Ryder . 40 Weeks

40 weeks; 21 pounds, 10 ounces.

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Ryder's 9 month check-up was this past Friday.  He has dropped significantly in the weight percentile (from 94 to 63%); however, due to the fact that he started out in the 100th percentile, he is still totally fine.  He measures long for his age - 30 inches.  And, his head size is big (99%), but I told Ryder it is okay - a big head means a big brain!

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Also, in Ryder news - he has finally cut his first tooth!  It appeared through the gum Friday morning.  He hasn't shown much discomfort with it; however, he has had quite the runny nose since Saturday.
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Smiling for the camera.

Ryder loves all things soft - he hugs his stuffed animals and the cats the same way.

Another smiling picture.

The new face that he is making - scrunching up his nose.  It's super cute in person, but just looks funny in a picture.

Smiling, again.

Ryder's newest trick - standing up to play.  He wasn't content with just crawling - he is starting to pull himself up on the ottomans and chairs.  The toy he is standing with in the picture isn't quite sturdy enough, but he loves when you help him.

We had a fun, busy weekend.  We are keeping our fingers crossed that it stays dry this week, so that the landscapers can grade our yard, and Patrick can start on the sprinklers . . . but, the weatherman predicts a wet end to the week, so we'll see.

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No news yet on the interviews - I'm not expecting to hear anything until the end of this week, or even the beginning of next. 

Ryder . 39 Weeks

39 weeks, and officially 9 months old; 21 pounds, 10 ounces.
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Ryder was not content with merely crawling for long.  This week he has been trying to pull himself up to a standing position - he is pretty good if he is using someone's hands to help him, but he has a hard time with using an object (mostly the ottoman).
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I told you last week this picture has become very common - reaching for the camera.

Playing in the bathtub - Ryder enjoys playing with the toys along the edge of the tub.

Ryder has found that the cat toys make good Ryder toys too.

Playing with his stacking rings.

Playing in the laundry basket.

Ryder seems to be drawn to Patrick's Wii Drum Set (usually on the bottom shelf of one of the bookcases in the Family Room).  Patrick pulled it out for him the other day, and showed him how to play with his hands - this kid is going to playing Rock Band in no time!

This morning I had one of two interviews (the other is tomorrow morning).  Due to my position being "dissolved" I have applied for 2 others - both of which will be very competitive - the management structure is being downsized, and I am up against people who currently hold the positions themselves.  If I don't get either of these, I will still have an opportunity to apply for a different position in May.  If I still don't get that, I will still have a job, it will just be what I was doing before I was promoted to my current position.  I'll keep you posted on what happens - they aren't expected to announce the positions that I am interviewing for this week until the end of next week.

Ryder . 38 Weeks

38 weeks; 21 pounds, 10 ounces.

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The kid is MOBILE.  As in, DOES NOT sit still any longer.  He is absolutely loving his ability to move around on his own; however he is quickly discouraged if he doesn't have Patrick or I in his sight.

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Ryder was snacking on a slice of plum, and just stuck it in his mouth - he thought it was the funniest thing, and refused to take it out - he just sat their smiling at us.

A common new picture - crawling away from me when I am trying to take his picture.

Another common picture - crawling toward me, and reaching for the camera.

Just a cute snapshot.

I'm not sure if Ryder realizes the lamb we gave him for Easter is not real.

A new shirt!

We had another fun weekend!  On Saturday, Patrick, along with a co-worker he hired to help him, sheet rocked my Craft Room in the basement!  It is about 90% of the way finished - I will help with the rest.  Once that is done, we just have to find someone we can hire to mud/tape/sand it - it's a lot of work, and think it would be better to just pay someone to do it for us.

Ryder . 37 Weeks

37 weeks; 21 pounds, 10 ounces.
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He is finally crawling forward!  Well, not actual "hands and knees" kind of crawling, but it is in the forward direction!
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In the bathtub, reaching for the faucet - he loves how the water splashes him.

A cute new hairstyle!

Learning how to make the toy work.

Playing with toys.

Easter Sunday.

We had a fun Easter weekend!

Ryder . 36 Weeks

36 weeks; 20 pounds, 13 ounces.

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Ryder has made some progress in crawling forward - but only for a few short feet, and not that often.  He continues to love rolling over and over and over . . . across the entire room, then back again.

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Reaching for a toy.

Mid-roll - as he rolled across the room.

Ryder loves the cats!  Kate is hard to see in the picture - she has similar coloring to the couch.

I told Ryder that he might as well enjoy wearing striped pants now - it's not easy pulling that look off as an adult.

He has officially started wearing some 18 month size clothing.  Here he is showing off his "new" sweater (we love hand-me-downs!).

I may have created a cheese-ball . . . Ryder started smiling and kicking (hence, the blurry leg) as soon as I pulled my camera out.

Friday night we had more neighbors over - and, with Ryder being the only child, he soaked in every ounce of attention.

Ryder . 35 Weeks

35 weeks, officially 8 months; 20 pounds, 13 ounces.

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Ryder is determined to crawl, but he still isn't there yet.  Now, when you set him down, sitting up, he will lean forward to get himself onto his stomach.   

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Nothing special - just a big smile (with a dirty face).

Another bathtub picture.

St. Patrick's day - don't mind how dirty he is - he was at the babysitters all day.

Trying to figure out his new toy - it's a guitar that has animals and numbers in English and Spanish, as well as music.

Ryder playing with his new friend (and neighbor - the one's whose birthday party we went to last week), Ryan.

Ryder's most common sitting position - holding his feet.

Friday night we had the new neighbors over - Ryder really enjoys people his own size.  This weekend, my Aunt Dolores and her son, Jesse, came to visit my grandma.  We were able to spend some time with them, as well.

Ryder . 34 Weeks

34 weeks; 20 pounds, 13 ounces.

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Ryder's movement is still primarily backwards, or side-to-side; however, he is so close to crawling "for real".  He pulls himself up into the correct position, gets all excited, then either lays down, or goes backwards. 

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Bath time.  I seem to be picking out similar shots each week - maybe because he smiles so much in the tub!

Watching the cats.  It's hard to capture his excitement about the cats in a picture.  When Ryder sees one of the cats, he gets so excited - even if he just sees them walking by, or sitting on the ground.

Talking to me, as I encourage him to crawl toward me.

Mr. Adorable - I think that sums it up.

Ryder went to our new neighbor's 1st birthday party (lucky for us, the neighbor boy (Ryan) and Ryder are only 4 months apart - we are hoping they will be good friends) - his favorite part, by far, was the balloon we got to take home!

A side profile of the crawling position.

We had a fun weekend - Sunday, especially was busy.  We went to lunch with two couples, each with a baby.  It was our first real experience eating out with other families with young children.  It went well.  We also went to the birthday party I mentioned above - Ryder loved trying out some cake!.

Ryder . 33 Weeks

33 weeks; 20 pounds, 10 ounces.

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No changes in Ryder's crawling - still just backwards.  He is starting to eat small pieces of breads/pasta, and is beginning to take it out of your hand, or off the table to eat it himself - however, most of the time, he just wants to eat like a bird, and have you give him each piece.

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Playing with Patrick.

We bought Ryder this toy for Christmas.  He enjoys pushing/pulling all the buttons, but figured out this week, that there is a lid that opens and closes.  He was fascinated.

Reading a book together.

Cute snapshot - with a drooly shirt.

I think he looks too grown-up in this shot.

Taking a Sunday afternoon nap.

We helped some friends move this weekend, and did some touch-up painting.  On a non-Ryder related note, my department at work is getting reorganized, so my current position has been dissolved.  Luckily for me I get to keep my same pay, no matter what, but I will have to interview for a different position, or go back to what I was doing before.  It's not exactly fun, but hopefully things will work out okay.

Ryder . 32 Weeks

32 weeks; 20 pounds, 10 ounces.

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Ryder can officially crawl backward.  He gets himself in the proper crawling position, but can only manage to go backward.  He can still do the "helicopter" quite well, also.

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Ryder really likes having frozen strawberries in the mesh bag!

I'm pretty sure Ryder's shirt has an inappropriate saying, considering he has been breastfed.  Wouldn't you agree?

Playing on the floor - he seems to crack himself up.

Splashing around in the bathtub.

Just playing with toys - showing his alligator who is boss.

A cute close-up.

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We had a pretty relaxed weekend - so nice!  Now that it's warming up a little, we have started to walk again in the evenings - Ryder really likes to be outside!