and the birthday continues...

#2 of 3 birthdays...I mean, you can't have too many when you are turning 1, right?

This is from Sunday when a few friends came by for a little cake and icecream now that Dad was actually back in town to celebrate.

Ryan had a blast and DEFINITELY knows how to eat some cake! Thursday he was a little tentative...today, no problem...he took it down in no time!

Now, we are just looking forward to the family party! YEA!

One Year in pictures...

alright...I am copying this from a friend...here goes

January 22, 2008

1 month

2 months

3 months

4 months

5 months

6 months

7 months

8 months

9 months

10 months

11 months

I know this is strange to some of you, but I can never figure out exactly who Ryan looks like...some people say 100% Mike and some say 100% my Dad/Brother (and in essence, me)

I think it is the blonde hair, blue eyes that throw some people off, but then, I am not sure because some features just aren't Mike...BUT, these definitely are.

Check this out...

Mike at 9.5 months

Ryan at 7 months

You cannot deny that chin and jawline...they are all Mike. Though, the eyes, which I always considered to be Mike's...I think they might lean more towards my side. What do you think?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RYAN!!!

Ryan is 1 today...I can't believe it. It just doesn't seem like it has been long enough for our baby to be ONE!!

I was looking through some pics today and remembering what it was like on this day last year. We went to bed at midnight, woke up at 4am, got to the hospital at 5:30am and then dealt with doctors and labor until 4:38pm CST. It was a journey that day, but we had no idea what the next few days, weeks, months would bring. Noone told how hard it would be to adjust to having a baby in the house. Noone explained about the sometimes overwhelming sense of responsibility that you feel 24 hours a day. Yet, NOONE can describe to you the way you feel when your baby snuggles into your arms, when they smile just for you because you are home from a day of work, or when they quiet their crying because they see your face. Having Ryan is an AMAZING ride that I never want to get off. He definitely makes our lives better, more meaningful.

This day 1 year ago, we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into...and now, there is no way we would change it for the world.

Enjoy some pics of my little one from his first birthday. We had a couple neighbors over to celebrate tonight (since MPM isn't here). We wished Ryan a happy birthday at 4:38 and had some cake after we played a bit. Ginger/Brantley, Tyson/Beth/Jake -- Thank you so much for helping me celebrate Ryan's birthday. It means a lot to have your support...today and every day!

So, Ryan was a good little model for about 10 seconds outside when I tried to capture the moment. The rest are from tonight during his "party".

Always on the go...

Being so dainty at first with our cake...yea...we shall see how long that lasts...

Make a wish Baby!

Not so dainty anymore...this is the Ryan I am used to!

Thank you Ms. Beth...I can't wait to wear my new outfit!!

What a ham...I love that cute grin.

The boys playing bumper cars

Ms. Ginger and sweet Brantley -- your turn next to be ONE!

Ms. Beth showing Ryan how the camera works...are those all pictures of me??

For You, Babe...our Children :)

You just have to laugh when you watch them interact. Constant entertainment. Thank goodness Riley and Ryan get along. :)

The Day Before THE BIG DAY!!

I am having SO MUCH FUN at Kid's Gym!

We had such a good day today. Kid's Gym was a blast and we ran some errands being SUCH a good boy. I have been sitting here thinking all day about this time last year. It is CRAZY that a WHOLE YEAR has already passed...I just can't believe it. Our little boy is turning ONE tomorrow. It just doesn't seem like he can be a whole number...

We have some fun things planned to celebrate the big day. Check back tomorrow and see how our first day as a One year old went...I still can't believe it!

Always on the move these days

Just checking things out before my next "skill" at Kid's Gym

He really thinks he needs to conquer this HUGE red ball

Ryan cracks me up with his new DVD player he got for Christmas...he now points to it when we get in the car. He watches the same video over and over agin. So enthralled. It just makes me laugh though because this is the only time of the day/week that he watches TV...I have to confine him to a chair to watch a video...funny...but I guess that is better than being a couch potato. :)

Walking...unbelievable

It is so hard for me to believe that my little baby is walking...and has been for almost a month!!!

He gets better and better by the hour. It is very easy for me to believe that he will be running and skipping before I realize it.

here is a little video...

Happy New Year!! We cannot believe that it is already 2009...2008 FLEW By!!

We had such an awesome holiday season. Our Christmas started early with Amy coming to visit on the 16th. She was a life saver and kept Ryan for me for 1 whole day and half of another. WOW...amazing what you can get done with a whole day without a baby. :)

Tom and Priscilla arrived in town on Friday morning and we all had such a good time cooking/baking/last minute shopping and wrapping...what a whirlwind weekend. We had our Christmas on Saturday night and Mike actually put the turkey on "the Egg". He is still boasting about how good it was!

Ryan opened his gifts before we ate and he had such a good time. He got a rocking "cow", an activity table, a personalized book, puzzles, and cowboy boots. What fun!

Santa came a little early to our house and delivered a "kangaroo climber". Ryan loved it!! He plays with the slides in Kid's Gym, so I thought he would enjoy that on his climber, but his favorite part is the door. Open/Close, open/close...ALL DAY LONG...I can't complain though, he is so cute playing with it.




The Madden's left on Sunday and Mike and I had a few days to hang out and recover before continuing the festivities in Columbia. We arrived home on the 23rd and had a blast our first full day in SC -- Christmas Eve.






Ryan had so much fun playing with all of his cousins and seeing the extended family throughout our days of Christmas.

After Christmas was over and we all recovered from the awesome food and all the presents, Mike and I went to Kiawah to celebrate New Year's with Mike's parents. It was so much fun and we did some great things -- a New Year's festival, bike riding, time on the beach. What a way to ring in 2009.


Finally, we are back home...Did I mention that on Christmas Day Ryan started WALKING!!!!



I walked outside and when I came back in my family and Mike were staring at me...they yelled...Ryan just walked and you missed it. (from the coffee table to Mike)

So, I stood there for a few more minutes and thank goodness he took 3 more steps so I could watch!!! What an amazing thing to watch your child take his first (or 4th) steps.

Hope you enjoy all the pics...sorry there are so many...we had alot going on in the last 2 weeks. :)