Wordless Wednesday

New Floors

A portable floor was a plan I came up with when we were still in Monticello, I just couldn't figure out how to execute it.  After discussing it with Ryan we came up with the concept of a "floating floor".  Something that was flawless looking (so I didn't have to edit anything out later), that allowed me to switch backgrounds, and something that was durable. We got some high-gloss laminate  flooring and Ryan laid it out on some 2x4's and ply-wood.  And I love it!  Ryan Built-Riley approved!  Riley tested out the durability by jumping up and down, also some sample images from recent photo sessions to show how great these floors are.

17 Weeks

We had our 16 week appointment today, even though I am17 weeks,  they scheduled it from the heart beat appointment which was at 13 weeks...anyways!  Everything is just great, they pricked my finger to test my hemoglobin (iron, blood sugar, etc.)  I gained 4 pounds since my 12 week appointment making a grand total of 10 lbs...yikes!  My blood pressure was 122/74 and baby's heart beat was in the 160's again.  I can feel the baby move when I am sitting or lying down.  I am still fighting nausea and vomiting. Lately,  I find I can't eat anything "tasty"  or I feel like complete crap!  If I eat pizza I gain 4 pounds over night from the sodium and am stiff and sore in my joints.  So I stick to nutra grain bars, yogurt, fruit, veggies, chocolate milk, apple juice, lots of water, this must be my bodies way of telling me to take care of myself this pregnancy.  With Riley I ate everything in sight, Chinese, Pizza, Candy Bars, Soda...and carried the weight to show for it.  I officially have to sleep with a body pillow, sleep is getting down to about 5 hours a night, between tossing and turning, hands going numb, back pain, and up to the bathroom 1-2 times a night.  This pregnancy over all is a lot harder than I remember with Riley...maybe because this time I have a two 2 year old to keep track of.  Overall the doctor said everything looks great, the next appointment is November 10th at 4pm, we get a level II ultrasound, which checks for genetic heart defects.

I am wearing pink as a hint hint....last pregnancy I knew it was a boy...but this time I'm thinkin' pink.

Riley thought it was silly that mommy was taking pictures of herself, so he kept posing in front of me.  So we took a picture, I just told him to look at the beeping light (timer) on the camera!

Wordless Wednesday

Riley channeling his inner Flavor Flav...

Working at the car wash....

Ryan decided to wash his truck the old fashioned way, in the driveway with a hose.  And Riley couldn't stay inside and watch from the window, so I gave him a rag to help daddy wash the truck. By the time I went inside to grab the camera to document this father/son moment this is what I came out to:

No harmful chemicals were in the bucket, but needless to say, probably soap that wasn't made for little boys skin.  SO I went and made Riley his own bucket-o-suds.

it was just too much fun!

Sawyer Rose

This Thursday, I had the privilege to photograph Tiffany (Balvanz) and Heath Stolee's new baby girl Sawyer Rose.  Tiffany had a really hard labor and c-section and also ended up back in the hospital with congestive heart failure, but she bounced back and we finally got Sawyer pictures done!  Sawyer is 7 weeks here and she was such a doll.  Normally babies after 2 weeks are a little harder to keep a sleep and won't bend as easily, but Sawyer stayed asleep for a good 90 minutes and allowed me to even put some of my new hats on her.

To Put To Rest...

I got a call yesterday morning from my mom, she called to tell me she was going to bury my dad that afternoon.  She said she would have called me sooner, but since I had made perfectly clear in the past that I didn't want to participate in the spreading/burial of the ashes, she wasn't going to call at all, but felt the need to.  She was right, I normally would have said, "okay? I don't care..." But today I cared and I felt like I needed to be there.  My first thought was, "if I was going to bury Ryan, I would want Riley by my side"   my second thought was, "am I going to regret this later in life, if I don't go"

So Riley and I saddled up and made the quick trip to Eldora, where we visited with Grandpa and Grandma Collins, had lunch at the nursing home and finally Put To Rest dad's ashes.

It was certainly a bitter sweet day.
To see Grandpa Collins in such good health and spirits, is truly a miracle.  This man was practically dead-a goner-in the can....his bowels were considered dead, unusable: he couldn't sit up on his own: he needed constant care, everyday felt like his last.  NOW he can get up and out of his chair, walks up and down stairs, drives, cooks and his ultimate goal is to golf again, this man has more life to live and he is determined to live it!
Then to the graveyard to bury the ashes; for 10 years the box that houses dad's ashes sat at Grandpa and Grandma Collins's house and now they rest in the ground.  Grandpa, Grandma, Mom and I just stood around the box, no one said anything, after 10 years there is not much to say.  I held it together until Riley (out of no where and without coaxing) hugged the box and rested his head on it.  I don't like to read into things, but it was like he knew something important was in the "mysterious box" Of coarse once he heard me call a box, he tried his hardest to open it (it was sealed shut and made of solid wood)

It was an emotional day and brought back those feelings of emptiness and anguish.  But we all have to focus on the family we have and be thankful (I'm really trying to stay positive) I think the only thing that will ease my pain is to spend as much time with my family and know that I am passing the lessons my dad taught me on to my children, like:  pick your shoes up, children should be quite, peanut butter is a staple in any proper diet, and obsessive hard work and experimental exercises will make you the best (but you could always be better)

There's Always a Corner...

Discipline:  This word can be used as a noun or a verb( an act or an activity) and  there are many meanings to this word, such as; "activity, exercise, or a regimen that develops or improves a skill" or "behavior in accord with rules of conduct; behavior and order maintained by training and control"  But the definition that I like the best is "to bring to a state of order and obedience by training and control"  

I think one of the hardest things about being a parent is discipline, because in the case of disciplining your child...actions speak MUCH LOUDER than words.  Ryan and I both 100% agree on discipline, we have always talked about how we wanted to handle naughty children :)  But more importantly we talk about how we handle good children.  At the Lafrenz house we have a rules and if they are broken there is a punishment....dun dun dun....THE CORNER!!!!  But no matter where we are...there's always a corner:  in the mall, at grandma's house, at McDonald's...and so many more. We go by the rule of 3...Riley gets 3 chances, then he's out or rather in...the corner.  Let me give you an example:  The other day I wanted to put his shoes on to go to the store, Riley did not want his shoes on.  He got 3 chances to come, sit down and let me put the shoes on.  

      Mommy  "Last chance, come here and put your shoes on or go to the corner" Riley " NO!"  

"Okay...go to the corner"

We have a black step stool hidden by the front door for corner time, he sits there for 2 minutes ( a minute for every year)  No matter how uncooperative he is, he always willingly goes to the corner, kinda like he doesn't have a choice ;)  After the minutes are up we start over and he always cooperates after.  Some people don't believe in "time outs"  some people say they don't work.  I don't really think it's what you do, it's how you do it.  Consistency and Follow Through, if you said you were going to do it...do it. I will refer you to a clip from Modern Family.  Phil (the dad) talks big, but always follows through  http://www.hulu.com/watch/114111/modern-family-smoking   

We still have tantrums and we still have things to work on, but the corner will always be there to save us.

In this picture, Riley is in the designated corner in the basement...

Flash Back Friday

I have documented Riley and Bear's friendship from the very beginning.  When I was pregnant with Riley, Bear became very protective of the family.  She stayed by my side and napped with me every day.  After Riley was born, her inner guard dog surfaced, making all geriatric walkers and package carriers terrified of the killer beast! As soon as Riley could scoot his way, he would pull on Bear's ears, look in her mouth and lay on her belly.  They would both snoop out the windows at anyone passing by, when Bear growled, Riley giggled.  Now what used to be an innocent snuggled has turned into a back-breaking threat for Bear.  We are working on laying by puppy not on puppy.  As you can see we have some work to do...

Let's take a look back at this everlasting friendship....

                                                               Riley 20 Months

                                                                       Riley 19 Months

                                                                     Riley 16 Months

                                                                   Riley 15 Months

                                                                   Riley 14 Months

                                                                     Riley 11 Months

                                                                 Riley 8 Months

                                                    
                                                                    Riley 6 Months

                                                                    Riley 5 months

A Little Mud on the Tires...

We got a lot of rain the last couple days and weren't able to play outside.  Today our yard was still wet and muddy from the rain...so we took advantage.

Baby's Heart Beat

Today Ryan and Riley came with me to hear the heart beat.  The doctor again, had a hard time finding it, but eventually we heard it closer to my left hip bone.  Which funny, because I woke up with horrible back and hip pain on my left side.  Riley thought it was fun to hear that sound, he was smiling the whole time. Well, here is video of the heart beat...don't mind my heavy breathing, I was nervous and the camera was resting on my chest...

Baby's heart beat was 160 (normal)  and our next appointment is 16 weeks on 10/15

I like it Chunky!

Not very often does someone get to "toot" their parents' horn...but today I'm gunna!!!  My mom makes the best salsa, so good Ryan and I fight over who gets to eat it (I'm preggers and he still insists it's his, that's how good it is)  It's so good, I plan our meals around it.  Monday Chili-mom's canned tomatoes- mom's salsa- beans-smokies-burger=yum!  Tonight- FAJITAS!  It was delightful eatings!  Not only does it taste good but it's fresh from Pam's garden-can you say organic!  This is THE only time I am glad my brother and sister live out of state...so I don't have to fight them for some salsa!  Keep it coming ma!

Baby Reese

We now have 2 Reese's in the family, luckily not on the same side.  Eric and Tasha (my step brother and his fiancée)  had their baby girl Sept. 9th and I had the pleasure of taking her newborn pictures!  She slept peacefully the whole 3 hours and mommy let me do whatever I wanted!  Here are just a few of my favorites!

Hoorraayy! for underpants!

We starting potty training on Tuesday September 7th.  We all wanted to quit by September 9th...It was awful, so much whining and crying and whining and peeing and pooping.  Riley was refusing to pee or poop on the potty. First,  I tried crackers as a reward, but he just wanted a cracker for sitting on the pot not peeing.  And if he did pee he threw a fit it he didn't get several crackers.  So I needed to rethink the treat idea.  Second, I tried Reese's pb cups, a treat he doesn't normally get on a regular basis...but the same thing, he would throw a fit if he couldn't get more.  It was becoming very frustrating, he fought me on the whole process!

Then Thursday night I laid in bed thinking "it shouldn't be this hard"....I then had a the simplest and most brilliant idea.  My little boy must do things on his terms, you can't make him do new things without resistance.  So I had to come up with something that would really grab his attention.


1. STICKERS!  I know what you're thinking...stickers over Reese's pb cups!  I got the idea from a chore chart I saw in a magazine, I thought if Riley could chart and see his progress, maybe he wouldn't resist.  It helps mom and dad too, to see how many times he has gone, shows how much progress he has actually made.  So I got stickers in all his favorites:  Cars, Toy Story, Mickey, Puppies, Kitties, and Fish.  The first couple times he sat down and we looked threw all the stickers and picked out the favorites and I explained this new process to him.  He whizzed instantly and proudly put up his sticker and we cheered " YAYAYA RILEY!"   Now we count all the stickers each time and he loves to see how many are up there!

2. DADDY UNDIES!  last time we tried potty training we used training pants (which don't work)  This time I vowed to not use any diapers (only when sleeping)  not even when leaving the house.  I got undies with his favorite charactors on them and he hated them!  I don't know why...so while I was buying the stickers I found boxer briefs for little boys, well Ryan wears boxer briefs and Riley is very well aware of daddy's wardrobe.  I brought home the new undies and said "Riley, would you like to wear Daddy's undies today?"  Riley responded "Daddy!?"  I said "yes or no?"  He said "SES!"  That was that!  He loves them, they are comfortable and easier to pull down.

To wrap this up, Riley is doing great with potty training, he even went on a big potty in Scheel's with no complaints!  He wakes up with dry diapers in the morning and at nap and has not had any pee accidents in 3 days.  Don't get too excited though...we still won't poop on the potty, so the poor kid gets really constipated, today he ran into the kitchen and little round turds fell from his pants...he tries to poop on the potty, but he acts like it is too uncomfortable...I have a feeling very soon though!

11 Weeks: 1st Prenatal Update

Well we had the ever dreadful 1st prenatal appointment.  Ryan stayed home with Riley, while I ventured to Pleasant Hill for the appointment with OBGYN Associates.    I saw the doctor who owned the practice and he was very straight-forward and quick...which I like.   Right away he did the heart beat and of coarse...we couldn't hear a thing.  Which I expected, the same thing happened with Riley...he said it might be a little early or the due date is off.  BUT THEN....during the pelvic exam he discovered my uterus is tilted back instead of upright, so the baby grows down towards my bottom first then up and out, rather than just up and out.  He said this explains why we can't hear the heart beat.  This is not a big deal for baby, it just means more back pain for mommy.   The doc wants to see me again in 2 weeks to hear the heart beat, to make sure everything is healthy.  We also will have a special ultrasound done to inspect the baby's heart, since there is a family history of heart defects, we have a 10% chance of also having a heart defect.  The doc just wants to be thorough, which is fine by me.  I had blood taken for HIV and all those special STDs...you know just in case!  I told the doc I had WPW and he said "COOL!"  :)  he knew a  lot about the heart condition but never knew anyone who had it.
He gave me a lot a good info, most I already knew from "What To Expect..."  but it's always nice to hear it from the horses mouth.  This first trimester is going so much smoother than the first pregnancy,  I feel great other than being tired, everyday at noon I feel like I took a sleeping pill, some days I get a nap in other days I don't. I am not suppose to lift anything over 20 pounds...I just laughed at my doctor and told him my son weighs 35 pounds his respose "but I though you said he was 2?...just lift with your legs if you have to..." I am still in my regular shirts and pants, my maternity pants, although much more comfortable, are still too big right now.  I can still button my jeans, but it's getting uncomfortable so I just wear my jeans unbuttoned with my bella band.   I am showing a little sooner than I did with Riley, although I am at the exact same weight.  I would assume I am caring my weight differently thanks to Riley :)  According to the doctor's office I have shrunk a whole inch since 2 years ago!!!! So I am officially 5'2"...(I was 5'4" in high school) so other words, less room for baby to grow!  :)  Below is a picture of my slightly protruding belly, baby is about the size of a lime or 2 inches.