Flashback Friday

Exactly 10 years ago today,

May 22, 1999,

Ashley and I enjoyed our senior Prom!

Thanks for a wonderful memory, sweetie!

I Love You!

Time Flies

I absolutely CANNOT believe a whole month has gone by. Having 2 children definitely has sped time up. Ashton is doing fabulous. He still loves to eat and sleep. His longest sleep stretch is after his 9:30pm feed where he'll sleep anywhere from 3-5 hours but after that he's awake every two hours to nurse. My top 10 things I LOVE about him right now are... 1) he nurses well, 2) the look on his face after he's in a milk coma, 3) the creases in his thighs, 4) the area behind his shoulder and above his shoulder blade... it's kinda pudgy and I love it, 5) he rarely cries hard, 6) he doesn't mind when Caitlyn gives him some slightly aggressive love, 7) if he is a little fussy all I have to do is hold him close and rub his hair and he calms down, 8) he doesn't mind being in the swing while I give Caitlyn a little mommy time, 9) he makes his daddy glow with pride, 10) he's the perfect addition to our family.

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We love you Little Man and Happy 1 Month of Life

We Only Part to Meet Again

Brian leaves this week to go on his next journey to Korea. He will be missed so much especially during the steelers football season and at the holiday sweater parties.
Ashley's cousin, Morgan turned 21 last week so we also celebrated him by playing a little beer pong and flip cup.
It's always a good time when we gather with family and friends... thanks everyone for helping us celebrate these 2 special people!

A Happy Mother's Day

To a wonderfully amazing woman!You are patient, caring, and understanding...
strong and nurturing...

you know how to make me smile and laugh when I'm down...

you are the most beautiful Mom in the world... and... I LOVE YOU!!!

***

Also... Happy Mother's Day to Vicki!

Thanks for raising such a great man and for being a wonderful mother-in-law!

***
I was spoiled this Mother's Day with breakfast in bed, a day filled with gardening and time with my kiddos, a beautiful right hand ring with Ashton's birthstone, and a pair of snow pants I have had my eye on... the day was absolutely perfect!!!
Thanks to Caitlyn, Ashton, and my Hubby, I love being a MOM!

Also... Happy late Mother's Day to all my blogger buddies!

Right Now...

I

LOVE

LOVE

LOVE

being a Mom!

Our Weekend

(Click to Enlarge)

My weather station told me that it would be rainy all day on Saturday, and it was... So, we planned a trip to the Seattle Children's Museum. It was so much fun. Caitlyn got to learn about so many different things. She had an absolute blast!

Afterwards, we went to my parent's house for wings and good company. Myranda and Kassidy are so well behaved and Myranda especially loved baby Ashton.Sunday, after bath time, we posed for a few photos. Caitlyn tries to beat her bedtime by begging to hold her brother... how could we resist!Her favorite way to spend time with him... tickling his feet.Posing for some sibling love!Holding Dad's finger...and last but not least...Ashton fast asleep... he looks so much like me here!!! He kinda looks like my brother, Jon too!

Happy May Day

Thought I'd catch up on photos I've taken in this past week. First, I'd like to say that I spent a few hours lying awake last Sunday night worrying about my 1st week alone with my two children. Caitlyn has been getting lots of her back teeth and hasn't quite been herself lately so I was nervous to take care of the teething toddler and my two week old. Turns out... Monday morning came around and my children were angels! It was such an easy week...

I just hope this continues!

This picture cracks me up... This was taken seconds after an explosive diaper from Ashton happened. I asked Caitlyn to hold her baby brother while I stepped 15 steps away to get a clean set of clothes... I turned my back, got the clothes, and when I returned... I found them like this. Caitlyn put her stickers all over his arm... I have been teaching her that 'sharing IS caring'!

Tuesday, Tiffany and the Newgard kiddos came to play! Tiffany got way better pictures of them so you should check out her blog too at http://www.tiffandkory.blogspot.com/.

*I was slow at pushing the button on my camera :)*

It's amazing how quickly our children have doubled! It was neat to see them all together on the couch!

They too will love this picture some day!

I spent May Day with my Dad. He watched Caitlyn while I took Ashton in for his 2 week check up (he weighed in a whole pound past his birth weight). Afterwards, we ran some errands and enjoyed some lunch and sunshine on the Tacoma waterfront.I love this picture!

That's my son... with my Dad!

Random Post

Today is Ashley's first day back to work since we have become a family of four. I decided to wake up with him and enjoy some good conversation over a bowl of cereal and a much needed cup of coffee. As he ventured back into the land of workers, I began my day with only one awake child (Ashton) and started laundry (an everyday task since the little one arrived... who would've thought such a tiny babe could generate so much laundry?!?). I then nursed the little guy and now He and Caitlyn are sleeping...

leaving me a little bit of time to blog!

Here are a few random shots from the last week.

Caitlyn enjoys hugging and kissing her little brother. She does this thing where she'll sit down by us... clap her hands two or three times and then reach out for him so that she can hold him... it's so adorable!

Here's super Dad with the kiddos! I love how perfect they all look!
We walked to the park a couple times when the weather permitted. Cocia Hana met us there and taught Caitlyn how to pick flowers (and weeds) and put them in their hair! Aunt Scarlet and Grandma met us also at the park but I didn't capture any pictures of them.

Here we are... this is one of the times Caitlyn did her hand clapping thing. She gets so serious when holding him... we are trying to teach her to support his head. Whenever I say, "hold his head too" she rubs him gently ontop of his head... too cute!Here she is 'supporting his head'.

This is what nap time looks like with two children...

I'm in heaven!

Ashton's Story

Ashton made his appearance rather quickly into this world on April 16th at 1218am. I'd say it all began about a month prior when I informed my good friend from work that her and her husband would be going out to dinner with Ash and I on April 15th. She thought it a little weird at first to be planning a dinner date so far in advance but when I reminded her that we went out to dinner the night before Caitlyn arrived she totally understood my motive. So April 15th arrived and after my doctor's appointment (where the MD told me that she would be staying the night at the hospital cause she knew I'd be coming in) I called Ashley joking with him about how he better get home quickly because we were going to have a baby boy soon. He rushed home at 5 and asked if I was in labor?!? I told him, "YES!" Since the appointment I had been having contractions every 2-3 minutes apart but they were not super painful. We got ready for dinner and Ash kept asking if we were going to make it through dinner cause he could see that the contractions were now starting to take my breath away. I told him no matter what we are going to dinner with our lucky charm friends so that... for sure... no matter what I would deliver soon (something about this pregnancy had me real superstitious). At 6:30pm we enjoyed dinner at Tokyos Steakhouse (the same place we ate the night before Caitlyn arrived). We drove home, walked in the fresh air around our neighborhood, and watched one of our favorite shows all while texting my friends to determine when I should start heading to the hospital. They were all surprised I wasn't there already. At 11:15pm we headed to the hospital, where my lovely friend Nadia checked us in through the Emergency Room (Thanks Nadia... I love you!). We got to the room a little after 11:30pm and I was 8cm... they called the doctor who came up right away and she checked me and I was 10 cm and fully effaced... she then broke my water and I pushed about 5 times and little baby Ashton's head was out... I remember this part because I looked at Ashley in the eyes and screamed, "I can't do it anymore, ASHLEY... IT HURTS!" Everyone got a chuckle out of that and told me just one more push... So I gave it one last push and he quickly went from inside my belly to on top of it.

Oh... I was so so so happy!

It is amazing to think that things went almost exactly like my delivery with Caitlyn.

Enjoy the pictures!

Us taking time to enjoy the new addition to our family,

Ashton James Douglas!

My mom offered to keep Caitlyn for the evening since I hadn't been sleeping real well. It worked out perfectly because we didn't have to decide where she was going to stay when we were in the hospital. When she visited us, she loved to pat Ashton on the head and shoulders and tickle his feet. She even helped me hand him to my mom when it was her turn to hold him... so helpful!

... and here we are... the happy & healthy, Riggs Family!

Welcome!

Welcome Ashton James Douglas Riggs!

Born April 16th @ 1218 am.

6 pounds, 14 ounces, & 18.5 inches long.

He came super fast, is super sweet, and is an amazing breastfeeder!

Thank You, God!

I'll post more pictures later!

Pregnancy Latest

My little baby boy has made it to

FULL TERM!

I just had an appointment today and I am measuring at 4cm and 75% effaced! I wonder when this little one will decide to venture out into the world?!?

Stay tuned!

Easter & Another Happy Couple

Easter this year was again hosted by... ME! We began the day by attending church where we enjoyed watching my Mom perform in the Bell Choir. Afterwards everyone (and by everyone... I mean 30 of my closest family and friends) gathered at my house for an Easter egg hunt (in the rain) and dinner.Here are the girls (Myranda, Kassidy, and Caitlyn) preparing to hunt. ... more hunting Dad helping Caitlyn hunt Caitlyn enjoying her eggs filled with sugary treats and what's this?!? More sugary treats?!?

Here they are coming down off their sugar high.Cousin Brian and his beautiful girls.
and that's how I do it... 37 weeks pregnant... Easter for 30!*********************************************************

Easter Eve, we attended our friends, T and Blair's wedding reception! We danced and partied the night away with the happy couple. Congratulations!

Of course a picture collage of the wild night of dancing that

did NOT put me into labor :(

Shower Pics & an Update

Thanks to my wonderfull BFF and sisters, I was able to enjoy my Saturday relaxing just down the street with family and friends. I absolutely loved all the little kiddos there (thanks Avery, Norah, Nolan, and Caitlyn for all your help with my gift opening... and Jackson for being so lovable and cuddly). Baby Boy Riggs was spoiled with gifts as was Caitlyn... Thank you everyone!
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I'm 36 weeks now!!! From conception to February 18th, it seemed as though this was the world's fastest and most uneventfull pregnancy. Then came February 18th, 19th, and 20th (all the days I was in the hospital trying to stop preterm labor)... since arriving home from the hospital, time has slowed to snail speed. I have counted each day as a blessing for my little boy to continue to develop inside me, but I am growing very anxious to meet him. Last week I was taken off the tocolytic (medicine to prevent labor I was taking every 4 hours) and this coming week, I get to return to work as a regular Registered Nurse that gets to care for patients instead of being forced to sit at a desk making phone calls and doing paperwork. My doctor is letting my body and baby boy do what they want to do now... and boy oh boy is it making me excited and anxious as each day passes! We have had our bags minimally packed and in the truck since the day after we got home from the preterm hospital scare... Since my showers, the bags have probably become overpacked now with everything all in precious baby boy blue. We're ready to meet our son so continue to check in for any exciting updates!

Fun Run

Yesterday was mine and Nadia's 6th year participating in the YMCA's Run for Kids. It was Caitlyn's 3rd year in it (her 1st year was in my belly), and it was her 1st time completing the diaper dash! Ashley pushed Caitlyn in the 5K race in our jogging stroller with a flat tire and Nadia and I walked very slowly in fear that a faster pace might put me into labor.

After the race, Tiffany and my sisters threw me and baby boy a wonderfully fun baby shower. My camera's battery was dead so Hana took some pictures for me... and I am having a hard time getting them off of her camera. Enjoy these run pictures until I figure out my sister's camera!

The Happy Couple

We had an amazing time at Tobi and Christian's wedding. I was a little worried that the electric slide and the cupid shuffle might put me back into labor... but here I am 5 days later typing this post with only one baby sleeping in her crib and one resting and growing peacefully in my belly! My family had been looking forward to this wedding for a couple of years and I know they were extremely sad to miss it. Enjoy the pics!
We wish you both a lifetime of good health and happiness!

We were so happy to be able to share in your special day!