Twenty Five Weeks - 5 Month Pictures

Took me awhile but I finally got some 5 month pictures of Ryder!  He is such a happy little guy, but doesn't have the ability to pose in many different ways!

I wanted to get some pictures of those little fingers and toes!  He has found his feet and is quite fascinated with them!

 

His eyes have a lot of expression in them.  I find myself sometimes sitting there just trying to imagine what he will be like in 5 years.  I look back at the pictures of Brody and think how I had no idea that he would turn into the boy that he is today.  I want Ryder to stay this little baby because he will be my last, but at the same time I am ready to see what he is going to offer the world as he grows.

 

This is the look we see pretty often now - chewing on his lips.  Ryder is getting his two bottom teeth, his incisor tooth on the left and his left front tooth.  He has been so happy even though he has so much going on!  He is now drinking five 6 ounce bottles a day and eating cereal at dinner time.  He typically goes to bed at 7pm and is up around 6:30am.  He still takes 2 naps a day and sleeps about 1-2 hours each time.  If he only has a chance for 1 nap he will sleep 2+ hours.

 

It's been really nice here.  A little cool in the mornings but then warms up to 80 by the afternoon.  Jim and Brody have started to focus on training for flag football.  It will be fun to see Brody's progress this fall.

Addisen always wants her picture taken...and normally a close up!

I thought it would be a great idea to have the kids lay down and take a picture of them.  It didn't work out as I had hoped - it took about 5 minutes to explain to Brody and Addisen where I wanted their heads to be and then it was too sunny for anyone to look up.  Finally Jim tried to stand in the sunlight so they could look without squinting.  This is the only one that has everyone looking at me...but they all look sad!

My favorite picture of Ryder - my sweet little boy...don't know what I would do without my kids.

Twenty Four Weeks

While we were up at the Lake over the Fourth of July Brody saw a lot of people tubing on the lake.  He started to talk about it with Jim and ask if he could do it sometime.  Jim had actually already bought a tube but didn't have the pull rope yet.  He told Brody that he had to jump off the end of dock 5 times before he could go tubing.  Luckily Jim had a feeling that Brody was pretty serious so he stopped during his run to buy the pull rope. 

Unfortunately for me the only one that knows how to drive the boat is Jim.  So through my anxiety I agreed to be a good mom and go tubing with Brody...well attempt tubing!  The first obstacle was getting me on the tube...that was a sight to see!  Once we were finally on Jim started to coast away and Brody and I said we were ready to go faster.  Then we were shouting to slow down!  I don't think the boat every went over 5 miles an hour...it was an adventure!  We determined that Jim would need to try the tube out with Brody because I could not lean back far enough to keep us from flipping forward.

Before heading back in we decided to stop to go swimming in the deep water.  I didn't know we would be going swimming so Addisen came on the boat in her shorts and diaper.  I thought it would be okay to just take off her shorts - Jim didn't really agree!  I couldn't help getting a few pictures of her bottomless swim adventure!  Grandma thought the whole thing was pretty funny!

Addisen couldn't care less - she was a happy girl!

My handsome boy!

And silly sister!

While we were at the lake for the extended weekend the kids seemed to fall in love with each other and become enemies at the same time!  I had no idea that Brody and Addisen would be teasing and torturing each other at such a young age!

Brody is starting to show more interest in Ryder.  He requested to hold him a lot this week and loves to make him smile.

He even wanted to feed him his bottle.  What a great big brother!

Ryder really is an easy going little guy.  Everyone told me once he got past the colic he would be laid back...I didn't believe it until I saw it with my own eyes.  When he is on the floor he instantly rolls to his belly and lays there and plays awhile.  He doesn't seem to want to roll off of his belly so he cries for us to help him out.  Everything is going in his mouth because he is getting his two bottom teeth.  I even noticed his incisor tooth is starting to come in on top!  He seems to be getting teeth a lot faster than the other two.

Twenty Two and Twenty Three Weeks - Fourth of July

I only worked Monday and Tuesday this week so we could enjoy some Summer!  On Tuesday night I headed to Grandma and Bobo's with the kids.  As you can tell from the picture Addisen has complete trust in Bobo to catch her!

Addisen loved jumping in the water but wasn't a fan of swimming.  She doesn't seem to be big enough to stay upright when wearing her life jacket.

Brody is starting to get more comfortable with the water.  He can now jump in and go under without running to get a towel for his face.

On Wednesday afternoon my mom came with us to the Lake.  Ryder cried for the last 30 minutes of the ride and Addisen and Brody were yelling about something.  My mom was amazed at what it was like to ride in the car with three kids.  At one point I just started honking the horn to add to the noise - it was a good laugh for everyone!  Addisen asked what I was honking at, I told her ants in the road...of course that was confusing!

We got to participate in the 4th of July boat parade this year!  There were about 25 boats that went around the lake.  The kids had fun waving to the other boats.

 

The neighbors are great with the kids - they had some bubble guns that they shared with the kids the weekend before.  Addisen and Brody were able to take the guns on the boat and shoot bubbles during the parade!

 

I didn't get any pictures - but Jim and my Dad spent their fourth of July putting up a new shed by the water.  Jim and I laughed at the end of last year because the neighbors asked us if we were planning on painting our shed this year.  It was pretty sad looking, but was the last thing on my list of things to get done.  We decided it would be better to buy a new one vs spending a day repainted the rusty shed - I think Jim is regretting that decision!

Twenty One Weeks - Summer Fun!

Finally swimming weather!

Brody and Addisen were finally able to get in the water!  They have been waiting patiently for the weather to finally warm up!

Ryder is still happy to wait patiently in the stroller!

Gotta love those rolls!  I just love my big guy!  He has truly become one of the happiest babies I know.  It was a long road, but so worth all the smiles!  He is getting his first tooth on the bottom and even through that he is pretty content!

I gotta remember all these little things - this will be the last set of little feet!

I can see some Uncle Neal is this picture (and some sleepy eyes!)

I see you!  I sometimes sit and wonder who this little guy will grow up to be.  It is so hard for me to think about him being 2 or 3 years old...what will his personality be like.  Will he be timid like his big Brother or the life of the party like his Sister?  Probably something in the middle! 

Addisen was pretty brave walking out in the water at the boat launch.

Doing what he does best...chewing!

 

Brody had to go to the bathroom while we were down by the water.  I told him to just walk out deep in the water and go.  He said "in my pants?"  I hadn't thought about how wrong this would sound to a child that had been told for years to not pee in their pants!  I said "yeah in your pants, but only in the lake water, not the pool water"...oh so many rules!

 

Daddy's girl!

Addisen was being so brave in the water.  She lost her footing a little bit and then actually started to try to swim.  Unfortunately it quickly turned to panic and she was rolling around in the water unable to get her footing.  Mom to the rescue...but not before the poor thing had gotten scared!

Brody really wanted to go out and swim in the deep part of the lake.  So Jim braved the water with them!  I was happy to stay on the boat with Ryder!

It took a little bit of coaxing, but the kids finally realized that their life jackets would keep them above water.  Shortly after this picture Brody was out swimming all by himself!  It is going to be a great summer!

Happy to stay dry and warm with mommy on the boat!

Ryder has finally started to like sleeping at the cottage!  He went to bed at 9pm on Saturday night, woke up at 5 for his pacifier and was back out until 9am!  We had been outside on Saturday for most of the day, I think the fresh air wore him out!

I couldn't love these kids more!  We are so blessed with our family!