Newborns ROCK...Ryker's first couple weeks at home

Ryker and I were released from the hospital on Monday, June 13th...his due date. We got home about 2:30 that afternoon, and it's been a whirlwind around here ever since then. Both grandmas and Val were here to welcome us home. My mom stayed the first week here at the house to help us get adjusted and to cook and clean for us. We LOVE her cooking! My Mamaw also came to visit...Ry's great grandma. Aunt Val couldn't stay away, and she was back towards the end of the week too. Papaw also came back to Katy to spend Father's Day weekend here with his new grandson. :) As far as my recovery, every day it was easier to get around and do stuff. It was a bit frustrating at first because I felt like I should be able to do more than my body was physically ready or able to do. I was very glad that Nick was off of work to help me with everyday activites and spend time with our lovable baby boy.

Our baby boy...we love him!

Up in the bouncer...

Mamaw, Me, and Ryker

Dory checking him out early one morning

Family pic

Visiting with Mamaw...his great grandma

Me and my boy!

First bottle ever! GO Daddy! It had breast milk in it. :)

Nick's first of many times getting peed on...he seems excited!

Ryker in the outfit (It's Carter's...believe it or not) that Nick and his brother Derek came home from the hospital in.

Aunt Val couldn't stay away!

Grandma LOVE

This was early one morning...visiting with Val...

Out of the house for the first time...heading to his pediatrician's office...one week old!

One week old...hanging with Momma. :)

Val loves him!

Another morning spent talking with Val. His outfit is so cute. And he's even got on little boot socks.

Nick had a couple co-workers come by. Marcie wouldn't let me take her pic, but she brought Ryker this really cute piggy bank. And, it already has money in it!

Papaw couldn't wait to hold his grandson. He was back for Father's Day.

We have the best neighbors. They sent us food and brought Ryker gifts. :) Thanks Jana, Farhana, and Aliah.

Had to get a pic of this outfit...it's too cute!

Dad and Nick spent their first Father's Day as a grandpa and dad putting up a ceiling fan in Ryker's room. How lucky am I to have these guys in my life? I love you both!

Big guy RY on Father's Day

DAD and baby LOVE...Happy FD!

Papaw LOVE...Happy FD!

Papaw and Mamaw with Ryker

And now we are 3...

Nick with his FD gift from my parents...a remote controlled helicopter.

Dad got one from Val too...

Ryker with his daddy's card...Nick got a ZigZag Racer. Man those things are popular!

Brock and Brenda came by to visit us...Congrats on your engagement!

Playing with their 'copters

Nick with his FD gift from Beth...Blue Bell yellow cake batter ice cream with sugar cookie dough chunks...his fav.

Ry, me, and my dad - Happy FD!

Ryker took to breastfeeding instantly when I fed him in the recovery room, and he hasn't looked back. He is a BF champ! I love it, and I am SO proud of him. :) I got extremely lucky with this aspect of the whole experience. Other than fussing when he's hungry (He is not a patient guy when he's hungry) and when he's getting his diaper changed sometimes, he's a sweet baby with a great personality so far. He seemes to like watching the ceiling fan and TV already, although I don't really know what he can see, and he is already lifting his head up off people's shoulders and chest. We're really gonna have to watch out for that. He's been a little gassy the last few days, and we are working on finding something that will help him in this department.

He had his first doctor's appointment on June 17th...when he was one week old. He weighed 7 pounds and 4 ounces...a 10 ounce gain from when we left the hospital on Monday. Crazy huh? What a good breastfeeder! Dr. Gonzalez checked him out, and everything was fine with our boy. He also had his second PKU test done, and we are starting him on Vitamin D drops since he is going to be an exclusively breastfed baby for as long as possible. My milk started coming in late the Sunday night we were at the hospital, and it felt really "in" on the second day we were home. I have been able to pump a few times, and I am definitely producing enough for him right now. I am so thankful for that as well. :)


Last Monday we had Ry's newborn photo shoot done here at the house. It was really fun, but Ryker and I were both very tired when all was said and done. We had Chelsea do the pics...the same photographer we used for the maternity pictures. I am betting there are gonna be some absolutely awesome photos again. :) Here's a few pics I snapped quickly from during the photo shoot...

Last week was Beth's turn to help us out and spend some time with the baby. She came in on Sunday and left on Friday. It was so nice not worrying about any meals and not really doing much around the house since someone else was taking care of it for us. The last couple days of last week Ryker and I had doctor's appointments. I had my postpartum check-up, and I am doing well. Other than dealing with the sleep deprivation, I feel good. My pain has lessened this week significantly, and I am only taking Motrin now for pain control. My blood pressure was fine, my incision looks good, and I have lost 22 pounds already...all my baby weight is gone. How AWESOME is that? Breastfeeding is SO cool for multiple reasons. Ryker's appointment went well also. He weighed in at 8 pounds and 5 ounces, and he's now 21.5 inches long. Growing like a weed! Also, his cardiac echocardiogram came back normal. We won't be back to see the peditrician until he's 2 months old. Yippee!

Ryker with grandma Beth

Lovin' the onesie...

Me and my boy hanging out...

Giving him his vitamin D...he takes the bottle well too. :)

Sleeping beauty

Daddy's turn for his bottle

Dad was showing him some of the toys waiting for him in his nursery. We finally showed him his nursery last week after the photo shoot.

Little baby...big crib!

When we were watching Harry Potter one afternoon...so dramatic.

Hope everyone following us through our blog is doing well. We are ready for visitors again. :) Please come see us!