8 years

Don and I started dating 8 years ago today, my how things have changed!

End of September Pictures

He is wet from a hand washing event :) but he is ready to play the drums!

My little rock star really wants to play guitar hero

supporting the team

First cool day and he is decked out in Red Sox gear

Playing in the Rain

I haven't posted pictures for awhile so here are some of us playing in the rain! Telling us where his head is
Chillin' in the big boy chair

How handsome are my men?

I had to post this... a good picture of Don and I (it happens so few and far between that it had to be posted)

Welcome Fall!

Fall is here again! I love fall: the crisp air, the leaves changing, thanksgiving, fall clothes, everything.

While the weather is certainly not fall-like yet, it has gotten probably about 10 degrees cooler. The change it weather has allowed us to spend much more time outside exploring all the playgrounds our area has to offer, and let me tell you there are a lot of them. Ryan gets to run and play for as long as he wants without fear of overheating.

It's fun to see how much he has changed and grown since the beginning of summer. I'm sure I will feel the same way when fall gives way to winter.

Hugs

Today Don asked Ryan to give me a hug, Ryan kindly obliged. He turned and started to walk away, then stopped and looked back at me and Don. He went up and pushed us together because he wanted us to hug. When we did he clapped and gave us a huge smile.

Toddlers know what's going on. Ryan understands even the most subtle body language and how everyone around him is interacting. Ryan likes when Don and I hold hands or hug, it's crazy how quickly he picked up on positive, loving gestures. It seems to be especially important how Don and I interact.

I am lucky to have married such a great guy that sets an amazing example for Ryan. I can see that Ryan already understands how to be sweet and loving, I truly believe that it is one of the most important thing you can teach your child.

Precious Childhood

Have you ever had a moment where something completely inane made you nostalgic, I mean to the point where you could remember exactly how you felt at a certain moment years ago?
Today Ryan and I were playing at a playground; at one point he got tired of playing and ran to the deserted soccer field next to the park. I chased him as he ran around the field for a good 30 minutes. I haven’t played soccer since middle school but when I got out to the field chasing after Ryan I remembered exactly what it was like when I played.

I could remember the team work, the strategy, the anxiety to win and how much physically it took to run up and down the field a gazillion times. I could feel how much the game had been everything to me while I was playing. I had no mortgage, no career (or lack there of as it seems at the moment), no responsibility, completely carefree except for that next point. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my life and I am thankful everyday but I'm glad I had a long comfortable childhood. I hope that I can give Ryan the same carefree childhood, and that he keeps that innocence as long as possible.

It’s funny I hadn’t thought about soccer or that time in my life for a long time. Apparently all it takes is a walk in the park to realize how precious childhood is!

How to Occupy a Toddler

When you have a toddler you have to let certain things go. My personal philosophy is that if it isn't hurting anyone/anything and it is entertaining to Ryan I am not going to stop it. This picture is of Ryan in Walmart, he made a huge dam of faucet blockers (I have no idea why someone would need one of these but if Ryan likes them, I like them).

So Much Change in 16 Months

How long is 16 months? I feel like as an adult it is easy to let 16 months just slip by, and you look back and wonder what you have been doing for all that time. As a child, everything changes in 16 months especially the first 16 months.

Here is how much Ryan has changed...

Picture Post

I was doing so well posting there for awhile... but now apparently I am slack again. So instead of writing something profound (which I believe is beyond me tonight) I will post pictures. I have no idea how he grew so fast but it seems like everyday he looks more like a toddler and less like a baby.

Ryan LOVES art now... chalk is my favorite because it is easiest to clean up :) After art we have to wash off (this was after a marker experience..) Ryan hung out in the sink for awhile, I think he might get messy for the off chance I will let him play in the water afterwards.
Trying on his winter coat to make sure it fits... instead of throwing a fit he decided to completely ignore the fact that it was on.He was on his way out to mail the netflix movie... that wasn't a joke, he really was.

When the Weather is Good...

Today the weather was AMAZING so we spent as much time we could outside. We went to the park and Ryan played super hard. I feel like these pictures are a Where's Waldo except instead of Waldo there is a green tractor :)

And then the recovery....