Wesley Charles Ryker, 4 weeks old

a little bit about the nursery first...


now to the main event...




some of Wes's many faces...









He loved the photo shoot!

I love these two-- it's like he's conducting music

All photos by Mark Talbott

Wesley Charles Ryker

Insert sanitized version of childbirth here. No one needs to know the truth.







Rick is cute. Wesley is even cuter. Discuss.






Proud granddads can't wait to teach Wes about fishing and radios.

TOP 10 LIST: THINGS I LOVE ABOUT BEING PREGNANT

10. When in awkward situations at work where I need to answer quickly and actually think, I can just say “ooo- the baby is kicking!” and the problem is forgotten by all.

9. I don’t have to pick up a piece of paper that I drop. Someone else is required to get it, even though they are across the room.

8. I can have 2nds (and 3rds!), spill it all down the front of me, talk with my mouth full, AND no one thinks I’m being a hog

7. No more zippers, buttons, snaps. Sweat pants on a Wednesday is acceptable work attire.. and no one dares to say a word.

6. I don’t have to politely cross my legs like a lady.

5. Instead of men talking to my chest, they talk to my belly.

4. It’s ok to sit down… whenever, wherever I want.

3. Anything I need is brought to me.

2. Men no longer attempt to impress me, I tend to scare them

1. Baby loves ice cream. He is required to have some at least once a day.

Baby Shower!!

Even though I tried to get all of these photos in a logical order- my attempts are futile. So- we'll start in the middle of the shower- this was one of the best gifts- a hat with "YKI" on it. If you don't know, you don't know.


My hat of bows, fat arms, and a little cha-cha




Oh yeah-- Baby Ryker will be a lady-killer.


The outside of the "barn"


Mom & Dad. (oooo, that sounds strange)


Chelsea is my co-founder of the "Feed the Preggo's" initiative.


The VA girls- Chelsea, mom, and Ingrid


The planners of this awesome shower- Heather, Tammy & Shannon. They all did such a wonderful job!


Men put to good use.


Shanna with Caitlin


One of the essentials of a Sussex County event- dead animal on the wall


Baby Riley with family


Don't worry- his hands are clean. (he washed them after picking this hot dog up off the ground)


Andrea & her loot


"awww" "ooooo" "how precious!" .... yeah, I think I actually said ALL of those things REPEATEDLY. Oh well.


Heather explaining the game


I really enjoy being fat. What great photo op's.


Getting into the game!


Baby Broesder!


Tammy, Andrea, Heather, & Chelsea


I love NJ! This is the view right across the road from my shower. There are a lot of lakes up here, so I really forget what the name of this one is. "Swampy??"


One of the awesome favors for the Beach Theme baby shower!


I thought the awesome invitations that Shannon made would be very hard to beat. (I kept hearing about them as the "best invitations I've ever seen!") This baby shower lived up to the invites- everything was planned out perfectly and everything was SO well done. Good job to Heather, Tammy, & Shannon!!!


Rick preparing one of the most important parts of a good party (for some reason I can't figure out how to post pictures in order. I put them on in a certain order, than they come out all jumbled)


WHOA! Big belly!

IT'S A BOY!!!

Here's our boy! Sorry- I'm not going to post pictures of the... ummm "proof" that it's a boy. This is a side profile- and you can see his hand flailing around because of all the orange juice I drank before going in.

A bottom view of a foot. (also was flailing around)



Top view of the head and hands- maybe a knee cap.

And... my absolute favorite picture!