Merry Birthdays in December

Guess who is 26 today? Happy Birthday Hillary!

Hillary and Amy

Time for the traditional birthday food at Los Hermanos! Cheese enchiladas with beans and rice!! Hill and I go for birthday enchiladas every year!!

I AM ONE MONTH OLD!!

Ryu is one month old already! He is getting so big and changing so much. He is eating tons and keeping us busy at night. He is becoming more alert and traces our faces with his eyes. He is one cute baby!! This is him sleeping in his "buzzy" chair~the best invention in the world!! He loves this chair! Anyone who has a little one needs a "buzzy" chair!

Happy Birthday Andy!!

Andy is 33 on December 29th. He and his wife Brandi have three cute boys who I am proud to be an aunt to.

Kage is 11

Sade is 8

Noah is 2

Happy December Birthdays!!

Christmas Whiteman Style 2007

It's become a tradition for the Whitemans to get together on Christmas Eve. It helps us married folk spend more time with both sides of the family. Plus, it makes for two Christmas days!! Who would argue with that? We had lots of fun together after we all braved the snow to get to Ike and Linda's house in Woodland Hills!! We Had lots of good treats with Brandi's homemade wassail to top it off!

We spent Christmas day with my family. Christmas was tons of fun this year with Ryu here! Ryu is my parents first grandchild. So, of course he is star of the day... everyday! We had lots of fun and totally over ate for the second day in a row! That is easy to do at my parents house! Chris made my family a surprise. He made some sushi. Dad and Tom were the only ones brave enough to try it! To my surprise, they both kind of liked it! The others are missing out because Chris makes some good sushi!!

I hope that you all had a great Christmas and had a chance to spend time with your families! Here's to the new year!!

Where did you think you would be in 2008?

I believe...

Christmas Eve!!!

I love Christmas. It is an amazing holiday that tends to loose a little bit of spirit as we grow older, sadly enough. However, Ryu has brought a little of the magic back to us this year. I imagine the years to come to be even brighter. I can't wait!!

Ride em' cowboy!! Well... someday.

This is Ryu's Christmas present from grandpa and grandma Whiteman. Grandpa had this horse made. Floyd Kimber is the artist. He is amazing. He also made our kitchen table and chairs!!

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. ~Norman Vincent Peale

"Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile." Albert Einstein

Ahh....those chubby cheeks! We are getting more of Ryu every day. His cheeks and legs are becoming bigger, not to mention his double chin. I love it!! Nothing is cuter that a chubby baby! Some of his clothes are actually starting to fit!! Diapers, on the other hand, are getting a little tight!!

I think I can...I think I can....

Can you guess what Ryu is doing? This is my favorite face. It brings tears to my eyes and sore cheeks from laughing! Such an intense moment for the little guy. This is funny, no matter who you are!

This is Lucy, our baby girl. She is so much fun and such a good dog. We got her a month before we found out Ryu was coming. I hope that they will be good friends. Lucy is a pretty patient dog but I am sure she has a limit to the inevitable hair pulling to come!

I hope that you are all doing well and that you can find some way to bring a little magic back to this holiday! Merry Christmas!

Even as an adult I find it difficult to sleep on Christmas Eve. Yuletide excitement is a potent caffeine, no matter your age. ~Carrie Latet

First Adventures

FIRST BATHTIME!! Ryu was a good sport. He wasn't totally thrilled at first...hence the tense look. But, he did well. Chris and I had fun!! It is so fun to be apart of Ryu's first experiences. I love his facial expression that go along with the experience.

Yes, he looks so innocent. Let's just see what the future brings!!




Proud Papa!! Chris is having so much fun with Ryu. It has been an amazing experience for me to watch the love of my life turn into a daddy- who is such a "softy" even with that occasional rough exterior.

In the hospital, Chris was everything I could have needed. Ya know, I only changed one diaper while I was there? Chris made such a fluid change into the daddy rank. I am one lucky girl. I have two amazing men by my side!!

Ryu (Reye-U); Japanese for DRAGON!! The meaning is not the reason why we chose the name. Chris and I had a really hard time deciding on names. Boy names are really hard! Really, Ryu is the only name that Chris would consider. He wanted his name to be original and unique. Ryu definitely has both of those qualities. The name grew on me...needless to say. Well, I think it fits him!! Besides, it will be cool on a football jersey!! That is, if he likes football.







The Silent Whistle

This is the Ooooo face. He is not doing it as much as he use to. It is really funny when he does do it though.

Here's to the Beginning!!

As of November 29, 2007, we have officially become three instead of two. Oh...plus Lucy, our cute puppy!! Ryu Ivan Whiteman was born at 3:17pm. He was 21 inches and 7 pounds even. He is the spitting image of his daddy, with a hint of mommy in his smile and chin. He has been so much fun, even in the middle of the night. It is amazing to look into the eyes of your own creation. He looks at us so intensely. I think he is trying to figure out what we are all about.
He had his two week check up on the 14th of December. He has gained nearly a pound. He is a great eater. Again...just like daddy! They measured him only at 20 inches instead of the original 21 inches. I figure that is due to his amazing cone head at birth. Poor little man! I am glad to say that his head looks pretty good now!!
So, this is my attempt at keeping up with the rest of you! I hope that I will be able to make this a weekly routine. I hope all is well and you are all ready for CHRISTMAS!!!