16 Months Old... and climbing

Ryker just continues to grow and do things that amaze me. He is such a jabber box at home but when we are around other people (besides his grandparents) he just clams up. He is good at attempting to say words that he hears and usually is right on or very close. His new favorite word is DUDE (or do as he says it)..He learned that one from watching Finding Nemo. He also likes to use the word "No" frequently. It is hard to keep up on all the words that he says these days because they increase with each passing day. I want to put a notebook in my kitchen and write down the words and phrases that he says each day. The past few days these have been the words he has used more than just once. " bite, side (outside), papa, balloon, beep, cracker (he uses this for anything sweet that he sees), all gone, no more, cup, & eat. Those are the words off the top of my head that he has been repeating. It is very exciting to hear him attempt new words or hear him repeat words that I say. He is a very smart little boy.

Ryker is getting easier in some ways and much harder in others. He does not want to sit still long enough to have his diaper changed. He peed on my parents wall today (this is the 1st accident he has had since he was an infant). Ryker decided that he was going to get up before I had the diaper on and sure enough, pee starts coming out onto the wall. Ryker is having a hard time when we go shopping. He doesn't want to stay in the cart and when I let him out for a couple minutes he makes HUGE messes at the craft or grocery stores. He has always been such an angel and complied with my once a week shopping day. I am a very social person who thrives in an environment with lots of people so I need this once a week shopping day to keep me sane. I am having a hard time wanting to go anywhere and in turn I feel like I am going crazy. Ryker loves to pull the dishes out of the dishwasher when I am trying to get them loaded. He pulls clothes out of folded piles and pulls all the books off his bookshelf. However, on the bright side he will sit and look through the books by himself and only brings them to me occasionally to read them (although I love to read books to him, not in the middle of washing dishes). Ryker is also entertaining himself much better these days. I will find him sitting in his room playing with his toys or reading books. Ryker is still climbing on everything and gets frustrated when there is something too high for him to climb on. He has yet to fall off anything tall but we have had a couple close calls.

Ryker is becoming more independent and stubborn. He wants to attempt everything himself (minus putting on his clothes or shoes). He won't let us feed him at all. He wants to climb into the high chair and his car seat. He wants to walk to the car or mail box. He doesn't really want to be held much at all except when he is tired and needs a nap or bed time.

All in all, Ryker is growing up WAY too fast and I feel like I am missing so much of it by not keeping track of his accomplishments. I am going to try to update my blog more often even if it is just for little things.

Ryker, your parents love you so much. Although you have become a difficult child at times we still adore you and know how blessed we are to have you in our family. You are my miracle child!