Winter Break Bliss

I cannot even express how thankful I am to have a break from the optometry school madness- and spend time only being a mother and wife. And by being a mother and wife I don't mean the typical cooking, cleaning, etc. things most think of. I have barely done chores since finals weeks. I mean the loving, cuddling, adventuring quality time I get to spend with my hubby and brand new baby boy. We have been busy busy- driving 13 hours each way to visit my family in Minnesota (Keaton was and AMAZING traveler), packing for a trip to Palm Springs (we're leaving Thursday), and planning to accompany Dan on a few more interviews before I return to school (a little nervous about a hotel with a 6 week old).
Keaton is getting cuter and sweeter by the day. He is a source of constant joy for us! Being a mommy is so much fun! He has started "talking" and cooing more and more. He smiles as a reaction to funny noises and faces Dan and I make at him. He is able to track our faces when we move. He is so content and happy almost all day long. He is even stretching out times between feedings to average closer to 3 hours (which seems like an eternity to me after 6 weeks of 2 hour increments). He has started sleeping better in the wee night hours and chosen a new fussy time- around dinner. He is becoming interested in the toys hanging on his bouncer. Our favorite thing to do is have "conversations"- he loves listening to voices and making silly sounds in response.
Now if I could only get the hang of this "sleep when he sleeps" thing. I better be off to bed. I just finished feeding him at 2. Is it too hopeful to wish for the next wakeup to be after sunrise?

Keaton's First Month

Wow! I cannot believe it has already been a month! Between the hospital stay, family and friends visiting, my finals, Dan leaving for interviews, and traveling for Christmas I have not had a chance to update this blog much. So, as my parents and sisters all beg for time with the baby I decided to take the chance to post some pictures.
Keaton is a sweet sweet baby. He only cries when he's hungry (or sometimes if he has a tummy ache). We went in for his 1 month appointment last week and he is now 10 lbs, 2 oz, 50th percentile. He has already started smiling at 5 1/2 weeks. We're now entertained by talking to him in funny voices and waiting for his reaction. He seems to love his photoshoots and sits for many many minutes in front of my big lens posing. He loves to lay on the couch and do "tummy time" on mommy or daddy's chest. His constant kicking proves challenging when changing and diapering. He LOVES the bath. He loves laying in his crib and cooing at his mobile. He is just so happy and content and is such a joy to us!
Dan and I already can't imagine what our life was like before he came around. We must have had so much time on our hands!!! We are loving every single minute of him. Even though I desperately want time to slow down, every stage seems to be even better than the last! Below is a month in review of pictures:


Weighing in at 8 ilbs, 11 oz, 0 days.



Grandma sharing her birthday with Keaton! 0 days.



Grandpa and Dan wheeling Keaton from the NICU, 1 day



Knit hat from Grandma Teresa (a hit at the hospital) and "paddle hand," 1 day.



Ride home in the cow seat :) 2 days.



First photo shoot. He's a keeper. 5 days.



0 Month Picture. 2 weeks.



Thanksgiving. 2 weeks.



Mommy and Keaton cuddling... 3.5 weeks.



"Ok, Mom. Enough pictures." 5 weeks.



Bathtime. 5 weeks.

12 Days Old

I took these pictures this morning after changing Keaton's diaper. He was really alert and happy for a LONG time (over 100 photos worth). I think he is changing already and wish time would just SLOW DOWN!

Keaton is here!

Keaton Lawrence Kryder was born on November 12 at 10:18 am. All 8 lbs, 11 oz, 21 inches are precious and perfect. I've had more than a few requests for the labor story, so I will share it here (but keep it brief).
First of all, I was induced. The week leading up to the induction was one of the most stressful of my life (researching, talking to my doctor, deciding with Dan, then defending the decision in the face of too many shared opinions). I was 2 cm dilated and almost 100% effaced for awhile before my due date and has experienced many bouts of hours of 5 minute apart contractions (usually a sign to head to the hospital!) Because of all the action (but yet no actual progressing labor) my doctor thought I was a good candidate for induction. Also, because the baby was measuring large, he knew waiting a week or two would most likely cause me to need a C section, which we were trying to avoid. So, Wednesday morning I went in to Labor and Delivery. There was not much action until my water broke and then things moved pretty fast. The epidural was heaven, the nurses and doctors were amazing, and Dan was the most perfect support I could have ever imagined. After 24 hours of labor and 2 hours of pushing (by far the WORST part) Keaton was born! I definitely cried (and I think Dan might of, too) when we first got to meet him.
The last almost two weeks have been a sort of emotional rollercoaster (for me, at least :) About 12 hours after he was born the nurse found his oxygen saturation to be low and his breathing rate high, so he was admitted to the NICU for monitoring. I was so upset that I wasn't able to be by his side 24/7 while I was recovering. He was discharged the same day as me without any respiratory problems and we have been at home getting to know eachother ever since. At his one week appointment he was basically back at his birth weight! He is a really good baby and his mannerisms are so funny already. He loves to play with his hands and we have caught him sucking on his fingers just like we saw in the ultrasounds. He LOVES his bouncer (and hopefully we aren't causing back alignment issues by letting him sleep in it a large portion of the time). He is very alert and loves to look at the ceiling fans (even though I don't think he can see that far very clearly yet...) The puppies constantly try to be near him and like to lick his head when they sneak a chance. I have been working hard to try to figure out a feeding schedule before I start going back to school in a few days. Who knew newborns eat so often??? Overally, this stage is so fun and, other than during the 3-6 am shift, Dan and I are loving every minute of it!

< 9 days to do

The waiting game started a while ago but Baby K still isn't here! (insert here reminder from Dan that I am still 9 days before me due date) Anyway, at Friday appointment I was basically told that from the looks of everything I should be in labor. 2 cm dilated, 80%+ effaced, and I will spare you the rest of the details. I have had a lot of action, though. On Thursday night last week I had 2 hours of 5 minute apart contractions and got SOOOOOOOO excited. We went for a walk and things started to fizzle. Bummer. Then, Sunday morning I spend some time in Labor and Delivery making sure my water didn't break (well, really hoping that it did, I guess). And, now it's Monday and no baby. In the midst of the emotional weekend Dan started to show me how excited he is about having a son. He is daydreaming about getting up in the middle of the night just the three of us and playing catch and wrestling (that will be a while). He is mentally practicing the steps of swaddling. For better or worse, school has been incredibly distracting for me (test this morning and one tomorrow, too) so I feel like I haven't spent the normal amount of time daydreaming. I KNOW we are really going to love being parents. Now, all we need is some ACTION!

The bun in the oven is done

This year Dan and I decided to dress up and go to a fun Halloween party at Summer and Eric's house. Here is our costume...




I think it's safe to say the bun in the oven is ready to come out. We can't wait to meet our son soon. I don't know how much longer I can stand it...

Baby News!!!

I had my 35 week appt today and it was one of the most exciting ones yet. Though he wasn't thrilled about the amount of contractions I've been having lately, he said everything looked good. Baby has dropped and is head down (the hard lump in my upper right abdomen is apparently a baby bum!) I'm 1/2 cm dilated and 50% effaced. Maybe we will meet this little boy sooner than Thanksgiving after all! To avoid bed rest, I'm supposed to "take it easy." Ha! Like that is possible in optometry school! I'll keep to my daily bubble baths and call it good. My second year of school has been more time consuming than I expected. I just keep telling myself that we WILL make it! I wish I could spend more minutes a day daydreaming about meeting our baby boy!!!

32 Weeks

Here I am in the nursery at 32 weeks (but I'm actually 33.5 weeks now!!!)

58 Days...WHAT!?

Dan and I check our own blog to remind ourselves of the countdown. Tonight was the first night I was absolutely shocked. Only 58 days to go!!! As we count down I get more and more excited, more and more uncomfortable, and less able to focus on my daily tasks at hand. When we planned to get pregnant while I was in school we didn't really consider the emotional and physical drainage that is being pregnant- wow has it been difficult! If anything, I am learning to live more hour by hour and I'm trying to develop a more positive attitude (by telling myself under my breath "I can do this" every few minutes :) We are so so so excited to meet our son- I just want to know what he looks like and if he really is an all-star athlete (how else would he kick so hard that my belly distends inches in different directions??)
Anyway, sorry this update has been boring, but I have to get off to bed. This next 6 hours (with 3-4 wake up calls) is not going to cut it!!!

Mom-Mobile!

It seems the past few weeks have been a collision of stress- starting school, extra OB visits/laboratory tests (all which turned out fine), Dan's applying to residencies, etc. And then, my car broke. It was in the shop 5 days in one week and we were told it needs more work done to it than it is worth. Bummer. So, in the midst of the craziness I went car shopping (not my favorite thing to do). We decided we had to get a new car by Labor Day- and we accomplished our goal! Now I have a Mom-Mobile!!! It's a 2001 Toyota Highlander. It's crazy how "when it rains it pours" but we are so so thankful that so far, even in our unique married-graduate-students-expecting-a-baby situation, we are always blessed and make it through. Here's to hoping this one's not a lemon!!!

Will this baby boy ever have a name?

Seriously, I wonder. We have been having a really tough time. Reasons for our frustration:
- The permanency of a name- scary
- We disagree or have different "favorites"
- Our last name (no ending in -er or -ck or -ke)
- We don't have time to try them all out and talk about it much.
Soooooo, all of this has led to much frustration. We really hope to find one soon!!!

Hodge Podge Modge Podge

Frisbees on the wall in the nursery. Dan and I had a ton of fun making these. He LOVES his frisbees...



Our stair runner. Advise for other home-owners- do not install a stair runner :)



My baby more-than-a-bump at 25 weeks. This popped out over night, I swear.

Showered

Last Sunday I was blessed with the most amazing baby shower. It was so fun to celebrate with friends and family! If it is possible I am now even MORE excited to meet our little boy. We are so spoiled by the love and support of Mid County Church and we know our child will be, too. Thanks for hosting Summer, Marion, Allison, and Kay! Thanks to everyone for coming! Here are some pictures from the fun day...

Adorable Decorations:


Beautiful Hostesses:


Nummy food:


Presents for Baby K:


Baby Jeopardy (soooooo FUN):


Making wishes for Baby:


Littlest Cardinals Fan:


The Kryder Girls:

24 Weeks

Baby K is the size of a 1/2 gallon of milk and weighs about 1 1/4 lbs. My belly is getting big enough that people stare at it in the mall and a few have asked my due date. Only 16 weeks left til we get to meet our little guy!!!

Owning a house = Endless projects

My mom has been here for a week helping me with all things baby AND all the house projects that I haven't had the time or motivation to get done. It has been a lot of fun, a little exhausting, and we got so many projects done! We have paint in our hair that won't come out and until our afternoon mani/pedis today our nails were covered in grossness. We painted our staircase, organized the entire basement, caught up on laundry, cleaned the yard, took out the bathroom sliding shower doors and replaced with a shower curtain, reorganized all of the kitchen cupboards and closets, painted the nursery furniture, set up all the things for Baby K, patched random wall holes, and set up our new basement guest room/office/work out room. We worked non stop and I am so happy with all the things we got done. Like usual I forgot to take before pictures, but here are some afters.

The Staircase (Minus our carpet runner)


The Bathroom


The Nursery