Ryker's Newborn Pictures

A few days after we got home from Oklahoma, the talented Amy Nielson came over to take some newborn pictures of Ryker.

His newborn trademark is the wrinkled forehead.  Love it!

For the pictures with him in the stocking, my sister, Melanie, volunteered her husband's stocking.

We had a diaper on Ryker, but while we were shimmying him inside the stocking, it must have come undone, because the inside was nice and wet when I pulled him out of it.

Needless to say, we ended up getting Jason a new stocking.

My mom made this cute hat Ryker is wearing.

  

I just had to throw this one in there.  It makes me smile.
He was such and adorable newborn.

While I was waiting to get the pictures back from our photographer, I got out my camera and attempted to take some pictures of my own, hoping to get some to put on a Christmas card so I could get them ordered and sent out ASAP.  I wanted my two boys in the pictures, but Brody was NOT interested in the least bit.

This is what I ended up with.  I'm not a professional my any means, but this cute face makes any picture look good!

Christmas and New Year's

In anticipation of Ryker's arrival coming around Thanksgiving, I made sure I had all of the Christmas decorating, shopping, wrapping, etc. . . done beforehand.  I knew after we returned from Oklahoma, we would only have a couple of weeks before Christmas, and I wanted to be able to fully enjoy being a mom of two, rather than stressing in the hustle and bustle of the season.

However, there was one last thing. . .

We hung BOTH of our boy's stockings together.  

Some dear friends of ours had Brody's stocking made when he was born,

and surprised us with a coordinating stocking for Ryker not long after we returned home.

Brody busily made some Christmas crafts.

We attempted to take pictures to put on a Christmas card (this was attempt number TWO, mind you--The first attempt was during Ryker's newborn pictures) and Brody was NOT having it! First, he insisted on holding his toy hammer and screw driver (pick your battles), and then he refused to cooperate. Let's just say it didn't go well and ended in tears. Oh well, good memories! Love that stinker and my little family.

When Christmas Eve arrived, Brody was super excited.  

He is at a fun age and was really into Christmas this year.

He made sure to set out milk and cookies for Santa, and carrots for his reindeer.

 

Bedtime huddle.

Ryker's face looks a little distressed by his brother's smattering of affection.

Christmas morning finally arrived!

Typically we spend Christmas in Pocatello at my parent's with all of our extended family, but this year we had a quiet Christmas at home with our little family since Grandma and Grandpa were back in Arizona.

Ryker on Christmas day.

Christmas evening, we got together at my sister's house for dinner and presents.

This was a "You'll shoot 'yer eye out" moment.  

Brody was playing with a nerf dart gun and somehow aimed, pulled the trigger, and shot himself right in the eye.  It made for one sad boy, and one sore, bloodshot eye.

Lesson learned.

I asked Brody to sit in front of the tree holding Ryker so I could take their picture.

He asked to do it again every day for a week after.

On New Year's, my brother, Steve, was in Idaho so we all got together at our house.

These pictures are out of order, but Brody was thrilled about his New Year's breakfast trees.

A new year has begun and we have so incredibly much to be grateful for--
Our family, our extended families, our health and well-being, our home, the gospel,
our incredible birth-families who allowed us the opportunity to be parents, and the list goes on endlessly. . .