Trip to Utah

My sister Chelsea is getting married!

And to help feel a little included in the wedding planning process, I surprised her and Ryker and I flew out there last week for bridal showers and wedding planning. She was very shocked!

I learned very quickly that there is very little free time in the Durrant, and Bartholomew family households. Everyone has a schedule, they go, and go, and go, and go... Very little time was actually spent as family time. I slept at my mom's like usual.

I noticed that one of the biggest complications we experienced was not having a crib for Ryker. We had just gotten him into the habit of sleeping in his own bed every night. There was a crib at my dad's, but the side wouldn't stay up. My mom has a play pen, but Ryker never fell asleep deep enough to be moved to the play pen. As a result, he shared the bed with me. It took a whole day  trying to get him to sleep in his crib again when we got home.

To complicate our busy week at home ( in Missouri), Ryker developed a bacterial sinus infection, probably from teething. He seems to get teeth two at a time. It happened this way with his bottom teeth too. One tooth will break through and then go back in until the other one is ready to come out. So, he is on an allergy medication, an antibiotic, and iron drops because he is slightly anemic. We discovered the infection when he woke up one morning with a fever of 103.4-degrees. Our poor child was so cuddly and sleepy for two days after he started the antibiotic. Now, he is back to making lots of messes and is even eating more. While he was super sick, the only food he consumed was breastmilk. So, good thing I wasn't even close to weaning him!

Ryker is a growing boy!

In the past, I have complained about Ryker not eating very much, or sleeping.

Today, I take back all of my complaints! Although, I realize that the time to take them back and focus on cherishing the moment is gone, I miss my little cuddle buddy!

One of my favorite things, with choosing to nurse Ryker for as long as I have, is the instant comfort and cuddle time that only I can give. For nine months of his life, Ryker would not fall asleep with me unless he was nursing.

At the first of the year we moved Ryker into his own room and thus into his own bed. This was a huge step for me! I was so in love with my cuddly buddy and as soon as he was out of our bed, I felt lost! I have since recovered from that feeling because a good night sleep means more to my body than staying awake making sure Ryker is sleeping. So even though Ryker wakes up several times a night (three of four times on average), I miss nursing him to sleep and hearing his slow even breaths as he falls deeper and deeper into unconsciousness.

He has also become an avid eater! Yes... my little man has an improved appetite! He nurses about five times a day, and he is now eating two 6 oz fruits and veggies a day, and 2.5 oz of meat. He loves finger food, and he is so good at picking it up! I have even caught him breaking into the diaper bag, where we keep our "to-go" dishes for Ryker, and he pulls out the dishes and starts to mix and feed himself imaginary food.

So... For those who think that your trials are going to last forever, (like me and getting Ryker into his own bed), they don't. There are always lessons around the corner accompanied with blessings in all shapes and sizes!

SNOW!!!

For those who keep up with me on Facebook, you have probably read some of my posts about the snow. I am not going to say anymore without showing some pictures first!