Eleven Months

I am just happy to get this post up before we enter the month in which Ryder turns one (thank you, Leap Day!) I can't even believe this is the last post before our baby boy is a whole year old. Ryder James, we love your happy, spunky personality, your sweet, scrunched-nose giggle grins and loud belly laughs. You are finding your place in our little family and are proving to be our loud, wild boy. You have started dancing when you hear music and have learned how to climb the stairs (thanks to big brother). You still love to clap and wave and are really our happy little guy as long as you have food in your belly (you get that from me, sorry buddy.)

We haven't had a well check-up since 9 months, but I'm pretty sure you're around 19lbs. You're wearing size 9-12 mo clothing and we're still finishing up some size 3 diapers.

You're a great sleeper, but still an early riser (5:30AM). We've discovered that it makes no difference what time you go to bed, you're still up at 5:30. Because of this, you're in bed at 6:30 most nights.

You love: me, daddy and Finn,food, bath time, speed crawling around the house, being outside, playing with your toys.

You don't love: 5-6PM, being hungry, being cold, being in the car too long, being in the Ergo too long, anyone else to hold you, Finn taking your toys

Here are some highlights of your 11th month...

You got your first snow day

And just like any southern snowstorm, we had sunshine and 60's the very next weekend.

You are still obsessed with Finn and it makes my heart so happy to see you play together. He is so good with you and loves sharing life with his baby "yi-yi". He always asks for you to sit with him at the grocery store.

 Best friends for life.

 You have 4 and a half teeth... the 5th is almost all the way in

 With the cold temps, we've taken our playdates to anywhere indoors. Ikea for the win!

 Squinty-eyed, scrunched-nose grin

 We go to the library for Storytime.

 Bath time is your absolute favorite time of day and it might be mine too. You flap your arms constantly out of excitement and have become our little penguin.

You love to eat! Anything and everything, but are still our little meat lover!

  I have been very fortunate to have been able to nurse you exclusively this whole past year. While I am counting down the days for both of us to have a little more freedom, I will definitely miss the sweet, sleepy snuggles.

Nonna and Pop came to town and you boys got to make your very first Build-a-Bears!

My sweet little blonde hair, blue-eyed baby.

When naps don't always work out, we head to Target and look at all the things. In matching pj's.

Swinging in some sunshine- have I mentioned how you wear pj's everywhere?! It's way easier than trying to keep socks on your feet.

We went to a high school basketball game.

We've been back to the Children's Museum or multiple trips and great naps.

I love how much you love each other.

Our tough guy got his first black eye thanks to pulling up on any and everything.

We went on a family doughnut date. In pj's.

 And now for the second to last monthly photo shoot. Double ear infection, black eye and snotty nose and still happy as can be!
 

Ten Months

Ryder James, your tenth month was quite a big one! You got your top two teeth for Christmas (literally) to bring your total up to four. You are fully on the move and quite the quick crawler. Your especially love chasing Finn and will follow him anywhere. You love knocking down towers he's built. You love going into his room after his nap and playing in his bed. You eat everything that we do and have never been happier. You seem to be quite the little meat eater and only really tolerate fruits and vegetables. This is the exact opposite of your brother as he is my pasta-loving, fruit and cheese eating boy after his mama's heart. You are definitely your mommy's son as you let us know quite loudly when you are hungry. If we put you in your high chair and there is not food in front of you, you give us the biggest pouty lip to go with the tears. You pull up on anything and will walk with the walker. You love to clap and have also started waving at us, but it looks more like an involuntary arm spasm right now.

While we didn't have a well check-up this month, we've had a number of sick visits to the pediatrician, so we know you're just over 18lbs. You got your first ear infection to go with the RSV this past month. You're still in size three diapers and wearing size 6-9 month clothing. You're our tiny little peanut, but you don't let it slow you down. You also look more like your daddy everyday.

Your very first Christmas was not at all what we would have planned. You took your first plane ride and first trip to Texas; however, we spent a week at Texas Children's Hospital with your big brother while he recovered from RSV and an asthma attack. More info from that post can be found here. 

 We cheered on our Clemson Tigers in the National Championship game while daddy got to go to it.

 

And picked up daddy from the airport to give him lots of hugs when we lost the game. 

 

 

 You love riding like a big boy with your brother at the grocery store. And it's been so cold out that most days, I don't bother to get you boys out of pj's since neither of you will keep socks on your feet.

Our favorite cold weather activity has been getting in the car and driving some laps around the new Braves stadium being built 5 minutes from our house. Mama gets Starbucks and we get to look at the "canes, tactors and diggahs" (cranes, tractors and diggers). We only have a year left before it's built so I'm sure we'll be back.

 Did I mention how much you love eating like your brother?

 You love playing with anything Finn is playing with.

 And you usually have some sort of bump or bruise on your head thanks to trying to keep up with your fast-moving brother.

 We went to the Children's Museum and aside from catching a cold both times, it was really fun.

And now for the monthly photo session. I am by no means ready for you to turn one, but I am so over the amount of effort it takes to take these pictures. But the outcome is always pretty cute.