The Menger Sponge

Big lie

2011-04-11T07:26:00.001-05:00

If anything, it keeps them awake and fussy for the next 8 hours.

Thanks everyone!

2011-04-01T20:57:00.003-05:00

Big thank you to everyone who has come to visit. We really appreciate it! I'm sorry I don't have pictures of everyone (please email me if you have some great ones!)

Day 3

2011-04-01T20:50:00.005-05:00

Ryan got to spend some time with his new sister today. We're not so sure he understands what is going on yet. He was fascinated as she cried and as we were changing her diaper. Mommy got to move around more today - now we're hoping to get home as soon as we can.

Here's the obligatory cute Junebug shot:

Finally got a family picture!

Ryan misses mommy and daddy.

Ryan's having a great time with his grandparents, though we've now been away for quite a long time. I stopped by for dinner tonight and he was not so happy when I had to leave.

Also, his new favorite toy at the grandparent's house is the dryer. He loves turning it on and off and opening the door. Grandma and grandpa think it's a hoot, though we're crossing our fingers he doesn't burn out the core or something...

Day 2

2011-03-31T10:29:00.003-05:00

Mommy and baby are doing very well together.

Check out that stylish hat that mommy made!

Emily tells you what she really thinks :-P

2011-03-31T07:36:00.003-05:00

More from last night, dark eyes and big tongue. She'e eating very well and quite active. Ryan didn't eat and just slept all the time. She's certainly quite the opposite (so far).

Mommy, Daddy, and Emily

2011-03-30T19:57:00.003-05:00

She's about 10 minutes old here, and very healthy.

Etc.

2011-03-30T19:32:00.001-05:00

Emily!

2011-03-30T18:31:00.001-05:00

6 lbs 13oz
20.25"
5:52pm

Emily's impending arrival

2011-03-30T11:44:00.002-05:00

This morning I opened my eyes to a blinding computer screen full of numbers. Denise had been awake, putting down the timings of her contractions for the past few hours. As they got down to the 3 minute interval we decided to start the trek to the hospital at 4:30 in the morning.

For the past few months we've been talking about the possibility of a vbac. We knew it might not be possible, but it would leave open the choice for more kiddos later. It's also risky, but again, so is birth in general. We'd need the full cooperation of the hospital, doctors, and most importantly Emily.

In fact, she probably had the biggest role in our decisions. 4:30AM happened to be a time when the doctor on call happened to be one who refused to do vbacs. The first thing they did was inject terbutaline to stop labor so that our doctor would have time to be around...

Here's the deal though, it is very difficult to do a procedure when most of the doctors will not support you, and the one who might is only around sometimes.

Yes we have a few other choices. But, our choice this time was to go ahead with the c-section and not run this same gauntlet over and over.

Anyways, we are moving forward, and have scheduled a 5:30 surgery. Soon we'll be seeing a baby!

Jon

So Much Cuteness, So Little Time

2011-02-28T20:44:00.000-06:00

Well, I'm not so sure time is really to blame... more a lack of energy/motivation to get this thing updated.

I do have to say, I've been really impressed with Ryan lately. From super-cute moments like entertaining himself by chasing a piece of garlic skin across the floor, blowing it along, to major developmental milestones like making his first Lego creation--a car, complete with two passengers. He's regularly using utensils now, making a wonderfully huge mess with everything he eats. He helps me when I unload the dishes, putting the Tupperware away in the cabinet. He loves to take things to the trash... though we're working on only throwing away the things Mommy and Daddy ask him to. He loves to sing--his newest songs are The ABCs (only the tune is recognizable) and The Itsy Bitsy Spider (it's mostly the hand motions on this one).

Emily's due date is quickly approaching--less than 5 weeks away, and while I'm ready to not be pregnant anymore, the thought of caring for 2 kids is still pretty overwhelming. I take great comfort in knowing we have a wonderful group of people ready and willing to help out when needed. I have a feeling I'll be leaning pretty heavily on that support system, at least for the first few months.

We're also VERY excited to welcome our niece, Charlotte Abigail Menger into the world. She was born this past Sunday, 13 days (is that right?) overdue. Kudos to her momma for holding up for so long. Can't wait to see her in person and introduce her to little Emily!

I've gotta admit--we have some pretty awesome blessings in our lives right now. Thankful for each one, and praying that we'll be good stewards with what we've been given.

We love you all. Take care!

Indonesia, Christmas, and the New Year

2011-01-26T13:00:00.000-06:00

Most of you probably know we took a 2 1/2 week trip to Indonesia between Thanksgiving and Christmas. We were visiting Jon's brother's family, as they live there full-time. We had lots of interesting and fun experiences, and best of all, we got to spend time with family we hadn't seen in a year and a half. While we were there, we started typing up a brief outline of what we did, but it has yet to be finished. Perhaps when it's done, we'll actually give you the details of our trip.

We got home a couple weeks before Christmas, so it was a bit of a rush to get everything together for the many Christmas parties, dinners, and family get-togethers that accompany the holiday season. We stayed home for New Year's and just had some friends over, which was lots of fun. Have we mentioned that we really like our friends? 'Cause we do.

Since then, we've just been getting back into a normal routine. Ryan's constantly saying and doing new things, making it hard for me to keep up with the camera. Emily's growing bigger, while I struggle to find the time and energy to get things organized before her arrival.

So that's the super condensed version of what we've been up to lately. I'm sure that if I actually updated this thing more than once every 3 months, I wouldn't have to cram so much into one post. Maybe when I have 2 kids, it'll be easier, right?

Girl

2010-11-08T12:23:00.000-06:00

Baby number two is on the way, and we had our ultrasound appointment in this morning.

Since we're planners, we learned that this one is a girl! And a very active girl at that from what we could tell on the ultrasound. And most importantly, I am now 2/2 calling the genders, which may mean I am more accurate than many old wive's tales. Yeah! Take that superstitions!

Anyways, that is all - time for some lunch. Just wanted to post something since I don't seem to very often.

Jonathan

Birthday Boy! (and Mommy, too)

2010-10-27T12:53:00.001-05:00

Ryan turned 1 on Sept. 14th. Mommy turned 26 on Sept. 13th. Guess whose birthday got overshadowed...

I knew that having a child born near my birthday would turn out that way. And really, it's ok. There was so much going on that week anyway, that I'm glad we decided to push our plans for my birthday back a couple of weeks. I can't imagine trying to coordinate two birthday parties in one week. No thanks.

For Ryan's birthday, we invited some family and friends over to celebrate with us on a Saturday afternoon. We had burgers, hot dogs, presents, and plenty of cake. We loved being able to celebrate with everyone, and Ryan loved getting lots of new toys! (Mommy loved that, too, as he was in pretty serious need of some "big boy" toys)

I handed the camera to my sister, Juleena, so photo credit goes to her on most of these shots.

First, the birthday boy. Ain't he cute??

A precious moment--Levi reading to Remington

Remington putting her charm to use on Margaret

Playing with friends

Let the presents begin!

Very curious--what's going on here?

We actually got 2 of these shirts. Apparently people think our children will be dorky... wonder why that would be. =)

That's how I play with this toy, right??

Michelle said Justus had a very hard time understanding why only Ryan got to open the presents.

Here's Justus trying to help out. =)

A shadow box Raine made

Noah's Ark from Jonathan's parents

Cute cake that Patty got

Blowing out the candle--not really sure what to do here.

First digging in...

Almost done--Yum!

All finished!!

Overdue

2010-10-26T18:22:00.000-05:00

I know, my last update was about my sister's visit in July. It's now reaching the end of October. I've legitimately failed at keeping the blog up to date. Maybe one day I'll learn.

So since my last update, a few important events have taken place at the Menger house.
-We announced that we're pregnant with our 2nd little one, due April 4th =)
-Denise turned 26
-Ryan turned 1
-Grandy came to visit and convinced us to take out the cabinets above our bar
-Jon bought a new car, a '98 Subaru Forrester--he needed something with more than 2 seats for this soon-to-be family of four.

We have a large number of pictures from Ryan's first birthday, so I'll probably create a separate post just for those, but for now, I'll share some of the super cute candid moments we've caught with Ryan in the last couple months.

I'll start with the most recent, and work my way back. Here's Ryan asleep in his high chair. Apparently he was more sleepy than hungry.

Here we are, reading the newspaper like Daddy.

Playing in the new car seat box.

I'm going include all 3 of these 'cause I think they're super adorable. I made chocolate pudding and gave Ryan one of the beaters when I was finished.

It was time for Ryan to graduate to a bigger car seat, and here he is exploring it and trying it out while Daddy read the directions.

A super-cute moment--we caught Ryan listening intently as Remington read her favorite book.

Here's Ryan being a big boy sitting at his table to play.

He likes to put things up to his mouth and talk into them so he can hear the echo.

Okay, the rest of the pictures I have are form the birthday party. I'll write that update and post it sometime soon.

We love you all. Thanks for visiting!

Juleena in July

2010-07-29T21:34:00.000-05:00

My mom went out of town for a week, so my sister came to stay with us. We went swimming, saw a movie, visited the art museum, made our own pizza dough (yes, you can be impressed =p). She helped with Ryan quite a bit, and was much better than I am about catching cute (and candid) moments.

The first picture lends some stock to my previous video game idea post. This is what happens when I'm not fast enough loading/unloading the dishwasher.

Next, we have a similar incident, though this one occurred while I was cooking, not doing the dishes.

And then there's Ben, with his orange beard. Love it!

And of course, she took numerous pictures of babies just being cute.

Love it!

The Monkey Files

2010-07-29T20:29:00.002-05:00

Before Ryan was born, Jon's aunt Anne and her kids put together a bag of toys to give away. We were allowed to rummage through that bag, and contained within was the toy that was soon to become a household favorite in the Menger family.

Friends, meet Monkey.

As you can see, Ryan thoroughly enjoys Monkey. They play together, talk together, sit together, read together. Ryan and Monkey are the best of friends.

Over the weeks, I've noticed Monkey getting into some... compromising positions. I thought I'd document a few:

Doing a headstand, compliments of Konrad Flick.

Figure Skating, also the fruit of Konrad's creativity.

Monkey has also been known to wear a helmet (made from a handle) and a hat (made from a stacking cup) and hang from the door handle. Unfortunately, I wasn't fast enough with the camera to catch those Monkey Moments. But I'll be on the lookout. If I catch Monkey getting into anymore (forgive me) Monkey Business, I'll make sure I get some photographic proof.

Enjoy!

By the way, the whole time I was typing this post, Ryan was trying to get to the computer. I'd have the computer to one side, so Ryan would go over there. I'd move the computer to the other side. Ryan would crawl under my legs and pop out by the computer. I'd move the computer back. Ryan would crawl back under my legs and pop out again. Over and over. Like at least 15 times.

New Video Game Idea

2010-07-08T09:18:00.000-05:00

I had a new idea for a video game this morning as I was trying to finish loading the dishwasher before Ryan got there and climbed on the door.

Some sort of Parental Multi-tasking Challenge where you have to load the washing machine, keep the little one out of the trashcan and off of the stairs, all while watching the oven timer to make sure you don't burn dinner. Extra points and super cute smiles could be awarded for finding extra time to play Patty-Cake and Peekaboo. Levels of difficulty could increase with the age and number of "children" you're take care of.

Matt, I don't know if you read this or not, but what do you think? Would Microsoft go for it?

And now he's on his way up the stairs. Gotta go.

Anniversary

2010-07-06T22:03:00.000-05:00

Last week, we celebrated our 2-year anniversary with a night out on the town while a friend watched Ryan for the evening. We had dinner at The Downtown Aquarium, then headed over to Amy's Ice Cream for a crazy yummy ice cream creation.

Throughout the evening, we talked about what had changed in the last 2 years--a new house, a new baby, a new (non)job for me... If you'd asked us 2 years ago what life would look like by our 2nd anniversary, I don't think either of us would have anticipated we'd be here. We would have said we were going to wait 5 years to have a baby, I was going to continue teaching, we were going to save the extra income. But now that we're here, I don't think either of us would have it any other way. Something about having Ryan, and being in community with people we love just seems so... right. Abundant, even. I don't know how else to describe it.

I'd be foolish to make predictions about what life will be like at our 3rd, 4th, or even 20th anniversary, but I do hope that that whatever it is, it's right. I hope we continue to pursue the truths and convictions that have brought us this abundant life. Not necessarily a comfortable or wealthy life, but an abundant life. And I hope the way we live is a reflection of the values we've pursued, proof that we've chosen to glorify God, rather than ourselves. And I can't wait to see how we grow together.

This is the only picture we have of us to commemorate the occasion. Sorry it's a bit blurry.

And of course, here are the obligatory fish pictures:

Dinner really is a lot more interesting when you share it with these guys!

We love you all very much, and we appreciate all the love, support, and prayers that have come from you in the past 2 years. Thank you.

Holiday Weekend!

2010-07-06T18:36:00.000-05:00

Things were a bit slow for the 4th of July weekend, but it turned out to be great in the end.

Saturday we took the day slow, taking care of things around the house, then spending the evening with a friend from college.

Sunday we went to church, then lounged around till some new friends from church came over for dinner. We had a blast playing in the pool with their kids and making fruit pizza. After they left, we put Ryan to bed and sat on the front lawn watching the fireworks going off all around us.

We got up early Monday morning to pick blueberries. The crop was GREAT! I recommend going out there whenever you have time. In fact, if anyone plans to go, please let me know. I'd definitely go again. We spent the evening making blueberry pies and visiting with Jonathan's parents. We had a great time.

Ryan is getting much more independent and mobile. Right now, he's attacking a picture frame he pulled off the TV stand. He loves to go up the stairs, though he's not very good at coming back down. He opens all the cabinets when we're in the kitchen and climbs on the door of the dishwasher if I leave it open too long. He loves eating a variety of foods--really, anything we put in front of him. We have a great eater! If he sees a tower, he immediately knocks it down. We don't have a walker toy yet, so he pushes a chair around the house. But he's reluctant to stand or take any steps unsupported. He says "Mama," but it means "I want something," not "mom."

This picture pretty appropriately sums up our stage of life right now:

"What, Mama?"

2010-06-24T14:53:00.000-05:00

Our June has gone by quickly. We celebrated two birthdays--Jon and my dad, visited family for Father's Day, and had my sister staying with us for a couple of weeks. It was great fun, but it feels like June just flew by.

Ryan's pretty much mastered the crawling thing, and is pulling up to a stand on everything he can get to. He's let go a couple of times, but usually plops down on the ground within seconds. He's very vocal, but so far we haven't heard anything intelligible. He still only has 2 teeth--way behind the rest of his friends. We've been moving more and more towards table food, rather than pureed baby food. He's been doing pretty well. I'll have to get some pictures of him eating green beans. Very cute stuff.

Anyway, I know pictures are the main reason most of you visit this site, so here you go.

Spinach Face!

How Daddy spent his birthday... ask if you'd like the whole story.

The "Quiet Book"--this thing can keep Ryan occupied for a looooong time. It has little fabric pieces that he can take out and chew on.

... or carry around in his mouth. =)

Here he is, playing with some trains at Mr. Bobby and Ms. Ellen's house.

And this is what I found in the living room this morning. Yup. Someone figured out how to get the Cheerio bag open. Cheerios everywhere.

Look Mom! Cheerios!

That's it for now. Love you guys lots. We'll catch up soon!

A Long Time Coming

2010-06-03T00:34:00.000-05:00

I know, I'm the world's worst updater. And what makes it even worse is that I have an adorable baby boy who is quickly growing and changing and I'm letting each moment slip by without keeping any evidence of the precious time I've had with him.

Here's the truth of the matter--it all comes down to a lack of pictures. And there's a lack of pictures because I stink at pulling out the camera to catch cute moments. Perhaps it's laziness, but I have a really hard time pausing the fun to run and get the camera so I can capture the perfect shot. So any of you blog followers who are particularly skilled photographers, feel free to snap as many photos of the little guy as you'd like. And then share those photos with me so I'll have something by which I can remember these fleeting baby days.

And let's be honest--sometimes cute moments come when you simply can't go get the camera. For instance, I was home alone with Ryan one evening, giving him a bath. He picked up the washcloth, stuck it in his mouth, letting it hang down, then looked up at me very quizzically, as if wondering why I hadn't thought to hang the washcloth out of my mouth as well. It was such a perfect, precious moment, but there was no way I could get the camera without either ruining the moment to pick him up out of the tub, or risking a CPS reporter knocking on my door because I left my child unattended in the bathtub. Such is life.

All that said, we have managed to document a few moments with our little guy. Here are some of the highlights:

He's getting to be a curious little guy...

...climbing under things...

...and through things...

(Seriously, this is one of his favorite play spots.

He climbs through, turns around, and climbs back through over and over again.)

... always wondering what that little black box is that Mommy's aiming toward him...

He's figured out how to stand...

(and finally gotten the hang of sitting--for a while he would stand up just fine,

but couldn't figure out how to sit, leaving himself stranded in a

standing position until someone came to let him down) =)

We've explored new places, like the splash pad...

... which he liked on this trip!

(we went later that week, and the outcome was not as great--a very fussy, clingy baby,

who didn't want to explore or play with friends)

Here's our friend, Justus, having a grand ol' time!

Three friends, very curious about how Ms. Shanna's making all that noise--but it got them to look up for the picture!

... that is, until Ryan tried to make a run, er-crawl for it!

We even got to practice piano at Grandy's house!

Here he is, working very hard to get it right!

So even though an update was far overdue, I hope you got a sufficient helping of precious baby-ness. Maybe someone will graciously offer their photography skills to help more regularly maintain your cute baby fix. =)

Hope all is well with you. We love you all!

Sharing is Caring

2010-04-15T13:23:00.000-05:00

I'm going to get started on a real post, but here's a quick peek for now at Ryan and his friend Caleb sharing a toy in the stroller.

Love it!!

A Very Late Update

2010-03-19T15:26:00.000-05:00

I know, I've been terrible about updating. But this week I've had a sinus infection that turned into a double ear infection, so I've had plenty of time to sit in front of the computer and finally load those pictures off the camera.

Let's see... in the last 2 months, we've started solid foods, perfected the art of rolling over, and Ryan is well on his way to being a crawler. He gets on his hands and knees and rocks, and he can scoot/launch/reach himself in the direction of something he wants.

And here are the pictures I've been promising you for months:

Ryan at Christmas time!

Snow in Arkansas!

Hanging out with Abuela at Christmas time!

Ryan with Mommy and his favorite aunts =)

Four Generations--Ryan, Mommy, Grandy, and Gigi

And now a series from our first experience with solid foods:

Yum!

All cleaned up!

Check out the little baby thug!

Peekaboo bootie!

Playing together with Ben =)

Reading with Miss Raine

Eating carrots with Daddy

Happy little hiker!

Bye bye!

4 Month Check-Up

2010-01-15T16:59:00.000-06:00

Lucky for us, Ryan had a well-baby check-up scheduled at the doctor's office today. I say lucky because about an hour before it was time to go, he started to act really pathetic--laying on the couch, not really playing, just not being himself. I checked his temp before we left and it was a little high. When I changed his diaper at the doc's, there was some mucus in the front...

So, along with his regular check-up and shots, we found out that Ryan has a urinary tract infection and has low iron. So little man is getting two prescriptions and we have a visit with a urologist scheduled for next week. And it's possible that a little minor surgery might be necessary. =(

Ryan was trooper through all the poking (5 needle pricks!) and prodding. Hopefully we can get him feeling better and back to his usual self soon.

And I promise that photos will be coming soon. We have some super cute ones from Christmastime that I haven't gotten around to posting yet.

Overalls

2009-12-14T21:35:00.001-06:00

Uncle Patrick requested more photos, and Lindsay just bought us some super cute overalls so here's the little man sportin' what I call "The Racecar Cowboy."

"Dad, what's she doin' to me?"

"Do you see it too?"

Pure joy!

Daddy's New Toy

2009-12-09T22:07:00.001-06:00

Jon got a new phone and has been playing with the applications. Last night, he used it to determine the pitch of Ryan's cry. A standard fussy cry is a G# to an A, and it's closer to a B if he's really worked up.

We also found an app that would give us the current terrorism threat level, should it change from the "orange" status it's been at for the last 8 years. We opted not to download it.

Mommy also got a new phone, but it's not nearly as cool as Daddy's... she might be just a little bit jealous.

And our niece Elizabeth turned 1 today! Look at that precious little girl!

We love you, Elizabeth!

Slient Night

2009-12-06T22:27:00.000-06:00

The Christmas story has taken on new meaning for me this year. When singing songs about Christ's birth, I find myself looking back on my labor and delivery experience and comparing.

Do you know that we sing about Mary's labor as a "silent night?" Have you ever heard anyone describe childbirth using the words "all is calm?" And Mary didn't even have an epidural. And she was in a barn. No wonder the Catholics view her as a saint.

And have you ever noticed the words in "Away in a Manger?"
The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes.
But little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes...

You really think Baby Jesus never cried? He came right out speaking full sentences to Mary--"Mom, I'm hungry now. Would you please feed me?"

How much we've glamorized this difficult, messy, and probably unpleasantly loud saga into an unrealistic, pretty picture of a silent newborn smiling up at his well-rested, unpained mother. Sigh. What else in Christianity have we softened?

It Breaks My Heart

2009-12-05T05:57:00.000-06:00

Several times over the last couple of months, I've been watching something where a small child gets hurt. What's surprised me is how severely I react to these scenes. It's always been saddening to see someone get hurt, particularly a small child. But since becoming a mother, these scenes absolutely break my heart. The tears cannot be stopped as I think of my little guy in all his vulnerability. Watching a small child get hurt is possibly the most difficult thing for a parent to watch (apart from watching their own child get hurt, of course).

They always said becoming a parent changes you. Somehow it still surprises me when I notice.

Snow!

2009-12-04T12:37:00.000-06:00

Mommy was excited about snow in Houston! Ryan was less than impressed.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-12-03T05:58:00.000-06:00

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!Look how handsome the little guy is in his holiday outfit!

Gaining Predictability

2009-11-13T16:17:00.000-06:00

We're quickly approaching the 2-month mark for our little guy. Today was his 2-month check-up. He is 11 lbs (30th percentile) and 24 inches long (75th percentile). Definitely a tall and skinny kid. He also got his first round of shots today--made both Mommy and baby cry.

As he gets older, Ryan is starting to get a bit easier to read. He's settling into a much more regular routine, which I'm beginning to pick up on. I can generally tell when he's gotten tired enough and needs a nap, and more often than not, I simply give him the pacifier, and he's out within a couple of minutes. Very nice. He's also going about 6 hours, then 5 hours between feedings at night, meaning that we only get up once. This is a HUGE improvement to the 3-and-4-times a night phase. This new development came at just the right time as I've started keeping little (well, not really little...) Ben Neilson in the mornings Mon-Thurs so his mommy can go back to work. Now that we sleep more at night, we don't need to take as many naps during the day, which is great 'cause Ben likes to keep us on our toes. =)

Here are the little guys taking a nap in the stroller after a long walk.

Last weekend we had a Baby Dedication ceremony at church. Here is a picture to commemorate the event. A professional photographer took pictures of our family, but I can't figure out how to get them off his website.

We also visited the Pumpkin Patch. Here's the little guy on his first hay ride.

The Little Gingerbread Man

2009-10-30T22:17:00.001-05:00

Ryan and his friends dressed up as gingerbread men for our church's fall festival.

There's Ben, Caleb, and Ryan with their mommies!

Ryan and mommy... you can't see it, but I have an apron on to go with the "Patrick's Pie Shop" Trunk or Treat theme.

Halloween is a cute holiday!!

All by Himself

2009-10-30T17:45:00.000-05:00

Ryan spent his first night in his own room last night, and he did fine. He fussed the normal amount before bed (he seems to think that bedtime is the most opportune time for screaming), but once he was asleep, he slept for a good 5 hours. Then he ate and slept for 3 more. Not bad for 6 weeks old.

What I didn't expect was how hard the move was going to be for Mommy. I had always thought it was silly for moms to be upset when babies move to their own rooms. I thought that when we moved Ryan I'd be rejoicing that I could finally have some peace and quiet again. But no. I couldn't stop thinking about how much I missed him. I wanted to hear his every little noise, wanted to be able to just look over and know he was ok. In the end, I made it through the night just fine.

I've caught myself doing many of the "mom things" I said I'd never do. I wasn't going to be the clingy mom who's attached to her child 24/7, but I was gone for about 3 hours last weekend and missed him like crazy. I wasn't going to let a baby change my marriage, but (although things are still wonderful), I've found that we have to work a lot harder to spend time together, and I have to be much more mindful of the tones and words I use when talking to Jon. I guess I'm learning to be a little less judgmental... turns out it's not so easy being the "perfect mom." Who knew?

Three's Company

2009-10-05T13:47:00.000-05:00

Check out these stud muffins...

That's Justus Loucks on the left, Ben Nielsen in the middle, and Ryan on the right. Look how small Ryan is in comparison to the other two.

So super cute!!

Also, in the last 2 days, Ryan has succeeded on 3 separate occasions of making a mess on the couch due to a diaper explosion. Much fun to clean up.

2 1/2 Week Update

2009-10-01T17:47:00.000-05:00

Ryan is almost back to his birth weight (a little behind schedule), but he's eating and growing well.

We've been thankful to see how good-natured and content this baby is. He spends most of his awake time making faces and studying objects. He's gaining strength in his neck, and has actually rolled over a couple of times. Don't think he knew what he was doing though.

Mom and dad are doing well. Life is a lot busier. Nights are longer and more interrupted, but we're getting enough rest. We've had lots of fun visiting with friends and family who've come to meet Ryan, and we're still enjoying leftovers from the many meals that have been provided. Thanks to all who've offered meals and help! It's been a great blessing.

We love all of you. Stay tuned for more cute pictures and updates!

Note the Resemblance

2009-10-01T17:38:00.000-05:00

Here's a picture of Denise at 1 week old:

Strong resemblance in the lips and chin. Still looking for baby pictures of Daddy to make a comparison.

A Long List of Firsts

2009-09-21T17:01:00.000-05:00

Well, we headed home from the hospital on Thursday. Here we are getting ready to go.

And here's Ryan on his first car ride!!

And here we are after the first bath.

Here's Ryan trying out his new bouncer. He was really fascinated by the lion on the right. And check out how small he is in this thing. The little buckle comes halfway up his chest!

Our first night home with Ryan was a little difficult because he was still having some trouble feeding. We've since figured things out a bit more, so the nights have been a little more bearable. We're still up 3-4 times a night, but at least there's no screaming now.

We went to the doctor for a check-up on Saturday. All was well, but they were concerned about a drop in his weight. He had apparently lost 14 oz in 2 days. We went in again this morning for a weight check and he was a pound heavier than he was on Saturday. Either the scale read wrong the first time, or our little guy can really pack on the pounds.

Mommy's regained a lot of her strength and is able to get around much more easily, which is good since Daddy went back to work this morning. So far we've survived his first day back!

We'll continue to keep you updated (and satisfied with adorable pictures) as Ryan grows through his first week home.

We love you guys!

The Mengers

Welcome Justus

2009-09-17T17:44:00.000-05:00

Congrats to the Steve and Michelle and their new baby boy Justus born 1:30PM today!

I'd say we almost have a twin!

Pictures

2009-09-17T09:35:00.000-05:00

time to wake up.

big yawn!

very expressive

Feeling better

2009-09-17T09:05:00.000-05:00

A good breakfast, shower, and some real clothes. I think we're ready to head home today!

-The Mengers

Labor is contagious!

2009-09-17T08:48:00.000-05:00

Well, what do you know? Steve and Michelle caught the labor bug while visiting us on Tuesday (yes, we're claiming fault on this one) and are now in the hospital. How exciting! Perhaps birthdays only 3 days apart!

Ok, my (Jon's) bet is on a girl, because this baby has been way too cooperative (even though its a few days early).

Best of luck, we'll be praying for you!

And in other news, we'll be leaving around lunchtime, hopefully. It's a beautiful day outside too, perfect for settling in back home.

The Mengers,

Morning photo shoot

2009-09-16T11:23:00.001-05:00

happy baby

wide eyed

ooh

mommy holding the sleeping Ryan

A few more pics

2009-09-16T10:34:00.000-05:00

Grandpa!

Nope, not theirs - they've got a few more days!

proud "uncle"

Today is... day 3 already?

2009-09-16T09:23:00.000-05:00

Time flies when you are ~~well rested~~ sleep deprived. Actually, last night was much better, and Ryan seems to finally be getting some personality. He's also learning to be hungry, which is very reassuring for mommy.

Nice hot shower this morning and real food are going a long way in making mommy feel like a real person again - she's even moving around a little bit.

Anyways, she is capitalizing on the 3 hour break when the baby is in the nursery. I probably should be too.

Love,
The Mengers

Dark Eyes

2009-09-15T17:25:00.002-05:00

He's learning to feed today, and mommy is finally disconnected from all the machines :)

Check out his dark eyes!

Thanks to those of you who came and visited today! We appreciate it.

Love,
The Mengers

Sleepy time

2009-09-14T21:49:00.005-05:00

So, everyone is recovering now. I'll try to post a few pictures while I hold little sleeping Ryan...

sleepy mommy

sleepy baby

and from earlier

Happy Birthday!

2009-09-14T21:09:00.003-05:00

Welcome Ryan Thomas Menger!
9/14/2009 5:45pm
8lbs 11oz 20.5"
Very big and healthy!

C-section

2009-09-14T17:14:00.001-05:00

C-section - here we come. Please pray, it's a major surgery. We're opting for what's best for baby!

love,

Jonathan, Denise, and soon to be born Ryan!

Ryan

2009-09-14T16:07:00.002-05:00

4:07PM -

They're still a little worried about Ryan. Every contraction his heartbeat seems to drop a bit too much. It always seems to come right back up again, though. They think it may be a short umbilical cord, or a constricted cord. They'll continue to monitor his progress as well as mommy's.

Please continue to pray for them, c-section is definitely not desired.

Jon

A ways to go

2009-09-14T15:11:00.002-05:00

4PM -

Still working at it. We're opting for an epidural to take the edge off. After a long and trying afternoon, she's in a much better mood and much more relaxed.

I gotta give it to her, with the right breathing patterns, we were going strong for a good 7 hours or so. She's more effaced, but still not dilated more than 5. Perhaps with more relaxing, we'll move a little more quickly.

Thanks for your prayers!

Jon and Denise

Noon

2009-09-14T11:56:00.002-05:00

12PM -

Contractions are nice, regular, and strong. Good steady heartbeat for Ryan. We're at 5CM, so things are moving, albeit somewhat slower than we'd like. Lots of pain. Wow.

I'll skip the messy details.

Jon

Update

2009-09-14T10:24:00.002-05:00

10:25AM -

Contractions are starting to hurt. Quite a bit. I guess that's a good thing.

The Math

2009-09-14T09:19:00.000-05:00

9:19AM -

Frequency is increasing (every 3-4 minutes).

Still hanging in there, mommy is having a good time, and still laughing a bit (between the pain).

-- Jon

Haiku

2009-09-14T09:11:00.000-05:00

Today is the day,
Your son begins his journey,
Ryan T Menger.

-- Patrick

And we're off!

2009-09-14T08:11:00.000-05:00

8:12AM -

They just broke the water, and increased the drip, so we are now ready to go!

Come on baby!

Not much progress

2009-09-14T06:42:00.000-05:00

6:45AM -

Still waiting on things to change, so far, not much progress. Baby's heartbeat was dropping during contractions a bit, so we've backed off and started some oxygen.

We both got a little bit of sleep, which was nice, except that they come in every so often to move things around and check blood pressure.

All in all, still a smile on her face :)

Love,

The Mengers!

Waiting, and perhaps a little sleep?

2009-09-13T23:10:00.000-05:00

11:10PM -

So, we're all settled into the hospital now. Denise started on pitocin around 10PM, and is now attempting to get a little sleep while the drip does its magic. I'm excited because I just figured out how to send mass sms to all our friends for free from google voice. So, for any major updates, I'll send out a text. Otherwise, look here for pics and quick notes!

Ok, I guess I ought to at least try to get some sleep... we'll see!

Grace,

Jon

We Set a Date...

2009-09-09T17:26:00.000-05:00

Ryan doesn't seem to want to come on his own, so we've decided to set a date for inducing.

We should be meeting the little guy no later than Monday, September 14th.

We definitely appreciate your prayers during this time. We love you guys!

Labor Day... without the labor

2009-09-08T07:42:00.000-05:00

Despite Labor Day being Ryan's official due date, there was very little real laboring going on at our house. I suppose Jon labored as he finished painting the dining room, and I labored as I vacuumed the bedroom... but that was it. Hardly even had any contractions all day long.

We see the doctor tomorrow. We'll probably be setting a date for induction. Be in prayer for us in that decision... it can be risky either way we go.

Thanks! We love you all!

A Term to Define What's Happening

2009-09-01T17:31:00.000-05:00

In an attempt to find some sort of affirmation for the very long "early labor" I'm going through, I did a quick google search--"how long does early labor last?"

In a few clicks, I was at this blog, which almost perfectly describes the process we've been going through for the past 2 weeks: http://thebirthteacher.blogspot.com/2008/12/prodromal-labor.html

Apparently it's called "prodromal labor," and can be deceptive because women get used to feeling contractions, even strong, frequent ones. And by the time they realize they're actually in labor, they can sometimes be just a couple of hours from the baby's arrival.

And of course it's emotionally trying. With every "this-might-be-it" moment, we get ourselves worked up, thinking we might be holding our little boy in a few hours, only to experience serious let-down when the contractions fade and we're left to wonder how much longer it'll be.

I know I've been complaining a lot lately about all this. And I appreciate your patience in bearing with us. Your prayers mean the world to us. Thank you guys.

The Opposite of Nesting

2009-08-31T12:46:00.000-05:00

We've all heard about women who are days from labor having a burst of energy, cleaning the entire house, washing and re-washing crib sheets, setting out enough onesies to dress her new baby for a week...

Well, perhaps that only happens to women who have a "normal" early labor experience. See, the novelty and the rush of energy that accompanies those first few contractions begins to wear off after 2 weeks of maybes... Right now, instead of a burst of energy and a desire to get the house cleaned up, all I want to do is lie on the couch, hoping that this set of contractions actually lasts... or at least adds to the progress in some way.

Had a doctor's appointment this morning. Things are unchanged since last week. And the contractions have seemed to be working plenty hard...

C'mon, Ryan. We're ready for you, buddy.

Elusive Labor

2009-08-28T03:51:00.000-05:00

3:51 am and why am I up?

The baby. And he's not even here yet to cry for middle-of-the-night feedings or diaper changes. As seems to be typical of the last 2 weeks, I woke up about 35 minutes ago with little Ryan putting uncomfortable amounts of pressure on my already smashed bladder. When I returned to bed, it was only to welcome a couple of mild, irregular contractions.

Now don't get excited. Just because I'm having contractions does NOT mean Ryan is anywhere near coming out to meet the world. This routine of a couple mild (and sometimes a lot worse than mild) contractions has been going on for almost 2 weeks now. But it never lasts.

Two weeks ago, when I first mentioned the contractions to Jon during the work day, his immediate response was "Do I need to come home?" Now I tell him I'm having contractions and he says, "Hm. Go take a walk. Call me if they actually last."

I know we're still over a week from Ryan's actual due date, but I feel like I've been in the early stages of labor for far too long. I'm ready for this baby to come. But nothing has encouraged him thus far. Perhaps a blog post and some persuasive comments might coax him out. =)

Thoughts on Home vs. Public Schooling

2009-08-23T21:31:00.000-05:00

No new developments in the baby-delivery department. We promise to update when things start to progress.

So in the absence of any real news, I thought I'd catalog some of my thoughts on schooling. Obviously, we're still years from making the decision about how to educate little Ryan, but I have done some thinking on the subject.

I've read quite a bit about the various reasons why families decide to homeschool. I can't say that I disagree with these reasons... but as a public school teacher, I do have a different perspective.

One of the most common (and I think compelling) reasons that parents choose to homeschool is so they can provide a very individualized curriculum and integrate many of the subjects they study into the kids' individual interests. I admit that it's pretty much impossible for a teacher with 25 students to truly create an individualized curriculum for each kid, and I don't think this problem is going to be fixed until we increase the teacher:student ratio.

I do, however, want to highlight the tremendous effort that schools (and particularly classroom teachers) are making to individualize their curriculum as much as they can. Most of the teaching I did was in a small-group setting, providing the struggling kids with an opportunity for re-teaching while the kids who were excelling were allowed a chance for enrichment. Many of the activities students did involved some opportunity for them to choose what best fit their interests. The education system has changed even since our generation was going through school. Very few school districts still utilize basal readers. Teachers are encouraged to give students opportunities to discuss and work through their thoughts on the subjects being presented, rather than the instructor lecturing to the whole class. Rarely were students going over material they had already mastered simply because a few in the class were stuggling.

I completely agree that individualized, one-on-one instruction is vital to a child's education, and I think that homeschooling parents create an environment that fosters wonderful learning opportunities for their children. But I also think that public schools are making every effort to do the same thing. Teachers may not be able to provide as much individual time and customized curriculum, but trust me, it's not from a lack of trying.

I have more thoughts, but it's late and Jon's already gone to bed. I should too.

Grace and peace.

The House, the Baby, and Other Updates

2009-08-14T11:38:00.000-05:00

About 2 1/2 weeks ago, we moved into the new house. Pictures are posted on Facebook. You can find them here: http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=8317117&k=45EX6WSR3Z2MZEDDXC64Q

We've done a lot of work already, including installing a garbage disposal and A LOT of redecorating. We've got roofers here right now replacing the roof that should have been done before we moved in.... Overall, the house is still a work-in-progress, but it's coming along nicely.

The pregnancy is quickly approaching full-term status. We have an ultrasound on Monday to determine what size and position little Ryan is in, and from that point on, whenever he decides to come, they'll let him. I think we're as ready as we're going to be... and I'm certainly ready to be finished with pregnancy. I might post pictures of my extremely pregnant belly sometime soon. **Update--very pregnant picture posted on facebook.** I'm getting to the point where even maternity tops are allowing my belly to peek out at the bottom if I'm not careful. Sigh. Just a few more weeks, maybe less.

House updates and getting ready for the baby pretty much take up most of our lives right now. We'll keep you updated if anything else comes up!

Grace to you and glory to God!
Jon and Denise

Home

2009-07-10T06:18:00.000-05:00

We have a new place to call home! As of yesterday, we now own a home in Copperfield :)

We'll probably be moving in two weeks at the earliest.

Jonathan

A New Home

2009-06-27T14:15:00.000-05:00

Well, we've officially turned in our "intent to vacate" letter to the apartment complex and must be out by July 28th. If all goes well with the bank and the proper signatures are acquired, we could be moving out of here and into our new house as soon as mid-July.

Moving, of course, means lots of packing for the Mengers. I've already packed a few things--boxes of books (many, many boxes of books), some of our winter clothes, etc. But there's still a VERY large list of tasks ahead. Not to mention the post-move-out scrub-down necessary in every rented property that is being vacated. And there's the fact that 7-month pregnant women are allowed/able to do very little lifting, bending, and pushing. I generally pack a box, then leave it in the place where I've been working till Jon can get home and move it out of the way.

The owners of the new house have not yet moved their things out, and won't be moving until the house closes, so we can't take anything over there to do any early unloading. This probably won't be a problem as long as it doesn't take too long to close on the house. It sure would be nice, though, to get some of these boxes out of the way. And to start prepping the house for our move-in--there are some pretty hideous blinds/curtains that need to be taken care of, as well as a few key appliances and pieces of furniture that can't be purchased until we have a place to put them.

Overall, we're very excited about getting a new house. Jon's looking forward to having a garage (of course) along with some spaces and projects he can work on. I'm looking forward to setting up some permanence and finally being able to get things ready for the arrival of Baby Menger. And unpacking some of these boxes so I can again have access to my things--particularly the children's books! (I should post sometime on the vast number and variety of children's books we own. If ever you need a children's book on pretty much any subject, let me know.)

More updates once things get rolling with the house. Grace and peace to you guys. Glory and praise to God.

Here We Are...

2009-06-20T08:57:00.000-05:00

Denise here.

I'm realizing that as we grow and expand our family, the people who love and care about us are wondering more and more what's going on in our world. Since I am no longer formally employed, I'm thinking I'll have more time in which to update the world on the happenings of the Menger clan.

As for the name (Jon just joined me and doesn't seem to be a fan), I must confess that I merely googled "Menger" 'cause I couldn't come up with anything witty and creative to name our blog. Most google results had to do with the Menger Hotel in San Antonio or Carl Menger, the famous economist/mathmetician, but the Menger Sponge caught my eye. I admit, I didn't know what the Menger Sponge was before I googled, but upon looking it up, I was intrigued in a very nerdy sort of way.

If you know either of us well, you're aware that Jon and I are both pretty big math nerds. Well... the Menger Sponge is a mathematical plenomenon. Basically, it's a cube that's been divided into smaller cubes, the middle of each face is taken out, then it's divided again, the center of each face is again removed, the cubes are divided, and so on. There's a formal equation that I definitely don't understand, but it creates this pattern of ever-shrinking cubes in an ever-expanding quanitity.

You may read this and (like Jon) think, "Wow, Denise is a nerd." That doesn't bother me. I'll accept that title. But if you want to know what's going on with us, especially as we add little Ryan to our family, keep coming back to check on us. I'll try to update regularly.

That's all for now. Grace to you and glory to God.