Happy Birthday...

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Not a day goes by that I do not think about you and wish you were here. You were the best dad in the world, and I know you would have been the best Grandpa. Mom and I have talked about how you would have taken the boys on all sorts of adventures.

I promise that Charlie and Ryan will always know about you, and they will love you through the great stories I tell them. You were one in a gazillion! I know you are watching over us, and we will celebrate your day with lots of hugs and kisses and some good, hearty belly laughs.

I love you si, si!

Only three more months to go...

Happy Nine Months, Sweet Baby Boy!

Are we really already at nine months? It seems like just yesterday that we found out that I was pregnant with you. I guess time really does fly when you are having fun! And what fun we are having! How could we not when you have such a sweet disposition and happy little, round face? You are an absolute doll with such an infectious smile.

While we were in Hawaii last week, you decided to start crawling...really crawling. Before you would scoot yourself along backwards or just roll all over place. You get a bit frustrated with yourself at times, but I think you will have those arm and leg movements mastered in no time. You are even trying to pull yourself up on things, which is good and bad.

A lot of babbling is going on these days. Charlie tries to interpret for you, which is quite comical. Who knows...maybe he really does understand what you are trying to say. It was not that long ago that he was using those same words.

On the downside, you still are getting ear infections, so this Friday you are getting tubes in your ears. Mommy gets nervous about it because you will be going under general anesthesia, but I also know that things will be much better when you get those tubes. You have had six ear infections (double) in the past six months. Ouch!

I cannot report on your stats right now because your appointment with Dr. Rachel is not until next week. At that time I promise to give an update to all. All I know is that you still seem to be quite big. More to come on that next week.

You are still my little cuddle bug. You love to be held and snuggled, and we love to hold and snuggle you. I think you are a bit of a flirt with the ladies in that way. When we drop you off or pick you up, you give us a big smile and then snuggle your head into Ms. Edina or Ms. Teresa’s shoulder. No wonder they adore you.

Recently you started waving hello and goodbye. Although, you are not quite sure when you should wave “hello,” but you are getting the “bye-bye” part down. Maybe we can stick you on a float to practice your wave.

You are still such a good, mellow, happy baby! We love you more and more each day. Thank you (and Charlie) for filling our lives with a constant ray of sunshine.

I love you too, too much!

Mommy

Eight months and counting!

Hi, Baby Boy!

It is hard to believe that you are already eight months old! It seems like yesterday that we were awaiting your arrival. This past month has been a bit rough. You, unfortunately, seem to be prone to ear infections--just like your brother. Just this month you have had two double ear infections. I feel so bad for you, but you do not seem to be phased by it. You continue smiling as though nothing is bothering you. We have an appointment with an ENT in a few weeks to see if tubes are in your near future.

You are not yet crawling, but you move all over the place by rolling or scooting yourself to get to what you want. You do get up on all fours and then just rock back and forth like you are not quite sure how it all works. Then you drop to the ground, realizing that rolling will get you there faster.

You are babbling quite a bit. You still say a lot of "dadadadadas" but when you are upset, you say "mamamama." I think you know that I will be there in an instant.

Charlie is still your most favorite person. You laugh and everything and anything he does. You even smile at him when he hits you on the head. Luckily it is not too hard.

You are such a great eater. At first you hated food, but who could blame you when all I was trying to give you was rice cereal. You love peas, carrots, applesauce, sweet potatoes, etc. and you eat and eat and eat!

Ms. Edina and Ms. Teresa adore you and you adore them. Each night (because Mommy gets there later than the other parents), you get to spend good one-on-one time with Ms. Teresa, and she thinks you are the greatest. We think you are, too.

This weekend you are getting baptized at St. Ambrose. Aunt JoLyn and Uncle Jerry are your God parents, and they will be such wonderful God parents. They bought you the cutest outfit. I cannot wait for everyone to see you in it. I guess I will have to post some pictures as well.

Thank you, Little Bear Cub, for blessing us with you little self. We love you so much. You are an amazingly good, happy baby. Happy eight months!

Day 23 with NO Sugar...

It is true…and I NEVER thought I could do it. I consider myself a total sugar addict. However, back in December a friend of mine posted a “sugar challenge” on her blog (www.goglutenfreegracefully.com), and I thought “Why not?” The one caveat (okay, two caveats) was that Peter had to do it with me (safety and strength in numbers) and I would eat birthday cake on Charlie’s birthday—I could not possibly tell him that Mommy could not eat cake with him.

Here’s the deal…the challenge started on Jan. 3 and three days into it Ryan started to sleep through the night. Amazing! I like to say that he was like a crack addict. He was getting up every three hours to eat. He was not hungry. He was crashing from all of the sugar I had eaten and he had, in turn, ingested, and he needed more. I felt horrible. That has been my biggest motivation to complete this 45-day challenge. Don’t get me wrong…he still has nights of waking up, but he has become more consistent when it comes to sleeping through the night.

I also feel better. I have been sleeping much better, and I feel like I have more energy. I found that I eat a lot more fruit and veggies, and I am much more aware of what I put in my mouth. I do still crave sweets, but, other than that birthday cake (which was sooo good), I have not given in to temptation.

I challenge you all to try it…even if it is just for a week. It is amazing how much better you feel. And I have vowed to myself that once this is over, I am not going to go back to my old ways of gorging on anything sweet.

Thank you, Jill, for giving us this challenge. It has been an eye-opening experience!

Welcome to the world of THREE, Mr. C!

Happy Birthday (January 12) Charlie! I really cannot believe that you are already three years old. Where has the time gone? You are my little sunshine...you really do make me happy when skies are gray.

You are such a great little guy! You are sweet and caring. You make us smile with the funny things you say and do each day. You have a huge heart, and you have a crazy silly side to you that makes me giggle when I think about it. If only I could bottle that laugh and sell it. We would make millions because it just makes people happy when they hear it.

For being three, you sure do have a big personality. I think you could teach some people about the art of communication--about asking people about things in their lives and really listening to what they have to say. I know you certainly inherited that from your namesake. Grandpa Charlie could bring out the best in anyone, and he was genuinely interested in what people had to say and how they were doing.

I hope you have enjoyed your birthday week. We had a fun party at Uncle Patrick and Aunt Kim's house, which was so nice of them to host. You really had a fun time...even if you were a little upset at first. That is what happens when you miss a nap! Then Daddy and I took you to a Jazz game. Crazy thing was that it was Bear's birthday also, and all of his mascot friends were there to celebrate. You loved it! And the Jazz won!

Last week you started ski school at Deer Valley. Teacher Will said you did a great job on your first day. You are the youngest in the program, but you were the only one in your class who got to go up on the lift. Good work! We are so proud of you, and you loved every minute of it.

Mommy loves birthdays (well, her own birthday) to last a few weeks, so I think yours should as well.

You were really sick a couple of days after your birthday. You got the 24-hour flu. In fact, you threw up all over my lap that morning. It was crazy! It was the first time you have EVER thrown up. Wow...took you three years to do that!

And your new obsession is "The Polar Express" movie. You want to watch it every single day. You cannot sit though any movie, but you can watch that one over and over. It is a great movie for you to love. It is the reason you asked Santa for a bell for Christmas. It made my heart melt.

I am excited for the year ahead and to watch you learn and grow more each day. You are an amazing little guy. I love spending time with you and talking with you. You bring so much happiness and joy to our lives. Thank you for brightening my days and for just being you! Happy Birthday, Sweet Prince.

I love you too, too much!

Growing like a weed!

Sweet Ryan, you are just so big! You are 18 pounds now and 27 inches long, and you really do have the best thighs in the world! Your two bottom teeth broke through on your six month birthday, and you did not even complain. You just drool A LOT!!!

You are sitting like such a pro these days and love to play with your stackable toys, your mouse from Muti and Papa Wiley and the ball toys that you got from Santa.

You seem to like to sit and observe things and then you tell me all about it. I hate to admit it, but I think all of that “dadadadada” coming out of your mouth means that “Dada” or “Daddy” will be a first word. And all of those times I have tried to teach you “Mama.”

Your six month appointment with Dr. Rachel went well. She was impressed with all of the rolling and your ability to sit up on your own. She also could not believe how strong you are! You have quite the grip. I asked her what some of the milestones would be for your nine month appointment, as I want to be ahead of the game. Clapping was one of them.

When we got home that night, I taught you how to clap. Now you love to clap, but you only give us a few claps, while we all yell “yay!” You are a quick study, little man. Next thing we will work on…skate skiing J You can master that, right? Who needs walking when you can skate ski?

Charlie will be three in a few days, and I cannot wait to write about your big brother. He is definitely your favorite person!

I love you, Little Bear Cub!

Happy Half Birthday, Ryan!

Hi Ryan,

Happy six months to you, my sweet baby boy! I cannot believe you are already six months. The time is going by too quickly. You are now able to sit up on your own for several minutes. However, once you hear something and turn to look, you topple right over. You sat up unaided for the first time on December 12. And you were so proud. You smiled and squealed. We were so proud of you. In fact, I think a 5K might be right around the corner.

Speaking of squealing...you LOVE to talk. Hmmm...I wonder who you got that trait from :) You like to mimic what we say to you, and you get such joy out of hearing yourself "talk." I cannot wait for those first words to be uttered. I am sure "mama" will be the first thing that comes out of your mouth.

And you are a little flirt. Again, I wonder where you learned (or inherited) that trait. You smile at all of the ladies at daycare, and then you quickly bury your head in my shoulder. I love it when you do that. I think you already know how cute you are!

You roll all over the place, and you love to be part of whatever is going on around you. You have already decided that you no longer like to sit in the bouncy chair, as it reclines too much for your liking. One of the things you love most is bath time. You kick your legs and scream with delight when the water splashes all over you. It is so fun to watch!

Charlie is still your number one fascination. You watch him and smile at anything he does. He loves to entertain you. And a few times he has hit you, and it makes you so sad (and us so mad!). Little man, with the way you are growing, I think Charlie might have to watch out when you get older...so, he better be nice now. Ha!

Christmas is in a few days, and Daddy and I are so excited for both of you. Charlie has asked for a bell (like in the Polar Express), a kitchen and a "fire" guitar. He wants for you to have some slippers and a baseball. I am not quite sure you are ready for a baseball, but you never know what Santa might bring to you.

I really think that 2011 is going to be a wonderful year for all of us. I cannot wait for the memories and fun times ahead. You are the most wonderful, happy baby. You bring so much joy to our lives. Thank you, Ryan, for a fantastic six months.

I love you, Little Bear Cub!