Oh Sunny Day

We have had some really lovely weather lately (sunny, mid-50s), so we have gotten good use of the Baby Bjorn carrier (thanks, Wedlakes!). Here Ryan and I are suited up to take Casey dog to play ball (before the wire-through-the-paw incident).

Homespun Goodness

I come from a family of crochet-ers, so it was no surprise that Ryan has received many handmade afghans and blankets. This one is especially cozy:

Squirrels are Bad

We had our first trip to the emergency vet this weekend - Casey, in his desire to rid the neighborhood of squirrels, managed to step on a metal landscaping wire. Fortunately it just went through the webbing in his paw, missing any tendons or ligaments, but by the amount of the bill you'd think they had to reconstruct bone or something...

We have since gone to our regular vet to have the bandage removed and Casey's paw is healing just fine - so he's back to defending the backyard from squirrels...

More Milestones

Last Friday Ryan had his first check-up with the pediatrician - he is developing right on schedule as a happy, healthy baby. We had to take him to the hospital lab for the second PKU genetic testing, which I was really nervous about, but he sailed through it like the calm fellow he is.

Later that night he had his first bath in the baby bath tub, which was apparently more traumatic than the blood draw:

Christmas week was spent visiting with Grandma and Grandpa Fleming and Great Grandma Vieweg, who was visiting from Indiana. Ryan and Daddy went to Grandma and Grandpa's house on Wednesday while Mom started preparations for Christmas dinner, and he took his first bottle of breast milk (and then nursed successfully later).

Ryan slept peacefully through the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at our neighborhood church, Green Mountain Presbyterian. It was a nice service, but I think we'll "shop around" a little more before settling on a regular church.

Me and Daddy

Napping:

Helping Daddy win at Battleship:

Watching TV (the History or Discovery Channel, I'm sure):

Watching TV with Chester:

Opening Christmas presents (not as much fun as sleeping):

Not even when Mommy holds me:

Just Chillin'

Better than television, Sam says - we could watch him all day.

Special thanks to Mickie & Boogie for the cute duckie sleepsack and to Amy and Al for the bouncy chair - he loves it!

The Christmas Letter

2008 was a big year for us. Some highlights:

In March, I started a new job at Opera Colorado as Manager of Corporate and Foundation Relations. I write grants, manage sponsor benefits, and plan some of our donor events, and I'm really enjoying it.

Also in March, Sam started graduate school. He is getting a Master's in Information Assurance at Regis University. Basically he is learning to protect company networks (though it's quite a bit more complicated than that). He is four classes in and has a 4.0 GPA. I'm learning a lot too as I help edit his papers, though I'm sure I'll never use the information...

In late April, strange cravings for Greek yogurt, Wheat Thins and lemon creme cookies sent me in search of an EPT ("the most advanced technology you'll ever pee on"). The doctor confirmed it and the ultrasound proved it - we were well on our way to becoming parents!

It was at that point we realized that it was probably time to buckle down and finish some major house projects, so we hired a guy to sand and finish the hardwood floors we had installed New Year's Eve weekend 2007.

We visited my dad, stepmom and stepsister for a few days at their vacation condo on St. George Island off the Florida panhandle in May. My brother and his family also came down and we enjoyed the sun and surf.

Our dear friends Mark and Tara Joffe announced their plans to leave us all behind as they embark on grand adventures in Texas and France - also leaving us their 18 year old cat, Chester. After selling their house and the bulk of their possessions, they lived in our basement for a week at the end of May before heading off on a last hooray rafting trip with the Colorado gang on the Chama river. I stayed behind to attend the National Performing Arts Convention in Denver and to spend time with my dear friend Keturah, who was in town from San Diego for the convention.

We volunteered for the Ms 150 bike ride in late June. It was good to see our old friends from the Courage Classic bike tour, and to make new friends. June also brought the sad news that Nikita, our 11 year old Malamute, had inoperable cancer and would not be with us much longer.

We finally had to put her down in July, which was very sad, but made room in our home to bring home Casey:

The rest of the summer is a bit of a blur - more house projects got crossed off the list (new windows, new doors and interior trim, work began on the nursery) and Sam started spending a lot more time at the convention center as they geared up for a string of major conventions, including the Democratic National Convention (at least that’s what he told me – he may have just been escaping the pregnancy hormones!).

In October we invited Scott and Heidi Hace to join us in Las Vegas for a “babymoon” weekend. I had never been to Sin City, and now I don’t ever have to go back! We enjoyed the company, but the heat and the extensive walking was a bit much for being 7 months pregnant.

The rest of the fall was spent waiting and preparing for Baby Fleming’s arrival. Finally, on December 4, my water broke while I was at work. After a stop at home to get our overnight bag and to play ball with the dog (hey, it helped get contractions going!), we headed to the hospital. Ten hours later, Ryan Arthur came into the world. His shoulder got stuck on the way out, but we had an experienced midwife who knew exactly what to do – and just like that, we’re parents - Holy Cow!

We’ve loved every minute of getting to know this little guy (okay, I haven’t LOVED the 2 a.m. feedings, but I’ll survive), and we look forward to all the new adventures life has in store for us.

We hope you all have a wonderful and prosperous 2009. Please come visit us soon!

Susan, Sam, Ryan, Casey, Star, Peter and Chester

Surfer Boy

We decorated the nursery in Surfer Boy/Hawaiiana theme. Of course Ryan's arrival coincided with record breaking low temperatures and more snowfall than we've seen yet this winter... at least it's always sunny in the nursery!

Special thanks to the Wedlakes for passing along the crib and the changing table!

Sam built these shelves, modeled after a set I saw in the Pottery Barn Kids catalog. He also installed the wainscoting and the ceiling fan. What a guy!

Milestones

It was a big weekend in the Fleming household. On Saturday morning, we realized that Ryan's umbilical cord stump had fallen off, and left behind a perfect little "innie". It was a beautiful day, so Mom and friend Jillian took Ryan and Casey dog for a stroll around the neighborhood in the Baby Bjorn.

On Sunday we finally got up the nerve to give Ryan his first bath - I don't know why, but the whole idea made me really nervous. We survived, though, and now he smells like a baby again (thanks, Burt's Bees!)

Our last big milestone was the most exciting - he's finally big enough to wear the g diapers I've been stockpiling for the last few months. We love the fact that you just flush the messy liner - no diaper pails or washing cloth diapers. I know, I never thought I'd get so excited about poopy diapers!

A big thank you to everyone who has come to visit the little guy, bearing gifts and food. So far he has slept through every visit - but we've certainly enjoyed the attention, too!

Pictures at an Exhibition

Okay, I give up. I am just going to post stick figure drawings of Ryan, because there is no way I can even come close to the photographic talent of Beth Wedlake. She posted a few photos of our darling boy on her blog, as well as the full story of the peeing incident... Please, if you need a wedding, infant or family portrait photographer, give her a call.

Our First Outing

Ryan went shopping with Mom and Grandma today. We busted out the fuzzy hat and mittens, and he wasn't quite sure what to make of it.

We also had our photo shoot with Beth Wedlake - I can't wait to see the photos! There was a hysterical moment during the naked baby shots... let's just say Beth may choose to invest in a waterproof camera cover for future infant shoots...

Other Flemings

Some of the four-legged Flemings include Peter, a cat I adopted when I first moved to Denver nine years ago:

and Casey, a German Shepherd mix we (okay, I) adopted in August. Here Peter decides that Casey's tail is easier to lick than his own (Casey was not so keen on the idea).

Bright Eyes

Ryan is usually sacked out when we have visitors, so I thought I would post a little clip of him awake.

Welcome to the Family!

We are thrilled to welcome Ryan Arthur Fleming to the family.


He arrived 8 days earlier than expected, on Friday, December 5, 2008. He weighed in at a whopping 8 lbs 13 oz and measured 22 inches long.

Sam's mom gave us the little bonnet that Sam wore home from the same hospital 37 years, 1 month and 2 days earlier, but Ryan's head was a little too cone shaped for it to fit properly.

Ryan is a mellow kiddo, but every now and again he decides get vocal:

The weather was gorgeous today (60 degrees and sunny) and the dog was anxious to go for a walk, so we suited up to get some fresh air.

Watertown Slide Table

Closed - 29 1/4 inches high, 36 inches wide.



Open as a four-top - 40" x 36".


Extended to full length - 78" long with 3 leaves and third set of legs unfolded.

Manufacturer's stamp on table slides.