Tuesday, February 24, 2009

How it all began...

I started this blog for everyone to keep up with Ashley Ryan and all of the funny things that she does everyday. But, I thought I would give you a little back ground on the long road that led me and David together and made us parents to this precious little girl.

I will never forget the first time I met David. It was basically in passing. Just someone saying "this is Julie" and he said "hey, I'm David, nice to meet you." We chatted for a few seconds at most and he left. I remember that very day thinking, "wow, he is just sooooo nice." We ran into each other a few times after that and I even ended up at a get together at his apartment. We ended up talking most of the night. Then a few weeks later I ran that fateful stop sign. David pulled me over and we just started laughing and talking. He did get my phone number that night but did not call me for an entire week. I understand that in boy time that's like 2 hours. But, in girl time, that's like 4 months!!! I did not call him. If there is one thing my mom taught me that I actually listened to, it was that girls do not call boys!

We went to lunch just as friends. He even talked to me about an upcoming date he had with another girl. He asked me for suggestions on what he could do on his date. I tried to help because we were just friends. Deep down I was devastated. Who was this girl? Why did he want to go out with her and not me?? The night of his date I had night class at Hinds. I remember leaving school and he called me. I asked him how the date was going and he said "I cancelled." I was shocked and said "why?" He said "I would rather talk to you on the phone than go out with some other girl." I was so excited. That's how I knew that he liked me.

We dated for 3 months and on July 3, 2001 David asked me to marry him. I have never been happier. We were married September 29, 2001. The strange thing is, earlier that year I did not even know David. I certainly did not think I would be married before the end of that year. I had basically given up that there were any good ones left. God knew better than me, thank goodness. He certainly saved the best for me! David and I were both raised with the same values, morals and character. We had the same beliefs on everything. I could not believe I had found someone that was as good as my daddy.

We were married for a year when we decided we wanted to have a baby. I thought this would be so easy. I mean, it can't be hard, right?? Think again. We struggled with infertility for years. I saw my fair share of doctors and cried many of nights thinking that we were not meant to be parents. Finally in August, 2007 I went to church and Brother Steve preached a sermon I will never forget. He made the statement "are you putting something in your life in someone elses hands, when it should be in God's hands?" I knew right then that God was talking to me. I was trusting a doctor to help me have a baby. I felt so bad for losing the faith. I called David at work as soon as I left church that day and we decided to quit seeing the doctors and leave it to God. God is faithful. 8 months later, I found out I was pregnant. Praise the lord!

I can still remember how I felt when I found out. We were so thankful, and we still are. God is good and he is faithful. We have to LET him be in control of our lives. It's not enough to just say that He is in control.

I firmly believe that God had a hand in bringing me and David together. I am not worthy of the life that I have been blessed to have, but I am grateful and humbled.

Ok, i just wanted to give you a little back ground of where we have been and where we have come from. We have both come from loving homes who praise God and we are so thankful! Our parents raised us to be the people that we are today and we only hope that we can do them justice while raising Ashley Ryan.

Lots of love and have a great week!!

Thursday, February 19, 2009

15 months!!!

Ashley Ryan had her 15 month check up today! 15 months!! can you believe that?? Anyway, she is doing great. Her ears looked great too. She weighs 25 pounds and 4 ounces and is 31 inches tall. She is in the 75th percentile for her age group. She had to get one shot today. Needless to say she did not like that one bit. She cried and I think she gave the nurse the evil eye!
We only have about 12 days left until her surgery for tubes. The doctor's office called me today to go ahead and let me know how much we will owe at the time of the visit. Isn't that nice of them? Kinda crazy I thought.
I will keep you posted on how that goes. David is a little under the weather this week with sinus issues, so maybe I can get both of my babies to feeling better. I can't imagine why his sinuses are acting up. I mean yesterday it was 75 degrees and today it is 30 degrees! Good grief. Hope you all have a great weekend!!! Lots of love.

Monday, February 16, 2009

Shopping with Ashley Ryan

So, Saturday my mom and I decided to go to the mall. We took Ashley Ryan with us...what were we thinking??? We started out at Gymboree. Ashley Ryan desperately needs some new spring/summer clothes. Well, I got her out of the car and loaded her into the stroller and off we went. Gymboree has a little TV area for the kids with chairs for them to sit in. Ashley Ryan saw this and climbed out of the stroller and went to the TV. She was standing in the chairs, banging on the TV and running behind the cash register area. I quickly shopped, checked out and we left!

We ended up going to get a sandwich at Lenny's Sub Shop. My mom strapped Ashley Ryan into the high chair. Once I sat down, I noticed Ashley Ryan trying to wiggle her way out of the high chair. I repeatedly told her to "sit down." Well, that did not work out to well. She ended up on top of the table! Yes, on top of the table! Don't ask me how. There were two grown adults sitting there and my child is on top of the table! There were spectators in the sub shop staring at me with that "look." I wanted to look at them and say "if you think you can do a better job, come on!"

I needed to run into one more store to look at some clothes for myself. I went into the dressing room to try on and I took Ashley Ryan with me. This was more or less to give my mom a break, since she had been chasing her since we got out of the car. Well, she got a little roudy in the dressing room and I sent her out to walk around with my mom. When I came out Ashley Ryan had made her way to the window with the manequins and was in the window display waving at people walking by! She is quite the little star. That ended our trip to the mall and we went home. Ashley Ryan was so tired and slept for about 2 hours once we got home.

We went to the Valentine Banquet at our church Saturday night. It was a no brainer - $10 meal for me and David and free childcare. Why would we go anywhere else and stand in line??? We had a great time. I went to get Ashley Ryan from the nursery when it was over and the two ladies who kept the kids looked exhausted. They basically told me that Ashley Ryan had kept them busy and that "you can't keep her off the ceiling!!!" She is into climbing right now. She tries to climb onto everything. It can make you crazy trying to keep up with her. It will also wear you out.

Needless to say, Ashley Ryan is full of energy and she is not for the faint of heart. I love her though. Even though she is everywhere and has a little bit of an attitude, that I have to admit she got honestly, she is more fun than I know what to do with!! She is at daycare today and hopefully not climbing the walls. It seems like over night she decided that she could climb and if you look away for a minute she could be hanging from the ceiling fan!!!

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Ashley Ryan playing outside



Ashley Ryan loves to be outside. I thought I would post a pic so you could see her pretty smile. I love this picture. That's my pretty girl!!!

I Love my Independent Girl...

I just realized today that Ashley Ryan is EXACTLY like me. I have always been so independent. I don't think I ever thought I really needed anyones help. I can shop by myself, entertain myself and sometimes even like to just be by myself. Sounds kinda strange considering the fact that I love my family and friends and enjoy their company as well.
This morning I dropped Ashley Ryan off at school and she just ran into her room like she owned the place and never looked back. It's kinda sad because in a way I would love to be standing there trying to pry the child off my leg or something. But, no she just runs in and starts having her breakfast and finds a place to sit at the table. I know that one day I will probably appreciate this, but sometimes you just want them to turn around and PRETEND they do not want you to leave.
She is always THRILLED when I show up to pick her up from school and is eager to get in the car, so that helps. I really look forward to leaving the office everyday and going to get my sweet little girl.
I remember one day a long time ago my mom telling me that she wished I had not always been so independent and would LET her help me do something. I always thought that was strange. I mean, why? Well, guess what mom, I think I will know exactly what you meant in the years to come. I love that at 15 months old my baby is adapting so well to new things. She loves people and loves to be outside and loves to play and I really do love that. She is a beautiful baby and I can't wait to see how she grows up. She is changing everyday right in front of my eyes and it is kinda sad. I know that one day I will turn around and she will be grown.
Ok, this was not meant to be a depressing post. It just amazes me how these little people that we love so much already have such personalities.
Ashley Ryan will be 15 months old next week and that is just crazy to me. I still feel like I just brought her home from the hospital last week. I know that the last 15 months have flown by so fast. I mean should she really be going down the "big" slide by herself? Should she be climbing up the "big" slide by herself? She is running, chasing the dog, standing up in her rocking chair and drinking from a sippy cup! The sweet moments are at night when she grabs a book and comes to sit in mommy's lap. I love that.
Ya'll keep up, because I am afraid if we blink she will be driving and graduating from highschool!!
Lots of Love and Happy Valentines Week!

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Look at my new room!


We hung a new chandelier in Ashley Ryan's room yesterday. I LOVE it. I think she likes it to. We did not think she would notice, but she did. She kept looking up at it last night like "where did that come from." I thought I would post a pic to share. Enjoy. It even looks better in person.