Put your hands together...

Sometimes you just need someone cheering for you, don't ya? I couldn't think of any better cheerleader than Ryan but unfortunately, she wasn't cheering for me. She was cheering for herself, obviously. She is just now learning to use two open hands instead of one hand and a fist to clap and she is working on it constantly. Even though you don't see it in the video, Joe is walking around the living room clapping for her to get her started, she is so proud of herself once she gets going. Aren't you proud of her too? Clap your hands!

*PS* Please don't think we just stick her in that bumbo chair and leave her there. I realize that both videos have featured the chair, but we do seem to get the best shots of her there. Trust me, if/when she wants out, she makes her wishes known. That bumbo doesn't stand a chance!

Gotta give credit...

Where credit is due. A very special thanks to Jaren for the previously posted video. Anyone who knows me knows how slow I am when it comes to technology. That being said, I give full credit to Jaren for the editing of the video and sending it to me so I could post it. Thanks Jaren!!!

Just a bite...

I would like to say this is Ryan's first time at trying something sweet, but I'd be telling a story. Joe and I went to Jaren and Drew's house a couple weeks ago and Jaren made a delicious trifle dessert. We were all sitting at the table and poor Ryan was perched in her bumbo watching everyone BUT HER eating. She had already decided that formula and rice cereal just wasn't gonna satisfy her tastes, she kept staring at everyone with a spoon, hoping to get a smidge or a taste of some part of the dessert. I finally relented and let Jaren give her a taste (I had to put up a fight because no one knew I had already done the deed of giving her a taste of sweets previously). Here is what happened, looking at this I realize how fast sugar goes through such a tiny body, and this is REAL whipped cream. Not the kind you get at the store, REAL WHIPPED CREAM, sugar and cream and more sugar. This is what it did to Ryan. Enjoy!

Lets try this again...

What's going on here? (August 2008)

I DO NOT like this! (August 2008)
What is the point of this "exercise"? (Sept.2008)

I still don't get it...(October 2008)

See, I am getting better, yeah? (January 2009)

So, these first six months with Ryan have been awesome...She is working on so many cool things at one time that I can barely keep up...But, there is one thing I will remember for a long time and poor Ryan will probably never let me live it down...Tummy time...I was told very early on that I need to put Ryan on her tummy so that she would hold her head up, gain upper body strength, sit up sooner, yada yada yada...So I did...The new, unsuspecting mom that I continue to be, I did it...She was probably about three weeks when I tried it the first time because I was so determined to do everything that people say to do...Needless to say, she didn't care for it, her face was red, and she mostly just buried her head onto the floor...She didn't like it...

Now don't get me wrong, I have tried it again from time to time and she still didn't like it but I feel that we have made some progress...

Fast forward to her sixth month and from what I can tell, she still doesn't really care for being on her tummy unless she is laying on someone's shoulder or chest and falling asleep...But, I decided to give it another try and I think I saw a tiny silver lining...Maybe it wasn't the greatest of times for Ryan, having to be on her tummy but she didn't scream and I didn't see any tears...Hey, we gotta start somewhere, right?...

She is on a "roll"

We all have to start somewhere...

Am I even close?...

Dad, are you watching?...

I TOLD YOU I could do it!!!

Let me just say, I always heard that the new year meant that we could say we were gonna be totally new people in whatever different ways we want, but I never understood this phenomenon until this year...On January 1, 2009, Ryan woke up and she was literally a totally different person...I just thought she was cute and sweet and had her own personality, but I met a whole new girl this year!!!...She started talking, ok babbling, spitting while babbling, blowing raspberries, she was rolling over (she has done it THREE times so far, Jaren can atest to it) and all different kinds of things...clapping, waving MORE, laughing, you name it she has done it!!!...So maybe there is something to this new year resolution stuff, I can't wait to see what Rybugs has in store for us this coming year!!!...Happy New Year to everyone!!!