Its been quite a while since I have been able to post. There have been quite a few changes in our life and many new experiences! In October, Ryker got to come to nursery for the first time. I have been Nursery Leader for a year and a half, so if I thought I would get a break from parenting, I was mistaken! Ha Ha. He is turning two at the end of the month and he has become quite the independent stinker.
My parents have each been having their own problems to deal with, so at the end of October, Ryker and I made and impromptu field trip, cross-country, in a car. We drove from Sedalia to Ogden in less than two days. We made great time and Ryker did wonderfully!
While in Utah, I discovered I was pregnant! Baby #2 is currently on HER way to making her presence. Just over three months left. We were also able to attend my little sister's baptism. She was beautiful and the spirit of a baptism is so special! I hope she will remember how she felt as she made the decision to become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
We were also able to be in Utah when my beautiful cousin returned from her mission in Knoxville, Tennessee. It was so fun to catch up with her! Ryker was born while she was out, so it was also the first time she was able to meet him in person.
After a month away, Justin was dying to see us again and we were pretty excited to see him! So we drove back home.
My sister and her husband just had their first baby! He was born April 7, and he is adorable! We won't be able to meet him in person until after our little baby is born in July.
I am also starting a new job. I will be working as a breastfeeding peer counselor at the WIC office. It will be about 4 hours a week. After nursing Ryker for 20 months, I have lots of experience and knowledge to pass on. I'm excited to get other mom's excited about breastfeeding.Not so fun news...
In September we decided to increase our household by one. We got a Puggle from the animal shelter, he is almost 3 and fully-grown. We fell in love with him very quickly! However, 10 days after we brought him home we discovered that he had a skittish problem and was not very good with kids. He bit Ryker on the face. It was very tough to make the decision we did. We chose to keep him. With lots of work and teaching Ryker how to approach him and letting Jasper know how to react to Ryker, we were incident free for a long time. Six months later, Saturday night, Ryker was on my lap and Jasper was sitting on the other couch. Ryker got up to get a toy from across the room and Jasper lunged. The most traumatic experience for me was witnessing this whole thing happen. All I can figure is Jasper was jealous of Ryker. For him to attack without having been touch or looked at was very startling for me. I grabbed Ryker and ran into the bathroom. Justin removed Jasper from the home and we are never looking back.
After filing a report with Animal Control and speaking with the animal shelter, we have decided that he will live with Justin's aunt. He is wonderful with adults, but she has been warned that he needs to be kept away from children. Hopefully she will heed our warnings and there will be no further incidents.
We were given two options. First, he would spend the rest of his life at the shelter because he can not be adopted again. I am too soft-hearted to allow him to live a life like that. Second, he could live with a family member or friend and all responsibility would be removed from our hands. Justin's Aunt is happy with the decision. However, if I have to see him again, I may break down.
It has been a very emotional weekend, not from pregnancy hormones, but because every-time I close my eyes the nightmares start and I see Jasper attacking Ryker over and over.