Fourth of July Weekend 2011 (Better late than never...)

This year we decided that we wouldn't be doing much, if anything, for the Fourth since we knew that Ryker would be so little and we'd be so tired. It turns out that we didn't do much, but we did have visitors that weekend. Carmen, one of my best friends, ending up being able to come in Friday night and stayed through Sunday morning. We had a BLAST! We stayed up talking the first night (What sleep deprivation?), and Saturday we went out to lunch and got pedicures. She loved my nail place too! :) I also had my first drink then since last October. Bud Light draft...it was delicious! Saturday night we ordered Chinese food and vegged on the couch watching TV. It was great. I enjoyed her visit immensely, and I can't wait to spend more time with her again soon.

Sunday, after Carmen left, my parents arrived to spend the holiday with us. Val and Michael came in a few hours later. We spent Sunday hanging out, and of course, Nick grilled us some delicious meat. :) Ryker had no problem sleeping that day with all the loving and holding he got from Mamaw and Aunt Val. Our ladder ball game also made it's appearance in the backyard, and Ryker had his first outside time that night hanging out with the adults.

Dressed for his first Fourth...

Snoozing in Val's lap...

ABOVE: My mom was the first person, other than Nick or I, to give him a bottle. As you can see, she loved it. :)

Loving all the attention...

Sisterly LOVE

ABOVE: Ladder ball time

Ryker sitting with Mamaw outside...Daddy was acting silly...

Lovin' the outside...bright eyes.

Nick and I <3

For July 4th we headed over to my Mamaw's house for lunch and to introduce Ryker to the Daylong clan. Mamaw lives in Lyons, Texas, which is about an hour and fifteen minutes from our house. Lunch included all kinds of good tradtional food...hamburgers, hot dogs, all the fixings, and tons of desserts. We ate outside, and then we all hung out outside in the nicely shaded backyard. Here's some pics from our visit...

Aunt Val and Ryker on his first Fourth

Hanging with Aunt Linda

Papaw was holding him...he was out.

ABOVE: Modeling his bib from Grandma Beth

Four generations. I love it! :)

Mamaw was holding him a lot...she needed her Ry time!

Visiting...you can hear the BS now...

Nick and I had a laid back night when we got home. We watched fireworks on TV in downtown Houston and New York, and we were in bed by 9 pm. It was a good day, overall, and we enjoyed visiting with everyone all weekend.

Ryker's Newborn Photos

We had Ryker's newborn photos taken at the house when he was 10 days old. We used the same photographer that took my maternity pics...her name is Chelsea. She arrived at about 10 am that day, and she was here until about 1:30 pm. She was very patient with all our wardrobe changes and the 2 feedings that Ryker needed during the shoot. He was very awake at the beginning of the shoot and very sleepy at the end which was nice so we could pose him however we wanted to...it was great. The pictures turned out wonderfully, and I can't wait for Chelsea to take his 6 month and one year portraits as well. Here's her work...