{23 months}

So, I can't even believe I'm typing this.  & I got emotionally earlier just thinking about writing it.  It's official.  One month from today my baby will be two.  How is that even freakin' possible?  {insert tears now}  He is so grown up & big!  We literally have conversations now.  Like last night.  He walked in the room with some trains & I said, "You can go play trains in your room if you want, that's fine."  "Okay.  Bye Bye.  See ya."  Umm...how old is he?  He sounds like a 25 year old leaving the house after bumming some dinner off of me!  Ha!  

We had a nice day at home, & it was good to get things done.  We did have to go meet KeeKee & Pops for somethings later this afternoon & that's when I snapped these pics!  It was a little cooler outside today from all the rain last night so it wasn't too bad sitting out there playing before our appointment!

 Whenever I have my camera out he just says "Cheeeeese!!"  I wish he would just smile!  Ha!  I "found" these shoes in his closet today that Pooh got him last year for his birthday!  WOOPS!  Glad I found them when I did...because they FIT!  He doesn't need new ones, but we're wearing um!  =)

 Also, his birthday party is one month from today.  I have seriously been slacking in that department.  I think I have honestly been in denial that it was coming up, so I just ignored it & did absolutely nothing to start "planning" for it...which is SO totally not me!  But, I have realized the last week I need to get my butt in gear, but it's coming up whether I like it or not & I can't do anything about it!  This time last year I think I was about done with his party!  Ha!

 We have been using the big boy potty some.  Sometimes he wants to & other time he just really doesn't care.  He is not to the point of being able to tell me when he needs to go, but when I take him every 10 minutes, he goes.  So...I guess we'll keep doing that!  But the whole pooping thing...ahh!  He tells me RIIIIGHT after & I'm like RYYYYYDER!!!

 Today he started saying "Wy-der do it" Oh geeeez.  I knew this day was coming.  Mister Independent is here.  He is already as slow as Christmas at things like getting out the door, or  picking up his toys etc. etc. so no telling where this is going to lead!  But...I love him anyways & he can take as long as he likes to grow his independence!

The kid talks NON STOP!  Oh my word!  He teaches me words every day that I don't even know he knows, that he learns from somebody else!  One day on the radio the announcer said, "And now, Lady Gaga with..."  & he repeated "LAY-DEE GAH GAH" over & over & over again that day!  It was too funny!  Then later that night, the same song came on TV without having her name said before hand & he said, "LAY-DEE GAH GAH?"--See what I mean?  He doesn't forget a THING!

Tonight he was playing with my arm & I just let it be loose & he was flopping it around & what not & said "buzz-light year!?"  I about DIEEEED!  This kid remembers EVERYTHING!!  He watches Toy Story on Pop's iPad & I assume he was talking about the part where Woody is waving Buzz's arm around when it isn't attached to Buzz anymore looking out the window to all the friends.  {I couldn't find a clip, but maybe one of you know what I'm talking about!}

 I love this little boy so much, & I thank God every night that he has trusted me to raise him!  I wouldn't want it any other way!  Sometimes I just stare at him at night while he's asleep still in awe of his perfect-ness & that he is mine!  Yes, he is ALL boy and a handful, but I wouldn't know what to do without him in my life honestly!  I love the love that he has for his Mama & the sweetness he shows me every day.  He will lean in for a kiss & we'll kiss & he'll say "Thank you baby."  Because that's what I've always done to him.  He will kiss me on my shoulders, because I kiss him there a lot when he doesn't have a shirt on.  He pats on my back when we hug, and a lot of times he asks for the hug by saying "Hug?"   That will melt your heart.  As much boy as he is, I never knew I could have a son that was also so sweet, loving & caring.  He has a big heart & that's for sure.  You can already see it!

I haven't decided if I'm going to do monthly posts after his birthday or not.  I kinda feel like I should just to make myself talk about him & only him often about his milestones & what not.  Who knows...we'll see!

22 months & Punkin's Sandbox!

Over a week ago my sweet boy turned 22 months old!  I can't hardly believe it!  Only 2 months away from 2 YEARS OLD!  Has it seriously been THAT LONG?  KeeKee got Punkin' a sandbox a few weeks back & I finally made it to Lowe's to get my boy some sand!  He was so excited!  We couldn't even get home fast enough!

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-He has started to put words together this month like baseball game & sandbox. Words that doesn't always go together, but can go together!  It's pretty sweet I think!

-He calls snuggling "snuggle me" now because one night I was laying on the couch & said, "come snuggle me"...it's so sweet when he says "snuggle me?"

-He doesn't forget ANYTHING it seems like!  I can tell him something ONE time & he remembers it from there on out!  

-He still has to have all his animal friends with him when he goes to bed...it's so sweet, but sometimes it's annoying!

 -He LOOOOVEs gymnastics!  I can't even talk about it until it's time to leave because he gets SO excited about it & thinks we are going RIGHT now!  He is a wild child at 'nastics though, but I know he loves it!

-He seriously talks NON-STOP & communicates so well at what he wants & what he needs! I LOVE it!

-Funny story:  When he has crusty boogers at the bottom of his nose, I just wipe them off & say "gotta get your boogers" then say "got it".  Well, recently Ryder has started to look up IN my nose, say "boogers!" & then proceed to stick his thumb & pointer finger up in my nose to "get it" & then flicking it in the floor.  OH MY WORD!  I can't help but laugh EVERY time he does this!  He has even started to do this to my parents!  We just let him do it!

-He LOVES Fro Yo.  We go a lot now that it is summer & he even gets his own bowl now!--Birthday cake & orange sherbert!

-When I walk into his room in the mornings, the first thing he says is "Mornin'"--Melts my heart every time.

-We snuggle every night before bed & one night I said "come snuggle me" so now when he wants to snuggle he says "snuggle me?"  Too cute!!

-He repeats EVERYTHING & is seriously like my little parrot!

-When we got some where & I don't want him to talk in his "friends" (stuffed animals) I tell him they have to stay in the car to "take a nap" & he seems to be okay with this!  Ha!

-He LOOVES milk.  Almost too much.  I really have to work hard at making him drink SOME water every day.

-Every time he plays in his sandbox he think he has to take his shoes off.

-My crazy child still likes to wear my high heels!--Even the highest ones I own!

-He is wearing size 7 (almost 8) shoe & 24 month clothing & some 2T stuff, & size 5 diapers.

That's all I can think of for now!  Happy 22 months baby boy!  Mommy loves you so much!

21 Months!

I love this age so much!  He is still learning new things every day & continues to amaze me with his understanding & knowledge.  He has such a tender heart & it shows every day as he intereacts with me, KeeKee & Pops & all of my friends!  It is just so sweet!

{he's saying "shhh"}

He loves all of his stuffed animals..AKA-"friends".  This is also where his tender heart comes in...he can't leave any of them out.  If they are insight, then he has to have them ALL if we are going some where, or going to the couch to snuggle.  & first things in the morning when he is ready to get up, I walk in & his has all of his friends in his arms...well the ones that he can fit.  He asks me to "take" the other ones for him & help him...Of course I do...but it kinda gets old dragging 10 "friends" from one end of the house to the other! :P

He is still such a great little sleeper.  Some mornings I have to wake him to go some where because he hasn't gotten up yet.  Sometimes I hate to get up & start getting around, because I know I'll probably wake him.  We still like to fit in a little snuggle session before we get up though if we can!  =)  & it's always his idea & I love that so much!

He would much rather drink from an adult's drink than his sippy.  It's easy when I have a to-go cup or a glass with a straw.  I often catch him drinking my drinks when I'm not in the room.  Problem is, if I let him have a sip, before I know it...THE WHOLE THING IS GONE!  He is a camel like his daddy!

We have enjoyed swimming so much & I can't wait to keep going every day that we can!  It also makes me look forward to our beach trip later on this year!  He is going to LOVE it!  & that will make this Mama HAPPY!

He pretty much repeats anything & everything I or anyone else says.  Including "oh gosh..."  There are also songs that come on the radio & before the chorus even starts to play, Ryder is singing it..haha!

He has learned how to "tip-toe" from the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  It is too funny!  He usually wants someone to do it with him...you have to hold his hand, hunch down & say "tip-toe, tip-toe, tip-toe".  

He loves Uncle G's friend "Hockey" (real name Hunter).  So the other day the sport, hockey was on TV & I was trying to tell Ryder that it was hockey..& poor baby got all confused.  Hunter told me to just tell Ryder that the sport was named after him! :P

We hung out with Uncle G at the pool last week & Ryder went down the slide for the first time!  I would set him up there about half way & let go & Uncle G would catch him in the pool!  He LOVED it & cried when we stopped..but it was wearing us out!  One time G let him go down the slide & I caught him, & Ryder's foot got caught on the slide so when he was about to hit the water, he did a face plant & did a complete flip into the water.  I was worried about him, but he came up just as fine as cane be...no big deal!

There was a noodle at the pool that was completely messed up & Ryder brought it to me & said "broke.  fix it."  I was like baby I can't fix that for you...it's broken!  Ha!

21 month stats:

-He is wearing 2T & 24 month clothes

-Size 7 shoe!

-He is such a good fruit eater, his latest favorite is pineapples!

-He has started to respond by saying "yeah" while shaking his head. It is just too funny to hear him say that & be so serious about it!

-I just moved him up to size 5 diapers but they are still too big

-He is staying with KeeKee two days a week & Mary Beth is coming over here to watch him 3 days a week while Mama goes to school.

-Whenever I ask him if he wants to go swimming, he always says "no" but is so happy to be there when we get there!

20 months...

I know I say this every month, but is it already time for him to be one month older?  We are now in the 20s.  Just 4 short months away from his 2nd birthday!  I better decided on a theme SOON.  This time last year, his first birthday was just about finished!  :P

I love how much me & Ryder can actually communicate now.  He really is my best friend & sometimes I joke & say he's my boyfriend!  Hehe!  He is EVERYTHING to me!  We are rarely apart, & I hate to miss anything he's up to!

This was yesterday on his actually monthly birthday.  The little booger sneaks GULPS of my Sonic drinks!  :P  He knows he's not supposed to too...& it's funny when he gets caught!

Today was one of the most perfect days that I can remember.  We got to sleep in a little bit (he is my alarm clock these days) ate some breakfast & then literally...no lie, spent the rest of the day outside!  Only coming in to eat lunch & for him to take naps!

I didn't have to get on to him for anything today, never spanked his hand, threatened to spank him...he didn't throw one temper tantrum!  It was just such a nice, enjoyable day with him!  I have started laying out a little bit while he plays & even though I end up in a pool of my own sweat, it's worth it!  :P We might have to get a pool here soon!

{breakin' it down}

{still dancin' like a fool}

I thought this morning I needed to dress him up cute, fix his hair, put on PRESENTABLE shoes...but then I thought, no.  I'm just going to keep it real & give you a REAL idea of what it's like at our house these sweet spring, almost summer days!  We go through multiple socks & shorts a day from mud & sometimes a few shirts if I let him have cottage cheese, yogurt or apple sauce to eat which usually makes a HUGE mess!

So...even though this might not be the most "ideal" outfit.  It is Ryder.  It is what he likes, & mommy doesn't get upset when it all gets muddy!  :P  I am slowly learning that he is a boy & is going to get muddy.  I need to just let it happen, & EMBRACE it!

He still LOVES baseball, Pops actually took him out to YBMA last night to watch some ball games.  Of course...he LOVED it & talked about it all day!

Crazy child put his sippy cup inside a cup & drank it like that!  I guess he thought he was being "grown-up"!

Then he was spitting outside the window of his car, because that is what his Pops, Dah-Dah, Uncle & PawPaw do...they are all working on this!  :P

{can you see his hair drenched in sweat behind his ears?}

{we busted out the chalk today for the first time}

{& bubbles..he loved to run after them}

{this is my view for the day!  ;)}

Pops left his gloves in the yard over the weekend & Ryder found them today & brought them to me like this & then was waving "hi" at the cars that went by with the gloves on!  Ha!

20 month stats:

-18-24 & 24 month clothes, some 2T that are a little big

-Size 4 diapers

-LOVES cottage cheese, finishes a whole bowl of it before I can even get the container put away!

-Obviously loves to be outside!

-He is in to flip flops as well as boots!

-Loves to walk around in my heels-too funny!

-We snuggle every night before bed, & this is very important to him!

-He is perfectly happy when it's time to go to bed, & asks to say "amen"...

-He has started to watch a little TV, Mickey Mouse Club House in the mornings & Fireman Sam @ KeeKee's

-He LOVES his babysitter Mary Beth...maybe TOO much!  He asks for her at random times, & when I mention her, he runs to the front door looking for her to walk in & then cries when she's not there.  It's sweet!  It makes leaving my sweet boy so easy!

-After he gets out of the bath, he lays down on the rug in a ball & "hides" under the towel & pops out & says "Pook-A-Boo". 

-I then carry him to his room like a "baby" wrapped up in his towel & he says "bay-bee" SO sweet!

-He LOVES milk.  I have had to cut back on how much I have been giving him at night because he's been leaking out of his diaper.  

-He thinks we can't "snuggle" without my "snuggie!"

-He will take clothes that he finds & go & put them in the dryer (clean or dry) because that's where he thinks they "go"

-He loves the church nursery so much & literally runs straight there from the car when we get there on Sundays.

-Uncle G taught him how to say "uncle" better, & for a while he just called Uncle G "uncle" for a while!

-He thinks anything & everything needs & can be swung as a bat..

-Instead of listing what he can say, it would be easier to list what he can't say...

-He repeats anything I say...& sometimes he says words & points to things I didn't even know he knew!  

I LOVE this age!  Some days are tough with terrible-twos rearing it's head, but days like today...I am so thankful for my sweet little boy!  I hope he is a Mama's boy forever...even though it probably won't happen, I am soaking it up now for sure!