Walking and Talking

One day Ryan decided that he was ready to walk more than crawl. He's all over the house now!

Walking and Talking

Webby Dance

I started dance class on Fridays. My BFFs and I love singing the songs and learning the moves.Mom says I have natural flair and a perfect twirl. This is the dance we are working on right now, and I'm very focused on getting the song right. We are also working on big dance moves and big smiles:
Mickey Mouse's Bday Party

Animal Kingdom

Our back yard has been a virtual zoo (not counting the monkey flexing his arm in this picture). One night we found a baby cardinal that must have left his nest for the first time. His Mom and Dad kept chirping and flying down to check on him. After a few tries, he was able to fly up to a branch, then disappeared into the ferns.
While we were out there cheering him on, an adorable owl swooped down onto our tree. She probably likes to eat some of the mice that live in our attic.The next morning the cutest baby possum was sniffing around our patio. Yes, they are disgusting animals, but this tiny critter was actually cute. Until Maggie and Moxie went outside and he played dead. Who knows what will show up in our yard next!

Milkshake Days

This week everybody got sick. It was awful. 8 sleepless nights, 5 cans of chicken noodle soup, 4 infected ears, and 60 hours of Disney movies and Sesame Street. Even Mom and Dad each spent 48 hours in misery. Thank goodness for Motrin. And good doctors.But mostly, thank you Moms and Dads who understand that some days are made for milkshakes. They just make you feel better. Ryan was a huge fan of the chocolate milkshake, and made a big show trying to get my attention so I would give him my glass. Everybody was looking at him and laughing:
Gimme That Milkshake

Happy Mother's Day!

Dad and I surprised Mom with what I called "Food In Bed" for breakfast (She loved it!). She said Mother's Day is a perfect time for her to look back at all of the ordinary moments that make her love being a Mom. Like our afternoons in the neighborhood riding my bike. The hours before school trying to keep Ryan entertained and out of the kitchen. The day she finally gave up and made him a food tray where he can eat his waffle and still be able to stay under her feet while she gets our bags for school ready.
The random moments when she realizes that I am watching and learning from their every move. Like when I performed Dad's Perfect Pushup routine.The drive to and from school when I beam with pride because I get to sit in a big girl booster seat.

The weekends when we get to decide what fun things we can do As A Family.The days when Ryan and I make her laugh just by being ourselves. I think Mom likes us and loves us very much.

Birthday Girl

My 4th birthday has been the best! Mom brought cupcakes to school so we could have a Little Mermaid birthday party. I insisted on being the Teacher's Helper and hand them out to all of my friends along with the Ariel cupcake toppers (Spiderman for the boys). These are the same friends who sang Happy Birthday to me last year and the year before! Look how big we are now. Even Ryan got to party with us. He likes the attention from his adoring fans: all the girls in my class. They literally circle around him cooing "Hi Ry-Ry" while he smiles and pets/pulls their hair.
The other best part about turning 4 was my girls day! My two best friends and I met up on Saturday morning at a special kid salon for pedicures with purple polish and sparkles. Then we had lunch with our Moms. I think the Moms enjoyed our morning as much as we did.
But the real surprise was my gift: a purple Big Girl Bike! With training wheels! And a princess helmet! I'm crazy fast on it, especially with my aerodynamic Blue Sparkly Dress. Now I fully appreciate our boring flat grid pattern neighborhood... it's perfect for cruising on my bike! By the way, if you click on this picture, you can see up close that Dad and I have the exact same expression. Some people think I look like my Dad. Just a little.

Little Man Walking

This morning he took 5 steps on his own for the first time. By dinnertime, he was practically running across the room, stopping only when he crash lands into something head-first:
Ryan Walking

Ryan at 10 Months

Our busy boy has learned to charm everyone with his toothy grin. His teachers tell Mom all the time "we just love his smile and spirit". We gave up trying to get a picture in his rocking chair for this month's post, mainly because he wouldn't sit still! There are so many things we love about him at this age:

• Starting to babble and copy sounds from us, especially my squeals. Dad taught him to growl at the toy lion and make a blowing sound at the elephant, and Mom heard him call me "Gissy" tonight.


• Loves hair- grabbing it, pulling it, pretending to brush it- especially mine and Moxie's.


• Rubs his hair and head when falling asleep. When Mom checks on him at night she loves finding him asleep on his tummy, bottom in the air, or on his back with arms up in touchdown position.


• Says hi by holding his arm straight out, hand open.
  


• Loves the bath- puts his face down and tries to "taste" the water, or sticks his face under the running water, looks surprised, then does it again.


• His smile is the best in the business, but don't be fooled, that little mouth is a bear trap, he'll take your finger off in one chomp.
  


• When he meets someone new, he flashes that smile, then tucks his head down into Mom's neck or chest. He owns the sweet old ladies at Publix with that move.


• Changing diapers and clothes has become a contact sport (he is strong and fast!!).
  


• At church last week, I affectionately told Miss Mabel that Ryan was a mess maker. He starts in the kitchen, systematically unloading everything from the cabinets, then moving on to our bedrooms to unload the bookshelves.

The best thing about this age is that Ryan loves me as much as I love him. He always wants to be near me, playing with whatever toy I have, and copying my every move. He's pretty cool.