Grandma Van

Well I'm a lot behind on our blog. I'm going to start catching up with a post about Ryan's Grandma Van, Kathleen (Kathy) Van Wagoner. What an amazing woman!

Grandma Van passed away in April. She had been struggling with her health for a long time. Her kidneys weren't functioning and she had to go to dialysis every other day which really wore her out. Her heart was also in really rough shape and she was just getting more and more frail by the day. She and Grandpa both ended up getting pneumonia and being placed in a care facility. Grandpa made a great comeback after several hard weeks. Grandma however just kept getting more frail.

We were so lucky to be able to go to Utah for Riley's blessing to be with our families for that special time. We knew Grandma Van would not be able to come to Riley's baby blessing so we dropped by Stonehenge Sunday morning before the blessing to see Grandma and introduce her to Riley. When Grandpa Van saw us he just started crying. We could tell it meant a lot to both of them that we had come. I think it meant even more to us though! We were so happy to be able to see them and share our sweet baby with them.

That was the last time we saw Grandma Van.

We came up for Grandma Van's funeral several weeks later.

I always really loved Ryan's Grandma Van. She reminded me so much of my Grandma B who I love and miss so much. They both had that always optimistic and positive outlook on life and never ever complained no matter how much pain they were in. Every time Ryan and I would go visit Grandma Van she would always remember all of these little details and ask about our life at Notre Dame and how we like being parents, ask about Ryan's internship/job etc. Something else that really stuck out to me and I will pass along to my children is how Grandma Van was ALWAYS thinking of others. I want to cry just thinking about it. She was absolutely dedicated to serving other people and showing them love. In the short time I knew her that was the one thing that really impressed on my heart and what I will always think of when I remember her.

Her funeral was wonderful. We got to hear a lot of fun stories and get to know her better, like how she loved waterskiing, sewing, snow skiing, playing the piano and organ, and could tell which note the kids had misplayed when practicing the piano. I also loved the story about how she played "my dog shep" (which is an Elvis song) during the prelude music of Sacrament meeting. Someone turned to Grandpa Van and said, "That's not in the hymn book!" He turned to the man and said, "It is in mine!" :) I thought that was the cutest/funniest story. All the grandkids sang a musical number together. I couldn't even sing because I was just tearing up the whole song and thought I would burst into tears if I really sang. The song that really touched me was the primary song "I often go walking." The lyrics were changed at the end to say "Dear Grandma all flowers remind me of you." I really felt the spirit during that song. Her whole funeral was very inspiring and I think everyone left there wanting to be more a more Christ-like person.

Grandma Van will always be remembered as a kind-hearted and loving person who was dedicated to her family and the gospel. What a remarkable life she led. Ryan and I will always treasure our memory of her and the person she was. We love you Grandma Van. Families are forever.

Introducing Grandma to Riley Rose

She is buried in AF cemetery

After the funeral luncheon with Grandpa Van 

With all of Ryan's fam after the funeral luncheon

We are all so loved.

At Riley's two month check up she had to get her shots. :( This was so much harder and more sad than I thought it would be! I probably cried just as hard as she did. When I set up the appointment I made sure to schedule it during a time when Ryan wouldn't be at school because I really wanted to have the support. I have always, ALWAYS planned on giving Riley all of her immunizations and I know it is the right thing to do to protect her and others. But I was still so nervous about it and it was nice to have Ryan there with us.

When it came time for the shots, the nurse came in and told us that one of us had to hold Riley's arms down while she delivered the shots. Holding my baby's arms down? That had never crossed my mind. I couldn't even bear to watch this--let alone hold my baby down. I was so grateful that Ryan was there and willing to do this. He is so much braver than I am. Riley is such a sweet natured baby--she hardly ever ever cries so when I heard her screaming and screaming in so much pain, it just broke my heart and being the baby that I am, I totally started balling and kept balling through each and every shot.

As we were leaving the doctor I was still teary eyed. I love my little girl so much and it was so hard to watch her endure one of the first truly painful experiences of her life. Even though I knew it had to be done, it was still very hard to watch her suffer. As I thought about this, my mind made a connection that I never want to forget.

Our Father in heaven had to watch His child--His Only Begotten Son--suffer pain so much worse than what I had just witnessed with my daughter.

Heavenly Father had to watch His Son suffer a pain so unimaginable that it caused Him, "even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore." (D&C 19:18) He had to watch as His son was mocked, smitten, and crucified.

If it was that hard for me to watch Riley suffer a few shots, I can't even imagine how my Heavenly Father felt watching His son suffer so much. Because God is THE MOST loving parent, I know He would never allow that to happen if it wasn't absolutely necessary. He allowed Christ to suffer to provide us a way back to Him. He allowed it to happen because He loves us.

I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father for His plan for my happiness and for all His children. I am also so grateful to my Savior for His suffering on my behalf.

I really feel in my heart that my Heavenly Father is real. He really does love me and so does Jesus Christ. They love each and every one of us. Nothing we do can ever take away that love.

Riley at 2 months-ish

Get ready for TONS of pictures of Riley girl. In most of these photos she is around 2 months!

 Loving bath time as usual.

This girl melts my heart.

HA! I've gotten pretty good at getting poop out of clothes :) 

Such a darling. 

Right after our sweet babe got her shots :( Good thing Daddy was there to help us through it!

She was crying in pain almost the entire day afterwards. I felt so bad for her!
But worth it to protect her from all those diseases someday. 

This was BEFORE the shots, when things were still happy :)
I was loving all her rolls and was so excited to find out how much she weighed!

2 Month Stats:
13 lbs. 4.5 oz--85 percentile for weight
22.5 inches tall--50 percentile for height
Head Circumference--above the 99 percentile!

One healthy little chica!

Ry studying with the babe 

He loves holding her while he studies! 

She loves this position.

The Pauls came out for a visit. Always good to see them! And we got to meet their newest addition, Taylor. Such a cutie!
We are happy that our kids are close in age to have a friend to play with!

Riley and Taylor Paul. They are only one day apart but Riley looks huge here! Haha she looks so much bigger.
I didn't think they looked THAT different in real life.

All smiles!

ha some of these sleeping positions crack me up.

I know I have a hundred pictures of her just like this, in the bath. But it's just soooo sweet. I can't stop taking them.

Every time she gets out of the bath I swaddle her up in a towel and then go look at her in the mirror so I can still cuddle her. She always looks so cute all wrapped up in the towel.

Cute outfit alert! 

And another cute outfit! That little vest. That headband. 

K this was taken on Easter. It was the FIRST time I had ever put Riley in a dress and I was dying over the cuteness.  

We took soooo many pictures of her in this outfit. 

She liked it too :) 

This sweet thing. Lookin sleepy.

She's such a happy babe.

haha I was out at a baby shower for my friend Jessica when I get this text from Ry... Haha :) 

That is A LOT of spit up. 

And another dress. Too cute. AH! toooooo too cute.

So for awhile we didn't have the toys on this little play mat. This was her first time on the mat after we put the toys on it. She was so happy! She loved them. It was adorable.

Our friends Wes and Anna love Riley so much. They are so good with her and always "fighting" over who gets to hold her next. It's pretty funny. We have become really close with the Harwards! We are gonna miss them so much! 

Anna makes the world's best rolls! This was for our Easter dinner! So yummy. We realized that every holiday that we've been in South Bend for, we have spent with the Harwards. It's been so nice to have them as friends!

My friend Becca made this adorable hat for Riley! Sooooo cute.

I just think she looks hilarious in this picture. Literally makes me laugh out loud.

Sup?

That. Double. Chin.
Bapa says, "Riley's got more chins than a Chinese phone book!"

It's actually pretty impressive how much of her fist she can fit in her mouth. Especially at bath time. She likes to suck all the water off of her hand. When she's not eating, she's practicing eating. I think there's a Jim Gaffigan skit about that with gum.

We are LOVING the spring weather and enjoying lots and lots of walks outside. 

OK those shoes!!! I'm obsessed. They're way too big on her still but I just had to try them on her. Love them.

Nightly cuddles with my princess babe.

Took this during Sunday school. Church is so fun with a baby :) I hear that my opinion on that might change though once we have another...guess we'll see about that.

Look at that sweet face!

I LOVE this picture!

My friend Amy Heiby gave us this little flexible flower to stick wherever and we put it on Riley's swing. Riley LOVES it! The flower has a little happy face on it and she could stare at it for like 20 minutes straight, just smiling and having a conversation with it! It is the cutest thing!

Notre Dame campus is SO gorgeous! I love taking Riley on walks around campus and to meet up with Ryan there. It's one of my favorite things to do! 

The family life committee for the MBA program has lots of fun activities. This was at a South Bend Cubs Baseball game. 

Yay for free hats!

Riley and Daddy at the Cubs game.

We finally realized that we have close to NO photos as a family. Most are all Riley so we are gonna try to take more as a family too. 

She's getting so vocal. She loves to chit chat and is even making giggling noises too. Still waiting on a belly laugh but the giggles and cackles are so fun!  

My view when Riley falls asleep in my arms. 

Those CHEEKS!!

I think this is my favorite picture of Riley. Look at that CHUB! She is one adorably squishy baby. I just can't get enough of her.  I think it's hilarious when people ask me "Is she a good eater?" I have to laugh. Don't you see her? Yeah. She's a phenomenal eater. I LOVE my baby. She's the most chubalicious little chica I have ever seen. I could hold her and stare at her and cuddle those rolls all day long. And somedays I do :)