Big boys get big boy chairs

Ryker got his first Big Boy chair today and he absolutely loves it! (Thank you Auntie Jill!!) It felt like the right time since lately he's become quite the cuddlebug and can sit still to look at a book for a few minutes. He's always liked books, but often just looked at them on the ground. Of course my smart monkey pushed it next to the couch and immediately figured out how to use it as a stepstool to get up on the couch.

Ryker is 14 months old!

Happy 14-month birthday, buddy! Although a bit windy and cold out today, it has gotten into the 50's the past couple of days and Ryker is venturing outside more and more. He loves it! The lumpy bumpy grass gives him much hesitation, but Bryan coaxed him by throwing a baseball into the lawn to get Ryker to go for it. The focus on the baseball kept him from worrying about the "weird" grass and he walked right on it without hesitation over and over!

It's really cute when Ryker encounters a different type of walking surface - even if just the color changes like from the sidewalk to the blacktop driveway. He stops, stoops down, and touches the surface with his pointer finger. He does the same thing when standing at the top of the stairs, too. He's so inquisitive and I'm really glad that he does stop to notice the difference in surfaces. Hopefully that will save him a few trips and falls in the coming months. He's still intimidated by the stairs, but today found some courage and while holding mama's hand, started stepping down the stairs one by one. Yay buddy!

Kendyll is 1 Month Old!

Happy 1 month birthday baby girl! You're getting so big!

You've been able to hold your head up a bit since birth and still getting stronger every day. You eat constantly and packing on the weight - which is great. You haven't been officially measured at the doc's office recently, but I can tell by how your clothes fit that you're getting longer. And according to the home scale you've gained at least a pound. You're pushing on your legs trying to stand already - trying to catch up to your brother already?? :)

You like to look around as much as you can and like to sit up so you can see. You tolerate your brother's touch and noises very well! Looks like you're going to be a very patient person when you grow up.

Bad Mom

I feel like a bad mom. I really wanted to keep an on-going blog about Ryker's development and as often as I thought about it, I was never sitting in front of the computer when the thought occured. And here we are now a family of four and a month has already sped by with not a word about Kendyll. So here is where I resolve to be a better parent and keep better tabs on the kids - for our record, their record, and anyone else who cares to venture a peek into our crazy life.

The last post before this was in September. At this point, at 13 months+, Ryker has eight front teeth (4 up and down) and 3 molars. And by the current state of his crabbiness, I think he has molar #4 coming in as well. He pretty much eats whatever we eat, although he doesn't tolerate really spicy or greasy foods well. Ryker took his first steps at a day shy of 11 months old and quickly adapted to the upright mode of travel. Now he practically runs everywhere. We cannot wait to get him outside this spring and really see him go!

He's still not much of a talker - just babbling mostly, but he does this mumbled talk much like a ventriloquist, that makes me think he is talking in his own way. After I said "I love you" to him yesterday, it sounded like he said it back only he had his mouth closed so it was mumbled. I think he's practicing his talking "internally" and when he feels he's ready to share his voice, he will just open his mouth.

Kendyll will be one month old tomorrow already! Ryker really seems to like his little sister. From the beginning he's smiled whenever he sees her. When we ask, "Where's Kendyll?" he looks around for her. When she cries he looks for her, as well. When she's in her swing, Ryker will try to help her swing by pushing the chair back and forth. The only problem with that is his version of swinging is a bit more violent than we'd like. He loves to touch her face and pat her head (like he does with the dogs) but again, it's a bit more forceful than she's comfortable with. Obviously supervision is always necessary when Ryker is around Kendyll. There will be a day before the end of this year where they will probably be able to play together without constant supervision. It's amazing that is even going to happen this year...amazing how fast they grow up!

Family Photo Op

Merry Christmas! Here's our family photo taken at grandma Judy's on Christmas Eve. Ryker had just started walking on the 22nd - his 11 month birthday! Ryker's sister will be born in about 6 weeks. (Although by my size it looks more like 6 minutes.) We're really looking forward to celebrating these big holidays with two kids.

New Day, New Adventure

You have three teeth now! You have two lower and now one upper tooth. I'm sure your next upper tooth will soon arrive since your bottom teeth came within a week of each other. You already "chew" your food with your gums, so having teeth will only change what you eat - definitely not how much you eat!

Your strength grows every day. Your balance is amazing. In the past couple of days, you've started taking steps when I hold you up. Before that you didn't quite know what to do - usually ending up in you dragging your feet if I leaned you forward a bit. And you're only seven and a half months old!

You and I went to Grandma Judy's house for the day on Monday, Labor Day. You did pretty well, but you never took your afternoon nap. So by the time it was bedtime, you were extremely overtired and had your first official meltdown. Wow! I'd only seen you tear up once before, but this time the tears were rolling down your cheeks, face all red, screaming your head off. I was scrambling to get everything in the car and Grandma and Grandpa took turns holding you and you only screamed louder. You poor thing! Once I could hold you again, you stopped crying. You had cried so hard, though, that you couldn't stop right away. The good news was that you fell right to sleep once the car started moving! Your new tooth showed up the next morning, so I'm sure that had something to do with it, too. I hope the rest of your teeth take it a bit easier on you!

I can always tell when something is wrong because most of the time you're pretty easy going and happy. It breaks my heart when something is bothering you.

It's getting cooler outside. Fall is coming, then snow!

Growing up so fast!

I can't blink or I'll miss something new with you! You are just a big bundle of energy and all you want to do is stand, walk, run...but you just haven't figured it all out yet. You're so axious to get to things, but too frustrated to take the small steps (like learning to crawl) so you just roll. Roll roll roll. It's adorable. You can get up on your arms and sometimes your knees, too, but then you only push yourself backwards.

You're doing great at balancing yourself, otherwise. You know how to put your arm out to the side if you start to topple while sitting. Your stomach is flat and your abs are strong because you spend so much time reaching, pulling, and trying to get yourself in an upright position. You can do it pretty well as long as you're not perfectly flat. An incline helps you help yourself. I know it won't be long before you're crawling, walking, and even running because I can see the ambition in your eyes (and the energy in your ever-kicking legs).

I love how you hold a fistful of my hair against your face when you're getting your bedtime bottle. To think I was going to get a hair cut! Nope...not as long as you do that. I cherish our sweet time together.