Family Pictures

Long time no post! We have been busy! We're gearing up for summer as well as getting my AVON business off the ground. We have been busy riding bikes, going to the park, getting family pictures and other fun fun stuff!
Here are some of our pictures. My friend Eric took them- check out his website- truly the most affordable photographer in town and he does a great job!
Droll Photography

As you can see, our boy is getting BIG! He is pulling himself up like crazy, crawling really fast and is into all sorts of mischief! He has 6 teeth and is loving eating new foods!

We are still trying to sell our truck to buy a house. We found THE ONE, but it will most likely be gone by the time we get financing (sigh). So I am not getting my hopes up yet!

I am doing very well with AVON and love it! It is so easy to do with Ryker and I love that I can stay home! I'm getting ready to distribute 120 catalogs- that's my goal...kind of fun to have big goals though!

Anyways, that is what we are doing in a nutshell...hope you like the pictures, I sure do!

Albino allergic to sunscreen...

Ryker is teething BIG TIME! He has one coming in on the bottom AND one on the top that I just discovered. No wonder he has been so ornery...poor little guy! He also has a fever, cough and his ears are driving him crazy- I don't think there is anything worse than a baby who doesn't feel good! At least he's still sleeping well though :)

I mentioned that I wanted pictures of him pulling himself up on stuff and I got one of him next to his horsey...before I took out the camera he was cheesing it so big! Okay...looking for the camera cord, Dustin must have stashed it somewhere so I'll post that later :)

Dustin still hasn't got a turkey. I keep saying "I can't wait till this hunt is over". But then it'll be fishing or another hunt-he's like Ryker, can't keep still for even 5 seconds!

Not much else going on in our lives other than a messy house because of a needy baby and working with my mom a few days a week. I do not know how working moms do it cuz instead of cleaning I just want to PLAY in this wonderful weather!

Speaking of the sun, we had our first long experience in the sun yesterday at my cousin's wedding and it was a disaster! Ryker was so hot and with his albino skin I knew he needed sunscreen...well, he's ALLERGIC to sunscreen and broke out in hives THEN it got in his eyes and they got red and puffy. SO SAD! What am I going to do with Casper? I really want to be at the pool like everyday....He also doesn't like grass yet. Let's just say it's a little hard for him to get used to stuff but that may be good when he's older so he doesn't just try everything and get hurt!

I am wondering what I got myself into with AVON. I really do like it but am finding that is harder than I thought it would be to approach people like neighbors. We'll see how it goes, if it doesn't work then oh well, but I have got a few orders already YAY!

Pull-Ups

Ryker is now pulling himself up on furniture and his crib rails- all I can say is "here comes trouble!"
I wish I had a picture but Dustin had my camera "turkey hunting". I put that in quotations because-well-they really suck at hunting and haven't killed one animal this year- PETA would be so proud! Haha, just kidding, love you honey!
I am now working a whopping 8 hours a week at my mom's work and although a short break is nice, I miss Ryker like crazy! I want and have a need to be with him. After I got home, he seriously clung to me. He was like one of those baby monkeys with a death grip on my shirt- SO CUTE!
I am also going to start selling AVON for something to do this summer- if you want anything I'll be up and running soon- they seriously have such great products and most importantly- they are affordable.
I'll just keep talking about myself since I am on a roll- I have also made a cute toy for Ryker for church and when it's completely finished, I'll post a picture. It's a little car garage with Lightening McQueen and Mater- all made of felt so it won't disrupt sacrament!
I think that is all that is going on
PS Welcome back Grandma Louise!

Mom(s)

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!
I had a blast on my first mother's day! Dustin gave me a spa package that I am chomping at the bit to go take advantage of...speaking of which, I am going to cut my hair! It's been a long time since it has been above my shoulders but I think summer and the amount of shedding I have been doing lately make it necessary!
I wanted to post a little tribute to each of my 3 moms and then about my experience as a mom so far...My Mom- Misty
I love you mom! You are such an inspiration and watching your strength since Steve's death and us helping each other through some hard times has made me love you and appreciate you even more. Thank you for all you do for us and especially for the wonderful Grandma you are to Ryker. Love you!

Grandma Joyce- Wonderful Woman who Raised me
I don't think words can express how much I love and appreciate you for all that you do and have done for me. You didn't really need to take me in- (she is my step-grandma and when she started raising me, my mom and her son had already divorced-what a saint!)- but you did and I am so glad that I was raised by such a spiritual, wonderful woman.

Dustin's Mom- Cindy
I have had so much fun with you and really love the times that we have together. You're so great to always want to help with Ryker and really have raised your sons to be great men! You are a very strong person and such a fun Grandma.


This picture makes me look fat and just blah- but I had just given birth, so just ignore my flaws.
I have had so many ups and downs of motherhood so far- I will not lie, it is HARD! Good news- it's getting easier, well at least more rewarding. Looking back I really did like him as a newborn but he intimidated me- "why is he crying?!? why won't he sleep?!? why am I sad?!?" All went through my head a million times a day. A mix of him adjusting to the world and wacky hormones caused these feelings...
Now, I look back and really want to have him small for like an hour, just to cuddle. I see him growing WAY too fast and feel like soon he won't need me. He still wants to be held quite a bit and sometimes when I'm in the middle of something I get bugged, but now I realize that he won't always want me to hold him and I better milk it for all it's worth now.
He is such a fun, happy, smart boy and he just gets more fun, happier and smarter everyday. I sometimes miss him when he's taking a nap and today when I got a little break, it made me want to just squeeze the guts out of him when I got home.
Didn't know I would ever feel this way, but I LOVE BEING A MOMMY!
Ashley

6 Months

Ryker is a half year old already! Time is FLYING! Notice the picture- he would NOT sit still!
We went to the doctor and he is only in the 8th percentile for weight and about 35th for height. Although he is a little squirt, he is way ahead of the game developmentally. He started really crawling about a week ago and everyday he gets more and more coordinated. The doctor also said the way that he could get from sitting to crawling and back and holding his sippy cup are things that are way advanced for his age! He's just too smart (hey, I'm his mommy, he's the smartest baby ever!)
We also went to the park for the first time yesterday. We just couldn't resist as it was somewhat warm (okay, freezing but it's supposed to be spring!)

He didn't know about the swing- maybe because it was too cold.
I love this picture of us- it's a rare occasion that I'm on the other end of the camera- thanks Kristi!
Dustin took 3 certification tests for mechanic stuff last night. He said he thinks he did well. We are so proud of him and I am so glad he works so hard so I can stay home with Ryker!
My grandma broke her kneecap- as if we need one more thing to deal with right now. We hope all goes well with surgery Tuesday!
Everyone is leaving to go see Trace Adkins- I really hope that one day Ryker will be a little more independent so I can get a break- it happens, right?!?!
Hope everyone enjoys their Mother's Day!
Ashley, Dustin and Ryker

Just For Fun

My mom forwarded this to me...How cute are these?!?!

LOVE IT!

So true...
Future Ryker

For Nikelle!!!