What's in a name?

Hello Friends,

I've heard your snickering and nay-saying all the way over here.  That's right, I've heard it over the ambulances and drive by shootings that decorate our Aurora air.

I feel forced to put my retort in writing.

I completely understand some of you questioning why I'd choose to name our newest Ryder.  I'll even go as far to admit that your reasoning is not unsound.

What you don't understand is that to be perfectly honest, you just don't get it.

This post is dedicated to all you nay-sayers.  I have something to say back to you.

You say Rilyn and Ryder sound to similar.

NAY

Even though I've already called Rilyn Ryder, and Ryder Rilyn 12 times, do you think I had any choice in the matter?

Have you met Rilyn?

What do you think would have happened if we named Ryder something sensitive like Ethan (No Offense Ethan)?

I'll tell you exactly what would have happened.

Rilyn would have walked all over him.

Believe me, I've already played the scenario out in my head when I come home from work and Rilyn has him in drag.  That scenario does not end well for the planet.

Would a dude named Ryder ever let his big sister (no matter how strong she is) ever put make-up on him?

Would a dude named Ryder ever willingly join the Thespian club?

Would a dude named Ryder ever hop over a puddle of mud when he could part the puddle of mud with his mind?

H E Double Hockey Sticks no.

Consider that point dispelled.

You say now we're stuck having to do a Ry sounding name for any future Decker.

NAY

Do you think I should have not named him something so manly just to avoid this tiny little issue.

Let me fill you in on a few things that have happened since Ryder has joined us.

As I was unpacking our birth bag I noticed a tiny piece of paper.  As I unwrapped the piece of paper it looked like 2 separate sets of lips had kissed the piece of paper.  I could tell this because there were bright red lip marks on the paper that smelled like bubble gum.  Written on the piece of paper was the name and number of both the midwife and nurse.

People, both of these lovely ladies are married!

On the car ride home every car we passed literally was blown off of the road with tsunami like winds (although in even freakier fashion, no car was damaged in the slightest and no injuries were reported).

True story.

I've had a parade of angry parents at my door complaining of panties literally disintegrating into thin air.  Doesn't matter if they're of legal age or 100.  For some reason, Ryder melts panties (in a gentlemanly fashion).

Besides, there's really one of two ways to go with this.  We either completely boom roast our third and name it something very common, like Frank, or we just have to come up with another awesome name.

Do I need to reference the Arya post?

Consider that point dispelled.

What else do you have to say?  I welcome further nay-saying in the comments.

1 Week Old

Today Ryder is 1 week old.  Time is of course flying by and we are loving having a newborn around.  Yesterday we had him weighed and he was  7 lbs 12 ounces, which is great because he was down to 7 lbs 7 ounces on his 2 day appointment.  The little dude was not at all interested in eating and just wanted to sleep.  But that has changed!

The week has gone very smoothly thanks to family and friends and of course Tyler who has taken over every aspect of the house, Rilyn, and dogs so I can recover and focus on Ryder.  Not to mention doing everything with the new house.  What a stud I am married too.  Tyler and Rilyn have had lots of fun together!  She has helped him make tons of meals and can't seem to get enough cooking in.

I am savoring having a newborn even more so because I know how fast time flies and I just want to snuggle him as much as possible before he is Rilyn's age and doesn't want snuggles anymore.  So far he is a super easy baby and sleeps most of the time.  He fusses when he is hungry and then usually goes right back to sleep.

He eats about every 2 - 3 hours and I have had to wake him up a couple times during the day if he has gone longer.  I wouldn't wake him at night obviously but at night he eats every 2 hours and definitely has more of an appetite. He is sleeping with us and I know he wakes up more because he is laying next to me and that reminds him he might be hungry.  Even though I am up a little more with us co-sleeping for me it beats getting up and feeding him.  Plus, I love snuggling so close to him for so long!

Rilyn is doing awesome and has had a few moments of "new baby behavior" but is still sleeping well (knock on wood) and has been nothing but sweet to Ryder.  She kisses him 100 times a day, helps me wipe his bottom every diaper change, and makes sure he never leaves his socks on.  She is talking more and more every day and is also getting sillier every day.  She sure likes to make people laugh.

Being a mom of 2 is just as amazing as I thought it would be if not more amazing.  Ryder just brings so much love to our home and I'm so grateful that I get to be his mommy!

Oh and just for comparison here is Rilyn at 1 week old

Mornings....

I have this to look forward to every morning!  I couldn't be happier!

Ryder Caleb Decker

Ryder joined us last night at 10:26 PM after about 5 minutes of pushing and 5 hours of active labor.  We are all doing great and are so happy we got to have an amazing water birth!  He is 8lbs 19 1/2 inches long and has a good set of lungs.

Rilyn was pretty excited to meet him this morning and likes to give him loves.  The dogs are also very concerned and keep watch right by the bed.

A big thanks to Kristin and Tasha for coming to the birth center and Stacey for hanging with Rilyn the last 2 days!  We love you girls!

Kristin at the birth center

Trying to move the boy down so we can get the show on the road

Tasha made it just in time 

Our midwife Sara - who we LOVE

Our new nurse Melissa - who we also LOVE

41 Weeks 2 Days...and HOPEFULLY in labor

Tyler and I have spent the weekend hoping and waiting for labor to come!  On Friday I had an appointment in which they did a stress test and an ultrasound to check fluid levels both of which the baby passed with flying colors.  We also had our 41 week appointment where they stripped my membranes to try to get things moving.  I hadn't dilated anymore since our last appointment and we wanted to see if we could move things along since the birth center won't let us go past 42 weeks.

With Rilyn, they also stripped my membranes since my blood pressure was a little high.  I was in labor within 8 hours and we had a baby the next day.  I think we just assumed this would be the same case and we would have a baby on Friday or early Saturday.  Rilyn was with grandma, the dogs were taken care of, snacks and drinks prepared, and bags in the car.  We rested TONS and waited for labor to start.  We waited and waited and nothing.....

Last night I even ate a whole pineapple because I read that sometimes pineapple would start contractions.  Hey it can't hurt right?  Obviously it did not induce labor as I was still pregnant when I woke up this morning.

Today around 11 I started having contractions with a little punch to them.  They haven't stopped but they also haven't progressed.  So, they've been averaging 8 minutes apart and lasting about 30 seconds for 9 hours.  Not at all what I imagined for my second labor.  Especially since it happened so quickly with the 1st.  We've been in contact with our midwife and she thinks we are in labor but thinks things won't pick up until later tonight when most moms go into labor.  She also gave me some poses to try because the baby may not be in the best birth position yet and may be trying to get there before labor actually starts.

So, Tyler and I are going to get going on these poses and then headed to bed.  Grandma Decker is here for Rilyn and so we are set to go.  If I wake up pregnant tomorrow morning there will be one cranky lady in this household!

Wish us luck and like I keep saying..."bring on those labor pains I am so ready!"

                                                Rilyn sitting on my big preggo belly

Rilyn taking Trixie for  a walk

Home-made Playdough and a Disclaimer

Let's start with the disclaimer....a lot (most of) Tyler's opinions are his own and his own only.  I LOVE the Olympics especially the sport where people jump around on a 2x4 and can't wait for more jumping tonight!  However, I do agree with my husband that some (a lot) of the events are pretty stupid.  Like today I saw a little bit of water polo...and that has to be one of the most boring events ever to watch.  Let's throw a beach ball at eachother and swim laps up and down the pool while carrying that beach ball.  No thanks!  I'm sure these guys are super fit and their athletic ability is amazing, but being able to watch more than 5 minutes without falling asleep is an event I wouldn't want to be a part of!

Now onto the fun...Rilyn and I made some homemade playdough the other day.  I had been wanting to make some for awhile and just hadn't gotten around to it, but I'm sure happy it was something her and I had a chance to do before the baby comes because she loved playing with it.  It really only took about 10 minutes to make and the texture was very similar to store bought playdough, but there was no smell to it and I wasn't worried when Rilyn tried to eat it not once but twice.

We used this recipe http://musingsfromasahm.com/2012/02/easy-homemade-playdough-recipe/

She has also learned how to get snacks on her own which we did not intend for her to be able to do.  Yesterday I was sitting on the couch as she got her stool, moved it to the counter, climbed up, and got into daddy's open bag of yogurt pretzels in under 3 minutes.  Today she helped herself to a nectarine.  She is very proud of herself of course and giggles the whole time she is eating.

Tomorrow we have our 41 week appointment and hopefully everything is looking good and we will have a baby this weekend.  Honestly, I'm loving the extra time with Rilyn, but am super uncomfortable especially at night and I am super afraid this baby is going to be pushing the 9 lb. mark which is no joy natural labor or not so I'm a little anxious for this baby to get here before it gets any bigger!

August Ramblings

Hello Friends,

It's been some time since I last rambled.  Maybe it's my mild annoyance with the delay in meeting our soon to be second born, but regardless, I'm feeling a little feisty.

Know how I know this kid is destined to be more like it's mom?  We are 4 days past our due date with no real signs that labor is imminent.  Some might call that late.

Anna has never met an appointment she couldn't be late for.  She has made amazing strides in this department and I am very appreciative of that, but facts are facts.

Is it weird that my favorite part of bath time is trying to get as many foam bath letters stuck to Rilyn's body without her noticing as I possibly can?

My record is 4.

A new twist on this timeless game is getting the letter O stuck right to the middle of her back.  I also make sure I do this so she can see it.  Watching her squirm around trying to get it off is good for many laughs.

And yes, I'm a horrible bully, but to be honest, I couldn't stop if I wanted to.

Oh yeah, I've also been experimenting putting an ice cube down the back of her diaper.  I started with her shirt, but the dang thing kept falling out.

Know what else drives me absolutely crazy?   The Olympics.

I just don't understand why so many people get excited for these "sports".  You know the events.  Swim in a straight line.  Run in a circle.  Hop around on a 2X4.  It makes no sense.  To me it's like the specialization of athletic ability.

Not to mention the million completely made up sports.

Have you ever seen women's handball?  YouTube it or something.  The only thing missing is the break in action while you wait for your neighbor to drive by your street corner.

Fencing?  Now I know you're all thinking it's kind of like sword fighting.  To that I say nope.  It's like ballet with toothpicks, only toothpicks would at least provide the drama of someone potentially getting hurt.  When the "contestants" are having to physically bend their "sword" back to being kinda straight, any sort of excitement evaporates.

Don't worry though I've saved my contempt for 1 last "sport"

Equestrian?  As in horses jumping over things.  Someone tell me why a human being gets an Olympic medal for the superhuman ability to STAY ON A HORSE.  It's not like the horses get medals, you know the beings with any shred of athletic ability.

Seriously.  What's next?

Clearly, I have some ideas.

Olympic Limbo?

Olympic Arm Wrestling?

Olympic Checkers?

I'm utterly convinced that the tiniest country in the world could probably win the medal count by simply mastering the quirky lame Olympic events and medaling gold, silver, and bronze in each of them.

Lastly, I'm now annoyed that I have been trying to not capitalize the O in Olympics this entire post and for some reason spell check thinks it needs to be capitalized.

I suppose that is enough for now!

Stay tuned for a post Baby Decker post soon and (hopefully) some updates on the coming move to Larkspur.