Planes, Trains (Bus) & Automobiles

Ryan had a little trouble starting his bus.

So, he took a look under the hood...didn't look promising.

SO, he tried an automobile. Ryan kept asking me where the steering wheel was on this. I told him that when he's old enough to buy his own car insurance, he'll get the steering wheel.

He looked all over the car for that steering wheel.

So, Ryan booked a flight. Land transportation is so for the birds?!?!

Unfortunately, there was no propeller.

So he had to make an emergency landing. Please don't worry about him. He's realized that his knees and hands are his safest mode of travel for now.

We're on the Move!

Check out my new Entertainment Stage in the background. My stage is what helped me start pulling up on things. OR, maybe it was my striped pj's.

WELCOME JACKSON!!!

Everyone, meet Ryan's new buddy!

I often catch Rod, in the mirror, re-enacting Edward Scissorhands.

Since we're both working, and have no time to cook or clean, we got a chef. Everyone, meet Chef Chargrill. It's made all our meals since hire-date. Check out the smile on that boy's face! Kudos to Rod for putting it together. Who knew they were sold in a thousand pieces?!?!

When should I start buckling him in?

Merry Christmas!!!

Scott and Kim arrived, and did the Polka! We all headed out to Floore's Country Store to watch Putnam "hang his boots". He retired his boots, and marked his territory at Floore's. For those of you not from SA, this is a small town, COUNTRY venue where we'd go (yes, under age) to see Robert Earl Keen play.

The boots. I was so excited for Putnam, that I got a group to head out to watch Roger Kreger and toast the boots. Well, after coming out of the restroom, I learned I had MISSED IT! As I was marking my territory, Putnam marked his. Jenny even wore her Western boots in honor of "the hanging of the boots". (She missed it too) Rivenburgh's boots are hanging next to his. Brooke and Jack Walker came over to play with Sue, Malyn and Ryan. Except, JW wasn't allowed to play with anyone but Sue. See the adoreable pic below....this landed Sue in "time-out". How you ask?

She pushed Malyn out of the picture (off the rocks), while smiling, and still looking at the camera. TIME OUT!

Yet again, Mom fails to completely get Ryan fully dressed again. Check out the flames on the kid seat...totally matches my mom's decor.

Malyn doing the 100-yard dash.

I needed some dental work done. Fortunately for us, we have a dentist in the family.

Where in the world is Ryan? He looked TINY in Santa's arms. Thanks to Scott, I got this sweet picture!

Kim's first Ryan -sighting. Made mommy sooooo happy to see him in Kimmy's arms....I still think it's selfish for her to live so far away. (even though I pushed her out the door to SEATTLE....I take it back. Come home).

Froggy-froggerton is Seven-months-old

No longer a tadpole.

I often catch Ryan working his way up the legs of our coffee table. And, as of this morning...the rails of the crib.

Ryan doesn't think it's fun to sit still.

SEVEN MONTHS OLD

For Christmas, Ryan asked Santa for more feet to play with.

NOTE: Ryan's Spurs jacket...we went to school in this outfit...came home in a white pair of pants that had "INFANT A" stamped on the behind, and a blue sweatshirt, also stamped with "INFANT A". The teachers politely reminded me to bring warmer clothes to change Ryan into, should he have a little accident. Apparently, all I had for extra clothes was one onesie (short sleeved, no legs). Whoops.

Simon Didn't Say....

Ryan and I played "Simon Says". This is where he lost. I said "hands up" without saying "simon says". Boooya! Mom 1, Ryan 0.

Then, we played "Twister". In our game of Twister, colors aren't needed.

Today, we met with a physical therapist for his "tiltedness". She said that he has a VERY mild case of it. There is just a little stretching that we need to do. She showed me where he's more resistent when turning one way, versus the other. She taught me a few exercises...fun ones too.

Ryan played on the "therapy mat" where he crawled, did his London Bridge, and his favorite...the crawl to sit position. The PT lady was quite impressed with RT, and seems to think he'll probably walk before he masters his crawl. Ryan asked me to brag...she said he is developmentally "advanced". He blushed.

Tootle's Got Elfed!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1269902027

We're Feeling Better! We're Back!

We're back with a new laugh!

Rylee was such a sweetheart. She didn't want Ryan to be alone in all his tiltedness.

Big 12 Championship!

Those who know me, know that I'm not much of a football watcher. I mainly like the football season for the chips and queso, pizza, and good conversation. So, Melanie would probably say that I don't deserve to sit ON THE 50 YARD LINE, IN A SUITE. I'm sorry, did that sound like I was bragging? Well, I am!!! The "catcher"...I cheered for both teams. Anytime anyone did something good, I would cheer.

Rod and I were invited by "an insurance guy". Much appreciated Todd. We had a BLAST!!! All the food and beverage you could possibly imagine. Only thing missing...the chips and queso. Small price. Melanie, you would be thrilled to know that I am now a football watchin' fan!

You can't tell in this pic, but I'm soooo pumped. I made some hot shot insurance guy take our picture. I couldn't believe how loud the fans were...and, the seats weren't even full yet.

A few other details caught my attention besides the actual game. I was fascinated by these guys, and the guy in the red shirt that had an orange glove to signal when the commercial break was almost over. FASCINATING.

My UT fans, don't read this part....the OU band was sooo much fun to watch. They had so much energy.

Nice Ride!

Ryan asked Daddy and I to take a picture of him in his new set of wheels. I forgot to snap a pic of his rims, but you get the idea. Wool seat, plenty of leg space, and drives itself. ;)

Ryan's New Trick

Ryan couldn't get paparazzos Nama and Nama Dotty to put their cameras down. Here's Ryan's famous crawl.

My Day Home with Ryan

Ryan's current crawl

Looks like his mom is a little lazy with the snaps.

Can you find Ryan's very own remote control?

He kept staring outside. It was a cute moment.

Here's his sixth month, chair picture. A little late.

Ryan's boombox.

He LOVES to play with his CD player. That's right. My boy is pimpin'. He gotta stereo in da crib.

Those fun moments today, in his Smurf pj's, ended up with an inhaler and an ear infection. Ryan is wheezing, has an ear infection, allergic rhinitis, possible asthma, eczema, a tilted head, yeast infection, runny nose, and a horrible cough. I just called the doc about his cough.

Needless to say, the doctor's visit was no fun. I had to hold a mask on Ryan's face for THREE MINUTES while a breathing machine gave him Abuterol. It was awful, and Ryan wanted NOTHING of it. Then, after that ordeal, the doc had to show me how to give him his inhaler (I could have just called a Kruger). Ryan wanted nothing of the little mask either. He gave the doc and I a look as to say, "I want nothing to do with you two."

So, I'm home with a Walgreens receipt for Aveeno lotion, Amoxicillin, inhaler, steroids, three syringes, oatmeal, prunes (forgot to add constipated above), and a Digorno's pizza (yes, from Walgreens...a lifesaver).

Ryan's Own Things on Thursday

I'm getting lazy with the camera, as Ryan gets more and more active, interactive, mobile and sweet! So, I'm just going to update you with the latest and greatest with Ryan D.
1. Ryan is proud to show his own, personalized version of crawling. With his little bottom in the air, legs straight and head on the ground, he's scooting across the floor. He's also starting the beginnings of a "normal" crawl. He's rocking back and forth on his hands and knees. He'll shine his pearly, white gums as he rocks back and forth.
2. "Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba"... code for "Momma."
3. Doctor pointed out to me that Ryan has his own head tilt. What I thought was his endearing pose, is actually a medical condition. Doc will be re-evaluating the head-tilt on the 20th of December. She's not too worried about it, but just wants to make sure he doesn't have neck tightness.
4. Ryan's own mom learned that she was feeding him too many solids, too soon. He's a great eater, and will eat anything given to him. So, why not feed the kid?! But, that has its drawbacks in the early months of eating. He wasn't getting enough calories, so he hardly gained any weight in the last two months. Why does this happen to a baby that eats a lot....the little cups of veggies have very little calories so he was filling up on empty calories. Mom's own fault.
5. Since he hardly gained weight, she's keeping him on Prevacid until he's NINE months. ARGH! She wants to make sure that his weight is b/c of too many solids, and not the reflux.
6. Ryan has been waking up in the morning with a crusty nose, and a BIG SMILE on his face. He's proud of what his own nose can produce.
7. We gave Ryan his very own remote control. Just for Ryan. It's with all the toys, in the toy basket.
8. Get your cell phones, and your "real" remotes out of Ryan's view...he'll pounce toward them, and right out of your arms. He's a strong little tot.
9. Weather permitting...we're going to see snow this weekend. We're going with a few families to the Stone Oak Winter Festival. Santa will be there as well so hopefully we'll have a successful pic.
10. We just got Ryan's proofs back from his school photos. No smiles for Ryan. Pitiful...as Grandma Millie would say. The backdrop was most likely used when we were little.
11. Ryan wants his own Christmas tree, but mom can't seem to get in the spirit of the season.
12. Ryan's mom is tired and still has to do her lesson for the day. (started Beth Moore's "Believing God" study).
13. Mommy's favorite thing....Ryan's still a cuddle-bug! He'll snuzzle into you and fall asleep, or just rest on you.

Happy Prunes Day!

Mommy's excitement for the turkey dinner was a bit of an overkill. She woke me up, threw me in the carseat, took a picture of me, and then took me to Nama and Poppy's house for Thanksgiving.

They get turkey, and I get prunes...what gives?!? I'm looking up "fair" in the dictionary.

Daddy and I played the game of "Trust". He kept his eyes closed and I told him where to go. Daddy needs to work on his listening skills. (No, Mommy did not tell me to say that).

Oh, I get it...this is the same idea as a bar-b-que pit. We, men, are to just stare at it.


This is my Uncle Chris. T-day was the first day he met me....he definitely has some points to earn. But, I did get all of his attention once he got away from the fryer.
Women by the food, gabbing. I'm definitely familiar with this scene. Cindy's holding me in this picture. We had a lot to talk about...something about a wedding?!?
CONGRATS AMANDA!!!

The Art of Thanksgiving!

My little turkey wishes you a HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

Where's the scarecrow?! Can somebody get this black bird off my son's stalk?!

I chose the the second turkey on the bottom-left. He's MINE!

Check out the blue ribbon at the top of the pic! Maria got first place for her door decorations this month!!!

JT's Shower...A Good Excuse for Us to get Together!

We had Jennifer's shower in one of the hill country's prettiest homes. Most of us have grown up together since elementary school. I think Brooke and I are preschool (along with kklovejoy whose not pictured). Getting together with my girlfriends is one of my most favorite things to do! Never a dull moment! I think the moms at the shower can vouch for that. They recently learned of a trip across the border.