Happy birthday Ryker!

so i wrote this on his actual birthday and then blogger decided it wouldn't post it.. so i'm posting it now haha

My baby boy is no longer 0, this day is a great day not only because my healthy baby boy was born but because its the day my cancer was removed as well. its been a crazy year. but one that i wouldn't change for the world. Sounds funny when i say that, who wouldn't change getting cancer? its not that i loved it and welcomed it with open arms(because that certainly was not the case que hysteria and panic attacks), but it has taught me a lot. It has taught me to have faith and to trust in the Lord, more then I ever imagined I could. It has taught me to love my family and to enjoy each moment with my husband and my sweet baby boy, I am forever grateful that i'm healthy again and can see my babies grow and be a mother, its one of the best things I could ever imagine being. This past year has been full of so many good memories, it far outweighs the bad and i hope all my years to come are the same way. Life has been challenging, but every day when im woken up to Rykers sweet smiling face it makes the challenges a little easier to deal with

My pregnancy emotions are getting the best of me, i turn into this sappy cliche for 9 months it seems.
But this past week Blake took off work and we went to Canmore. We had tons of fun and Blake felt the baby kick for the first time, its been kicking now for nearly 3 weeks but seems to be asleep each time Blake tries to feel lol. We went on a hike up a frozen creek to some falls, which was really pretty and slippery but we had come prepared with ice cleats.

Our timeshare had a heated indoor/outdoor pool and we went swimming nearly every day, Ryker is learning to kick his feet and holding his breathe under water. We went skating out on the pond just off main street, Blake and I hadn't been skating since we were dating and the skates we had were a little on the small side so it was a quick skate but Ryker loved to be pulled in the sled.

my favorite part about the trip was last friday, Blakes parents spent the week in Edmonton and on their way back made a de-tour out to Canmore and watched Ryker for the day so Blake and I could go dog sledding. We were out at Spray Lakes and it was a 10 km ride. Blake and I unfortunetly got split up as there are 3 people to a sled so 2 couples had to split. but the Lady i had to squish in the basket with was nice. Blake got to drive the sled all by himself, they teach you the commands and you follow a guide who tells you certain hills or turns were coming up. We were in the back of the group of 12 sleds, our dogs were on their last run of the day and were just mozy-ing along and we were pretty far away from the rest of the group. when you go uphill you had to get off the back of the sled and help push it up. Blake doesn't enjoy running, let alone up a hill in snow gear helping push a sled with 2 adults in it, safe to say he was pretty tired after.

Blake and I at the half way point

 one of our dogs decided to take a nap mid ride, they make bathroom breaks along the way but the other dogs don't stop for them, so they just drag them along, its really funny

they were so cute, i wanted to take them all home

after the sled ride we got to hold one of the puppies, it was adorable, and now i want one.

Sat morning we got up and drove back to Medicine Hat and everyone came for Rykers birthday, we ended up having it at the church which was good because 26 people ended up coming. Our family is getting way to big to do family functions.

Todd and Becky made this awesome came for Ryker and he loved it, he was covered in the blue icing after. Ryker was spoiled and crashed pretty hard that night after coming down from his sugar high.

Today was a good day, Blake doesn't have to go back to work till tomorrow and i was able to go in for my ultrasound today. we found out Ryker is going to have a little baby brother. I hopefully they wont get into too much trouble.

2 boys... what am i going to do with 2 boys? I am excited for it to be a boy, as i don't have to go out shopping for all new clothes, but i hope that i will be blessed with a baby girl at some point, growing up with only brothers ive always dreamed of having a little baby girl, but for now i will be way out numbered :)

i guess that will take away some stress of having 2 boys so close together is I've had a boy before and survived, hopefully he will be a great baby just like Ryker.

 we were excited with how many people showed up, rykers cousin Wyatt came to visit for the first time!

 this cake was awesome and i'm so glad becky and todd were able to make it, as i didn't have time to make a cake when we got back from canmore.

ryker liked the cookies around the cake as well as the eyeballs

using his new birthday walker

what was left after he demolished it

eating more cake on his actual birthday

rykers heard shaped bruise , learning to walk is paying a toll on his head, he seems to have a new bruise every week.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE BOY! cant believe in 4 months you will no longer be my only baby!!

my baby is 11 months...

i can't believe how much my life has changed in the last 11 months. for the better!

Ryker is now
- crawling/bum scooting everywhere he is so fast
-walking along to couch, ottoman, coffee table, anything
-climbing the stairs
- his favorite foods are yougurt, cottage cheese, cheese, bananas and prunes
-he weened himself from a bottle to a sippy cup
- he gives the best smiles
-he doesn't like to be held upside down
-he loves dogs, he thinks they are hilarious
-he still loves swimming
- recieved his dads stubborness. you really can't make him do something he doesn't want to. especially open his mouth to see what he just found on the floor and put in there.
-still sleeping all night usually 12+ hours
-babbles about anything to anyone who will listen ( usually sounds like he is speaking german)
- has started to play stranger and no longer smiles at the old ladies who come up to him at walmart
- loves to have his neck tickled
-he thinks shoes are toys that tie to his feet
- has hair that sticks straight up, and is red ( which i get complimented on often)
- weighs 18 pounds 8 ounces ( nearly triple his birth weight)
-i can no longer carry him around in the carseat, he has moved to a big boy carseat still facing backwards, which makes him falling asleep in the car a pain because you can't just bring in the whole carseat.
-loves to watch people and cars
-smiles when blake gets home from work
-loves to be outside, even when its cold
- we are trying to work on signs- he seems to make up his own but i get what hes saying so that is good. for example - when he is done eating, he touches his head, even if the food is still in his hands. he pats the table when he wants more. he puts his hand on his eye when he is sleepy. he grabs at his diaper when he wants it changed. whatever works i guess!

we are so excited for him to start walking and talking and turn 1 next month! We are so excited for him to be a big brother as well. he loves babies and i'm hoping the next baby will be great just like him :)

post christmas picture overload!

This post is going to be mainly pictures, as my new christmas camera (that i got a month early due to a sweet deal) got put to good use!

Ryker thinks Lizzie is the best and Lizzie is so good with Ryker

the best pajamas ever, thanks grandma!

all of us in our new pjs

Christmas Morning

Blake got spoiled, and i thought i had him fooled but he was sneaky and checked my credit card records, next year i guess its cash!

best reaction for a homemade gift:)

Blake got really spoiled this christmas, unfortunetly he has no garage to store all his new tools he got

he loves to read books, especially with auntie April

the cutues toothy smile around :) and of course the classic Ryker Alfafa spike

heres me at 15 weeks... crazy how must faster this little one is growing, this shirt wasn't the best, it makes me look alot more pregnant that i really am.

Christmas was fun, Blake was able to have 2 weeks off from work and we spent a couple days at my parents before christmas and christmas morning and then we headed to Blakes parents . We left Ryker at my moms and came back to medicine hat for an adult new years eve party, it was fun and nice to be out with other adults. we then went back to magrath after teaching my lesson on sunday and picked up Ryker and came back monday morning to medicine hat. We had Todd and Becky, Kelly and Kevin and April come for new years eve. It was fun we did fondue and appetizers and played games. It was so nice to actually have the space to accommodate 7 adults under 1 roof without people sleeping in hallways. 

We have a vacation booked for February in Canmore, a whole week which i'm excited for as Blake will be really busy here in the next month(or 2) trying to get the project in Oyen completed as they have run into some complications. We have an ultrasound booked for Rykers 1st birthday to find out the gender, we rare super excited ,i  have begun to feel the baby moving around, especially when i'm holding Ryker, which is fun to think about. They still aren't  strong enough for Blake to feel but probably in the next couple of weeks!

Ryker is 11 months old in 3 days... he is doing so many fun and exciting things- 11 month post soon to follow :)

baby #2

itsa real baby! and we couldnt be more excited!

i was debating putting anything on facebook or my blog because of all the negative comments i got from the people i told by mouth. next time you go and ask someone if their pregnancy was planned, just shut your mouth and dont bother. its rude, and makes me not like you. also none of your buisness, but for the record i wanted this baby, and the peace of mind that i survived cancer and can continue to watch my children grow and be with my huaband.
but on the other hand we are very excited for this new addition and that the cancer and losing my ovary didnt cause problems with future pregnancies, although we have had a few scares im now almost 14 weeks and feeling more like myself now the morning sickness is done and gone, it got better once i found a schedule for eating ..its crazy how different this pregnancy has been, maybe that means its a girl?..still not fully decided on if we are going to find out, i would love the surprise , i have until february to make my decision.

rykers first christmas was great, pictures to follow later :)

stay tuned

christmas dinner food baby , or actual baby?

stay tuned to find out...