Pictures

If you haven't already figured it out... My baby is one. Wow. Seriously?? I'm still trying to soak in the reality of the situation. Ryker is O N E  (click the link!) We had Jessamyn at Uptown Photography take his one year photos... Are you kidding me with this girls talent?? It's honestly sickening! Ha! She is so fantastic and got so many good pictures, I have no idea how I will pick which ones to print.

Guys, if you need photos - Call her!! You will not be disappointed in any what, shape, or form!

Little Monster Party

It honestly took me months to decide what a good theme would be for Ryker's party. Even once I did, I kept bouncing back and forth, trying to decide if it was "the one". I love party planning. It's my calling in life. too bad the market isn't better around our area and that's what I would make a career out of. I seriously enjoy the planning, the decor, picking out colors, and my favorite part - the outcome. 

Little Monster was the theme. I made invitations (I should get a picture and post it!) that read:

"A little cake, a lot of fun

our little monster is turning one!

Please join us in celebrating 

Ryker's first birthday."

The colors were red, blue, green, yellow and orange. And as expected, there were monsters everywhere! I posted directional signs that I hand-drew monsters on and pointed guests to the direction of our home. Once everyone got here, they were greeted with monster footprints leading up to the front door and a (poofy) friendly green monster welcomed them inside.

I wanted to keep the food simple, so I decided on a baked potato bar. We just threw potatoes out on the grill and have all the fixing in the house, served with a green salad. It was super simple and very low maintenance! To stick wight he monster theme, I had Angel Cakes of Pocatello make Ryker a small orange smash cake and then a matching green monster cake for the guests. If you haven't given her cakes a try - you must, they are solo good! She also made up monster cookies as well, and they were equally as delicious! I went a little overboard and made monster cupcakes too :) I was really wanted to make marshmallow pops and paint little monster faces on them, but I just ran out of time! 

Ryker's daddy handmade the big ONE for our front yard! It turned out so cute, all of our neighbors would drive by and point at it. For the other decorations, I just focused on Ryker. All of the pictures I've used for him month by month I printed and hung on the banister. I also printed out numerous "first" photos: bath, sippy cup, solid foods, etc and displayed those on poster board. I had a faux chalkboard printed up that had weight, height, # of teeth, first word, etc on it and on display with photos from birth to six months. 

I found a seller on Etsy who makes t-shirts or onesies with the child's name and then different themes, i.e dogs, elmo, monsters (!) so of course he had to have an outfit with a monster on it! The gal embroidered a "1" on it with his name below - it's so darling! I also decided I didn't want to ruin the shirt so I had a cash smash outfit made too! Haha.. I may have went overboard, oh well. Another gal from Etsy made Ryker a diaper cover and a matching tie. It was so adorable! He got plenty of "ohhs & awws" out of it!

I'm really pleased with the way everything turned out! I really love planning parties and I'm so glad I get to do what I love for this little guy of mine once a year!

We couldn't have asked for a better day for our son! He was spoiled rotten. We are so thankful for the friends and family that were able to join us and spend the day celebrating our little boy. It meant so much to Scott and I to have our family there. I know Ryk won't remember this per se, but he is most certainly not lacking in the love category!

I hope you all enjoy the pictures!

There are lots :)

This one says "You made it!" with a green, one-eyed monster.
The wind decided to pick up at the last minute!

Photo booth!

Mom, dad, Ryker, Great Grandma Honey, and Grandpa Mark
4 generations.

He loves this little rocking horse from the Nelson's!

My poor living room! This is what it looked like after the boy finished with presents!

A grow with my trike from Grammy Sandy

Ryker was way more interested in sharing his cake with mom and dad 

than he was in eating it himself!

Not to messy, not too messy at all

Kaden, Ryker, and Owen

This pretty much sums up the afternoon after the party!
He was so exhausted, once he settled down in daddy's lap it was lights out.. For both boys.

One Whole Year

My little boy turned a year old on Sunday. 

I am still emotional about it. 

The concept of time, and how quickly it passes, never ceases to blow my mind. I mentioned this on an Instagram post, but there were days I didn't think I was going to survive, times I doubted myself and whether or not I should even be a mother, and the list goes on and on. No matter how hard each day is, I am happy each and every day. How could I not be with this perfect child? He is the complete light of my life. I don't remember what life was like without him. Ryker has been the missing puzzle piece that Scott and I didn't even realize we were missing. He has changed Scott and I for the better. Not only has our relationship as husband and wife improved, Scott and myself have both grown and individuals. No longer is our life ours - It is all about Ryker now. And I don't think I would change that even if I was given an opportunity.  

Ryker Kay Nelson at 12 months you:

• are a mommy's boy thru and thru
• can say 7 words - Mom, Dad (on occasion), Hi, Dog, Cat, Yum, Ball
• blow kisses, clap, flex your muscles and give "fives"
• have about outgrown 9mo clothing. You are in 12mo mainly
• still in size 3 diapers
• weight 21 pounds 13 ounces (at 9mo you weighed 20.8)
• measure 30 1/4 inches tall
• are so independent - you know what you want and when
• do not like sleep 
• It doesn't matter what we do, you just don't sleep, unless you are in bed with mom and dad being cuddled. Sometimes you will stay asleep in your crib anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours. Some days you wake up the second I put you down and scream if I try laying you down again. We made the unfortunate decision to try CIO a few nights and that backfired on mom and dad. Instead of you losing steam and falling asleep, you only gained strength and cry harder. We will NEVER do that again. The Ferber Method is crap too, that only pissed you off more when we would check on you and walk away. This has been by far the hardest struggle with you. Mom is exhausted. Dad is exhausted. The dogs are exhausted. I'm hoping for a miracle. The amount of prayers I've said to just guide me what to do for you in astounding. So far, nothing is working. So, for the sanity of your mom and dad, you will sleep with us. 
• are starting to walk with your push toys - your balance is getting really good
• eat like a garbage disposal! Your favorite foods are chicken, hot dogs, and potatoes. A close second would be tomatoes, craisins, beans, and cheese
• love to give your puppies pets and pats on the head, sometimes you'll even rest your head on them
• love to play with rocks and dirt
• (which leads me to) are such a boy!! I can't believe it, you are all boy
• love licorice
• are a tornado, constantly leaving a path of destruction behind you
• enjoy getting into my paints and ribbon while you're in the office
• love riding the lawn mower with daddy while he mows the yard
• are a terrible teether. You get cranky, fussy, whiney, clingy... It's awful. I feel so bad you're hurting and I try to be patient, but there are some days I want to run far far away
• have the best giggle ever. It lights up my whole day
• are so very ticklish on your back, thighs, and collarbones
• have started to carry things around in your mouth like a dog - it's hilarious (I also blame this on teething)
• have become a biter! I have bruises on my legs and arms from your biting me. It's so hard to not wanna wack you when you do it - it really tires my tolerance
• are still exclusively breast fed!!! I never thought my milk would come in in the first place, so to still be able to nurse you has been such a huge accomplishment for me, and us! I have pumped every day, 3 times a day, for 9 months since returning to work just so you can have bottles while at grandmas. I am so over pumping it's sick, but I do it for you!
• are such an outdoorsy kid - you love the fresh air
• know what kind of tunes you like, and you will show it by doing a little dance! You stop and just start bouncing up and down in delight
• are a water baby, my goodness. You get so upset if we close the lid to the toilet and you watch it happen. Any thing left out that has water in it, you will find it and proceed to slap and make the biggest mess possible
• know where your nose and ears are and where other peoples nose is
• are good at putting things "up" and taking them "out" - which means we have to pay attention to everything in the garbage cans now
• get so happy to see me when I go pick you up from grandmas. When I grab you you will lay your little head on my shoulder
• enjoying watching out the car window
• play really well with other kids
• like to roll a ball back and forth, until you get bored and move on to the next thing
• are moving into the shy phase. When someone talks to you and you're being held, you will bury your face to hide
• are a performer; it takes you a minute to warm up to people, but then you will flex and smile and talk to them
• have completely stolen your mom and dads heart. There isn't a day that goes by that we don't thank God for sending you to us. You have been the light when we needed it, the pillar of strength we needed to focus on and most of all the greatest gift of love - not only to us, but to all of our family. You are so incredibly loved and blessed. There are some people who will go their entire lives and not feel the love you feel on a daily basis, how lucky are you?? You have changed your dad and I for the better. 
• I hope one day you will realize what an example your father is for you. He works so hard so you can have the life you deserve. We never want to tell you no. He is a smart, hard working man, who loves his family more than anything. I know he's gone a lot now, but hopefully in the near future he will be home more with us. Just know, everything he is doing now, is to benefit you and our family in the future.
• I hope I can be a positive example to you as you grow and develop. My wish for you is that you are never afraid to show emotion. It's a human feeling. Don't ever feel like you are weak just because you cry or feel sad. It's natural. Don't ever feel like that because you are a boy you should hold all your feelings in. Communication, not only with your parents but everyone, is such an important factor in life. Be confident with yourself to express things that are bothering you. You will be much happier. Finally, be respectful. Hold the door open for others, say please and thank you, use ma'am and sir, respect your elders and women. Again, look to your dad. He is a good man. He has made mistakes, but he has learned from them. He is kind and generous. 

Happy 12 months, little boy.

This has been the best year of my entire life, 

and I owe all of that to you.