Wisconsin State Fair

Dan got a couple of tickets to the fair from work, so we decided that we would head down there for as long as Rylie would let us. We went after Dan got home from work on a Friday night. To be honest, I think this was only my second time at the fair and my first must have been quite a few years ago because I didn't see anything that looked familiar.

Our first two stops were the swine barn and cattle barn.

Rylie with the pigs

Next we walked through the WI exposition center and finally through the WI products pavilion. We did walk into the cream puff pavilion, but took a look at the line and decided to pass.

I don't think either one of us actually ate any food on a stick. At about 9:00 Rylie started getting restless and the crowd was getting thicker. It wasn't easy maneuvering the stroller and I'm pretty sure I ran into a couple people, so we decided to head home. I was happy to get out of the house for a few hours and Dan was happy to drink a few beers. A good night.

Road Trip

Rylie took her first trip to La Crosse when she was 3 1/2 weeks old...and we went just the two of us! I decided that while I was on maternity leave, it would be nice to stay a little longer than a weekend out in La Crosse, so we headed there on a Wednesday morning. The plan was to have the car packed and ready so that once I fed her we could just hit the road. Dan was joining us on Friday for the weekend. It was a great trip. I learned that she does great in the car. She slept almost the entire way and has done the same the two trips we have made there since.

Rylie checked out her crib right away at grandpa and grandma's. It's the same crib and bedding that her mommy slept in. Grandma has since bought her new bedding...baby snoopy (what else!)

I think she likes it

Rylie met her great-grandparents on both sides.


Great Grandpa and Grandma Jenks


Great Grandma Kearns

She attended her first "fest", which was Irishfest. She wore the appropriate attire. She will attend her second "fest", Oktoberfest later this month.



She also made her first trip to a bar- Sloopy's. I worked there for about 4 years while I was still at the bank in Onalaska and going to grad school. They made Rylie feel very welcome, both on her birthday and her first trip to La Crosse.





However, she spent the majority of her time there snuggling with grandpa and grandma.


Lounging with grandma


Snoozin' on grandpa...this was a popular spot when we were babies too!

Rylie's "Firsts"

Rylie's first month was full of...firsts! Rylie met her grandpa Kearns and Uncle Patrick. Grandpa couldn't make it to the hospital (because of the change in the date) so she got to meet him on our first day at home. He brought with him a CD of his radio show from that day. They edited his show down to the times that he talked about awaiting the birth of his granddaughter with music in between. He had some advice for her too. I can't wait to play it for her some day. It is one of the neatest things I have ever heard and is such a great keepsake. If I can figure out how, I'll upload it.

Meeting Grandpa Kearns

Uncle Patrick

Rylie's first non-family visitors were friends, Auntie Sarah, Sweet Maio (aka Matt) and Genevieve. They were thoughtful enough to bring lunch for the whole fam! Sarah and I have since had many "play" dates.

Rylie had her first bath, which she was not a big fan of. If the crying wasn't indication enough, she made certain we knew it by pooping in her towel just after. We figured out she cries when she's cold, so we just keep her warm and baths have been a breeze ever since!

Rylie also went for her first walk in the stroller the Monday after we got home. It was pretty short because it had only been a week since my surgery, but it was nice to get out and enjoy some summer weather.

Her first trip out of the house was to Target- where else! I have figured out that she's a pretty darn good shopper- she sleeps most of the time, except at Kohl's, where she screams. We need to figure that one out.

Ready to roll!

Rylie had her 2 week check up where we learned she not only regaine the weight she had lost the first few days, but surpassed her birth weight and weighed in at 7 pounds.

She had a few more visitors in the following weeks- Jen and Travis who had just become engaged! Mike, Julie, Mason and Morgan Smith (who I forgot to snap a picture of). Blake, Jenny and Trent Peterson. Aunt Ruth and Beth were able to stop by too.

Auntie Jen

Blake, Trent, Rylie and Dan

Aunt Ruth- the closest to a great-grandma on the Wille side

She went out to lunch for the first time- to Chili's with Mommy and Daddy, Grandpa and Grandma Wille, Uncle Chris, Auntie Leslie and cousins Michael and Brady. There we learned that Auntie Leslie is expecting a baby girl! Rylie will have a new little cousin in December.

Rylie attended her first birthday party- big cousin Michael's 5th birthday.

Rylie, Brady, Brielle, Bennett, Michael and Brynn

Meet Rylie!

Rylie Gwendolen Wille was born on Monday, July 6, 2009 at 8:18am. She was 6 pounds, 9 ounces and 20 inches long. Because we had a scheduled c-section we were as prepared as we could possibly be for our stay at the hospital. We got up at about 4:00 on Monday morning and had to be at the hospital by 5:15 to get checked in. Once in our room, I got changed into my gown and hooked up to the fetal monitors while Dan made a couple trips to the car to bring in all of our bags.


Before

The c-section was scheduled for 7:30 and this is where things get a little interesting. My doctor FORGOT about my c-section. Yes, you read that right. I have never heard of that happening to anyone else, but if you knew my doctor, you wouldn't be all that surprised. Don't get me wrong, she is a great doctor and I wouldn't imagine seeing anyone else, but she's a little flighty at times.

At 7:15 or so, they walked me across the hall to the operating room where I sat up on the table and the anesthesiologist prepped me for the spinal. They can't give it to you until the doctor has made an appearance because it works very quickly. So there I sat on this table, in a room that's about 60 degrees with my backside open to a couple of male anesthesiolgists sitting behind me talking about sports. The nurses called the front desk a few times to see if they had seen her yet. They paged her twice and at about ten minutes to 8:00 they called her at home. Ten minutes later she comes flying into the doorway of the operating room. She starts apologizing, telling me how she only schedules surgeries on Tuesdays and Fridays (I was originally scheduled for Tuesday, July 14) and can't believe she forgot about mine. And then said, "Look (pointing down to her shoes), I'm going to have a reminder of this the rest of the day because I put two different shoes on." Sure enough, in her rush to get out of the house, she had put on one black pump and one brown one.

At that moment, I remember thinking, "Okay, you're here. Now try to calm down before you cut me open!" They gave me the spinal and let Dan in the room. And a few minutes later, we met Rylie. When I heard her cry, I can't even describe the feeling I had. I started bawling. It's an emotion that I can't explain, but a feeling that I'll remember for the rest of my life.


Meeting Rylie



Giving the news to the grandparents

Dan left the room with Rylie while they finished up with me. And the rest of the day is a bit fuzzy for me. The combination of the pain medication in the spinal and the anti-nausea medication kept me from opening my eyes for almost the entire day! I looked like this...


After



Rylie showing off her guns



One happy first-time grandma (Kearns)



Grandpa and Grandma Wille



Getting her first look at daddy






I recovered fairly quickly from the surgery. I was able to get out of bed and stand the first day (once I could actually keep my eyes open). I was walking around the second day, so I was able to ditch the IV and leg compression bands. I didn't have any swelling, which was also great. We spent 3 nights in the hospital and had a few family visitors while we were there.


Auntie Leslie and big cousins Michael and Brady (Uncle Chris was there too)



Aunt Marcia ( Uncle Ted was there too)



Cousin Christa



Cousin Earl


By Thursday morning we were ready to get home! My mom and dad were both coming that day as well. My dad was stayed through the weekend and my mom stayed for the whole next week.


We're outta here!

4th of July

Every year since I moved to this area, we have gone to the Stonebank parade on the 4th of July. It's a Wille family tradition. It reminds me a little bit of Oktoberfest in that we really don't see much of the parade, but spend most of the time eating and drinking instead. This year, the 4th was fairly close to my due date and I'd been having some strange feelings, so I decided I shouldn't be that far from the hospital. Because of these "feelings", the Dr. also decided that we should move up my scheduled c-section by one week to July 6. I was excited and also a little disappointed by this because we had our schedules all worked out so both my parents could be there. My mom was able to rearrange her work schedule to be there on Monday the 6th and she came to stay for the weekend. The 4th is Dan's favorite holiday, so I sent him to the parade and mom and I spent the day together. Dan didn't want me to miss out on all the fireworks, so he did his best to put on a display for us with a $10 variety pack from Pick 'N Save. It was money well spent :-)

Wisconsin Broadcasters Association

On June 18, my dad and grandpa Charlie were inducted into the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association (WBA) Hall of Fame. It was a great honor for both and was very well deserved. My dad and Charlie are the first father/son team to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. They have been the voice of WKTY radio in La Crosse since it opened in 1948. When my grandpa Charlie passed away in 1981, my dad took over his show. The ceremony was held at the Osthoff Resort in Elkhart Lake. It was a really neat ceremony with video and recordings of Charlie that I had never seen or heard before. My dad's friends surprised him by showing up for the event too!


The plaque- they made one for my Grandma Kearns too



The family shot


Mom & Dad



Dad with all the guys

Baby Shower

In May, Trudy, Leslie and Marcia threw a baby shower for me. Everything was decorated in pink and brown polka dots- it was SO cute and I loved it! My nephews thought otherwise because according to them, I only like green (my favorite color). The ladies put a lot of time and thought into all of the details. And I think this baby got everything she will ever need! They even had a gift for Dan...his Super Daddy apron, equiped with all of the necessary tools to change a dirty diaper!

Dan sporting his "Super Daddy" apron

The diaper cake

Me with the grandmas

The hostesses- Leslie, Trudy and Marcia