Ryder: 14 months

Why can't every month have 31 days? When I don't get the chance to write '31' as part of a date--and I write the date dozens of times on a daily basis--I have a hard time remembering to do Ryder's monthly update. :(
Ryder continues to surprise us almost daily with things he has figured out how to do. Here are a few changes since my last update post.

• He loves to "help" me do laundry. He will hand me the clothes, 1 item at a time, from the washing machine so that I can put them into the dryer.
• If you say "Follow me" or "Can you come help me?" he will reach one hand up to hold your hand and walk with you.
• He loves to jump on our bed, with Andrew's help of course! He smiles his big toothy grin and laughs.
• When we tell him it's bath time, he initiates a game of running away so that I'll chase and capture him. I've heard some of his best belly laughs this way!
• He LOVES to be outside, and if we say the word, he will head for the front door and reach for the door knob. He can reach it now, but fortunately hasn't figured out how to turn it! The basement door now has one of those child-proof plastic door knob covers just to be on the safe side.
• He's beginning to learn how to climb up furniture. He can almost get up onto the couch or chair by himself, and then he screams or whines for help. The problem is, once he's on the furniture he has no concept of gravity. He just dives forward, and without Andrew or me there to catch him, he would have hit the floor face-first many times. The first time he actually falls will be a rude awakening!

sitting in a "goldfish" pond

"Cheese!"

"Mom, do you have to follow me everywhere? I'm going shopping."

depositing toys into the fireplace

(I will only take them out when he's napping so he doesn't see how the fireplace screen comes off!)

an abandoned cart

wearing his "big boy" pajamas

If you ask him where the car is, he will look down and point to his tummy.

14 months or 14 years?

He loves to get in and out of the car since he loves opening and closing doors--over and over and over.....

A new role

Today I became an aunt!! :) My nephew, Parker, entered the world this evening at 6 lbs. 14 oz. and 19 inches long. (tiny, in my experience!) I haven't had a chance to talk to my sister yet, but according to my mom, everyone is doing great. They did text me a picture, and when I showed it to Ryder to "introduce" him to his cousin, he looked at it closely before putting his cheek against the screen--his version of a hug! That alone brought tears to my eyes! Angela....welcome to the world of motherhood. It is the most amazing, life-changing experience, and you will be a wonderful mommy to your little boy!

Cabinet Clean-out

There's no telling these days what I'm going to find when I open my kitchen cupboards. You see, Ryder likes to move things from one cabinet to another or put some of his toys in places you would least expect. An assortment of animals from his refrigerator magnet farm set showed up the other day on the shelf alongside the flour and baking powder. Some packages of peanut butter crackers ended up nestled safely in a stack of baking pans. Tonight while I was doing the dinner dishes, Andrew and I managed to catch our little "helper" in action. Ryder emptied an entire cabinet, even getting into the breakable pieces I keep in the very back. (Those were immediately placed up on the countertop to avoid any major catastrophes). After playing with his findings for a few minutes, he started handing them to me one piece at a time so I could put them back, and then he wanted to close the door himself. I love the fact that he inherited my "everything-back-in-its-place" mentality--at least for now! :)

"I'm goin' in!"

headed back in for more

"Now you see me..."

"...now you don't!"

"Here, Mom. I found these for you."

(part of the cleaning up routine)

being sweet to old Cody :)

Exploring the Great Outdoors

We're forecast to get our first real dose of wintry weather tomorrow (ugh!), but today was yet another spring-like day. We headed outside this afternoon to let Ryder do a little exploring; he is still pretty hesitant when walking in the yard, but he will take off running on the deck and driveway!

"I found a stick!"

He has to taste everything.

trying to shake the tree like he shakes all of the furniture in the house

no fear!

stealing a kiss from my busy little man :)

Many Mini Milestones

(Say that title five times fast!)
Since I'm not keeping a written baby book for Ryder, I have to document all of his firsts and milestones here. There are so many things he has done over the past two weeks that I just haven't had a chance to sit down and type about.

So I don't forget one day...
...no more formula or bottles anymore--he LOVES vanilla soy milk in his cup.
...he can sign the word "more" when he wants more to eat or drink.
...he says "car" (which sounds more like "caw") when he sees one.
...he will randomly cackle and shake his head like he's remembering something funny.
...he cut four more teeth, for a grand total of 16!
...he will drink water from his cup and then go "aaaahhhh"
...he "tests" the bath water by sticking his hand under the faucet while it's running, just like Daddy does.
...if I ask him to get a book to read with me, he will go to the bookshelf in his room and pick one out.
...when he hears music he will usually dance, which consists of bending his knees slightly and bouncing up and down.

Here are a few pictures from a Cheerios "incident" Ryder had this afternoon.

"Don't worry, Mom, I'll clean them up!"

For the record, we don't make him eat the Cheerios he drops on the floor.

I think he's watched the dogs eat a few too many times!

He may have gotten a dog hair in that bite. ;)

Ryder's first museum visit

Saturday was cold and dreary, so we decided to take a little road trip to Richmond to go to the Children's Museum. Ryder is into everything now, and we figured he would have fun at the hands-on exhibits as well as watching all of the other kids. He ran around non-stop the whole time we were there--about 2 hours--and absolutely LOVED it. There were quite a few other kids there, but Andrew managed to get pictures of Ryder without random people in the background. :) 

a basket of fruits & veggies at the "market"

playing peek-a-boo over the puppet show wall

petting the large wooden cow

one of Ryder's favorites--the "berry-picking" station

taking a break from playing to snuggle with the giant teddy bear :)

digging for toys

lounging

Ryder loves chairs--even if it is a pretty pink princess one!

This is what his chair at home is missing: an ottoman!

"Ahhh...this is the life!"