16 Months Old

Seriously...I don't think he could get any cuter!

Haha.  This picture makes me laugh.  He is a very dramatic little thing.

Talking to his buddy Dexter from the couch.

Eating yogurt with a fork...he insisted on using it instead of a spoon.

His big blue eyes get me every time.

Ryker is 16 months old today.  My little guy is growing up and getting to be such a big boy!  He is wanting to do everything is older brother does...which means lots and lots of climbing and running and crashing into things.  I really love having boys.  Somedays I have a hard time keeping up with how much energy they have, but I love seeing them play together.  Ryker loves to play with Brody and really does try to copy and do all of the things he sees him do.  He gets frustrated if he can't keep up or do it the way he sees Brody do it, but he most of the time he does pretty well and is really pleased with himself if he thinks he accomplished the task.  He is so stinking cute!

Ryker has quite the personality.  He is so silly and loves to make people laugh.  Sometimes he'll randomly go up to someone and get in their face and force out a laugh.  He loves when he gets a laugh out of doing that.  He still is such a smiley boy.  He is constantly smiling and will even smile for pictures now.  If he's whining for something all I have to say is, "How do we ask nicely?"  He'll then sign, "please," and then I say, "and now I need a smile," he'll quickly give a huge cheesy smile.  I love it so much!  He is also such a sweet and loving boy.  He is always giving hugs and kisses and doing such sweet things...he melts my heart.  Not only is he so sweet towards us and our families, but towards Dexter also.  Dexter loves to lay in the sun upstairs in the morning time.  Sometimes when I'm in my bedroom and I hear Ryker giggling, I know that he's right out in the hallway playing/cuddling with Dexter.  Dex loves it and is so sweet back to him.

My little man loves all animals.  Every time he sees a dog or cat, he squeals and gets so excited.  He loves to see animals on the t.v..  He is even already imitating animal noises...it is the cutest thing.  He can say, "moo," "baa (naa)," "neigh," "woof," "meow (now)" "oink (ahh)" "ribbit," "quack (back)".  He loves the zoo and the aquarium.  Other things he likes to play with are: cars, balls, trains and play-doh.  He likes to kick the soccer ball around with Brody and loves to throw bouncy balls...and all his toys for that matter.

He is in the stage now where he is throwing everything and starting to hit.  Lovely.  It's something I remember well with Brody and it does pass.  It's hard to not give a reaction to him hitting when he totally busts up laughing.  Most times he does stop right away when we tell him no.  He is still very independent and wants to do everything for himself.  He is doing well with a spoon and fork and even eats gogurts by himself. (Still makes a little bit of a mess, but he's getting the idea.)  He doesn't like to be carried down the stairs anymore...he lets us know he can do it by himself.  He also likes to brush his own teeth and does not like it when we make him let us do it.

Ryker's vocabulary is increasing at a rapid pace.  He can now say, "no," "mama," "dada," "dede (Dexter)," "da (Brody)" "nana, (Hannah)" "mama (grandma)" "papa (grandpa)" "more," "boo," "book," "ca (car)."  He is such a smart little guy.  He can point to pretty much every body part and points to pictures we ask him to find in his picture books.  The other thing he likes to do when I read his picture books are point to things that match it around the room.  If I show him a lamp, he points to his lamp in his bedroom...same with crib or rug or blanket, etc.  Such a cute kid!

I can't get enough of my Ryker D. and I'm so thankful everyday for him and his sweet, loving, outgoing, squishableness.  I love being his mommy!