Cutie pie...
Handsome boy...
I can't even put into words how much this little boy loves Dexter.
At this point Dex is thinking, "Okay, okay..I know he loves me, but I've been patient enough!"
Being a big boy.
Got oatmeal on his arm...
Dexter knows the only place/person he can get scraps from.
My little helper.
Another month has flown by and Ryker is 17 months old! Seriously, I can't believe it! When did my baby grow up? He definitely isn't a baby anymore. It still amazes me how fast they grow up and how much they learn in their first 18 months of life.
He is saying quite a few more words this month. He has added, "bye, bye," "baby," "hi, " "pease, (please)," and "na, (snack)." He still loves to make animal noises...his favorite animal right now is a monkey. Every time he sees one, his eyes get huge with excitement and he immediately says, "ah, ah!" I love it! Words that he can't say yet, he really does try. I think I'm starting to understand most of what he's trying to say. Luckily we don't have to many meltdowns caused by frustration of him not being able to communicate...we're doing pretty good in that area.
He does have meltdowns/tantrums if he doesn't get his way. Normal though, right? It's mostly over not getting a second fruit snack/treat, or taking turns, etc. He is still a great sleeper, but lately he knows when bedtime is coming and tries to get out of it. He doesn't like to rock in the rocking chair to sing songs anymore...he knows he gets laid down afterwards. He's too smart. He's figured it out. Haha. I'm kind of sad he doesn't like to sit and cuddle with me before bedtime. Some nights he'll cuddle with me and his blanket and he loves to have his arms and legs rubbed. He also loves me to trace his hands and feet. Even though a lot of the cuddle time is over, he's still my sweet little guy...he always will be. He will still randomly hug me and kiss me...I love it!
Some games he likes to play lately are: running and chasing; hiding under a blanket; playing hide and seek with Brody; he loves to kick a ball back and forth; he loves to play with the kitchen and play food; and coloring. I have to worry about this little animal drawing on things though. He thinks it's hilarious to watch me have a mini panic attack as he walks toward the wall with his crayon held out. He'll look at me the whole time he's walking toward whatever he thinks would get a reaction out of me if he were to color on it. I'm trying to be calm about it though, and luckily I haven't had to scrub crayon off of anything...yet. Silly boy. The other things he loves, LOVES is play-doh. My OCD totally gets out of control when it comes to play-doh, but he really has so much fun with it. He likes to just carry it around in a little ball in his hand as he's playing with other toys. I just follow him around a pick up any small pieces that fall so they don't get smushed into the carpet. Haha.
Things he likes to do with Brody are: play in forts; racing; drive cars; and he still pretends to play video games. So cute! I love to watch them together! He really wants to do everything he sees Brody doing. The other day I made shrimp for dinner and Brody said to me, "Mom, I'm a whale right now because whale's eat shrimp. Since they don't have hands, I'll eat my shrimp like a whale, without my hands." He then proceeded to bend down and pick his shrimp up with only his mouth. Ryker was watching very closely, then tried to do the exact same thing. This happens with so many things and I love seeing it. He refuses to sit in his highchair and will pull out a chair next to Brody and sit next to him. When I tell him it's time to eat he'll get out a placemat for himself and Brody, set them at the table next to each other and get Brody and point to the chair next to the one he wants to sit in. He loves Brody so much! They read books together, brush their teeth at the sink with each other...pretty much everything Ryker can do or almost do, they do together. He misses him while he's at school, and when we pull up to get him he points and says, "Ba!" (Brody) It melts my heart.
Ryker was kind of going through another picky phase, but now that I let him sit in a big boy chair it has been so much better! Some foods he likes are: hot dogs, bagels and cream cheese, cucumbers, tomatoes, apples, grapes, shrimp, and yogurt. He's still not a huge fan of cheese or broccoli. He loves milk and water and juice. He also has quite the sweet tooth and loves chocolate and ice cream!
I just can't believe he's this grown up already! I love Ryker with all my heart and he adds so much happiness and joy to our family! We love you, Ryker!
