Ryan - California Dreaming

Ryan made it all the way across the country to visit Aunt Sue and Aunt Jayne and to see the famous Golden Gate Bridge, as you can see in the background in the above picture.  He was amazing on the plane, and he was very social.  He was extremely friendly to everyone and enjoyed the extra attention.  The boy loves seeing people, and he likes chaos! As we zoomed through the Atlanta airport to get to our gate on Saturday evening, I think Ryan thought he was on a thrill ride at Disney (I reminded him that was just 2 weeks away!).

While in San Francisco, we did many things and watched Ryan progress developmentally.  Ryan really hung in there during the excursions (he does dislike car rides very much though!!).  Aunts Sue and Jayne took us to see the Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, The California Academy of Sciences, the gorgeous Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park, a tour of the city via car, a view of the Pacific Ocean from a restaurant called, "The Beach Chalet," and Fisherman's Wharf.  We also got to cruise around their adorable neighborhood in Oakland.  Mom and Ryan also got to meet/see Cousin Angus McGilpin and his family:  Wife, Lori, and daughters, Liza and Mollie in San Francisco. 

Ryan made huge developmental strides in CA.  I feel he is walking faster and with more confidence.  Well, I mean crusing along furniture.  He can sign "all done" when he is finished eating. He signs "more" on occassion. Meaning, he wants more food.  He shakes his head "no."  He sometimes shakes his head no and makes the all done sign when he doesn't want to do something or doesn't like something like getting a diaper change or going down for a nap.  The BIGGIE is that he is clapping.  He claps when he likes something. The first time he clapped was at the CA Academy of Sciences when he was viewing one of their many beautiful fish tanks.  Aunt Sue and Jayne say he told them "more" when they were giving him breakfast our last day there. I think I heard it once since then. Oh, and he blew kisses to a lady on the plane...several times, but he won't repeat it.

It was a long trip and an exhausting one. However, Ryan really enjoyed being in California with family.  I am glad he is such a good plane traveler and look forward to doing it again. Our next trip is via car to Orlando, FL (Disney World with the Harman Clan).  He doesn't really like the car or his carseat.  Actually, I think it is his carseat he dislikes. Any suggestions? I read in 'Parenting' magazine this week that when a child doesn't like his carseat ...you can bring it in the house and let them play in it.  Oh, if it were only that easy! We'll see.

Here are some pics of the trip. I will also post video this weekend.

Getting ready for my first day in San Fran and my "flower child" photo shoot

Playing with my napkin at the Beach Chalet at Golden Gate Park

Flower Child

With Mommy at the Gorgeous Japanese Tea Garden

I love fish tanks

One of the many representations of CA - Migrant worker look

The Gangster Series - Oakland, CA

The Cutest Thug Ever!

Who can wear a hat?

Mommy, Aunt Sue, and Ryan

Beautiful Boy taking a Bath

The Blog's Author - Mommy

Finally, Sue and Jayne - thank you for being such great hosts.  You have a lovely, warm home filled with love.  And...You spolied us ROTTEN! xoxo

Ryan's Blog * technical difficulties

Ryan aka "Mr. Standy-Pants P."

Hello everyone!
I know, I know - my blog posts have been spotty at best.  During my "breaks" - meaning Ryan's naps, I have been learning to coupon (http://www.southernsavers.com/) and/or refinishing a piece of furniture, so I have not kept up with the blog.  I also have had to deal with Mr. Standy-Pants during naps because getting him to go down peacefully has been a struggle as of late.

With all that going on & knowing I had problems with our laptop and uploading video to youtube the last time, I just wouldn't take the time to sit and do a post because I did not want to deal with technical difficulties.  However, we got a new camcorder last weekend, and I am eager to share some videos.

I had hoped to upload some on today's blog-that was totally my intent tonight (1 hour ago), but I had to install the software for uploading first, and now, I'm struggling to figure out how to upload the video we shot.
My goal is to have everything up and running a week after we return from California.  (We leave this Saturday for 7 days).

In the meantime, I will fill you in on Ry's accomplishments and such...Ryan finally says 'momma' and means it. He doesn't say it a lot. He prefers to say 'dada' most of the time.  He is chatting more at dinner. We don't know what he is saying, but he shakes his head a lot and seems to have things to add at the dinner table. He likes to page through his books, and he still likes to practice standing and will pull himself up on almost everything.  This week Ryan and I have been playing with his cars (a police car and fire truck).  It is funny to watch him pick them up and play with intention. He has no clue how to roll them properly, but when they fall off the surface we are rolling them along, he picks them back up and places them where he wants.

Okay, momma needs her sleep! Hope you are all well.

Hugs~The SE Puylearts

Ryan - been a few weeks!



9 months old with Birthday Bunny aka B.B.



Our last post was February 10th! In that time, we celebrated Valentine's Day, had a visit from Grandma Sandy and Grandpa Dan, and have been busy practicing standing.  In fact, I am typing this and watching Ryan on the monitor (not napping) proudly standing then cruising along the sides of his crib. I am getting a kick out of him right now because he is looking directly into the camera then yelling, "da-da, a da-da." Taking a pic of this moment to post below:

To recap our biggest event, Grandma Sandy and Grandpa Dan came to visit about 10 days ago.  While they were here, Ryan played with his grandfather and chatted with his grandmother.  Grandpa Dan was lots of fun once Ryan got used to him.  We also went to dinner one night and breakfast on Sunday morning followed by an afternoon trip to Newtown Park then Bruster's Ice Cream.  (Ryan LIKED ice cream & also, napkins, a lot.)  We were sad the trip was so short, but I am sure that grandpa and grandma were ready to get home to their own beds and not have to wake up frequently to the sounds of a noisy baby. We can't wait for Ryan to share time with his grandparents again soon. Next up will be Mimmy & Pappy in FL this April.

Ryan is so fun and funny! His days are full, and I need to remember to schedule in some down time other than his naps.  We have a pretty good routine going at the moment.  We see friends and go out at least 3 days a week if not all 5.  We enjoy eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner together, and Ryan likes trying new foods.  He likes almost everything...some things more than others.  He shovels blueberries into his mouth if given the opportunity, so he only gets 2 at a time.  He had cheese for the first time last week and LOVED it.  If he could talk, I think he would ask to eat only cheese.  He wanted nothing else on his plate the night he had cheese for dinner. We will serve cheese to him at the end of his meal from now on.

Here are some pics to give you an idea of Ryan's life these days:

With Grandma Sandy

Grandpa Dan, Daddy, and Ry at Newtown

Goofing around

Swinging with Grandpa Dan

Getting into stuff...because I can

What a squirrel...he wants every electronic device - be it a camera, laptop, or telephone

BIG boy playing with the laundry basket

Standing in my crib

Eating my Babyman BlackBerry

Practicing my walking skills...



What, ma?

 No videos this week. Youtube wants me to link a google email account when I sign in & after trying for 30 minutes to link an email as requested...I gave up because, well, I have just a short window, and I wanted to get something up today because of the long delay.  Hopefully, I can figure out what youtube wants by our next post. Until then, enjoy the pics of our superguy.