my ring

i haven't been able to wear my wedding ring for 7+ months
my fingers got too fat when i was pregnant
and i swear my knuckles grow too

it was a happy day when i could finally
put on my ring this week.
i felt so pretty:)

one month

today my little guy is 1 month

{he eats, spits up, sleeps, poops, and cries}

i am so not as worried over ryan as i was with taylor
it is definitely easier the 2nd time around
taylor on the other hand...we are working on that:)

taylor was not allowing me to have a photo shoot with ryan,
so we ending up with these...



{she insisted on holding him}


{telling me where his heart is}


{kisses}

sometimes it is hard to keep her off him
just so he can get some sleep
she always wants to hold him and see him
and then there are the time she wishes i would leave him alone

as my mom put it...taylor "loves ryan to death"
she just doesn't know how to be gentle,
and wants to be in his face.
it is fun to watch her try to interact with ryan,
i think she will enjoy it a lot more when he responds back.

ice cream, naked

we were having an emotional moment one evening

the fix:
ice cream out on the porch, naked.

old school

about every 6 months we get together with
our friends from high school for a BBQ of sorts.
we try to make it happen more often than that,
but it always keeps getting pushed back.



i love getting together with the past.
i have such great memories of high school,
and i love the group i hung out with.
it is so much easier when eric and i have the same friends.


the boys
{lance/Spencer, Eric(ryan is asleep in the car seat), Jon, Kevin, Stalz/sam}

a bonus...we all still keep in touch today.
and i love all the guys, wifes! such fun ladies.
thanks guys for a fun night...see you in another 6 months!


the group
{Taggarts, Jon, Sutterfields, Stalzbergs, Kevin}

moving day

it's official.
we have moved out of my in laws
and into the "new house"(as taylor calls it).

it feels nice to be on our own again.
we are excited about the new place
and are enjoying the backyard the most!

taylor has adjusted just fine.
she doesn't even notice we don't
live with "bama" & "papa" anymore.

of course, i have noticed.
bama connie was a huge help
w/ taylor especially since ryan was born.

we are here, not quite in
1 year we will stay here,
then we are off...to who knows where.

spoke to soon

in my last couple of posts i have talked about how good things are going with taylor(see here). well that is not the case lately. my sweet, funny little girl is going through an emotional phase. could be the jealousy issue and seeking for my attention...just my one on one attention. if i have ryan around, that doesn't work. she is distracted by "bama" and dad for a little bit, but always comes running back to me WHINING and very sensitive to everything.

throughout the day we have our ups and our downs. both kids are always crying at the same time, needing to eat at the same time, and needing my attention at the same time. making those down moments a little overwhelming. AND...i have the help of my mother in law throughout the day. i don't know what it is going to be like when we move(3 days from now).

the only thing that works...getting out of the house. we go to the store, park, shopping. anything to keep taylor happy and ryan sleeping. i definitely let ryan cry more than i ever let taylor cry. i ignore taylor's CONSTANT whining, and i look forward to 2:00. Nap time for taylor, only one child to look after.

i didn't expect these moments to wear on me like they have. but the good moments have made up for them. i love being their mom and just have to get through this "new" stage. eric is really helping with taylor...only problem, she always wants me. the detaching phase, didn't happen like i thought it was.

my girl needs some one on one time with her mom. i plan on taking her to the park one evening, just the 2 of us, so she can feel special again. both kids are my joy and spending time with them at home is exactly what i want. things will get better and in the mean time, we will deal.

{play-doh time with mom}


*any tips on parenting 2?*

can't get enough

...my boy...

...my girl...




{seriously...she could be the cutest ever}


{chasing her shadow...fun game}

cousins

{wagon pulling...perfect entertainment for the kids}



{the park and throwing rocks in the water}



{piano playing at G.Ma & G.Pa C's}


...and the little ones...

...so stinkin' precious...

heber creeper

Even though I just had a baby, and by c-section, it has not stopped me from going out and having fun. Last week we went on the Heber Creeper with my sister's family. Taylor loved it and Ryan slept through it. It was a nice ride in some nice weather.

{enjoying the breeze and the open view}


{our growing family}


{heber creeper moments}

One of my favorite things about taylor is how excited she gets. I love watching her experience new things and how much she enjoys them. The Heber Creeper was a good way to get out and we enjoyed the company!

thoughts

My sister and her family have been in town
for the last week and a half
Plus we have had a lot of extended family
in town for my G.Ma's birthday celebration.
We have been enjoying our time with them.

You think I would be sitting around
recovering from my c-section
and just taking it easy.
Which was what I did
with taylor.

That has not been the case
this time around.
For some reason this time
has been so much easier,
and less painful.

We have been up and about
doing all kinds of things.
I just couldn't sit around anymore.

Yes, I am tired.
I got mastitis.
I am still a little swollen,
and I can't lift anything heavy,
but I would rather get out
and have some fun with family.

There has been plenty of relaxing,
but more playing. :)
Things will start to get busy
as we move in 2 weeks
and I will officially be
on my own with 2 kids!

I have not experienced
being a mom of 2 completely,
because I have had so much
help from Eric and my mother in law.
I really appreciate all the help,
and it is hard for me to let go
of the reins, because I am so
independent, but the help
has been so nice!

I now have a sleeping husband, daughter and baby....
all at the same time!:)
How convenient.
As for me...I don't nap,
maybe I will try and finish
Ryan's bedding, pack, or
clean up the toys
...nah...


{i think i will just sit and watch ryan sleep}

siblings

taylor really loves ryan
she has not expressed many jealousy issues
and is always asking for him
i am so excited for these two to bond.





the little guy is doing great
life with 2 is definitely getting busy
it has been so nice having eric home
(and my in laws around)
i am a little nervous to be on our own
in a couple of weeks.



{love this little guy}

3 plus 1 makes 4

Our little family of three welcomed the newest addition
on June 29 at 2:19 p.m.

{Ryan Anthony Sutterfield}

The whole week before I was nervous I would go into to labor and the whole planned out c-section would be out the door {like last time). I was right. On Monday I planned on doing the normal things, even running some errands. I was getting very stir crazy around the house and wanted to keep myself busy. I felt fine all morning but only made one errand. As I was driving home I felt it. The contraction. I wish I would have listened to it and went down the hospital right then, but of course I second guessed it.

Taylor and I went home put on a show for her to watch and I relaxed on the couch to see if the contractions would go away. They started at 10 minutes apart, then 8, then 6, and by 5 I was telling my father in law it was time to go the the hospital. I think I scared him a little bit, but I am just glad he was there to drive me down.

The 45 minute drive down took forever with 4 minute apart contractions and Taylor needing my constant attention. I think she sensed something was about to happen. We made it to the hospital and 20 minutes later Eric showed up and we were on our way to the OR. Taylor didn't know what to think and was a little emotional with mom being whisked away. But we had plenty of family there to keep her happy and in the end she really enjoyed coming to the "doctors" to see mom.

We are overjoyed with the little guy. It is definitely and adjustment and I haven't fully experienced being a mom of 2 since Eric has 10 days off to help out. He has been such a help. Keeping taylor happy, lifting and carry everything. I think Taylor is becoming a daddy's girl and is already showing signs of "detaching" from mom.

Me, I am trying to relax( been up and about more than I should), and just enjoy the little man. So far he is a good little eater and sleeper. Nights are 50/50. He usually makes it to about 3:00 a.m fine and then it is a little difficult getting him to sleep on his own from there.

I love this little guy and I am so happy our little family of 3 has grown. Taylor is already a great big sister and loves Ryan.

announcing...

{more pics and story to come}