What's new with Ryan?

Our littlest man is quickly approaching the 2-year-old mark. He's at a precious stage, actively exploring the world with all of his senses, playing at top speed, and charming us with his smile, sense of humor, and sweet personality. Of course, getting closer to two means that Ryan also has his fair share of meltdowns and tantrums (both the limp-noodle variety as well as the arching-the-back/throwing-objects-across-the-room type). But we love him to pieces!

These days, Ryan runs more often than he walks ... and doesn't fall or stumble nearly as much as he did even a few months ago. He's getting braver and more agile about climbing onto chairs, tables, benches, beds, you name it ... but he does exhibit some caution. He'll often ask for help coming down from places he climbed up. He's also especially cautious around ants ... he's been bitten by fire ants one too many times. Now, he'll say "ant, ant!" and refuse to get too close!

As active as he is, Momma is thankful that Ryan likes to sit and cuddle for short periods of time -- especially if there's a book involved. He loves to bring us books and back up into our laps, "asking" if we'll read to him. It's especially precious when he'll bring a book to Ian, wanting Ian to "read" to him. He becomes very attached to certain library books and will ask to read the same library book many times in one day. Some of Ryan's favorite books include The Happy Man & His Dump Truck, Dig, Dig, Digging, Rufus & Ryan, his mini books, the Thomas book that plays music, and the Cars, Trucks, and Things that Go (Goldbug) book.

a recent library book obsession that he insisted on taking into his crib at naptime

Ryan will also sit still for increasing periods of time to complete little projects. He likes to put together peg puzzles. He likes to attach magnetic train cars to each other and then pull long lines of them along. Recently, he's patient enough to put together a few wooden train track pieces before getting too frustrated. He'll spend a long time pushing train cars along train tracks.

Ryan doesn't seem to be as wary of strangers as he was even a few months ago. He's eager to say "hello" and "bye-bye" to almost anyone. He has been doing well in our church nursery during Sunday school time and doesn't cry anymore at drop-off or pick-up time. He did well with high school babysitters we've had recently -- even at bedtime! Yay! :)

He definitely likes things to be neat, clean, and orderly. All on his own, he'll often pick up one activity before moving onto the next. He'll eagerly help when we tell him it's time to pick up toys. He even likes lining up his cars while he's playing with them.

We were laughing recently about how we, at one point about a year ago, were worried about his (lack of) eating. Now, Ryan eats heartily! Fruit (especially strawberries & blueberries), pancakes with "rup" (syrup), and vanilla ice cream are some of his favorites, though he'll try a wide variety of food. Meat is still is least favorite category of food. As of a month ago or so, Ryan is officially weaned -- and is now sleeping all the way through the night like a champ! Whew! Next step: getting him to sleep past 5:00 or 5:30 many mornings!

It continues to be most fun hearing Ryan's verbal skills develop. It definitely seems like he's learning a new word or two every day. Some of these words may be decipherable only to Daddy, Momma, or Ian since we hear them consistently in context. :) Ryan is starting to put some words together -- like possessives ("Daddy's car or Ian's cup), requests ("more blueberries" is a common one), or basic commands (at least 50 times a day, "Momma play!" or "play outside!"). He recognizes and calls by name Elmo, Dora, and multiple Thomas train characters. He knows the names of many different types of vehicles and gets SUPER excited when we see an "up-pa" (pick-up truck), "duh-duh" (dump truck), "ex-uh" (excavator), "bus," or "wee-oh" (fire truck) while we're out and about.

Ryan has started to be able to finish familiar phrases ("Ready, set, GO!", "1, 2, THREE!,") as well as the final lines of familiar songs and rhymes (like "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star"). He tries to chime in on certain letters (like G, P, S, X, and Z) while listening to the alphabet song. He's also able to fill in missing words from familiar stories -- like Dig, Dig, Digging. His favorite songs include Wheels on the Bus, Tractor, Tractor, King of the Jungle, Stand on the Rock, and Jesus Loves the Little Ones Like Me, Me, Me.






Ryan's sense of humor is developing. He loves to joke around with us, pretending to hide behind his hands (and wanting us to ask "Where IS Ryan?") and pretending to call all of the food items on his tray "grapes" and then smiling broadly and saying, "NO!"

It made Momma laugh when Ryan took this pot out of the drawer and climbed right in!

Ryan continues to be obsessed with small cars. He most always has at least two (but usually more like 5 or 6) vehicles in hand. He wants multiple cars in his crib with him when he sleeps. Ryan's favorite activities include playing in the sandbox, pushing vehicles indoors or outdoors, climbing the playset ladder, swinging, dancing, playing with the CD player, and storing things in his push vehicles' trunks. He absolutely loves babies, though sometimes gives them a little too much attention. He was VERY interested in an 11-month-old at the mall play place recently and first tried to pull her hair and then took off her socks. Needless to say, she wasn't as enamored with Ryan as he was of her. Ha ha!

Ian is definitely one of Ryan's favorite people! Ryan goes along with just about anything that Ian suggests -- even "trading" the object that he's playing with for something else that Ian offers. Ryan is getting relatively good at taking turns and understanding that certain toys belong to Ian. (You might say he understands his place as a second-born. What a sweet boy!) Ryan is always curious in what Ian is doing and loves imitating his actions and words. Though they have times of squabbling over toys or invading each other's personal space, they generally play together very well. That makes their parents' hearts very happy! :)

We thank our Lord for Ryan -- for his playful, sweet, and loving personality -- and for the joy he brings us!