Y3 - 365/365: Put a Lid On It

A lid on Year 3 of my 365 photo-blog, that is. I have decided...for now...to continue on, although I'm anxious for a new look and willing to take suggestions for background, content, etc.

Speaking of lids...(or did I just use that creatively?)...Ryan is really enjoying colouring so I am starting to trust him a little more with felt-tips. Especially now that I see he is keen to put the cap back on them himself when he is finished.

The state of his vest, however....erm, let's just hope Vanish does its job!

It was sweet when Matt returned home from work because Ryan led him by the hand over to see his artwork and proceeded to place a marker in his hand to add to the masterpiece! This was short-lived when each time Matt would add a bit, Ryan would then colour over it with his own marker, thus improving whatever Matt was drawing.

Our little guy has grown SO much and so much has changed in the past 12 months! This time last year he had little to no HAIR, much less any curls. He wasn't even properly walking yet AND he had only JUST moved into his own room from ours! He was falling asleep in his Jumperoo and still on Mommy's chest most of the time.

Now he's running full pelt in the garden ON HIS OWN, has nearly mastered steps, and gives a tight squeeze when asked for a cuddle. He even rejects cuddles and kisses on his terms with a firm "no," pets the kitty gently saying "aww" and points at everything asking, "What's that," as if it's the most interesting and amazing thing ever!

All of these things are reasons I decided it was important for me to carry on...not to mention it keeps family and friends in the States and other parts of the world updated on how we're all doing.

Some day Ryan will have a virtual living journal of sorts, chronicling his life with his crazy Mommy & Daddy and I feel the more I can add to it, the better.

Until tomorrow...bring it, year four.

Y3 - 364/365: Pulling the Plug?

I'm honestly trying to decide if I want to give a fourth year of my 365 photo-blog a go.

It's a lot of work and the older Ryan gets, the more exhausted I become and the less motivated I am to post on a nightly basis. I do enjoy taking the daily photo and I have eventually gotten around to posting each blog, but sometimes 2 weeks at a time is a bit much.

So, we shall see.

Y3 - 363/365: 'D' Says /d/

It might be a bit blurry but it's the first thing Ryan looked for when he returned home today from the childminder. He especially loves listening to the alphabet song and holding the player up to his ear like his own personal boom box and dancing in circles!

Y3 - 362/365: Autumn in the Garden

The weather seems to have perked back up this week. The insane wind has calmed and it has been a lot warmer so we took a venture out late this afternoon since Ryan refused to nap for long and was looking pitiful on the living room carpet. Poor kid was probably looking out at the sunshine and ready to climb the walls!

So instead, he climbed some stairs. He didn't believe me when I told him it would be tough to try to push his trolley of toys up this way.

He practised some jumping off the tree stump and ran the length of both levels back and forth until he was panting!

Then, when back inside, he crashed.

Let's hope this breaks his new, little cycle of night-waking between 2 and 4am.

Y3 - 361/365: Monday Feet

Ryan was watching some telly after his breakfast and I couldn't figure out for the life of me what had him giggling to himself so much.

Then I look down to find him tickling his own feet!

Y3 - 360/365: A Good Time

Ryan found great joy in "helping" cousin Amy stack her Megabloks. I can't wait until these pair are older and can properly play together!

After all...Ryan's a good time!  ::giggle::

Y3 - 359/365: Cousin-Chatter

Ryan: You mind if I sit up here? You get a better view of the telly from this spot on the settee, I think. I wonder what's on next anyway...

Amy: Yeah, whatever. (thinks) Geez, I hope he doesn't yap all the way through my programmes.

Ryan: Oh hey, look! There's Peppa Pig! I love her. She's really talented...and she has a Mommy and a Daddy! I have a Mommy and a Daddy. I don't have a brother, George, though. But I have a cat! You have TWO cats. They run from me a lot....

Amy: (thinks) Here we go...

Ryan: ...and so I told Daddy "It doesn't go in there...here, let me show you," and I showed him and then...

Amy: (thinks) Does he do it just to hear the sound of his own voice?!

Ryan: Hey...do I have anything up my nose?

Amy: (thinks) Maybe if I stop making eye contact? It works with Velociraptors.

 Ryan: Fine then...I guess you don't want to talk.

Amy: (thinks) Finally.


Please Note: The conversation was not the actual one that took place...obviously. In fact, it was mostly Ryan saying "what's that," over and over again and pointing at the telly. But the look on dear Amy's face inspired me.

Bless. They do love each other.

Y3 - 358/365: And The Award Goes To...

Ryan, champion planker?

I actually have photos of him doing a similar pose without the use of his hands. He really is fascinated with himself!

Y3 - 357/365: This Looks Like Fun...Or Not

Ryan invented a new game today called try-to-blow-the-ball-off-the-plastic-jar.

Needless to say, he was more successful smacking it off with his hand instead.

Y3 - 356/365: I Missed You!

Mommy and Daddy were gone all day today at work...so cuddles are a MUST when he can get them! Here Ryan can be seen getting in his quality time with Daddy AND Peppa Pig!

Y3 - 355/365: All Smiles!

It honestly doesn't take much to get a little grin out of Ryan. I'm at work 3 days this week so I'm trying to make the most of the couple of days that I have him to myself at home. We had a PJ's day today because with no money and nowhere to go, there was really no point in getting dressed. So it was our lazy day together.

We got in loads of cuddle time and Ryan even learned a new word and skill...

Now, when prompted, he will smile and say "cheese" when I have the camera pointed in his direction!! (That...or he could have been saying "cheese" and pooping in this photo...who knows!)

Y3 - 354/365: Captions, Anyone?

Something as simple as scrambled eggs and toast for tea bring on some of the funniest expressions.

21-months today...love this little boy!!!

Y3 - 353/365: "Eat" (ASL)

He's never been one to hold back in telling us exactly what he wants. At least now his communication has improved significantly.

Y3 - 352/365: Ryan Loves...

PUZZLES...seriously! Amazing how they hold his interest and he genuinely tries to get the pieces to fit.

ATTACKING MOMMY...and Daddy (when he's not at work). He works hard to push us over so he can climb on our backs and be a monkey...or give a sweet cuddle.

SLEEP. Yep, still loves his naps...although they don't last as long as they used to.

Y3 - 351/365: Our Little Nut

This cannot be a comfortable way to colour?

Is any further proof really needed?

Y3 - 350/365: Housekeeping?

He uses the MegaBloks carrier as a vacuum to imitate Mommy. So as I hoovered the front room...Ryan "hoovered" his castle floor...but he had to make his own noise since his vacuum cleaner was the non-electric version.

Y3 - 349/365: The Cheat

I actually FORGOT to take a photo today! (So, this one is from last night.)

I know...gasp, shock, horror...right?

In fairness, it has been my third day back to work and I have been having non-stop headaches since last Friday. We can't decide if it's my contacts or maybe a lack of sleep from little man getting out of bed to join us in ours at 4am!

But in my 3rd year of doing a 365-photo blog, I've only ever properly forgotten a handful of times...so I don't think I've done so bad, really.

Y3 - 348/365: Bubble Fun

Daddy brought home some bubbles tonight so we had a wander in the garden to play with them. Unfortunately the wind up on our hill is still a bit much and the bubbles all popped straightaway or didn't linger long enough. We will definitely give it a go again on a less windy day.

Y3 - 347/365: No Girls Allowed!

I have yet to gain the VIP access to the Peeka Pod like Daddy. Ryan literally grabs his hand and guides him in. Then they proceed to watch telly through the window.

It's probably smelly like stinky-boy-pants in there anyway.

Y3 - 346/365: Mi Castle Es Su Castle

We didn't have our "usual" Sunday dinner this week as Em, Daz, and Amy had theirs at Daz's mom's, but they still came to ours to visit after since we don't live far from her. The kids had us grown-ups in stitches over their little back and forth game they started...

Amy started by running into the cardboard castle (which we are surprised is still standing despite a pair of "tropical-storm" toddlers). She would say to everyone, "byeeeeee," and begin to close the door...

...Ryan would then run up and close the door on her and run off with a shrug, giggling and shrieking, "GONE!"

Amy would then burst through the open door and cheekily say, "Boo," in a not-so-scary, dainty 'Amy-voice' before saying, "bye," again...

...and the auto-response from Ryan was to sprint back to do it all over again!

Isn't he graceful?!

Y3 - 345/365: "Hurry! Our Show Is On!!"

Almost every night and randomly at other times a short, clay-animated programme comes on Nick Jr. called Watermill Farm. It's only a minute or two long and filled with clay-animated farm animals with cheeky facial expressions. It's usually the pigs, chickens, cows and sheep up to something silly and Ryan thinks it's an absolute hoot! What is even better is that when he hears the intro music, he immediately runs around the room in search of Daddy, shouting his name and squeaking and jumping until Matt comes in and allows Ryan to sit upon his lap.

My blond boys sit in a complete trance watching the antics of the animals and then, when it's over, Ryan jumps up and down, clapping his hands, and cheering, "yaaaaaay!"

I'm just lucky that he allows me to fill in when Daddy isn't home.

Y3 - 344/365: Missing You

All day long he called for Daddy. You wouldn't think this was the same boy who was refusing his Daddy kisses and cuddles when he did return home. Still, whilst Daddy was away...that was all he wanted.

Last night's sleep in his big-boy style bed wasn't as great as the first. He woke once before Matt and I came upstairs. Matt heard the cry for "mama" in the hallway so we both ran to attend to him. We gently walked our staggering, sweaty toddler back into his room where he climbed straight back into his bed and assumed his sleeping position -- bum in the air and cuddled his "Baa" close. I asked if he wanted Mommy to stay and he replied with the sweetest "yeah" so Matt gave his little lad a kiss and excused himself from the room. As soon as I put an arm around him and lay my head next to his on the mattress he closed his eyes and drifted right off.

I thought that may have been it for the night, but boy was I wrong because he came to our room around twenty to five. I invited him to snuggle with Mommy and Daddy and he was asleep after about 40 minutes, so I carried him back to his bed sometime around half-five. Just over an hour later he repeated his last entrance, only this time with more enthusiasm, which told me he was ready to be up for the day.

By the time Matt came downstairs to leave for work, we had been up over an hour and Ryan was full-tilt, awake. Meanwhile, I was dragging and trying my best to catch a few more winks on the sofa, but no more than that because I kept opening my eyes to a big ole Ryan-face in mine!

I hope we have better luck tonight.

Y3 - 343/365: Growing Right Up

His first Lego Club Jr. magazine arrived today and as you can see, he couldn't wait to get his paws on it and dive right in!

Last night was his first night sleeping without a side on his cot. I was so worried he would fall out that I popped in after midnight to check his blankets were still tucked in on all sides and I even gently pushed his legs away from the edge.

He ended up sleeping through, no problems, and came in to fetch Mommy promptly at 8:20 this morning.

My little guy just keeps growing up...slow down, little man!

Y3 - 342/365: Spider Ry

This was how I left Ryan for his nap this afternoon...and this is where I expected to find him. In his cot. However, when I heard his voice loud and clear from the stairwell, I soon realised this was not the case.

There he stood, whimpering "mama" with rug burn on his forehead at the top stair gate. I scooped him up and went straight to the bedroom to confirm I had accidentally left the side down on the cot. Imagine my surprise to see it was still up when we got back to his room, which meant, he has successfully climbed out of his cot for the very first time!

Looks like the drop side is coming off tonight then.

You can kind of see the rug burn on his forehead in this photo. He seems to now be showing more concentration/interest in jigsaw puzzles and managed to get the 'o' and 'q' in all on his own!

Y3 - 341/365: In Yo Face!!

Seriously...LOVE this monkey!

He's such a big helper as well...with the laundry...

...and sweeping the floor!!

Let's just hope he's this enthusiastic in 9-10 years when we ask him to clean his room!

Y3 - 340/365: Just Ry & Mommy

Nearly forgot to take a photo tonight...so snagged the little monkey before his bedtime!

Y3 - 339/365: Lean on Me

Seriously...anything to get close to his cousin!

And I just had to get photo proof of those curls!!!