Love these!

I wanted to share a couple brands I have found to be fun, good quality, super comfy, and cute as buttons.  

Baby Greendog 

www.gogreendog.com/  this brand is sold at Macy's or online E-Bay etc...not sure where else.    

Yours Truly Modeling

I doubt he will appreciate these outfits later in life.  You can get many other styles too.  These are the softest ever.  

(not sure why everything is being underlined???)

Robeez

These are soft soled so it molds to the babies feet.  These are great firsts for the development of those sweet little feet.  

There are cute girls shoes too.  

There are plenty of cute & comfy choices out there for all those little boys too!  

1st big city and museum trip

So we packed up Pat & Kate's big SUV on Monday and went to the city with all the kids to the Science & Industry Museum.  We were tired and ready to leave after only a few hours, but had a great time.  We checked out all the kid friendly exhibits.  Kevin & I really had fun watching Pat & Kate's 2 little ones explore since Ryder is yet so young to really enjoy.  However, there was an infant area he did get to play in.  I think the whole experience has only prompted Kevin's interest in having more kids.  Of course we will, but I would like Ryder to reach his first birthday at least.  

At the farm exhibit Of Course sitting on a cow with Ryder and Madison. 

Ryder wanted down to crawl and lick things

Checking out all the trains (QT pie Cayden)

Madison & Cayden playing with the moving images  (hard to see, but really neat)

Here he is on all the soft foam toys.  Very curious

I had to pull him away from the mirror cuz he kept licking on it.  I guess he was kissing himself in the mirror.  

The big boy pulled himself up  and stood all on his own.  

We did not get a good family or group picture since Ryder fell asleep by the end of the day.  SHould have taken it right from the start.  

The Cherub- Just the way I like him

Seeing these pictures really made me wonder why I wore this shirt.  

I have also started working out again to get the last few pregnancy pounds off and then some.  I am sick of seeing photos like this and would like to get down to my pre-wedding shape before building on to our family.  

Motivation has been the challenge for me.  If I do not sleep well I have a hard time having energy to work out.  Especially since I give all that extra energy to Ryder, work, house cleaning, cooking, the dog and cat, nursing etc.  By the end of the day I am beat.  

Wish me luck as I try to work it off.  

EWG

The Environmental Working Group for parents is an excellent resource for all you who are wanting to learn or stay on top of the latest research about safe everything for your children and selves.  Skin Deep database will tell you all about hygeine or even baby products you use and the chemicals in them.  

We hardly profess to do things all organic, but this shirt is the softest ever and someone bought it for my little love bug!  

Check the site out sometime.  Of course in this case ignorance can be bliss.  There are a lot of pollutants out there and you cannot control it all!  

Busy Action packed weekend

We had a fun filled family weekend.  WE visited Kevins mom and had a BBQ over at our friends Pat & Kate's Saturday.  Then we headed downtown to the Science and Industry Museum Sunday with 4 adults, 1 baby and 2 toddlers in a 7 passenger SUV.  WE had a great time!  

Someone's Sleepy and did not nap.

With Grandma Thurston

First Swing Adventure

Will soon post pics from Sunday at the museum

My Love Chunks

This is my little guy first thing in the morning these days....waiting for mama to pick him up.

He is not really Chunky, but I love anything Chunky.  

This is the reaction I get when I do not pick him up immediatley upon entering the room

Trying to scale his dresser and stand.  He makes it up, but can't walk yet.  Thank Heavens

He is looking at the dog and cat.  Just adores them both

My precious one.

Just thought I would share a few cute pics.   He will be 7 months old this week.  One month nearer to 1.  Where does the time GO?  

We just love him to bits

Playdate and Fun

Love

  Ryder & Sophia

We had a fabulous time this Tuesday at our playdate.  My friend Jenny invited Ryder and I over along with another one of my friends Amanda and her 8 month old Sophia.  We ventured out there mid morning and ended up staying most the day.  Sorry Jenny...Next time stop feeding us food and beverages (Bloodies) and we might leave sooner.  LOL...  Thankyou!

It is so much fun to watch all the kids interact and play.  We are trying to teach them how to play "nice" and share toys.  Ryder is the youngest of the bunch, but kept up.   He was loving his new girlfriends Mia and Sophia (nice that ryhhmms). 

Ryder developed a small heat rash so I stripped his clothes off. 

Baby Blues and pacifiers!

It was so hard to get good pics of these guys.  They just kept moving.  Everytime we had a good shot they moved.  So cute

We took a stroll around Jenny's neighborhood.  It was a short one since Amanda was wearing some fancy sandals.  

Jenny and her babes Ava (mini-Jenny) and Mia

Mia and Sophia.  Jenny has soooo many toys.  The kids just loved them.  

We can't wait to get together again!  The kids did very well playing together despite Sophia & Ryder skipping their naps.  It was great to see my buds that I don't get to see that often due to the crazy busy schedules of life.  We are going to try and get together more often now that the weather is getting nice.   Maybe some of our other girls will join us next time.  Looking forward to Jamie being done with school this summer:).  

Thanks for hosting Jenny!  

On the Go

Ryder is getting more active by the day.  He sits up very well now.

He crawls....and gets into everything.  Chews on everything.  

We are slowly safety proofing the house.  

Hey Mom!   

Sorry buddy had to have a pic of the matching hat.

Ryder had his 6 month shots last week at 6.5 months.  He weighed 17 pounds and 1 ounce.  

He is 27.5 inches long (75%).  

He is long and lean.

Ryder is eating solids 2 times a day and liking everything thus far. 

He is back to sleeping better, but wakes up once a night sometimes.  

I am trying to enjoy this stage as he is growing so quick.  It is so fun to watch him explore and take it all in.  He is so proud of his new skills.  He is also standing himself up and hanging on furniture and his crib.  This has resulted in a few bruises on his forhead from the crib.  He is going to be fully mobile and walking soon I fear.  I feel like time is in fast forward.  

Still waiting for "mama and dada"  In the meantime we love his giggles and smiles.  

Ryder is the definition of Joy.  

Mother & Birthday Weekend

We arrived at my parents in Sterling, IL Friday night after 8pm.... a long day and ride in the car.  We ran into heavy traffic and construction on the way.  However we arrived safe and sound.  That is what really matters... right.  We spent the weekend with family.  Fun was had by all until something went terribly wrong Sunday while we were all at church.  My anxiety ridden Weimaraner decided to destroy my parents stairway rale to shredded wood along with a few other things.  Thankfully he did not get into dad' s custom rifles.  That could have ended deadly. Never a dull moment with Weimaraners and Jack Russells in the family.  Unfortunately, Chubs (my weim) decided to act out this time.  

The rest is history and a lesson learned after time spent processing what is valuable and not.  More on that later in another post.  

Ryder 

My Love

Mothers Day

Ryder and mommy

Grandma and Ryder

Ryder and Logan

watching the clouds and feeling grass

Ryder grabbed LB's face, looks like he is smothering him here

Ahhhhh...the birth of a life long relationship being best cousins and buds

Ryder stold LB's toy and nibbling it like an ear of corn

Someone decided to be funny and take a pic of Ryder and I sleeping.  Hmmmmm...I wonder who it was- Jesse?   Where is Ryder?

The boys playing with Uncle Jesse and his glasses

Grandpa testing out his new indian print rocking chair

Grandpa and Logan

Dad and Grandpa reading his Mushroom Guide book- learing the art of mushroom hunting

The precious Logan- Love this picture

Truly God's Gift 

Ryder and Auntie Erin

My dad roasted this for dinner on Saturday

One black bird