Chickens

Here is a look at our chickens (aka Jacob's pride and joy). I wish we would have taken pictures of them when we first brought them home, but we didn't. They have tripled in size and would have been pretty squished if we had left them in the dog kennel like Jacob had originally planned.
Thank you Fenton, Theron and Ken for your help building the chicken coop (or napping with Ryker). You all did a great job and the chickens love it!!
We've always heard you should never name your future dinner, but we couldn't resist. The names we gave them are Finger, Lickin' and Good. For now we just want the eggs, but we plan on making their names a reality.

Baby showers

We are so fortunate to have such wonderful families!! We had the Whetstone family shower before Ryker was born since Kaybi was in town. My family was also planning on having a shower so I thought it would be fun to have one before Ryker was born and one after so we could have one gender specific shower. Both were so wonderful and we had such a great time. It is so much fun to be able to visit with family and friends we don't see very often. Thank you to all of you who came and were so generous with the gifts you gave us. Thank you also to my Moms (Debbie and Beverly), sister (Trisha), sisters-in-law (Angie, Holly, Michelle, Brandi, Debbie and Kaybi) and nieces (Lydia, Kayla, Elyse, Abby, Ellie, Adyson, Alyssa, Jocelyn, Kennedy and Addison) for such great showers!! I don't know what I would do without you!!

For some reason I can't find the pictures of the Whetstone shower. When I do I will be sure to post them!!

The greatest husband and Ryker's bestest buddy

In watching him interact with kids I always knew Jacob would be a good dad, but I had not seen him around babies so I didn't know the calming effect he had on them. It didn't take long to see what a GREAT Dad he is to Ryker. They have such a close bond and seem to have it right from the start. I admire the way Jacob can take Ryker when he is extremely fussy or very upset and hungry and calm him in seconds. As we found out the other day, he doesn't even have to be in the same room as Ryker. I was at my Mom and Dad's house and Ryker was starting to get really fussy. Jacob happened to call and I put the phone up to Ryker's ear and the second Jacob said his name, Ryker calmed down and turned his head towards the phone to find his dad. I know it was in no way coincidental, but was Jacob's ability to calm Ryker just by talking to him.

Jacob loves to show off his baby boy and is beginning to teach him everything he knows starting with his ABC's and 123's. They have a great time together as they get the mail, feed the dogs and clean out the chicken coop. Yes, you read it right we have chickens. They are Jacob's second pride and joy (Ryker being the first), but we'll save that story for another time.

Jacob is the best Dad and husband any two people could ask for. He has been so great with Ryker and I as we all learn to adjust to our new life together.

Thanks for all you do. We love you more than you know!!!!