Have a Safe New Year!

Here's hoping that everyone's dreams come true this year...Happy 2009!

It's Almost 2009...Where Does the Time Go?

It has been almost 9 years since the Y2K crazies were freaking out and stocking up on chicken broth, beans and bottled water. I was 16, without a worry in the world. Really...ask my dad. He'll tell you what I cared about, and it was a whole lot of nothing. I don't want to get into my teenage years, we can save that for another day and another blog.

Lately, I have been thinking a lot about what I want to accomplish this next year. I have compiled a list of the top 5 goal for 2009:

1. Start running and hiking every day/week like we used too, before we had Ryan. We each want to lose 40lbs, and get healthy if Shane wants to go to the police academy at the end of this year(2009). I will take lots of pictures of our hiking adventures, we go to some pretty neat places.

2. Get a job...that's an obvious one. After you read farther you will understand why.

3. Take a million pictures, and scrapbook them all. Or just turn them into memory books...depends on the money situation. I want to get a few more of my portraits framed and up on the family picture wall. I have about 10 up, but I also have a pile of 15 that still need to be framed.

4. Spend every available moment with my family. We don't spend enough time together. This year, I am planning the first ever Green Family Mini Reunion. Its going to be a day to remember. It seems like ever since my grandparents passed away we don't all get together anymore...even if its just for a meal and conversation. I know my dad has been really excited to take group photos. This will be his chance. We have new Greens (Stefanie, Carson & Christopher) and soon to be Greens (Brianna). New children and older children that we haven't met or seen in a long time.

5. Last but not least...have a baby. Well maybe not have one, but definitely get pregnant. We have to make sure this job nonsense is fixed. Make sure that there is some more money in the bank. But if all the stars line up...We want a big family, and we aren't getting any younger. We love Ryan so much, I cant imagine my life without him, and I cant imagine my life without more little ones just like him.


This is a crazy picture of our Christmas Tree. I have the camera on manual, bulb, and I kept the shutter open for about 6 seconds. Then I just shook the camera all around to make these pretty swirls. I guess the technique is pretty amateur, but it was fun.

What Do We Do Now?

Well, Christmas is over. O V E R! What will we do with ourselves? Now its time to get back to the real world. My job search continues...its tough out there right now. I guess people can't understand until you are the one that's actually looking for employment. I already went through it with Shane, and it sucked. I'm not thrilled that now its my turn. I'm excited to get back to work. I can't remember what life was like before we had Ryan...let alone before I quit my job. This ought to be interesting.

Today we covered stuff with chocolate...mostly cherries and pretzels. It was fun. Other than that, it was a pretty uneventful day. I have been reading my photography books. I think I said "So that's what that does!!" about 50 times today. Its awesome what you can do with a camera when you know how to use it properly. Yeah folks, there is a lot more to taking good pictures than just pushing the button and watching the flash go off...then fixing the red eye on your computer later!! We took some more pictures in the park. Ryan is wearing his new hippo shirt and blue hat. The plan was to use the polarizing filter because it would make the blue shirt, hat and his eyes look awesome...but of course my brain was going a million miles per hour and I forgot to bring it. He is so easy to photograph...because he is so beautiful. I could do it forever!! I tried to take some pictures of the sunset, but they turned out blah. They weren't all that special.

ADDITIONAL BABY NEWS: We are within days of little Ryan crawling! He is right on the edge...he has the legs in position: he just needs to coordinate the arms. Im going to work with him all week. Hopefully I can BLOG about the "first time he crawled" sometime later this week!!!

Ryan and Blythe

Here's Looking at You Kid

All the Stuff I Love

Today we went to Sur La Table and to get the Dark Knight, which was nearly impossible to find. I hate Sur La Table and LOVE it all at the same time. The store has such a neat variety of cooking utensils, bake ware, knives, and small appliances; its hard to choose. I finally decided on a new cook book, a 7 inch whisk and a meatball-er. The meatball-er is basically that, it makes meatballs. I had my first meatball sub the other day...and it was all over after that. Now, I must make meatballs. I borrowed some ideas from a few different recipes and made a tomato sauce, the meatballs and some pasta. I know people out there are thinking: Who cares...its just spaghetti and meatballs! But, I have now perfected my tomato sauce and I have NEVER made meatballs. So I'm really proud of myself. I used my new 7 cup Cuisinart Food Processor...WHICH IS AWESOME!!! The other part to the title of this blog is the photography part. I took a picture of my masterpiece.

Baby's 1st Christmas

What a day! Ryan got lots and lots of toys...his head is still spinning. We all had a lot of fun watching him tear everything apart, and even more fun watching him play with it all. Dinner was yummy, you cant go wrong with prime rib. We really enjoyed spending time with both sides of the family. Thanks to Grandma and Heather for making Ryan's 1st Christmas so special. He loves his toys...especially the fishbowl and the learning puppy. And I cant wait to make hummus with my food processor, and then force Shane to eat it!! We love you all!

T'was the Night Before Christmas...

Here are a few pictures of Ryan opening a gift from Grandma and Grandpa on Christmas Eve, right before bedtime. We wanted him to open this one because its a seahorse that sings him lullabies. We are starting the "Cry it Out" sleep method and we want him to associate this cute little doll with bedtime. He was wearing a really cute pair of Christmas jammies that he got from his great aunt Nadine, but he puked on them and that was the end of that. I'll clean them and put them back on him in the morning, for when he opens up all his gifts. We are all excited for Christmas breakfast with friends and dinner witht the family tommorow. And we are excited for the train park on friday so all the cousins can meet the Monkey!!

My Little Yellow Submarine

Today, Ryan, Grandma and I went shopping for x-mas gifts and a few odds and ends. She needed to go by Joanns so I thought to myself "since shes going, and is good at crafts and stuff, she can help me make a blanket for the kid!!" We found the cutest yellow submarine material. Im so proud of myself, its the first thing that I have ever made. Its so soft and cuddly, I cant wait for the kid to fall asleep than I get to use it!

We got the kid some really great presents. I cant wait to see him rip into them, dont worry I will post all the pictures!!

LOOK OUT BLYTHE...I'M MAKING A MERMAID ONE FOR YOU!!

Boys Will Be Boys...

Pictures taken on 12.21.2008 by Lindsay

Hungry, Hungry Hippo!

Pictures taken 12.21.2008 by Lindsay

Bye, Bye...Blackbird

I woke up early this morning to go to the grocery store. I am planning on doing some cooking and baking this weekend. I have been trying to get into baking more...cause I suck at it and I don't want to. I'm also making some pasta and lasagna this weekend.

When I was leaving my house, I noticed that there was a thick layer of fog covering the neighborhood. It was so COOL! So I'm posting some pictures to show you all. And, I created a new sport: Driving Photography...tell your friends about it.

In Other News: We are taking one set of family pictures tommorow morning (at the crack of dawn). Im excited. Hopefully Ryans face rash goes away a little before then.

Happy Birthday Andrea!

A special Birthday wish to a special friend. Thanks for always being there for our family these last 6 years. Thank you for being like the sister that I never had, but always wanted. Thank you for always being on my side, even when you knew I was wrong. Thank you for listening to me sing. Thank you for making me laugh. Thanks for all the road trips and mini vans. Thank you for standing up at my wedding. Thank you for hanging out with me when I was too pregnant to get out of bed. Thanks for beating off the crazies at the Casa Grande Walmart. Thanks for all the late night trips to IHOP. Thanks for the support through all the bad times and making all the good times even better. I appreciate everything that you do for me and my son, we truly love having you in our life. I hope this year's birthday is the best yet! I love you for loving me! HAPPY 26th Birthday!!

I cant wait for Saturday...

Visit to the Doctor

We went to see the doctor today for Ryan's 4 month check up, even though he's 5 months old. We got all of the insurance issues cleared up. We finally have the official weigh in:

17 pounds
27 inches

We saw the physician assistant Sara, which I actually prefer because I think the doctor is into weird natural remedies. We went over:

1. Excessive spit up. She says that we are feeding him too much too frequently. Which can't be true because he's not overweight...if anything I would say he needs to gain a few pounds. And I know that just because he's not overweight doesn't mean that I'm not feeding him too much, I feed him until he's not hungry. She said that 6 ounces is way too much. My response to that was "he usually takes 2 /6 ounce bottles at a time. He's a pig!"
We went over the new foods he is eating and which ones he likes and dislikes. She was really excited to hear he likes squash...I guess shes a fan. I have been trying to incorporate solids slowly. She suggested we pick up the pace, because he is at the age when solids should be a part of his diet.
I will take her advice, I don't want to be one of those moms that has a kid then thinks that they know it all ('cause you don't). She is the doctor.

2.Rash-y Skin. I told her that Ryan breaks out in wicked rashes. He has thick scaly skin on his face around his mouth and on his cheeks. And he get welts on his tummy after food touches it, and he has thick patches on his elbows. She said that he has eczema. Which may pass with age, but is usually caused by either a food allergy or when the parents have asthma or allergies. Shane has both. She suggest that we use fragrance free soaps and keep it moisturized. Also, use a humidifier. Which we already do. We have been using eczema soap in his bath and we picked up a super moisturizing face bar. We call it his face deodorant...cause it looks like deodorant! Ha!

3.Poo. We talked about his poo. It's been weird and stinky, more than usual. She said that is completely normal with his new diet. I agreed.

We are going to start looking for a new doctor for Ryan. i think that most of the ladies down there a really great, but there are a few that I could live without. I want to start seeing an actual pediatrician. Mainly because babies is all they do all day. If I hear "Well, lets just watch it and see what happens" one more time, after paying a copay, I'm gonna lose it. I would NEVER wish my child any harm, or to be sick, but if he is legitimately sick the doctor needs to do something about it. Not tell me to watch it and send me on my way.

After it was all said and done, Sara did ask me if Ryan was my only child. I immediately thought to myself "Is she calling me fat?" I told her that he was our first, and then she complimented me on what a great job I was doing. She said I was very in tune with what was going on and seemed to have "first time parent" down. It felt good to hear that. Especially when everything else in my life is in shambles, we still got a handle on the stuff that actually means something.

"Hey Baby...That Camera Cost Literally More Than You Did!"

Blog Title Explaination: When we had Ryan we were on crazy cheap insurance...his labor, the hospital stay and everything all wrapped up cost us $250. Can you hear Shane in the background singing the Subway "$5 Footlong Song?"And why is Shane always dropping F Bombs in all of these videos?

That's a Huge Baby!!!

So the unofficial stats are in! I know you are wondering why I'm putting them up here if they are unofficial? Well, I'm bored...and I dont have our new insurance cards. So I cant take the little guy to the doctor yet.

Weight: 16lbs 7ounces

Length: 26.5 inches

*These measurements could be off a little considering we used an old tape measure, a cell phone, my finger and a crappy scale that is wrong(especially when I use it ;) ) Not the most scientific tools.

This is what we do at our house when we get bored...weigh the baby, then watch X-Files.

Take a Picture...It Lasts Longer

Me and my dad took up the love of photography a few years ago. He has spent a lot of time and a LOT of money, and in my opinion mastered his art. I like to consider myself a photographer, or maybe I just like taking pictures. Im working with a crappy digital right now, but I have taken some frame worthy ones with my film SLR, and a few keepers with my dads equipment. But I am so glad that it's something that we can share a love for and bond as father and daughter.It's very special to me. With that said...I wanted to showcase some of my dad's photography because I truely think its amazing. He has such a great eye for beauty in nature. Please visit his website and check it all out! http://windwatcher.smugmug.com/