Ryder's new toy

Because Ryder's doing so well holding himself up and may outgrow his swing any day now, we decided to get him a bouncing/jumping contraption for him to play in. He seems to like it, and I think he will have a great time in it once he figures out exactly what to do with his legs! Here's a short video of him from his playtime today. (He gets a little whiny at the end because it was almost chow time!)

A visit from Kate and Drew!

Dave, Lori, Kaitlyn, and Drew came up today to visit Ryder for the first time. The busy schedules in both households kept us from getting together since the fall, so it was definitely time to catch up! Although Lori enjoys the pictures I post here, she couldn't wait any longer to see my little man in person. Lori and I had a good time visiting while the kiddos played, and the guys threw some hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill for our lunch since it was such a beautiful day outside.

Drew saying hi to Ryder

Kaitlyn couldn't wait for a turn to "hold" Ryder!

Drew looking oh-so-serious about eating his Cheerios

"Do I have something on my lip?"

More bathtime fun

"I'm pouting because Mommy says I have to sit down during bath time."

chewing on Mommy's thumb

scheming his jack-in-the-box act???

"Tada! Look what I can do!"

Jack-in-the-Box

I was giving Ryder his bath the other night--which involves me sitting on the edge of our bathtub so that I'm slightly higher than his Tummy Tub when it sits on the floor--when he suddenly popped up and was eye level with me. I looked at him, he smiled, and then it registered that he was actually standing in his bucket! I lowered him back into his tub, making sure his feet weren't underneath him, and continued his bath. A minute or two went by, and I was washing his hair and talking to him when he got that determined look in his eye and popped right back up out of the water. The little stinker! He has figured out that he can push off of the bottom or side with his feet, and now it has become a game to him because he looks at me and smiles each time. I would love to have captured my little jack-in-the-box in action, but I definitely needed both hands (and my feet!) to hold onto him and keep his Tummy Tub from tipping over. Bath time has just become much more interesting--he's too strong for his own good!

Playtime

I'm experimenting with how to upload videos to the blog, so here's a clip of Ryder playing on his play gym this past weekend. Of course he wouldn't coo and babble while the camera was filming, but you can see him swatting at his toys!

Sittin' Around

Working on core body strength...

in the "toga" I wrap him in for his morning feeding

playing in his Bumbo!

(watching Andrew walk across the room)

"What's for dinner?"

He's definitely not old enough to eat real food quite yet, but he sure looks like it!

Take a Hike

Andrew has been shopping online again, and today's delivery was a backpack carrier. He wants to take Ryder for his first daytime hiking trip sometime this spring. Of course we had to put Ryder in it to try it out. The trip around the family room and dining room went really well! :)

baby in a bag

"hiking" with Daddy!