9 months!

Ryder J turned 9 months this April and what an absolute joy he is! I can't help myself - I just want to bite his chubby legs and eat him all up! He's growing before our very eyes, reaching new milestones daily.  Ryder went swimming for the first time this month and also rode his first Ferris wheel (chewing on his Sophie the entire ride). 

Ryder weighs 19lbs is 27.5 inches long and is still in the 90% for head size (our little megamind!) He's been doing great with transitioning to solid foods and although some days we face some struggles, we chose to focus on all of the good that surrounds us! 

A couple of weeks ago Ryder's left ear started bleeding (and I mean bleeding ....not just a few drops of blood). Turns out he had an ear infection and some blood vessels popped near his ear drum causing his ear to bleed. It's always a new adventure with Ryder but we take each moment as it comes cherishing every second - whether good, bad, happy or sad! 

We just adore every ounce of our Ryder Jeremiah!

Some photos of our adventures this month - warning *your heart might just melt...mine does daily. 

Ryder's first Easter!

I've celebrated 31 Easter Sundays in my lifetime but this Easter was like no other. Having a son and knowing what it's like to mother a precious baby boy makes Jesus' sacrifice all the more real. To think God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that we might have eternal life (John 3:16). How powerful this verse is! What a sacrifice that was given for little ol' ME! Thank you Lord for the ultimate sacrifice! Easter will never be the same and once again, Ryder Jeremiah continues to teach me so much! How blessed I am to call him son! 

Well no Easter would be complete without the proper outfit so "Mum" (aka Grandma Gallegos) made sure to outfit Ryder with only the best-looking suit she could find. Some of these pics might be slightly blurry because I was too busy turning into a ball of mommy mush as we dressed Ryder. He giggled, smiled and laughed the entire time we put his suit on. I couldn't handle it. My heart exploded with mommy love! 

Ryder also met Mr. Easter bunny for the first time this year. He sat on his lap for a photo and thankfully, no tears! Ryder didn't cry but he also didn't smile - no real reaction from him but at least we still got a great photo! 

Easter Sunday was filled with family, friends, food and Ryder's first egg hunt. Although Ryder was more interested in his basket's grass, he still was able to fill his basket with at least a couple of eggs! 

Kiss me!

Just because I all I do is kiss him....it's a good thing we are in March and Ryder Jeremiah has a bit of Irisih in him! 

Flashback Friday

Jeremiah 1:5 

Before you were in your mother's womb, I knew you.  Before you were born, I set you apart. 

Having some flashbacks today of March 7, 2013. The day we went in for Ryder's 20 week ultrasound. The day we heard "we see some abnormalities on this ultrasound and we're going to have to conduct further testing to see if there are more concerns". The doctor had really said it all with his face. I remember being in total shock as I laid on that table, belly bared, eyes welled, not knowing what to do, how to react, what to say....I did the only thing that felt right at the moment - cry. My husband, my mom and father-in-law were all in the room. They were all there to see the ultrasound but didn't expect to hear that news either. 

The days that followed were filled with an amnio, waiting, genetic counseling, waiting, doctors appointments, waiting and more waiting. Because of Ryder's cleft lip and palate further tests were conducted to make sure there weren't any chromosomal defects. Words no mother wants to hear "there's a high chance that this cleft could be signs of bigger issues and your baby may not survive". What do you respond to that? Again, I did the only thing that felt right at that moment - cry. 

What most people didn't know at the time is that I had just seen one of my best friends lay her precious baby to rest after her baby was identified to have a cleft lip and palate during her 20 week ultrasound. Her baby was diagnosed with a chromosomal defect. My situation felt way too familiar and way too surreal. 

Fast forward to March 7, 2014 I have this handsome stud of a baby before me and my heart overflows with so much love I smother him daily! Yes, God knew my Ryder Jeremiah before he was in my womb and He has set him apart! He's perfect! 

And the greatest of these is LOVE...

1 Corinthians 13:13

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

This post should have been in February but those 28 days sure flew by faster than expected. What a month it has been! 

Quick update - Ryder officially sleeps in his crib (all through the night might I add), has two teeth, and has successfully started to eat solids - it's a work in progress but at least we can say it's in progress. We meet with a therapist every few Fridays to evaluate Ryder's feedings. It has been going slow but steady. Mommy/daddy and baby are all learning together and we are so proud of the strong boy Ryder is becoming. 

Of the many things Ryder has taught me throughout his short 17 months of life (9 of which were in utero) LOVE has been such an important part of this journey. I've learned about a love that is so unconditional that only a parent could truly understand its full meaning. It makes me think (and think often) of God's unconditional love for little ole, fail-time after-time....me.  I've read 1 Corinthians 13:13 a million times but as a mother, I now read the verse through a different pair of eyes - "...and the greatest of these is LOVE"....yes it is! Thank you my Ryder Jeremiah for teaching me how to truly love! 

Next month just might include an update on crawling...

A New Year - Conquering!

A new year has begun! A new year filled with hope! This year my mom will conquer cancer. This year Ryder will conquer his palate surgery. This year Ryder will conquer learning how to eat solids, walking and talking - amongst a million other things. This year we will conquer together! 

Ryder's actively sitting up and what a new world he is discovering. He's already becoming a little more independent and my heart mildly aches to see him grow so quickly. We have yet to actually feed him solids (we're a bit late on that) but hubby and I are determined to give it a try this weekend along with crib training....should make for an interesting few days! 

We start speech therapy soon and I'm not quite sure what all that entails but after our first visit in the next week, I will have a better idea of how that will work. 

Ryder had his 6 month check up and he's 16lbs! Yay! He's still in the 11% for weight and height (a small little man) but he's in the 89% for head size - my super smart baby :) 

God has great plans for my little Ryder Jeremiah this year! I just know it! This year we will conquer and this year we will prosper victoriously! 

Jeremiah 29:11-13

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

My oh my how time flies when you're having fun! Our precious lover boy growing up to be a toddler very soon. 

Happy New Year! Xoxo