I think I found it!

I'm not the biggest on sentiment really...that's Jeremy's job in our house, and he can handle it for both of us. However, I remember every Christmas morning my mom had this awesome yummy blueberry baked breakfast for us - she would prepare it on Christmas eve, and then pop it in the oven while her and dad were getting their coffee and me and my sisters were bursting at the seems to start tearing into our presents...after we had all eaten months worth of stocking chocolate and were swimming in pieces of wrapping paper that yummy blueberry breakfast was ready to come out of the oven. I don't remember the meal too vividly but I do remember that we would all sit together and talk and laugh while eating our Christmas breakfast. I can't say that breakfast was ever my favorite part of the day but, sitting around the table with our family is imprinted in my mind as one of the best parts of our Christmas'.

After mom died all of her recipes and cookbooks seemed to disappear...someone out there knew they were getting gold. I have thought about that breakfast every single Christmas since she's been gone...isn't it funny how something so special can mean so little until its gone?

Since mom baking breakfast was never too much of a concern for me on Christmas I never paid much attention to the ingredients involved, so I have been at a loss for finding this amazing recipe anywhere...until now. After talking to my sister we were able to piece together several of the main ingredients & and with some creative search bar wording I think I have found it! Or at least something close...it will never be her recipe.

With Rylee we are really focused on trying to emphasize the good parts of Christmas...rather than the highlight beings piles of presents and mountains of tissue and gift wrap we want to make sure she understands the gift of sharing and giving and enjoys her time with the people around her.  This year Rylee was so sweet and picked a boy who was probably not going to get anything for Christmas. So we took her shopping and she got him a new outfit and some other fun things. We hope to make this a yearly tradition.

I am planning an attempt to make moms Christmas breakfast this year...I don't think it will ever be as good as hers, that's impossible, but that's not really my intent either. Hope you have a Happy Christmas! Here's to cherishing everything & everyone!  

until next time,
Brit

oh Christmas tree you look so yummy

This Christmas is super duper special for us because it is our first with Rylee. We have all sorts of great Christmas decor, ornaments, and lights that we have been so excited to get out (thanks to a husband who worked at Michaels for the last 3 years discount!) All of that great Christmas fun is all locked away in a storage unit in Lubbock - our tree, our stockings, everything.

Rather than creating time to make a trip to get all of our decorations we decided to do without - or rather do with what we have. A friend let us borrow a small pre-lit Christmas tree, and we made all of the ornaments to go on it.

We made sugar cookie ornaments, melted candy canes into the shape of cookie cutters, and made strings of popcorn and cheerios.

Our tree looks good enough to eat...and you could if you wanted to! So excited for our first family Christmas!

until next time,
Brit

5 months old!

Rylee turned 5 months old on Sunday! And today was her doctors appointment. The first part of the doctor visits are the best because we get to brag about how smart she is, how healthy she is, and how much she is growing (which is A LOT!)

Rylee Stats:

1. weight: 17 lbs. 90th percentile
2. height: 27 1/4 inches. above 97th percentile
3. head circumference: 17 inches.- 75th percentile

the last part of the appointment is the worst - shots. She had to get two big shots today, she's a tough little cookie but there were still too many tears for me. Nothing too bad that cuddling and a nap won't fix...for me and her.

monthly comparison

all dressed up fer her birthday

 

until next time,

Brit

dinner time

We have started the adventure of introducing Rylee to solid foods. For the last month or so we have been slowly introducing mushy avocado and mushy banana...yum! I am planning on making all of Rylee's food for her, I have all sorts of fun mushy food recipes I am excited to try out! For now we are still practicing the art of swallowing.



It has been so much fun to start really including Rylee in our family dinner time. Family time is the best.

until next time,

Brit

ticklish

We found Rylee's ticklish spot!

hehe. the end of the video is Jer sayin' "uh oh, uh oh" .... we had left food cooking on the stove. Rylee is way more fun to play with than cooking(or burning) dinner.

until next time,
Brit

Family Photos

Well she did it again! Brandi Marshall is one fabulous lady, and one amazing photographer if I haven't said it before - she photographed our maternity pictures, Rylee's newborn shots, some of Jer's artwork, and most recently did some family photos for us.

We always have such a great time with her and her family when we take pictures, this time was no exception. It was a wonderfully warm fall evening and because Brandi also just had a new baby we were able to take feeding breaks to keep everyone happy!

 

As always she did a wonderful job capturing some great moments for us!

until next time,

Brit

our little fishy

We spent Thanksgiving with my family in Gainesville. It was wonderful to spend the day eating way too much & visiting with everyone.

While we were there we took Rylee swimming at the pool in our hotel - we were unsure of how well she would like it, but our hopes were high because bath time is her favorite. Jer got into the pool with Ry while I stayed on the sidelines and snapped a bazillion photos of her first time swimming. The water was super warm & we were the only ones there.

She loved being in the water! It was fun to splash around with her and let her show off her super cute swim suit. Love our little fishy.

until next time,

Brit

Highlights

I've neglected to sit down at the computer for the last couple weeks to do anything but update our checkbook & pay bills...(and maybe order a few Christmas presents :) )

Here are some of the highlights of our life lately:

1. Rylee has mastered the roll over
2. Enjoyed the visit of several very beloved house guests
3. Our house is now completely bricked
4. Christmas shopping for Rylee - Funnest thing ever.
5. ate lots of sushi
6. The beginning of paying back student loans - barf
7. Bought a pumpkin roll to help a sweet boy raise money for medical camp - YUM
8. Rylee has been introduced to mushy avocados
9. and most recently broke my iPhone.

Thats our life as of now!

until next time,

Brit

playing hookie.

Last week we were able to get away for a couple days to visit my family and go to the boys regional cross country meet in Arlington.

Rylee and Grandpa Mike

 

 Rylee and Great Grandma Joyce

Start of the girls race

It was great to visit with family and get a good dose of cross country.

until next time,

Brit

Monday equals success.

Our Monday was crazy busy - but was a total success.

We spent the morning at the district cross country meet. The boys won, and are moving on to regionals.  The girls had two in the top ten so they each get to move on to regionals! Success!

Rylee got a big dose of cross country and did great. She also got to sport her converse high tops that she finally fits into. Success! 

We got Rylee's costume made & took her to the schools fall festival...Played some games, entered some raffles, ate some great food! Success!  

Cutest piggy on the block! Homemade costume constructed by Jeremy. Success! 

The ultimate prize from the schools fall festival raffle! Rylee is technically the winner of the sweet motor scooter...but I plan on putting it to use until she can reach the seat. I see flames, and a matching banana colored helmet in the future! Total success!!

After the schools fall festival we had some of the kids over to watch Monday night football - the Cowboys were playing. The Cowboys lost, but the boys ate all of our food - so I say that equals success!

Mondays aren't so bad after all.

until next time,

Brit

paving awareness

This is perhaps the coolest cement truck ever. Those big round machines pretty much catch your eye anyways...but what better way to make the world aware of the fight for a cure than with a big pink cement truck?!

(found here)

Read more about this Canadian companys effort to build awareness!

until next time,

Brit

Costumes!

I am getting so excited to dress Rylee up for Halloween! We had a baby flower costume that was given to us, but she is too big for it. So we are trying to be as creative as possible and figure out what costume we are going to stick her into!

I have found all sorts of different things on google images...

I think my favorite though is from babygap...the wild things collection:

Can you guess which one is our favorite?

until next time,
Brit

morning walk

The weather has been making for perfect conditions on our family walks around "town"

I love my family.

until next time,

Brit

belated birth story

I decided I needed to get this done before I forget any more of the special details...so here it is.

Early Sunday morning on July 11th, which was Rylee's actual predicted due date I woke up around 2:30 for my normal middle of the night trip to the bathroom...but this time immediately after I went pee, I started to get cramps.  I had experienced a few minor cramps here and there so I though nothing of it.  When I went back to bed instead of falling back to sleep I was overcome with a burst of energy and the cramps continued. I stayed in bed and tried to sleep through them, but not being able to sleep I just stayed in bed sitting up - this woke Jeremy up and he was right away concerned with how I was feeling. I kept assuring him that I was fine and not to worry.

Still not being able to sleep I decided to get up and get something to eat. By this time it was around 5:30. I was standing in the kitchen browsing all of our items in the refrigerator when Jeremy came out in the most pleasant mood asking what I was doing and how I was feeling - I explained to him how my cramps were feeling and "that" look came back to his face, before ever saying it with words he asked me "Is this it?" Though in my mind I kept asking myself the exact same question I told him "no, no no..." This couldn't be it. The Dr. had said it would probably not happen until well into the week and we would most likely have to induce anyways...

It was about 6:30.  Jeremy had stayed up with me while I browsed the Internet and ate chips with 7 layer bean dip (YUM!) He continued to ask how I was feeling. By this point there was a definite cramp, then a point of relaxing followed by another cramp (aka contractions). Jeremy had been secretly timing these and they were about 6-7 minutes apart. He went in and woke up his mom.  Jer's mom had come out the week before anticipating this to happen at any moment and not wanting to miss a minute of it.  In the week prior she saved my life, took care of the dogs, took care of the laundry, took care of me, and fed me constantly. I am so glad she was there. Jer went in and informed her that I was having these cramps consistently and they became like a team of watch dogs.  They took turns timing my "Cramps" which we were all starting to admit were actual contractions, as they became closer and closer together.

It was around 7:00 and my contractions were now consistently between 4 and 5 minutes apart.  Jeremy was ready to go. Me not so much. I did not want to jump the gun. I hated the idea of going to the hospital in high anticipation and then being sent home. Jeremy and his mom finally convinced me that at the consistency and rate the contractions were becoming closer together that we should go. So we grabbed our bags, I grabbed banangrams and we were off.

I was still in very high spirits. I felt great aside from what felt like menstrual cramps, but heck I'd had worse than that. We made it to the hospital, and since my water had not yet broke they decided to monitor me for an hour. I was 1 centimeter dilated. I was crushed. The nurse (so sweet) seemed completely convinced that I was just experiencing braxton hicks and that I would most definitley be back on Thursday to be induced. We thought otherwise, I think intuitively you just know, theres no way to explain it or describe how but you just know. So we sat there for an hour and played a very distracted game of bannagrams and then were sent back home, nothing had changed.

The entire day is kind of a blur. My contractions kept coming and kept coming stronger. By noon they were 4 minutes apart, entirely predictable, and become more and more painful.  I did all sorts of different things throughout the day to help alleviate the pain and take my mind off of it. Taking a warm bath and eating ice cream seemed to be the most comforting aside from Jeremy helping me through them.  He was so supportive the entire time, he would help me through each contraction, remind me to breath and keep focused on what I was doing. He kept telling me how strong I was even though he was the one being strong and getting us through them.

By about 4pm I was exhausted, the contractions were getting stronger and longer and Jeremy was itching to get back to the hospital.  Me, again, I was dragging my feet.  I was in a lot of pain but I thought I'd rather be in pain at home than there and there was no way I was making a trip there to get sent back home again. I tried to rest but other than a minute or two in between each contraction it was impossible to sleep through.

It was 6pm and Jeremy had convinced me that we should get back to the hospital.  I gave in. Jeremy and his mom started to rush around and grab the bags and prepare to get out the door.  Just as I was making it through another contraction I stood up to head for the car and I thought I had peed my pants. Completely embarrassed and a little confused I realized that my water had just broke. (HA! Braxton Hicks?!) So this was real and we were on our way!

We made it to the hospital and waddled up to the labor & delivery floor.  That made for an awkward elevator ride with me leaking and in pain alongside the obviously proud new grandparents riding with us. Jeremy intercepted all of the small talk as I clinched my teeth through the pain. Finally we made and it and were admitted around 7pm and informed that I was at 1 centimeter. Crushed again.

I had every arrogant intention of going through this without any sort of drugs. Arrogant is exactly what it was...I'm physically and mentally pretty strong, I have the ability to push through pain and discomfort, and that's what I kept reminding myself. Once we made it to our delivery suite they said that I'd have to get an iv and stay laying in bed because my water had broke...this was my breaking point. I could work through the pain if I was able to stand, and kneel, but laying on my back for any amount of time was impossible. So impossible that a different nurse had to come in to put in my iv because I could not lay in the bed.

Jeremy knew my desire to get through this the natural way, but the minute I confided in him that I was scared and didn't know how I was going to get through this he told me that it was OK, and encouraged me when I decided to get an epidural. I don't regret it one bit. I kind of wish I would have not been so stubborn, and that I would have decided to do it sooner. I was almost immediately relieved and fell asleep almost right away. which by this point at around 9pm I hadn't done for almost 19 hours.

The nurses on staff were the best, so supportive and encouraging. Periodically they would come to check on me and see how we were all doing, which after a little bit of rest and some relief from the pain was a drastic change in the mood of our room. Before I knew it several hours had passed and I was dilated to a 6 or 7. Around 1am I started to feel a strong pressure and told the nurse, she checked and said it was time to go...

The Dr wasn't there but I didn't care I would have been excited to have our nurse do the entire thing. Jeremy and his mom were both very involved with helping me push - which was something I thought I didn't want. Initially I wanted them nowhere but up by my head, but once the time came that all changed.  They were my support and coached me through the whole thing while each holding one of my legs. Pushing really was a breeze, thanks I'm sure to the epidural, but I am glad for it because it allowed me to put all of my focus and energy into pushing. 

After 30 minutes or so, the nurses had me stop pushing and just breathe through each contraction for about 10 minutes. We were waiting on the Doctor. Geesh. Our Doctor finally made it in (Looking and sounding like she had just gotten out of bed) then just 2 pushes later Rylee made it here.  It was 1:28 AM on July 12th. She was huge! Not huge in comparison to all babies, but huge in comparison to my pregnant belly and the predictions of her length and weight: 7lbs 12 oz and 21.5 inches long - she even shocked our Dr. whose first response was, "Whoah how did you fit in there?!"

Jeremy cut the Cord, they wiped her down and handed her straight to me. The feeling is impossible to put into words. You don't understand just how true that is until it actually happens. I was so overwhelmed with joy, and relief, and extcitement all at the same time while staring down at this little human that was so real and so perfect. We made a person and she was here, and she was ours, and she was loved more than any other person had ever been loved in the whole entire world.

We were all taken back to our room where we would be staying and we spent the early hours of the morning staring at our new baby and thanking God for each and every one of her 10 fingers and ten toes...which I miscounted the first time, thinking she had only 9, I worriedly started to tell Jer who said "No, I did the same thing, they're all there" He's a rock...and better at counting than I am.

Nothing could have been more perfect. The three of us, our little family, sharing a bed and all loving each other. Incredible. I had such a strong support system through my entire pregnancy and my entire labor (which seemed as long as the pregnancy, nearly 24 hours.)

I thought at that moment in the hospital that I could never love anything any more, but I was wrong. Everyday through the last 3 months I have fallen more and more deeply in love with our little daughter....I have a daughter! Still unbelievable, and still amazing. I thought I understood love, again I was wrong. I have learned more than ever what it is to love and to be loved. When I think about how deeply in love I am with Rylee I am reminded of how much more I am loved by God. Words are just simply not enough. God is so good.

until next time,
Brit

rylee talks

Talking and looking in the mirror are two of Rylee's favorite things.
When the two are combined she is elated.

Hands down, we have the cutest baby ever.

until next time,

Brit

picnic

This last week Jeremy had to be in Lubbock.  He is working on his masters degree and though most of it is online, he has one intensive week during each semester when he has to go to Lubbock for class from 9-5.  Me and Rylee stayed home through Wednesday and on Thursday we went out to be with Jer.

Jer was busy with studying and working on papers mostly when not in class but we had fun. On Friday the weather was perfect so me and Rylee went to the park and had a picnic.

 I endulged in a chopped brisket sandwhich and fried okra from Dickeys BBQ.

Rylee stretched out and stared up into the tree tops. 

A swarm of friendly ducks invaded our picnic area. 

We went on a walk and sported our stripy sunglasses.

It was a perfect picnic. and a fun trip over all. so nice to take time to get away.

until next time,

Brit