Week One - Ryan

Ryan's First Week!

It was pretty uneventful. The Drs appointment was actually the day after we left the hospital as they wanted to check his jaundice. It wasn't bad, but they didn't want to wait until Tuesday (his actual week mark).  It was a little high but my milk was finally coming in so as long as it didn't get worse, they said we were good to go.

The first week, we were holding him ALL THE TIME. He did not want to lay down.  At night, we took shifts since the second we laid him in the pack n play he was crying.  I prayed this was short-lived because with Bryce going back to work and my mom leaving in a week, we would be in big trouble. Fortunately, as soon as the week was over, he would at least sleep short stretches in the pack n play. 

The kids wanted in on the photo session with Ryan.

We spent the first week at the hospital and hanging out at home (watching basketball of course).  Oma and Daddy took the kids to the Rodeo. They did a Kids K there which they thought was pretty cool and then got to see lots of animals and go on some rides. Mommy wishes she could have gone but I enjoyed my alone time with Ryan.

We had some visitors....

And of course Oma was here to help.

We celebrated Ryan's birth the way we always do... with cake!

Ryan's 0th Birthday Cake

Happy Birthday Ryan!

We gave Ryan his first bath - sponge baths until the cord falls off.

And that was pretty much our first week at home.  Tired parents but happy family!

Welcome Ryan Robert Stacer!

On Tuesday March 5, 2013, the Stacer Family welcomed our newest addition - Ryan Robert Stacer was born at 1:41pm, was 8lbs 2oz, and 20 inches. Robert is a family name from Bryce's side (his dad's middle name and grandfather's name). 

I ended up being induced which wasn't what we were hoping but we are glad Ryan is here and a healthy little boy. It was very exciting the moment he was born to find out if it was a boy or girl. We are slowly adjusting to life as a family of 5. 

Ryan has seriously confused his days/nights so we are up quite a bit in the middle of the night.  My mom was here for 2 weeks which was very helpful. Now that she has gone back to Indy, Bryce has really stepped up.  He gets the kids ready every morning so that mommy can have a little more rest and watches Ryan.  Once we get some more sleep, everything will be so much easier for all.

Isn't he so cute??

It's a boy!

 The kids have really taken to Ryan.  They both are very excited to have the baby here. Evan has been pretty helpful and can entertain himself which is a huge help when I am busy with the baby. Caitlin can be a little too loving with Ryan and too helpful so we have to keep an eye on her.  She's very much in the wants to do everything herself stage so that can be trying at times but overall, we are doing well.  They both love Ryan and having a little brother.

Big Brother again!

I'll post some more updates on our first few weeks soon.  For now, you can enjoy these pictures from our first few days.

Oma, Baba, Chelsea, and Ryan

Ryan getting his hearing test - passed!

Dr. Orth (my OB) with Ryan - she is so wonderful

All swaddled up

Mommy and Ryan

Ready to leave the hospital

Getting to go home!

  

Kite Festival 2013

Since no sign of baby on March 3, 2013, we decided to go to the Kite Festival with Aunt Baba, Uncle Casey, and Chelsea.  It was the perfect day for it and it was a fun last outing to do before the baby came for all of us.  We arrived just as it opened (which is kind of a must if you don't want to fight the traffic and want to park relatively close which being almost 40 weeks pregnant was kind of important).

We didn't go too far into the park before staking out a spot for all our stuff.  

A picture of our camp

They gave us a free kite as we entered so we thought we'd get it a try... here's Evan flying the kite. It wasn't the best kite so we later upgraded.

Caitlin hanging out on the blankets waiting for a little picnic lunch.

Baba and baby Chelsea

Evan and Daddy played a little football - Caitlin got in on the action too a little later.

The kite they gave us really wasn't that great so we ended up buying one for the kids to fly which worked out pretty well. Evan did a great job flying it. It's the rainbow looking one up in the picture.

Here's Caitlin flying the kite.

 I think this was just before she let go of the kite and it flew across the park. You should have seen Bryce and I chasing it down. I think it ended up in a food trailer and tangled with another kite. But we did retrieve it! 

Family picture! It's hard to tell but there were a ton of people there and kites.  Overall, we had a fantastic time for one last Stacer family of 4 outing.  

Saturday clean-up and fun!

This Spring, Caitlin is going to get to play soccer with Evan for the first time!  We went and bought her some soccer shorts and shin guards and she was so excited to wear them. We spent Saturday before Ryan's birth doing some yard work (knowing the baby was coming soon and we wouldn't have time after). The kids helped us and had some fun too.

Caitlin wearing her new soccer things

We cleaned out the beds and Daddy raked up a pile of leaves which the kids enjoyed jumping in (first time I think... you don't get a lot of the "fall" type leaves in Texas).

Evan's turn!

One more time for Caitlin.

And then just a super cute picture of Evan holding Chelsea before his soccer game. Aren't they so cute? Good practice for being a big brother again.

Rodeo Day at Preschool

I'm sure you are all dying to see pictures of the baby, but I have a few posts to do before I get to Ryan. I promise I will make them short and get to the baby quickly though!

The week before Ryan was born, it was Rodeo Day at Preschool!  I have to admit that even though my kids are Texans, neither owns a pair of cowboy boots (something we might have to remedy because kids look really cute in cowboy boots).  However, we made due with what we had on hand. At least we have a cowboy hat!

Here's a few pictures of Evan before school.

His silly face and the stop taking pictures!

And the next day it was Caitlin's turn for Rodeo day. I did her hair in braided pigtails which is hard to see in the pictures. And our wardrobe choices were a little limited but I think we did okay.

My cute little Rodeo girl!