Hello

Hello All,
I'm sorry I am slow to blogging on Rylan's FIRST Christmas but we have been in Hebron since Christmas Eve and well I forgot my transfer deal to upload the pictures here in Hebron. So, hang tight we are going home today and I will try to blog about it tonight. I hope you all were able to have a Merry Christmas and were able to celebrate Jesus' birth with your loved ones.
Prayer request... please say a prayer for my Aunts father who lost his battle with cancer I believe the 23rd of December. It's never easy loosing someone over the holiday season. He's much better now and has no pain. He was a great man and loved by MANY!
Have a great week all!
Andrea

Thank you!

Thank you Rhiannon for making the new blog look awesome!

Merry Christmas ALL!
THE JAR FAMILY!

Prayers

Hey Guys,
Thanks for always reading my blog... and for those of you that that make comments I enjoy reading them... keep it up. I'm not real sure what is going on and what really is the full story however, please pray for my Grandma. She had emergency surgery this summer (end of June) to take her ruptured ependix out and since then she hasn't felt well. She's been going back to the dr. for now several months .. please pray for her she needs our strength. Let alone her health conditions she has a worry of her son. Please pray for him as well. He needs them as well to fight the horrible battle of alcoholism.
One other prayer goes out to my father in law... that he recovers from his surgeries that he had today.... I don't know much but I heard he is home. I pray the night treats him well and that he is able to get some good nights sleep and recover quickly. He's not one to REST! Maybe I can teach him... yeah RIGHT!
Be thankful for your health and count all the many blessings we have. I think we ALL take the LITTLE things for granted.
Have a great weekend everyone! Hug the ones close to you!
Love to all,
Andrea

MR

I am trying to walk and he is keeping up with me.... on his knees..... AND right before the picture he was getting ticked and then look what happened when I got the camera out. :)
My question is how could someone not want a look like this. STINKER!!!!

Oh, how could I forget... last night both Jeremy and I noticed him slapping one hand... or more like it having one hand stationary while the other one is hitting the other one like crazy! I can't tell you how funny it is.... auh! I kinda forgot about it this morning and then I receivied an email from my sitter saying something to the effect of yeah we are getting a kick out of Rylan today because he learned how to clap.... but clap with one hand being stationary. I love it! She has a coffee table and she said that he is now starting to walk around it... and then stand their without anything for awhile.... as much as I LOVE hearing how much he is progressing it also scares me a bit because I think he is EVERYWHERE NOW... let alone when he starts really walking... AUH! Her husband thinks it will be another 2 weeks before he is walking... AUH!

Stay warm tonight!! We have thick sleet and I am hoping for everyone safe travels (National Championship games tonight... GO HUSKERS).... Thank the Lord that I only have to drive a couple blocks to take Rylan to the sitter and I don't have to get him out in this nasty stuff too much. Although, putting him in his little snow gear for a 2 minute car drive is sometimes annoying. SUCH IS LIFE! Stay warm and hopefully we have power thru the night! This sleet stuff is THICK!

Love,

Andrea

New LOVE

Okay, so this is a picture of Rylan's new favorite toy. He LOVES this ball. It 1 makes noise on the wood floor and 2 the ball itself makes noise. He finds the ball out of all the other 100 toys he has and picks it up and it starts rolling... what the funny part about it is like all kids/babies do is he tries grabbing it and it starts rolling again. It is pretty darn funny!

During this Christmas Season

Ask yourself if you are living your life to the fullest, ask yourself if you giving back as much as you are receiving, question your relationship with God and ask yourself if you are where you want to be.
This is off the blog of Stephanie Vest. Her friend wrote a letter to everyone about Stephanie's family. Anyway, this little message is from there. I think it is so true. I guess I don't QUESTION God but maybe question how close I am and how I can better understand his love for my family and I. When I am working and I get a little stressed I come to quick understanding that it isn't worth being really stressed out about something especially if I can't control the situation. Do your best and that is the only thing you can do.
So, in that same idea.. I could be really stressed out that I have yet to begin my Christmas shopping but instead I think about those that don't get to have Christmas this year, those that just lost a loved one, those that have no family to celebrate Jesus' life with, those that don't believe. I hope to get in and out of the crazy stores so I can enjoy wrapping presents, and being with our little family.
Jeremy's been gone for a week and will have to go again soon... I could be totally stressed out because he does so much for us.. but I did what I could do, enjoyed being home with Rylan, and lived each day to the fullest. I am thankful for the time we have with him and pray that he travels safely... everything that doesn't get done will be there for me the next day!
This year I am remember how thankful I am... and that this year presents (material things) don't mean as much as gatherings with family and just being in your own home, celebrating a life a little one and being healthy. Thank God for the many blessings we have. Always remember someone else has it WAY worse than you!
Love,
Andrea

Daddy!!!

Daddy gets home today and both Mom and I are extremely excited!!!! The past two nights I have slept all thru the night so Mommy can get some sleep. She thanks me over and over again. :) He is still sleeping now... usually he wakes up around 7:15 to get to Kristi's... I just HATE to wake him. I even have the light on. Anyway, have a great day! Enjoy the people you get to share the day with and thank God for the little things in life that we all take for granted.
Thanking God it is Friday!
Andrea

Clean warm BED

Nothing like a clean warm bed to come to when you have had a crazy day. It's the L ITTLE things in life that I am really trying to focus on these days... which one of those is a clean MADE bed. :)

Crazy Week

So, I feel like I am going 100 miles an hour and I believe this is my life...

Rylan's clothes, pump, and tissue... Rylan's nose will not stop running!

As much as I am complaining... I wouldn't change it for the world. I love my family, are healthy for the most part, have a beautiful home, love being a Mommy, and am still on this earth to celebrate life. Please pray for the Vest family. The Mommy of three children lost her battle with cancer on the 3rd. Youn, 34 and full of live. Go to www.stephanievest.com her story will make you appreciate the little things in life a little more. Never met her but followed her blog for the last few months. Also pray for www.shawndraturner.blogspot.com she is also a young gal fighting cancer. I guess looking at their blogs makes me appreciate all the little things. I will keep my chin head a little higher and appreciate the LITTLE things we all take for granted. Hug the people you love a little tighter and never forget to tell the people you love that you LOVE THEM!

Andrea

Back to Rylan

So, why pay for toys when you have a thread from the carpet? I also caught him by our sink... on the floor there is a vent that of course blows out hot air.... well Rylan thinks it is pretty cool and the picture above was as close as I could get to what he was doing but really not a good picture. He was on his belly looking into the vent it looked like. It reminded me of when we would sit on the floor to watch tv. It was hilarious! I will keep trying to get a picture in action!
Don't tell my Dad I am playing with all of his gagets while he is gone... he may get mad... Tonight Rylan had his ball, and other toys all by this stereo.. not real sure what he was up too but I think he wanted behind the TV.
Can he get any closer to the TV? Usually he tries to eat it. Yes, tries to eat the glass on the stand. Holy Cow! He does have toys and he plays with them every once and awhile. Yes, his shirt is absolutely disgusting... why dirty 25 shirts when I am home all day with him. Our sitter was sick... so I got to stay home.
My Uncle Craig brought me dinner tonight (it was so good and even better because I didn't have to make it!!!!!!) After Craig left I found Rylan at the window. I thought it was pretty cute. He was eating the window but I am a little slow with the camera so this is how I got him. Still pretty cute.

Today was a rather weird day. My sitter called at 6:15 to say that she is sick and not taking any kids....(tomorrow either) so because Jeremy is gone I got to stay home. Rylan wakes up at that time crying (with tears) so I feed him and we both go back to bed. I then think that I should get up in case I could find someone for the rest of the day and 2 so I could get him in the doctor too. So, I get ready and take him to the doctor. Okay, so yes I take him in probably too much but after a FREAKING week of him not getting ANY better I am fed up and took him in. I did see yet a different Dr. and STILL NO MEDS! I don't like putting him on things but my LAND! This morning I was about ready to pull all my hair out. Rylan cried basically the moment we woke up till I took him into the doctor and then what do you know... he is the happiest little boy ever! AUH! Gee, that really makes me look good when I tell the Doc that he's been crying all morning! I think they think I am crazy!!!!!! So, home I go with nothing more than I came with. I called Jeremy and all I wanted to do was cry. I'm not sure what to do all day with a crying baby! Luckily enough I fed him and we took a nap. After an hour he wanted to get up... Mommy trick and I got him to sleep on and off for another 1 1/2 hours. THANK THE LORD! Then tonight we had fun. Hopefully with not being around many people today and tomorrow he will get better faster.

Say some prayers to those single parents out there. I'm not sure how they do it!

Good Night all and hopefully we have power and NO snow on the ground in the morning!

Love,

Andrea

This one is for you Rhiannon!!!

So, my sister encouraged me to do her December deal. I honestly don't really get it but I think it is just posting other things than your family. So, here it is. I haven't really done any more decorating around the house besides the Christmas tree, railing, and the famous candle deal... many memories go into that. My Mother in Law took me around town to get something for my party I had in Hebron... I think it was my Uppercase Living Party I had. Anyway, I wanted a center piece and well here it is. It was fun and fun to put it all together... and to do something with my Mother in Law besides do things for the guys. It was our time... and it was NICE! Although the end product was probably more than I should have spent we still had a good time and I am happy to display it each year... remembering what a fun time we had.

Then of course I have to show you another year of a perfect tree... yes we do pick a PERFECT REAL tree out each year.
I can't figure out how to work my camera just right but this is the best picture I can take right now... another one may come later! :) When my better 1/2 is home. :)

Saturday at G. Grandparent Swanson's

When we were leaving to go back home we wanted to stop and say hi to G. Grandma & pa Swanson's. So, I got to meet some more family... I never knew I had so much family....I wasn't tired or anything... and I guess I needed to keep hanging on.

This is my Gr. Aunt Cheryl ....

G. Grandpa Swanson... I sure wish I got to see him more often... he is a pretty cool Grandpa!

My Daddies cousin Andrea from Wisconsin. I also got to meet her Mommy, Daddy, and Sister

Me, G. Grandma Dar & Daddies cousin Anna. The GIRLS trying to teach me to play the pianoI had fun with everyone... it was very nice to meet all of you! The pictures don't show even have as much fun as I really had.

Lots of Love,

Rylan

Happy Thanksgiving!

After our tummy filling lunch at G. Grandma Richardson's we played and played and played. It was just Rylan for majority of the day. He did get to meet his cousin Ellie and also got to see his cousin Colton...he's almost heavier than me. Oh well... that is just how it goes. This picture below I tried to get this darn plant but I would get so close and then they would tell me no and move me so I couldn't get it. My mom and dad say what actually happened was a lot funnier than this picture.

Playin' cards with G. Grandma Betty and the BIG BOYS

Playing by myself...

I got to meet my Dad's cousin from IL her name is Daniel and I really liked her. Daniel and G. Grandma Betty would put these animals in front of me and they would dance. They were pretty funny!

I PUT ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING IN MY MOUTH! ....EVEN CARDS!

On the move!

Okay, so I thought scooting and just rolling around was busy... nah not even close. I am sure that it will be even worse when he actually starts crawling but MY LAND! Why didn't anyone tell me that they would be EVERYWHERE! I always have to take a double take and see where he is at. Then the next second he is crawling up my leg and fussing like he wants me to pick him up, or climbing up something and falls.... it is constant. Tonight expecially. Let me also add that today at the sitter she told me that he wanted to eat like every 2 or 2 1/2 hours. Yep, tonight he ate 3 #2's. HOLY COW! I stopped him at that otherwise I am not sure when he would have stopped.
We FINALLY got a high chair. He likes being in it too....
Yes, he really is playing in the dishwasher... I opened it up to put something away and then looked back and found him playing!!!!!! Of course when I get the camera out he looks and me and smiles.

UGH!

8 favorite tv shows
Biggest Loser
The Bachelor
The Bachelorette
American Idol
HGTV
Flip this house---- I don't really watch too much tv anymore
How could I forget... Animal Planet ... the ones where they save animals.
Ugh, the last few months it's been the LOVELY FOX & FRIENDS.... I am SO GLAD the election is OVER!!!!!!!

8 things I did yesterday
Went to Church
Fed Rylan
Played with Rylan
Read books
Put lights on my Christmas Tree
Decorated my PERFECT tree
Spent time with Jeremy
Took a long nap (I won't say how long) with Rylan

8 things I look foward to
Coming home on Friday... going to Nashville from Wed - Fri.... for work. Not that I am not looking forward to it but it is my first time away from Rylan and I am really dreading it!!!!!!
Getting Rylan on Friday
Finish decorating my house for Christmas... I just love this time of year.
Giving my neighbors the cookies my family and I made together. - That was fun!!
Spending more time with family for the holidays.
Sleep
To see what my future holds
My sisters wedding in July

8 Favorite restaurants
Any home cooked meal I don't have to make... it's always better when someone else makes it!
Olive Garden
Texas Roadhouse
Firebirds
Godfathers.... auh the day I get to have pizza again!
Jimmy John's
Geee this is horrible that I can't even think of 8 food places. HORRIBLE!

8 things on my wish list - some realistic and some not!
Shoe organizer
Clothes basket for Rylan's room
Bookshelf for Rylan's room
Clocks for all rooms in my NEW house
To not have to work, but have the income we have, so we can spend more time with family
To figure out if I want to go back to school.
Decorate in a cool way that fits both Jeremy and I's taste
Win the lottery... I guess I gotta play first!

This took a bit longer than I thought but fun to do...now it is: Sorry I am not going to send it back to you Rhiannon or Tay so enjoy that I ACTUALLY did it!

Loosing weight

Okay, so tell me if I am crazy. Rylan went to the Dr. yesterday to get his 2nd round of flu shot. I wanted him weighed because he just seems really skinny. Well indeed he has lost 5 oz. Please tell me this is normal if he is A LOT more active and has had a cold so he hasn't been drinking his bottle very well. It really scares me so let me know if this is normal... gotta run. Rylan is up and I should be leaving the house soon!
I will fill you in more later!
HAPPY THURSDAY!
Andrea

Wondering

Okay, so I am just curious to see how many people are actually looking at our blog. Can you say hi by psoting a comment in the comment section. I just want to see who is all checking our blog.
Thanks... yes I am Curious George.
Andrea

EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!!!!

Watch out I am on the move! So, last week he was crawling but I could look away and still find him... yeah not anymore. He is everywhere. When he is quiet that means one of two things... he is chewing on something and contained or two he is crawling to the tv to get into things he knows he isn't supposed to. :) Funny and great thing is I say Rylan.. he looks back and smiles like he knows exactly what he is doing! Stinker. So, why buy toys because it seems like he never is playing with the toys he finds other things like, trash, gartorade bottles, paper bags, clothes, windows, anything besides toys. His other funny thing is... we don't have blinds on our patio door in our kitchen so we have some make do blinds that are $5 a Lowe's... honestly they don't look too bad. Anyway, when we get home for the day he is crawling around and espcially when it gets dark he LOVES looking at himself in the window. It is so funny! While looking in the window he does the rocking and hits his head when he is rocking. I hate saying this but it is so funny... then all he does is laugh. Cracks me UP!

This week has been a long one. Rylan has had a sore throat for a good week and well finally this week it got worse. Yes, I can honestly say that this was the first time that he cried for more than 15 minutes... 2 HOURS!!!!!! He would cry and then calm himself down and then just scream. I thought it was just him not wanting to go to bed but after about 15 minhtes I learned that it isn't that he just doesn't feel good. I wanted to cry.... finally after 2 hours he conked out.... I do have to be thankful that it wasn't in the middle of the night it was just from 8-10. THANK THE LORD! So, after going to the doctor we are on some motrin around the clock. He seems to be doing better just a snotty nose that he LOVES when you wipe it and a little congested. With all this going on and besides the little fussiness if you walked in the door you probably wouldn't know he was sick. He SMILES all the time.

New thing since he can crawl is when I come in the door at the sitter he comes to me. Talk about the best feeling ever! He recognizes me and starts crawling... he can't crawl fast enough so he falls a couple times but it is too funny. I just love all the joys he brings in our lives. He is into anything and EVERYTHING he can get his hands on so I guess the things that are on the floor at his level.. WATCH OUT!

This picture is from this week when he just got up. He was out and then I had to wake him up. Doesn't he look like he just woke up and didn't really want to get up?
See everything is going in his mouth then he coughs like gagging cough and then wonders why... can't really but the whole clothe in your mouth! Hopefully this is one of the last pictures of the Bumbo. High chairs here we come. :)
Another love of Rylan's is to be on the wood floor... not real sure but it is pretty funny!

Have a great night everyone!

Andrea

Kitchen

Wow, I haven't blogged for awhile. Sorry. I look at everyone elses blog but forget about my own. So, we have been busy, sick, and making cookies/treats.

Last weekend my aunts, cousin Michelle, sister Rhiannon, and my Mom came up and broke in our house. There were a lot of women in my kitchen on Saturday and oh my! I can't believe what we all got done. I can't tell you everything because... just because. We made forts, cookies, took naps and everyone had a good time. Here are some pictures of everything we did.

This picture really doesn't show the cool fort we made but all we heard was this laughter in the fort... it was Rylan and Kenner playing. They loved it! :)

Time Flies

Today Rylan is 7 months old! Yes, 7 Months on Election Day! CRAZY! He is now scooting and crawling EVERYWHERE! He especially likes to go up to the TV and get into all the stereo and other things that we don't or can't put doors on. It's real nice. We tell him NO and he looks at us and starts laughing. Funny! He's pretty darn funny! The last 7 months have been the best 7 months in our lives. Don't get me wrong there has been some trying times but who doesn't have those, right? I don't have my camera available to get you a picture but that will come. I just can't believe my little baby is 7 MONTHS OLD!
Have a great week everyone.... go MCCAIN!!!!
Andrea

Yummy.... Finished Product

Here is my FIRST homemade Apple Pie! Gosh, I'm not proud or anything... I'm freaking blogging about making an apple pie. How lame am I?

Don't act like you aren't impressed. :)

Apple Pie

Opps, I forgot to give you the picture of the pie....Okay, so it isn't PERFECT but for my first pie making by myself I do have to say it is pretty freaking good.... or at least it LOOKS that way. I will try in a few minutes. :)

Hi Mom!

Hi Mom! I just thought I would see what it was like to play under here instead. So, once again Rylan was quiet and this is what I found him doing. Talk about cute or what!
While letting him play ... which he did a VERY good job of. I made this pie... it is still in the oven as I write but this was the before picture. Yes, I made the crusts and everything... ALL FROM SCRATCH! I guess this makes me feel a little better after having a crumy day of feeling horrible! I thought I was feeling better but I think it is just the pie. I'm coughing and sniffling like crazy. Plus, I sound like a million bucks. I'm sure tonight will be a night of restful sleeping.
Good Night all!
Andrea
How about those Huskers!?

Bannana Anyone?

Do we have the cutiest Bannana ever or what?!

These pictures really don't show how cute he really was tonight but it's a little hard to hold him and take a picture with him at the same time. :) SUCH IS LIFE!

Never would think this kid is sick huh? We are off to the Dr. again tomorrow morning. He hasn't been drinking his bottle and Dr. wants to see him. I hate saying this but hopefully it is an ear ache or sore throat.... I don't really want to have to re-teach him how to drink a bottle. Not real sure what that is all about but that could happen. He ate fine from me tonight so hopefully it continues. :) I will update what we find out tomorrow.

We hope everyone had a great Halloween. I'm calling it a night... yes it is still pretty early. I'm not feeling well and either is Rylan so I think all we need is SLEEP! Good Night All!

Love,

Andrea & Rylan

We miss you Daddy!

Uncle Caleb's Last High School Football Game

Aunt Becca with Rylan at Uncle Caleb's State Football Playoff game. We were yelling hard. Rylan just wanted to go to sleep but how could he do that when his Mommy was yelling all these cheers! It probably wasn't as cold as this picture looks but we had him bundled up. Dang it I didn't even get a picture with his shirt. Another time............

1st Stocking Cap

Mommy got Rylan his first stocking cap. Yes, maybe a tad too big. Peek a Boo!
Sorry for the gross shirt. I think we had sweet peas EVERYWHERE! Even all over Mommy! I gave him a big bite and then he coughed and you can about imagine where everything went. All I could do was laugh!
Rylan's big thing is to put anything and everything in his mouth. He puts these bottles in his mouth. He especially likes them when they are cold. This picture doesn't do justice but he literally have pretty much the whole thing in his mouth!

Cole Making the move

Last weekend Jeremy's family came down. Cole is one week younger than Rylan. They are really starting to play really well together. She's gotten down the sitting a lot sooner than Rylan but this was his FIRST sitting by himself. If you don't remember but a few months ago Rylan was all over Cole touching her and putting his hand up her shirt.. blah blah blah Well if you see this picture... she is putting her arm around him. :)

After

So, after he laughs at himself I didn't hear him for awhile. So, of course if you don't hear children for awhile you must go and check on them. Well he had this basket on him and he was just playing.... he looked at me after this picture smiled and then kept playing with the basket. Funny boy!

After Work Routine

So, after I get off work, get Rylan from the sitter and then we come home... we have a pretty good routine. Well I clean his bottles while he either plays on the floor, or exersauser, or swings. Well this day he was crawling everyone and having fun. I was minding my own business when I hear Rylan totally laughing at himself. It wasn't just a little chuckle it is is whale of laughter. So, these pictures don't do justice but he looks in that mirror and just laughs at himself. It is hilarious!

Laundry Basket Ride

Alright, so right before this picture he was rather fussy. So, we were doing laundry and Jeremy just put him in the laundry basket and this is what we got instantly! He sat in the basket forever and just laughed.

Last week

I am patiently waiting for my mom to feed me in my big man chair. Yes, my parents need to get me a high chair because I am trying hard to get anything and everything that is remotely close to me.
Yeah, my Mom thinks it's funny to take my pictures.... when really all I want is......

more food! I get this all the time. He is pretty good about opening his mouth and letting me feed him. This was the first day he like opened his mouth way before I could even get food on the spoon.