__ The Wassmer Family _

Four Months of Fun!

2011-09-14T17:09:00.003-06:00

Brooklyn's Birth Announcement

2011-06-16T20:10:00.003-06:00

This is a link to her birth announcement from Shutterfly

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Brooklyn Marion is here!

2011-06-08T16:05:00.000-06:00

Brooklyn Marion Wassmer was born on May 19, 2011 at 11:45pm, wieghing in at 5lbs 2oz and 17.5 inches long. She is a tiny little thing! I was actually induced early because she was showing signs of slowed growth, so much that she was measuring close to the 10th percentile which is when doctors start getting worried that something could be wrong. Ever since 29 weeks I was having many Braxton Hicks contractions so my doctor did a test that showed that I was at risk for preterm labor. Fortunately she did not come early, but she did stop growing after about 32 weeks. So, at 38 1/2 weeks I was sent to the hospital to get her out of there. I checked into Avista Adventist at 9pm on May 18. I started having regular contractions in the morning but they didn't progress me to quickly. It was in the evening when we started the pitocin and my doctor was able to break my water. Once my water broke, major contractions came and once I started pushing Brooklyn was out 11 minutes later! A quick little thing.

Healing has gone well, and we are all still adjusting. Ryan gets better with her more and more every day. Being a new mom again has it's new and old challenges. Brooke has taken to nursing better than Ryan, however she's not as good of a sleeper at night as Ryan was when he was a newborn. She is the LOUDEST sleeper I have ever heard - snorts, grunts, sighs, whimpers, squirming, crying out for only a moment, etc! I think she'll be making an early trip from the bassinet to her crib in the other room.

Having a tiny little newborn again is brings such joy to my heart. I truly love how small they are and all their looks and moves. I enjoyed each stage with Ryan and I look forward to the same stages with Brooke. The sleepless nights will end (some day), but I really do cherish the moments of holding her and she rests her head on my shoulder, or sleeps in my arms. Ryan hardly ever slept in my arms. It truly is a wonderful blessing and I am continually humbled by how good the Lord has been to us.

Ryan has grown so much in the past few months. He now likes to put two or three words together, such as, "I love you mommy," or "thank you daddy." He really is so sweet. Even his little tantrums aren't all that bad (when compared to some other children his age I've seen). Not that Ryan is above throwing such tantrums, I just think he's really laid back. All in all, things are going well here at the Wassmer household. There are more adventures to come and many changes will happen so quickly.

"Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" 2 Cor. 9:15

2011-02-24T15:43:00.000-07:00

Well, a lot has happened since last Fall. I am currently 26 weeks pregnant with our little girl! Ryan is going to have a sister! The ultrasounds show she is growing well and all looks good from our end. My official due date is May 29, but Tom has his heart set on June 3. We'll see! Below are some pics of our little girl that I received free as a volunteer for Alternatives Pregnancy Center.

Ryan and his sister's 3D shots A shot of her face

We also got a chance to have a photographer take our family shots this past Fall. We had them taken as a part of our Christmas present to our parents. We chose one of our favorite shots and had them printed on canvas, and it turned out really good. All the shots were great, and I love how it captures our life as it was then: the 3 of us enjoying each other. We can't wait to add our little girl, but it's also fun to have a memory of when it was just "us three."

Kristol Kumar Photography

In preparation for little sis, we are moving Ryan to a new room and keeping the nursery the same. Tom wanted to add some new dry wall and smooth out the walls (same as he did for the living room before Christmas). The pics below are just precious as Ryan jumped in to help all on his own. He picked up a mudding knife, dipped it into the bucket and started spreading it on the wall. Just adorable.

Christmas 2010 was fun. Grammy and Pops came from NJ, Nana and Papa came from Genesee (35 mins away) and all uncles were there. Ryan got an all-terrain wagon and an inflatible jumper thingy. He loves jumping and he LOVES this jumper. We have to hide it when he's not using it or we have a melt down on our hands. Ryan also helped daddy set up the Christmas tree. Ryan loves his daddy and just loves being by his side. He's also my little helper, assisting me with sweeping and mopping. He also likes to empty the dishwasher and put things in the trash.

Just a couple weeks ago he started copying everything we say. It's fun to hear him mimick our words and try to say things like "cool," "oh yeah," "yogurt" (which sounds more like go-gu), among other words.

We look forward to many more memories made this year with the addition of little sis (name coming soon) and more holidays to enjoy.

Ryan's going to be a big brother!

2010-10-16T15:41:00.000-06:00

We discovered a couple weeks ago that I am pregnant! We are thrilled and can't wait to find out more information on this little "cricket." Next week I will know exactly how far along I am and when my due date is. Right now I've calculated somewhere close to the end of May. I would love to have a May baby!

Last week we took Ryan to the local pumpkin patch to pick our Wassmer's Pumpkin for the Fall. We had fun, and we went with our neighbors Chris, Katie and little Conor. He's about 6 weeks younger than Ryan. They are sippy cup buddies.

Ryan's 1st birthday

2010-08-07T17:18:00.000-06:00

Well, since Ryan started walking he's been all over the house. He loves to explore, and he's good at it. I just have to be careful when throwing out our trash, you might just find a toy that was placed in there during his curious moments.

Ryan turned 1 year old on July 15. I can hardly believe it's been a year, but at the same time I am proud of this mile stone. He's such a big little boy now, weighing 24 lbs 12oz, and is 32 inches tall. We celebrated with a party in NJ and another in CO so that all the family and friends could enjoy this big moment.

We had a wonderful time in New Jersey for our vacation. We enjoyed fishing, sailing, going to Point Pleasant Boardwalk, going to the beach and eating a ton! It was fun and we didn't want to really come home. I guess the world must go 'round.

I attempted a monkey cake for Ryan's party here in CO. It was supposed to be a whole 3D monkey, but half of the cake settled and fell apart, so we salvaged the other half and I was still able to decorate it. It turned out pretty good for only half a cake.

I guess the next question is "when's the next one?" Well, if I had an answer, that means we'd probably be trying! Don't worry, I'll be sure to let you know once we know!

One small step for Ryan, two giant proud parents!

2010-06-26T21:03:00.000-06:00

Ryan officially started walking the other day (june 24, 2010). He's taken a few steps before, but this time he just kept going! I couldn't believe what I was seeing. He truly is becoming a small boy. In almost two weeks he'll be turning 1 year old - I cannot believe he is not an infant anymore. I have a toddler. It almost breaks my heart in a bitter sweet way because I really tried to cherish every moment I had with him as an infant. I have sweet moments, and moments that felt like pure torture. I look at Ryan and beam with pride, and I am glad he sleeps through the night, but there's a part of me that hurts because I already have to let that part of our lives go. I know that Ryan will always be my baby, sometimes I just wish I could hit the pause button.

Work

2010-06-06T19:28:00.001-06:00

I guess I forgot to mention that I got a great part-time job as a Medical Assistant at a local family practice! It's only 2 days a week, but I get to do everything I was taught in class. I work with other MA's in the back office taking vitals, drawing blood and giving injections. I really do enjoy it, and I like the fact that I'm actually using the education I received. Ryan goes to a home daycare on the days I work, unless Tom is home. It's a nice small group of kids, and Ryan gets along just fine. So far it's worked out quite well. Praise God such small blessings!

Heading towards our first year

2010-06-06T19:12:00.000-06:00

Sorry for the delay in updates! It's been quite a busy time in the Wassmer household. Summer has arrived, so we're spending more time outside. I've been working a few days a week, which has been really good. I enjoy it, I enjoy learning more - it's "me" time. However, with one of the doctor's I've heard I'll be working with, it might be more about "her." Not looking forward to that, but we'll see.

Ryan had his second swim in a pool ever this past weekend. The first time he was only a month old, and was in the water probably a total of 2 minutes! He's getting big so fast. We've officially switched to the big boy car seat, Ryan can climb up on the couch, can go easily up the stairs and is showing the signs of wanting to walk. He can stand and is getting bolder day by day.

We will be in NJ in July to celebrate Ryan's 1st birthday. It will be a fun shabang! Ryan will get to play in the sand and enjoy the sun with Grammy and the rest of the Wassmer/Hillman gang. We're really looking foward to it.

Ryan's Easter and trip to Stillwater

2010-04-07T14:02:00.000-06:00

Ryan's first Easter was great. The Easter Bunny left many chocolates (which Daddy will eat!), and we had all family that was in town over for dinner (my parents and Chris). We also had a March snow storm that brought about 2 feet to our area in a matter of hours. It melted off the next day! That's spring in Colorado for you! But I wasn't going to miss the opportunity for Ryan to play in the snow one last time before summer hits. Nana came over (no school that day) and we made a snowman and enjoyed the time with Ryan.

Now that Ryan has been crawling for a month, he's already ready to move on. He's trying to walk as much as he can. He'll walk along the couch or use his "walker" toy (seen above - it converts to a walker). He's not really close to walking yet, but I don't think it will be long. He loves crawling everywhere and standing as tall as he can, reaching to objects I thought were safe! He's goes in for his 9 month check up and vaccinations this Friday. We'll see how much he weighs and how tall he is! He's such a big little boy!

We recently traveled to Stillwater, OK to visit Ryan's great-grand parents. They are my grandparents on my mom's side. Roger and Freda Hobart. It was nice and warm while we were there, a tad windy, but lots of fun. We spent time outside planting flowers, and Ryan picked out some hyacinths for Great Granny. It was good to see them and have them meet Ryan for the first time. He's always such a ham!

Sickness around the house!

2010-03-17T09:26:00.000-06:00

Ryan not only learned to crawl a couple weeks ago, he's now pulling himself to a stand, walking along the couch and just crawled up his first stair yesterday! Oh my. Nothing is safe anymore! And with this new found exploration has come a cold. Ryan's first cold is pretty nasty. It started with a cough, and now he's got a ton of phlegm and a runny nose that won't stop. The poor kid HATES the bulb syringe, but I've got to do what I've got to do. I'm not sure any baby likes a suction device stuck up their nose.

Ryan also just celebrated a 1st birthday party with his local friend Samuel. Samuel turned 1 this past weekend, and Ryan got to have some cupcake and pizza! He did well in eating it, but I didn't let him have much. I'm saving the big ol' chocolate cake experience for his 1st birthday.
I do have pictures, however, our computer is seems to also have the "flu", so downloading pics take forever. So, they're not up yet.

Payton is also sick. She's been ill for a while now - just not eating much and some vomiting. Poor girl. In fact, she's outside right now eating grass. Soon she will be inside to puke it up. She was on antibiotics last week, but now that those are gone it's like she's not feeling well again. I guess it just takes time and puke to acclimate to Colorado. I'll be sure to keep you posted on her status, and Ryan's, as time goes on!

Ryan Crawls!

2010-03-05T19:29:00.001-07:00

Ryan made his first moves toward crawling a few weeks ago, but he finally figured out the coordination and moved forward just the other day. March 1, 2010 was the day he truly made progress! I was able to catch it on video, so enjoy!

Now, only a few days later, he is able to crawl all over the house. He's made it the front door, into the kitchen to Payton's food bowl and he's been scouting out the baby gate keeping him from falling down the stairs. When he was about 5 months old I predicted he'd be crawling by 8 months! He's a little early. So now I need to make a prediction on when he'll walk, but I still have to observe him a little bit more before making that guess.

He makes us so proud as parents. We love our little Ry so much!

7 Months Old

2010-02-23T17:12:00.001-07:00

At the Home & Garden Show, and this is how I found Ryan after I went and checked my email. He had scootched backward under the couch.

Ryan turned 7 months old this past week! I can't believe how quickly they grow. We are always told, "it goes by so fast," but how true it is! He's actually at the age where you start thinking about the next one - but that's all we might be doing. There aren't any plans yet. But it's never too early to be praying for wisdom and when to plan for the next one. Ryan can now successfully roll from his back to his tummy, crawl (inching around) backward, and I now often find him in his crib having rolled to his tummy and moving around the crib, blankets askew and Curious George faithfully soaked from drool. It's quite humerous, however, I still want my baby to fall asleep. I'm not quite sure how I could teach a 7 month old not to party... I might have to go back to swaddling!

We also got some work on our house done. We exchanged the sliding glass door for a set of french doors, and we switched out our front door for a new one. They look nice and are much more energy efficient and block out a lot of the road noises. So far we have enjoyed hosting a couple of dinners already and look forward to having more friends over! We love our house and I can't wait until we can paint the walls and do all the upgrades we hope for. That will be years, of course. Enjoy the pics!

Welcome to our new home!

2010-02-04T19:51:00.000-07:00

We have a home! This is a very exciting time for us. We are so happy and relieved to be done with moving for a very long time. The Lord has been so gracious to us while searching for a home, during three moves, and also in getting this house. We loved it when we saw it and afterward nothing else quite compared. It's 2300 sq ft, the lot is .26 acres (HUGE compared to California), it's a tri-level, 4 bed/2bath. We have many plans for updating and renovating, but those jobs will be done a little bit at a time and for years to come. Below are some started pictures that I took during our initial inspection. All the Wassmers were there for the occasion.

Above is the formal living room and our backyard view from our dining room

This is the upstairs bathroom and kitchen (the downstairs bath has the same beautiful green laminate floor that isn't square to the wall ;). We have since replaced the lid on the toilet to one that matches its color.

Sometime later we will be sure to post pictures that have any updates! Until then we will enjoy our home and our neighborhood. We live a couple blocks from the elementary school and a couple of parks. I also found out I live just down the street from an old high school friend.

Happy 6 Months!

2010-01-15T09:24:00.001-07:00

Ryan turned 6 months old today! He's growing up so fast! He can now sit well, he likes to stand and try to walk with help and he's able to hold himself up on all four's. He's not crawling yet, but I assume in a couple months he will be scootching along! Here are a couple of picks for your enjoyment!

Santa's Visit to the Kacz home

2010-01-15T08:54:00.000-07:00

Pictures from Christmas 2009

He loved all his new hats too!

Here are a few videos from Christmas... since the move from Evergreen, we've been busy packing, unpacking, and are now getting ready to pack again as we received news that our loan was approved for the house we are trying to buy. We should close next week! Praise God! Pics from the new house will come once decor is done!

This is a video of our Christmas tree which was cut down from our backyard. Ryan was getting geared up for Santa's visit.

Here Ryan is presented with all his presents on Christmas day. It was a joy to help him open all those gifts! Having the whole family was such a blessing and a joy!

A White Christmas for Ryan

2009-12-23T09:27:00.000-07:00

It was snowing nice big, soft flakes on Christmas Eve's Eve. So I took Ryan out for a venture in the snow, this is the video. Enjoy! Soon to come a video of our awesome Christmas tree cut down from out own backyard, and all the presents under it that are mostly for Ryan.

Christmas in Colorado

2009-12-21T08:16:00.000-07:00

Hello all!

The last month here in Colorado has been eventful. My Escape has been fixed so now it handles in cold weather. Ryan turned 5 months old on Dec. 15 and we decided it would be a good idea to take some pictures in the snow and by the tree. Tom and I have an offer in on a home, but since it is a short sale we have no idea when we'll hear back. We're just waiting patiently on the Lord to provide the best house for us. Evergreen is a wonderful town that will always be close to my heart, but I am looking forward to having a home in a new town. Christmas celebrations are underway! The Wassmer's will get here this week, and it will be a wonderful white Christmas in our house, one more time.

2009-12-05T20:59:00.000-07:00

Yes, we've moved! The big move to Colorado finally happened! Tom and I had been talking about the possibility of living in Colorado for some time, but we weren't sure when we'd really move. We don't have a house yet, so for the time being we are staying with my parents in Evergreen. We've already had two homes fall through for various reasons. We're hoping to be in a home by Feb. 1, 2010! We moved from 50 degree weather to the single digits! It's freezing here. But what else can you expect in Denver in December. The Ford Escape has not liked the transition and has spent the last few days in the shop for various parts breaking in the cold. Hopefully it will be fixed soon.

Ryan liked helping us pack

The first week in Colorado it snowed a few inches, so Ryan and I went outside to play for a couple of minutes. It was nearly 0 degrees outside. And by nearly I mean it was in the negatives. I took a few pics and we ran back inside. But the falling snow flakes didn't seem to bother Ryan much.

Our little snow angel

Today Ryan got to visit with Santa for the very first time. He enjoyed telling Santa what we wanted, toasting marshmallows by the fire pit, and walking around the Christmas Tree farm. Here's a couple of pics from the day.

Ryan & Santa, and Ryan hanging out in the back of a wagon

2009-11-16T17:30:00.000-07:00

Ryan is now 4 months old, and he's still growing! He weighed in at 15lbs 9oz at the doc's the other day. We've been enjoying our time as a family the past couple of weeks since we are moving to Colorado next week! We're still awaiting the lender's conditions, but it's looking like we just might end up owning a house. Yay! Either way, we're still moving to CO.

Last weekend we went to Florida for a friend's wedding, and this past weekend we joined from friends on the Madera Wine Trail Tour. Madera is a small town just north of Fresno. We ventured to 5 wineries where we enjoyed music, art, live animals, food samples and many wine samples. It was a lot of fun. Ryan tagged along the whole day, and he seemed to enjoy most of it. He was definitely tired by the end of the day. Below is a pic taken at our last winery stop of the day.

Today was a beautiful Fall day in Fresno, so Ryan and I spent some time outside and took some pictures. I think they turned out really good. ENJOY!

2009-11-08T17:30:00.000-07:00

This past week was spent in the sunny state of Florida! Ryan and I went down early to spend time with friends in Jacksonville, while Tom came down a few days later to attend a friend's wedding in Daytona. All in all, Ryan's first major trip was a success, however, it is hard to travel with an infant. The change in time, along with all the outings way past his bedtime led to a very tired and often cranky baby. He was great on the plane - everyone around him loving him. Now that we're back home it is time to re-impliment the routine!

This video was shot while at the Gambino's house - Ryan was just cracking up at Chris. I am glad I was able to catch it on video. Until this week Ryan would only squeal, but this is the first time he's laughed like this. It was adorable.

This video I got as Ryan was sitting! I placed him in a balanced position where he was able to hold himself up for a little bit. He's getting so strong now - he can sit and stand with help, and he can spend many minutes on his tummy!

I wanted to make sure Ryan got to experience the beach for the first time before we left Florida, so Tom and I took him to a place in Ormond Beach to stand in the water and see the waves. He seemed to enjoy it all, even though it was too bright outside for him to open his eyes. I expected him to cry, but he was just taking it all in!

Videos of Ryan

2009-10-22T09:49:00.000-06:00

Videos of Ryan

I've been catching some moments on video but haven't posted them yet. Here's a few for your enjoyment! One is Ryan playing in his exersaucer, another is daddy and Ryan messing around and the last one is Ryan and Payton getting excited and geared up for Monday Night Football where the Broncos beat the Chargers 34-23!

One thing I've been trying to catch on video is all of Ryan's smiles and words. He's talking so much and it's just adorable. I love it when he looks right at me and has a whole conversation going with all his noises. He'll make all kinds of noises, blowing bubbles, and even squeal with delight as he speaks to me (or sometimes an inanimate object). Ryan loves smiling at Grampa Mike's barn painting on our living room wall. However, once I pull the camera out, he just stares at it and stops all his previous gestures. I've even tried hiding the camera, but it's really hard to get him on video unless I hold it infront of him. I'm sure he'll overcome his shyness one day. We'll see!

Happy 3 Months and Halloween!

2009-10-15T15:39:00.000-06:00

Ryan is 3 months old today!
Ryan and I went to JC Penny again to take pictures in his halloween costume and to celebrate his 3rd month birthday. As a bystander, I bet it was funny watching the photographer and mommy making all kinds of motions and noises to get Ryan to smile. Being the camera-shy boy he is, he barely smiled. Of course he's all smiles when we get home. Ryan also had a hard time looking away from mommy for the pictures. I'm okay with that. I literally had to be cheek-to-cheek with the photographer to get him to look at the camera. And the shinanigans begin!

I am astonished at how quickly he's growing. He's becoming such a big boy. He can hold his head up 90 degrees when on his tummy, roll over and he's more vocal than he's ever been. He like talking to the ceiling fans and smiling at Grampa Mike's barn painting on the wall. I guess it's funny? His favorite time to talk is when I put him down for a nap. He'll spend 15 minutes talking himself to sleep. Ryan also is learning to laugh. He's squealed with delight a couple of times when I've played with him. Talk about making your heart melt! I am not sure how much he weighs now, but I'm going to guess he's in the 14-lb range now. His next appointment is in November.

Here are a few pics for your enjoyment.

Bummin' around

2009-10-08T16:32:00.000-06:00

Here's a few more pics for your enjoyment! This is Ryan at 12 weeks old, one week away from being 3 months. He's been upgraded to his exersaucer so he can learn to use his legs and play upright, and of course mommy had to get a few classic naked pics before he got too big. I have to something to show his future wife! The bonnet outfit is an outfit that all three Wassmer boys wore when they were babies, however, I must say that Ryan should've worn it when he was a newborn, but I wanted to make sure he got into it before he outgrew it.

Me and my MegaFarm - my new favorit toy!

I'm reaching for my ball, though I don't think you want to see what's behind it!

This is my wrinkly bum! Aint it cute?

Just some pictures!

2009-09-26T10:06:00.000-06:00

I was just taking some photos the other day while Ryan and I were playing outside. He's just too cute for me not to bring the camera around everywhere I go. So I thought I'd post them for your enjoyment too, even though I'm sure I love all his pics more than anyone! I am the obessed mommy afterall!

The Newest Things

2009-09-22T14:53:00.001-06:00

Hello there!

Ryan rolled over today! I put him down on his tummy for some tummy-time and as I was arranging the toys in front of him he decided to plop over! So the next time it was tummy-time I had the camera ready. Tom thought it might have been an accident the first time, but I don't think so! This video prooves Ryan is a genious! heehee.

An update on the housing front: we had to bail on our contract, unfortunately. The seller and the lender were unwilling to be flexible, so in the end it's as if they don't want the money we have to buy the house. That's the nutshell. We are still looking and hoping to buy a house, so we are just trusting the Lord with this process. It's a bit disappointing since I was looking forward to living in Colorado by the end of the year. We were also hoping for the $8000 tax credit, but even if we don't get it we still want to own a home. We'll see, and I'll keep you posted!

This past weekend Tom and I went to Colorado to go to the Broncos game. It was my first home game ever, and it was awesome. Our seats were 6 rows up from the field and the Broncos won 27-6 against the Cleveland Browns. Ryan had fun with the grandparents and I also got to visit with a couple of friends from college, one of which just happened to be in town this weekend. It was fun, but now we are all exhausted and catching up on sleep.

Ryan's learning to talk

2009-09-17T22:14:00.000-06:00

I caught Ryan doing his best to talk. He usually does this when he's starting to get tired and it's close to nap time. I love it though, just watching him make these noises, it's so cute!

Two Months Old!

2009-09-15T10:07:00.000-06:00

Ryan is two months old now and is getting so big. He weighed in at 12lbs 12oz at the doctors the other day, and is also now 23.5 inches tall. Ryan can hold his head up when on his tummy and is starting to smile a lot more. I just love how squeezable he is. He also now consistently sleeping through the night, which we love!

This weekend we are heading to Denver to watch a Broncos game. Nana and Grampa will watch Ryan as Tom and I cheer them on!

We are also hoping for the closing of our house to take place in the next two weeks! How exciting it will be to have a home. The next step will be the actual move, which I don't look forward to. I am not an "unpacker" so it's a good thing Tom is.

Some of Ryan's Firsts

2009-09-01T09:34:00.000-06:00

Ryan smiled for the first time on Sun. Aug 30. It was morning, and brought Ryan to Tom to say hello, and when Tom said hello Ryan responded with a huge smile. Unmistakeable. He hasn't smiled since, but it's encouraging to know he's close!

Ryan also went to his first baseball game on Aug. 25 - the Fresno Grizzlies vs. Tacoma Rainiers. He did well, and was a crowd pleaser to those around him.

On Friday Aug. 28th Ryan took his first flight to Denver, CO where Tom and I were looking for houses. Ryan did well, he slept almost the whole way and was such an easy baby to fly with. He also did well on his way home the very next day. Tom and I did put an offer down on a house, and it was accepted! We are going to move to Broomfield, CO in October. And just like that, I'm leaving Fresno. I am very excited to be back in CO and be near family again, but it sad to leave the life I spent a long time establishing here. When I first moved to Fresno I hated it, and it took a while for me to get some roots established, and now that Tom and I have our life here we are moving. It is what's best, but moving is always sad. I will cry - I mean, I cried when I sold my car! Change makes me cry, even if it's good. But now that we'll be homeowners, we can start to build ourselves a true "home."

New Things

2009-08-22T15:38:00.000-06:00

Why, hello! New things have happened in the past couple of weeks. Grammy came out to visit, I got baptized and went swimming for the very first time.

One my hats - it's the smallest one I have right now. It was too big to go swimming in.

Me and Grammy chillin' on the bench in my backyard.

My first time swimming in my new floaty. I don't fit quite yet, so we stacked it with towels to keep me snug. The water was cold at first and I cried, but I was also tired and hungry. After mommy fed me I was okay until I started shivering. I wanted to go down the slide, but mommy said no. Bummer.

Pastor Brian baptized me on Aug. 16, 2009. He also married my mommy & daddy. This is first time he's married a couple and then baptized their child. What an honor! I was looking good in my polo onesie and new shoes.

Daddy made me a toy box because mommy asked him too. Mommy painted it, but she wanted it to look like I did it - she did a good job. I fit in it nicely right now, but soon it will be filled to the brim with toys. This is how I will keep my room clean.

Ryan is 1 Month Old!

2009-08-15T11:51:00.000-06:00

I'm One Month Old Today - Aug 15, 2009

Today Ryan is one month old. I can't believe it's already been a month, yet it also went by slowly at times. There's nothing like having a baby in your life. Right now Tom is changing Ryan's diaper for the 2nd time in 2 minutes. Ha! That kid likes to wait for the clean diapers to make a mess. I am not sure exactly how much he weighs, but according to a friend's bathroom scale, last week he came in at about 9lbs 2oz. If he's gaining the standard ounce a day, then he probably weighs around 9lbs 10oz. That's 2 whole pounds above his birth weight! My goodness.

Ryan's going home outfit - one month later

Ryan got to watch his first Bronco's game last night, even though it was only a preseason game. They lost. But I assured him that they're still the best team! Ryan will get his first airline travel in Sept. Tom bought me Bronco's tickets for my birthday, so we're going to Denver, and Nana and Grampa Mike are going to babysit! Then we are thinking about making a trip to NJ in early October. So we'll see how it goes. It's a good thing Denver's only one flight away, so if it's a bad experience it will only last a couple of hours. So we'll see!

Ryan out cold on his play mat

We're still waiting for Ryan to smile. Sometimes it looks like he tries, but I don't think anything is really intentional yet. I do believe he's close. There are times when I'm holding him and he's halfway asleep and he'll start to smile and then crack up, like he's dreaming about being tickled or something. It's really hilarious to watch and it gives me a glimmer of hope for the day he truly smiles. He's also able to hold his head up off the floor for a minute or so. It's fun to watch him develop!

Ryan's first video

2009-08-08T10:52:00.001-06:00

I was able to catch Ryan on video "playing" around. I think he was hungry, but I just love the little coo's he's starting to make. Enjoy!

The Birth of Our Baby Boy

2009-07-27T18:19:00.000-06:00

I know I've already posted pics of Ryan, but I just downloaded the pics from our camera which was in use moments after his birth. Every time I look at his pictures I am moved to tears with joy and delight over the gift of our baby boy. He's such a blessing and I love looking at him with his eyes wide open as he bobs his head around trying to control where he looks. Ryan did have "boy surgery" today, so he's not too happy. I've never hated changing diapers more - there's no heartbreak like hearing your newborn scream in pain and discomfort. It makes me want to cry with him. Anyway, enjoy the pics!

Ryan is One Week Old

2009-07-22T21:24:00.000-06:00

Here are a few pictures of Ryan we took yesterday at JC Penny. I'm glad we got some formal newborn photos. Enjoy!

One weeks ago today Ryan joined us in this world! I can't believe it's already been a week. Today he weighed in at 7lbs 9oz at the lactation consultation today. All is well in that department, however I wanted reassurance that things were going well and correctly. Right now he has his days and nights mixed up and this makes things exhausting for the both of us. His feeding pattern is very unpredictable right now, so I never know when he's going to be hungry. It's a joy to have this little boy, but it is work as well.

My recovery is going well. Today was the first time I started feeling normal again. Healing isn't complete, but it's well underway. I'm glad it only lasted a few days - the unbearable pain, that is. Now there's new pains as my muscles that haven't had to work start to work again.

Welcome Baby Ryan!

2009-07-18T08:50:00.000-06:00

Years before I was married, even while I wasn't dating anyone, I prayed for my future children. I prayed for the blessing of children and for their little heart(s). After I got married I couldn't wait to start a family. Being able to look an answered prayer in the eyes is the greatest feeling and it brings tears to my eyes.

On Wednesday July 15, 2009, Tom and I welcomed our little baby boy into the world. Ryan Thomas Wassmer was born at 8:34pm, weighed 7lbs 10oz and measured 21 inches. He is the sweetest thing! We love his little cry, it is the sweetest, and I know it won't stay like that, but we enjoy it for now. Becoming a mom hasn't seemed to really hit me yet. I'm sure it will, but after all the exhaustion from labor, I kind of feel like I'm still just a babysitter. I can't wait to bond with Ryan even more, day by day.

Labor was...well, labor. I went in on Tuesday evening to be induced. After waiting 3 hours for a room I was finally admitted. For the night they used "Cervadil" which is a ripening agent. Most of the time it only serves to prepare the "areas" for labor, it is not used to induce contractions. In the morning they would put me on Pitocin, which is what starts contractions. Well, at about 2a.m. my contractions started so they didn't need to put me on Pitocin right away. I let the contractions last until about noon before I asked for the epidural. They got too close for my comfort and I wasn't able to relax in between. Once the epidural was in, I was golden! Tom got to see his real wife again! At about 6:30pm my midwife Renee came in and broke my water. She told me to rest for a 2 hours and then we'll start pushing. Well, at about 7:30pm I knew I needed to push! There was no one in the room and my delivery nurse was with another patient. It grew more and more intense until I sent Tom out of the room 3 or 4 times to find anyone that could catch this baby - he was coming! Finally my nurse came in and we started pushing at 8pm. I had heard that pushing can last for hours, so I wasn't enjoying every moment of this. But around 8:20 the nurse called for my midwife because it was time to deliver him. Ryan wasn't recovering as well as they hoped in between contractions and they determined it was because the cord was wrapped around him and cutting off his oxygen. So one quick episiotomy and few pushes later, out came Ryan! I hope I never forget what it felt like to see him for the first time, to see Tom hold him and to hear his first cry. I was crying, and it was great. I was glad I to be done and have Ryan in the world.

I am now on the road to recovery, which will take a few weeks. I was looking forward to recovery while pregnant because there were so many discomforts. Tom and I are in love with our baby boy. We look forward to many days of joys and many nights of wishing we were asleep. We know it won't be like this for long. I can't wait to share more stories and pictures with you!

Due Date

2009-07-13T10:27:00.000-06:00

Today is my due date! Although, they say only 5% of women actually have their baby's on the given due date. It's just a time frame. I have no baby yet. My parents are here and Tom's parents come in tomorrow night as I head to the hospital for an induction (unless little Ryan comes today or early tomorrow morning). We were hoping not to induce - I really want the "labor" experience - but we'll see. Either way, he'll be here by Wednesday.

We're excited as we await Ryan's arrival. Grampa Mike has painted an nice oil-on-canvas scene as a gift, and he's drawn up the birth announcement. All we need is a little picture of Ryan so we can attach it. Nana Nancy has been taking me on walks, giving Payton a lot of love and helping keep the house clean. It's been nice. The next update will be from the otherside of the motherside! Stay tuned for pictures of our new baby!

Awaiting...

2009-07-07T22:14:00.000-06:00

My parents made it into town this past Friday. We've been making ourselves busy by assembling baby items, cleaning and shopping. And now there's not much left to do but wait, which makes it hard to not be anxious. I am still having many Braxton Hicks contractions, but nothing worth being concerned over. I am waiting for that first contraction that "hurts." I say that now, and I know I will regret it later, but at least with every painful contraction I am one step closer to welcoming Ryan into the world. Tom and I are ready and are excited to meet our little man.

My tailbone still hurts from my fall last week. It makes it really hard to walk, in all seriousness! At my appointment last week I was 70% effaced and 1 cm dialated. I find out tomorrow if there is any more progression. I will also discuss induction with my midwife because my parents are in town and could quite possibly miss out if I am really late. Tom and I are praying that I don't have to induce - I really don't want to, but I am willing. On top of that, I am truly ready for this baby to come on out! There are many pains associated with being pregnant, and until I have the baby they will remain. I know there are new pains with childbirth, but at least that's the road to recovery!

Our prayers are concentrated on our little one. We are praying for an early arrival, a healthy baby and safe labor. We are also praying for Ryan's little heart - that it would be a heart that comes to know Christ at a young age, a heart of strength and integrity. I have full confidence that Tom will instill many excellent traits into our son, but more importantly we are praying that Ryan's heart would have Christ as number one! We have quite the journey ahead of us with our child, and other future children, but we feel that the Lord has prepared us for this time in our lives.

I look forward to the next post being one of a couple things: my progression from my doctor's appointment, a scheduled induction date, or the birth of our son!

The Fall heard 'round the house

2009-06-30T18:55:00.000-06:00

Well, Tom was on an overnight, so Payton and Bo were the only ones who heard. I guess every pregnant woman has some story, whether it be before or during labor. Hopefully this is it for me.
I fell. Hard. Down the stairs. I was just doing my usual morning routine when I rounded the middle-top of my stairs and up went my foot. Not sure how it happened, I don't quite remember slipping, but I must have, because my body fell hard on my back and down I went. Poor Payton was just looking at me in horror as she waited for me to tell her I was okay. I laid there for a moment to make sure I was okay and that labor hadn't started.

All is fine - DON'T PANIC! The baby is more than fine - that's what a uterus and sac is for! The baby has been moving just fine and I'm still have my BH contractions. But I can tell you that I feel like my tail bone got kicked with a steel-toed boot. It's hard to move around. That's about it. I bet there's nothing like watching a preggo fall down the stairs - actually Tom probably would've had a heart attack, and I was sad he wasn't there to comfort me. It did hurt, and I did cry, but I think it was more out of shock, then maybe pain. Now I wish it had induced labor, but no such luck.

However, starting today Tom has his vacation until after the baby comes! So he'll be home with me for the next feeeew weeks! I'm looking forward to that.

2 Weeks

2009-06-28T20:49:00.000-06:00

Technically I have 2 weeks left, but truly little Ryan will determin when he would like to enter the world. It seems as if he wants to come out because he keeps trying to stretch out, but he runs into my ribs and can't go much further. I am having lots of Braxton Hicks contractions these days - none of them are painful but a few have been "uncomfortable," which is good because that apparently means things are "preparing" down below. I have an appt on Wed to find out if things are starting to happen. Other than that no other signs have really happened yet. No real contractions, but I'm sure they'll be coming soon enough. I can't believe he's almost here - we can't wait to meet him.

Tom is almost finished with his woodworking projects for baby. He built a book case for all Ryan's wonderful little books and he's almost finished with a little table that will be next to the glider. It will hold the lamp, clock, etc.

For the past 3 weeks we've been watching Bo, our pastor's dog, while they were on vacation. Bo goes home on Wed. Payton will be sad to see her friend go, but probably pleased to have all the attention again. This will mark the beginning of my "nesting." I've been waiting to vacuum until Bo was gone, just to keep from having to do it again.

My parents fly in on Sat the 4th so that they can hopefully be here for the birth of Ryan. They have a couple of weeks before they have to return home, so hopefully he comes in this window! Please be praying for their travels and that they'd get to see their grandchild!

And the name is....

2009-06-25T00:01:00.000-06:00

Tom and I decided on our name the other night. Baby Boy Wassmer, aka Cletus the Fetus, is now, and officially, going to be named Ryan Thomas Wassmer. Yay! Tom and I know that there is always a chance we'll take a look at him and think, "he doesn't look like a Ryan." Our second choice of a name was David. I don't believe it will change, but we understand that there's the slightest possibility it could. But it's Ryan. Enjoy!

Answered Prayer

2009-06-21T18:43:00.001-06:00

With 3 weeks left until my due date, things are starting to get done around the house. It's still a slow process because the "nesting" energy hasn't kicked in yet. The nursery is almost complete, and once it is I will be sure to post those photos. One thing we've been praying for is the opportunity to purchase a new car. We only had 2 two-door cars, both of which aren't condusive for a car seat. So we sold the '72 Super Beetle and built up our savings over the past few months. That money was to be used toward a car, whether it be cash for a car on Craigslist, or for a down payment at a dealership.

So Tom and I went to a few dealerships last week just to look at our options. After staring at Craigslist for months and not finding anything suitable, we decided to explore other places. In the end we found a 2006 Ford Escape that came pre-owned certified and still has a warranty. After some "dealership negotations" we walked out of there with that car, lower payments than expected and we didn't have to wipe out our savings! In fact, nothing from our savings was used! I still can't believe it - God is soooo good when He answers prayers like that. God is good either way, but He never ceases to surprise me. Now we have a vehicle that will last us at least a few years, has all-wheel-drive and can fit a child. This is a huge burden off our shoulders.

I have 3 weeks left until my due date! We are praying that Baby comes a little early. Not too early, but it would be nice if my parents get to see him and play with him a little bit before they have to return to work. If I am even a week late, they will miss out. Right now I am waiting for signs of pre-labor. Baby hasn't dropped yet, but I think he might be on his way. I am having more frequent Braxton Hicks, which is good. It literally could be any day now!

Upcoming Father's Day

2009-06-11T08:41:00.000-06:00

With all this baby talk going on, and the excitement and anticipation of his arrival, I just wanted to dote upon my husband for a minute. With Father's Day approaching all I can think about is how great of a dad Tom is going to be. I love my husband with all my heart and I truly am convinced he's the most amazing man! He's been a good husband to me, providing and protecting, and stepping up to the plate to take on a second job just to support our upcoming lifestyle. When people weren't hiring he decided to start his own business where God has blessed us greatly in that area. The additional income is exactly what we need right now to stay afloat. Tom has lovingly sacraficed his boat and now the Beetle just so we can get a family vehicle. This man works hard, and he does it because I know he loves me deeply. He loves our baby boy. And yes, he loves Payton too! I married a man whose limits I haven't begun to see yet and everyday I swear I learn something new about him. He still cracks me up, after all these years - jk - it's only been a year, but he continually steals my heart day after day. Tom is a godly man who walks with integrity, works hard for his family, is truly humble, and can still sit back at the end of the day and crack open a can of jokes and a can of good beer! He's a man's man with a tender touch and big heart. He really is the most amazing man!

Nov. 2008

A few days after I found out I was pregnant

5 weeks left!

2009-06-07T18:16:00.000-06:00

June 2, 2009

These pictures were taken by Veronica Campbell, the same person who photographed our wedding. I am 34 1/2 weeks in these photos. I only get bigger from here! A snapshot of the nusrsery can be seen, however, the whole thing is much better when seen in real life.

This past weekend, on June 6, I had my shower that was thrown by our wonderful ladies from church. Little Wassmer got plenty of clothes and blankets, and good start at the diapers. Tom and I will now pull together a list of the remaining random items that we might need to start this journey with. There a few things left on the registry, as well as items I know I need but haven't put on the registry. Below is a pic of all the goods I got, which most of the clothing can't really be seen.

Starting this week we will be watching Beau, our pastor's dog, for three weeks while they are on vacation. The Peterson family will be traveling to Florida for vacation and for General Assembly - an annual meeting regarding the affairs of the PCA church. Payton will be thrilled to have a friend for a few weeks, but deeply saddened when he returns home. Then, a couple weeks later she will have to welcome our baby, which will take her place in priorities. It's a good thing we'll have family here to help with the baby and keep Payton occupied and help her get adjusted. Other than that, we are on our way down the homestretch! Only 5 weeks left until D-day!

34 weeks

2009-05-30T13:56:00.001-06:00

The doctor told me this week that at 34 weeks, if I were to have the baby early, he would have less than 5% chance of having complications. It's a kind of a relief even though I'm not expecting him to be early. Baby Wassmer is moving around a lot these days though I suspect he'll soon run out of room. I am starting to feel all the little discomforts of pregnancy. I have a hard time sleeping now, more than before, my back really does hurt and regions around my tummy make it hard for me to walk sometimes. I plan on pressing through and talking daily walks.
I also suffer from the horomonal changes that probably leave Tom thinking he married a bi-polar stranger who walks like she's pushing a wheel barrow infront of her that carries this belly. I'm already tired, so I can't imagine what the first few weeks are really going to feel like. Sometimes I wish I could pre-pump my milk, save it, then hand the bottle over to Tom the first night. Ha! I'm sure I'll actually want to be with my new baby boy in the middle of the night.
And even though I have anxious thoughts about labor and motherhood I still can't believe that he's only a few weeks away from joining our family. It is exciting. One comfort Tom and I have is knowing that the Lord has very specific plans for this little man. It was He who planned when the baby would come, not Tom and I. There's no feeling like knowing you're not in control than the feeling of being with child. There's not one thing I can do to make sure his heart beats or that his brain will work or that his spine is in the correct spot. All I do is harbor the baby, but the Lord has designed him, He knows how many hairs are on his head already and what his fingerprints are like. I do not. I can't. And I don't need too. Giving up control to God is so much more satisfying than trying to do it on my own, and reassuring. I only pray that I can remember that from day to day as I face the struggles of motherhood.
Tom and I are closer to chosing to a name. We have it narrowed down, but we are still letting the names marinate before settling on the one. I don't know when that will be, but I am hoping soon. Soon as in before July.

A 3d picture of Baby Wassmer

2009-05-22T07:03:00.000-06:00

Tom and I went to have a 3d ultrasound done on May 7th as my Mother's Day present. I've wanted to have one of these since I knew I was pregnant. It turned out okay, but the ultrasound tech said I should come back for another round of photos because the baby was asleep and his face was right up against my placenta. So on May 14th we returned. He was still asleep, but some of the pictures came out much better. We surprised our mother's, aka grandmas, with a framed photo of this young lad. And if you're still wondering about names, so are we! We have it narrowed down to a couple of names that we like, but the ball is now in Tom's court. He knows my choices but he wants to make sure he's looked at all the options as well. Here are a few pics that came from the ultrasound. These ones are some of the best. The foot picture was included because the tech kept saying, "this baby has some big feet." If you didn't already know, Tom has size 13 feet and an even longer middle toe. To me it seems that he will look like his father and hopefully be tall, and yes, he will have his daddy's big feet. We also got a DVD of the action taking place, but we didn't have extra DVD's to burn it to for the gift for the new grandmas. The DVD is really cool because you can see all four chambers of his heart and watch it beat.

A Weekend of Fun

2009-05-03T17:55:00.000-06:00

This weekend started off with a little celebration of my completion at San Joaquin Valley College. I received a letter in the mail on Friday that stated whether or not I passed my certification exam. Not only did I pass, but my score was a 96%! I was quite surprised, but very pleased. That evening I had my graduation ceremony where I received awards for a 4.0 GPA, Perfect Attendance and AMT Membership. With this being my 3rd graduation for me, I probably wasn't as "excited" as some of those there were, especially since it may be their only degree. It was still fun, however, and I got to enjoy one last goodbye with a few of my classmates.

Then on Saturday it was off to Monterey, CA to celebrate our 1st anniversary! Tom booked us a room that had a fire place in it. Good thing, Monterey isn't exactly known for being a warm area of the coast. It was cloudy, but it wasn't freezing. We spent Saturday exploring Carmel, CA, which is only 5 minutes south of Monterey. We walked the Ocean Ave shops and restaurants and ate dinner at Forge in the Forest. It is a nice restaurant surrounded by ivy and other trees and plants. We sat on the outdoor patio by the large fire pit and listened to live music as we ate fabulous yet affordable food! This place also allows dogs to dine with their owners, but we did not have Payton with us. She would've loved it. We finished the evening with a stroll to the beach and then back to the hotel to eat our anniversary cake. We had it specially made by the same lady that made our wedding cake last year. It was the same type of cake (chocolate and mint filling), and it was just as good as we remembered it! Tom gave me one calla-lilly (representing one year) and a ruby pendant necklace. The ruby is the birthstone for July which is when our baby boy is due. It's beautiful!

Sunday was spent walking throughout Monterey's Fisherman's Wharf and Cannery Row. We just did some sight-seeing and then left for home. It was a nice retreat and wonderful time of walking and relaxing, and a great one-year celebration.

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T15:07:00.000-06:00

This past week has been challenging. I've been experiencing a stuffy nose for about a month now, and last week it turned into a cold. Now I'm truly suffering, and it doesn't help that I can't sleep well. I praise God for medicine, and that my nasal spray hasn't backlashed on me yet. I hope that it doesn't.

Today is Easter! Praise the Lord, for He is risen. If Christ had not risen, then we are much to be pitied. I thank the Lord every day that He chose me and saved me, as well as Tom. May we never take it for granted.

I made Tom an Easter basket, as I do every year, and this one tops them all so far. Since we are now into planting things, I made it look like a planter with growing things. Interpret as you like. Inside this wonderful basket includes the following: Brach's jelly beans, Mike & Ike's, Reeses pastel eggs, Robin Eggs, Reeses chocolate covered eggs, green M&M's and peeps.

We also took a couple of pictures when we got home from church to show off my 27 week belly. Forgive the shadows on our faces - not quite the professional photographers here. The pics are more for my belly anyway. Enjoy!

First Maternity Pics

2009-03-31T17:14:00.001-06:00

These are our first maternity shots taken when I was 22 weeks, on March 8. All photography is Veronica Campbell Photography, the same lady who did our wedding! These are a few of the good ones during our bloom season. I just love the blooms. Some of our engagement photos were taken in the blooms. Enjoy!

My First Shower

2009-03-30T09:31:00.000-06:00

Spending time at the Children's Museum

I just returned home from a few days in Colorado where my friend Jen threw me my first baby shower! It was fun, except for the fact that within a couple of hours of arriving the blizzard of the year blew in. Talk about some white-out conditions! We still had to run some errands though, so off to Walmart we went - and then back home because the roads were so bad.

Me and Ashtyn (4 months) in the snow

Me and the girls awaiting to run errands

When Saturday rolled around the sun was out and the roads were clear. I got to see some friends that I haven't seen in years, and it was a blessing to be around such a diverse group of women. My guests included friends from high school & gymnastics, 2 Florida friends (from different places and groups of people, but both now live in Colorado), the moms I grew up with, Jen's sister (practically my sister) and the one and only Lammie (Jen's grandma). Oh, and of course, my dad who was Hailey's play date the entire time!

Standing by the awesome food and trying to put a diaper on a baby blindfolded

Coming soon will be Tom and I's first set of maternity pics. They were taken a few weeks ago and we are awaiting the email so we can post them! Stay tuned...

Pics from the Ultrasound

2009-02-21T19:46:00.000-07:00

Here are some new pics of our baby boy, and a couple of my belly. For some reason, I feel like I just can't get a good pregnant photo...perhaps it's the angle. Anyway, enjoy the pics.

It's a Boy

2009-02-20T07:48:00.000-07:00

We had our 19 week ultrasound yesterday and the tech was able to confirm what Tom and I had been suspecting, that it was a boy! I asked her if she was certain and she pointed out the parts that only boys could possibly have, and let me tell you, they are quite defined. Tom is proud. The baby also came away with a comment about his little feet - they are skinny and long, just like Tom's.
Tom was relieved because he said if it was a girl he wasn't sure what he'd do with her. I giggled, but I understand the panic. I am not sure I know what to do with a boy, but I know plenty of people who do. The pics of the ultrasound are on their way, I wasn't able to transpose them this quickly. I will also try to include a new belly pic if I can get one.
Next is seeking out a name. I think this will be a longer process than I hope, but we'll see! Tom and I are not sure we're going to reveal the name when we do have one either. We haven't discussed that, so even if we settle on a name, we may not tell you! Ha ha!

Two more weeks!

2009-02-07T20:27:00.000-07:00

In two weeks we will have the ultrasound that will determine what our baby is, as long as baby cooperates! Tom and I are getting anxious to know what we're having and I am anxious to start with the naming process. My belly had grown a bit and I am beginning to feel new things. I have not felt the baby move yet, at least, not that I've been able to recognize. The books all say any day now. Right now, at 18 weeks, Cletus is about 5 inches and 5 ounces. The things I do feel are new pressures on the belly, tightness in certain areas (which I think is internal, not my skin yet), and it's really a neat thing to be able to feel my uterus. It's also kind of wierd.

I am heading into week 3 of my internship at Children's Hospital. I've been working in the Plastic and Neurosurgery office, working as a Medical Assistant. I get to assist in some minor procedures, which I really enjoy. It really doesn't freak me out that all I see are babies who have had deformities and have had surgery. I know deformities happen, and I see many cleft palate babies. Most of them have already had their surgeries and are in different stages of recovery. I like it there, but it will end in two weeks. After that, I will start looking for a job. Actually, I already am, but there's not much out there right now, so we'll see!

Stay posted for the next round of ultrasound pics, and the annoucement of our baby boy or our baby girl!

Ultrasound Pics of Baby Wassmer

2009-01-09T16:43:00.000-07:00

Last night as I was volunteering at the Children's Hospital I was told that the Ultrasound Department was looking for volunteers for some of the Image Techs because they are trying to get their NTS certifications. NTS stands for Nuchal Translucency Screening, which is a detailed ulstrasound that allows the tech to measure the space behind the baby's neck. It's the measurement of this space that allows doctors to see whether or not the baby is at risk for Down Syndrome. This is also usually combined with a blood test, but they did not do that here since I wasn't really testing for it. FYI, Baby's neck space is within normal range, and the tech kept saying Cletus has a "nice spine." Yay! The measurement of Cletus also detected that he might be a couple days older than originally thought. Cletus kept moving around, and moving his hands up around his head. It was neat to see a real baby shape and to see movement, since the last thing we saw was a little blob. Instead

of being 13 weeks, 5 days, it said he was 14 weeks, 1 day. Not a big deal. We tried to see if we could see the gender, but the tech could not tell either way, so we will have to wait until our next real ultrasound with our doctor. That will probably be a few weeks from now. Tom and I are anxious to know what we're having and to give Cletus a real name. Until then, enjoy the pics!

Above: Me at 13 1/2 weeks. Clockwise: Baby Wass facing downwards, you can see his arm and fingers; Baby's belly, the shot is from above looking down, you can see his legs too; Baby's profile; and Baby's spine from the back (his head is down and butt up top).

Christmas and New Years in Jersey

2009-01-03T11:37:00.000-07:00

Tom and I just got back from a nice 10-day vacation to the Jesery Shore where we spent Christmas and New Years with Tom's parents and brother, Chris. We arrived with much ease, 2 days before Christmas (not expecting travel to be that easy). We got first class from SLC to Newark, so that was nice. We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas day with the family, having dinner with the Sabols (they were at our wedding). We ate a lot of good food and cookies (well, Tom ate most of the cookies and I ate the fruit). It seems that I can always trust Jane to bear good fruit - fruit salad that is!

While I was there, I passed the 12-week mark and entered into my 2nd trimester! They say this is the best part. I'll be sure to let you know! The books say Cletus the Fetus is about the size of a small peach now (probably not as round, but just a long). Cletus got "his" first Christmas presents too - a few onesies, toys, a big stuffed duck and a crib! His mom also got the coolest diaper bag - on sale!

For New Years Tom and I planned to head to Times Square with a million other crazies and celebrate with all the hoopla. Come the afternoon of Dec. 31 and nice little snow storm blew in and froze the state solid. With the snow, wind and extreme cold we opted not to go and stand in a crowd for 8 hours where we couldn't leave to eat or use the bathroom. I hope to attend some other year. Instead Tom took me out to movie and pizza. May I say that "Marley & Me" is not just a happy-go-lucky dog movie. Bring some tissues.

So the next day, Jan. 1, 2009, the family went to the local beach to take pictures where I think in the 5 minutes we were outside my face was going to fall off. I think not going to Times Square was a good cawl (Jersey tawlk for "call").

Payton waited paitently at home for us, and was delighted upon our return. She is outside right now with Tom helping him split some logs for the fire. She's such a daddy's girl.

On our way home, we also got back with much ease, which was also not expected due to all the holiday travel. We are thankful that we were able to get home one time and with such ease. Tom and I will miss the good food, cookies, the shore and the larger bed we had! Ha!

I start school again on Monday and will be done with this term on Jan. 22. After that I head to my externship and I am DONE!

The Holidays

2008-12-13T08:46:00.000-07:00

Thanksgiving was a great trip back to Colorado to see family and friends, even though it was short. It snowed while we were there, so it was nice to wake up to a bit of frosting on the trees!

Baby Wassmer is doing just fine. I haven't been sick at all, just tired a lot, but even that seems to be tapering off. I am now 10 weeks and starting to show...but not the "pregnant" show, more like the "that girl needs to lay off the potato chips" kind of show. Perhaps in a few weeks I'll look more pregnant. Our next appointment is this week, so I'll be sure to post any updates!

It's officially Christmas season! We have our tree up, Payton has her light-up collar and the truck has its wreath with the lights on it. Yes, everything has lights on it! We will be leaving the 23rd or 24th to head to New Jersey for Christmas with the Wassmer family. Payton will be traveling with us! She's pretty excited to see Grammy and Pops and head back to beach...even if it's freezing. While we're there Tom and I are going to see Phantom on Broadway and we might hit up Times Square for New Years (depending on how I feel).

The Heart Beat

2008-11-20T20:16:00.000-07:00

Today Tom and I went to the doctor for our first visit, and it went well. We got to do an ultrasound, so we saw the baby blob (not quite defined yet), and got to hear the heart beat. It was really cool because the beating was very loud and clear, going about 130 bpm. It was so neat to see that little heart beat as well. The motion can't be caught on a still shot, of course, but we tried to take a picture of the picture, so forgive us that it's not quite clear. For me, hearing the heart beat at 6 weeks (when many women don't even know they're pregnant yet) takes the whole "choice" thing out of it. The Lord is good to bless us with children, and I can't wait to welcome this little one into the world near or on July 12!

Newest News

2008-11-13T21:09:00.000-07:00

We're back with the latest news! As most of you might know already, and some not yet, Tom and I are going to have a baby! I discovered my little pink plus sign nearly 2 weeks ago, and my doctors appointment is next week to determine the actual age and due date. It is truly a blessing, and a wonderful feeling (even though I have no symptoms yet). I just can't believe I'm actually pregnant and that we're going to bring the biggest blessing the Lord could give into this world. This means He thinks we're ready and capable! I guess He knows better than we do. He always does. And to think that I get to experience this all for His glory, in His plan, and that He allows me to be a part of His purposes. We are praying for protection for this little one and that it will remain in place for the next few months! Please join us in our prayers for a healthy baby, coming sometime in July.

Exciting Things!

2008-11-06T11:43:00.000-07:00

Six months of marriage and I am loving it! We just moved into our new home we're renting from some friends, and it is so nice to have the extra space. One more term of school down, only 2 more to go! New things are developing, and I'm sure there will be some new updates coming soon! Stay tuned...

Harvest Time!

2008-10-03T15:43:00.000-06:00

Hello all!

Much has happened since August! I just finished my 2nd term in school, and only 3 more to go! I still enjoy it and I still have all A's. Tom has been working two jobs, SkyWest, and the other is with a man from our church who does contracting work. Tom really enjoys it because he can get his hands dirty, dig and build.

Two weeks ago a brand new Chic-Fil-A opened here in Fresno. It was the best breakfast I've had since I moved here. I was there bright and early to watch the 1st 100 customers go in and get their prices (I was not one of them), but I probably was 101 since no one else was there yet. For those of you who know, Chic-Fil-A was one of my favorite places in Jacksonville and when I moved to Fresno I was totally bummed that there wasn't one. The Lord has answered my prayes!

Last weekend was a baby shower for a lady in my church. I helped orchestrate the ordeal, and it turned out nicely. This lady and her husband have been trying to get pregnant for over 3 years and after studies were done, it was found that her husband was almost sterile. It's been a miracle baby summer for our church. She's not the only one with babies who have defied the odds!

Tom and I are still praying about his move to Captain, which could possibly take us somewhere else. The other place we'd consider is Denver. So we'll see. I was also able to sell my car this week! Sad to say goodbye to Sid, but glad to see the monthly payments gone. Here's a picture as a memorial. I told Tom that he promises me a new Honda again one day.

Wassmer's in full swing

2008-08-16T13:06:00.000-06:00

Hello all! Things have gotten underway since the last post. I am now more than half way done with my first term at San Joaquin Valley College, already drawing people's blood! My fingers and arms have been quite sore. Tom has put in for an upgrade in the jet, but it doesn't look like there's going to be a class anytime soon. We'll just have to enjoy the senority he has for now. For my 26th birthday, Tom took me out on the lake and made dinner on the boat. It was fun. We had chicken and rice, with shrimp as an appetizer. We used all the camping gear we got from our wedding registry - how cute! After we got home, we got all dressed up and went to a nice restaurant for a drink.

I start volunteering at the Children's Hospital next week. I am going to be a greeter in the NICU center, which is exactly where I wanted to be! The Lord is good. NICU is the neo-natal intensive care unit. I am not sure I'll be dealing with the babies as much as I will the parents. I am looking forward to it. Other than that, not much is going on. Tom is in the garage right now doing his wood working, Payton is at my feet tired as can be from this morning's run, and I am about to study and probably do some painting. Until next time!

Home from Tucson

2008-07-26T17:49:00.000-06:00

Our trip to Tucson was a success! Tom and I worked with a team to paint two buildings, inside and out. It was not an easy task since the buildings were made of handmade, porous bricks! We also helped lead a Vacation Bible School for the local church. We had a lesson from the Bible, a craft, an activity and snacks. I was in charge of the outdoor activities and Tom ended up leading the teens through some deeper spiritual matters. It was a challenge for him since we did not expect teens. The flyer we put out said "ages 6-12." But it was in the Lord's plans! Another challenge for him was that 1/2 of the group spoke only Spanish and the other half only English. He did get help from a translator. All in all it was a good trip, and as Tom's first missions trip, I am glad that the Lord challenged him (all of us) and allowed him to experience Christians in another culture.

Another development that has happened quickly is that I registered for school! The day I graduated UNF I said I'd never go back to school. Well, I am going to a vocational tech school to be a Medical Assistant, and I start Monday! I am excited to change areas of profession, and we are praying that in the end I'll have a job at the Children's Hospital here in the valley. I've been trying to get a job there for over a year, and without any medical experience, it's quite near impossible to get a foot in the door! In 7 months I'll be done - my goals are to be a valedictorian and get my externship at the Children's Hospital.

We also just found out that SkyWest is adding a base to LAX, which means, possibly, some senior captains here in FAT just might move. This would help make an opportunity for Tom to be able to upgrade to captain here! This is huge news for us! So we are definitely praying for that!

Mission to Tucson

2008-07-02T22:24:00.000-06:00

This Saturday Tom and I are heading to Tucson with some people from our church for a short-term, one week, mission. We are teaming up with Corazon Ministries to help lead a Vacation Bible School for the kids and help with any church needs (painting, weeding, etc). This church is located in the southern part of Tucson, which is mostly all hispanic and poor. They have a bitterness towards the US since the purchase of their land years ago.
This will be Tom's first mission trip and I am so excited to see what the Lord does in our hearts there. By God's grace we were supported 100% financially, even though the letters went out last minute! To this day, I still have not paid a dollar for my beach projects, retreats and missions trips. God is faithful!
I will be sure to post pictures later, and keep you updated on what's going on!

Maui

2008-05-19T13:33:00.000-06:00

We spent a week in Maui for our honeymoon and it was wonderful! Maui has just enough to do and not to do. The weather was great, we relaxed, spent time in the sun, went to the top of a volcano (inactive) and watched the sunrise then rode bikes down the mountain. We snorkeled in the bluest water ever, swam with turtles and drove the road to Hana. Hana is a small town on the other side of the island and you have to take this nearly one-way road, 20+ switchbacks, to get there. It took all day, but we got to see the rainforest and waterfalls. We were blessed this entire trip, starting with a sweet and romantic "first night," First Class seats to Maui, an upgrade on our rental car, an ocean view room and we even met someone who was able to give us a deal to one of the islands best luau's. Maui is expensive to visit though. Eating out will empty your bank quicker than the tide will pull you out to sea! It was so much fun and of course I wish I never had to leave. I am sure we'll go back someday, and I can't wait. I can't wait for other excursions as husband and wife. God is so, so good.

2008-05-08T19:22:00.000-06:00

Photography by Veronica Campbell

Mr. and Mrs. Wassmer

2008-05-08T19:14:00.000-06:00

On May 3, 2008, Tom and I got married! Finally, the day came...and went. It was a beautiful wedding and I can't wait to see the ceremony video. It was a blur, and as I look as pictures I am able to see who was there to share this day. The only regret I have - time management. We arrived to our reception almost an hour late and I had NO IDEA! For all those who traveled long distances to see us, I apologize, but thank you deeply for coming. It was still fun and a wonderful day. Being married hasn't really set in I think, because I am on my honeymoon and I feel like when I get home I still have to send Tom home. Oh but how my life has changed overnight, and I am excited to see how the Lord is going to bless our new life together. He has already blessed our honeymoon greatly. First of all, we received this location and hotel (which is amazing) as a gift, we got first class seats to Maui, an upgrade on our car rental and an ocean view room when we checked in. Maui has been beautiful! An excellent honeymoon location in my opinion. There's plenty to do and plenty not to do.
I pray the Lord will continue to work in Tom and I as we seek Him first in all things, especially our marriage. May He extend His grace and mercy as we learn to live together, and to love and respect each other. God has been so good to me to give me such a wonderful husband. I am still on cloud nine, I just can't believe I am married!

April Fools

2008-04-01T20:50:00.000-06:00

Today was April first and I had a few tricks for my roomies. They got some Orajel in the toothbrush, shaving cream on the car, saran wrap in the doorway, and I even had a certain religous group call my roommate because I told them she was interested in converting.
No harm, fun tricks.
Today wasn't all jokes though. The economy has been terrible and people just aren't buying things, companies aren't making profit - including mine. My position was cut and today was my last day at work. This comes 30 days before the wedding! I trust that God knows what He's doing. This did not take him by surprise. It didn't really surprise me either. I am a bit nervous because Tom and I had already set a financial plan in place to help pay off our debt as fast as we could, but that will be put on a slower track until I find a new job. I am not sure I be searching for a new job right now, only to turn around and tell them I need a week long vacation right after they hire me. Some companies don't care, some just aren't that flexible. We'll see. Any income, any new jobs, it is all up to the Lord. I'll let Him provide - He's better at doing that anyway.
With 4 more weeks until the wedding, I'm just not sure I have time to be stressed out. I can't afford the emotions to freak out and be anxious. I'll be sure to keep you posted!

On My Knees,
BK

Us!

2008-03-28T16:46:00.000-06:00

This is one of my favorite engagement pics! Just in time for the blossoms in March.

5 weeks left!

2008-03-28T16:44:00.000-06:00

Only 5 more weeks and I will be Mrs. Wassmer! The Lord has been so good to Tom and I as we've prepared for our lives together. Every detail has been provided, and this experience has definitely brought us closer together. The waiting seems almost unbearable! I know it will be here as soon as I know it, but until then, I just wait.

________ The Wassmer Family _______

Four Months of Fun!

Brooklyn's Birth Announcement

Brooklyn Marion is here!

Ryan's going to be a big brother!

Ryan's 1st birthday

One small step for Ryan, two giant proud parents!

Work

Heading towards our first year

Ryan's Easter and trip to Stillwater

Sickness around the house!

Ryan Crawls!

7 Months Old

Welcome to our new home!

Happy 6 Months!

Santa's Visit to the Kacz home

A White Christmas for Ryan

Christmas in Colorado

Videos of Ryan

Happy 3 Months and Halloween!

Bummin' around

Just some pictures!

The Newest Things

Ryan's learning to talk

Two Months Old!

Some of Ryan's Firsts

New Things

Ryan is 1 Month Old!

Ryan's first video

The Birth of Our Baby Boy

Ryan is One Week Old

Welcome Baby Ryan!

Due Date

Awaiting...

The Fall heard 'round the house

2 Weeks

And the name is....

Answered Prayer

Upcoming Father's Day

5 weeks left!

34 weeks

A 3d picture of Baby Wassmer

A Weekend of Fun

Happy Easter!

First Maternity Pics

My First Shower

Pics from the Ultrasound

It's a Boy

Two more weeks!

Ultrasound Pics of Baby Wassmer

Christmas and New Years in Jersey

The Holidays

The Heart Beat

Newest News

Exciting Things!

Harvest Time!

Wassmer's in full swing

Home from Tucson

Mission to Tucson

Maui

Mr. and Mrs. Wassmer

April Fools

Us!

5 weeks left!

__ The Wassmer Family _