Bear Snores On

Just hanging out on a Saturday morning watching cartoons with my dog.

For the little boy who constantly moves and doesn't like to be still, we were thrilled when he started to bring us books and voluntarily sit in our lap to enjoy a good read - or at least a few pages worth. His favorite book is "Bear Snores On" followed closely by "Goodnight Moon." Just tonight he got off Dad's lap and out of the chair during the middle of his bedtime book to go get "Bear" out of the book case and read that one instead, then sat patiently for the whole story.

Like many of friends have said will happen, he'll say a word for a few weeks then it disappears from his vocabulary. The one word he has mastered with gusto is "more." He even manages to get a little bit of an "r" sound at the end. Otherwise he says with a fair bit of consistency "cack" for cracker, "ca" for car, "moo" and a "ooh ooh, eeh, eeh" monkey sound. He pats Callie when asked then gives her a sweet hug.

This past week he got a nasty diaper rash but it's fortunately on the mend after getting a prescription cream. He also got a quick visit from my mom and will get to see my Dad and Marcia this week.

This was the view early Saturday morning and was so peaceful.
Note the moon still out in the upper right-hand corner.

Spirited Little Guy

Just pushing myself around on my four-wheeler.

Getting my first real haircut.

Todd refers to Ryan as "spirited" which is a perfect description. This last weekend he was around kids a couple years older and he gets so giddy with excitement it's hilarious. He'll smile, giggle then flaps his arms as if he were going to take off or something. We've been busier than we'd like but have tried to make the most of our time in the evenings and on the weekend with Ryan.

Last weekend we went to the lake where he got his first official haircut by a real stylist. He did surprisingly well and looks much older (and better) with his shorter hair now. We enjoyed a family hike at HaHa Tonka state park and since it had been dry Callie got to go and was in dog heaven. This weekend we stayed in KC and, although we didn't get to squeeze in everything we'd hoped to, we still got to see lots of friends and family. Ryan, my sister Michelle, and I went to Wichita for my cousin Mandy's baby shower and had a nice day getting to see everyone. We were able to meet her new son Graham and also my cousin Ryan's new baby Parker. The baby boys were adorable and are such wonderful additions to the Woodman family. Ryan followed around Carter, Tyler and Isabel, and I'm glad because they're great kids and hopefully some of their good behavior rubbed off on him. Sunday we saw the Seymours and Gingriches and Ryan had a good time trying to keep up Jasper and Emerson as well and, again, hopefully Ryan took note of how well they listened.

Ryan continues to adore Callie and will open up her kennel to let her out in the mornings. He is very interested in putting lids on and off things and has started to put blocks together. However, he also continues to put everything in his mouth from mulch to rocks to leaves. His latest trick is making his riding toys move and it's so darn cute to watch him motor around the house on his train or fire engine. Or, courtesy of Grandpa Steve, his four-wheeler or jet ski.

It's Clicking

"What's clicking?" you ask. Everything! This past week, Ryan has started to understand so many things and each day does something new. It's really exciting to watch his comprehension grow, and we love that we can start to communicate with one another. After months of going over the names of everyday items, it's thrilling that all of a sudden he understands what familiar objects are called and will pick them out of a group if you ask him to get it for you. As I was getting dressed this morning and was putting on my first shoe, he went to my closet, got out my boot, brought it over and tried to put it on my other foot. Then tonight, when we were going through our evening bedding-down routine, he got his acid reflux medicine and the dropper, then sat down on the floor and went through the motions we do each morning and evening to take it. Since he's a bottomless pit, he's really taken to saying, "more" when he's out of food and is still hungry. Strangers could understand his "more" and "dada" but his other words require interpretation. We just love that he's eager to try to say new words. We've been enjoying as much time outside as possible and he's a champ on the jungle gym. Just tonight, he climbed up the stairs on his own then sat down at the top of the slide, turned around on his tummy and went feet-first down the slide all by himself. We've got a little monkey on our hands!

Grandpa Steve picks Ryan up the days I work in Topeka,
so when I went to get him at their house, they were outside
in the front yard playing with their old wagon.

Ryan playing on the jungle gym at the lake last weekend.
Callie loves to be right in on the action - even if it means
following Ryan up on the jungle gym.



Doing a mini Easter egg hunt in the back yard. This particular
activity is not one of the things that "clicked" for him. Callie
however was keenly aware that there were Cheerios and Nutter
Butters inside the eggs and was did a great job hunting them:)

First Boat Ride of the Season

Although the forecast had called for rain and overcast weather all weekend, it was a beautiful, sunny weekend at the lake so took full advantage of finally getting to spend more time outdoors. Grandpa Steve picked up a newer fishing boat this weekend so we took it out a couple times for our first boat ride of the season. Ryan loved it on Saturday but was not nearly such a fan on Sunday. The good news is that he didn't mind the life jacket, although I'm sure that battle awaits us in a couple months. He is growing up so rapidly, and it's amazing to see the transformation from week to week. He says "more" now when he eats and is very interested in trying to repeat words. Rarely does he say the actual word, but he's usually pretty close on the syllables and inflection. He has also started to run and pick his nose. Not at the same time, but I'm sure that will be next.

getting shoulder rides from Grandpa who he calls Papa

playing with his car carrier which was a
birthday gift from the Collins family

playing with his best friend Callie

driving, and riding on, Grandpa's new boat


Todd on his first trip to the Ozarks
Somebody looks an awful lot like his daddy!

Another momentous occasion for our family -
the first televised Royals game of the season.
(Thank you Koons for Ryan's awesome jersey!)

Low-key Weekend

We had a nice low-key weekend at the lake, and Ryan was thrilled to get to see his grandma and grandpa again since they were out of town last week enjoying their spring break. He did lots and lots of playing with them and was a really sweet boy. I gave him a little trim this weekend to clean up the long hair over his ears and his near rat tail in back! Ryan continues to be an active little boy who doesn't care to sit still so we cheat by changing his diapers and clothes while he's preoccupied drinking his bottle, or cutting his hair while he's busy eating crackers.

Sporting his "Grandpa's little fishing buddy" hat that they
brought him from the Bass Pro Shop and carrying
around his hammer that Jack passed down to him.
He carries that hammer with him everywhere,
all the time when we're at the lake.

getting his first hair cut,
although it was more of a light trim

helping himself to an apple in the fridge
while we were making dinner

Making some music while pointing his finger -
just like Grandma Jane does!

Loving on Callie - she's so patient and good with him.
We're very lucky to have the best dog in the world!

Trip to the Park

It was gorgeous out today and now that it's still light out when I pick Ryan up after work, we took full advantage by heading to Loose Park. Following a little exercise for Callie and me, I took Ryan to the playground at the park and he absolutely loved it. Of course, we weren't the only ones with this idea so it was jam-packed with kids and parents like us who have been cooped up all winter. He pretty much just walked around and climbed on the toys, but was in awe watching the older kids play. Callie hung out on the sidelines watching us play and did such a good job of behaving amidst all the kids running and screaming around her. She got lots of attention and many pets from several of the kids though - including her number one fan, Ryan. We finished up the trip on the swing, and Ryan couldn't get enough of it. He had a smile on his face the whole time and just giggled and giggled all the while. I regret not bundling him up and going to the park this winter. He's grown up so much since we went swinging last fall that it was like a new experience for him.