Introducing our Lily of the Valley...

Ryder Mae. She was born on Thursday, May 12 at 3:44pm. She weighed 8lbs, 1 oz and was 20.5 inches long. We came home 24 hours after she was born and we are all doing well. That last month of waiting for her seemed incredibly long and we did so many fun outings with Rowan to pass the time. I have tons of photos and stories to share soon. For now, take what you can get and enjoy these few photos.

The Farm

Dear Sweet Rowan,

You have enjoyed animals since you sprouted an opinion but on our most recent trip to Texas you just fell deeper in love. We came home to frequent requests from you to "see Pops' cows 'gain" and "drive tractor 'gain." And although we wish we were closer to Fredericksburg so we could pack you up and take you there, the fact is, it's 12 hours away. So instead we talk about all things farm daily and you pretend with your Schleich animals and John Deere tractors that you are there. You call, "Bessie, Maaaaeeee" and in your mind these mammals come out of the brush to find you.



And once you get them to the barn and feed them, this particular cow, Honey, lets you pet her. She's "sawf and has horns."



And in your imaginary world, you also pet the "white one," but in reality she won't let you near her. However, you really like this "white one." So much that you've had me and your dad running all over town trying to find one for your barn that looks like her.



You claim that this "black one get you." This isn't true but maybe we've told you she might.



And this little guy, I think it's a bull, is my new hero because we talk about how his Momma puts him to sleep, which is a complete fabrication of mine. You bought it. She and her baby lay on the ground and they look at the stars and talk about their day and then the Momma cow rubs her baby's back as he drifts off to sleep. You agreed that you could go to sleep like the baby cow without "nee, nee" and we haven't looked back. I hope I never see you on my plate little bull, I'm putting in a good word for you right now.



You also love these little birds, while talk and imaginative play with them usually involves a cat chasing them up the ladder into the barn. You can thank your dad for that. We are allowed to have 4 hens in the city limits here and we are debating getting some to bring a little bit of the farm to you. And to feed our own egg habit.



When we are at Moms and Pops house, you wake up, let us have sip of coffee and then ask to "go see cows." Someone always obliges and off you go, usually with your cousin Mara. I think she's showing you how to "moooo" in this picture.



And then she somehow convinces you to get in the doll stroller so she can push you around. Or maybe it was your idea, who knows.



And I know you looked at these flowers at least twice you were there this spring and this summer you will eat their most delicious fruit. The Peach! The juice will run down your shirt (and stain) and you will pick any within your reach, consuming more peaches in one day than any toddler should.



You're only 2 and I know each time you visit Moms and Pops you are going to enjoy yourself more and more. Maybe they can even get some tractor work out of you someday. There are still so many memories to be made on "the farm" but I didn't want us to forget these. Farm on, little man, farm on.

Love-
Mom

Big Bike

Rowan outgrew his tricycle recently and has graduated to his "big bike." It only took him a few times to build up the courage to ride that 12 incher in the cul-de-sac with our neighbor's son. And I'm not biased or anything, but my two year old can hold his own with the 3 year old. We're still working on braking but he's steering and pedaling on his own. Yesterday he rode to the park and back with a few pushes from me on the "big hills." He also took a 4 hour nap, bike ride or the flu? Not sure.





And this my friends is what you call a silent video. The silence is far superior to Esten and our neighbor's father talk about their new cameras. Trust me.

Farewell to Winter

This winter was particularly brutal to most of the country including us. I lived in New York for one winter and Fayetteville's winter has been rather comparable temperature wise but with more snow than I ever saw fall on Long Island. We had the most snow fall here in Fayetteville since 1918 and we were measuring it in feet, rather than the usual inches. It was fun to watch it fall and play in for a few days, but the cold air just kept blasting through with our lowest, low reaching -15 F. After living in Mexico last year where our daily weather forecast was ~75/45 with a 90% chance of sunshine, we are all ready for spring, including the dogs. They have had few chances to soak up the sun here. These are some photos from our historic snow of February 2011.










Walking in snow is hard, especially when you're two.

Devil's Den State Park

This past weekend was lovely and we decided to go on a family hike. We went to Devil's Den State Park. There are some trails easy enough for grandma (or pregnant women) and we hiked one of those.

Rowan was ready with his hiking stick in one hand and the other hand tucked in his pocket.



The guide that we had said the hike would take about 1.5 hours, but with Rowan stopping to pick up every leaf along the way we would have easily doubled that. We convinced him to hop in the pack and take a ride. Here are Rowan and Esten looking down into a cave.



Here is another cave. They were all closed due to white nose syndrome. It's a fungus that causes bats to come out of hibernation too early and since the insects they eat are not available yet, they starve. And I suppose that humans are spreading it from cave to cave and so we are not allowed in them now. Honestly, the caves were kind of scary and I probably wouldn't have gone in anyways.



We passed a wet weather waterfall and then took a break on a log bench at the bottom. Someone should enter this picture into a "Parents of the Year" contest for us. I promise the backpack is really stable and he wasn't going to fall, the look on Rowan's face tells a different story.



Me and Rowan taking a banana break.



He decided he would hike the rest of the trail himself and at this point was climbing onto things so that he could jump off of them. Esten put him on top of this tree that had fallen over and we tried to convince him to jump. Didn't happen.




Still trying to convince him. He didn't do it until I went and held his other hand.



Esten and Rowan crossing a little rock bridge. They were probably looking at a rock or piece of mud that Rowan found intriguing.



For the record, there were some parts on the trail that were not kid or grandma friendly. Narrow trails with steep drop-offs and muddy, slippery rocks. We enjoyed ourselves and maybe if you come and see us we'll take you there.

Station #1

I took Rowan to visit Fire Station #1, which is the oldest and busiest station in Fayetteville, last week. He was so excited about getting to drive the truck and see the firefighters. He even grabbed his little fire truck, from the movie Cars, and took it with us. I mean he was pumped, right up until we walked into the station and they closed the garage door. He immediately made me pick him up, "Mama, scared."

I'm glad we went because what if we really had an emergency and this firefighter, dressed from head to toe in his gear, shows up at his window to help him and he runs from him? He listened to every word they said and we practiced a "fire drill" with a smoke alarm. I'm counting this trip as insurance, that in case of an emergency he has at least seen a firefighter in full gear before. He's that kind of kid, super cautious the first time and adventurous the next.

One of the firefighters finally convinced Rowan to give him five and then asked him if he would like to drive the truck. Rowan told him, "No, too big." I had our camera and was ready to get some really cute pictures, FAIL. I did manage to get him to stand with the other kids and take a few pictures at the end.










We are awaiting the next snow storm as I type this. It was 67 on Saturday and now we are not getting above freezing until next week and our lows at night keep getting lower every time I check. Negative 2 on Wednesday morning, let's just say Spring has not sprung. I predict six more weeks of winter. We'll see what Punxsutawney Phil says in a few days.

Snowman

After the powdery, dry snow had a chance to melt for a few days, it was snowman time. Esten and Rowan, ok Esten, rolled this guy up.



And the old man, Ian, put up with the cold to be outside with them. The snowy, white background really brings out the white in his face.



Rowan really didn't care too much for the snow until he realized he could eat it. Five day old snow is still "lishous."



He seems to be saying, "Mom, it's just snow."



I'm hoping that our snow days are over for the year. It has been much colder here than we anticipated. Yesterday, it was 42 degrees, so we went to the park. It felt like Spring to the Arkansans, but to this Texan, it was the dead of winter out there.