First time to go out for coffee.

We had our two week check-up last Wednesday and everything looks great! She gained 10 oz and grew 1.5 inches since birth. She is healthy and thriving which is exactly what we want. The only thing that is going 'wrong' is her stinking little belly button. She has had more belly button issues since birth, but if that is all that is 'wrong' then I can handle it.

Here are some pictures of her on this day and getting some fresh air. Oh how nice it was to get out of the house!

Love

Great shot Nini! :)

Favorite sleeping positions...

She's here!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ryland Shay Witt made her arrival into this world at 4:16pm on January 10, 2008. She weighed 9lbs 3oz and was 21 inches long (well, 21.25 when she was born, but she had a cone head, so on day two she measured 21). The birth and the last five days have been more perfect then I could have ever imagined! We are both doing great and getting settled into our new life.

My parents have been in town helping us get ready for her arrival and helping us after the birth. It has been amazing having them here. They sacrificed so much to come for the amount of time that they did, but they have made this whole experience what it has been, perfect! Thank you is not enough, but that is all I know how to say. My sister also has been here helping us in this transition, I am so thankful that she lives so close!

Kyle too has been fabulous! He has taken to his new role as a Dad so great! He said the cutest thing the other day, "God made Ryland the perfect size, she fits just right in my arms." Words cannot describe how much more I love him as everyday goes by. I feel like I am getting to know him all over again and loving every minute of it.

Ryland has been so much fun over the last five days. Even at this age, she has so much personality and I love every inch of her! It is true what they say, I never thought I could love another human the way that I am in love with her! Here are a few pictures of these past few days. There will be more to come, but as you can imagine my computer time is limited. :)

Thank you all for your prayers and support! We have truly been blessed to be surrounded by so many amazing people. Thank you Lord for this wonderful life!

January 10, 2008 will be her birthday!

Well, the day has finally come. Ryland Shay will be born sometime tomorrow, January 10, 2008. There are several things that I love about tomorrow. First, it's Kyle's GREAT-grandpa's birthday. He will be 92 years old! Isn't that amazing, that Ryland will share her most special day with her GREAT-GREAT-Grandpa who is still alive! I love that!

Second, I love that she will be born in 2008. For those of you who don't know me very well, the number 8 is my number. I was born on the 8th day, in the 8th month, in 83 sometime during 8 o'clock and I weighed just over 8 lbs. My sister's birthday is also on the 8th. So, her being born in the 8th year of 2000 is really fitting.

Third, I love that her birthday is far enough away from the holidays to be super special and that she will get to celebrate her birthday during school. I was a summer baby so I never got a special day at school to bring cupcakes for the class, but she will and that is cool for me.

Forth, although I have hatted waiting for her to come into the world and I am having to look for the positive things about being induced, I like that since it is planned, everyone will be able to make it in time for her birth (except Keisha, Ryland's aunt). Both grandparents will be there and her aunt Tal which makes it so special and less stressful for everyone.

I am feeling almost every feeling you can feel at one time. I am excited and scared, anxious and relieved, terrified and joyful... I don't even know how to describe it all. We have to be there at 6am tomorrow and they will start the process of induction. There are several things that are on my side before going in. As of Tuesday I was 2.5 cementers dilated and 70% effaced. This, I'm told, helps going into the induction since I am already progressing. But, on the other hand, we had an ultrasound done on Tuesday and they are estimating her to be about 9lbs!!!! So, this process will probably be an all day event, but I am looking forward to this day that will change our lives forever!

In the end, I am disappointed that I have to be induced, but this is the way God decided to begin the story of Ryland's life and I know because of that it will be perfect. Thank you for your continued prayers and I promise to get pictures posted as soon as I can.

Quick update (becuase there's not much going on...)

So, our sweet little girl is still taking her time coming into this world! We went to our Dr appointment today and not much has changed. I am 1.5 cementers dilated and 60% effaced, but other then that there is no news. If she decides not to come into this world before too long, we will be induced towards the beginning of next week. Please pray that she comes on her own time, I know that people get induced all the time and I trust my Dr whole-heartedly, but I really want her to come when she is ready. Although, I keep reminding myself that God has written her birth story and it will be just how He planned it, even if it's not my plan. :)

Thank you all for your prayers and we will keep you posted!

Waiting on a Frustrating Little Girl

Ryland is already messing with my head....I think she is just going to hang out in her momma's tummy forever. Sherah had some false contractions last Wednesday, and I thought my little girl was finally on her way. Since then.........nothing. That little girl is already playing games with me. It has been nice to have family in to help take care of her since I am still working during this holiday time just waiting on her to get here. I wish I could explain all of the emotions that are going through me right now. For those of you who have kids, well you know, for those of you who don't just imagine the first time you had to wait to go into Disneyland, or the first time you remember having to wait all day to open your presents on Christmas day, and mulitply that by like a million. The suspense is killing me. I can't wait to see what my beautiful little girl looks like. With my luck she is going to look just like her mom and if that is the case I am done for. That little girl will be able to ask for anything ever, and I will do everything I can to get it for her. I just can't wait, and I know each of you are excited for her arrival as well. We will let all of you know as soon as anything changes in our lives. Thank you so much for all of your prayers and your thoughts they are appreciated more than you know, and you each have brought tears to my eyes, as I think of all the people that are involved in our lives, and that we are getting to experience life with. I can't wait to introduce you all to Ryland Shay Witt. Hopefully she will be here soon.

Kyle

Who Ever Thought of These... They Are Genius

Last night we went to PF Chang's to celebrate my sister-in-laws birthday. The food was great and because we had reservations, it was seriously the first time I've ever been seated without having to wait 45 mins for a table in Dallas! There was so much food we were all stuffed. You know it the kind of stuffed that you really feel like eating dessert but don't think you could fit anything else in. Well.... think again!!! They have these dessert shots, which come in all the typical dessert assortments such as chocolate cake, apple pie, cheesecake, smores, lemon something and more and for only $2.25, they are simply delightful! It's just enough to make you feel like you had this extraordinary dessert, but not too much to make you feel like you ate a whole elephant. I am in love with these things and will purchase one anytime I have the chance.

Still no change on the baby situation, hoping that she will wait until after Christmas, but that is all God's timing. We go to the doctor next on Wednesday morning so I'll keep you posted.

Only 15 days!?!?!?!?

Where has the time gone? I feel like it was just yesterday that we found out we were pregnant and now she is almost here! Yikes... am I ready? I am beginning to think at this point that 'ready' is a relative term. I mean I could have all her clothes washed and room set up, but 'ready' means so much more then just the physical aspect of it all. I don't know if I'll ever be able to say that I am completely 'ready' for her to come into this world and for my role as a mom to begin. How could I really say that when I have no idea what it is going to be like. Right now I am excited to meet her, I'm excited to start our new life as a family, I'm excited to see what she looks like... I'm just plain excited, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't scared, nervous, anxious, and at times down right terrified! :)

But a lady at my "old job" - that's fun to say - said something so comforting to me the other day that I have just held onto with both hands, "God already wrote Ryland's birth story, you just have to live it out." That is really comforting to think about. God created every little part there is to Ryland and He also has prepared me in every way to be her mommy, I just have to live it out.

At this point Ryland is full-term and can come into this world any day as a healthy, fully developed baby (yikes). I am going to the doctor on a weekly basis and will let you know if there is any progress. My next appointment is tomorrow, so we'll see. I am feeling good. My upper back has been hurting the past few days, but I think it is just straining to hold up the extra weight. I have defiantly perfected my waddle, which Kyle thinks is just hilarious. I am also having a lot of pelvic pressure (which is causing me to pee every 30 mins - so annoying), but the doc tells me that is normal as she is beginning to move down into my pelvis and start her journey into this world.

Thank you for all your prayers. We can feel them everyday as we move forward in this process and it begins to get a little harder each day, I can feel your prayers and encouragement lifting me up and keeping my spirits high. Please continue to pray for Ryland that she will come when she is ready and her birth will be exactly the way God has written it. :)

Stealing the Joy of Christmas

I have been waiting to decorate for Christmas since the weekend after Thanksgiving. But, since I knew that I would not be working after the 7th, I thought it's be better if I waited so that I would enjoy it during my first week off. Monday night Kyle and I went a bought our beautiful tree and set it up, we talk about decorating it the next day (yesterday).

Yesterday Kyle had the day off, but since the dog had figured out how to get out of the yard, his new task for the day was fixing the fence so he could not jump it. So, after our weekly doctors appointment (which went well by the way) we came home. Kyle got started on the yard and I go started on decorating.

Now, I realize that Christmas is Kyle's favorite time of year and he values traditions a lot more than I do. His family has many traditional things that surround their holidays and my family just never really got into the tradition setting, we like change and new each year. I can defiantly see the value in both positions and therefore do not want to intentionally come in the way of any of the traditions that Kyle is used to, but yesterday I failed miserably!

I first began decorating the tree by putting on the lights and in my mind, since the star that goes on top of the tree has to be plugged into the lights, it should go on when all the lights do. Apparently in the Witt family, the star is the last thing to go on, but Kyle did not get too upset about this, as he did get to put it on the tree just before he went outside to work on the yard.

A few hours later, he came in and the whole house was decorated and every single ornament was hung on the tree. I guess you could say I was nesting.... at least that is what I told Kyle and he proceeded to get upset that I didn't even leave one ornament for him to hang up. I did everything even cleaned up all the packing mess and it put a huge damper on Kyle's Christmas cheer.

I feel really bad. I know he enjoys decorating, I know he loves hanging all of his ornaments on the tree. Honestly I did not intend to do it all while he was outside working hard, I just wanted to get started and then poof, it was done. How sad... the last Christmas as just the two of us, what a romantic time it could have been to be drinking hot coco and listen to Christmas music while decorating our tree TOGETHER, and what do I do... just completely do it all, by myself, just because I wanted it to be done before our friends came over, how sad!

Sorry Kyle! I will find a way to bring back your Christmas cheer, I love you! The dog enjoying his new life not in a crate all day! Good thing he didn't run away for good on Monday, he didn't even know that his life was about to get so plush! :-)

The First Day of the Rest of My Life!

So, welcome to my new life... well for another two weeks that is. :) I am officially a stay-at-home-wife (soon to be Mommy)!!! It is hard to believe and still not real yet, but it feels oh so nice! So, today has not really been the greatest day for a new beginning but, it could have been worse. Let me fill you in...

7:00 am - Kyle's alarm begins to go off and for the next 45 mins he hits the snooze approx 9 times. :)

8:00 am - He finally wakes up and lets the dog outside. He gets in the shower and proceeds to get ready for work. I stay way under the covers making sure the cold air does not get in and ruin my magnificent Monday morning sleeping in!

8:30 am - Kyle leaves for work, totally jealous of me and pouting that he does not get to stay in this nice warm bed with me. :)

8:35 am - I can't go back to sleep... grrrrr.... I wanted to sleep in until at least noon today! :)

8:45 am - I'm eating my favorite food since pregnancy, cereal and watching The Today Show

9:20 am - I wake up on the couch, realizing that I have fallen asleep after finishing my cereal. Oh, life is sooo good right now!

9:25 am - I go to let the dog in and................. HE'S NOT IN THE BACK YARD!!!!!!! What do I do? I'm 9 months pregnant, still in my PJs and my dog has run away! I go inside to find the keys to the jeep and WHAT???? I can not find them, the extra pair is missing and Kyle has taken his set to work with him! Now, I'm 9 months pregnant, still in my PJs, my dog has run away and I have no car to find him in!!!

9:30 am - I call Kyle. I'm sure he can't understand a word I am saying because I am crying too hard to even talk. He calls me back on his cell phone and my Knight - in - Shinning - Armor is on his way home to save the day!

9:32 am - I go to the front yard to see if I can find the dog... and he is just two houses down playing with another dog. I call him... he comes running.... yeah, that was easy..... oh wait.... now he thinks this is a game so he runs from me. I spend the next 30 mins chasing him on foot, man, I hope I don't go into labor!

9:55 am - I sit on the curb about to give up on casing him and he comes right over to lick my face. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!! He thought it was a game the whole stinking time!!!!

9:57 am - I get the dog in the house.

10:01 am - Kyle arrives, just in time to see us both sitting peacefully on the couch. What an awesome husband I have! He wants to jump through the phone and chase the dog for me, but can't so he sits on the phone with me the whole time making sure I'm ok and telling me he loves me and rushes home to help me.

10:10 am - Kyle leaves to go back to work, this time leaving me the keys to the jeep.

10:20 am - My dad calls to see how my first day off is going..... man he got an ear full! :)

11:15 am - I start a load of laundry

11:20 am - I fall asleep on the couch

12:30 pm - I wake up and start another load of laundry

12:45 pm - I get on the computer to check email, myspace, blog, etc

1:45 pm - I'm still here at the computer.... I should probably think about eating some lunch and get started on cleaning the rest of the house. :) But, you know, I'll probably fit another nap in there sometime. And, I guess now, I have to go to the store and get the dog a new collar so I can tie him up when he goes outside.

So, not the way I pictured my first day home... but welcome to my life, nothing ever goes as I pictured. :)

Christmas Parade

Early, cold and crowded.... but you better bet your bottom dollar that I'll be back next year! I love this parade, it puts me in a good spirit for Christmas - now it is truly Christmas season! :)

Child Birthing Class

So last night was very interesting for Kyle and I, we attended our first child birthing class and let me just say it was very interesting. :) The first half of the 3 hour class was devoted to labor from beginning to end. It was super informative and I really enjoy knowing everything I can know before I experience this whole process. Kyle on the other hand was interested as well, but was also the class clown. It is hilarious to watch him be the center of attention. I love it when Kyle makes a room full of people laugh. He is especially good with older women... they always love him, mostly because he flirts with them, but hey, I'm secure. ;)

Anyway, the class was interesting and then we got to the relaxation techniques. She had us lie on the floor, which Kyle thought was funny for some reason (awkward). Then she started taking us through different relaxation scenarios and apparently they worked for me because about 2 mins in I was completely asleep. The next thing I know I hear the teacher saying "You might want to tap your partner because they might have fallen asleep" and Kyle not so gently hitting my back telling me to wake up. The teacher then proceeds to say "I hope you found one of these situations to helpful." I'm thinking - yeah, just put on soft music and lay down... apparently that works well enough for me. :)

I am looking forward to next week. We will be touring the maternity ward and then watch some birthing videos (Kyle is NOT excited about the latter, it will be interesting to see if he is the 'class clown' during the videos - please no!).

Feeling like a beached whale...

Ha, OK, so it has been a while since we took a 'weekly' picture and wholly cow... I'm huge! I'm still feeling great, although I am noticing that I get uncomfortable pretty fast. I can't sit in one position or stand for more than 10 mins without feeling like I need to move.

On the plus side of things, I put my notice in at work so I will officially be a Stay-At-Home-Mommy for at least the first year of Ryland's life!!! My last day at work will be December 7th, so if all goes as planned I will have almost a month to spend getting ready for Ryland and resting. I am so excited about this new chapter in our life! It will be the first time in our marriage that I have not worked, so it will be really neat to see how it changes the dynamics and hopefully brings some peace to Kyle.

Pictures taken by Stephany Stimson Photography (stephany.stimson@gmail.com)