Mommy's Weekend Out in New York City

Thanks to my good friend Alex I was able to take a Mommy's Weekend Out to New York. I met Alex on Saturday at the Westin in Times Square. She had to do some work that day so an old friend of mine who lives in Conneticut met me in the city. We went all over the city, Little Italy, Central Park, Times Square, the Village, the works. We walked so much that by the time we got back to the hotel I had blisters on my feet.

On Sunday I went with Alex and her friend Paul to shop in China Town. That was an adventure in and of itself. It was so much fun! We came back on the red-eye Monday morning. This was my first time away from Scott and Ryan and I really missed them! While I love New York City it was good to come home to my family.

Swimming Lessons

We started Ryan in swimming lessons last week. The first day was somewhat disappointing because Ryan cried when we held him and got him wet. He was the youngest in his class (all the other kids looked like they were at least 18 mos.) but, by the third day he was kicking and having a good time.

Ryan's 1st Haircut

On Ryan's 11 month birthday we decided that it was time for his first haircut. The one time that Scott and I tried to cut his hair ended in disaster. Poor Ryan looked like a pair of trimmers had attacked him. This time we decided to spare him any more haircut trauma by taking him to a professional. I took him to Cool Cuts since they specialize in children. His chair was a little taxi car and he was such a good good little boy. He wiggled and fussed a little but after ten minutes his haircut was complete.

Now he looks like a little man...well he does when he doesn't have his turtle hanging out of his mouth!

Blue & Green?

Many people have asked who Blue and Green are. Well, they are my cats. I adopted them from Operation Kindness in October 1993. They are sisters. The reason for their names is this. When I got them I couldn't decide what to name them...Thelma and Louise, Bonnie and Clyde, Wilma and Betty, etc. They were wearing Blue and Green collars so that's what I called them. It was only supposed to be temporary but the names stuck.

This is Blue, aka Boobers, Big Kitty and Luv Bug. She more stand-offish than her sister. When she wants something she has no problem letting you know it. She keeps Ryan at a distance, unless he catches her off quard.

This is Green, aka Green-Green, Little Kitty, Snuggle Buddy. She is more outgoing than her sister. She has allergies and her kidneys are starting to fail. Even though her health is failing she seems suprisingly content. She loves to watch the birds in the backyard from our bedroom window. She will actually hiss and bark at them! She is quite a character.

As you can see, she is much more brave when it comes to Ryan.

Pictures of Ryan...

I previously mentioned that most of our friends and family would like to see pictures of Ryan, I thought that I would accommodate their requests. This first one shows Ryan playing in his Bumbo seat with the blocks he received from his Aunt Gina, Uncle John and Cousin Grace. The seat is great because it helps him learn how to sit up on his own.

This picture shows Ryan playing in one of his favorite toys (drum roll) his (ta da) Exersaucer! This toy has been a God send. Ryan likes it because it makes all sorts of noises and devices to keep him busy (and chew/drool on). Scott and I like it because it keeps him busy just long enough for us to do a couple of things before Ryan wants us to play with him some more. It has also been helping Ryan to learn how to stand.

Our poor son! This is a picture his Mimzy and Poppy took of him. While we all think he looks so cute, he is giving us a look back that just says "Okay guys....really....funs over...where are my pajamas!"

Since it is getting late I will have to add more pictures later. I hope this will be enough for you to get your "Ryan fix" -- you know who you are. Either way you are just going to have to wait to see more.

Our Little Helper

This has been a very busy week for us. Scott has been working hard to get all of his classes grades turned in. He also just started teaching a Maymester class. Scott was so busy that he put Ryan in the box of projects he needed to grade. Scott thought Ryan would have fun playing in it. Judging by the look on Ryan's face I don't think he was amused for very long.

Ryan has been busy trying to crawl. He just learned how to sit up all by himself so I am sure he will be crawling on no time. Although somehow when he tries to crawl he ends up moving backwards. That's how he gets underneath the ottoman, I think. It's a mystery! What can I say, the kid has skills.

Like Father Like Son

I just had to share this picture with everyone! Yes these are the two men in my life, my "big man" Scott and my "little man" Ryan. They are quite a pair - here are just a few things they have in common:

- They both like to sleep a lot and usually with something covering their eyes.

- If you wake either of them up early you better have some food waiting for them or else!

- They are both easy going and generally happy people.

- They both like food and will eat just about anything.

- They both like to hog the remote.

- They both like to snuggle, take naps and hog the bed and the covers.

- When they make a mess, they both just look at you as if they don't know where it came from.

I could go on and on. They really are two of a kind.

Time Flies

I can't believe how fast time has been passing over the last few weeks. Time couldn't pass quick enough because just as Scott started back to school he came down with the flu. At first the doctor thought he had mono. After taking all of his antibiotics Scott still didn't sound or feel much better. But, when Ryan got sick and our pediatrician told us he had the flu we knew that Scott must have gotten it first. I was the only one in our family who didn't get really sick. It took Scott and Ryan about two weeks before they felt better.

Luckily, Scott was feeling better in time to celebrate Valentine's Day. Ryan went to see his grandparent's while we went to see the Cirque du Soleil show Corteco. It was a lot of fun and I was so happy because I could finally fit into my pre-pregnancy clothes :) I gained so much weight with Ryan (almost 100 pds) and my goal was to be able to fit into my clothes by Valentine's Day...and I did it! Needless to say, I was in a really good mood that day.

Ryan has been doing well too. He is almost 6 months old! He is teething right now so anyone who gets within range of him is usually covered in drool within minutes. Although he hasn't started crawling yet he is becoming more mobile. We used to be able to put him on his play mat and he would stay on it. Now you put him down and he is rolling off of the mat in no time. But you just have to love him....he is such a good tempered little boy. Not to mention he is so cute and such a sweetie that I just want to hug him all the time.

Now we are in the process of getting our house set up since we weren't able to get everything done before Ryan came. We found a really nice french dining room set at an auction so we now have dining room furniture. While Scott has been busy with wiring things and getting the TV hung from the ceiling in the study, I have been out shopping for fabric to decorate with. Although it is a never ending project, it has been a lot of fun working on the house together.

What A Year

Ryan is growing up fast. He is already 4 months old and weighs 14 1/2 pds. we are very fortunate parents because Ryan is a great baby. He doesn't cry very much and when he does it doesn't last very long.

Ryan is just starting to try solid foods. You should see Scott and I trying to feed him. Ryan usually gets more food on him than in his mouth. But it's okay, he's learning how to swallow food and that's what really matters. Ryan is also a big talker. He just loves to talk to anyone and anything (including his toys) that will listen. Now if we just knew what he was trying to say.

Scott and I are doing well too. Scott is almost finished working on a condo we just bought and right now he is working on wiring all of the stereo, VCR, and DVD components to our TV. I don't know where he gets all of his energy. As for me, I am getting over being sick for the past 2-3 months with the Epstein Barr virus. I am getting more and more energy back each day. I am lucky, I get to be busy every day just taking care of Ryan and trying to keep our home in some sort of order.

Who would have thought that in just one year Scott and I would get married, both move, buy a new home, and have a baby. All in all 2006 was a great year for us.

Introducing Daniel Ryan Lowrance

Daniel Ryan Lowrance arrived Thursday, September 7th at 12:20 pm, weighing 7 pounds 7 ounces and 20 inches long. He is a very lucky baby as he was born with a loose knot in his umbilical cord. We are very proud and happy parents.

Now we are in the process of becoming acclimated to being new parents. We are both sleep deprived and exhausted. Of course we are also in awe of our son, we spend most of our time just staring at him and getting to know his personality. He is a good baby and we are all very happy.

The Baby Shower

This past Sunday my Aunt hosted a Baby Shower for Scott and I. It was so much fun. Dan, Anthea, Scott and I all piled in the car and drove to my Aunt and Uncle's home in Garland. It was nice to see my friends.

Poor Scott didn't know what to expect! But as you can see from the picture, Dan and Anthea broke Scott in by having him open the first present for the Dad.

Everyone was so generous and supportive. It was refreshing to talk to my friends and family and get some well needed advice from all of the Moms. We are so fortunate to have good friends and family to share in our happiness. We are both very thankful to everyone.

I have to admit that Scott and I are both feeling a little overwhelmed. There is so much to do and learn. Today we unpacked all the gifts and started organize the nursery. It was fun but I think it made us both realize that we still have so much more to prepare for the baby. Hopefully the parenting classes that Scott and I are taking this weekend will help to ease our anxiety. We will keep you posted.

You Will Never Believe What Happened....

Wednesday night, Scott and I were getting ready to go to bed. We had had a busy day removing the doorknobs throughout our home to change out to new ones. I had just turned out the lights and bent down to pick up my body pillow when it happened. As I was bending down I accidentally stepped on one of the doorknobs we had removed and I went crashing down. Scott raced over to me to make sure I was okay. I obviously was not okay so he called the paramedics.

The ambulance came and they helped Scott get me into the car. We raced to the hospital at 2 am to find out that the baby was alright. But, I had a fractured ankle. We finally got back home and in bed around 5am. I can't help but feel like a fat, pregnant, clumsy fool! Poor Scott - the first couple of days he literally had to wait on me hand and foot.

Per the emergency room doctor’s orders, we went to see an Orthopedist on Friday and he told us that I would need to wear this boot for the next 6-8 weeks. Sexy isn't it? But the walker really completes the look. Needless to say, Scott and I were both relieved to find out that I would not need surgery. Now we are both just hoping that my ankle heals before the baby is born. I guess this is God's way of telling me to take it easy...or else!

Home Improvements

We have been busy the last few weeks doing home improvement projects. We are about one-third of the way complete.

So far we have removed all the wallpaper borders from the kitchen, master bedroom and master bathroom. We have hired a trim carpenter (named Edgar) that has been busy installing crown moulding throughout the house. Once Edgar is done installing all the trim he is going to build us a built in for the TV and stereo equipment.

In the meantime, we are in the process of putting the finishing touches on the nursery. Dan and Anthea (the soon to be Grandparents) helped us pick out the paint color. The nursery is painted and has all of the furniture set up in it. The only thing left to do is hang a few pictures and some curtain panels and it will be ready for the baby to move-in. Only 10 weeks (or less depending on who you ask) to go !

What A Week

The week we had a bit of a scare...we ended up in the emergency room at 3 am Monday morning. Turns out Emily had a UTI. She was treated in the emergency room and then sent to Labor and Delivery so they could monitor the baby. Apparently if you get a UTI while you are pregnant it can lead to perterm labor. The nurses hooked Emily up to a baby monitor and she showed no sign of going into labor and the baby was doing well so they sent us home. Emily was put on bed-rest until she could see her OBGYN on Thursday.

Everything was okay when we went to see the doctor on Thursday. Emily is not showing any signs of preterm labor. I think we were both releived when we saw the baby with the sonogram.

We have decided to change to a doctor closer to home since Emily's dostor is in Plano (which is about 45 minutes away). We have an appointment to see a doctor that specializes in high risk pregnancy. We actually have to got to a consultation and then the doctor will decide if he will treat her or refer her to another doctor. Either way I think it will be better in the long run to have a doctor closer to home.

Fossil Rim

Since we have been working so hard lately, Scott and I decided to have a little fun today and drove to Glen Rose to visit Fossil Rim Wildlife Preserve.

Once we arrived, we took a leisurely drive through the preserve to see and feed the animals. Almost all of the animals would come up to your car so you could throw them some food pellets. Quite a few would even eat right out of your hand. It was so much fun!

The best part was when we drove up to see the giraffes. Everything was going fine. Scott was feeding one from the sunroof and then the next thing you know his whole head was inside the car. He tried to take the entire bag of food. As you can see by the pictures (in the album posted) I was a little freaked out. We were finally able to escape after I firmly pushed the giraffe's head out of the car. Scott and I couldn't stop laughing...it wasas if we had been car jacked by a giraffe.

Another Milestone

This week has been crazy - Scott has been working non-stop. He is teaching two Maymester classes, which means he has been working Monday thru Saturday. Plus, this week he also had to teach on Sunday ! The good news is that after working so much for the past month he will finally get a break! His Maymester classes just ended and he will only be teaching one graduate class on Saturdays this Summer.

We passed another milestone this week...we have made it through my second trimester! Woohoo! My doctor says that the baby and I are doing great. Just to be safe Dr. C wants to keep a close eye on things, so we get to go see him every two weeks. We actually look forward to each doctor's visit because each time I have a sonogram and we get to see the baby. I say "we" because both Scott & I have had to deal with me being pregnant. Between the doctor visits, mood swings and water retention, Scott has been there to cheer me on. We only have 115 more days to go (not that we're counting) and we are both getting more excited with each passing day.

Life In the Burbs

Although we are still in the process of unpacking, this past weekend Scott and I decided we needed to do a little yard work. This is what our new and improved front yard looks like after a whole lot of manual labor.

We found a great place that promotes organic gardening, so everything we used for our yard is organic. With a little help we managed to replace the dead tree in our front yard with a new one (you have to look close at the picture - but it's there). After that we had to weed the front beds, mix in some compost, add a few annuals and spread some new mulch. Scott even trimmed the shrubs!

This weekend marks a milestone - Scott and I have formally progressed from a couple of urban yuppies to a couple of breeders living in the burbs. The only thing missing is the mini van! Of which we have both sworn an oath to each other that we will never own. (Nothing against mini vans, they are just not for us).

We Made It!

We've survived the move. What a pain in the butt! Everything was going great...the movers showed up right on time and were almost finished getting the truck loaded when they tried to start the truck and nothing happened. Turns out something was wrong with the starter!

Of course by this time I was already on my way to the new house with the kitties ( Scott stayed with the moving crew just in case they needed him for something). Both cats were freaking out (as to be expected). I had to get to the new house in time to meet the delivery guys. We bought a new refrigerator and dishwasher and they were scheduled to install it.

Needless to say it all worked out. The moving company towed the moving truck to our new house and unloaded it. I wish I had a camera because a picture of the moving truck being towed would have been priceless.

We are now in the process of unpacking. I never realized how much stuff we have now that we have combined everything. We will definitely be having a garage sale sometime soon.

It's All Good

It's official. The buyers for our condo are approved and it looks like we will be moving the last weekend of the month. Scott & I picked up a bunch of boxes and packing materials so it's just a matter of time. I think we are both looking forward to living in a larger home, but, we are dreading the move itself. Nothing says "fun" like packing everything you own up in boxes, moving it across town, and then going through all the boxes you thought you labeled so well to find that one obscure item you just can't live without!

I also went to the doctor this week. The picture of the cat I posted looks like how I feel. Needless to say, the baby and I are both doing well, although the doctor made it very clear that I am to "take it easy". I am just happy he didn't say those two words I am dreading - "bed rest". Scott has been great - when we move he told me I am to just sit on my butt and point to where things go. I think he secretly enjoys taking care of me. I am truly blessed.

Getting Ready to Move

Here is a picture of our new home. It is a really cute 3 bedroom with a study (just for Scott). We are planning to have some sort of party sometime in May or June.

Needless to say we are both dreading the actual move. We will both be happy once we are settled in to our new place. We have been a little short on space in the condo so it will be nice to be able to have some extra space.

Not to mention that our new home is literally down the street from where Scott used to live. It is nice to know that at least one of us will know our way around Arlington. All I can say is thank God I have that navigation system in my car. I would literally be lost without it!