (Trust me, I even begged). We called a few friends, looking for suggestions, but we weren't having any luck.
Unwilling to desert Lucky after all he had been through, we reluctantly took him home. Blake transferred him into one of Gaudi's old kennels, and we put a towel, bowl of water and wet dog food inside with him (which Lucky promptly stepped in and spilled everywhere in a desperate attempt to get as far away from us as possible). We kept him in the garage. The house was not an option (see prior comments regarding allergies and baby safety). I continued my desperate Google searching to try to find somewhere safe for Lucky to go.
FINALLY, Lucky's guardian angel saw my Facebook post and gave me a buzz. My friend, Jen Siegel, called when she saw the adorable picture of Lucky that I had posted on Facebook. She couldn't take him herself because she was at her Grapevine lakehouse, but she informed me that her cousin works for a no-kill shelter in Fort Worth. She also informed me that the humane society has an automatic euthanization policy for stray kittens, which was news to me. Neither Blake nor I wanted to kill Lucky. He deserved a chance after all he had been through. Jen called her cousin and her cousin called in a favor for us. Even though Buddy's Place (an amazing no-kill cat sanctuary in Fort Worth) was technically full, strings were pulled and they agreed to take Lucky.
As required by the shelter, we took Lucky to the vet who works with the shelter the next morning. They had to look him over before the shelter takes him to make sure he didn't have feline leukemia or any other diseases that would prevent the shelter from taking him. We said our goodbyes to little Lucky.
Blake called a couple of days later to see whether Lucky had been given a clean bill of health. Indeed, he had already been cleared and picked up by someone from Buddy's Place. We had to pay a $100 fee for Lucky's vet check in order for the shelter to agree to take him, but it was worth it. Blake and I are both softies and we wanted to ensure a long life for Mr. Lucky. He is now living a pampered life at the Buddy's Place sanctuary for cats, where they will attempt to domesticate him and adopt him out. If they are not successful, he'll live there for the remainder of his life.
In retrospect, the entire scenerio is even more bizarre than it seemed at the time. Lucky first made himself known as I drove away from my parking garage at work. The parking garage is smack-dab in the middle of downtown Fort Worth and I would have been parked on an upper level. It is extremely unlikely that Lucky's journey began at the parking garage. This means that he had to have already been on/in/under the car when I drove to work in the morning. I don't now where he came from or when he hopped under the car, but at a minimum, he spent 10 hours under there (including jaunts down I30 East and West). Craziness.
The moral(s) of this story:
1) If you think your car is meowing, you may in fact have a cat tucked in the underbelly or hood of your car.
2) Don't ever assume you are doing a stray animal a favor by taking it to the humane society. They are always over-crowded and many animals are euthanized immediately (before they are given a chance at being adopted).
3) Buddy's Place (www.thoughts4paws.com) is freaking awesome.
4) The mechanics at Goodyear on Camp Bowie are quite helpful and friendly. They did not charge us for their "services," and refused to accept a tip from Blake.
For your viewing pleasure, some videos/pics from our adventure:
Monday, June 11, 2012
Ro's Version of Ryder's Birth Story
This is something very special. As some of you may already know, my mom (Ryder's "Ro") was in the delivery room when I had Ryder. In fact, she was with me for 19 out of 20 hours of labor. Not to diss my awesome husband, but my mom witnessed WAY more of my labor than Blake did. As my mom points out below, Blake and I called my mom and dad within minutes after my water broke. It took Blake and I an hour to get our things together and get to the hospital, and my mom and dad were standing in the lobby waiting for me when I arrived. After that point, my mom NEVER left my side. Not even for a minute. We sent my dad home to get some sleep. Blake left to tend to Gaudi (i.e. take him to my parents' house) and gather more belongings at the house. As you also already know if you read my version of the birth story, Blake slept on the pull-out couch in the hospital room during a good chunk of my labor. But mom was my constant. She slept as little as I slept. It sounds cheesy, but she was my rock.
The decision of who to have in the room during labor is very, very personal. Some couples feel that the experience should be private, and only those individuals who "made" the baby should be there to witness the birth. In other words, they feel that the entire experience is a sacred bonding experience for mother, father and baby that shouldn't be shared with any non-medical third-party. Other couples don't want the grandmothers-to-be in the room because they feel that the grandmothers-to-be will be annoying or intrusive or overbearing. And yet other couples are simply too modest and private to have anyone else witness the gory, unflattering labor and birthing process unfold.
Blake and I were always on the same page and were perhaps a bit unique in this regard. We both felt that my mother was a VITAL, indispensible part of my labor and birthing process. I am very close with my mom and knew that her support would be invaluable. Men don't always know what to say or do in such situations, but for mothers... it's innate. I knew that my mom would know exactly what to say and do to keep me calm. Blake wanted my mom there just if badly (if not more so) than I did. He is squeamish. VERY squeamish. He was worried he would pass out, and he definitely didn't want to have to see anything during the birth, which is all quite funny in retrospect, since Blake ended up watching and loving EVERYTHING. Anyway, having my mom in the delivery room is something I will never regret. It was very special for both of us.
Here is her version of my birth story:
The decision of who to have in the room during labor is very, very personal. Some couples feel that the experience should be private, and only those individuals who "made" the baby should be there to witness the birth. In other words, they feel that the entire experience is a sacred bonding experience for mother, father and baby that shouldn't be shared with any non-medical third-party. Other couples don't want the grandmothers-to-be in the room because they feel that the grandmothers-to-be will be annoying or intrusive or overbearing. And yet other couples are simply too modest and private to have anyone else witness the gory, unflattering labor and birthing process unfold.
Blake and I were always on the same page and were perhaps a bit unique in this regard. We both felt that my mother was a VITAL, indispensible part of my labor and birthing process. I am very close with my mom and knew that her support would be invaluable. Men don't always know what to say or do in such situations, but for mothers... it's innate. I knew that my mom would know exactly what to say and do to keep me calm. Blake wanted my mom there just if badly (if not more so) than I did. He is squeamish. VERY squeamish. He was worried he would pass out, and he definitely didn't want to have to see anything during the birth, which is all quite funny in retrospect, since Blake ended up watching and loving EVERYTHING. Anyway, having my mom in the delivery room is something I will never regret. It was very special for both of us.
Here is her version of my birth story:
I
have never felt so honored or surprised as when my daughter, Alyson, asked me
if I’d like to be in the delivery room for Ryder’s birth. I couldn’t believe my ears! It was actually something I had thought about
numerous times throughout the years…what an incredible experience it would be
to witness the birth of a baby… other than my own. (If you’ve given birth you
know that you don’t really “see” much.)
I never thought I’d have that opportunity unless I happened upon an
emergency situation or decided to go to nursing school (not happening!). Well,
I will never forget the evening Alyson and Blake came over to tell us that she
was pregnant. We were thrilled beyond
words. Then Alyson asked me if I’d like
to be in the delivery room for the birth of my grandchild. I was so incredibly honored that she would
want me with her and Blake for this “once in a lifetime” experience. Of course, I jumped at the chance!
The
night that Alyson’s water broke I was home, watching tv, relaxing in my
favorite chair when a very scared and upset sounding Alyson called to tell me
they were heading to the hospital. She
was very concerned because the baby wasn’t due for almost another month. I had no experience with early deliveries, so
I told her that everything would be fine and, I’d be there asap.
Thus
began “the wait” for Baby Ryder to enter our world. Night passed into early morning… Morning turned to afternoon, and Alyson
labored on. Alyson dozed, had visitors
in and out of the room, and Blake slept and slept…and slept. Finally, Dr. Bradford came to see how things
were progressing, and we began to think that the baby’s arrival was
eminent. However, Ryder decided that it
was time to show us that he was pretty content and comfortable in his warm,
quiet, little world and that maybe… he might just be happier staying put!
When
Dr. Bradford told Alyson that it was time to start pushing, Blake and I thought
that we were only minutes from seeing Ryder for the first time. Blake had a
sudden craving for a sour pickle (very strange…I know!). Luckily, he had
spotted pickles in the hospital store earlier in the day. Buddy was called immediately to accomplish
this vital mission, and a large, juicy sour pickle was soon delivered to
Alyson’s labor and delivery room. After
some trial and error, we soon developed a new and very innovative method of
assisting with childbirth. (We plan to write a guide especially for anyone
assisting in this process.)
The
procedure went like this: 1. Dr. Bradford tells Alyson to push. 2. Blake and I
rush into position, each supporting one of Alyson’s legs. 3. Alyson pushes for
all she’s worth. 4. Dr. Bradford says to rest. 5. Blake and I drop the legs and
rush to the pickle on the side table. 6. He takes a bite. 7. I take a bite. 8.
Dr. Bradford calls us back into position, and we repeat the entire process
again. (We might even be willing to
demonstrate in person if the price is right ;).)
Little
did we know that we would need to keep at it for THREE HOURS!! I have never
been so proud or so in awe of my incredible daughter as when, after pushing for
2 hours, Dr. Bradford sat with Alyson to have a very serious conversation. She told Alyson that the time had come to
make a decision… She would deliver by C-Section unless Alyson felt that she
could continue. Alyson was so exhausted
from her labor, and I was getting very worried about her and Ryder. It took all of my restraint not to yell out,
“Have the C-Section ALREADY!!!!” In case
I didn’t already know it, I found out that I have a very brave, strong-willed
daughter. She was not ready to give up,
and an hour later, Ryder Dylan Halpern made his way into the world. We all laughed and cried while staring in
wonder at this tiny miracle.
I will never forget being part of such
beautiful moment. Thank you, Alyson and
Blake…and Ryder. I love you all so much!
Another Letter to Ryder (6 months)
Dear Ryder Dylan,
How is it possible that you have now been in our lives for six months? I look at pictures of you from your first few months, and I can hardly believe you are the same baby. You are such a big boy now!
At around 5 months, we started feeding you plain rice cereal. On Saturday, May 26th, a couple of days before your 6 month birthday, we introduced "solids" into your diet. You tried sweet potatoes first, followed by carrots, then apples, and most recently bananas. Since you've only tried each food a few times, it's hard to tell whether you have any preferences. What may, at first glance, appear to be an enthusiastic reaction to a new food, could in reality simply be a reflection of your mood at that moment. But if I base the assessement on the quantity and quality of your kicking and squealing along with the enthusiasm you display in opening your mouth to accept a bite, then I'd guess your favorites to fall in this order: (1) bananas (2) apples (3) sweet potatoes (4) carrots. You pretty much rejected the carrots outright, but you were having an "off" day, so I plan to try them again soon. I hated carrots with a passion until recently, so I can't say I'd blame you if you decide you truly aren't a fan.
A few days ago, we finally set up a high chair for you. We had been feeding you in your bouncy seat, which was functional but messy. You look so cute and like such a big boy in your high chair! Here is some photo and video evidence of your first time in the high chair (and first time trying bananas):
I'd also like to report a MIRACULOUS change that has unfolded before my eyes over the course of the past two weeks. My little boy who hated tummy-time with a vengeance has suddenly become a tummy sleeper. The change pretty much happened overnight (literally). One day you screamed bloody murder the very instant I tried setting you on your belly for a little bit of tummy time, and the next morning I found you sleeping peacefully on your stomach. You have fully mastered the art of rolling from your back to stomach. For a while, you couldn't figure out how to pull your arm out from under you, but over the past week, you perfected the 180 degree roll. You're still a little bit uncertain about forced tummy-time, so I still put you to bed on your back and let you take it upon yourself to turn over whenever you deem appropriate during the night. But I find you on your tummy each and every morning. Now you're working on the ability to roll from tummy to back (a skill that most babies acquire before they are able to roll from back to tummy).
You aren't as big of a chatter-box these days. I think you've quieted down a bit because you are too busy observing every detail around you. Nothing goes unnoticed by your sweet little eyes. You love to be a part of the action and to watch your mommy and daddy flutter around the house as we prepare your bath or fix dinner or clean up your messes.
You have also recently started to reach out to touch faces. You love to touch Daddy's rough, unshaven face, and you love to grab at Mommy's nose and mouth. You're attracted to jewelry and anything shiny. You also like to grab onto Mommy's hair.
On Sunday, May 27th, Daddy took you into the pool for the very first time. We went to a pool party at Amanda and Sean's house. Your friend Bear was already in the pool when we arrived. You spent about 15 minutes in the pool, and afterwards, I was still unsure how you felt about it. You didn't cry but you didn't seem particularly happy either. The following weekend, we tried the pool again at your Great Uncle Arthur and Great Aunt Linda's house, where we gathered for an extended family reunion/get-together. This time, it was pretty obvious that you enjoyed soaking in the pool. BudMo held you in the water for quite a while, and then we transferred you to a cute little frog raft for babies. You chilled out in the raft and thoroughly enjoyed yourself for quite a while. Success! I was very happy to see that you like the water since we recently booked a trip to Florida in August. The majority of our time in Florida will be spent in or around the pool, so it would have certainly put a damper on things if you hated to swim.
You still love to watch the baby channel on TV, and you are still a fan of your bouncy seat. A few weeks ago, we pulled out your jumperoo and you love that too (even though you aren't tall enough to reach the ground and really bounce yet.).
For memory sake (so I don't freak out if this happens with the next kid), it's worth mentioning that you've also been on a semi-hunger strike off and on for the past two weeks. Prior to this strike, you had been draining 6-7 ounce bottles (five times a day), but suddenly you aren't so interested in your formula. I know that introducing solids plays a role in all of this because it fills your belly and you aren't quite as hungry, but the solids (which I'm giving you 1-2 times per day) aren't enough to fully explain your decreased appetite. Our original theory was that your congestion (which had been lingering for weeks and weeks) was causing your loss in appetite, but now that your congestion is finally clearing up, you're still rejecting some of your bottles. You've been eating anywhere from 12-24 oz. a day (but usually on the lower end of that range). Typically babies your age and weight are eating 30+ oz. per day. I asked the doctor about it at your 6 month check-up, and he wasn't concerned since you are gaining weight appropriately. He went with the congestion theory (I haven't called to tell him that you still aren't eating well even though your congestion has since cleared). When it comes down to it, the only thing that matters is that you are happy and gaining weight. So, for now there is nothing to worry about.
Last week you started your TCU music class for babies. It was so neat and so much fun! You were pretty chill during the class and mostly just observed your surroundings, but I think it will grow on you more and more and that you'll be bopping to the beat by the end of the 8 week session. Bear (and her mommy Rachel) and Evie (and her mommy Traci (Taylor) Ellinwood) are in the class with you. Last week Playhouse Academy was closed, but starting this week, I'll pick you up from school to take you to class (which is at 11:30 a.m.) and then drop you back at school afterwards. What a fun activity for you and Mommy to do together on a "work/school" day!
Your sleep patterns are still a bit inconsistent, but generally, you are very generous to mommy and daddy at night. You go to bed at around 6:45 or 7pm and wake up between 6 and 7am. You cry out between 0-2 times per night but almost always quiet yourself down without intervention within a few minutes. When I do have to "intervene," a paci-insertion and pat to the bottom will usually do the trick. Mommy and daddy wouldn't let you sleep with a "lovey" for your first six months because they were scared it could pose a danger, but you love your lovey so much that mommy has started to lose her resolve. The instant you are handed the lovey, you pull it to your face, snuggle up and fall back asleep. Because I'm losing my resolve and allowing you to sleep with the lovey some nights, I'd sure appreciate it if you would quit draping it across your entire face/head. Mommy wouldn't have to worry about suffocation quite so much if you didn't insist upon burying your entire face with the lovey.
Within the past few weeks, you have finally graduated from 99% of your 0-3 month clothing. You could still fit into some of it, but the 3-6 month clothing fits better. We are also almost through your last box of size 1 diapers. When they are gone, you'll FINALLY start wearing size 2 diapers. What a peanut!
In terms of "third-party" observations, everyone loves commenting on your big eyes, long eyelashes and your hair, which seems to be sprouting by the minute. You were such a baldy for your first few months, but your hair seems to be getting darker and thicker with each passing day. Grandi and Aunt Sammie think you are my spitting image, but I just don't see it. Others definitely say that you look more like mommy than daddy.
[Update: I drafted the above portion of the letter about a week ago. Due to an unusually crazy week, I didn't have time to download pictures and "publish" the post until now. Although only a few more days have passed, there are already some new updates. This past week, Ryder tried (and LOVES) sweet peas. We also cut apples out of his diet because they seem to give him an upset stomach even though he adores them. We'll try those again later. More importantly, Ryder's hunger strike is officially over. Baby boy is suddenly ravenous again! He also easily rolls from tummy to back in his crib now. I think he uses the sides of the crib to help give him some leverage, so I'm not certain whether he can roll from tummy to back while on the floor yet. If he can't, I'm certain he'll figure it out in no time flat. Yesterday we said goodbye to Grandi after a two week visit. Mommy, Daddy and Ryder will all miss her terribly!]
Ryder Dylan- you are the sweetest and cutest little boy on this planet. Mommy and daddy love you more than words can express. We watch in amazement as you grow and learn with each passing day. Xoxo, mommy and daddy
Just for fun, here are some more recent pictures:
How is it possible that you have now been in our lives for six months? I look at pictures of you from your first few months, and I can hardly believe you are the same baby. You are such a big boy now!
At around 5 months, we started feeding you plain rice cereal. On Saturday, May 26th, a couple of days before your 6 month birthday, we introduced "solids" into your diet. You tried sweet potatoes first, followed by carrots, then apples, and most recently bananas. Since you've only tried each food a few times, it's hard to tell whether you have any preferences. What may, at first glance, appear to be an enthusiastic reaction to a new food, could in reality simply be a reflection of your mood at that moment. But if I base the assessement on the quantity and quality of your kicking and squealing along with the enthusiasm you display in opening your mouth to accept a bite, then I'd guess your favorites to fall in this order: (1) bananas (2) apples (3) sweet potatoes (4) carrots. You pretty much rejected the carrots outright, but you were having an "off" day, so I plan to try them again soon. I hated carrots with a passion until recently, so I can't say I'd blame you if you decide you truly aren't a fan.
A few days ago, we finally set up a high chair for you. We had been feeding you in your bouncy seat, which was functional but messy. You look so cute and like such a big boy in your high chair! Here is some photo and video evidence of your first time in the high chair (and first time trying bananas):
I'd also like to report a MIRACULOUS change that has unfolded before my eyes over the course of the past two weeks. My little boy who hated tummy-time with a vengeance has suddenly become a tummy sleeper. The change pretty much happened overnight (literally). One day you screamed bloody murder the very instant I tried setting you on your belly for a little bit of tummy time, and the next morning I found you sleeping peacefully on your stomach. You have fully mastered the art of rolling from your back to stomach. For a while, you couldn't figure out how to pull your arm out from under you, but over the past week, you perfected the 180 degree roll. You're still a little bit uncertain about forced tummy-time, so I still put you to bed on your back and let you take it upon yourself to turn over whenever you deem appropriate during the night. But I find you on your tummy each and every morning. Now you're working on the ability to roll from tummy to back (a skill that most babies acquire before they are able to roll from back to tummy).
You aren't as big of a chatter-box these days. I think you've quieted down a bit because you are too busy observing every detail around you. Nothing goes unnoticed by your sweet little eyes. You love to be a part of the action and to watch your mommy and daddy flutter around the house as we prepare your bath or fix dinner or clean up your messes.
You have also recently started to reach out to touch faces. You love to touch Daddy's rough, unshaven face, and you love to grab at Mommy's nose and mouth. You're attracted to jewelry and anything shiny. You also like to grab onto Mommy's hair.
On Sunday, May 27th, Daddy took you into the pool for the very first time. We went to a pool party at Amanda and Sean's house. Your friend Bear was already in the pool when we arrived. You spent about 15 minutes in the pool, and afterwards, I was still unsure how you felt about it. You didn't cry but you didn't seem particularly happy either. The following weekend, we tried the pool again at your Great Uncle Arthur and Great Aunt Linda's house, where we gathered for an extended family reunion/get-together. This time, it was pretty obvious that you enjoyed soaking in the pool. BudMo held you in the water for quite a while, and then we transferred you to a cute little frog raft for babies. You chilled out in the raft and thoroughly enjoyed yourself for quite a while. Success! I was very happy to see that you like the water since we recently booked a trip to Florida in August. The majority of our time in Florida will be spent in or around the pool, so it would have certainly put a damper on things if you hated to swim.
You still love to watch the baby channel on TV, and you are still a fan of your bouncy seat. A few weeks ago, we pulled out your jumperoo and you love that too (even though you aren't tall enough to reach the ground and really bounce yet.).
For memory sake (so I don't freak out if this happens with the next kid), it's worth mentioning that you've also been on a semi-hunger strike off and on for the past two weeks. Prior to this strike, you had been draining 6-7 ounce bottles (five times a day), but suddenly you aren't so interested in your formula. I know that introducing solids plays a role in all of this because it fills your belly and you aren't quite as hungry, but the solids (which I'm giving you 1-2 times per day) aren't enough to fully explain your decreased appetite. Our original theory was that your congestion (which had been lingering for weeks and weeks) was causing your loss in appetite, but now that your congestion is finally clearing up, you're still rejecting some of your bottles. You've been eating anywhere from 12-24 oz. a day (but usually on the lower end of that range). Typically babies your age and weight are eating 30+ oz. per day. I asked the doctor about it at your 6 month check-up, and he wasn't concerned since you are gaining weight appropriately. He went with the congestion theory (I haven't called to tell him that you still aren't eating well even though your congestion has since cleared). When it comes down to it, the only thing that matters is that you are happy and gaining weight. So, for now there is nothing to worry about.
Last week you started your TCU music class for babies. It was so neat and so much fun! You were pretty chill during the class and mostly just observed your surroundings, but I think it will grow on you more and more and that you'll be bopping to the beat by the end of the 8 week session. Bear (and her mommy Rachel) and Evie (and her mommy Traci (Taylor) Ellinwood) are in the class with you. Last week Playhouse Academy was closed, but starting this week, I'll pick you up from school to take you to class (which is at 11:30 a.m.) and then drop you back at school afterwards. What a fun activity for you and Mommy to do together on a "work/school" day!
Your sleep patterns are still a bit inconsistent, but generally, you are very generous to mommy and daddy at night. You go to bed at around 6:45 or 7pm and wake up between 6 and 7am. You cry out between 0-2 times per night but almost always quiet yourself down without intervention within a few minutes. When I do have to "intervene," a paci-insertion and pat to the bottom will usually do the trick. Mommy and daddy wouldn't let you sleep with a "lovey" for your first six months because they were scared it could pose a danger, but you love your lovey so much that mommy has started to lose her resolve. The instant you are handed the lovey, you pull it to your face, snuggle up and fall back asleep. Because I'm losing my resolve and allowing you to sleep with the lovey some nights, I'd sure appreciate it if you would quit draping it across your entire face/head. Mommy wouldn't have to worry about suffocation quite so much if you didn't insist upon burying your entire face with the lovey.
Within the past few weeks, you have finally graduated from 99% of your 0-3 month clothing. You could still fit into some of it, but the 3-6 month clothing fits better. We are also almost through your last box of size 1 diapers. When they are gone, you'll FINALLY start wearing size 2 diapers. What a peanut!
In terms of "third-party" observations, everyone loves commenting on your big eyes, long eyelashes and your hair, which seems to be sprouting by the minute. You were such a baldy for your first few months, but your hair seems to be getting darker and thicker with each passing day. Grandi and Aunt Sammie think you are my spitting image, but I just don't see it. Others definitely say that you look more like mommy than daddy.
[Update: I drafted the above portion of the letter about a week ago. Due to an unusually crazy week, I didn't have time to download pictures and "publish" the post until now. Although only a few more days have passed, there are already some new updates. This past week, Ryder tried (and LOVES) sweet peas. We also cut apples out of his diet because they seem to give him an upset stomach even though he adores them. We'll try those again later. More importantly, Ryder's hunger strike is officially over. Baby boy is suddenly ravenous again! He also easily rolls from tummy to back in his crib now. I think he uses the sides of the crib to help give him some leverage, so I'm not certain whether he can roll from tummy to back while on the floor yet. If he can't, I'm certain he'll figure it out in no time flat. Yesterday we said goodbye to Grandi after a two week visit. Mommy, Daddy and Ryder will all miss her terribly!]
Ryder Dylan- you are the sweetest and cutest little boy on this planet. Mommy and daddy love you more than words can express. We watch in amazement as you grow and learn with each passing day. Xoxo, mommy and daddy
Just for fun, here are some more recent pictures:
 |
| Evidence that I'm starting to treat mommy and daddy to some cuddles... |
 |
| Playing with Auntie Sammie |
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