Summer 2009-Pic overload!

Ok, it's been an eternity since I posted last. Summer went by way to fast and I had no time to post pics. Soooo...I'm going to post them now. I don't have a ton, but wanted to share some of the key moments. I had the chance to try out being a stay at home mommy this summer and absolutely loved it! It was so hard going back to work and taking the boys back to daycare.

Here's a little summary for each little man:

Ryan:
Currently 10 months old and has 7 teeth now. He cut his 7th tooth right around his 8 month birthday. He started crawling in June and liked to commando crawl. If you don't know what that means, imagine a soldier crawling on there belly, just using his arms to pull him. It's a funny sight, but he is one determined little guy. He started crawling on all fours about 3 weeks later. He's now a speed demon and we have to keep a close eye on him. He loves to pull himself up on EVERYTHING and put EVERYTHING into his mouth. He's a talker too! Loves to make himself heard. His first word was Ma ma, but Dada wasn't far behind. He says Nanaana (banana). He's already pestering his big brother and pushing those buttons. Brendan and Ryan have had many screaming matches, and Ryan usually wins. (Sorry B). Ryan's had a rough summer though. His reflux has really flared up and he (we) didn't sleep much in July and August. I think we've finally found a solution with a new medication and formula combo. He's slept great the last week, just in time for us to go back to work. Oh, and he LOVES to eat. He's not really into baby food, he wants the good stuff. He loves table food...chicken nuggets, apples sauce, goldfish, hot dogs, pancakes, bananas, etc. I can't believe that he'll be 1 in just 2 short months. It has gone by way too fast.




Brendan:
Brendan is almost 3!! I know, it's crazy!. He has grown so much this summer. He started using the potty at the end of June, but out travels put that on hold. We are back to using the potty now, and he earns a super cool tattoo when he uses the potty at home. I'm hoping he'll be pull up free very soon. His language has come leaps and bounds from the beginning of the summer. He speaks in full sentences, and watch what you say, because he repeats anything you say. He's got a great sense of humor and get's excited about EVERYTHING. I love seeing that excitement in his eyes over the simplest things. His memory is quite good too. He brings up things that we've done weeks ago very often now. Grandma and Grandpa's names come up often, as does Ike, Cameron, Ethan, MomMom and PopPop. Aunt Kiki and Bubba got married this summer and Brendan was an awesome ring bearer and a dancing machine. I have no idea where he learned to break dance, but he's got some mad skills :)

Overall, the summer was great! We went to Florida, Mexico, Ohio, and New Jersey. We were there for Kiki and Bubba's wedding, Richmond reception, and Ohio reception. We went to the shore and fished and crabbed. We took trips to the libary, book store, chucky cheese, Signal Bay Waterpark, the Toledo Zoo, rode the Bluebird express, and saw a ton of family and friends. We couldn't have asked for a more exciting summer and hope the coming year is just as exciting. Enjoy the pictures below and I promise I'll try to post more often during the year.

Click on images to view larger:

10 on Tuesday

1. Happy 7 months to Ryan!! I can't believe how fast it has gone. Here he is 2 days after his 7 month birthday.



2. Ryan is now crawling (sort of). He does the commando crawl and pulls with his arms. It's so funny how different my boys are. B loved to use his legs and hated being on his belly. He didn't crawl until 9 months and walked at 10.5 months. I forsee Ryan being a lifetime crawler!

3. Brendan is growing up so fast. He is talking up a storm about everything. Keith has changed our names to Roy + Sally because Mommy + Daddy is WAY overused.

4. We went to Gettysburg a few weeks ago to visit our good friends Nate + Kristen. We had a blast.




5. Only 2 weeks left until summer vacation!!

6. Ryan is about to cut his 3rd tooth. He is feeling it too. Poor guy...I hope it breaks through soon for everyone's sake.

7. Little miss cousin Molly turned 2 last weekend. Wishing her happy birthday.

8. We had our first trip to the shore. Can't wait for a summer full of shore trips. Here's few from the trip.






9. I've been busy blogging about my photography sessions here: AndreaGayle Photography + Design Stay tuned because I'll soon be updating my stationery line and offering FREEBIES this summer.

10. Rain Rain Go Away!! It's rained so much lately. We're sick of it and are ready for some sunshine.

Sick, Sick, Sick

It's been too long since I posted, but it's been a bit crazy around here. The boys have both been super sick with high fevers, coughs, runny noses and all. With the "swine flu" scare we've been worried, but they are both doing much better. Ryan got hit a bit harder and was tested for RSV, but it came back Negative. He's doing great now and catching up on his sleep. Wish I could!

Grandma came for a visit last week and it was so much fun. She experienced Brendan's "funnies" and how much he's talking. She also witnessed the start of the "Why's?". We have officially hit the "why?" stage with Brendan. Everything is followed by "why?". He's growing up so fast, I can't keep up.

Ryan was 6 months old yesterday and is on the verge of sitting on his own. He can sit for a while, but watch out, cause when he's done he'll just topple to the side. He's pretty good an falling to his tummy though.

When grandma was here we went to the circus. It was the first circus for both boys. Here's some pics. Oh I attempted a photo shoot with the boys, but Brendan wanted nothing to do with it. Here's two shots from it. Oh and an outtake of what B thought of it all.

Happy Easter...

Brendan and I made some Rice Krispie Treat easter eggs last night. They were fun to make but even better to eat. He did a great job decorating them. Here's the outcome.






Brendan's favorite phrases lately... "YUP" and "NOPE". It's funny and the "P" is very pronounced. Ryan's a giggler and loves his brother. He's rolling both ways and is starting to put his little butt up in the air when he's on his belly. All he needs is to push up on those hands and he'll be close to learning to crawl. Hope he doesn't get the crawling thing too soon.

Camera Shy...

Brendan used to be the best model for me, but recently HATES the camera. He says" No mommy, put it back" He'll hold his hands in front of his face and do all he can not to look in the direction of the camera. It's frustrating for the photographer in me, but hilarious at the same time. Here's what happen when we went to the botanical gardens to walk and hang out. I was hoping to get some good shots for our house. Here's Brendan's best move...running towards me yelling "Noooo Pictures!"

And one of Ryan just for fun.

tooth #2, croupe, + "oh maaan"...

So it's been an eventful last couple of days for us. Ryan cut his second tooth (yes he is on a roll), and was diagnosed with Croupe. You would never know he was sick, until he coughs...he's such a happy guy. However, after he was diagnosed he seemed to go down hill a bit. His little face was breaking my heart. He would give me the quivered lip and I'd melt. He's doing much better now.

Brendan has little cough too, but it hasn't phased him much. He's picked up a new phrase that just cracks us up everytime he says it. "Oh Maaan!" is used anytime something falls, goes wrong or is sort of funny. It's quite amusing. He's also become camera shy. We had a beautiful day on Thursday and we were all playing outside. So, I brought out the camera...ummm not on Brendan's list of fun things to do. He made me give daddy the camera so I could play. Booo :( Hope this stage doesn't last long.

OH an I finally got around to making Ryan's wall letters. I really like the way they turned out. It's been a while since I did a crafty project.

A tooth?

Yup, that's right, Ryan got his first tooth. He is only 4 months old and cut his first tooth today. Brendan got his first tooth at 5.5 months and I know that was early. I guess Ryan wanted to win this one. He's been so great too. So far no fussing, only lot's of droooool.