Bon Voyage Dad....We'll miss you, but we'll be okay.

Ryker's first week of day care went better than I could ever have imagined. He never ceases to amaze me. He is so easy going and has a great disposition. I didn't notice any changes in him all week. He has been his usual happy self. He is all smiles when I pick him up and always seems to be enjoying himself and the other kids. When I drop him off in the morning, he smiles at his day care provider and puts his arms out to go to her. It makes it easy for me to leave him and not worry. Of course, I still feel guilty, but that is to be expected. At least I don't have to feel guilty and worried!

I got out one of his new toys he got at Christmas. He was too little for it before, but now it is perfect for him. He had lots of fun playing with it.

Sometimes I wonder why we even get him toys. He played with this laundry basket for at least an hour.

Last diaper change by Dad before he had to ship out. Ryker had to get up early for his first day of day care.
Meeting Ellie, Molly, and Conner. Their Dad fishes with Seth and they were headed to the boat to see the guys off.

Ryker was all smiles. He really liked them.

He laughs all the time now. So many things are funny to him. The dogs even make him laugh now. Sometimes all they have to do is move and he giggles.

Looking tough in his grasshopper beanie.

He has a variety of new faces now too to go along with his many noises. He's really into making "fish lips."

He still loves to stand. I wouldn't be surprised if he never crawled and went straight to walking. He doesn't seem to be that interested in crawling, but is totally content to stand in the same place for long periods of time. When we make him sit down and take a break, he usually gets mad. He also is starting to try to take steps when hanging onto the couch, but usually just ends up with his legs spread really far apart.

Reading the paper before it is ripped to shreds.

Guess he's done with his section. "Hurry up with those sports, Dad."

Again with the standing. He likes to reach for stuff and pull it down off the couch.

He has a photo album of him and his Dad to look at when Seth is gone fishing. He looks at it a lot and chews on it, but I don't know if he really knows what he's looking at yet. I have videos of his Dad reading him books too that he watches before bed. Who knows what he's thinking, but he seems to get excited watching them.

Check out the six pack on this kid...or are those rolls? Either way, looking good little naked man.

I always get the same reaction when people ask how old he is: "Oh, healthy baby!" Today at the grocery store the lady guessed he was about 10 months old after she called him a big boy. I told her he was almost 6 months and she proceeded to call him a giant boy and asked what he was eating. Sheesh lady, back off, the boy likes his milk! We'll find out on Thursday at his next doctor's appointment how much he weighs, but I'm guessing about 23 pounds....of pure muscle...

I don't know why I found it so entertaining to dress him in all white, but I did. He looked like a TV male nurse. He had peas spit up all over his shirt by the end of the day, but the sweet white pants survived.

Lookin' good buddy! Who says you can't wear white after Labor day?

Always trying to open these drawers. Seth always puts him just out of reach so he has to work for it. He can get himself to whatever he's grabbing at but he still doesn't get up on his knees and crawl.

We got the gate installed above our stairs and he likes to hold the rails and shake the gate. I don't think I'll be encouraging that. He's a little to big to be shaking it. It's sturdy enough that I'm confident he can't knock it over, but just in case.

I hope this is the last time I see him behind bars.

He loves to make noise on his new tamborine.

A little wrestling action for all you WWF fans.

I'm putting my money on the big guy.

First carrots. I think he likes them. Surprise, surprise, is there anything this kid won't eat?

Aaww, the old lion on the head trick, makes him laugh every time.

"Do I have something on my face?"

Oh the things we do to him for the sake of learning. I don't know if he got much out of this little exercise. He seemed more concerned than anything.

The sippy cup is a little challenging, but he likes to do it himself.

He's already got the triple threat position down. Just in time for March Madness.

Out doing a little work with Dad.

Out for another boat ride.

We moved the boat to get hauled out and it was quite a walk back to the car carrying Ryker and all his gear so I found a little help. I'm sure this won't be his last ride in a marina cart. He seemed to enjoy it, but I got a lot of funny looks cruising across the parking lot.

He has found his toes and he loves them. Actually, he's a big fan of anyone's toes.

Orange you glad Dad picked out this outfit?!?

Seth has been busy preparing our property for our new house to be built. Our back yard is a bit of a mess right now.

Another great toy with lights that makes lots of noise.