"I Do It"

Ryan officially reached the independent stage this month, and "I do it" is a common phrase in our lives now. While it requires us to allot more time for everything we do, he actually does some things pretty well by himself like buckling part of his car seat and feeding the dog. Other things however, such as pottying like a big boy and getting dressed, need a lot of help but he blissfully has the same sense of accomplishment when he attempts those tasks. For the boy who's always gone to bed without any fuss, he's now started to challenge us on occasion and even pulled an "I need a drink" stall attempt which I fell for hook, line and sinker. On a positive note, his teachers say he's become really good this month at following directions, sitting still and not taking his shoes off constantly. He absolutely loves anything to do with letters, colors and shapes and identifying Toyotas and Fords. All these changes coupled with a voracious appetite indicate he's going through a growth spurt - in every way possible.

His (and our) most favorite new thing to do is snuggle with Daddy in the mornings. It's absolutely precious how he'll shimmy up the bed into just the right spot on Todd's arm so he can watch a show, drink milk and eat a cereal bar, all while getting some quality Daddy time. I generally change a diaper and get him dressed as part of this routine. Can anyone really be shocked at the level of multitasking going on here?

He loves the lake and asks daily if we're going. His favorite things to do at the lake are throw rocks off the dock, pretend to fish, hold the fish that Pop Pop catches and throw them back in for him, guilt Pop Pop into making him Mickey Mouse pancakes, drive his new tractor around, play with bubbles, go for boat rides and play with Jake and Cade Riggin and Charlie Collins.

fishing with Pop Pop off the boat ramp

after a night of fighting going to bed and being left to his own devices,

this is how I discovered him in the morning

his first group bath with Jack and Will Henderson

Ryan's been waking up earlier and one morning he had clearly been up playing for a while when I unlocked his door; this is how I found his monkey that he sleeps with; how cute!

feeding the baby goats at Deanna Rose Farmstead

Ryan's pre-bedtime "crazies." He loves jumping on our bed and since we won't ever have a trampoline, I let it go and have fun with it.