Friday at Grammies

Friday we took a ride to Grammie's in Garrettsville. It's a long drive but it was worth it. Hops came along and really enjoyed exploring out in the field. He rides in the back seat with Rylee which is funny because he ALWAYS rides up front. (Bock stayed home with Dad so we could go for a walk without a leash.) Rylee gave Grammie some big smiles while they were swinging.







She was wide eyed and interested for quite awhile. Grammie has a lot of land with a ton of HUGE trees and lots of flowers to look at. By the time we got back to the house, you guessed it, she was napping. She also got a lot of doggie attention as Grammie's 3 dogs apparently looove babies.

Grammie given Rylee some lovin'.

And here is Hops takin a stroll around the outside of the gazebo on the frog pond. This is quite daring for our wimpy conservative dog. It would be a pretty big fall so I made him get off. Plus, hes not a very good swimmer. I still can't believe he did that.

I got Rylee "talkin" with Grammie on video. She has done this very few times so far so it is still very exciting for us when she does! I'm not sure what is in store for the rest of the weekend, but I'm sure we'll let you know. Oh and GOOOOO CAVS!!!!!

Carrier/Strong Baby!

Since Rylee likes to peek over the side of the carrier to see where we are, we decided to try it with her going forward. She "gets stuff done" with me like this now and stays awake and intersested for quite awhile. I love carrying her around, I hope she never gets sick of this.

Once she is finished exploring her new world, she takes a load off and dozes. The picture below on the left is the first picture to beat out her 1 day old photo for my phone screen saver. I look at it often. I sent it to her grandmothers and Nana says shes "spolied rotten" and Grammie says "hows silly".

On Wednesday I told Rylee she was 7 weeks old, so she wanted to try lifting up her shoulders and head with her arms. I obliged and laid her down on the ottoman. Look how strong she is! Baby Center.com's milestone chart lists this as "Advanced Skills (a few kids can do)" at 2 months. Rylee says bring it on. She wants to try running next but I think we will wait awhile for that.
Today I took Rylee for her first trip to the mall. Lots to look at there! She mostly looked at all the lights on the ceiling. On the way out a mall employee offered me a plastic bag to put over her head to protect her from the rain. We took our chances with the rain!

Memorial Day Weekend

(First let me start with a side note....up until this point and until I specify otherwise, whenever I write "she loved it" or she enjoyed it" that simply means, "it didn't make her cry"). Anyways...Rylee went to her first family party at Aunt Patrice's on Sunday. Uncle Danny was a grillin' machine! The spread was great! Cousin Nikki says Rylee has grown so much since her last visit. Cousin Alexa was all dolled up in her headband and painted toe nails. (Nikki, I didn't get any pictures of her..please help!) Daddy was really happy he got to spend time with his Uncle Walt. And the dogs had thier best day ever! They got to run around for hours with Dixie and Chloe in the fenced in yard.

Here's Gram, Denise, Angela & Robert enjoying the grub. And Rylee snugglin with her best bud.
Rylee lovin' up her Nana. Rylee thinks it's funny that Nana didn't know that Gram uses the ATM machine. Often! Love her hat, right!?!
Rylee was in heaven..... SWINGING.....OUTSIDE!!! Thanks Nana!

This week in the life of Rylee...

This is the outfit I promised a pic of. Although now you should see all her summer outfits! (you will!) Oh and she already has a pile of "too small clothes"! She is growing so fast, but will always be our little peanut. My Dad used to call me "peanut pie". Still does, now that I think of it.

Tuesday was Uncle Dave's birthday so we went to check out his
new place in Bedford and visit. Aunt Amanda was making Uncle Dave home made pizza and chocolate chip cookies. Pizza dough and everything! He wanted pizza "like Mom used to make". Rylee was such a good girl almost the whole time. Buddy and Fable (their dogs) really enjoyed a baby in the house.
Aunt Amanda spent hours cleaning up all the dog hair for Rylee.
She is used to it though. Bock's hair might be short, but it is EVERYWHERE!!






I tried giving Rylee a bath in her own tub (again) this week and she loved it. Here is Dad giving her a bath. She likes to kick, kick, kick! We can't wait for her to splash, splash, splash!





Here she is in her stroller made for a 16 year old. The buckle is HUGE! She is wearing her hat from Trina. Gotta get her some more hats! Not sure if you can tell but she has quite a little tan going for herself. As much as she loves outside, she will be dark by summer end.


She was all smiles from Daddy giving her kisses when he got home from work. She is already a Daddy's Girl! She smiles more and more everyday. She has also started to really enjoy Mommy and Daddy talking to her! She stays entertained for quite awhile. We move her legs and arms to do various things, like walk, run, skip, clap...she has even gone through the motions of a tennis swing!! Daddy already has her racquet picked out.

Once she wakes up today, were going to pick out her swim suit. Maybe swimming tonight! I hope she likes the pool. Oh and since she loves being in the carrier so much, I tried it shopping yesterday and I could have shopped all day! (She hates being in the car seat. As soon as she wakes up, it's all over).

My friend Denise from Michigan moves back home this week and will get to meet Rylee! We can't wait. Rylee wonders when her other friends from Michigan will be here to see her...(Brian, Scott and Melanie!!!)

Lots to share.....

First, most importantly, Rylee's tummy......It turns out Rylee has acid reflux. This is common in babies, treatable and they usually grow out of it by 9 months. The doc prescribed her Zantac that she takes 2x a day and I have to call her on Wednesday to report any differences. If that doesn't work, there are other medications to try. So keep your fingers crossed this medicine makes her feel better! She does still continue to have good days! She has decided she wants to live in the carrier. She LOVES this thing. I think she would be happy if I walked around with her in it ALL DAY. Oh ya, I have to be walking or at least standing. We are going to walk a little farther today. We are going to attempt a walk to Heinans. Dad is working close today if for some reason we need a ride back he can get us.

She also continues to sleep longer and longer at night. Unfortunately she is only sleeping in the bed with me. Since it is where she is comfortable sleeping, we have been letting her stay. Once we lick her acid reflux and KNOW she is not in any discomfort, we plan on getting her at least back in her chair. Although she did sleep almost 5 hours in her chair last night! Then another 3 with me. Yesterday morning I woke up to the sound of extreme sucking....she found her thumb! LOL. It was so cute. She will DEFinitly be a thumb sucker! Once she is able to find it consistantly.

Nana came to our Employee Appriciation party Saturday and spent some alone time with Rylee. Rylee really enjoyed Nana rubbing her poor little gurgling belly. This is her second outfit of the day. Nana just got done changing her poop clothes. She LOVES to poop in her clothes. I don't mind because I LOVE dressing her! You should see what she is wearing today, I'll post a pic later, once she wakes up.

She has been looking at us A LOT lately. This makes breastfeeding her even more enjoyable. I would not trade this for anything in the world. She is the sweetest little girl that could melt anyone anytime with those eyes. Not only is she looking at us more, she becomes more and more interested in the world around her each day. For the first time she enjoyed her tummy time mat.She really liked looking at the white face with the black googly eyes. This kept her attention for almost 5 minutes! Small steps, right? Rylee let the doggies take a turn when she was done. Never to early to teach her how to share!Looking back on the past 5 1/2 weeks and spending every minute of it with her, I don't know how Mother's can stand to go back to work. I give them a lot of credit because I don't know If I could stomach to be away from her all day. "I don't wanna miss a thing". I enjoy it all....even changing her diapers. Every look, every sound, just everything. I do want to have another baby, but any less time with my very first baby girl makes me sad already!


I'm not sure exactly what it is about this photo, but this is the first time I can see myself in her. She does look good in yellow, right!?!


Well that's it for now. Going to spend some more priceless time with my baby. Well, as soon as she wakes up.

P.S. Nikki, what does "CIAO" mean?

Hump Day

This has been a really good week so far for Rylee! She has had much happier days. So let's take a vote....Is it because of the gas drops? My eliminating dairy from my diet? or she's just getting older and less fussy??? She won't tell me! Whatever it is....I hope it keeps up! She has been spitting up a lot lately and actually puked all over yesterday?? Oh and really watery poopies. I talked to Dr. Reyes today and she says it's most likely her tummy adapting to the new diet and to call her next week. So I'll keep you posted. Today she took her morning nap, pooped and peed on her changing pad (again), ate, hung out in thr carrier for a 1/2 hour (awake!) and did chores with me, then fell asleep. Now shes eatin again. Please note....there was no crying anywhere in there!

Nana came over for dinner Monday for Mothers Day. Rylee gave her a "NANA" frame with a picture of the 2 of them. Nana really liked it.

Yesterday "Uncle" Bob stopped by with a gift for Rylee. Her first basketball! Bob caught it at the Cavs game.
Here she is getting ready to practice her "no look" pass. Next time I'll get it on video so you can see the whole thing. It was awesome.

Post again soon!

Mother's Day!

My Mother's Day actually started Saturday night when I got to listen to Daddy get Rylee to sleep by walking with her and singing "I don't want to miss a thing" by Aerosmith. It was the sweetest thing I have ever heard. I have never been much of a softie but watching my daughter being born COMPLETELY changed that!! And what a great Sunday! This is what I woke up to...(see pic) How freakin' cute. What an awesome start to the day. After the last feeding before we get out of bed, I sometimes let Rylee stay in bed with me. I love watchin' her sleep like this.

Dad and Rylee got me a digital photo frame! I have always wanted one. I have already filled it up! I also got a new charm for my bracelet.

Aunt Janine, Uncle Ken and Grandma stopped by. It was great to see them. Rylee said hello to Aunt Janine by pooping in her arms. Awwww......how cute. LOL.

Here is Rylee in her coat from Aunt Nancy. Rylee and I went for a walk with her in the front infant carrier.

I'll leave you with a photo of Rylee and Bock chillin' Bock loves to give Rylee kisses!

Our baby is 1 MONTH OLD!!

What a big girl! One month old! She gets more beautiful each and every day. She has my heart, that's for sure! Here's Hops saying "Happy One Month"

Yesterday Rylee went for her one month check up and shot. Yes, I had to watch her get a shot. I think I cried more than her. It was horrible. Dr. Reyes actually said "1,2,3!" Next month she has to get 4! I might just buy her a disease free bubble to live in. She weighed in at 9 lbs 8oz. and 21". She is still eating and growing well! I asked the ped about Rylee's stomach always gurgling and that she often strains to poop. Also that she cries when not eating or sleeping. Ped thinks she might be alergic to dairy and had me completley cut it from my diet and call her Monday. If not dairy, then maybe soy? Oh and some gas drops before she eats each time. I plan on doing everything the doc says but it just seems so random to diagnose. I go back and forth from thinking shes just fussy to she is uncomfortable. It is just so frustrating not to know what she needs. When she's not happy....I'm not happy. I would do ANYTHING to make my baby happy!

On a happier note, she had THE BEST DAY EVER Thursday! She was happy all day. We shopped and walked. I was on cloud 9. And this morning I am pretty sure she wanted to be entertained for the first time. She ate breakfast in bed and then contently sat on my lap squirming. I took her in her room and rocked her and showed her the froggy from Grammie and she just stared for like 20 minutes! Then.....wait for it.....let me rock her to sleep! This is a first for us. She usually wants to eat when in my arms. What a great start to the weekend. Maybe she'll let me watch the Cavs anialate the Hawks tonight. No expectations though...whatever she wants to do is fine with me, I can always tape it.

It's almost time for Daddy to wake the sleeping angel and get her dressed for the day. Can't wait for another day with my perfect family.

P.S. Bock got his balls snipped Thursday. He did fine and were hoping it calms him down a bit. I hate having to always put him in his cage when we leave. It makes me so sad for him.

Who Loves Bath Time..??

This is how Rylee feels about baths in her own tub...

And this is how she feels about a big girl bath with Mommy...

She LOVES it!! She still enjoys getting her hair washed with the little scrubby pad from the hospital. Daddy always helps by getting her out and dressed and ready for bed.



I can't wait to take her in the heated pool. I think she is going to have a blast!

This weekend....

We had a pretty good weekend Rylee has had some fussy days but has been doing great at night, once she falls asleep. She slept for 5 hours last night! She kind of starting taking the soothie pacifier. It doesn't last too long but at least she doesn't gag it out.


On Saturday Rylee finally got to meet cousins Nikki, Dan and Alexa! It was amazing seeing/feeling the difference between a 3 1/2 week old and 6th month old Alexa! She was so bright eyed and alert. It was weird to not have to support her back! She gave Rylee's toys a trial run! On Sunday we played with the camera. She takes such great pictures! Here she is singing with the frog puppet she got from Grammie. And with her bunny from Uncle Vince.


I could look at this last picture all day. When she smiles, all is right in the world. I have so much LOVE for my daughter and my family I feel like I am going to explode. Those times she cuddles against my chest brings me enough happiness and joy to last a life time.