The Best and the Worst

Sorry this picture is kinda crappy. It got cut off at the top. I just think it's so funny because Ryder is trying to put on Jon's gigantic lacrosse gloves and when he finally gets both on it looks hilarious. It reminds me of that Foo Fighters music video when Dave Grohl has a gigantic hand and he slaps people around with it. HAHA! Anyways, I title this post The Best and the Worst because Ryder is like Jekyll and Hyde lately. He can be the best and worst behaved within like a 10 minute period. I try not to focus too much on the bad but he has developed a SERIOUS attitude. Just yesterday he started doing this thing where when he's mad he yells "NO" a million times and then starts hitting and crying. It's psychotic! I don't know what about yesterday got him started but now he won't stop. I am beside myself and I have no clue how to discipline him when he does it. It's like he's talking back to me already. He's only 14 months! UGH!!! So frustrating. Then again he can be such an angel baby and then I'm loving my life. I love that he can understand me when I talk and he tries so hard to answer me. When I say, "Are you hungry? Let's eat!" He tries to say, "Eat!" Then I feed him. When I say, "Let's go take a bath!" he immediately gets up and heads up the stairs to the bathroom. It's awesome! Just about 20 minutes ago I said, "You want to read a book?" He grabbed a book, handed it to me, then sat on my lap. THEN I said, "Let's go take a nap now." Immediately he got up and ran into his room and stood by his crib waiting for me to lift him in. It's been a while now and I can hear him talking and playing and he will just do that until he falls asleep. No fussing, no fighting, no crying...it's like he's the easiest baby alive!!! I don't understand the split personality he has right now. He can be soooo mean and hit and throw tantrums and then he can be so cuddly and give kisses and hugs. I don't get it. I'm sure this is typical behavior for his age so I've decided I just don't care for this age. I think we are both just frustrated that he can't talk and I can't always understand what he wants. AHHH!!! I need advice people. The only way I know to discipline him right now is to stick him in his crib until he calms down OR swat his butt. I am totally for spanking when it's appropriate but I don't feel like it is in this situation.

Cabin Fever

A few weekends ago we went with my brother Dan and his family up to his in-laws' cabin in Greer. It was FREEZING! I didn't take any other pictures unfortunately but I did capture...
THIS! So cute, right? Ryder is about to take a nap on his daddy. I love it.

Major Bedhead

Here is Ryder fresh from an afternoon nap. Can you see the sweet side hawk he's got? NO?? Let me give you a better view.
Totally awesome, dude.

*No I did not fix this myself with hair glue. His baby hair has a mind of its own.

Tie Required

My sister, Sonia, gave me this cute little clip-on tie for Ryder to wear to church and he LOVES it.
The other day he brought it up to me and wanted me to clip it onto his t-shirt. HAHA! It wasn't Sunday but he didn't care. I think it makes him feel like a big boy cuz his daddy wears one too. He's such a goofer. He also loves this fire truck that his grandma Barb bought for him. It makes so much noise but it keeps him happy.

Easter 2009

Here is Ryder getting ready to hunt for eggs with the help of his cousin Ashton.

And here he is being a garbage disposal. He was so excited to play with all of his cousins that I couldn't get him to eat but he had no problem "cleaning up" after everyone was done with their food. Doesn't he just look like a big boy at the table? Jon and I keep talking about how he just seems so grown up these days. He's not our baby anymore. But no, it's not time for another one yet. We are just enjoying him as much as we can before he REALLY grows up and is too cool for us. We aren't ready to give another child our attention. Ryder is spoiled for sure.

My Girl

So...this was an interesting past week. Ryder has been SUUUUPER naughty. Like I said before...I'm hoping this phase ends soon. He fell at Kristin's somehow (I didn't actually see it happen) and scraped his cheek. The skin was kinda hangin there and he wouldn't let me pull it off so I put a Dora band-aid on it. HAHA! It stayed there for 2 days on his cheek.
Then...about an hour later I left my bright red Crystal Light drink on the coffee table stacked up on books in the center where I thought it was untouchable. I was wrong. Ryder got to it and spilled the entire cup all over himself and the floor. Luckily it's mostly tile but I had to get him naked. We put his clothes in the wash but he was kind cold so Kristin said, "Oh just go put one of the girls outfits on him until his clothes are done. I decided this was my only chance to dress Ryder up in a super cute girl outfit so I took full advantage. Chloe is a year older than Ryder but she's so skinny minny her clothes wouldn't fit him. Sylvie is 3 and this is her outfit. A cute lil dress with matching leggings. HAHA!! Kristin and I were laughing forever about this. When Ryder came walking out dressed like a girl, Sylvie and Chloe looked so confused. They just stared at him. It was awesome. Jon hasn't seen these pictures or even heard the story. It'll be our little secret ;)

I like to ride my bicycle and happy birthday Grandpa Poulsen!

My sister, Kristin, has this cute little bike at her house that Ryder is OBSESSED with.
He likes to ring the bell and yes...he can actually do it. He is so proud of himself.
He can climb up onto this bike by himself and then he sits and whines until I come and push him around since he can't pedal. It makes him SO happy. You can tell he feels like a big boy.

Well... that's right folks. I still have to use my sister's internet. Don't ask. She's been letting me use her camera and then blog at her house. Ryder will be 14 months old on Monday. He is getting so big. He can understand me when I talk and he's learning all sorts of new things. Now that he is around his cousins just about every day of the week he is learning lots of things from them...some good...some not so good. But that's kids for ya! I'm glad he gets to have lots of fun and playtime with them. He loves them so much. I think he has a huge crush on Sylvie-Faye, Kristin's oldest girl. Every morning he has to hug on her for about 10 minutes before doing anything else. It's cute. Chloe won't let him hug her or he'd probably hug her to death too. He is such a love bug. He likes to wrap his arms tight around my neck and squeeze. I just eat that up. He is getting one of his back chomper teeth. Hopefully soon he will be able to eat more meat cuz he still has a hard time with it. He is getting a super stinker attitude now too. Some days I don't know what to do with him or myself and I just wanna SCREAM but I'm hoping it passes within the next 6 months or so.

Today is my dad's birthday and I just wanted to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!! He is a great dad and has always taken really good care of all of his kids and grandkids. He turns 63 today even though it's super hard to believe. He's in great health so we'll be keeping him around for easily another 20 years AT LEAST! WE LOVE YOU DAD!!! Have a great day!