more reasons to love this guy!

Let's be honest, Mike and I are not "mushy". Neither of us really like Valentine's day and we just don't do extravagant gifts, etc.

But this man... I love him like crazy! Here's reason # 326:

I was going through our camera after we got home from the hospital with Ryan and I found this:


This must have been when I was finally able to take a shower and he was alone with Ryan because I did NOT remember it.

I started to ask him what in the heck he was doing and then I remembered this:


This is from when William was born. We laughed about this for awhile afterward. Mike was trying to take a picture of himself with Will in the mirror. Obviously, the flash interfered.

Mike wanted to give Ryan the same opportunity that William had! And so he did this:


And look! He held the camera out to the side of his face :)

love you!

this one is a keeper!!!!

Ryan Weldon Preston arrived this past Saturday, 10-10-09, at 10:48am. He was 7 lbs. 4 oz. and 20 inches long. Labor was actually quite quick and not horrible and things couldn't have gone much better. AND, of course, Ryan is absolutely wonderful, adorable, precious, and just amazing!!!
We have been hibernating for a few days getting things under control and slowly, but surely, we are re-emerging to join the world!
I'm sure I will post more details soon and definitely more pictures, but here are my favorites!

still here... barely!

Well, we are still here! The due date is 15 days away and CANNOT come soon enough. On a serious note, I will not be completely at ease until we have a screaming baby in the delivery room. However, I am definitely over this whole "pregnant" bit.

We are 0 for 2 as far as our triage visits at the hospital go. I went in at 34 weeks with some very consistent, pretty strong contractions. But apparently, there were no match for modern medicine and a shot of something-or-other stopped it all and we went home.

Then this past week, I woke up Tuesday night with horrible, make-you-want-to-cry, piercing contractions. They continued regularly for an hour, so following WHAT THE DOCTOR TOLD ME TO DO, I called and they said go to triage. The contractions continued, I was at 2 cm, and just assumed that Ryan would be arriving that night or early the next morning. Well, I was checked again and was still at 2 cm. The triage nurse came back in and started, "Well, the doctor feels comfortable..." and I was all excited to hear "... admit you and get this party started!". Instead it finished like this, "... sending you home." You know that movie music where it goes, "wah, wah, wah". Yeah, that is what I heard in my head. I was still contracting and could not believe it. 37 weeks, come on! Close enough, right? The nurse told us we would probably be back later that day or the next for full-on labor. That was a little better and so we went home.

And of course, as soon as we got home, everything stopped and here we are - 2 weeks to go and sooooooo ready to be finished!

There is LOTS of waddling, LOTS of swelling, and LOTS of crabbiness. However, I try not to get too whiny about it and just remember it is all in preparation to meet those 10 tiny toes and 10 tiny fingers and sweet, sweet face.
It is very different, the second time around. I have an idea of what I might feel and the anticipation is overwhelming! Can't wait to meet the beautiful boy I am already so in love with!

William has been great! He is really excited about meeting Ryan and talks about all the things he will do. He talks about being the big brother and changing all the poopy diapers by himself - and I PROMISE I did not coach him to say that! We have been trying to include him in all the baby preparations including all the clothes washing, furniture arranging, and decoration making - he is excited!

In the meantime, here is what we have been up to:

We met one of my good friends from A&M, Megan, for lunch a while back when she was passing through town with her husband, Jon, and their sweet little girl, Emma.


Then, a few weeks ago, this guy:


opened this thing for preseason:


and we were there! (thanks Dad!)


we saw this crazy thing:


and this guy:


and this guy (Gig 'em!)


And of course, William and Lucy continue to bond over Sesame Street books.




Everyone say prayers for a healthy baby arriving very soon! Love to all!