Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Florida Fun!

Rylee and I got to go to Florida again to see my family. It was a wonderful trip!

At stake conference we got to meet Elder Nelson and two other
General Authorities of the church!


Travis and I pretended we were Katniss Everdeen.

I did some jogging.


I shot a shotgun and didn't scream when it went off.


Travis and I hacked through the jungle to clear some trees on the side of the driveway.
Nope, Rylee didn't shrink, she's just with the Giant.

Rylee adores Uncle Travis!


We went to Merna and Daytona Beach with Dad. It was super cold and windy.



Rylee met her great-grandparents.

We facetimed a sad daddy.


Made our traditional Saturday Home Depot trip with Dad.


Went to the Orlando Temple with Delaney on a youth temple trip.


And Rylee helped me do some unpacking.


We had a fabulous trip and can't wait to go back!

Friday, January 24, 2014

Elder Lanham's Homecoming!!!

My little brother is finally home! 

It was so much fun to see him meet Rylee for the first time!

It was a busy week with a lot of family!

Our niece Belle, who was shy initially with Travis onWednesday, warmed up by the next day.

Cousin time!!!

Cassie was apparently exhausted from all the excitement, as she fell asleep on Rylee's car seat.
Both the girlies are asleep.

We had our family Christmas.

And another Christmas with my grandparents, cousins, and aunt and uncle.

Rylee spent some quality time on her Abue's lap.

And she enjoyed family jam session with her aunt and uncle.

It was a great week!

Sunday, January 5, 2014

Adventures Around Houston

New Year's Day we went to see the San Jacinto Monument, the Battleship Texas, and wandered around the Kemah Boardwalk on the bay.

Every good Texan should make a pilgrimage to see the birth place of Texas at least once.

We didn't tour the battleship, mainly because we didn't want to pay the $12 a person, but it was pretty neat to see. They're celebrating the centineal this year! That's one old ship!

The boardwalk was ok, kind of small and touristy. We escaped without paying a single dime! 

Yesterday, we went and checked out the Houston Zoo. The best part was that because we are members with Bank of America and it was the first weekend of the month, our visit was free!

Notice Sophie the giraffe photo bombing the picture with the real giraffe? Can you spot the barn owl?

Rylee was unimpressed with the petting zoo, especially because she has her own private one at her grandparent's house in Florida(we're going back at the end of the month).

That kimono dragon was BIG! Rylee appeared to be a little concerned that it was so close to her!

The zoo was really nice, and most of the exhibits let you get really close to the animals(glass walls instead of far off pits). There was a giraffe feeding pavilion that you could pay $6 and feed them lettuce, but there was a line and we're cheap.

My favorite was getting to see the elephants in their barn(the staff was cleaning their habitat area, so they had then back in the barn with a glass wall while they got fed snacks and had their feet washed off).

But the absolute best part of the day was seeing a chimp wearing a blanket. Because it was windy, he looked like he was wearing a hooded cloak billowing in the wind. So we decided he looked like a Jedi.

Ryan got some watercolor time in. Rylee and I listened to the giraffe keeper talk while Ryan painted the giraffes. Later, he did the pond outside the zoo. Rylee and I went and rode the train around the park while we waited.


We had a great week and a fun weekend, despite Rylee being sick. She was a real little trooper at the zoo and seemed to enjoy taking in all the new sights.

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Happy New Year!

Our 2013 in review:

I gave birth to a beautiful, happy, and healthy baby girl!

We celebrated our fifth wedding anniversary.

Ryan left the firm he hated working for and started for a new firm that he loves.

We moved from San Antonio to Houston.

Rylee flew on her first plane to Florida.

Ryan turned 30.

It was an amazing year with huge life changing moments. Here's to 2014!




Monday, December 30, 2013

Merry Christmas!

It's not too late, right? We just got back from our trip to New Jersey yesterday. We had a great time, but now all three of us have colds. Here's our Christmas card I never printed!



Our Christmas vacation started this year with making a trip to SA to see my grandparents and go to Sea World.



Then we hopped on a plane Christmas Eve and spent the rest of the week with Ryan's sisters and his parent in New Jersey.

 Rylee got to meet her 5 cousins for the first time, as well as her 2 aunts, 2 uncles, 3 great-aunts, 3 great-uncles, dozen or so cousins-once-removed, and tons of second cousins.
Cousins!

Second cousins! The youngest two on the Gouldy side of the family.

She opened lots of presents!


We did a little roller skating after my niece's skating lesson.

Ryan turned 30!

We had a Orozco family google hangout to talk with my brother who's in Mexico.

And we FaceTimed my Lanham family.
My dad, uncle, and aunt

Our flight home Sunday was at 6am, so we got to wake up at 3:45am. Rylee had started getting a runny nose the night before. Initially I thought it was teething, but about halfway through our connecting flight, I heard the congestion move to her chest. All three of us were worn out and tired when we got home, but Rylee wasn't quite ready for sleep. Ryan took her so I could nap. When I woke up, it was dead quiet.  I went out to the living room and found every toy rylee owns strewn about, and my two favorite people, snuggled up on the couch under the Christmas quilt my stepmom made me last year.
Doesn't your heart instantly melt with sweetness?

The best Christmas present is yet to come. My brother gets home from his mission a week from Wednesday, and then we fly to Orlando to see my family on the 20th! So excited! I can't even contain myself!

Look out ladies! My handsome little brother gets home in 8 days!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! 

Thursday, December 26, 2013

30 Favorite Things

Ryan is 30 years old! How did that happen? He was 23 when we met! In honor of his birthday, I'm listing my 30 favorite things about him. They are in no particular order, writing them as they come.

1.) His laugh. If you've ever met Ryan, you know what I'm talking about. When we first met, I was a little startled by it, but I quickly couldn't help but smile and laugh along with him.

2.) He's draws and paints. I think it's awfully romantic for whatever reason to watch him sketch or paint. When I get to see the final product, I am always amazed at how beautiful it is. 


3.) He's a hard worker. Ryan spent last year at a job where he was miserable to support our family and allow me to stay at home with our new little baby. And for that, I'm eternally grateful.

4.) He's an architect. And it's kind of sexy. I'm always proud to answer when people ask what my husband does. He put A LOT of time and effort into his degree and is working hard now to get his license. 
Constructing a house for his design build studio.

5.) He knows how to make me laugh.  Even when I don't feel like laughing.

6.) He has stunning blue eyes. I always wanted my husband to have blue eyes and dark hair, and Ryan has both. And I got my blue eyed baby that I always dreamed about thanks to her daddy.

7.) He's outdoorsy. We both love hiking, camping, climbing, canoeing, etc. 


8.) He always makes sure that we go on dates. When we were "dating," he always had an idea for us to go do something fun instead of just "hanging out." Now, he still makes it a point to take me on dates, even if they're cheap and we have a baby in tow.

9.) He makes the bed. I never found this to be an important chore, but he almost always makes the bed on weekends(I'm still in bed when he leaves for work in the morning). It's slowly wearing off on me and I find myself making the bed on occasion.

10.) He likes watching random documentaries. He might think that I don't like this particular habit, but I really find it endearing. He's full of random tidbits of information from them too.

11.) He likes science fiction. I love it too, so we introduce each other to new books or shows.

12.) He doesn't mind spending ALL of his time with me. I'm reconciled to the fact that I'm an emotionally needy person. Because of that, I'm always wanting to spend every moment of our time TOGETHER, because I feel like I don't get to see him enough. When I whine and tell him this, he'll smile at me and ask what I would like to do together.

13.) Every morning we get the chance(mainly weekends or holidays), we cuddle up in bed and talk. Seriously, I think we could snuggle and be goofy together all day.

14.) He's one of the most inherently good people I know. He has the best heart and strives to do good and be a good person.


15.) He's incredibly sweet. I could go on and on with examples here, so take my word for it.

16.) He's patient. Especially with me and my chronic indecision, moodiness, and weirdness.

16.) He thinks I'm beautiful and says it often. He always makes me feel pretty, even when I'm looking a little worse for wear. 

17.) Not a day goes by that he doesn't say "I love you." He says it with meaning too, not just as a repetitive phrase or afterthought.

18.) I really like the way his butt looks in jeans. I won't elaborate any more on that.

19.) He's a handsome guy. And he makes pretty cute babies thus far.

20.) He has really broad shoulder from swimming. I'm fairly tall, and have alway struggled feeling "little" with my big hands, big feet, etc. Ryan's only about an inch taller than me, but the fact that he has such broad shoulders makes me feel a little smaller and more girly.

21.) He's fluent in Spanish. Since my mom's family is from Mexico, I always wanted to marry someone who spoke Spanish. Since Ryan spent two years in Mexico on a full time mission for our church, he learned. Not only that, but he has a deep love for the food, people and culture of Mexico.
Especially loves the food!

22.) He's a worthy priesthood holder and faithful member of our church. He spiritually uplifts me and has great amounts of faith, which is sometimes a principle I struggle with.

23.) He's the best daddy in the entire  world. I love watching him and Rylee interact. Whether it's playing, reading, or sleeping, it just makes me all warm and fuzzy to see them together. Maybe it's because I get to see glimpses of Ryan in Rylee. Or maybe it just reminds me of how intensely I love the two of them.


24.) He loves to read. We like a lot of the same books, and can talk about crazy plot twists or devious characters.

25.) He's manly enough to wear Rylee in the Ergo carrier. 

26.) He always takes "adventures" with me. Whether it's going on a road trip, wandering around a street festival, exploring a new city, or just trying to find a new store, Ryan always calls it "going on an adventure" and we always have fun in the process.

27.) He can make me be so goofy with him. It's embarrassing some of the things we do and say when we're with each other, but we always make each other laugh.
Getting "tattooes" on our honeymoon.

28.) He brings so much joy and happiness into my life. 

29.) He gives the best pep talks. The first three years of our marriage, I was finishing college, and he was there for every late night and panic mode before big tests or projects. Later, he helped me through my first job as a nurse, my first pregnancy, and more late nights, this time with a crying newborn. I can't tell you how many times he has calmly reassured me and told me things would be alright.

30.) He is the best husband in the entire world. I feel most complete and happy with him at my side. He is fully supported and devoted to me and our little baby. He makes my life whole.


Happy Birthday darling husband! Rylee and I love you! Feel free to post your favorite thing about Ryan in the comment section.