LOL

We have finally started potty training Rya. It is going really well, at least part of it is going well. She uses the toilet all by herself to go “water” as Rya calls it, but holds everything else in. She is definitely in control because she always manages to fill her diaper, when the need arises that she wears one (night-time and such). This is an issue because she is essentially causing herself to become constipated. Not to go into too many details, but this is the set up for the story.

 

It was about bedtime Sunday night when Rya started complaining of a stomach ache. Naturally, we figured it was constipation. But, then she started crying. Again, I figured gas pains combined with not wanting to go to bed was causing the tantrum. But, the crying turned to screaming, and  a non-stop painful screaming. After about 20 minutes of this screaming, we started to be concerned that this stomach ache may be more than just that. A half an hour in, she was still screaming in pain, and so we made the run to the ER, with her screaming the whole way there. As we waited anxiously in the waiting room, we just kept praying that it wasn’t too serious and that our baby girl would be alright. What seemed like an eternity, or more like 20 minutes, passed and Cody felt her pass some gas. And, within just a few minutes Rya started to calm down and return to her normal self. After probing her stomach without any painful reaction, we decided it was most likely constipation and we could treat it ourselves. So we did just that. We took her home and gave her a suppository. She didn’t enjoy that at all, a little crying followed, but who could really blame her?!

The next morning she woke up fine. By the evening, though, she seemed really tired and lethargic. Her temperature was upwards of 102 and we decided to give her some Tylenol to lower her temp and let her get some sleep. So Cody turned to Rya and asked, “Do you want some medicine?” To which she promptly replied yes. But, a second later, the expression on her face turned quizzical, and she edited her response with, “But, not the bum thingy?!”

That gave us a good hearty laugh and Rya nervously joined in the laughter, still unsure, until she realized it was just Tylenol! It was too cute, I had to write it down and share. 

Rya can make friends anywhere…

Just in case you can’t tell, these are the mannequins at Old Navy. She ran right up and starting chatting with the little girl the moment we got there. By the end, she had adjusted the mom’s outfit, danced with the little brother, and took the dog for a walk.

Merry ThanksChristgivingmas

Despite what it appears, we did have a wonderful Thanksgiving and a very Merry Christmas- just failed to add those events to the blog in a timely fashion (shocking, right?) So, rather than bore with too many details, I will just give a few highlights and get to the good part…the pictures.

Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving here in Arkansas with some good friends; expressed many thanks, ate too much amazing food and lazed around. I am not sure we got any pictures, but we really did have a wonderful day! We are so grateful for friends that are our family away from home.

Christmas

Christmas was spent in Albuquerque with Cody’s parents and sister and her family (The Bohns). Rya was showered with not only countless gifts, but attention as well (her and her 5 cousins became fast friends).  We hardly saw her after our arrival. The first thing she would want when she woke in the mornings was to be with her cousins, and she was until we dragged her to bed each night. I think she is ready to have another “friend” around, good thing we have one on order- due to arrive in April.

Above: Rya with Grandma & Grandpa Christensen	Above: Rya and all the Bohn cousins
Above: Like I said…fast friends	Above: Only two years apart in age, In fierce competition for the win—look at their serious faces.

Above: She really liked the idea of lots and lots of presents.	Above: Compliments of Uncle Brandon- here’s our little Rya princess with her prince hiding away in their castle.

Above: Grandma made her a princess outfit- you can only imagine her excitement.	Above: Keeping all her gifts very close to her, or on her (the arm was not included with the cow puppet.

Above: They cleared the front and back yard of snow to make one big snowman- their better than a snow blower.	Above: Rya was much more interested in just eating the snow.

It’s a BOY !!!!!!!!

I apologize to all those who have not heard and may still be waiting to know the gender, I did very poorly following through with my “stay tuned” announcement (only a month late). But, here he is, making his belated debut appearance on the family blog: Baby Boy Christensen (still un-named as of yet, we’re accepting suggestions):

 

Above: There he is in all his glory!	Above: Not sure this needs  an explanation.
Above: It’s his feet.	Above: It looks like he is sucking his thumb, but the doctor said he probably just had his hand by his face.

And, my personal favorite:

So, right now, his expected arrival is about mid-April. We are excited to meet him in person! 

Surprise!

I’m getting crafty (with much help from my sister). Check out the shirt we made for Rya, it turned out really cute!

And, if that announcement is not obvious enough…

Tune in next month, when hopefully, we will reveal the gender!

This is what happens…

This is what happens when your two year old picks their clothes and dresses themselves…

 

 

Now mind you, this was for a walk at 6pm (totally dark outside by this time), but how adorable is she?!!? Couldn’t have done it better myself!!

Trick or Treat

Has it seriously been over a week since Halloween? Where is the time flying to? We had a wonderful, candy-filled, Halloween. Rya was a fairy; the cutest fairy in all our kingdom. She had an extraordinary one-of-a-kind costume, thanks to the exceptional talent and fabulous styling of my mom and sister. We actually made the most of Halloween this year and went Trick-or-Treating three different times. We started at Cody’s work, then to a Church Trunk-or-Treat, and finished it off with a stint around our neighborhood. Rya began the festivities by breaking down in tears at the first sight of an eight year old in a Spiderman costume, but by the end would warn us to steer clear if she thought things were too “scary”. She made out with a stash that will last us all year- we’re set for Stocking stuffers and Easter candy, to be sure (hehe- not sure that’s how it works, but it would be nice).

Anyways, let’s get on to the real interesting part—the pictures! Cody and I went as “doting parents” in case you couldn’t tell… 

Above: It took 45 min. with a hairdryer to do her hair. Hey, it’s not easy to be a fairy. She was very patient.
	Above: “Check out my wings” Above: At first, the location of the candy was a little ambiguous. We quickly pointed her in the right direction.
Above: It was strange, the longer we were out, the more candy she got, the bigger her smile grew. Curious!	Above: Doting Parent #1 Above: Doting Parent #2