Miller's Mentionables

Lemon Bars

2012-01-12T10:02:00.000-08:00

I had a page long "to do" list this morning, but for some reason I could not accomplish any task until I made a batch of homemade lemon bars from a cookbook I just picked up at the local library. At some point in the last year I became obsessed with all things lemon and this cookbook just takes my obsession to a new level. This recipe called for an entire two tablespoons of lemon zest in the shortbread crust, which was a new addition for me in cooking this dessert. The filling was classic . . . eggs, sugar, lemon juice, and a little flour and baking powder. So excited to eat on this treat for the next couple days (if it lasts that long)!

A few pictures from this morning . . .

Birthday Parties and Pizza Making

2012-01-11T06:08:00.000-08:00

We celebrated Gi's birthday Sunday. I am so happy that she is on the road to recovery after her back surgery. Watch out Lakeside . . . you have a new "walker" on your hands :)

Last night Kimberly, a friend from the doc program, came over to make from scratch pizzas. We did everything from kneading the dough to making the sauce. Ryah loved the process! As my first go at homemade pizza, it went pretty well, but I think next time I will be a little more adventurous with spices and toppings. I did a half whole wheat/ half bread flour dough. I used organic whole tomatoes with olive oil and lots of fresh garlic for the sauce and mixed Italian cheeses with basil, spinach, and mushrooms for the toppings. I got the recipe out of one of my favorite cookbooks . . . The America's Test Kitchen Healthy Family Cookbook. I was thankful that Kimberly brought over her pizza stone -- I'm not sure how it would have turned out without it, but it was great that way it was! I discovered two new kitchen items I need: a pizza stone and a KitchenAid 12-cup Food Processor! We were going to make a batch of homemade brownies for dessert, but the efforts of making and eating the pizza left us to exhausted. We settled for chocolate chip cookies from dough I had made a couple weeks ago and kept in the freezer just for a night like that.

A few pictures below . . .

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GI!

PIZZA TIME!

Christmas 2011

2012-01-02T15:55:00.000-08:00

A few pictures from our Christmas celebrations. We were once again blessed to spend time with our families, enjoy great food, and receive wonderful gifts.

Choices

2012-01-02T15:31:00.000-08:00

I have been meaning to write about the intersection of my life roles (wife, mother, doctoral student, and so forth) for months, but have never had the time. Now I have the time, but the emotions and thoughts are less pressing and recalling them feels a bit artificial. I will have to try now however, because once the semester starts back up, I will certainly not have the opportunity.

So as anyone reading this would likely already know, I am the wife of Travis, mother to 3 year old Ryah, and full time doctoral student.  Professionally, I am a counselor, counseling supervisor, teaching assistant, internship coordinator, researcher, and scholar. I am a daughter, daughter-in-law, grandaughter, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, friend, and believer in Christ.  I am the caretaker for myself, responsible for my own physical, mental, and emotional well being, which by my definition includes engaging in daily exercise, eating healthy, and engaging in life enhancing leisure. I am surely forgetting other roles I play, but those are the ones I am most aware of at the moment. The point is . . . I play many roles, many of which are incredibly demanding of my time and energy.  Many roles are often neglected, to which is the real point of this post. I have made choices -- tough choices -- choices that I have meant precious sacrifices, choices that I second often second guess.

Okay, I thought the emotions were distant, but as I type these very words I can feel the tears welling up in my eyes. And now I am reaching for tissue. Where do these strong emotions come from? They seem to catch me by surprise every time . . . walking home after a long day at school/work, sitting with a group of my colleagues, driving in the car after dropping off Ryah at school.  I remember once specific incident that lead to a complete melt down in front of way too many people. I had dropped Ryah off to school that morning and felt hurried and impatient, feelings all too common during the semester. Ryah was tired and irritable, also all too common emotions for which I largely blame myself. My weekly schedule is inconsistent and I have found it impossible to establish a regular bedtime routine for Ryah. I kissed Ryah goodbye and watched as she ran towards the swings. She tripped on something and fell to the ground.  I went to comfort her, but likely due to her tired state, she was inconsolable. I checked my phone and saw that I was going to be late to my class. I made the decision to hand her off to her teacher and leave.  The sound of her cries and the image of me walking away to my car is stuck in my mind. For the next hour I sat in my class distracted by thoughts of Ryah and the implication of the choices I have made. What kind of mother am I?  I am so often distracted, impatient, and undependable with Ryah. All it took was someone making mention of my role as both student and mother and I erupted with a volcano of tears. I cried so hard that I lost my ability to talk and had the crying hick-up thing. As I remember it (and I did have a biased perception at the time) all the person who made a comment did was allude to her admiration of my being able to be both a successful student and mother. But the comment triggered deep feelings of guilt, and sorrow.

The reality is that I didn't see my ability to be in a doctoral program as a mother as an asset or a success. In fact more days than not I see my ambition to complete my doctoral degree as selfish and hurtful to those I love. I am ashamed that I am so driven professionally that I deprioritize my family.  I tell myself that my choices now will greatly benefit my family down the road, but I am not really all that convinced. Right now I just see the sacrifices of my choices, many of which I am afraid will not even be evident until years to come.  I have other examples in addition to the story about leaving Ryah crying at school.  My professional ambition is a stress on my marriage. Travis and I rarely share the same space, and even when we do, I am often distracted by thoughts of school and work.  I spend little time with my family and even less time with friends. I am missing the opportunities to give and receive within these relationships, to create new memories, to enjoy the camaraderie. I have almost completely ignored my spiritual life . . . not enough can be said about the implications of that reality. I rarely engage in leisure -- my favorite activities of reading and cooking are rarities. And to top it off, I may not even be doing enough in school to get a good job once I graduate I am not engaging in any service organizations, I only attended one conference, I have not submitted a single publication, and I rarely spend time networking. I have yet to find my "niche" in the counseling field and still struggle with feelings of inadequacy in my effectiveness as a counselor. I am afraid that I am trying to do so much, that I am not really doing anything all that well.

These sacrifices may be worth it if truly my life slows down in a few years.  But what if I don't have the opportunity to live the long life that I hope to live? What if all this work I am doing now "for the future" doesn't matter because something tragic happens and I die young. I know this sounds morbid, but what if right now is the only chance I get to raise my daughter, love my husband, serve God, and fellowship with others in my life. Am I really being the best steward of the time God has given me to be on this earth?

More days than not I feel stressed by the constant pressure of work undone and upcoming assignment deadlines. No matter how much I do, it is not enough. I feel sad at what I am missing by not being around to engage in important relationships. I feel guilty, ashamed, and self-critical about how the choices I have made impact my loved ones.  I feel exhausted by my daily routine and lack of leisure and mental let down. I feel doubtful about my ability to ever truly feel competent, accomplished, and/or successful.  I just realize the implication of what I just wrote --  feeling competent, accomplished, and successful are my implied life goals -- supported by my daily actions and choices. And what shallow goals they are . . . its like trying to fill a bucket of water that is full holes. All too often striving for these goals just leaves me feeling alone and disconnected.  On any given day during the semester I could be called a ticking time bomb (just waiting to explode), a fragile egg (just waiting to crack), or a hamster on a wheel (running so fast but not getting anywhere). I remember one morning being home alone trying to figure out what I needed to do first and not being able to do anything. I cried uncontrollably for what felt like forever. I felt like I had finally "broke" under the pressure . . . as if I was part of some horrible experiment of how much someone could take and I just cracked.

And yet I feel stuck. What else could I do? Would anything really change if I wasn't in a doctoral program? Maybe all this stress and restlessness I feel is just a result of my "type A" personality. I have this haunting feeling that no matter what I did I would have no easier time living in the present moment. And then there is the practical side to life -- the need to make money in order to pay for the basics (food, shelter, health care, etc.) and for the luxuries (activities for Ryah, clothes, entertainment, gifts for others, vacations). All these needs and desires cost a great deal, more so everyday. I have to work and I would go crazy doing work that is tedious, boring, and insignificant. So, I am back where I started . . . trying to pursue a challenging, meaningful, and rewarding career while at the same time raising a family, honoring God, fellowshiping with family and friends, and so forth. Its funny how my decisions do not feel so much like a choice, but I know they are.

My solutions for coping with the struggles I have described are as follows:

1. Focus on the here-and-now. I have this troublesome tendency of worrying about whatever it is that I am not doing rather than enjoying whatever it is that I am doing. When I am at school, I worry about Ryah, Travis, and so forth. When I am spending time with Ryah and Travis, I worrying about all the school work I am not doing. It is a vicious and unrewarding cycle for all those involved. So, my goal in this regard is to be truly present for whoever I am with and for whatever I am doing. This will take practice, but I believe I can slowly but surely change.

2. Maintain an attitude of gratitude. I have this other troublesome tendency to focus on what is wrong or what I do not yet have rather than what is right and what I do have. I truly have so much to be thankful for in my life. I am loved by many. I have great health and adequate access to health care. I have all my basic (and many extra) needs met on a consistent basis. I have freedoms that many can only dream of.  In many many ways I am blessed beyond measure.  As with the above mentioned habit, it will take time to change my focus, but I believe I can!

3. Do my best and forget the rest. I tend to be a bit perfectionist. I think I should know everything and be able to do everything great. And because I do not know everything and do not do everything great, I feel like a constant failure. This is ridiculous! I am coming to realize more and more what it takes to be at the top of the professional game, and I am increasingly not willing to do it. I want more balance in my life. So, I am just going to do the best I can and not constantly compare myself to those who are doing more. Easier said than done, but its worth a shot.

Whatever fanciful ideas I had about adulthood are over. It is tough to succeed and thrive in this world . . . that's just reality. I have many conflicting goals and desires and I will have to find a way to reconcile them.  Ultimately I need to focus on what is most important (and that's not my own personal achievement by the way) and then make choices that reflect the priorities I hold.

Thanks for reading this record of my thoughts, feelings, and experiences. I wonder how many other women (and men) out there share similar struggles.  I have a feeling I am not really all that alone!

Holiday Fun

2011-12-23T10:21:00.000-08:00

Below are a few pictures from the last couple weeks of holiday fun.

Ryah's favorite cookie from the local Ravlin bakery . . .

Ryah with Santa (Grandpa) and Mrs. Claus (Grandma) . . .

Riding the train in Ridgmar mall with Gi and Granddaddy . . .

First time iceskating (Dallas Galleria mall) . . .

The tree with presents . . . ready to celebrate Christmas!

Travis Miller, M.S.

2011-12-17T08:13:00.000-08:00

Travis graduated with his Master's degree in Recreation Studies yesterday, December 16th, 2011. Nita, Ole, Mindi, Halli, Hartli, and Haylen joined Ryah and I in celebrating.  Travis picked Joes Crab Shack for dinner -- he had a nice margarita and huge crab legs to formally celebrate his success!

I am so proud of Travis. He worked full time to support our family and was responsible for Ryah's care many nights throughtout the program. Many nights he stayed up until one or two in the morning reading and writing.  I loved hearing him talk about his projects and interest areas.  He is so passionate about community development and wellness through recreation and leisure . . . the field suits his personality and talents perfectly. Travis' ideas are creative, relevant, and fun! For one of his final projects he created a community garden program. I truly hope he gets to implement the program in actuality in a future job. I will have to update our blog with pictures of his own indoor garden. I am thankful he has found a career area that is both meaningful and enjoyable for him to pursue.

What is next for Travis? He is applying for recreation programming/coordinating jobs around the Metroplex. We plan to stay at North Texas until the right job comes along. It could be a couple months or a couple years. I am not in too big of a hurry since I still have two or more years until I graduate . . . its nice living so close to where I work and take classes.

Pictures from yesterday below . . .

Decorating the Christmas Tree!

2011-11-27T18:39:00.000-08:00

Christmas is on the way in the Miller household! Ryah was so excited to put up the Christmas tree this year. To get in the holiday mood, we put on music, baked pumpkin bread and gingerbread men, and made hot chocolate. Ryah did a gingerbread craft, put together a Rudolph puzzle, and read the classic Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer book. It was a special time together with our family!

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-26T14:51:00.000-08:00

Below are a few pictures from this years' Thanksgiving celebrations:

Thanksgiving storytime/crafts at the Denton library . . .

Lunch with Gi and Grandaddy . . .

Time to make the classic pumpkin pie . . .

Preparing the Thanksgiving meal . . .

Enjoying the beautiful day . . .

Travis looking around at what used to be the pond

Memaw, Ryah, and Dad . . .

Ryah and Terris . . .

Beaver's Bend Trip

2011-11-13T19:09:00.000-08:00

Beaver's Bend has long been Travis' favorite get-away and over time it has become a special place for the two of us. We took our first "vacation" together in June of 2005 in Beaver's Bend Cabin # 7 and he proposed to me at Look Out Point in Beaver's Bend in September of 2006. The park is located just outside a small Oklahoma town and is such a treasure, especially in the fall when the leaves are changing colors and the weather is perfect for being outside. Travis loves to fly fish and I love to hike by the river. The last time we went was three years ago when Ryah was only a few months old. We were excited to go this time and share the experience with Ryah. It was her first camping trip, first camp fire, first s'mores, and so forth. She LOVED the park and smiled practically the entire time we were there. We went with our friends Brian, Alicia, Keith, and Heath. A few pictures from our weekend trip . . .

Setting up camp . . .

Waiting at the Fly shop . . .

First trip down to the river . . .

Travis' first fish of the trip . . .

Ryah's first camp fire . . .

Day 2 of fishing . . .

Cooking up the catch of the day . . .

Proposal point (five years later) . . .

This has to be my favorite Daddy/Daughter picture yet . . .

A little attitude before we leave . . .

View of Broken Bow Lake . . .

Packing up camp . . .

Halloween 2011

2011-11-04T16:40:00.000-07:00

Friday the 29th Ryah's school had their annual butterfly parade. Gi, Grandaddy, Nita, and Ole all came to share in the fun. The primary students enacted a little mini-play about the life of a butterfly. Ryah was very proud of the butterfly wings that she had worked on all week. After the parade/story we shared in a community fall celebration with yummy food.

Halloween 2011 was a success! Ryah was Rosetta the Pink Fairy from the Disney Fairies series. We did the house to house trick-or-treating in Krum with all the Miller/Keese/Hill family. Ryah was a rather serious trick-or-treating, remaining focused on the mission to walk from house to house and collect candy (of which she really had little interest in eating). She loved sharing the night with her cousins. The one candy Ryah did eat was a little dumdum lollipop.

Picture below . . .

Travis Turns Thirty!

2011-10-31T08:07:00.000-07:00

October 27th marked the beginning of a new decade for Travis. He welcomed in his 30th birthday with a full day of work and a long night of class . . . not so fun. However, his family and friends had a little surprise for him on Friday night. Travis and I went over to Nita and Ole's house to "drop off Ryah" so we could go on a date. Upon arriving, Travis saw that a few extra cars were in the drive way. He walked in to a beautifully decorated "family" birthday surprise. He was happy, but a little unsure why I had made such a big deal out of planning a family birthday party. A few minutes later the real surprise came when friends started showing up at the door. Travis loved visiting with his friends and family, as well as enjoying all the great food that Nita and Ole made and friends brought. We were hoping the Ranger's would deliver a great big birthday present (a World Series Title) but it was not meant to be. The Ranger's loss, however, did not dampen the joy of the night too much. Thank you to everyone who took part in the party -- your presence meant so much to Travis and I. A special thank you to Nita and Ole who were the real host/hostess for the night. The party would never have happened without you opening your beautiful home and offering to buy and cook such wonderful food. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Happy 30th Birthday to my sweet, handsome, and intelligent husband!

It's been so long . . .

2011-10-26T13:06:00.000-07:00

It has been almost three months since I updated this blog, which at the pace we live our life, feels like forever. Just as a brief review of the last couple months . . .

I started my second year in the doctoral program. I am taking my first doc. level stats class (which is driving me crazy -- I should be studying for the test I have in that class tomorrow right now!), an advanced multicultural/crisis course (which takes way more than the three hours of class each week), and continuing to see clients as part of my internship course. I am also supervising advanced skills students in their clinical work and participating on a research team. Additionally, I took an extra 10 hours of "work" hours (for a total of 20) as a TA for one class and as the Assistant Internship Coordinator. All in all, I spend 60-70+ hours each week engaged in school/work activities. Not surprisingly, I am exhausted and irritable most of the time! It has been on my mind to blog about this experience and the costs/benefits I have been weighing, but I will have to save that post for another day.
Travis began his LAST SEMESTER in his Master's program. He should graduate this December! He has continued to work hard in his Hall Director position . . . playing intramural sports after hours to get to know his residents better. Travis started a new hobby in August -- indoor gardening. He is growing all kinds of veggies and herbs right inside a closet. Ryah and him spend many hours together in the evenings and have continued to grow closer as a Daddy/daughter pair. They love to watch sports, go fishing, and go browsing at Best Buy and Sports Authority. They also love to keep secrets from me (like their trips to Taco Bueno) but I find out anyway and grumble in my normal nagging loving way. :)
Ryah continues to grow into a curious, funny, smart little girl. She began a new school this fall (The Community School) and has loved meeting new friends and spending so much time outside. We are really happy with the teachers and the school program. Ryah is learning to recognize and sound out letters -- her favorite of which are "O", "R", and "M". She wakes up each day at 7:30 and asks to see her one and only morning t.v. show -- Jake and The Neverland Pirates. We all can sing the theme song around here. Ryah's true cartoon love of the fall has been the Disney Fairies movies. We have gotten all three from the local library and have bought just about every size and variation of the fairies for play at home. A big "first" was that Ryah got her first haircut (thanks to Aunt Mindi). Ryah also started gymnastics at Achievers gym and has enjoyed learning how to walk (and jump) on the balance beam, as well as all the other fun gym equipment. I could go on and on about all the different things Ryah loves and can do, but that would take too long!
A few other big events this fall included Angie's weddingon Sept. 17th. I was Angie's Matron of Honor (MOH) and Ryah was a flower girl. Also, UNT opened a new football stadium (APOGEE Stadium) and we have attended all home football games. This year also marked 10 years since I graduated from high school. I went back to Coldspring and cheered in the homecoming football game with Angie and other 40 other or so cheerleading alumni.

Below are a few pictures to represent the last few months . . .

Ryah's first fish . . .

Ranger's Game

Travis' garden . . .

Splish splash at Gi and Grandaddy's house . . .

Angie's bachelorette party . . .

Ryah's favorite spot at her Mimi and Papa's house . . .

Ryah's first day of school . . .

Fall festival (you can see her shorter hair) . . .

Family pumpkin night with the Miller/Keese/Hill's

Summer Food Favorites

2011-08-03T18:54:00.000-07:00

I have not had too much time for cooking this summer, but I have had a few hits in the kitchen. Some favorites below . . .

Homemade Popsicles -- I make them slightly differently every time, but the basic recipe is:

2 cups frozen fruit (usually some combination of strawberries, mango, pineapple, and. or banana)
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon of organic unrefined coconut oil
1 or so cups of orange juice

Put all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into reusable Popsicle molds and freeze for at least four hours -- then enjoy!

Chocolate Banana Smoothie -- I love the Starbucks chocolate banana smoothie (formerly Vivanno), but at almost $5.00 a pop, I can not have one too often. I recreated my own version at home and it is even better than the original inspiration. Like the popsicle, I make it slightly different each time, but the basic recipe is the same. It is intended to be a "meal" or heavy snack.

1- 1.5 bananas (frozen or unfrozen)

1 cup of ice

2/3 cup milk

1/4 cup oats

1 tablespoon peanut butter

1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa

1 scoop of herba life "complete meal" (or vanilla/chocolate protein powder)

1 shot of espresso (when needed)

Blend until smooth and enjoy!

Mini Blueberry Muffins with Streusel Topping -- This recipe is adapted from one of my Betty Crocker cookbooks.

3/4 cup milk

1/4 cup canola oil

1 large egg

2 cups of whole wheat pastry flour

1/2 evaporated cane juice (basically sugar)

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup of mini frozen organic blueberries (I have only been able to find the mini ones at Target -- I am not sure how the bigger blueberries would work)

Streusel topping

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour

2 tablespoons butter (firm -- but cut into small pieces)

1/4-1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Spray with cooking spray or line paper baking cups -- mini muffin pan.

In a large bowl, beat milk, oil, and egg with wire whisk until well mixed. Stir in flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt all at once just until the flour is moistened (batter will be lumpy-- you don't want to over mix). Fold in blueberries.

For the topping, mix all ingredients together by pulling 2 table knives through ingredients in opposite directions until crumbly. If you have a pastry blender, it will do the same thing -- but I don't have one, so I do it the old fashioned way! Divide the streusel topping among all the muffins

Bake 10 minutes . . . let cool . . .enjoy!

Pizza Party

2011-07-01T19:07:00.000-07:00

We celebrated Ryah's "official" birthday at Palio's Pizza in Denton. More family fun, presents, and sweet treats! I love how excited Ryah gets about presents . . . it makes giving them so much fun!
Just a little "Ryah" moment of the week. We were getting out of the car the other afternoon and I noticed Ryah starring at the car next to ours. I asked her what she was doing and she replied "Mom, my picture is on that car". We then proceeded to have a discussion about reflections. It is such a joy to experience the discovery of a young child, so full of wonder and delight!

And this last picture is just a little snap shot of my life lately . . .

Purplicious Party Time!

2011-06-26T20:10:00.000-07:00

We celebrated Ryah's third birthday party with family and friends Saturday June 25th. Thank you to all who came to make the day so special for Ryah, Travis, and I. The Purplicious theme was lots of fun to decorate and dress up for . . . and many of Ryah's gifts ended up being purple as well (lots of Tangled items!). I'm excited to have a whole new set of toys to keep Ryah occupied at home and a few new outfits to keep her looking cute! The weather was perfect, allowing us to spend lots of time in the pool. Amazingly, no sunburns were reported from the hours spend outside in and out of the water. The highlight of Ryah's day was probably eating the strawberry cupcake, followed closely by opening presents, and playing with cousins. As always, I get so much joy out of seeing Ryah enjoy her cousins, grandparents, great grandparents, aunts, and uncles. I would spend more time reflecting on the wonderful day, but it is all I can do to find time to put up pictures! School is ultra time consuming right now (I'm counting the days to a few days off in August!).

Ryah's Three Year Old Pictures

2011-06-05T18:26:00.000-07:00

Ryah's third birthday is just a couple weeks away! It continues to be such a joy to watch her grow and develop. A few tid bits about Ryah as an (almost) three year old . . .

Ryah continues to be a cautious child . . . slow to warm up to new people and situations. Although this attitude is sometimes frustrating when we are trying to introduce her to something new that is suppose to be fun (swimming, zoo, etc.), we are glad that she is careful and hesitant in appropriate situations. Hopefully she will maintain this cautiousness (driving and dating) as a teenager and young adult! Ryah is a very loving and affectionate child.  We get tons of hugs and kisses from her each day. She has recently started playing with dolls, stuffed animals, and other little figures, playing out situatiuations related to her experiences, such as going to school, going to bed, going on vacation.

A few weeks ago she started a toddler gymnastics class. She loves to the trampoline most, but also enjoys swinging on the bars and climbing the latter. She still seems to have a natural talent for music, always singing and humming in the car and around the house. She also still loves books.  I often walk into her room and find her sitting in her princess tent pretenting to read book after book (sometimes she actually does know the words to books thanks to her great memory-- not reading ability). We go to the library weekly to replinish with new books and DVDs. Just like her cousins, she is a fan of Disney princesses. Right now her favorite Disney movie is Beauty and the Beast. She also likes the newer movie, Tangled. She loves going to the park, where her favorite activity is swinging high and fast. I can never seem to swing her high enough! She is a great shopping buddy, pointing out junk food and saying "I don't want that, it will make my tummy hurt". She has recently started drinking orange junice in small amounts and is in love with the sweet beverage. She just finished her first full year of childcare.

She gets along well with her classmates and is thriving under the direciton of nurturing and caring teachers. She knows all her colors and many shapes, but is not too sure about her letters yet.  The only letter she knows consistantly is "O", which she points out all the time when reading.   She loves watching sports with Travis and I.  We have gone to many sporting games at UNT this past year and look forward to doing so again this coming school year.  UNT is buiding a new football statium and she is quick to point it out when we drive by on I-35.

She loves her grandparents, great grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins so much. She has recently started insisting that she talk with them on the phone when I am talking. Halli and Hartli recently had their first sleep overs at our house and she loved hosting them (although she was not always generous in sharing her toys).

She likes to stay up late at night and sleep in late in the morning (like her father). She would seriously stay up to midnight every night if we let her! She still does not sleep in her own bed all night, preferring to sleep cuddled close to either me or Travis. When she is about to fall asleep, she will say "I want to lay on your tum, tumms" and then lay her head right over my heart to fall asleep. She still picks at other peoples' fingernails when she is tired or nervous and since February has started picking at her lip. We have so far been ineffective in breaking her of these habits.

She has grown up a lot this year. She stopped nursing in August (at 26 months old) and leared to use the potty reguarly in December (at about 2 1/2yrs). She speaks in full sentences and has an amazing memory. She weighs about 28.5 pounds and has a little tummy, although she has lost most of her baby fat. Her hair is getting longer (and curly on the ends) and likely needs to be cut, but I have yet taken her for her first haircut. This last year has truly flown by. I treasure her presense in our lives and am thankful each day for her smiles, hugs, and laughter.
Favorite foods: pastas (macarroni, spagetti, lasagna, etc.), peanut butter and jelly sandwhich, anything dipped in ketchup (chicken nuggets), fruits (especially in the berrie and melon family) bacon and eggs, pizza, and icecream

Dislikes: spicy food, beans, potatoes, and some veggies; having her hair brushed; us talking in the car when she is trying to sing;
We love . . .

when she randomly says "I love you"
the way she looks for me (mommy) as soon as she wakes up for a hug and kiss
the way she runs to the door to give Daddy a big hug when he comes home from work
when she makes up songs
her assertiveness ("stop that right now")
when she says "I'm just pretending" or "I'm just teasing"
when she reminds us that we forgot to pray before a meal
the way she checks for permission before doing things
the way she snuggles at night
the ways she says "I can't know" instead of "I don't know
the ways she says "cereal" for yogurt and "coffee" for hot cocoa
when she calls a bouce house a "jumpoline"
the way she will repeat the same word or sentence a million times until you acknowledge it

Memorial Day Weekend Fun

2011-06-01T17:45:00.000-07:00

We had yet another wonderful vacation in Galveston. Ryah seems to enjoy it more each time we go. In celebration of our 4th wedding anniversary, we stayed three nights at Moody Gardens. We did the usual eating, swimming, eating, sleeping, eating, shopping, walking on the beach, eating, and so forth. The weather was beautiful and we were all healthy! Travis had to spend some time studying for his Maymester class, but otherwise all was well. We enjoyed spending time with my family (Mom, Dad, Carson, Nathaniel, Gi and Grandaddy). Pictures below . . .

Ryah LOVED the bounce house at Moody Gardens. She called it a "jumpoline" and spent time each morning getting a little of her energy out!

Peanutbutter and jelly was a staple on the trip. Ryah ate at least one (and sometimes more) PB&Js each day while we were in Galveston!

At the Moody Garden's pool . . .

The new Palm Beach . . . Ryah liked playing in the sand and going in the lazy river. The wave pool was a little too wild for her :)

Breakfast on the condo balcony (and sitting in her new chair) . . .

The last morning we were there Grandaddy and I took Ryah to the beach for one last play time . . .

Sky and Maddi's Wedding

2011-05-23T06:01:00.000-07:00

We went to a beautiful wedding last night for our friends Sky and Maddie. Travis was a groomsman. Ryah had so much fun at the reception eating and dancing!

The couple about to cut the cake . . .

The wedding party . . . with Travis front and center

Ryah and her good friend Rock

Daddy/daughter dance . . .

Our friends Grant and Tamara (Rock's parents)

May Days

2011-05-20T05:53:00.000-07:00

May (when its not raining) is such a nice month to spend time outside. Below are a few pictures of doing just that at Gi and Grandaddy's house . . . as well as feeding the ducks at our local duck pond.

Hartli attempted her first sleep over at our house last night. Ryah and her had a blast playing dress up, eating spaggetti and jumping on the bed. She made it until about 10:00,but then had to go home because she missed her Mommy.

Save the date for Ryah's 3rd birthday party. It will be on Saturday June 25th at 10:00 am. The theme is Purplicious!

Mother's Day Weekend 2011

2011-05-08T16:04:00.000-07:00

I am so thankful to have so many wonderful women and mothers in my life. My Mom is truly a blessing . . . her endless love and belief in me has given me the confidence to go for whatever I want in life. My grandmothers have spoiled me since day one with hugs, kisses, and good food :) My mother-in-law is kind, generous, and fun. My sister-in-laws are always there to help out and provide a listening ear. My sweet friends are there to share modern day mothering advice, share recipes, and enjoy play dates. Happy Mother's Day to all! Becoming a mother has been one of the most meaningful and enjoyable experiences imaginable. Lots of pictures of my sweet Ryah below . . .

At lunch with Gi and Grandaddy. Ryah loves her new sunglasses!

At the Fort Worth Zoo . . .

Lunch with Nita, Ole, Mindi, Shaun, Travis, and kiddos . . .

Ryah's first mother's day flower to me . . .

Travis' favorite animal at the zoo . . .

My favorite . . .

Easter Weekend 2011

2011-04-24T18:52:00.000-07:00

We enjoyed having my family in Denton for Easter weekend. Lots of good eating :) The only sad part was that my Dad was not feeling well. :( A few pictures below . . .

Two weeks before Easter,we celebrated with Gi and Grandaddy. In the picture below, Ryah and Gi are going to check out the "real" bunny coming out of the bushes.

At the City of Denton Easter egg hunt.

Picinic on the Denton Square . . .

The trail of eggs on Easter morning . . .

After brunch at The Wildwood Inn . . .

Happy 35th Anniversary to my parents!

Bluebonnet Pics

2011-04-03T11:23:00.000-07:00

Bluebonnet time in North Texas. It was really too sunny of a day to take good pictures, but we gave it a shot anyway. A few pictures below . . .

Ryah's first field trip

2011-04-01T12:51:00.000-07:00

Travis and I accompanied Ryah on her first school field trip this morning. We went to the Frank Buck Zoo in Gainsville. The weather was wonderful and the zoo was the perfect size for Ryah's first introduction to "live" animals. We had a great time and are now officially ready to take on the bigger and better Fort Worth zoo! A few pictures from this morning below . . .

Miss. Amanda feeding the giraffe. I was surprise Ryah got that close!

Two kangaroos having a serious altercation!

Ryah said her favorite animal at the zoo were the zebras!

Feeding the goats . . .

Ryah and her friend Marlee

Proud Ex-Gymnast Mama

2011-03-27T16:40:00.000-07:00

Ryah finally learned how to do a forward roll! I am so proud :)

Spring Break 2011

2011-03-20T19:26:00.000-07:00

We were so fortunate to get to spend yet another spring break in Galveston. We had such a fun time eating at great restraunts, walking on the beach, exploring the strand, and spending time with family. Ryah was so happy the whole time . . . skipping and singing everywhere she went. We were thankful for nice weather most of the time, especially on Friday when we celebrated Mom's birthday at laying out at the beach and having dinner at Willie G's. We missed getting to see Carson, but were glad to get a day with Nathaniel. On Thursday I went wedding dress shopping with Angie and Laura, but those pictures are top secret :) We are counting the days until we get to hopefully go back in May to celebrate our 4th wedding anniversary.

Valentines Day 2011

2011-02-21T18:02:00.000-08:00

Ryah got to experience her first Valentine's Day school party. She gave out princess cards and received many cute cards in return. Pictures below . . .

Travis got me beautiful roses and a touching card. He bought Ryah her first Valentines' card, too! I made Travis homemade heart shaped cheesecake :)

Recent Favorites

2011-02-17T10:49:00.000-08:00

In an effort to take a break from school work, I thought I would compile a list of a few of my favorite things as of late. It is by no means inclusive, but rather just a sampling of what is on my mind :)

Favorite new cookie recipe . . .

I love the cookbook Food to Live. While kept inside with cold and icy weather, I tried one of the chocolate chip cookie recipes in the book with great success. The recipe is as follows:

8 tbls of unsalted butter
1/2 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1/2 cup evaporated cane juice
1 large egg
3/4 tsp purse vanilla extract (I use a whole tsp.)
1 cup plus 2 tablesppons of whole wheat pstry flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup of sumisweet chocolate chips ( I used 70% dark chocolate chunks)
1 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans

Favorite Soup: In attention to making many batches of cookies over the last few weeks, I have also made many pots of soup. Although I have loved them all, one of my favorites was a Minestrone reicpe out of Travis' new cookbook. The recipe is as follows . . .

1 tbsp olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

2 cloves of garlic (I usually put more)

8 oz Yukon gold or red potatoes, cubed

2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped

1 medium zucchini, chopped

8 oz of fresh green beans, ends trimmed, halved

1 can of diced tomatoes

8 cups of organic, low sodium chicken broth (or stock)

1/2 tsp. thyme

1 can of cannellini beans, drained

Parmesan for grading

Favorite workout video: I was introduced to Erin O'Brien's workout videos while pregnant and have ordered each new video since. I love the latest one . . .

Favorite Entertainment: I have enjoyed PBS's Masterpiece Series productions before, and this show was no exception. Evidently they are in production for a follow-up series to this one! If you love early 20th Century (pre-WWI) era movies, you should check it out . . .

Sledding Fun

2011-02-04T13:37:00.000-08:00

Travis and I sledding down the hill by the Super Pit at UNT. So fun!!!

Feb. Winter Storm

2011-02-02T10:50:00.000-08:00

We have been iced in the past couple days, which means lots of playing, cooking, and eating!  Below are a few pictures from yesterday's fun . . .

                                                            Playing dress up . . . .

Our five minute outing . . .

Waiting for the cookies to be ready . . .

Helping make the lentil chili . . .

SNOW . . . and other special moments

2011-01-09T13:27:00.000-08:00

It is always such a treat to see snow in Texas! Last year Ryah was not too thrilled about the white stuff, but this year she was enthusiastic to get outside and play. She especially liked making footprints in the snow. Below are a few pictures of our short play time outside this morning. Also, there are a couple pictures from Ryah's first dentist appointment, Halli's 5th birthday party, and time spent with Gi and Grandaddy (Gi's birthday!).

Goals for 2011

2011-01-06T09:04:00.000-08:00

A new year is upon us and talk of resolutions is almost unavoidable! The media hype around resolutions is a little irritating at this point, but I am appreciative for the reminders to set goals and formulate change. For me, having goals helps to maintain focus and make meaning of my day to day life. In my work, I am continually reminded of the amazing power we have to modify our thoughts and behaviors and create both minor and major life changes. My overall aim this year is to foster a greater sense of well-being in my life. This includes strengthening interpersonal connections, decreasing stress, increasing physical health, and deepening my understanding and experience of existential realitites. Although the stated goals are somewhat vague, I have in my own mind the specific nature and reason for each. Perhaps by sharing these goals with you (and all of the world wide web) I will maintain greater accountability . . . it is my intention to provide an "update report" on these goals periodically throughout the year!

Physical

1. Maintain daily activity/exercise routine. Engage in resistance training at least three days a week, cardio on others.

2. Reduce intake of refined sugars. Limit intake of "dessert foods" to once a day.

3. Learn new healthy meals that the whole family likes. Try at least one new recipe per month.

Relational

1. Attend to positive thoughts, actions, and appreciations of others (especially my husband). Share at least one appreciation with another person each day.

2. Dedicate more time to cultivating friendships. Spend dedicate time with at least one friend or family member per week.

3. Increase playfulness. Spend at least 15 minutes per day engaging in an unstructured fun activity.

Spiritual

1. Develop mindfulness practice. Spend ten minutes a day engaging in a relaxation, breathing, or related activity.

2. Spend more time learning about my own faith. Spend at least ten minutes a day reading the bible.

3. Work on integrating spirituality into professional practice. Read at least one article or engage in at least one conversation per week related to spirituality in counseling.

Personal

1. Appreciate the here and now (applying the quote "happiness is a journey, not a destination"). Maintain a list in which I write down one "joy" per day.

2. Engage in reading for pleasure. Have at least one pleasure reading book from the library beside my bed at all times.

3. Maintain focus on priorities. Make a list of priorities and reread them each week, evaluating my focus.

Holiday Highlights

2010-12-31T18:41:00.000-08:00

Christmas was so much fun this year! The Wednesday before Christmas we went to Travis' cousins house and cooked their traditional family Christmas food . . . Ryah had a blast playing with all her cousins. We spent Christmas Eve morning with Travis' family (celebrating Shaun's birthday). That evening we drove to Coldspring and spent three days there celebrating with my family. On the 27th, we drove back to Denton and celebrated Christmas with Travis' family. New Years Eve we celebrated Gi and Grandaddy's 61st wedding anniversary at Papadaux's. Lots of food, fun, and enjoyable company. Below are just a few photo highlights from the week. We misplaced our camera for a few days, so some of the family events were not captured on film at all :(

State Game/ Dad's Birthday

2010-12-18T19:29:00.000-08:00

We had a big weekend! Carson's football team (Coldspring Trojans) played in the 3A State Championships at Cowboy's Stadium on Friday. Although the team lost, it was a great experience. Saturday we celebrated Dad's birthday at Gi and Grandad's house. Pictures below . . .

Santa Makes a House Call

2010-12-09T18:53:00.000-08:00

When I got home from the clinic tonight, I walked in on a surprise Santa and Mrs. Clause visit. Ole (a.k.a. Santa Clause) and Nita (a.k.a. Mrs. Clause) were at Mindi's school for a special program and decided to stop by and visit Ryah before heading home. Ryah was skeptical at first, but warmed up after a few mintues. Maybe this will be a transformative experience for Ryah's relationship with Santa Clause!

2010-12-05T14:08:00.000-08:00

This weekend was all about getting into the Christmas mood . . . in addition to studying, of course. Friday night we decorated our little tree. Travis and I had mudslides and Ryah had hot chocolate in our snowmen mugs. Ryah called it "my coffee". Saturday night we made our somewhat annual trip to the Galleria. It is always fun to window shop and enjoy the decorations. Pictures below . . .

November Happenings

2010-12-03T11:34:00.000-08:00

I do not have time to write much (heading into finals week at school) . . . the pictures below are from Thansgiving and a couple football games in November.

Halloween 2010

2010-11-10T18:31:00.000-08:00

Ryah loved Halloween this year. She was slow to warm up to the costume idea, but finally settled on an Ariel Princess dress from Target. She got to wear it to school for her first ever Halloween party and then again both Saturday and Sunday for trick-or-treating. A few pictures below . . .

Travis Turns Twenty-nine

2010-11-10T18:15:00.000-08:00

I am a couple weeks behind, but I wanted to post a couple pictures from Travis' 29th birthday in order to document its occurrence :) Ryah was very involved in making strawberry cupcakes and enjoyed her first ever bite of the sweet treat. Travis didn't get home until 9:30 pm (he had work and then class), but we had a low key family celebration that night. On Friday, Amy and Cody hosted a birthday party for Travis at their house . . . complete with Phineas and Ferb decor! Ryah enjoyed the bounce house with her cousins.

Our Little Patriot

2010-10-27T19:41:00.000-07:00

Trip to the Aquarium

2010-10-24T13:39:00.000-07:00

I love mid-October . . . it means my Mom will be in Dallas for her annual conference! This year Nathaniel was with her too, and when Ryah and I went to visit, we all got to go to the Dallas World Aquarium. Ryah was much more open to the experience than she was last year. We only had one real scare . . . a parrot almost flew into Nathaniel's face while Ryah, Mom, and I stood closeby watching. I do not like the fact that they have birds flying freely around the Aquarium! Pictures below . . .

More Fall Fun

2010-10-17T15:56:00.000-07:00

This weekend was full of more fall fun! Friday night we went went to the UNT Bonfire. Ryah was impressed by the huge bonfire, loud music, vibrant fireworks, and large groups of chanting students. Saturday Gi and Grandaddy watched Ryah in the morning with Travis and I studied and then, after Ryah's nap, we went to the football game. Today (Sunday) we went with Mindi, Shaun, Amy, Cody, and their kids to the Pumpkin Express in Argyle. Ryah loved the train ride, red wagon, bounce house, huge log, and play house. She loved enjoying the experiences with her cousins most of all! A few pictures below . . .

First Fall Festival 2010

2010-10-10T10:32:00.000-07:00

The Latest . . .

2010-10-03T19:52:00.000-07:00

Not too much has gone on in the last month. We have mostly focused on making the family adjustment to me, Travis, and Ryah being in school full time. Some days it seems as if we are making that adjustment better than others :) Ryah loves going to school now. As you can see from the pictures below, she leaves for school all smiles. The teachers say that she is the loudest singer of all (no surprise there). She still loves to read . . . I often find her sitting by herself in the rocking chair "reading" out loud. Ryah is also a fan of North Texas football. She knows all the words to the UNT fight song (her Daddy is so proud) and she enjoys sitting through even the longest of football games. She is also learning that at home, football takes precedence over cartoons . . . to which she seems to be quite understanding. A few pictures below . . .

Fall Means Football

2010-09-12T20:34:00.000-07:00

We attended our first North Texas football game of the season this weekend. It is so fun to see all the GREEN around town! Despite the final score being in favor of the opposing team, our family enjoyed the atmosphere (heat and all). Mindi, Shaun, Halli, Hartli, Haylen, Nita, and Ole all came to the game with us. I (Raissa) took a couple breaks with the girls (Halli, Hartli, and Ryah) to walk around the stadium, watch the flag crew warm up, observe the canon up close, and watch a grasshopper slowly climb up a sign (intense action!). Pictures below . . .

Walking to the game . . .

Guys flying in from above with the UNT flag . . .

You can see the new stadium being built in the background . . .

Halli was not a fan of the heat . . .

Travis training the kids to say "Go Mean Green"

Nita and Ole enjoying the game . . .

The end score . . . :(

Ryah waiting for the fireworks to start (which for some reason they never did) . . .

The Story of 26 Months of Nursing

2010-08-22T09:03:00.000-07:00

         Ryah is starting her fifth day of not nursing at all. Although completely weaning her before the start of fall was one of my summer goals, I never really believed it would happen.  From the first few days of her life, Ryah nursed practically around the clock. We nicknamed her the "little vampire" nurser for her intensity (and my resulting pain)!  The first few weeks of nursing were difficult for me in more ways than one. I wanted to give up so many times, but the hundreds of dollars we invested in a pump (for when I went back to work/school) and my strong belief in the benefits of nursing, kept me going.  I had been somewhat warned of the potential physical discomfort of early nursing, but I was completely unprepared for the mental and emotional strain. I was so accustomed to an active lifestyle, that sitting in a chair for hours a day nursing was terribly boring. Initially I perceived this time as unproductive and lacking in achievement/meaning, thus causing me distress. Eventually, I learned to reframe this stress causing mentality to one that better fit my need for accomplishment -- I was not 'wasting time' while nursing Ryah, but rather I was building the foundation of a healthy mother-child attachment. As I learned, an infant needs more than nutrition from feedings, they need to feel the caregivers skin, be touched, meet the gaze of the mother, etc. All this contributes to the infant's right brain development (affect stability) in addition to giving the child nutrients to grow and develop. Once I realized the importance of my task, I began to relax (a little) and treasure the time.
            Another obstacle I continually faced while nursing was "getting over" the societal sexualization of breasts. I often felt more like a "mother cow" than a "woman" while nursing, sometimes feeling that it was "gross" or "wrong". Unfortunately, our western society does not offer girls/young women many opportunities to be exposed to nursing mothers. The images of breasts we see growing up are highly sexualized, and while that may be one purpose of that body part, they also serve a practical and needed purpose for women and their infants. The images of bottles (and formula feeding) are much more pervasive in toys, books, and media than that of nursing. What a shame!  I hope Ryah will grow up with a different idea of breastfeeding . . . perhaps someday she will see me nursing a sibling. She already holds dolls up to her chest to "pretend" feed (which I LOVE to see) and I have a couple books that have images of babies nursing. The benefits of nursing are so great for both the mother and the child that I believe families should make whatever sacrifices necessary to make it successful. I recognize that nursing simply does not work for some baby/mama pairs (and thank goodness that an artificial nutrient drink is available in such cases) however such instances are rare and in the majority of cases, nursing can and (and I would argue should) be accomplished.
         During the first six months of nursing, I had to pump often (both at home before going to bed and while I was at work in the morning). I nursed throughout the night (which eventually led to me co-sleeping with Ryah so we did not have to completely wake up) and often throughout the day.  I could not be away from her for more than a few hours and no one could calm her or put her to sleep as well as I could (which put me "on duty" constantly). Sometimes I resented the fact that my life (and body) had changed so dramatically, while others around me seemed to have made only minor adjustments to their time and efforts. This thinking was done out of frustration and exhaustion, however, because truly I did (and do) value the importance of my role as a nursing mother. More often than not, nursing was the most convenient method of feeding Ryah.  I never had to worry about buying formula, warming up bottles while traveling, or not having her food with me. I will never forget the many times I sat in the back of the car nursing before or after going into the grocery store, the many times I nursed her in dressing rooms while I shopped, or the few times I had to leave a restaurant in the middle of the meal to attend to my hungry girl.  I will not soon forget trying to find a private place at a UNT football game to nurse (which ended up being behind a video trailer) or nursing her on an airplane between two large men on the way back from Missouri. I will treasure the memories of nursing her at the same time both of my sister-in-laws were nursing their little boys. I will certainly never forget the many long hours I spent rocking, singing, and nursing her to sleep. I always paused for a minute after her eyes finally closed, her grip around my finger relaxed, and her breathing slowed in order to look at my beautiful daughter and just experience all the love I felt for her. As the months passed, nursing became like second nature and I no longer had to think about all the logistics (such as when I nursed last, which side had I nursed last, if I needed to pump in order to avoid engorgement in the middle of the night, etc.). We fell into a routine that was natural and comfortable.
         I never intended to nurse more than the first few months (first year max), but as Ryah's first birthday neared, I could not imagine weaning her arbitrarily. Some children naturally began loosing interest in nursing at this age, but Ryah was certainly not one of those children!  I began researching the benefits of "extended" (toddler) nursing and realized that the benefits of nursing during the second year were as significant, if not more so, than the first.  Toddlerhood is such a potentially frustrating time for children (thus temper tantrums) and nursing proved to be the perfect antidote to such moments.  Whatever mood state she was in, Ryah would instantly calm when being nursed.  I was her secure base that she could return to whenever she needed comfort, reassurance, or nutrition.  I posted another essay a few months back on the benefits of toddler nursing, so I will not go into more detail here.
        Now, almost 26 months after those first few trying weeks, Ryah's days of nursing have come to an end. She is an independent, curious, and fun loving toddler that enjoys a wide range of foods -- from hummus and lentil soup to berries and yogurt. The weaning was initiated by me (if we would have allowed, Ryah would probably been one of those children that nursed until four or five) because of my lowering milk supply (and thus increased discomfort again) and in preparation for her starting school. She initially put up a strong resistance (crying and begging "Mommy, nurse"), but adjusted within a few days of cutting back on each feeding. These moments were full of tears and sadness for both Ryah and I as I denied her the very thing she had found most comforting and nurturing for the first two years of her life. I hated being the bearer of this disappointment, and seeing her face fall as I said "no nursing" and sought to hold and rock her. It broke my heart when she pushed me away and cried louder.   Putting her to sleep has been so much more difficult now that she is not nursing, and I do not get the amazing benefit of instant calming that nursing allowed. However, our family is starting a new chapter in our lives (my PhD program -- Ryah's early preschool program ) and I hope that the previous two years of nursing will have laid a solid foundation in order to face the many challenges to the parent/child relationship that will inevitably come in the future.  I can not imagine what parenting Ryah would have been like during the last two years if I had not been nursing her. Would she be such a "Mama's girl"?  How would she be different . . . how would I be different . . . how would our relationship be different?  I will never know! I only know that I followed my intuition, used my body in the way in which God created it, and gave my daughter my body, my time, and my love for two years!
What I will miss most . . .

* The extra 500 or so calories I burned each day . . . I have already gained 5-10 pounds since cutting back on nursing in June. :(
* Feeling Ryah's body completely relax in my arms
* Ryah's sweet gaze of complete comfort
* Not having to worry if Ryah is getting all her essential nutrients
* Moments of peace and quiet during middle of the night nursing
* Ease in going to sleep for nap and night times

More Summer Fun

2010-08-19T17:03:00.000-07:00

We are enjoying the last of our summer break . . . just a few more days to go! On August 12th, we went with Mindi and her kids to the Fort Worth Museum and then over the weekend Ryah and I took one last trip to Galveston (Travis was in training). We stopped along the way in Conroe and visited with Angie and Laura and celebrated my birthday -- more good food and presents! Pictures below:

Birthday Weekend

2010-08-09T13:58:00.000-07:00

Happy birthday to me! This past weekend I celebrated my 27th birthday. For some reason, it seems that every birthday past 25 is viewed in terms of "years until 30". So . . . just three more years until 30!

The day before my birthday, Ryah and I went to Granddaddy's and Gi's house. Ryah had her first "custom" pancakes made by Grandaddy . . . Mickey Mouse and a snake! She loved them! I love her morning hair :) After breakfast, we ventured out to the Hulen Mall. Ryah and Granddaddy spent some time at the indoor play area while Gi and I hit the stores. We had a wonderful lunch at Pappasitos. I wish I had taken a picture of Ryah's face when the staff came out to sing me Happy Birthday. She froze and stared at the floor until they left. She had already be "scolded" by the waitress for almost touching a hot plate, so she was extra sensitive!

On Saturday (my actual birthday) Ryah and I had breakfast at Panera Bread. We always share a bacon and egg sanwhich on a whole grain bagel . . . however I am going to have to start ordering Ryah her own breakfast because she just about eats all of mine! After breakfast, Travis, Ryah, and I went over to the duck pond and fed the ducks. It was a beautiful hot Texas morning. Later in the day, we went shopping in Allen and ate at California Pizza kitchen for dinner. I ended the day with a delicious piece of tiramisu!

On Sunday, we celebrated my birthday with the Keese family by going swiming at Cielo Ranch. While shopping around at Barnes and Noble, Ryah feel in love with "Boots" (a Dora character) and just had to have it. I saw her rubbing her hands on Boots and asked her what she was doing. She replied "putting sunscreen" . . . "Boots get sunburn". It is amazing all the actions and words she is picking up and then replaying through play!

Playtime with Cousins

2010-08-01T07:05:00.000-07:00

Ryah is so lucky to have four cousins close in age to play with. Halli (4), Hartli (3), Haylen (1), and Caden (1) are full of energy, love, and playfulness. They also give her an opportunity to 'fight' over toys, learn how to share, and engage in other sibling-like exchanges. She talks about them all often, asking to go to their homes or have them over to play.

This past week, we went to a small waterpark in Lewisville. Ryah was her most adventurous yet in the pool. She walked up to chest deep in the water by herself and loved singing tick-tock (a song form her swim lessons) with Halli. Hartli and her enjoyed the water spout area, running around, sitting on the spouts, and trying to lick the water (yuck)!

Thursday, everyone came over to our house for a spaghetti dinner. Ryah, Halli, and Hartli played dress-up with princess outfits (given to Ryah for her birthday by Angie), went in and out of the princess castle, and made dinner with Ryah's new kitchen. Haylen and Caden enjoyed climbing on the princess couch with Ryah. They were all so cute running around, laughing, and (sometimes) crying over unshared toys. It was nice getting to visit with Mindi, Amy, and Cody too!

Staying Active

2010-07-25T18:36:00.000-07:00

We have been very active the last couple weeks . . . swim lessons, gymnastics classes, volleyball games, and a trip to the Fort Worth Museum of Natural Science and History. A few pictures of our activities below:

Swim lessons at the Natatorium in Denton. She enjoyed the class for the most part, although she resisted blowing bubbles in the water and putting her head under the water. Her favorite part was climbing onto the side of the pool (pulling herself up by herself) and jumping back into the water.

Travis has played in a Volleyball League this summer. We have missed most of the games because they are too late at night, but we were able to go to the first part of his tournament this past Friday. Ryah loved the "beach" (sand) and kept saying "Daddy is playing bolly bolly".

Ryah is taking a "tumbling tots" class offered by the City of Denton. She loves walking on the beam, jumping on the trampoline, doing rolls, and practicing her pikes, straddles, and tucks.

We are excited to have a new year long membership to both the Fort Worth and Dallas Museums of Natural Science and History. Today we took Ryah to a Big Bird Elmo Star Show at the Planetarium, as well as the Children's Museum. Her favorite parts of the children's section were the hospital room and the grocery store. We are looking forward to going to the IMAX shows, Planetarium shows, exhibitions, special events, and other children's exhibits.

Happy Birthday Song

2010-07-19T20:14:00.000-07:00

This video is from a couple weeks ago -- the day before Ryah's birthday. She loved singing the birthday song but refused to admit it would be her brithday (hence singing birthday to Barney, Caden, and Katie).

Weekend Get Away

2010-07-19T19:53:00.000-07:00

We were lucky to get away on a short trip to Galveston this past weekend. It seems that every time we go, Ryah enjoys the beach and pool a little more. The weather was beautiful -- sunny and hot -- and the ocean seemed to be a bit more clear and blue than normal (I even went out in the water!). We enjoyed the good food as always (eating at Salsa's, Mario's, Mosquito Cafe, and Landry's) and had a few hours each day to read and work on school stuff while Ryah napped. My parents came down Saturday evening and we had fun spending time with them until we had to leave on Sunday. The time passed quickly, but it always does when you are having fun! A few pictures below . . .

Ryah's Birthday Celebrations

2010-07-05T16:34:00.000-07:00

Ryah's birthday celebrations were so much fun this year! When her invitation fell off the frig, she picked it up and said "my birthday, Mommy"! She recognized the "cupcake" themed balloons and decorations as "her birthday". On her acutal day, however, she seemed a bit conflicted. She would frown and say "no, birthday . . . no birthday". We are not too sure what that was all about! On the 29th, we had a pizza party at Palio's in town with available family. She opened a few gifts -- a princess castle, Elmo camera, mega blocks, float, and music bells -- and had lots of fun playing with her cousins. On Saturday, we had her real birthday party. It was exciting to share the day with so many of our close family and friends. Despite the occasional torrential thunder storms, we still managed to swim, grill hamburgers and hotdogs, and enjoy a cupcake bar. Once again Ryah was blessed with lots of love and gifts! She now has a princess couch to lounge on in the living room, a play kitchen and baking gear, a new coloring book and colors, precious new clothes, a kissing Elmo doll, a baby doll that she can change the diaper on,a "little people" train, and her first children's bible stories book. Needless to say, she has enough to keep her learning and playing for quite a while! Thank you to everyone who came to the party and made the day so special for Ryah, Travis, and I! I still can not believe my baby girl is two!

The pizza party . . .

Before the party . . .

Dad on the grill . . .

Brad, Baron, and Jenny Windle

Alicia, Carter, and Bryan McLain

Aunt Mindi coloring with Ryah

Gi and Mom in the pool with Ryah (borrowing Caden's float)

Grandaddy enjoying the sproatic sunlight

Mindi, Shaun, and Haylen

Amy, Nita, and Ole

Cody and Caden

Rorie, Carrie, and Carmendy Miller

The big storm coming in . . .

Time for cake and presents . . .

Enjoying her new couch at the end of the day . . .

Birth Story

2010-06-28T20:27:00.000-07:00

WARNING: This is a very long and personal story about the day (two years ago) that Ryah was born! It was written in the days following Ryah's birth and is very detailed (and again, long!) but I would like it to be 'out there' for public record and for our own reference later in life.

The story of Ryah’s birth . . .

         The morning of Ryah’s birth started out like many other mornings had in June -- I woke up around 6:30, got dressed in my green orientation polo and khaki shorts and headed off to help with check-in for day one of the third freshman orientation session. During the preceding week I had been feeling occasional lower abdominal pain and infrequent Braxton-hix contractions, but there was really no indication that my labor was truly imminent. At work people commented on me still not having the baby and I reminded them that my ‘estimated’ due date was not until July 2nd and that “on average, first time mothers deliver eight days past their due date,” so there is really no reason to suspect I wouldn’t be pregnant for another week or two. Certainly in my mind I was getting more than ready. I had begun to sleep less and night and experience frequent bursts of energy during the day that would motivate me to clean, organize, and ‘nest’. The day before, Saturday, I had awoken to an urgent need to clean and organize the baby’s bathroom area in anticipation of my mom coming to stay. I worked for hours moving, storing, sorting, straightening, and scrubbing. I was also trying to complete all my assignments for the summer school class I was taking. I spent what time I was not cleaning, at work, or with Travis (taking our oldest niece Halli swimming), reading and completing assignments for my class.
          Overall my pregnancy was relatively smooth; I had no major complications and was largely able to maintain my normal life style routine throughout my pregnancy. Being that Travis and I were not particularly ‘planning’ on having a baby at this time in our marriage or life stage, I needed the entire nine months of pregnancy to emotionally adjust and prepare. By June, I was eager and impatient for Ryah to enter the world. Back to Sunday . . . I worked at orientation all morning until about one o’clock. I then returned home, crawled into bed to read my class assignments, and fell sound asleep. At around three o’clock Travis came in the bedroom to give me a kiss and tell me he loved me (I love when he does this!). We began talking about what we wanted to do that afternoon and the idea of going out on the jet skis came up. It sounded fun to me . . . we could go out to the lake and just enjoy the outdoors. Travis was hesitant because I ‘could go into labor any time’, but I assured him I was feeling just fine and that it would be refreshing to get out. I began to worry, however, about completing my assignments, so when Travis was ready to leave thirty minutes later, I told him I was going to stay to type up my homework and run a few errands. He did not really like the idea of leaving me behind, but I once again reassured him that I was feeling fine and that it would be good for him to get out and enjoy the lake for a couple of hours.
        Once he left, I got up and began typing up my final reading questions assignment for my class and edited a reflection paper I had written. Around 4:30, I decided to do my Prenatal Fitness Fix Video (a great forty minute workout routine that I had been doing two to three times a week throughout my pregnancy). I remember thinking that it could be my last time to do that video . . . little did I know that it would be! I do not remember feeling any particular pain during the workout; I did the normal squats, modified push-ups, lunges, stretches, and more, just like always. Once I finished my workout, I headed to The Cupboard to refill our water container, buy a few snacks, and purchase Evening Primrose Oil to help naturally induce labor. I arrived in barely enough time to get the things I needed and was in fact unable to get the primrose oil because I could not find it and the store was closing. That was around 6:00. I wanted to go by Barns-n-Nobles to buy a book on vaccines that I had on hold there, but decided to go home instead because I was beginning to have a few cramps and wanted to rest. Once I got home I sent out an e-mail to my professor with my remaining assignments “in case I went into labor before class on Tuesday.” I then received a text message from my mom informing me that Carson’s team had lost their baseball game and that it was “now okay to have Ryah”. She was joking, of course. My cramping began to worsen slightly and I called Travis to let him know. I told him not to worry, that I was sure it was just more false labor pains, but to keep his phone nearby in case I needed him. He asked me if he should come home now, but I told him not to . . . that I was fine.
            Around 7:00 I decided to go for a walk outside and call my Mom to hear about Carson’s baseball game. As I was talking to her, I began to have more painful cramping, coming at relatively frequent intervals. I told my Mom that I didn’t think this was the real deal, just maybe an episode of false labor like she had experienced with me. As time went on, however, I became more concerned and called Travis to let him know I wanted him home. Even if it was not real labor, I was in enough pain to want him there to help me. In the mean time, he called his sister, Mindi, who called me asking if she should come over . . . I assured her everything was okay and that I would call her back in an hour. Travis’ brother, Cody, who is a paramedic and has actually delivered babies, also called and asked about the timing and feeling of my contractions. I tried to reassure everyone that I was not really in labor!!! It was nearing 8:00 and the pain was getting more intense, so I decided to go back upstairs to rest. I decided to call my friend and massage therapist, Jen. I believe the conversation went something like this . . . Me: “Jen, I am not in labor, but just having some pains” Jen: “I will be right over!” She came right over (thank goodness) and began timing my contractions. They were every two-to-three minutes, lasting a minute each. Jen said she thought I was in labor and encouraged me to call my midwife, Jean. Jean answered the phone, asked me a few questions, and then said to call her back in an hour . . . she was going to start driving back to Denton from Plano. I decided to get in the shower, Jen mentioned that if it was not ‘real’ labor, the pain would likely decrease. It did not decrease! I was on my hands and knees in the shower through contractions and would then get up to quickly wash off during the minute or two in between contractions. Jen worked some on my lower back because the pain was rather intense there and in my lower abdomen.
          Travis got home at around 8:30. I remember he was quite excited, even giddy, but not me. At this point, I was in serious pain. We immediately gathered our things to leave. I could not sit normally in the car . . . I was in the back seat on my knees with my hands wrapped around the head rest. I could feel every bump that Travis went over in the road and thought that every stop he made was too abrupt. Travis called our family on the drive over . . . we said we would let them know how serious it was when we got to the Birthing Center and found out my dilation. We arrived at the center a few minutes before Jean, so I had to go through a couple contractions in the back of the Jeep. Travis was trying to comfort me, along with Jen doing massage, but I did not want to be touched. When we made it inside, Jean checked me and announced excitedly that I was already dilated to a seven. I was in real labor and the baby was coming! I went through a few contractions, walking around the room, lying on my side and on my hands and knees until Jean said she could break my water. She said it would make the pain more intense, but likely speed things up so that I could deliver in the next hour or two. The thought of more intense pain seemed unbearable, but then she said it was going to get worse one way or another, I just had to decide whether I wanted it then or later. If time was the only factor, I was ready to get it over with, so I agreed to her rupturing the sack. At this point things kind of seem like a blur. I remember trying to squat during contractions, but being unable to because of pain shooting up my leg from a pinched nerve. I tried walking in between, which helped a little. For the most part, I preferred to be on my hands and knees on the bed during the contractions. The pain grew so intense that I felt like I was not going to make it through. I asked questions like “Is there anything we can do about this?” (to which they responded “push the baby out”) and made comments like “I can’t do it.” Just as I was feeling like I could not go on, Jean checked me again and I was at a 9 ½. After a little more walking, I was at a 10 and ready to push. Jen was on my left and Travis was on my right. I knew many of my family members were in the waiting area praying for me and Ryah (and Travis). It took so much energy to push through the pain. Pain shot through my right hip, prohibiting me from trying to push squatting. I was surprised at the intense pressure pushing put on my bottom. After about thirty minutes or so of pushing, Jean notified me that she was going to have to cut an episiotomy. The umbilical cord was wrapped around Ryah’s neck (a relatively common occurrence) and her heart rate was beginning to decrease during contractions. I did not care at that moment about having an episiotomy . . . I made a comment that they could even cut my stomach open to get her out! I did want reassurance that the baby was for sure coming out and liked the idea that after cutting the episiotomy, she would come out sooner. Jean continually reassured me that I was pushing her further down the birth canal with every contraction. Before long, they said they could see her head. I had a resurgence of energy at this point and it seemed almost easier to push her the rest of the way out. When Ryah came out, Jean began working on her (sucking out stuff). I asked if she was okay and if she was a girl. I was quite emotional! I could not believe Ryah had just been born. I did not even notice as Jean began sewing me up (I had a 3rd degree tear . . . all the way to my rectum muscles). Family began entering the room, taking pictures, and making comments about the baby. All I remember is looking at Travis (who at this point I wanted to touch me) and Ryah laying on my stomach. I was quite shaky and Jen had to give me orange juice. Ryah weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces and was 20 inches long. She was born at 11:10 pm (less than 2 ½ hours after we arrived at the birth center and just 4 hours after I started active labor). She was healthy, strong, and beautiful. After they pushed on my stomach to get out the placenta and finished sewing me up, I began trying to feed Ryah. It was a little difficult at first, but after help from Lynn, I was able to begin nursing her.
             Most of our friends and family left around this time and Travis and I were able to be alone with Ryah for a few short minutes. The birthing room was so cozy . . . with candles as the only light. I think Travis actually fell asleep on the couch for a few minutes during this time. We stayed until about 2:00 am and then loaded up in the Jeep to go back home. When we got back to Mozart, Gi and Grandaddy went over to IHOP to get us something to eat. I did not have an appetite, but knew that I needed something to eat. Mom, Dad, Carson, Nathaniel, and his girlfriend Brooke arrived at about 3:30 am. Ryah was quietly sleeping in her bassinet next to our bed. After everyone left, Travis and I just took in the moment. Our new family . . . and only a few short hours earlier we were going about our Sunday afternoon as if nothing unusual was about to happen!
             I did not decide to have a natural birth until around the 34th week of my pregnancy. Before reading the research, I would have been the first to sign up for an epidural and allow nurses to watch my daughter for the first couple days so that I could have more rest. I was terrified of giving birth and knew that the c-section rates in Denton were between 30-50% (the actual rate of truly necessary c-section rates is around 5-12% worldwide). Once I did the research and talked with the professionals at Inanna, I began to relax and look forward to the birth with a healthy sense of nervousness (at the unknown), but a greater sense of confidence in my body and peace about the process. Having a natural birth was an incredibly empowering experience. Sure there was pain . . . there is always pain in labor or it would not be called ‘labor’. Without the intervention of drugs, my body was able to react as it was designed to do and I was able to be lucid and mentally present throughout the entire experience. I now have a new found appreciation for my body and God that created it to experience such a miraculous event. The environment of the birthing center and the approach of the midwife model of care allowed me to feel comfortable and supported throughout the prenatal and labor experience. I loved the fact that they did not rush Ryah away as soon as she came out of the womb, but rather allowed the umbilical cord to stay attached while Ryah adjusted to the new sensations of air/breathing. She was put on my stomach within seconds and allowed to nestle close to me for warmth (rather than be carried away to be put under and artificial heating lamp). Ryah was able to nurse for the first time within minutes (when the sensation for her is the strongest) and hear the voices of her mother and father rather than the voices of strange nurses and doctors. She entered the world in the gentlest way nature would allow. Ryah was not put in plastic carriers, brought to me on an artificial feeding schedule, given eye drops or other unnecessary pricks (that could wait a few days or weeks), rather she was always either in my arms or in my arms reach at all times so that I (the person God equipped with the best sensing capabilities for her) could meet her needs for touch and nursing when she decided she needed them. I will always reflect on this experience as one of the best decisions I ever made and am thankful for all the family and friends that supported me though this truly miraculous moment in my life.

How she has grown . . .

School Day

2010-06-17T09:31:00.000-07:00

I just dropped Ryah off for her third day of school. She has now began crying as soon as the school building comes into view . . . and when she realized I was going to take her in, she began asking for her Daddy (she was likely thinking 'maybe Daddy could save me'). Once inside, she calmed down after about fifteen minutes and joined the other kiddos for snack time. Being that it was 'splash day', all the children were wearing swim diaper . . . which of course began leaking all over the chairs. Chaos ensued for the next fifteen minutes as the two teachers tried to change clothes, diapers, and clean up all the mess. I was so surprised (and irritated) when the main teacher offered two of the girls (who had been in her class for a while) a piece of chocolate (one girl after her father left and she was upset -- and the other because she saw the other girl eating chocolate and wanted a piece too). WHAT! You DO NOT offer candy as a reward. It sends the wrong message to little developing minds (the junk food is really the good stuff to desire) versus offering the children yogurt or fruit. In actuality, it is not good to offer food at all as a reward at all, as it encourages children (and later adults) to use food for emotional comfort. For some individuals, this will already be an issue, so encouraging it during childhood only makes matters worse. After everything calmed down, everyone went outside. I was again shocked when the main teacher began spraying the kids with a cold water hose and singing "this is so fun!". Are you kidding me? Sure a couple of the well adjusted kids (those who had been in childcare for a long time) responded with smiles, but the three new kids began crying. Not spraying already upset kids with cold water seems like common sense to me, but I guess not to the twenty year veteran of childcare. Can you tell I am not crazy about Ryah's primary teacher? She is loving and nurturing towards the kids (hugging them, saying 'I love you'), but she does not seem to be very in tune with how to deal with the more timid and ajusting children. She will not be Ryah's teacher in the fall and I am glad for it. I was much more impressed with the teachers I was introduced to a couple months ago when I took the tour. I know Ryah will adjust (or at least I hope so) and I can see that the other children like the teacher well enough, so I am not going to pull her out for the summer (plus she only has three to five other children in her class on any given day versus the twelve other children she would share attention with at any of the other childcare options I looked at), but it sure does not make this process any easier.
I have uploaded a few picture taken this morning. In the first couple, Ryah is carrying her lunch box and talking positively about school. The other pictures are of Ryah during snack time and playing outside for 'spash day'.

One Meal at a Time

2010-06-16T20:07:00.000-07:00

I admit it . . . I am always thinking about food. I go to bed at night already planning what I will eat for breakfast and before I am even finished eating my breakfast, I am thinking about what I will eat for lunch, and so on. Thus, it is not a surprise that I am sitting on the computer at 9:45 tonight looking up recipes and thinking about food :) My interest in food may be a surprise to those who knew me growing up -- when I considered white rice and canned green beans a "good meal" and generally limited my food intake to white starches and a few select meals that my Mom made ( I won't mention how I ordered my soup in restaurants -- with only broth). But over the last five years, I have began to eat a wider variety of foods and now really enjoy more balanced and nutritious meals. It has been difficult, however, to learn to cook from scratch the kind of meals I want to eat. Add to that a husband who is a self proclaimed "meat and potatoes" guy (who also despises casseroles of any kind and genearlly avoids soups) and whims of a toddler and the kitchen stress mounts. Any ideas for what a woman/wife/Mom/doctoral student who strives to cook good tasting healthy and nutritious meals in a reasonable amount of time (in an hour or so)? Here are the list of meals that currently meet the requirements:

Spaghetti w/ spicy marinara sauce
Lentil and Veggie Soup
Grilled Chicken w/ Rice and Veggies
Baked Spinach Pasta w/ Garlic Sauce
Spinach Ravioli w/ Cream Sauce
Macaroni-and-Cheese w/ Broccoli
Jambalaya
Chicken, Rice, and Veggie Stir Fry

Given that I generally can not cook the same meal more than once (maybe twice) a month without hearing warnings that I am cooking a particular dish too often, I clearly need more ideas! I am trying to add to our list of family meals one meal at a time -- any suggestions would be appreciated!

California Trip

2010-06-15T15:52:00.000-07:00

A chronicle of our trip out to California to celebrate Nathaniel's graduation from the University of California San Diego.

A picture of Ryah actually sleeping in her own bed the day before the trip -- we bought a guard for the side of the bed so that she will not roll off (which she already demonstrated she can do!).

The beginning of the trip started off a little rocky. After loading the airplane for a scheduled 9:30 am departure, we were told by the captain that there was a mechanical problem in the cock pit. We waited on the airplane for 1 1/2 hours (trying to entertain Ryah) before being deboarded and told that we would be rescheduled for a flight later that night. Luckily, we were able to get on a 12:40 flight to Orange County where Gi and Grandaddy met us. We then drove to San Juan Capistrano and met my family. We finally arrived in La Jolla late that evening (when we were suppose to arrive at 10:30 am California time). We were all exhausted and ready for bed! A few pictures from the airplane (Ryah with Travis) and waiting in the airport (Ryah enjoying a smoothie from Starbucks) and from the drive to La Jolla (Nathaniel and Travis snug in the backseat).

The beach just down the road from our beach house was beautiful. The first couple days the weather was a bit cold and overcast, but it warmed up as the weekend progressed. Ryah loved running on the sand and trying to outrun the water. A few beach pictures . . .

Friday morning I was able to meet with Dr. Ruth Newton, a clinical psychologist who is developing affect regulation therapy based on attachment and developmental theories. I am considering this area of study for my doctoral work and was honored that she gave me an hour of her time. When we returned home, Ryah was fast asleep with my Dad (see picture). That afternoon, we drove down the coastal highway towards Newport/Irvine (where we were visiting family). The family had to try out the famous In and Out Burger joint (pictures below), however I do not get what all the hype is about. We made a stop at Laguna Beach and enjoyed the absolutely beautiful vistas. Unfortunately, my camera ran out of battery just after taking one picture. I was not able to capture anymore pictures or get any photos of the family visit. The sole Laguna picture is below . . .

Saturday was game one for the United States in the World Cup. We all caught the "world cup fever" as the US played (and tied) England. That evening we celebrated Nathaniel's graduation (the point of the trip) at Jakes on the Beach in Del Mar. Afterwards, we went to La Jolla Cove to see the seals lounging on the beach.

We had to fly home Sunday afternoon before Nathaniel actually graduated, but we had a fun time seeing him over the course of the weekend. Ryah was proud of having her own seat on the airplane ride home . . . reading the skymall magazine and all.

Summer Fun

2010-06-08T19:12:00.000-07:00

The summer has begun and we are already having lots of fun. I have included a few pictures from the last week below. Missing from the photos is a picture of her first day of school (today). The whole ordeal was a bit overwhelming (for Travis and me, as well as Ryah) and we just never got around to taking an official picture. Ryah made her first day okay. She was only there from about 10:30-2:30. The teacher reported that she cried off and on (saying 'I want my Mommy') but enjoyed playing (especially with the kitchen set). She did nap for about an hour, which I was both surprised and happy to hear. Our hopes of Ryah being the most intelligent child for her age were dashed when we met one of her classmates (a girl who is only a week older than Ryah). She already knew all her colors (and was happy to point them out to us), recognized all her letters and numbers, and her language abilities were seriously impressive. Her mother is a political science professor at UNT. Hopefully Ryah can befriend this girl and quicken her learning :) I arrive home feeling a little lost without Ryah in the house with me. I am almost never at home without her and it seemed too quiet. Yes, I cried :( I quickly became busy, however, with school work and then cleaning the bathrooms . . . allowing the time to pass quickly. I decided to postpone taking one of my summer classes (a stats class) until the fall, so all I have to do for school this summer is attend a practicum class, supervision, see clients, and takecare of my LPC paperwork. Given this, we have decided to only put Ryah in school on Monday and Wednesday for the summer. This will allow me to still do lots of fun summer things with Ryah (swim classes, storytimes, playdates, etc.) and hopefully ease the transition into what is shaping up to be a very demanding and busy fall schedule. Let the fun begin!

Having a blast on the Denton Square . . . we were attending the Twilight Tunes program. Ryah has always loved music!

Swimming in the pool at Karmendy's 2nd birthday party.

It was a sunny day at the Ball Park . . . time for the sun glasses . . .

Ryah enjoyed the Ranger's game for the most part. We were thankful for receiving such great tickets that allowed us to be so close to the action. She napped for about an hour of the game, walked around the gift shops for a couple innings, and flirted with the little boy sitting behind us for the rest of the game. The fireworks (when a Ranger's player made a homerun) did not make her too happy . . .

We finally converted Ryah's crib into a toddler bed. She loves saying "Ryah's bed" and climbing on and off it. She has fallen asleep in her 'new' bed the last three nights! Since this picture, we have cleared off all the stuffed animals :)

Ryah Turns Two: A Year in Review

2010-06-03T13:38:00.000-07:00

Ryah does not turn two for a few more weeks, but I decided to write this post now before I start school and have much less free time!

Ryah's Turns Two: A Year in Review

When Ryah was an infant, time often seemed to go by so slowly . . . such as the nights we could not calm her from crying or the painful early days of nursing. Needless to say, neither Travis or I were the most patient caretakers of an infant. Those times, however, have long since past and Ryah's toddler days are flying by. I am thankful to have spent so much time with Ryah during her second year of life.  She has gone from walking to running, jumping, and climbing.  She has learned to communicate in full sentences. . . just the other day she surprised me when she said "Mommy, it is too hot in the car!". She often asks me "whatcha doing?" and comforts me when I accidentally hurt myself by patting me on the back and saying "it's all right, it's okay". She is the most polite toddler I have ever known . . . saying "thank you" and "excuse me" at all the right times. She has a cute sense of humor, often calling me 'mom' or 'raissa' just because she knows I do not like it.

Ryah has a special relationship with Travis, always looking forward to him getting home from work so she can snuggle on the bed with him and watch cartoons or play hide-and-seek. She now knows and remembers all her grandparents, great-grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins, talking about them often. She eats a variety of foods (some of her favorites include fruit smoothies, hummus w/ nut thins, soups, popcorn, various berries, and freeze dried apples), but she still prefers nursing most of all. Ryah loves to sing songs and has learned all the words to many -- including ABCs, Jesus Loves Me, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, and many more.  She also already has her favorite set of cartoons . . . Curious George, Dora the Explorer, Elmo's World, Clifford, Dinosaur Train, and Mickey Mouse Club House. I am nervous about her watching any t.v. but Travis promises me that it will not hurt her. :) Some of Ryah's favorite activities are going to the park (she will swing for thirty minutes), attending local library story times, accompanying me on grocery trips, reading books, playing 'tea party', coloring, taking care of her baby dolls, and spending time with her cousins. We have been blessed to take a few Galveston vacations in the last year, as well as trip to Branson (and an upcoming San Diego trip). Ryah travels pretty well and we enjoy introducing her to new locations and experiences.  Ryah is always cautious with new people and places . . . but after she gets comfortable she has a good time. She began attending Sunday school at Grace Bible Chapel this past fall and although she initially resists at drop off, she is always having too much fun to even notice we are there the pick her up.

This summer Ryah will join a toddler class at The Selwyn School. She will attend from 9-3 Mon- Thurs and will hopefully learn lots of social skills :)  We also have her enrolled to take swim lesson in July . . . which should be fun for the whole family!  We are thankful that Ryah has had relatively good healthy this last year . . . she has just gotten a handful of the normal childhood bugs such as colds and ear infections.  She has continued to chart in the 50-60 percentile in height and weight, making her perfectly average :)  She already wears a size 2T in clothes and a 6 1/2 in shoes! Despite not getting her first tooth until after her first birthday, she now has an almost complete set of teeth! We still have some big milestones ahead of us. Although we have introduced the potty and she will use it if we put her on it, she is still not 'potty trained'. She will have to be weaned soon . . . a process that I hope goes smoothly. We will also be introducing her to her new toddler bed and trying to transition her into sleeping in it :)

Ryah is not typically cooperative when it comes time for a photo shoot, thus I opted not to pay a large sum of money to a photographer for what would likely turn out to be a stressful expensive flop. Instead, I took a few pictures myself . . . . which were not amazing, but they captured her various temperaments with accuracy.