Picking the perfect Tree

Playing ring around the rosy with Ryan while waiting on the tree

This Tree...where is it going??

Pop, this is the one...

Mike laughing at Ryan because he was loving the chain saw so much...

While my parent's were here helping over Thanksgiving, we decided to go find the "Perfect Tree". I think we hit the jack pot this year. We found our most beautiful tree to date. It is wonderful. Just the right height, just the right shape, just the right amount of "tough" branches for those heavy ornaments. Perfect in every way.

Thank goodness they were here to help because Ryan was a handful darting in and out of rows of trees and I certainly was not fast enough to catch him in my "invalid" state.

Next

Ryan's crazy hair from blow drying it himself

Playing with a new Polar Express Train set that Mimi and Doc brought.

Checking himself out in the dishwasher. Too funny.

That same weekend that Mike's parent's were visiting, Ryan got out his Halloween costume from last year -- you know, the year I had the stomach bug and couldn't take my little one trick-or-treating. So, Ryan likes to wear it around the house. Too cute!!

so behind

Why can I not seem to keep up with this blog? Could it be the so-called "swine flu", the mis-diagnosed "walking pnuemonia", or possilby the emergency surgery to have my appendix removed the day before Thanksgiving?? Needless to say we have had a rough couple of weeks in November and are SO THANKFUL that it is finally December. Maybe we can hope for a few months of Mommy feeling like Mommy instead of an invalid.

These pictures are from the 3rd weekend in November when Mike's parent's were visiting and I was so sick from the Tamiflu that I was taking for the so-called "swine flu" that I could hardly get off the couch.

Ryan was LOVING the LEAVES!! He had so much fun running up and down the hill into the pile that Mike kept raking for him. It was so great to see him enjoying himself so much!

I have lots more to catch up on...so, keep reading!

Procrastination

and Ryan is becoming a genius at it.

His new night time routine -- running out naked from the shower, climbing onto the couch with Mike or climbing up onto a stool at the island, and TOTALLY PROCRASTINATING!!

I wish I could upload the video we have of Ryan on the stool from the other night. It is priceless. Maybe I will work on that some day soon.

Last, but definitely not Least...

Alright, I have finally updated the blog with many posts below...but the most important, I saved for last...

Coming in June 2010, Ryan will be a BIG BROTHER!!

Ok, so now the cat is the out of the bag on the real reason I haven't been posting...I have been EXHAUSTED. On top of beginning work full-time again, I am dealing with the start of a pregnancy. Not always easy!! We are Thrilled to be adding to our family and will let everyone know in 11 weeks (or less) what this new little one will be.

Halloween...

Well, I got to participate this year...unlike last year. We had a lot of fun. We finally got Ryan into his costume. (no easy task I might add) He enjoyed running down the sidewalks to a neighborhood Halloween party. It was fun to see some of the other kids and what a joy to watch Ryan walk right up to complete strangers (I mean, he has no fear) and ask for candy. He had his first taste of chocolate...and LOVED it. Not so fond of the peanuts, nugget (sp?), or caramel...a boy after his mom's own heart. Anyway, it was a lot of fun and I am so glad that this year I was actually able to experience it with him. Oh, and once we got home, Ryan made it his personal mission to be on hand to answer the door bell. He had a blast handing out candy (and of course stealing some each time for his stash). He has been carrying around the basket all morning pointing to it like...where is the candy???

Also, we have heard some new words from Ryan in the last few days. Last night he said Bye Bye as he was waving to Mike over the rail before bedtime. He now says "uh oooohhhh" with the inflection on Oh. It is so cute and Mike and I never tire of hearing it. Today he said juice and last week he started pointing to his eye and saying "I" His "eye" sounds like "I". he doesn't have that e sound on the end. Oh, and he also said ball today. He has said that before, but I have never heard him. It is so wonderful to finally hear his voice. It has been a long time coming. Now I am just waiting for all the other little words I know are in that brain of his. (Such a stubborn child!!)

Old Bakers Farm

The Rooster

Ok, so we decided to take Ryan to the pumpkin patch last weekend. We had so much fun last year that we decided it was a MUST this year. We tried Old Baker's Farm instead of the Pumpkin Patch we went to last year because we heard that it was the better place. Well, let's see...what should have taken 30-40 minutes took over an hour. (mike is usually great with finding shortcuts and not reading maps, but this time he definitely chose the longer route...) Anyway, by the time we got there it was 10:45. Not looking so good for our baby that goes to sleep in about 2 hours. We park (at least 5 miles from the place), walk through cow poop while Ryan screamed to get down because he wanted to walk...got up to the entrance and I realized that in all the screaming comotion I forgot the cash in the car, waited on mike to make the 20 minute walk back to the car and back to us, then got in. Everything is looking good. It is the Cotton Festival at Old Baker's Farm this particular weekend so we see tons of food, vendors, bands, cloggers, banjos, a hay maze, a barn with a HUGE petting zoo, Indians doing sacred dances, and there will be a Civil War reenactment at some point during the day. After we cruise through the food and vendors, we stop at the petting zoo for a while. Ryan is enthralled with a Gigantic Rooster and horse, we look at this massive, weaving, REALLY LONG line and wonder what it is for...oh yea, you guessed it...this is the line for the hay ride to get to the pumpkin patch. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? There is no way we are gonna make that one!! So, we watched some Indians, got some cute video of Ryan dancing to the tribal beat and then hiked back to the car...yes, pumpkinless. Guess that 'ole pumpkin that Doc and Mimi carved will have to do it for this year... enjoy the pics. Even though it was a day that didn't turn out exactly as we had planned...we still had a lot of fun enjoying the different events. Next year we may head back to the Pumpkin patch from last year though.

Random 3 of Ryan -- no real story - just cute

Just a day outside because it is finally SUNNY

Ryan loves the park...It had been rainy for WEEKS before this particular Sunday. So, it was so nice to get outside and spend a little quality time with Ryan. I never realized how much time 40 hours is until you are away from your child that much in one week. I miss the little things like taking him to the park -- something we used to do almost daily...

More from Tom & Priscilla

Sweeping...Mom, just getting some cobwebs up here. (I told you that I have I been lazy lately)

Carving a Pumpkin

The finished product

Falling Leaves

Who Knew...

That is would be this time consuming to work and take care of Ryan...Whew...I am exhausted. Hence, (Mike loves this word...hahaha) the lack of posting...

Here are some pics of the last few weeks in October.

Tom and Priscilla came to visit

Having fun at the train park

Ryan showing off his "mad" coffee skills. (the child gets out the filter, beans, coffee grinder -- grinds the coffee and then smells it when he is finished)

Here Ryan is doing his favorite thing -- driving Riley nuts! Ryan LOVES it when Riley licks his face. Drives me CRAZY to watch, but what can you say when he is having that much fun?

The treats that Doc brings -- Lovely, yellow icing...did it have to be yellow?? haha

We kept Jake one Saturday night so that Beth and Tyson could enjoy some time alone. The two of them watching Sesame Street.

Ryan's "Oh No" that Mike taught him. Hysterical!

Thinking really hard!

I mean, really, what could be more fun than hanging out in Riley's bed, with a bottle of milk, and my favorite flash cards. Life is so good.

Foot, Shoe, check.