4 a.m.-Really?

Yes, it's 4 a.m. and I am awake because Ryter is awake.  Teething may be the longest process known to man!  Some nights he doesn't make a peep and others he can't stop crying.  I'm very sleepy because I'm not used to getting up in the middle of the night anymore.  Poor baby!!

Both my mom and Chrissy came to visit last week.  It was so fun to have my mom here.  She just called me Monday morning and asked me if I wanted company and then hopped on a plane that afternoon. We haven't seen her since Christmas.  The only thing that would have made the trip complete was if my sister and dad could have been here too.  The trip went so fast as it usually does.  On a side note, my mom got us a pack-n-play.  Greatest invention now that Ryter is moving around so much!

Chrissy was here for the weekend and we just vegged out. Hours of trash tv, Whitney Houston funeral, and a Jersey Shore recording.  Major contrast to the last time she was here when we were out until 4 am stuffing our faces with pancakes at Magnolia Cafe picking up random lonely diners...aahh parenthood.

Vain's parents come into town on Saturday for about a week and a half.  Looking forward to some more grandparent time!  We've had a very full month and I love it!

Vain finishes school in just about 3 weeks.  Finishes!!!  It's amazing that this will finally be over and he will be a Master.

And, my love is pulling himself up on everything that is relatively stable.  He's the most adorable baby in the world!  He's a little over 7 months old now and he totally thinks he can walk but he certainly can not.  Face plants, head bumps, and buckled knees.  He's crawling like a champ now.  Every time I go to the kitchen he follows me.  It's really cute!!!

Crawling and Sitting Up

Well, time flies extremely fast.  Ryter went from scooting around to doing some kind of one legged crawl and push.  He's getting there.  Today I found him standing up in his crib after nap time-that's new!

He also went from his tummy to sitting today.  He's incredibly determined and basically doesn't even want to lay on his belly at all any more.  I can't believe how quickly things change!

Ryter's Very Own Remote

Vain and I finally put our thinking caps on and realized that if Ryter loves the remote control so much why not just give him an old one to play with.  It keeps him from chewing on the one that actually controls the tv.

In other news, Ryter is rolling around all over the place and starting to do a little scooting.  He usually gets his feet and knees under his body and then tips over, but he's getting there.  He can almost sit on his own too.  He can't get there without my help, but once he gets there he's pretty good.  A few head bumps here and there but nothing alarming.

Since I wrote this post and saved it in draft form and forgot about it, Ryter has gotten up on his knees but isn't totally crawling yet.  He's also sitting on his own and holding himself up pretty well on the couch.

Happy New Year!

This year has gone by so fast!  Since Ryter was born in July it really just feels like I blinked and it's over.  I got the idea from a friend to outline all of the great things that happened in 2011. Thanks Heidi!

Amanda graduated from medical school in May

Ryter was born in July

We went to Lithuania in August

Ryter had his first Christmas in December

and last, but certainly not least, I quit my job (I don't have a picture of that though)

It's been a big year and a lot of things have changed over the course of the last 12 months, but it has all been wonderful!  Thank you 2011 and welcome 2012!

Merry Christmas! (Part 2)

The week before Christmas we headed to Wisconsin to enjoy a chilly, but not snowy, Christmas. Ryter was a great traveler on the plane ride there, but the ride back was a totally different story.  He caught his first little cold which didn't really stop him from being a happy smiley baby, but I think it made for a painful flight.  All in all though it was a wonderful trip!  It makes us so excited to move because, at least for me, it's "home".  Ryter got lots of presents and love from Bunchie, Grandad, Aunty Manda, Grammer and the entire Doubleday clan and is now recovering from the constant attention. We managed to have a couple of evenings with old friends too.  Thanks for hosting Raven!

Sadly I currently do not have any photos because we didn't take our cameras with us and I forgot to get them off my mom's camera before I left.  I will add Christmas photos when I can get them no matter how long it takes :)

Merry Christmas! (Part 1)

I can't believe Christmas is already over.  You wouldn't know it in our house though because the decorations and rotating Christmas tree are still going strong and I still have presents to open.  Yay!!

This year we had a double Christmas which doesn't happen every year, but thankfully more often than not!  Vain's parents were here for the second week of December and spoiled Ryter, Vain, and me of course :)  We had tons of Baba Lucy's creations (cabbage rolls, lamb, beet soup, and apple cake), and Diedukas put the high chair together and cleaned up our front yard because we are the eye sore of the neighborhood.  Unfortunately we missed Sky, Tony, Sofia, and Christian this year because they stayed in Canada.  Hopefully we'll be together next year!

 

Our handmade Christmas gifts from Vain's mom.

Lots of Things are Happening

Lots of things are happening around here this month.  Ryter has started to sit almost on his own.  He's much better at using his muscles to keep him from tipping over than he was a month ago.  He also enjoys standing, assisted of course, most of the time.  Last night was his first night eating solid food.  He'll be 5 months next week so it's a little early, but he hasn't been sleeping through the night lately and tried to grab my hamburger from me on Tuesday.  The doctor suggested we wait until 6 months, but what does she know.  He didn't have a facial reaction like I expected him to.  He just sort of ate the rice like its something he's always been doing.  Maybe I can expect more of a reaction when its time to give him peas or something.  He's also so giggly now and sings all of the time.  He's a pretty drooly baby and has a lot of saliva in his mouth all of the time.  He's figured out that it makes a pretty great gurgling noise so he sings and gurgles.

Here's a video of the toe obsession.  I know some of you didn't believe he actually does this.