Almost forgot....videos!!!

Finally got our videos of Ryan uploaded since Samantha has been the star of quite a few lately with her bike. Here are some of our boy.

**Technical note...if you click on the button that says "YouTube" it will open the videos on my YouTube site so that they are a little bigger. I know you want to see the kiddos nice and clear! :-)

This was soon after Ryan officially started crawling. He went through a brief phase when he would almost spider crawl up on his hands and feet.

Ryan has since moved on to cruising around using Samantha's stool and/or his musical walker. This was when he first figured out how to get around the kitchen. Samantha didn't quite like him using her stool, but she has since learned to share. :-)

Samantha is on a big ball kick lately. Here she was trying to teach Ryan to play with her. 

And one more bike video. I took the kids to one of our neighborhood parks that has a walking path along the wash. I enticed Samantha with the fact that she wouldn't have to stop to watch for cars. She quickly found this hill and went up and down about 10 times. We didn't get very far down the path.

Ryan overload

Yet again our boy is falling victim to second child syndrome. Or maybe it's the keeping busy with work, training for a 1/2 marathon, Kurt playing hockey, trying to keep our house clean, daily bike rides with Samantha, or two kids calling for your attention that is keeping me from documenting the milestones of our dear Ryan.

Needless to say....over the past couple weeks our boy has become proficient at pulling himself up on anything he can get his hands on. His crib has since been lowered to it's bottom most level which will hopefully keep him in.

Ryan is always interested in whatever big sister is doing. So far he is following in her footsteps of being a book lover. He will sit and listen for a short while but then likes to take over by turning pages whether or not you are ready.

Big sister is definitely fulfilling her roll. She has learned what needs to be done to keep Ryan safe (watching what he finds on the floor, keeping the bathroom door closed, feeding him snacks, and giving lots of hugs and kisses).

Ryan continues to be a happy boy even putting up with a little dress up.

I remember my sister and I enjoying playing school with little brother and I'm beginning to notice a similar trend with Samantha and Ryan. Samantha amazes us every day with her intelligence and she is beginning to enjoy trying to pass it on to Ryan. Flashcard animal practice in the warm sun is the best!

I finally got a couple shots in as Ryan's official 9 month photo shoot, Kings jersey and all. He even cooperated in sitting in my little red chair. Samantha still loves "her" chair and I have a feeling is not going to want to share. Daddy is going to have to work quickly to get Ryan a chair of his own!

Here was a shot from Samantha's 8 month shoot with the red chair. 

Ryan's latest thing is to play with spoons (hence the spoon in the picture). It also helps when it comes to feeding time. Less screaming and head turning, more eating! And note his first tooth that finally came through! Our boy is definitely slower than sister in the tooth growing department but is working on it. I think his second bottom tooth is trying to make an appearance without much success yet.

Our boy is growing up so fast. As I'm starting to plan Samantha's birthday I'm realizing soon I'll need to start the planning for his 1st! Where has the time gone? 

Of course I have to add one picture of Samantha's latest trick in the house. Our girl knows she's a "big girl" and can reach just about anything!

Cuddles

Memories from childhood are funny. It's always hard to determine how much of the memory is truly what you remember vs. what has been told to you or what you have seen in pictures. I have this memory of my dad taking formal pictures of us kids that I love thinking about. Not so much the taking picture part, but the other stuff...the stuff that I don't really know how much is true, but I like to think so. I remember it as a Saturday night. We had all taken baths and Momb put us in our nice clothes. I was in a plaid skirt (that I loved wearing), tights, a turtle neck and slippers. I remember feeling clean and warm and cozy. I loved being all dressed up and getting to wear slippers. I think it was also the fresh out of the shower feeling but not having to go anywhere. Knowing that we were just going to snuggle up in bed later.

I think of this memory any time I take a shower in the evening, get on cozy pajamas and curl up on the couch. Monday evening was no exception. Shower night with Samantha, bath time for Ryan and then it was curl up on the couch time with mommy. Nothing beats the smell of clean children!

Look ma! No Feet!

Samantha and I headed to our neighborhood park this weekend to play with a friend and ride bikes. Turns out the tennis courts are a perfect place for a beginner to test out her bike riding skills. Low and behold the second time around the courts she decided lifting her feet while coasting was great fun. 

By the time we rode home that afternoon she was feeling pretty comfortable with coasting and was even trying to get her feet on the foot rests. Of course, I didn't get a video of that yet....but I'm sure one will be posted this weekend!

Tour de France here we come!

Handheld camera phone while pushing a stroller does make for a roller coaster of a ride, but you can get the idea. Samantha is definitely becoming a little speed demon on her bike. Thankfully she is good about stopping at corners! 

Ryan is...

Ryan is eating more and more each day. He loves his fruits and has found out that puffs are a yummy treat as well. His hand-mouth coordination is rapidly improving as his cheeks will tell you. 

Ryan is eager to crawl anywhere and everywhere. At times his crawl is more of a spider walk but he's figured out how to get where he wants to go...and fast!

Ryan is still always a happy boy (unless he's hungry, or hurt, or sick). His smile can melt your heart.

Ryan is adventurous. He will explore places that I don't think big sister ever explored when she was in her crawling stages (at least I don't remember).

Ryan is a sleeper, just like sister. One might also say he is a contortionist at times. We've determined unless he's sick (aka has an ear infection) he is pretty much guaranteed to sleep through the night.

Ryan is pulling himself to stand. He is getting quite good and has even let go a couple times.

Ryan is my lovable boy who is growing up way too fast. It's hard to believe in a mere 3 months he will be 1.

I love you because...

Samantha, I love you because you like to play with cars. You aren't always a pretty, pretty, princess and I love that. I remember consciously choosing to play with cars and racetracks over barbie dolls and houses at our childhood friends' house.

Samantha, I love you because you enjoy playing with your brother and get so excited about his accomplishments. These days you always make sure we cheer and clap for Ryan when he pulls up to standing. I know there will be a time when you will want nothing to do with your brother, but for now you are his favorite (never mind you're his only) big sister.

Samantha, I love you because you enjoy listening to books before bedtime/naptime/and almost anytime. While we read you let me use your stuffed animals as my pillow although I've learned never to do this with Elmo or teddy bear (or any of the ones that wear diapers as they are your little children and I may hurt them).

Samantha, I love you because you enjoy playing with Daddy. You are still learning how to take turns with your brother when it comes to using Daddy as a jungle gym, but the laughter always out weighs the complaints  of having to let Ryan have his turn.

Samantha, I love you because you take care of your dolls and teddy bears like your own babies. You watch and mimic everything we do with Ryan and you make sure to do the same things with your dolls.

Samantha, I love you because you read to your stuffed animals. Your memory astounds me with the number of stories you are able to recite and share with whichever stuffed animal happens to be near by. I hope you will always keep this love for reading. 

Samantha, I love you even when it takes every last bit of energy to deal with your tantrums and obsessive, compulsive ways. You amaze me every day and for that I love you as well.