It’s been too terribly long since I’ve updated, so I’m bound to miss a few things.  Anyway, Ryan is more and more of a joy.   He went from taking 2-3 steps very cautiously to cruising the whole living room and turning 180’s without falling down within one month.  He gives hi fives, claps his hands and will show you “how big is Ryan” on request.   His favorite word is still dadada.  On a special occasion I will hear mamama.   His one Dr. visit found him in outstanding health.  It worries me that I haven’t had to even test his temp in several months.  I’m sure the monsoon is coming.   He’s fallen in the growth percentile from 95 to 60 which the doctor says is still fine.  It must have something to do with Ry refusing to eat again.  He’s still loving his formula but doesn’t have the patience to chew – we’re working on that.  We celebrated his 1st birthday recently.  All the Michigan aunts and grandparents showed up,  plus a few cousins.  Great party, thanks to all who attended.

We also recently took a camping trip.  Ry tends to not sleep as well when away from home, so it was a bit of a challenge to get him down for his two naps plus bedtime every day, but it was worth it.  Lots of fun.  I got cold at night but Ry was snug as a bug cuddled up to daddy.

I need to work on Dave to get a few more pictures up.  I think Ry has grown so much.  He’s up to 23.6 lbs and 30 inches.  He gets heavy very fast.  Mom has got to grow some muscles!

Ryan is changing SO fast.  In the last 3 weeks he has started crawling.  Within a week of that he started pulling up to stand.  Now he can get just about anywhere he wants.  Sometimes he’ll get stuck under a chair and get frustrated or get wedged in between the furniture and wall and needs to be rescued.  Right now he seems to be going through a “mommy’s boy” phase and needs to keep me in sight.  If he gets bored in one room and starts to get fussy we can just move to another room and he’s good for at least another 20 minutes.  He has been a very picky eater lately and clams up after a few bites of most of his baby food,  but he’s drinking more formula than ever.

We just got back from his 9 mo.  doctor visit and he got good marks all around.   21 3/4 lbs and 29 inches.  Still above the 95th percentile for height and weight.   I asked Dr.  Sova about his speech, and Dr. said it’s fine that Ry isn’t babbling yet.  It’s fine he’s been boycotting food as long as he’s hydrated.  Ryan used his new car seat for the first time for this trip, and boy do I miss the portable one already!

Dave is beginning to recover from a few days of a pretty bad cold.  It is the sickest I’ve ever seen him since I’ve known him, and we’re both a little terrified that Ry will catch it.   I think the hardest part of his cold for Dave was that he had to go a few days without holding his son.  Ryan has yet to be sick except a couple of days of a runny nose back in early January.

So, I’m certainly not posting often enough as so much has happened at I’m surely not remembering it all as I should.

Anyway, I had to leave Ry alone with David for a couple of days due to my Grandpa’s death and funeral.  D. wasn’t feeling well and I wasn’t up for taking care of Ry as well as myself during this time, so I left Ryan with David while I went to Indiana for a couple of days.  Gladly I was nothing less than stunned with this little unplanned experiment.  Not only did David and Ryan have a wonderful time together without too much fussiness- David cooked (which I don’t do hardly ever), he cleaned, and he took Ry out shopping.  David ended up feeling closer and more bonded to his son, which I would not have believed possible or necessary.  And they both enjoyed the time.   Dave was at least as good, if not better, at being full time mom than I am.  That’s it,  I’m leaving more often!  Though at least Ry was happy to see me when I got home.   I’d hate to be forgotten.

Ryan is still not babbling much, but he started adding g’s to his vocabulary on Christmas day.  Merry Christmas to Me!  Since then we’ve heard L’s, lots of z’s, and just today I heard a D or two.   I expect dada will come before mama– sweet just the same.

He absolutely loves having his teeth brushed, so I’ve started doing it 3x a day after meals instead of just once.  When I come toward him with a toothbrush on my finger he’ll open his mouth wide and smile at the same time,  sooooo sweet! And I hope it lasts as we have no dental insurance!

We’ve also recently started the sit up bath.  Ry has a ball splashing around and playing with his toys.   Baths are lasting much longer now that they are fun time.  Dave sets up the heater in the bathroom and gets Ry undressed,  then we play in the water until his little toes are prunes.   He splashes and splashes and plays with his little floaty toys forever.  I will wash him and D.  stands by to pick him up and dry him off, change him into jammies.

Ryan’s most recent trick (just happened today) is being able to get to sitting from his belly.  He’s done it several times, sometimes gets it wrong but now is getting it right more often!  So amazing to see his progress, and I’m so glad that I’m able to be here to see it.  My mom sent Ry a children’s music cd and when I played it for  him today he seemed to be dancing (while sitting) along to the beat!  More and more fun.

He goes through angel days and devil days.  I would like to apologize to all who have experienced the devil days.  One was during the Martin family Christmas.  Uncle Mike was playing with him and Ry decided that the world was coming to an end- for what seemed like hours.  I assure you that is the first time I EVER heard him scream like that and I will attribute it to the packed house as well as the tooth that popped through the next day or two.  Long live Tylenol- He’s had it 2x in his short life now and I’m very grateful for it.

Devil days are usually if not invariably unusual days- days away from the house to visit others or days at the house with others present.  Not fair as I want everyone to see what a wonderful boy we have!!

Ry has had his first Christmas celebration this past weekend.  We made it to Indiana to celebrate Grandma Pettet’s 91’st birthday, Uncle Dave’s 50’th and the upcoming holiday.   His aunt Crystal got to meet him for the first time as well.  Ry had a fantastic time with all of the attention over a 2 day span couldn’t stand to sleep through the excitement.  His great grandma as well as great aunts seemed to love holding/rocking him.  He got more spoiled than ever.  So much so that the next 2 nights he refused to go to bed as usual and put up fits until midnight.  As of today I think our sweet baby is back to normal- what a relief.  I don’t think I’m up for staying up until all hours again this soon!

Ry has become a champ at sitting, well for a few minutes at a time anyway, he likes to rock back and forth while sitting.  His hands are always working, manipulating toys, playing with remotes, water bottles,  my hair, anything he can get his hands on.   He’s very ticklish at feet, thighs, neck, ribs and belly- so easy to make him smile-have to work a little harder to get a laugh.   Loves looking in the mirror, riding on our shoulders, bouncing, flying, sitting on a lap.  In general any time he gets close attention he loves it.  Is also playing well on his own for up to a half hour at a time.  He’s starting to put everything into his mouth.  I think teeth number 5 and 6 are coming in and are bothering him more than the first 4.  It’s funny to watch him trying to put things in his mouth that are too big to fit- like his rattle from aunt Val.   He tries over and over and just can’t get it all in.  He loves getting his teeth/gums brushed and will chew on the bristles for a minute after I’m finished.  I try to do it once every day.

He’s managed to scoot backward while on his belly many times now, but has only in the last couple of days made it to his knees- and just barely able to rock back and forth before his legs splay out.   I am in absolutely no hurry for him to become more mobile.

Time sure does fly.   I’m so thankful to have been able to stay home with Ry for this long now.   He had his 6 month appointment today and Dr. is still very pleased with his progress.  Ryan is 27.5 inches long and weighing in at 18.5 lbs, so maybe growth is slowing a tiny bit but still in the 95’th percentile.  He hasn’t really been sick yet, dr. says it is good for him to get sick(???), but I’m going to keep trying to avoid that for as long as possible.   He has 4 teeth, and we’re thinking of trying some finger foods and advancing to baby yogurt, perhaps baby food type of meats too.  He watches everything we eat or drink with a fascination that makes me feel a tad guilty.  He’s rolling over both ways and can sleep in any position he pleases.  He’s usually down for 10-12 hrs a night though in the last week he has been getting up hungry earlier- hope that passes soon- I had been spoiled by getting a reasonable amount of sleep lately anyway!  I’m starting to think we need more toys.  We have 3 toy “stations” in the living room and he may be getting bored with the same things over and over.  He loves looking at his board books and seems to follow my finger to the pictures when I point out different things.  Sounds like he is waking up now (darn it, thought he was down for the night!)

Seriously, we have the most perfect baby in the world.   He’s sleeping 10-13 hrs a night, usually naps on schedule and lots and lots of smiles!  Dave thinks if we have another  we would surely not be so lucky.  I spend much of my days thanking God for this miracle.  In the last couple of days he has mastered the back to front roll and has been able to switch his sleeping and/or playing positions at will.  He no longer needs to be held most of the time, is more happy playing with his toys, bouncing in his chair- but of course still gets more TLC when necessary.  The kid can eat like a horse.  He’s now taking 4 oz jars of fruits or veges mixed with cereal 2x a day, that’s made breast feeding so much easier.

His most fun moments are bouncing, being chewed on (he laughs hysterically),  having a diaper changed (go figure), kissed on, etc.  Most times I just can’t get enough of him.   Dave is making it home from work earlier these days- wants to see Ryan before his bedtime, and that works out great.  After 5 or so Ry is ready for a change of scenery and I’m so happy to see the 2 of them together.   Dave is still crazy about his son and I imagine this will be permanent, so I should probably just stop mentioning it.   He’s the first to get him out of his crib in the a.m. because he wants some quality time in the morning and he’s normally the one to put him to bed too.

Last weekend we took a trip to the Lansing area for Dave’s annual class get together.  Left Ry with Kim and Mike.  Soooo hard for me, but apparently Ryan lived through it.  This weekend we’re really looking forward to getting to introduce him to  his triplet cousins.  Really looking forward to that and hope lots of family will make it.  Need to buy a new carseat for him as we are kind of having to squish him into this one now that he is so big.  I  estimate 18 lbs and who knows how tall, but 26.5 inches 6 weeks ago.

We have so many good pictures of him now– just need to get David better about posting them!! my project for the week..

Ryan’s 4 month check-up was this morning.  He’s still at or above the 95th percentile for height and weight.  Weighing around 16.5 to 17 lbs and is 26.5 inches long, so he grew 3 lbs and 3 inches in 2 months!   Dr. Sova says he’s growing very well.  Ryan started taking some rice cereal a couple times a day last week.  More ended up on him than in him.  We’ll be starting  vegetables soon.   Sleeping like a champ at night getting anywhere between 8-12 hrs at a stretch and taking 2-4 naps a day or about 3-5 hours total.   He absolutely loves to stand and can hold all of his weight for 5 minutes or so, also sitting supported by boppy for a couple of minutes.  Loves to “fly” as well, but he sure gets heavy fast for me!  He’s reaching for toys and shaking rattles.  Chews on his fingers or whatever he can get into his mouth- time to start babyproofing the house soon.  He loves loud smacking kisses-always gets big smiles.   Still wants to be held a lot of the time but is able to entertain himself for up to 30 minutes in his standing activity center or bouncy seat.  Also loving looking at mirrors.  He’s not rolled over in a couple of weeks, wonder if he’s forgotten how.

This is all happening too fast.  Dave was playing with him in the living room and I missed it.  Ryan rolled over for the first time and I missed it!  He rolled over 3 more times in the next 5 minutes which I got to see – and yep, I cried.

Okay, so it’s babble- but I swear he’s telling stories.  In the last 2-3 weeks Ryan has been keeping us entertained.  He’s “talking” quite a lot, punctuated by squeals.  We would find this endlessly entertaining, but Ryan is only good for a few minutes of “talking” at a time, when he’s in his best moods.  He will bless us with his ‘stories’ a few times a day though.

Dave thinks he’s reaching for toys.  To me it looks like wild flailing and accidentally hooking a fist around something.  Often my hair, necklace, or sometimes a toy.  He doesn’t seem to know he’s snagged anything.

I unofficially weighed him a few days ago (bathroom scale and math: me + baby, and figure he’s up to about 14 pounds now.  So hopefully he’s slowing down if he’s only gained a pound or so in the last month.  I was afraid he’d weigh 40 by his first birthday.

I’ve been pulling out all 3-6 month clothes that we have – Thanks again Eric and Em.  I’m shocked to find some of them are already snug.  Some 6-9’s fit and some of his 0-3’s still fit well- kind of confusing!

Ryan’s favorite thing is still to be held, more than not.  And I pretty much have to be up and moving for it to be acceptable to him.  Good for my innate laziness to be challenged in that way I suppose.  Funny that when Dave gets home Ryan can spend hours upon hours gazing adoringly up at his dad as he’s held by him without so much as a whimper…. traitor.

Ryan passed with flying colors! He now weighs 13 lbs and is 23.5 inches.  Dr.  Sova says he is above the 95’th percentile for both height and weight.  His head is now 39 cm in circumference.  Dr. says he is a big baby, but not overweight since he is growing proportionally.  Dr. also thinks Ryan’s beautiful baby blue eyes will stay blue, so Ry has daddy’s eyes.

He still has his fussy days when he can’t be made happy for very long and seems to eat every hour, but they are balanced by his angel baby days when he sleeps all day long or plays happily by looking around and at his toys.  I hesitate to say this for fear of jinxing myself, but more and more at night- last night included- he’s gone 8-9 hours without eating, 6 hours or more straight sleeping.  There is a God! And He loves me!

Ryan is getting a lot more smiley these days too.  Has even laughed out loud a few times- there cannot be a sweeter sound in this world!  Sometimes he smiles for no reason, other times at play.