Sugar Plum

I love this little sugar plum!!!

Back in Austin

Ryter and I made it back to Austin without any problem.  We spent 10 days visiting my sister in Detroit and then driving to Wisconsin for a quick visit before flying back to Austin. The visit was great of course.  Ryter kept everyone busy-man this kid can move.  He's totally walking now, not just trying.  Maybe being out of our house was good for his walking because everything was new and he was so curious.  Now I look up and he's just toddling down the hallway like he's been walking his whole life.  He does this completely adorable thing with his hands that I will try to get on video because words just can't really explain it.  I call it jazz hands, but it is obviously his way of helping himself go.  He turns his palms toward himself and rotates his wrists while he brings his shoulders up to his ears.  It's really hilarious!

I also made a Ryter's Family book about a month ago and we've been reading it every night before bed, pointing out everyone in his family so he can learn names with faces since most everyone lives so far away.  Last night we went out for my cousin Jordan's birthday (Happy Birthday Fanny) and so bedtime was much later than usual.  We just sort of rushed through the bedtime routine, got the bottle, and sat down for nighty night.  He wouldn't lay down in my arms.  He kept reaching and sitting up so I just let him grab whatever it was that he was interested in and he went straight to the orange spined book that said Ryter's Family, grabbed it, and snuggled down in my arms to read.  It was really amazing to me...just so exciting to see that he is responding to the things we do for him and apparently enjoying them.

Ryter loves the thigh master in Detroit.

Dr. Ryter trying on Amanda's doctor hat.

It's chilly in Detroit (that's Canada behind).

Bunchie love.

Auntie Manda love.

Grandad love.

Fast friends with Teagan and Sutter.

Detroit

Well, Ryter and I made it to Detroit. It wasn't without a few bumps but nothing major. We started by leaving the house at about 9 in Grandmothers's car to drive an hour to San Antonio for our 12:30 flight to Atlanta. Security was no problem, but before we got on the plane I had to do a diaper change. That just went from bad to worse. Ryter hates getting his diaper changed and rolls all over the place every time I try to change it. He kept standing up and everyone was staring. Eventually he peed all over me. I was so worried about getting puked on when I got dressed that morning, but it never occurred to me I might get peed on. I just laughed because there was nothing else I could do. Then he had lunch and did amazing on the plane. He even slept for a good hour. Once we got to Atlanta we tried to find a changing table but they only have them in the family bathrooms. The only family bathroom in our terminal was being used for a very long time by an old lady. I'm sorry, I feel for old people and their need for space and privacy, but a family bathroom and handicap stall are not interchangeable. So, needless to say, the trip was relatively good but long. We made it to Amanda's house and now we're just bumming around, eating out, and having fun! Daddy, Ryter misses you (and I do too)!!!

9 Months

Ryter turned 9 months on Saturday April 14 and he took his first steps on Sunday the 15th.  I've been saying that he's going to start walking any day now for the past month, but when he went from the toy box to the couch and took those two steps we knew that he was going to be running soon.  He had his 9-month doctor appointment on Monday and everything is perfect.  He's in the 50th percentile for height and 25th for weight. Still a tiny guy but climbing steady.  He is 18 lbs 13 oz and 28 1/2 inches tall.

I think we have sadly finished nursing and he is now drinking formula.  He is incredibly active and it's very difficult to get him to sit still and eat and also very difficult for me to know how much he's eating. His only issue is that he spits up quite a bit and I think we determined that it was the formula that was doing it so he's on soy now.  He's got a problem with cows milk when he has yogurt so he eats goat yogurt. I've got a similar problem with an upset stomach when I have any low fat milk products.  Cheese never bothers me and it doesn't bother him either but the low fat yogurt is a problem.  I also found out today that my Grandmother had to have goat milk as a child too so maybe its genetic.

On another note, Ryter hates cucumbers.  He has seriously eaten everything I've put in front of him including brussel sprouts, kale, lamb, papaya (yuck!), zucchini and a whole bunch of normal tasting foods too but the cucumber put him over the edge.  He wouldn't swallow, he wouldn't spit, he just kept his tongue hanging out of his mouth.  It eventually ended in vomiting after three tries at getting him to taste it.

As promised, another walking video.  It's kind of long but there's a little bit at the beginning and at the end.  Excuse the bumpy filming in the middle.

Still no teeth

Ryter's First Steps

I think this probably says it all.   Better videos to come.  He already got much better as the day went on.

The Lollipop Kid

I think this is hilarious!

Happy Easter and More!

Ryter had his first Easter this past weekend so I got him an Easter basket with a couple of things mostly to see how he would react to it.  He was all over it!  He couldn't wait to get the cellophane in his mouth.  We got him a bunny that hops in circles.  It's super cute.  My plan was to take some of the attention off of NJ because he pulls her hair and tail so much and she isn't very nice.  Well, he's pretty much uninterested in the bunny unfortunately for NJ.

We also went to Tracey and Gary's and Ryter went swimming for the first time.  He very much enjoyed it but wanted to swim on his own. 

He really doesn't like hats.

Then I ran across these unseen photos when I was going through Vain's photos.  I can't believe I didn't know how cute these were!