1 Year

What a year! Ask me when Ryan was 4 months old if I was going to see a year and still have my sanity I would have told you you were nuts. This little boy came in on the tail of a hurricane and turned our lives upside down and inside out. I realized that everything I thought I did so right with Katie did not apply and I felt like a new mom again. Honestly I got so mad thinking about or seeing those moms with the "easy" second babies that went with the flow and they could take anywhere and do anything. In the trenches of those 8-9 months of no sleep and constant crying I thought it would never end...but now on the other side I can clearly see that it was such a small moment in time and such a small sacrafice. I suppose I can say that easily now that he has learned to love sleep and to be happy. I guess Ryan was sent to remind me that I don't have it all figured out and that I'm stronger than I ever thought I could be. He made me a better mother.

In these last few weeks before his birthday it seems as if he is growing and changing every second. Although not walking efficiently yet, he does take 5-6 steps occasionally. He loves to climb on anything! We often find him perched precariously on top of a toy and sometimes a table! He's very vocal and I'm sure is saying lots of things but I just haven't figured them out yet. Some words are more clear...Dadda, Momma, uh-hum (uh-oh), Ja-Ja (Jack), Sssss (sissy), Ah-Duh (all done), dis/dat (referring to something he wants or is pointing too) and just tonight uh-suh (outside). He loves to wave hi and bye. He points to what he wants and loves to clap. He's a lot more picky eater than Katie was so that has been a challenge for me. Fruit is his FAVORITE and loves crackers and cereal. He took to milk instantly and never looked back. His favorite person I think is me...but he is enthralled with his sister. For the most part they play really well together and I just love when he laughs at her. She's the best at making him laugh.

I want to thank all of you who helped me through the rough times with Ryan. Whether they were prayers or encouragement or witty Facebook remarks.

He really is a beautiful boy...inside and out. I'm so blessed to be his mom. I make my babies annoyingly long 1st year videos with sappy music so if you have a spare 33 minutes and some tissues....well, maybe I'm the only one that would cry...I hope you enjoy watching my baby grow. :) I was going to post his 1 year pictures individually, but they are at the end of the video as well so I won't. You can click the following link to see them!

Ryan's 1 Year Pictures

Happy Birthday Little Man :)

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

10 months

I almost missed taking 10 month pictures...tisk tisk! :) Today I went to try out a new location and my poor kids had to be my test subjects :P

Ryan didn't mind!




Katie sat still for one millisecond :P


And nothing like finishing off your day with a bath and a nekkid crawl around the living room...hehe

9 Months

You're a crawling, pulling up, standing, furniture cruising, cheerio eating, tongue clicking, hand waving, big smiling, ticklish, sleeping adverse, sister loving, trouble making, inquisitive, jibber jabbering, mama loving, big people food preferring, ball rolling, Cali grabbing, water playing, splashing, sneaky, computer touching, 4 teeth sporting....

sweet Little Man.

(who happened to NOT want his picture taken on this particular day :P)

3 1/2

8 Months Old

Today Ryan is 8 months old! Time is just going by insanely fast. Weeks feel like mere minutes with how busy we are. Here's a little about what's going on with Ryan:

- We have sort of solved the stomach issues...we think. I started him on probiotic cereal and he also now sleeps on his stomach. He actually goes down for naps awake and is able to fall asleep quickly. Night time we still struggle and I'm not sure why. I can't just lay him in the crib like I do during the day he screams bloody murder and just doesn't ever settle down. He's still all over the map as far as how many times he gets up. This last month he had a cold and is now teething so it's been up 2 or 3 times each night....*yawn*
- Teeth! We have 2 official teeth that have broken through! One top and one bottom. The other top front tooth is just about broken through and I have a feeling when he wakes up tomorrow it will be there.
- Ryan has started to wave! When you wave at him he sort of flaps his arms. :P
- His favorite game is to roll at ball back and forth.
- He loves to watch his sister. She's great at making him smile and laugh, although she also terrorizes and makes him cry quite often too.
- He is still a very fussy baby. Not content by himself...I must always stay near. It's a screamfest in our house whenever I just HAVE to get something done.
- He is REALLY close to crawling. He can crawl a few steps before he lunges forward on his stomach. I forsee an officially crawling announcement within the next week or so!
- I just bumped him up to size 4 diapers because of leaks at night. I also bought our first 12 month article of clothing the other day....aye yi yi. He weighed 20lbs 4ozs at the doctor a couple weeks ago.

On to pics...Katie, Ryan and I went over to a small gazebo area after naps to snap some pictures of Ryan and also Katie's 3 1/2 year pictures! Can you tell a big thunder storm was closing in??

He's just looking so much older each day...I think he looks especially handsome with his hair combed :)




Tried to get him to crawl but he was having nothing of it on that concrete!


The work of a big sister...


My world...


Edited because I like comparing Ryan and Katie at the different ages...

7 Months Old!

Posting this today since I have a busy day tomorrow. Little Man and I had a bitty photoshoot today. He wasn't feelin' it...I thought He'd love to hang out nekkid :P Oh well...here's my precious boy...



This one's going into my "blackmail folder" :P


For you eagle eye photogs...forgive the horrible clone jobs on the last two...I ran out of time :P

Happy Half Birthday Little Man!

Ryan's 6 months old today! I didn't take any "professional" type pics but he's sporting his green for St. Patty's Day tomorrow! Although he definitely tests his Mommy's limits and still is not an easy baby in any way...his smile brings me joy and his big blue eyes melt my heart.

Here's what our little man is currently doing!
1. Sitting up unassisted!
2. Drooling...a lot
3. Eating baby food
4. Whining...isn't it too early for him to start whining????
5. Watching his big sister
6. Kindermusik...we love Miss Penni!
7. Giving kisses....big slobbery wet ones :)




He has his 6 month appt on Wednesday and very curious how big he is! We are still really worried about him too. He still has stomach issues. I've gone completely off dairy which I thought was helping but now I'm not sure. He continues to have nights where he doesn't sleep because of horrible gas. Sometimes he just whines and cries all day...it's just hard. Hopefully soon he'll grow out of whatever is bothering him and we'll have a happy boy!



And for those who like to compare...here's Katie at 6 months :)

Happy 5 Months Little Man

I hadn't planned on taking any pictures for his 5 month birthday but he woke up early from his nap and Katie was still sleeping so we hung out in my bedroom. Have I mentioned how much I love the window light in my bedroom?? Anyway, just HAD to snap a few of our big Little Man.

Starting to sit by himself! Pretty wobbly but I don't think it will be long. :)


He's found his toes! His big belly kinda gets in the way of really playing with them :)


Take a good look...this maybe the last week he has a mop on his head! I think a first haircut is in his immediate future...like Wednesday!

4 months!

Tomorrow Ryan is 4 months...wow! He is growing up so fast it's amazing! Here are some things he's up to:

1. Loves to sit up and "stand." He's very into what's going on around him.
2. Still a cranky pants the majority of the time
3. Got sick for the first time and it was a doozy. He made his first trip to the Emergency Room although not really for an emergency. We couldn't find a pediatrician in my parents area that had time to fit him in. He also ended up with his first ear infection.
4. Slept through the night (8 hours) for the first time! He's still very inconsistent sleepwise though. Most nights he's down at 10:00 (after being put down at 8:30), up at 3:00ish and back down until 8:00. Naps are still a crap shoot.
5. Loves his exersaucer!
6. Loves to chew on anything...mostly his hands and my hands.
7. Filling out 3-6 month clothes pretty well.
8. Talks like crazy. He has fun making all sorts of sounds.
9 Made his first plane trip and did really well!
10. Starting to like reading with big sis at night. He thinks it's funny when I read. :)
11. Laughed for the first time this month!
12. Sometimes rolls to his side from his back but not interested in rolling much yet. Hates his tummy.

We are starting to leave that "newborn" phase. Honestly Good riddance! Ryan has his 4 month apppointment on 1/29 (he'll really be 4 1/2 months but I guess our ped is popular) so I'll update on his stats. I know you guys will be hanging on the edge of your seats!

Edited to add: This is a milestone post! This is my 400th post! Wow!

3 months old

Ryan turned 3 months old yesterday but I didn't get around to taking "official" pics of him. Turned out today I needed to get the studio out for Jenifer so I was able to snap a few of him.

At 3 months Ryan is 15+ pounds (at katie's dr. appt I had him weighed and my jaw dropped when I saw "15" and I didn't even catch what the ounces were)


He thinks his tongue is the coolest invention ever...


So are his hands...


He's droolin' like a pro...


And is very aware of the world around him...


The only thing I can't seem to capture much on camera is his beautiful smile! This kid loves to smile and laugh but it seems like every time I try to catch he goes to deer in the headlights.

I feel as if we've turned a major corner. He's much happier...he's napping MUCH better...and we are getting into a pretty good routine. Thank goodness! Mommy was seriously going to lose it! We still have some not so good days but things are much easier.

Ryan at 2 Months

Since I'm making you wait on Katie's 3 Year pics I'll share ome pics I snapped of Ryan today, just shy of 2 months old. :)


Edited to say...no his hair isn't getting red. It's just my sucky post processing!