Christmas Card

This is the newsletter that I sent out to my family in their Christmas cards and I thought it would be nice to post it here. Enjoy!


It's hard to believe that 2009 is coming to a close- it has been quiet a year for ryan and I!

2009 began in the back of my in-law's mini-van traveling across the Southern part of the country after a vacation in Florida visiting Ryan's older brother, Jeremy and his family. It was a wonderful Porter family vacation and it was so fun to visit with Jeremy and Rose and their children. It's also wonderful that Jeremy and Rose welcomed their 5th child this November. Aden, Josh, Zac, and Janae love their new little brother, Zane. Welcome to the family, Zane!

This is Ryan and I in the ocean in Florida

Ryan and I also welcomed a new sister-in-law into our family this past April when Ernie married Daley! It was a beautiful Ruidoso ceremony officiated by Ryan and I was priviledged to stand by Ernie as best (wo)man. We were both honored to be part of their special day!

Ernie, Daley, Angela, and Ryan

Ryan began his Master's degree this year at the local branch of NMSU. The Social Work program is set up for working adults and Ryan has been taking 2 night classes. he is thriving and loving school. This part-time program with hopefully only take Ryan 2 more years! I am so proud of Ryan and his education. Ryan also had a change at work with a shift in jobs. He went form being a psych-tech to an education assistant. This means Ryan gets to spend mroet ime int he classroom witht he residents of the treatment center teaching and less in the lodges. He seems to be enjoying the transition.

Another huge milestone came this summer when Ryan and I purchased our first home! it was a fun and exciting adventure that resulted in a little casa in the North Valley of Albuquerque. It has charm and uniqueness and we are so excited about it. Thank you to both sets of parents that helped us move, again! We are home now... at least for a while!

But the most significant event in the lives of Ryan and I this year was the birth of our son, Topher Van Sol Porter! God blessed his arrival in October and life hasn't been the same since. he has brought new and exciting challenges to our lives and although being new parents is sometimes difficult... his little face makes any challenge worth it! Topher has been blessed by multiple baby showers from our friends and family in Lubbock, Las Cruces, Albuquerque, and El Paso. We have felt so loved and taken care of during Topher's first few months!

Topher with his parents, 3 wks

This was a year of firsts for this little Porter family. We have been so blessed and pray that your 2009 was blessed as well. We also are looking forward to 2010... many of our friends are expecting little blessings and we are looking forward to meeting Topher's newest friends!

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAVE A VERY WONDERFUL NEW YEAR!

Much love,

Ryan, Angela, Topher, Rufio, and Harper

2 months and doing good!

I am having a hard time believing that my little Topher is two months old today. I feel like only yesterday I was complaining about pregnancy stuff and waiting to have this baby. Time really does move too fast! But what a wonderful two months it has been!

We had his check up yesterday and little man now weighs 11 lbs 1 oz and is 24 inches long. That means for weight, he is in the 25-50 percentile, and for height, the 75th. His head is also in the 50th, but I didn't write down the measurement. It's a wonderfully round, big head! He also got his shots yesterday and while painful for him, it was painful for me. There is nothing like seeing your little one in pain! I wanted to hold him and make it go away... lucky for me, with two month olds and shots, that is exactly what I did. She shot him, he cried, I held him, he stopped! He did wonderful last night too. No signs of reaction and no fever or fussiness. He slept and ate like normal. It's wonderful when things are normal!

He and I had to go grocery shopping today, and of course, it was snowing. He didn't seem to mind, but I pretty much bundled him up really good. He is such a sweet guy. I never really liked the term "Momma's boy", but now I have one and I love it. He is my little man. We laugh and talk almost all day. He lets me shower, most the time, and occasionally, I let him be held a little extra during quiet times!

We seem to be doing good on this feeding thing. Seems like it would never be a routine, but we have one. I am excited to say, he seems to be eating less formula, which means he must be getting more from ME! I have to say, I have never worked so hard for something like I have with breastfeeding. And the funny thing is... there is only so much 'work' to be done. It's either there or it's not. But for the time being, we are nursing first, then formula as a desert. And the scale says that is working for us!

Lastly, I wanted to mention what a wonderful Thanksgiving we had. It was so special to have Topher meet his Uncle Chris. Chris is so good with babies, having 4 nephews and 1 niece already, it was great to see him with Topher. He feed him, held him, kissed, and loved him. Topher even woke Chris up on several different occasions! Thanksgiving was blessed with my parents, Ryan's parents, grandparents and aunts, uncles, and cousins. I loved being surrounded by family, and Topher did too. He got held and played with and it was so wonderful.

I just feel overwhelmingly blessed today. I am still working on getting my barrings, but days like today make me so incredibly excited about what is going to come.

Meeting Mema and Papa

On our way down the road to Las Cruces, we stopped in T or C to visit and introduce Topher to his great-grandparents, Mema and Papa. It was a wonderful lunch and a fun visit. Topher was a little cranky since he had been in the car all day, it was his first road trip... but overall he did very well. We are so blessed by Mema and Papa and can't wait for more time with them.

Mema and Topher

The boys. 3 Generations... missing Stanna!

Topher loves his Papa.

We've got reserve!

We just got back from Topher's doctor's office and I am so happy! Topher's doc wanted to see us again after two weeks to make sure Topher is gaining the appropriate amount of weight, since he lost so much at the beginning. Two weeks ago we began supplementing with formula after every feeding and we are proud to say that he GAINED 2 lbs! Yippee! She said that he looks so good and healthy and she is very pleased. He now has little rolls on his thighs and is starting to get a double chin... and she said that is what she wants. Him to have some reserve! So, praise the Lord, we are doing good.

Harder then expected...

Everyone tells you that once you become a parent, your world changes! If you are pregnant, you nod and agree, but you don't fully understand that... at least I didn't. We are 5 weeks into this parenting game and some days I just don't know how I am going to do this for the rest of his life! Today, for example, he is AWAKE! He took a short nap this morning, and I did shower... but he's been up since his 4am feeding. After that feeding I put him to bed and he cooed and grunted until 6. Right now, he is in his bed doing the same thing. He isn't hungry, he isn't wet, he might be gassy, but he is just talking.

I guess I am having a moment of weakness! I just don't know how I am going to go back to school or work and how we are going to function! I am so scared and confused and long for the answers. Ryan is working and going to school... he is doing a great job. I just don't know if I can do the same. Daycare is a scary thing right now with all these germs and H1N1 stuff.

I guess I shouldn't blog when I am feeling this way... it makes me want to cry and go lay down. Which is what I should do, but with a 'talking' baby it isn't easy. So, I guess I am sending this blog out into the universe in hopes that by putting words to my fears, maybe they will be less scary.

I don't know what to pray, except... Lord, I need help.

Trying to keep up.

I have been such a bad blogger these past 4 weeks, but I am going to attempt a little more. Life has completely changed for me and although it is taking some getting used to, I am truly enjoying Topher more and more everyday. I can't believe it is November already. Ryan and I began our love story together 8 years ago this past month. I am truly blessed and hope the Lord has blessed you as well. Here are some pictures of our little dude.

First church visit.

First snow day... I had to bundle him up!

Smiling at Daddy

41 wks

It's hard to believe that my due date has come and gone with no new baby, but I understand it's not that unusual! Yesterday, Ryan and I got to see our little Baby with another ultrasound, which is standard for woman who reach 41 wks. It was great to see the Baby, although it was quick. Ryan said he had never seen a skeleton that was so cute before. Everything is where it should be... the heart rate was awesome, kidneys, heart, brain! Head is down and in my pelvis, so we couldn't get a good face shot, and Baby's tush is right under my chest. I could have told you that... I pat it all the time!

We then went for NST monitoring for about 40 minutes. They checked heart rate and contractions, and while Baby's needle danced all over the paper, mine did not. So, tomorrow, on my birthday, we have another appointment and we will decide our next course of options. So far, I have been taking herbs and drinking tea which is supposed to help labor along. And talking walks, but you know, that's kinda hard sometimes! Anyway, sorry blog-readers that there isn't more exciting news.

I hope that my birthday present will come soon! Prayers welcome!