A Weekend in the Mountains ...

We went up to Highlands, NC to spend a nice long weekend with my parents. The weather on Friday was beautiful and we were able to walk downtown and enjoy the weather. Tab and I actually had a date night on Friday night and walked back downtown for a nice, romantic dinner. On Saturday the weather was rainy and cold. So we stayed inside all day, built a fire and made the most of it. Below are some pictures of Ryland having fun around the house and getting into everything that he could! * He loved to watch the fireplace in the master bedroom (as you can tell from the look on his face!) * * Codi was right there with Ryland getting into whatever they could! * * * Looking for toys that went under the furniture (and Codi is still right there with him!) * * Ryland also loves to be rubbed on his face and back. He freezes whenever you do it. * * Running, running, running ... * * Trying to turn on the water in the bathroom. * * Uh oh ... He knows that he is not suppose to stand on top of the steps! * * * *

15 Month Check Up!

Ryland went to see Dr Loventhal on Thursday for his 15 month check up. Let me start by saying ... I cannot believe that he is already 15 months old! His appointment was at 3pm so we picked up Ryland from school and all headed to the doctor together. As soon as they called us back Ryland knew exactly where he was ... and he was not happy about being there. He was upset as we undressed him to get his weight and height. Instead of standing on the big boy scale (like he did 2 weeks ago when Tab took him in for his ear and viral infection) we had to put him in the infant seat scale. But after the nurse left the room he was as happy as can be. He wanted to get down and walk around so we put back on his socks and shoes (and nothing else). And for the next 10-15 minutes he ran around our room and the nurses station in the hallway. Everyone thought he was so cute and funny running around in his diaper and socks/shoes only. And he got a big kick out of that :) But as soon as Dr Loventhal come out of another examine room and Ryland saw him he quickly remembered where he was and ran directly to me and wanted me to pick him up. Dr Loventhal was so good at trying to get him to forget all about his check up but it did not work for Ryland. He cried throughout his entire check up. He is a little guy but he definitely puts up a good fight when Dr Loventhal is trying to look in his ears, nose or mouth! After his check up was complete Ryland finally calmed down. And Dr Loventhal said that everything looked great. His ear infections from 2 weeks ago were gone! And he said that he was developing perfectly and hitting all of his 15 month milestones! He even gave us the green light to start small time-out sessions at any time going forward. What .... my baby boy is ready for time-outs!!??!! I do not know if I am ready for time-outs because that means that he is growing up! Overall it was a good visit. Ryland definitely knows what it means to go to the doctor and knows that he does not like it. And unfortunately I do not see that changing anytime soon. 15 month stats: Height = 29.5 in (8th percentile) Weight = 22 lbs (23rd percentile) Head = 49 cm (96 percentile) After the appointment we all headed home and packed up the car to go to Highlands, NC for a long relaxing weekend.

Just Hanging Out ...

*
Playing drums after breakfast ...
*

*
Using the drum as a ramp for his cars ...
*

*
He learned that he could crawl on top of the coffee table in the living room ... uh oh
*

*
Eating breakfast at CC and Pop's and making sure that the huge bite of banana that he just took does not come out.
*

Like Father ... Like Son!

Playing at the Park with JJ and MiMi

We were able to go to the park twice while JJ and MiMi were here visiting.

Ryland had so much fun ... until he went down head first on the slide that twists and turns and hit his head on each turn as he went down! He has a nice little "goose egg" under his right eye now :(


*

*

*

*

*

Carrots and Hummus ... YUM!

The other week when we were walking around Costco they had hummus and carrots as a sample food and Ryland LOVED it. So we bought some to bring home and he cannot get enough of it. At first he would chew on the carrot for a while to get all of the hummus off of it and then spit out the carrot. But now is starting to eat it.

And he favorite thing is when you put him in the kitchen island bar stole and let him dip his own carrots in the hummus. What a big boy!


*

*

*

*

*

I miss my little "mister"

I have been in Orlando for work this week and I have definitely missed my boys at home! This morning we were able to talk on "facetime" (ie. videa conference) before I left to come into the office so I was able to see and talk to Ryland right after he woke up. He was so cute because once he saw my face and heard my voice on Tab's phone he smiled so big.

Last night Ryland was already in bed once I got back to the hotel so I was not able to talk to him on "facetime" but Tab took his phone in his room while he was sleeping and put the camera on him so at least I was able to see his cute little face and butt in the air!

I leave Orlando tonight to head home. Ryland will probably be asleep when I get home but I cannot wait to pat his little but and rub his little head.

The Playgound at Teasley

We all went on a long walk on Saturday afternoon and then went to the playground at Teasley Elementary. The weather was so nice.

Here are some pictures of our fun day ...


*

*

*

*

Ryland LOVES going down the slides. He will climb up on them all by himself and then push himself down. Here is one picture of him going down head first.

*

*

1 Year and 2 Days Ago

I cannot believe that it has been 1 year and 2 days since I went back to work from my maternity leave! It is crazy how fast the time goes by. I definitely miss spending those 12 weeks at home with Ryland but I definitely love our life right now. Ryland loves school and is doing really good there. And Tab and I are doing (in our opinions) a good job at managing a good work/life balance with both of us working full time jobs. We love our family time together every morning before we go to work/school, every night before bedtime and every weekend when we get to lay around and do whatever we decide. Ryland has grown up so much since my first day back at work ... he has become such a little boy and is no longer a little baby.

One thing that comes with having Ryland turn 15 month old is that it is VERY hard to take good pictures of him actually looking at the camera! 1 year and 2 days ago he would always look at the camera when I wanted to take his picture!

And P.S. .... I had intentions on adding this post to the blog on March 10th (1 year exactly from my return to work) but before I knew it the day was over and I totally forgot!