Full Hatches and It's Only June!

It was raining Chums today at Hidden Falls. Good work Seth!

Bozeman, here we come!

Ryker and I will be spending the 4th in Bozeman. I am very excited, but I don't think Ryker

wants to go. I was packing us today and he kept unpacking us. Crazy kid. It will be his first plane ride. It should be interesting, but I'm sure it will go well. He's pretty easy to handle. The only thing I'm worried about is a massive blowout! He usually has one good duker a day and there's a good chance some of it is coming out. He also doesn't like to lay still when being changed anymore so that could get ugly. Where do you change a kid on a plane? I guess I could always make him sit in it the whole ride, but that could get smelly! I pitty the person that gets stuck next to us. Kara has a big weekend planned for us, but my main concern is a big, fat nap while Aunt Kara or Grandma Z babysits. I'm also looking forward to a couple of beers with some old friends.

I got Ryker this sweet hat to celebrate the 4th.........

He crushed it.

Story of my life right now. Even if I think it is unbreakable, this kid will try and more often than not, succeeds.

The art of enjoying a meal

Ryker has perfected the lengthy meal. He likes to play with his spoon and his food and his cup and his hair and his....pretty much anything he can get his hands on he has to thoroughly inspect.

All the time I spend sitting there gives me plenty of time to wonder what he's thinking. He played with the green beans so long today, I thought he was done eating, but he got mad when I tried to take him out of the high chair.

"You're no match for me green bean."

"Join your little friends, slurp."

Play by Play of Father's Day

This post is mainly for Seth since he wasn't here to share his first Father's Day with Ryker. Don't worry, we celebrated without you!

We started Father's day morning by reading some books. A little tribute to dear old Dad who is working today. Hopefully you caught lots of fish.

Then Ryker had banana's and Cheerios for breakfast. Of course, I sang the Go Banana's song and danced for him. Everyone likes a little entertainment during breakfast.

Ryker celebrated by playing with this ribbon.

Then he pullled all the pans out from under the stove.

He did quite a bit of playing on the floor. Notice that horse behind him. We just got that from Asa and he is pretty leary of it. I tried to put him on it and he wanted off. Not the reaction I was expecting. He touched it's tail a few times, but kept a close eye on it for about an hour when I first brought it in. Hmmmm....I can't figure that one out.

The rest of our day consisted of going to the playground where Ryker tried out the swingset. Then we got groceries, swung by Sakumas to get some berries, and took the dogs to the river. Liz stopped by with her two dogs and Ryker watched the 4 mutts run around the yard for about an hour.

Happy Dad's Day! We missed you!

Quality Time with Dad

Where's Cosmos, you ask? He normally takes a shortcut. Some may call him lazy. I think he's just smart.

Dad's Home!

Seth got in at midnight on Sunday. Ryker went to bed in these PJ's so he'd be ready when he saw his Dad. He slept all the way to the airport and back, but woke up when we got home to stare at his Dad a bit before going back to his crib.

Oh Dad, isn't it enough that I can crawl? Do I really need to do stairs?

Ryker found a new favorite game. Who knew that when you grabbed Seth's nose, he made a big honking sound?

Seth and Ryker got to drop in on an Aqua Babies swim class for Ryker's first swim. They were the only dudes.

Ryker did really well and seemed to enjoy it....especially the splashing part.

Showing off his spashing skills that he's perfected in the bathtub. The teacher was impressed that he didn't mind getting his face wet.

Dogs eat grass?

Ryker found himself a nice blade of grass to play with. He was pretty delighted with it.

He held it out, as if he were showing his great find to Cosmos and Cosmos quickly snatched it up and started chewing on it.

Ryker thought that was pretty funny.

He picked some more, fed it to him and the game was on. He fed him grass for 5 minutes, one blade at a time until Chacon joined in and the dogs started a wresling match on Ryker's blanket.

Cosmos thanking Ryker for all the great grass. We don't normally let the dogs lick his face, but I was too busy taking pictures to stop this one.

By the end, Cosmos had pretty much taken over the blanket and shoved Ryker on to the grass.

Good Dog.

Baby food? He's over it.

Don't get me wrong, Ryker will still pack away some pureed veggies if that is all that's available, but he's delighted with the ability to feed himself. He's eating less at dinner now, partially because he takes an hour to eat when I let him do it himself. Usually every other night (bath night), I let him fully take control. The other nights I feed him the messy stuff, because for some reason just wiping him down with a washcloth doesn't get him clean. I always end up finding sweet potatoes behind his ear or peas down his sleeve.

Spaghetti noodles are a favorite. He likes to whirl them around and then toss them accross the room. Then he looks around like he's surprised he cannot locate it. I think it's all an act. He knows what he's done, especially when he sees me cleaning up after he's eaten.

The peas are a little hard to get ahold of but he gets it done. I thought I could just give him a whole pea, but I was informed by someone older and wiser when it comes to babies that peas are a choking hazard unless you remove the hull. Take off that little shell and they are a perfect finger food.

Great with his sippy cup, but this one will take a little practice. He's usually soaked.

He gets the spoon in his mouth, but there's not much food on it by the time it gets there.

Attack of the slobbery Ryker

Memorial Day weekend Asa unsuspectingly sat down with Ryker to play.
Soon Ryker was all over him. Grabbing at the toys and trying to crawl up on him.

Asa though it was pretty funny and was laughing and talking to him the whole time.

Ryker goes in for the big slobbery kiss.

Asa returns the hug.