The next day Val and I took a long walk and took Ryker to the playground. Here's some pics of that:
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Mamaw's birthday party & SUPERbowl Sunday
The first weekend on the month we celebrated my Mamaw's 76th birthday in Bryan at my Aunt Linda's house. Mamaw recently lost her sister and had shoulder surgery so we thought that getting the family together to celebrate her birthday this year would be nice. Plus, how lucky are we that Mamaw has another birthday to celebrate with us? We decided to do a Mexican food linner with desserts and gifts. It turned out really well, and we had a pretty good turn-out. It's so hard to get all of us together since the Daylong/Collins clan is so large. Mamaw seemed to have a good time, even though she was still having some pain from her surgery, and it was nice to see everyone again. Here are some pics of the party:
Super Bowl Sunday was very laid back for us this year. Valerie was here too since she came over here after Mamaw's party. Nick began a new tradition of cooking a brisket starting on the Saturday before. He put it on the pit at about midnight, I think, and it cooked until like 2 pm on Sunday. It was so good! Val and I went and got pedicures that morning, and then we had our Super Bowl feast that afternoon. Our neighbor, Clint, came over to hang and watch the game with Nick. Val and I hung out too, and we did watch some of the commercials and game...especially after Ryker went to bed. And of course we watched halftime together too and then "The VOICE." I am glad she was here. :) It was a nice day. I forgot to take any pics, but oh well.
The next day Val and I took a long walk and took Ryker to the playground. Here's some pics of that:
The next day Val and I took a long walk and took Ryker to the playground. Here's some pics of that:
January 2012
Wow...another month has come and gone. I can't believe it! It's been such a fast beginning to 2012. We did so many things this month.
We rang in the new year with a little alone time. Nick and I decided to take advantage of my parents being here for a visit, and we took in a movie that day. It was so nice to get away for a little while. Later that day we realized that Ryker probably had more than a cold. He seemed to be feeling worse even though he was still acting pretty good. Have I mentioned how lucky we are to have this good boy? I wasn't able to get him into the pedi until a couple days later (due to the holiday), and he was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection and a double ear infection. It was Ryker's first illness. :( He took a round of antibiotics for 10 days, and he was feeling better within a couple days. I am so glad that was the first and only sickness he has had to deal with so far. I am so proud every day that I am still breastfeeding and staying home with him. It's been a wonderful blessing on both fronts, and I know Ryker is truly flourishing because of it. :)
We went to SA the second weekend of January. We met up with my friend Jaylyn and her family to celebrate Christmas on Friday evening. It was nice to see them all! Valerie and I had a spa day at the JW Marriott on Saturday. It was a birthday gift for both of us. If you have never heard of this place or seen it...you should check it out! It's AMAZING! We both booked hot stone massages and facials. We went to our treatments that afternoon, and we hung out that night at the hotel bar and a sports bar. It was really fun! We stayed the night there. We watched TV and ate junk food too...it was like a real sleepover! The next day, after we got back to my parents' house, we had a family get together for Val's birthday. It was so nice to see everyone that day too.
Ryker also turned 7 months old in January. :) He weighed 16 pounds and 6 ounces when he went to the doctor for his illness at the beginning of the month. He is into EVERYTHING now. Constantly rolling around and scooting, turning in circles on the floor. SO close to crawling. He likes to stand with help, and he attempts to pull up on few of his toys. He laughs all the time, and he is saying more and more clear sounds that aren't quite words. He did say Da Da for the first time right around Val's birthday. I am so jealous about that! I am trying to be more and more vocal with him daily. He is eating baby food now for all three meals (along with cereal in the morning), and he tried apple juice last week for the first time. He wasnt't that into it. He is also eating some of the Gerber Graduate items...puffs, Cheetos, and yogurt drops in a variety of flavors. He is definitely getting more and more self-sufficient with feeding himself the snacks. He is really enjoying looking at books right now and playing with things he can bang together. He learned to wave "HI" at my parents' house a couple weeks ago. He now does the same movement for "HI" and "BYE." I am utterly amazed at how he soaks learning in like a sponge. So fun!
Nick went to work in Denver for a week too so Ry and I headed to SA to spend some time with family and friends. We had a great couple days hanging with my parents and Auntie Val. We spent some time shopping, and we surprised my dad with a visit to his job. He loved it! He was so excited to show Ryker off. What a proud peacock! It was great! I spent some time on Wednesday with one of my best friends, Carmen, at her house. I brought over lunch, and then we hung out with the little boys and talked all afternoon. I love those times! Carmen and I could talk until the end of time I think. :) Ryker and I headed back home the next day, and Nick came back that night. We had a wonderful weekend together as a family.
I had a few lunches scattered throughout the month with friends. I was also able to get a little "me" time this past weekend with some neighbors and friends. Saturday night my neighbors and I went to a place called "Pinot's Palette." Look it up! It was so much fun! You pay to go paint a specific painting with directions from an instructor, and they supply the canvas, paint, and brushes too. You are encouraged to bring wine to enjoy as you paint. I took beers and a koozie. :) High class! There are 3 in the Houston area and one in the Dallas/FW area. The class calendar online tells you what they are painting at any given session and the price. Classes are 2-3 hours. What a brilliant way to have fun and show off any artistic talent you may have. I think my painting came out pretty well (especially for a first-timer), and I would definitely go again. We painted Van Gogh's "Starry Night." The following day my friend Brenda and I went to the Country Peddler Show in Rosenberg. I hadn't been to any of the ones out there in a long time. It was another nice break for me, and I found some cool stuff. I am most stoked about a bookcase I got for the blue room. I bought it from a vendor that always has things I love, and I think it looks cute in the room. I also picked up a gift and some yard decor. I was really glad that we went out there. :)
ENJOY some pics from our month...
He always finds my phone...
We rang in the new year with a little alone time. Nick and I decided to take advantage of my parents being here for a visit, and we took in a movie that day. It was so nice to get away for a little while. Later that day we realized that Ryker probably had more than a cold. He seemed to be feeling worse even though he was still acting pretty good. Have I mentioned how lucky we are to have this good boy? I wasn't able to get him into the pedi until a couple days later (due to the holiday), and he was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection and a double ear infection. It was Ryker's first illness. :( He took a round of antibiotics for 10 days, and he was feeling better within a couple days. I am so glad that was the first and only sickness he has had to deal with so far. I am so proud every day that I am still breastfeeding and staying home with him. It's been a wonderful blessing on both fronts, and I know Ryker is truly flourishing because of it. :)
We went to SA the second weekend of January. We met up with my friend Jaylyn and her family to celebrate Christmas on Friday evening. It was nice to see them all! Valerie and I had a spa day at the JW Marriott on Saturday. It was a birthday gift for both of us. If you have never heard of this place or seen it...you should check it out! It's AMAZING! We both booked hot stone massages and facials. We went to our treatments that afternoon, and we hung out that night at the hotel bar and a sports bar. It was really fun! We stayed the night there. We watched TV and ate junk food too...it was like a real sleepover! The next day, after we got back to my parents' house, we had a family get together for Val's birthday. It was so nice to see everyone that day too.
Ryker also turned 7 months old in January. :) He weighed 16 pounds and 6 ounces when he went to the doctor for his illness at the beginning of the month. He is into EVERYTHING now. Constantly rolling around and scooting, turning in circles on the floor. SO close to crawling. He likes to stand with help, and he attempts to pull up on few of his toys. He laughs all the time, and he is saying more and more clear sounds that aren't quite words. He did say Da Da for the first time right around Val's birthday. I am so jealous about that! I am trying to be more and more vocal with him daily. He is eating baby food now for all three meals (along with cereal in the morning), and he tried apple juice last week for the first time. He wasnt't that into it. He is also eating some of the Gerber Graduate items...puffs, Cheetos, and yogurt drops in a variety of flavors. He is definitely getting more and more self-sufficient with feeding himself the snacks. He is really enjoying looking at books right now and playing with things he can bang together. He learned to wave "HI" at my parents' house a couple weeks ago. He now does the same movement for "HI" and "BYE." I am utterly amazed at how he soaks learning in like a sponge. So fun!
Nick went to work in Denver for a week too so Ry and I headed to SA to spend some time with family and friends. We had a great couple days hanging with my parents and Auntie Val. We spent some time shopping, and we surprised my dad with a visit to his job. He loved it! He was so excited to show Ryker off. What a proud peacock! It was great! I spent some time on Wednesday with one of my best friends, Carmen, at her house. I brought over lunch, and then we hung out with the little boys and talked all afternoon. I love those times! Carmen and I could talk until the end of time I think. :) Ryker and I headed back home the next day, and Nick came back that night. We had a wonderful weekend together as a family.
I had a few lunches scattered throughout the month with friends. I was also able to get a little "me" time this past weekend with some neighbors and friends. Saturday night my neighbors and I went to a place called "Pinot's Palette." Look it up! It was so much fun! You pay to go paint a specific painting with directions from an instructor, and they supply the canvas, paint, and brushes too. You are encouraged to bring wine to enjoy as you paint. I took beers and a koozie. :) High class! There are 3 in the Houston area and one in the Dallas/FW area. The class calendar online tells you what they are painting at any given session and the price. Classes are 2-3 hours. What a brilliant way to have fun and show off any artistic talent you may have. I think my painting came out pretty well (especially for a first-timer), and I would definitely go again. We painted Van Gogh's "Starry Night." The following day my friend Brenda and I went to the Country Peddler Show in Rosenberg. I hadn't been to any of the ones out there in a long time. It was another nice break for me, and I found some cool stuff. I am most stoked about a bookcase I got for the blue room. I bought it from a vendor that always has things I love, and I think it looks cute in the room. I also picked up a gift and some yard decor. I was really glad that we went out there. :)
ENJOY some pics from our month...
He always finds my phone...
Friday, February 10, 2012
Prayer Request for a Dear & Special Friend
Hello to you all...
Sad news has hit close to home recently in one of my best friends' family. Maya's mom, Barbara, was diagnosed with lung/liver cancer last week. It's in Stage IV according to her doctor, and the option to give her more time is chemo. Maya just moved to Washington state in December since her husband was relocated by the Air Force, and they are working to move back to San Antonio as soon as possible. Barbara started chemo this past Monday, and she is feeling well and pretty positive according to Maya. I have known both of these incredible women since I was 14 years old. Crazy.
It's definitely going to be a difficult and trying time for Barbara, Maya, Tim, and their kids and Maya's brother Adam. I ask you all to please remember to include them all in your prayers as I have been every day. I know that all I can do right now is be as supportive as possible to my friend, and I am trying hard to do that every day as well. We all know cancer is a heart-breaking illness. Barbara is, and always has been a fighter, so I know she will fight this every day as hard as humanly possible. Hugs and prayers to you Barb. <3
Sad news has hit close to home recently in one of my best friends' family. Maya's mom, Barbara, was diagnosed with lung/liver cancer last week. It's in Stage IV according to her doctor, and the option to give her more time is chemo. Maya just moved to Washington state in December since her husband was relocated by the Air Force, and they are working to move back to San Antonio as soon as possible. Barbara started chemo this past Monday, and she is feeling well and pretty positive according to Maya. I have known both of these incredible women since I was 14 years old. Crazy.
It's definitely going to be a difficult and trying time for Barbara, Maya, Tim, and their kids and Maya's brother Adam. I ask you all to please remember to include them all in your prayers as I have been every day. I know that all I can do right now is be as supportive as possible to my friend, and I am trying hard to do that every day as well. We all know cancer is a heart-breaking illness. Barbara is, and always has been a fighter, so I know she will fight this every day as hard as humanly possible. Hugs and prayers to you Barb. <3
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge him,
And he will make your paths straight.”
(Proverbs 3:5-6)
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge him,
And he will make your paths straight.”
(Proverbs 3:5-6)
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
CoUnT yOuR bLeSsInGs!
This has been a tough week for me so far. Why? I don't know exactly. I have felt run down every day, and I don't like my attitude. I have so many things to be happy about and grateful for, and I can't muster a smile sometimes. I don't know if my body is still adjusting to the healthier eating thing? Or maybe it's because I haven't exercised at all. I have still been counting my points and doing my WW online stuff...thank god. It isn't out of control in that aspect. Maybe it's because Ryker doesn't really sit still anymore? He is into EVERYTHING! Maybe it's because the weather's been so dreary? Or because I feel like I have been sleeping poorly some nights? Having no energy sucks. I can't exactly put my finger on it, but I really need to get a grip. It's pathetic.
I have friends going through really tough times right now, and I have no reason to be acting the way I have been. I have a superb husband, an awesome baby, a wonderful family, great friends, and good health. I am also lucky enough to stay home with Ryker (without crazy sacrificing), and most days I have time to do a little something for myself if I so choose. I also live in a nice house and have lots of nice things. With all that being said, I am going to stop this mood right here...right now. DONE.
I don't know if anyone will read this blog or comment on it, but I already feel better after writing this stuff out. It feels good to let your feelings out in writing sometimes even if no one else cares about it. I will continue to pray for those who are dealing with challenges at the present time. I can't understand what you are going through, but I can say I am here for you. That's the most I can do right now. Please let me know if I can do anything for any of you. <3
I have friends going through really tough times right now, and I have no reason to be acting the way I have been. I have a superb husband, an awesome baby, a wonderful family, great friends, and good health. I am also lucky enough to stay home with Ryker (without crazy sacrificing), and most days I have time to do a little something for myself if I so choose. I also live in a nice house and have lots of nice things. With all that being said, I am going to stop this mood right here...right now. DONE.
I don't know if anyone will read this blog or comment on it, but I already feel better after writing this stuff out. It feels good to let your feelings out in writing sometimes even if no one else cares about it. I will continue to pray for those who are dealing with challenges at the present time. I can't understand what you are going through, but I can say I am here for you. That's the most I can do right now. Please let me know if I can do anything for any of you. <3
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