She's perfect, and that's all...

"num num num num, butah, butah, butah"

Ryland has been working on her own little language lately. We aren't sure what she is saying, but she has been saying little words like "butah" and "num num". We have been trying to catch some video of it, but of course, Ryland stops anything she is doing once the camera is turned on. Ryland has also learned the word "no". She doesn't say it, but whenever we say it to her, she shaks her head at us and smiles. She is not even one, and already trying to work her cute little smile to help get what she wants. :)

An update about her ear infection: She has been doing really well with the antibiotics this time. She is taking them three times a day with no problem. Champ and I are both very happy about that!

Family Time

This past weekend, Champ, Ryland and I went up to Olympia to visit Ryland's great grandparents. They hadn't seen her for quite some time, so thankfully we finally made it up there to say hello. Ryland did much better in the car compared to our last road trip. She slept all the way there, took a 30 minute nap at their house, then slept all the way home. She was a little fussy that day, which we thought was from her teeth. However, turns out she had another ear infection, and we ended up at Urgent Care late that night.

Here Ryland is with Pop. She seemed to really enjoy sitting on his lap! She knows that in a few years, he will be drawing little faces on her fingertips, just as he did with Champ.

Here Ryland is with Mimi, who loves her so much. Ryland loves you too Mimi!

This picture is of Ryland and her uncle Sean, what a happy girl she sittin' on his lap!

Our Little Peter Pan

I've come to realize that having a baby changes a lot of things! It most definitely changes the way you see yourself. Yes, I know that I am still really young, but having a baby does make me feel older. I think this is because when I was young and I saw people with babies, they always seemed so very old to me. Now that I have Ryland, I do feel older. I am a mom, and Champ is a dad, we are parents. We make the rules, and protect our daughter. We feed her, and take care of her. It's not just Champ and I anymore. We have a little person to take care of. So we obviously had to grow up a little, even though we were pretty grown up all ready!

However, having Ryland has brought out the "child" in us also. She is so innocent, playful, happy, and energetic. Just sitting down on the floor with her, and playing with toys makes us feel a little like kids again. We are finally reading colorful books again, and singing kid songs that we have missed for so many years.

The picture above reminds me of Peter Pan. It reminds me that no matter how old you get, there is always a little bit of the child you once were waiting to come out and play. Ryland has brought this out in all of the people I see her with. It's awesome to know that this girl we brought to the world helps everyone around her have a little bit more fun in life, and act a little bit more like a child every now and again.

Sick days

Last weekend, our whole family got the stomach flu! Luckily Ryland didn't get the worst of it, and none of us were sick at the same exact time. It was pretty tough though! Ryland has had a rough few weeks with her cold, then an ear infection, the stomach flu, and to top it off a rash/yeast infection from the antibiotics. She seems to be all healed now, which is a relief. Champ and I learned how much harder it is to be sick, and have a sick baby. We were very happy to have each other to help get through it.

FInger Painting

One of the babies I watch got some finger paints for easter, so we decided to let Ryland practice some of her painting skills. Let's just say she is a very dainty painter. I would put a dab of paint of the paper, and Ryland would place just her index finger in the paint, and drag it around. We think she was pretty confused as to why we were letting her get so messy. Yes, she did try to pick up the paint and eat it, and that is why her face is so colorful. Overall, it was such a fun time! Ryland should be expecting some finger paints of her own in the near future.

A video for you, from Ryland