Big Boy Tub

The past couple weeks during bath time, Ryder has literally been trying to climb out of his baby tub every time he takes a bath.  We thought it might be time to try him in the big bathtub.  He LOVED it.  So much room and water everywhere!  He's very good at sitting up and can stretch and reach for a toy in any direction without falling, but he still does every once in a while, so we made sure to keep a close watch on him.  I love being a parent, it's so fun!

 Oh how I would do (almost) anything for this smile!!

 Having fun

 trying to grab a toy

 Looks like he's spaced out a little here...

Splashing and playing!

New Skill

Ryder has been getting very good this past week at using his fingers to grab something and pick it up.   This afternoon I was letting him practice picking up some cereal and he was popping them in his mouth so fast!!  When he had eaten all the cereal I gave him, he screamed for more!  He just couldn't get enough of this new "game".  Kevin ran and got the camera and we filmed him a little bit.  We love every little thing he does ;)  Kevin turned and said to me, "well, looks like we got be a lot more careful with what he can grab now"  Oh boy...

concentrating on grabbing it

 

almost there...

 

yay, success!

 

                                                          watching the video of himself

apparently, he finds himself very entertaining!

8 Months

I can't believe I have an 8 month old.  Sometimes it seems like he is so close to crawling... He can definitely push hard with his legs, and he can lift himself up on his arms, but he hasn't figured out how to do both at the same time.  As excited as I am to see him crawl, I know he's going to look that much older and less like my little baby :(  Not to mention he'll be getting into EVERYTHING at that point!

 Also, i just had to put these pictures in of Ryder and Kevin hanging out together.  It's so fun for me to watch Kevin with Ryder and see the amazing daddy he is.

I love my baby

I love being a mom so much.  Words can't even express how much I love my sweet son, Ryder.  I am eternally thankful for the amazing responsibility I have been entrusted with of raising my little boy!

Busy Busy

This past week and a half was pretty busy!  On the 5th, Logan came home from his mission in Guadalajara Mexico.  He was supposed to fly in around 2 in the afternoon, but there was a mechanical failure on the plane in Mexico, so they had to get on another flight.  The next one they could get on didn't leave until later and then they were only on stand by for their connecting flight from Houston to Salt Lake.  We didn't even know if he was going to get on that flight or if he would have to stay the night in Houston and come home the next day!  It all worked out; they got confirmed seats on the flight to Salt Lake, but didn't arrive until 10:45 pm.  We put Ryder to bed and then went up to the airport.  There were actually a bunch of missionaries arriving right then.  Logan looked great.  We all got a chance to hug him and talk a little.  Since it was so late already, everybody just went home from their.  Logan was released the next morning.

Later that morning after Logan got home, we finally had "Christmas" with my side of the family.  We had waited to open gifts until Logan was home.  It was fun. 

Ryder's monster hat

 

Ryder takes opening presents very seriously

 

Ryder loves tag on toys.  If a toy has a tag, he always finds it first thing and chews on it.  He is so funny!

 

Ryder got an awesome exersaucer from my parents.

 

He really like it.  It has a lot of little things to play with and keep him entertained

 

Ryder LOVES any type of fruit, but isn't a fan of veggies for the most part.  It's always a struggle to get him to eat any vegetables.  He purses his lips together and even when I do give him a bite, he usually blows a raspberry and spits it all back out. 

Here's a shot of him blowing a frustrated raspberry haha!

awww, look at that face!

 

Then all I have to do is make a funny face or noise and he's right back to smiling!  I love him so much!

Colby and Rashell got married this past week on Tuesday the 11th. I'm so happy for them.  They were sealed in the Draper, UT temple by my Grandpa Nelson.  It was beautiful!  It's so cool that my grandpa has been able to do a few sealings for his family.  He was the sealer for me and Kevin too.   Ryder had a sweet little tuxedo to wear for the wedding.  He looked so dang cute in it.  He looks like a little man in these pictures haha.

So that's what we have been up to.  Kevin has officially started the new semester.  The days feel so long without him here to help out with Ryder and cleaning.  Oh well, that's life I suppose!

Christmas and New Years Eve!

It's been over a month since my last post.  It's been crazy with Ryder, the holidays, and Kevin being out of school!  Kevin had his last final on December 17th.  He did very well on all of them.  One of them he even got the second highest score in the class, a 99%  (especially impressive considering the class average was about 70%)  I'm so proud of him!!  It's been so fun having him here all the time to hang out and help with Ryder.  Ryder has LOVED having Kevin here more.  He loves playing with his daddy so much!  He lights up whenever he sees Kevin :)  Kevin starts back at school again on the 10th.  It's going to be very hard on all of us after getting used to having his undivided attention for a couple weeks.   Kevin is taking a painful 17 credits this next semester.  Last semester we already never saw him and he was taking 3 credits less than he will be... So on January 10th, I will pretty much kiss him goodbye and say, see ya in May!  It's very hard, but I really am thankful for such a smart, hardworking, driven husband.  As we speak, he is taking the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) test so that he can apply to the Engineering Masters program at the University of Utah.  He has been studying a lot this weekend for the GRE and I know he's going to do awesome.

Christmas was awesome.  We were spoiled and had so much fun spending time with both our families. We had the Rino Christmas party on the 23rd for Kevin's side.  It was a lot of fun, with lots of good food, desserts, and a gift exchange. On Christmas Eve, we went to the Nelson's 2nd Annual "Ugly Sweater" Christmas Eve party.  It was a lot of fun.  I love seeing what crazy outfits/sweaters people come up with.  Kevin and i were really excited to "help" Santa this year.  It's very fun to be on the parent side of Christmas.  Christmas morning came, and Santa had brought Ryder a baby laptop.  It was an instant hit!  It has 9 buttons that play music or say words when you touch them, and a screen that lights up.  He loves it!  He is always trying to grab the laptop when we are using it, so we decided he should have his own :)  He also got a play cell phone because that is another "toy" he always wants to play with.  Other than that, he got a couple other toys and mostly new clothes.  He had fun unwrapping presents for about 5-10 minutes, and then got too overwhelmed.  We got to talk to Kevin's brother, Casey, who is serving a mission in Atlanta, Georgia.  After that, we rushed down to my parents' house to talk to logan.  It was really good to talk to him.   

 

Decorating gingerbread houses

Our finished house

Our sweaters at the Ugly Sweater Christmas Eve Party

Colby and Rashell's sweaters

My uncle Mike, who won "ugliest sweater" for the guys

Chantelle, Riley, and my mom

Aunt Joni and baby Leah

My cousin Crystal

Cousin Jeremy

Neice Payton

Aunt Kim and Uncle Chris, wearing sweaters they found out of each other's closets!

Cousin Cassidy holding cousin Leah

My mom and Ryder

My grandparents!  Check out my Grandma's awesome sweater!  She won for the girls.  I LOVE them!

The nativity

Christmas morning.  I got a sweet new digital SLR.  It's a Canon Rebel XS.  It's a beginner digital SLR, but it's soooo much nicer than my little point and shoot!  I love it so much.  The pictures from Christmas morning on out are from that camera ;)

The new camera!

Kevin and Ryder

Ryder loved playing with the wrapping paper

New shoes for Kevin

Ryder became overwhelmed and then very tired!  He loved Kevin giving him arm tickles to help him fall asleep.  He's definitely zoning out in this picture.  He's such a sweet baby!

Christmas day at my parent's house.

Payton's hair cracked me up

Chillin with Grandpa Nelson

Grandpa with the babies

Pater playing with Ryder's cell phone

Ryder eating some lunch

Kevin and Ryder hanging out during the week after Christmas

Ryder showing off some of his new clothes

Me and my baby boy :)

Ryder playing with his new laptop

Playing in the tub.  In the baby tub we have, you start them in a little mesh sling when they are a newborn.  When they can hold their head up you move them to the reclined side shown opposite of Ryder above.  Then when they can sit up, you move them to the seat Ryder is in.  What a big boy.  Not too long until he is a little better at keeping his balance and we will move him out of the baby tub altogether!

Ryder loves relaxing in the water!

He's concentrating on trying to grab the water stream from one of his new bath toys

After bath time, playing with his "friend"in the mirror.

New Years Eve was fun.  We stayed home so we could put Ryder to bed early.  We had some yummy soups for dinner and played games.  Kevin and I continued our tradition of drinking our favorite energy drink called "Bawls"   I can't believe 2010 is over.  It was a big year for our family with the addition of Ryder and the struggles of him being in the hospital, being poor and trying to get through school.  I know we are learning a lot and our little family is growing closer through these hard times.  We couldn't make it without the help of our families.  They do so much for us, we are so blessed!  We have also had amazingly happy times this year and it has been a year I definitely will never forget!

Kevin with his drink

Showing some of the Martinelli's we'd be drinking later.

Hanging out

Playing games. 

A toast to the new year, 2011!

Ryder in a sweet new church outfit from my mom.  Doesn't he look adorable!  He has just enough hair to comb it over.  I love my sweet boy!  He is now 7 1/2 months old!

The next week is going to be a very busy one!  My brother Loagn is coming home from his mission on Wednesday, the 5th.  I am so over the top excited!  I have missed him sooo much!  I think everyone in my family has a special soft spot for Logan since he is the youngest.  So on Wednesday, we are picking him up from the airport, and going back to my parent's house to open presents, since we waited to have Christmas until he was home.  That weekend is Logan's homecoming talk in church.  We are having a lunch afterwards with family and friends.  The next night is the wedding dinner for Colby and Rashell.  Then, Tuesday, the 11th, is Colby and Rashell's wedding day!  Also, Kevin starts school on the 10th... so it's going to be a little crazy.  We are so excited for everything coming up though!