Week 4

This week Ryder met his new cousin, Autumn! She made Ryder look like a giant!

Week 3

We spent this past weekend in Spooner, Wisconsin for Shawn's 40 mile mountain bike race. Ryder and I traveled along the race route Saturday morning to cheer daddy on. Both Ryder and Shawn did great!! There were also a few new first this weekend: Ryder's first out-of-state trip, first bonfire and first brew pub!



A couple more favorite photos from this week:

Week 2

Another fun week - Ryder met his first friend, had his first bottle, and made his first trip to daddy's office :) He also had a doctor appointment this week and weighed in at 8lbs, 11oz.




Ryder meets Everett!


Daddy's first time feeding Ryder


All dressed up to visit daddy at work :)

Week 1

Even though half of it was in the hospital, our first week has been a busy one! Highlights include: lots and lots of visitors, a couple walks in his stroller around the neighborhood, dinner at Totinos, our first trip to Target, and mommy and daddy's first date alone (where mom ordrered her first glass of wine - yum!).


Okay - so he's way too tiny for this (even with the baby insert), but this was the purchase we were making at REI when my water broke!


Just sponge baths for now, but look how tiny I am in my tub, too!

Ryder's Arrival!

Ryder Matthew Billing was born at 1:58am on August 30. Right on his due date. How it all began: Friday after work, Shawn and I went to REI to buy a bike trailer/jogging stroller for the little one. That must have made Ryder excited to come out and play because at the checkout, my water broke. After 24 hours of labor (mild for most of the time, intense for 5 1/2 hours), followed by 2 1/2 hours of pushing, they realized he was not going to come out. Thinking his head was positioned funny and that he was just too big for me, they decided to proceed with a c-section. Being that my sisters and I were safely born via c-section, I wasn't too worried...just ready to meet our son. A few hours later, we were parents :) Ryder was 8lbs 4oz and 20in long at birth. He's perfectly healthy and so beautiful! We're here in the hospital until Wednesday, but I'll post a picture shortly after we bring the little one home.

35 Weeks

We've started a pile for our trip to the hospital and will get the carseat installed in the next week or so - just in case Ryder decides to come a little early. Last week, we did about 4 baby-only loads of laundry! His room is now completely ready for him - other than that pink trim... This weekend, Shawn and I took advantage of one of our last weekends alone together and spent the night in Minneapolis. Not wanting to go too far from home this late in my pregnancy, it was the perfect mini vacation. We put on about 6 miles walking around the city going everywhere from Tuggs at St. Anthony on Main, to Britts, Solera, Zelos, Harry's and West River Parkway for the Aquatennial fireworks :) At 35 weeks, Ryder is now over 5-1/2 pounds and is just over 20" long. While I'm still feeling great, it feels like I am running out of room for him in my tummy! I'm hoping he doesn't get too much bigger, but with me a 8lb 6oz baby and Shawn a 8lb 5oz baby, he may have a few pounds to put on yet!

34 Weeks

I've been working on painting a tree on Ryder's bedroom wall these last couple evenings and am excited to share the progress! I still have probably one more coat to do, but couldn't wait to share the pics :) At 34 weeks, Ryder is about 5 pounds already! 6 weeks to go!!