More Firsts

While we look forward to and celebrate all of Ryan's firsts, each one is also bittersweet. I know that Ryan is the last addition to our little family so each first is also a last. It doesn't make sense that it would make me sad because I am completely happy with our family of four, but still... he's so sweet.

Last night we had another last... Ryan tried vegetables! Sweet potatoes to be specific. I'm not sure if he really liked them or not. He opened his mouth wide for each bite, but made a terrible face once it was in his mouth... it was a sucking on a lemon face! It must have been shocking to have something so tasty after living on milk and rice cereal for almost six months!

Here he is ready for his next bite...



Mmmm... yummy!

So happy! Full and clean! What could be better??

This morning we prepared the boys for another 80 degree day. Here's Ryan ready for school.

Tonight we took advantage of a beautiful evening with a walk to the park and then some time in our own yard. I think Tyler is finally enjoying the swing set! It only took two years!

Here's Tyler learning to pump.

Such fun!

Ryan got in on the action as well. Another first... or is it a last? He loved it!

Whoops! I got a little too close!

And then it was time for the tire swing! ... check out the siding on the garage. Dan did it himself! I think it looks a lot nicer.

Yay! Two boys on the swing set!

Here we are back inside after all our fun.

Two minutes later, Ryan was all done. Poor kid... it's going to be a long summer for him being dragged all over the neighborhood.

I love summer! It's hard to believe we're going to be back in the 40's tomorrow:(

Sitting Up!

Well... sort of! I'm not sure if he's sitting or just balancing on his belly, but he was unsupported for a few minutes. Check it out...

This is when he started to get upset. He looks like he's thinking "enough already."

We had a wonderful day in 80 degree weather. It feels so good to be in shorts and a t-shirt. I hope this weather sticks.

Here's Tyler with is newest car.

Our Weekend

We finally had a weekend of nothing! And we truly did nothing... sort of. Dan started siding the garage while the boys and I hunted for an entertainment center. Who knew it would be so difficult to find a simple console made from solid wood?? Unfortunately the chores still needed to get done. My usual 3 loads of laundry on the weekend exploded to 5! Ugh! I've still got laundry going and if everything goes perfectly, I won't be done until 10:15pm... way past my bedtime.

Oh, and it finally happened... the milk avalanche claimed a victim! Luckily it was me. I was digging out some meatballs for dinner last night when I got clocked in the head with 10 ounces of frozen white gold! Ouch!

So, it wasn't really a weekend of nothing, but it's as close as I hope to get in the next 18 years.

It was a beautiful weekend. Here's Ryan yesterday ready to shop! He's one cool dude!


He really is too cute! ...no, we haven't abandoned the carrier yet. Bad mommy! Once it is gone I'm going to be a slave to nap time and I'm not ready for that yet. I keep telling myself that he hasn't officially been weighed over 20 pounds so technically we're not in violation yet...

Ryan has been on the verge of rolling over for weeks. He gets right up on his side. This is his usual look. Unfortunately he's figured out that by contorting himself in all sorts of directions he can see everything he's interested in. Between that and his girth, I don't think he's ever going to roll.

Check out the hair. Poor kid!

Tyler wasn't very cooperative this weekend with the camera.

This would have been a good picture... oh, well! We make these sacrifices for fun.

Ok, we're going to try the video thing... This one shows Ryan's girth and you get to hear Tyler's whining in the background. I can't remember what he wanted, but at the very end you can hear his new trick... "I love you." Yeah, right! He's got schmooze down to a science! I'm ready to be past this stage.

If this works I'll try to get the giggle! And, one of these mornings I'm going to try and get him first thing. He'll stay in his crib talking to himself for about 15 minutes and he gets so excited when I walk in his room. It's a great start to the day!

Happy Easter!

We have had a wonderful Easter with the exception of a couple of upset tummies! I had a rough Friday night and Grandpa W had a rough day today. No fun!

Yesterday Grandma W and I took the boys to the Botanical Gardens for the Easter Egg Hunt. What a mad house! We did manage to get a good picture of Tyler with the Easter Bunny! (He knew he'd only get that lollipop if he let mama get the picture she wanted...)



It was quite chilly yesterday, although the sun was shining brightly. Tyler waited very patiently for the hunt to start.

He was having a grand time playing peek a boo around Grandma's leg. Here's a shot where I won!

Hurray! Tyler found some eggs!

This morning we had another egg hunt at home. The Easter Bunny did a great job hiding all those eggs!

This was the most difficult egg to find. Tricky Bunny!

Tyler had a ball.

As I was putting this together I realized I didn't take very many pictures of Ryan this week... oops. But, I did get one... here he is with his first piece of mail! Doesn't he look thrilled?

Welcome to Spring... Maybe?

When we woke up this morning everything was covered with snow! Ugh! It was only an inch or two, but still... isn't it spring? Needless to say, Dan is not pleased.

Here was the view out of the kitchen window after work.


Ryan is officially 5 months old today. I can't believe it. He's growing up and out so fast. Here he is this morning before school. Unfortunately he didn't make it home in this outfit.

Tyler is still enjoying having a brother. Here they both are enjoying Ryan's activity mat over the weekend. On the way home from Grandma W's a couple of weeks ago he told me that he wouldn't spend a week away without Ryan. I hope it lasts when Ryan starts grabbing Tyler's toys!

Here is Mr. Ryan before school yesterday. He is one smooth dude in his Tigger vest.

The past Saturday we went to our favorite museum with Grandma and Grandpa C. You would think that we'd spend less time there each visit, but you'd be wrong! We were there for almost 6 hours!

The big exhibit this time was Mr. Potato Head.

Here's Tyler with his own Potato Head Sunday morning. We got extra parts and pieces so now he can make all sorts of "heads."

I just had to get a picture of this guy. It's Veggie Head! He was huge!

This table was really cool. It had every imaginable piece with mounted potatoes. Tyler and Grandma had a good time here.

This was Mr. Potato Head's scuba adventure. Tyler seemed surprised to look up and see the potato looking down on him.

Ryan was very cooperative as usual. There was a lot for him to check out.

Tyler loved the space potato. It had all sorts of gadgets for him to check out. Here he is posing for me.

This museum is incredibly interactive. They do an awesome job. Here is one of the many exhibits that Tyler and Grandpa checked out. I think you could spend days at this place and not do everything. I see a membership in our future...

The airplane is still Tyler's favorite. I think I have this same picture from every visit.

Daddy also had a good time. Here he is at one of the craft tables... be sure to notice that there isn't a kid in sight...

I wasn't going to blog about this because I try to keep identifying information out of the blog, but it still makes me smile so here goes... For the purposes of the blog, lets say I work at "McDonalds." One morning last week I was wearing a McDonalds shirt. Tyler pointed to it and said "Mama, that says McDonalds." Then he said "Mama, I want to be a girl and work at McDonalds." Ha! He cracks me right up!