Mmmmm

Hi, everyone!

Come in close...I have something important to tell you.

I love sweet potatoes!

6-month doctor's visit

Happy half birthday, Ryan! (tomorrow, that is)

Ryan had his big 6-month check up today with Dr. Steele. For the first time, we had mixed news. At his 4-month visit, he measured 25.25" long (in the 70th percentile). Today, he measured....25.25" - that's right, the exact same, which now puts him in the 5-10th percentile. He also only gained a pound (now weighs 15 lbs even), putting him into only the 10th percentile for weight.

Dr. Steele wasn't too concerned about the slow down just yet, and asked to see us again in a month to measure progress. He commented on Ryan's pudgy little thighs, saying he has baby fat in all the right places, but just doesn't seem to be gaining weight as fast as he should anymore. We're officially starting veggies this week, and hopefully really jumping into the solid food will help bump him back on track.

For now, I guess Ryan's just really small for his age. We'll need to work on bulking up so 1-day-older cousin Autumn (now 16.5 lbs) won't crawl right over him in a few weeks.

Rollin', Rollin', Rollin'

Ryan is rollin' round our family room on a daily basis...often escaping his jungle (activity gym) or getting stuck against its support arches. Today, I removed the obstacles so that he could roll as much as his little heart wanted. (Or, at least until we ran out of rug.) Enjoy:

Also, my recent tweet about toy songs getting stuck in my head has raised quite a few eyebrows - perhaps it was the odd lyrics that were on repeat in my brain at the time. So, without further ado, I give you the original form of the "sheep-pig" song - and yes, it's compounded in awesomeness by Ryan's love for pushing the button over and over before the song is complete.

Happy Easter

We had a very busy Easter -- but so much fun. Ryan was an angel at mass, and we had a fun brunch with mommy's side of the family, followed by dinner with daddy's siblings. Ryan loves hanging out with his cousins, and is having a ball with his new Easter toys. Enjoy a few photos below!

Cousin Haedyn loves to give Ryan hugs and kisses - this was a smooch on the hand:

Hanging with cousin Autumn:

Sitting Pretty

In the last few days, Ryan's mastered his super sitting skills. Don't believe me? See for yourself. (Oh, and turn up the volume to enjoy the full experience.)

Watch out...

...here come the milestones. Sometimes it seems as though Ryan's about to stand up, run out the back door and start swinging on the swings at the school behind our house. Lately, there's something new happening each day as Ryan discovers the world around him.

Just yesterday, Ryan taught himself how to fake cough...I'm not sure if he is doing it for attention, or if he's just excited about a new sound he can make. Today his "aaaaahs" have had consonant sounds attached to them too, as if he's about to start up a real conversation.

In the physical milestone department, Ryan recently discovered his feet, and loves holding them and examining them, although he hasn't figured out how to get them all the way in his mouth just yet. He's also developed an obsession with faces. Whether it's mommy or someone he's just met, he's into grabbing chins, cheeks, noses and mouths these days.

Ryan is now a pro at rolling over. He loves laying on his tummy to look at a book, the TV or his jungle, and has even started pulling his knees up under himself. He's also sitting up...almost. We can scoot away from him when he's sitting and he'll stay upright for a short time before spilling over (and bonking his forehead on the floor).

He's continued sleeping well at night, and his naps during the day are getting better -- so all in all, life with the little guy is pretty darn fun. We're trying our best to enjoy his sweet baby coos and faces now, as we know they'll be gone in the blink of an eye. Enjoy a few photos below.

Holding hands with cousin Autumn at a recent play date:

Playing with feet:

Snow...and another fun "s word"

If you're a regular blog reader, you may have noticed my lack of posting in the past 10 days or so...and there's good reason, I promise. First, we bought a "real" video camera, and while I now have tons of great video, it's all in HD, and our computer is too old to handle the large files, so until we get a new computer, I can't share our new clips. I promise to take video with our ancient point-and-shoot camera to post in the meantime.

Second, I've been avoiding posting for fear of jinxing our new-found skill. Yes, the "s word" is SLEEP! For the past week, Ryan's been sleeping through the night...8 p.m. to 7 a.m. usually - and I've literally been afraid to brag too much because he's been known to tease us with milestones and then revert back to old habits. Now, I feel like I can post b/c Ryan broke the cycle and woke up 3 times last night...so while maybe he won't sleep through every night, he at least can put himself back to sleep when he wakes now.

Stay tuned for more photos and videos soon!