Play time with cousin Andrew

So Andrew is not in this picture, but this is one I took of Ryan. He's changing so much and so fast!!

I put Ryan next to his cousin Andrew, who is about 4 1/2 months older than Ryan, to see the differences in their sizes and to see what they would do. Andrew immediately headed over to Ryan to play. I hope they will be good friends growing up, like I was (and still am) with my cousin Missy who is six months younger than me. Too bad we didn't have Mikelle around to see how all three of them would do. I'll have to remember to try this when she's in town. I'm so excited that Ryan will have cousins to play with!!

Ryan meet the Webb's

My good friend Ann came all the way from Saratoga Springs with her cute little family for dinner and a visit. Her two little boys are absolutely darling and I can't believe how fast they're growing up. It was so nice to catch up with Ann and Jared. I wish they lived closer! Will was so cute with Ryan. He just stood next to his mom the whole time she held Ryan. Owen was full of energy and really liked the baby. It's amazing to me how much kids love babies. I never noticed it before. It was so great to see you guys!! We hope to do it again soon!

More Pictures

Here are the gorgeous pictures we had taken by Kelli Willard. She is an amazing photographer who made us all look fabulous!! These were taken when Ryan was exactly 1 week and I can't believe how much he's already grown. We thought that he would definitely end up pooping or peeing on us because this little guy is a diaper changing machine. He goes through at least 10-12 diapers a day and it is not unusual for him to have 5 poopy diapers in an hour (Aunt Steph can attest to this from the Sunday that she so nicely changed them for us). I also wore a white skirt, which I thought was just asking for a big present. Surprisingly (and thankfully) he did not leave us any presents:) He really is such an angel and we are so blessed to have him!! He slept for the majority of the shoot, but he did manage to wake up for just a few pictures and then went straight back to sleep.

Chris was such a trooper for the shoot. Pictures and shopping are two of his least favorite activities, but I'm not sure which he hates most. Shopping is something I try to do with my mom and sister, but pictures are something he doesn't get to miss. Too bad he has a crazy wife that likes pictures:) He was so sweet the day of the shoot and even grabbed our camera to get a few pictures. What a great hubby I have.

Also during the shoot one of my least favorite things came to visit...a daddy long leg. He was headed right for Ryan. Somehow my motherly protective side completely took away my arachnaphobia long enough for me to save Ryan. Amazingly, for once, I did not scream or ask Chris to come get it. I was amazed at my own reaction but not totally surprised because I would do anything to protect my little one, even battle ugly spiders:)

Whatever. Stupid thing didn't put it on the side like I thought it would. Well, here are Bean's feet. Cute, huh? He also has a little behind just like his dad. He has other parts of his body

but I didn't really want to show you those other parts. Anyways...Bean is doing well. He does all the important things like eat, poop and sleep. Every now and then he opens his eyes and wants to hang out and play. Mom really doesn't like it when he does this at four in the morn. Lindsey is looking fabulous. Plus she tastes terrific. Like grapefruit. He likes to look at the ceiling. Lindsey thinks he is looking at the angels. I think he likes the lights. LOOK INTO THE LIGHT!

Baby Bean (actually Ryan Christopher Allen)

So the much anticipated day of baby bean finally arrived on July 15th (which was my actual due date based on my first appointment). We are so excited to finally have him here!!! Being a mom is the best job ever and I have absolutely loved every minute of it. He is such a perfect little baby, but I'm not prejudiced:) We also think he is the cutest thing ever, but once again we're not prejudiced:) We've been told that from his nose up he looks like his daddy and from the mouth down he looks like his mom. He gets his gorgeous hair from his dad since my family only has kewpie dolls. I always hoped to have a baby with hair so I'm glad he got dad's jeans.

For those of you who haven't heard how fabulous my delivery was, here's the low down. I went to work on the 14th and was having some contractions, but they were definitely braxton hicks and they were about 7-8 minutes apart. I was determined to do my best to not be started so I decided to walk on the treadmill for a couple miles and about 40 minutes on the 13th and 14th. I had planned to do so until he came. Well, I'm not sure if it was the treadmill that started my labor but I know it was a blessing from my Heavenly Father. I woke up at 2:30 am on the 15th with contractions that were 5 mintues apart (they were a little more painful than usual, so I couldn't just go back to sleep). After about 45 mintues I decided I should shower just in case. By the time I got out of the shower they were 4 minutes apart. I kept getting ready and 45 mintues later I told Chris that we should get ready to go to the hospital. We had most everything ready to go since I am one of those crazy people who like to be as organized and ready for big things as possible. Chris and Kent gave me a sweet blessing before we left. I am so grateful to have worthy priesthood holders in my home!!

By the time we got to the hospital it was about 5:00 and I gave my mom a call to let her know we were there and that I would keep her posted. I was at a 3 and 90% effaced with contractions that were still about 4 minutes apart. The nurse called my doctor and let me know that they would be checking me in. My doctor said I could have my epideral any time, but my contractions weren't that bad so I decided to wait a bit to make sure my labor would continue progressing. I was put on pitocin around 6:30ish. By 7:00 the contractions got more painful (I think from the pitocin). By 7:45 I was ready for my epideral. I was only at a 4 by then. My epideral came around 8:10 and I was feeling much better. I am so grateful for epiderals!! Kudos to those moms who can survive without them. My doctor came to break my water right after the epideral and said she would see me later that night. My fabulous nurse was determined that I would be ready before then. By 10:00 I was a 6, I think, and by noon Ryan was ready.

The nurse called my doctor and while she was waiting she had me do a couple of practice pushes. The doctor finally called back at around 12:30 and said she would be over shortly. So we just kind of hung out for a while. The doctor came at around 1:10 and six pushes later, Ryan was here. He was born at 1:17 PM, weighed 7 lbs 4 oz, and was 20 inches long.
It was an amazing day and I am so grateful for my husband!! He is the best ever and I'm truly blessed to have him. It was so sweet to watch him during the delivery. He is not one to cry, so to see him cry as we saw Ryan for the first time was a sweet moment that I will never forget. Thank you to all of our families and friends for their support!! I owe my mom a super huge thanks, but that is a post that deserves to be seperate. She was also such a great support during the delivery process.