Like father, like son. There are no other words for this, I just love this picture!

Fun at the Park

Now that Ryan is walking it is so much fun to take him to the park. Before he could walk I would carry him around from apparatus to apparatus. He can now go where he chooses. Ryan seems to enjoy walking around and looking for leaves to pick up more than swinging on the swings or going on the slide. It really doesn't matter to me, I just enjoy watching him walk around like a big boy.

Lions and Tigers and Bears Oh My!

On Valentine's Day we took Ryan to the LA Zoo. My mom was in town, so she was able to join in on the fun. We saw many great things at the zoo; flamingos (Ryan's favorite) the elephant (yes, only one), chimpanzees, lions, tigers, zebra, koala bears, alligators, and kangaroo just to name a few. I think Ryan liked the flamingo best because of their bright colors. The chipanzees went a little nuts chasing one another and making really loud noises. Love was not in the air for these chimps on this Valentine's Day. This made us a little uneasy, especially in light of recent chimp news. We saw a few more animals after this and we were done visiting the zoo. It was nice to get out of the house, enjoy the nice weather, and take Ryan on a new adventure.

Ryan Can Walk

Ryan has been taking steps for the last month or so. Standing, taking one or two steps and dropping to his knees or bottom. I kept thinking, 'There is no way he will walk before his first birthday.' Then, three days before his first birthday, he just got up and started walking around the room. Sanjay came home from work that evening and watched Ryan walk for the first time without falling after a few steps. We both sat there amazed by what we saw. How did he go from a few wobbly steps to walking? I guess that is how it happens. So now I am waiting for all the gibberish that sounds like full sentences to turn into an actual full sentence in English. All in due time, I suppose. He never ceases to amaze me!

The Roys Will Never Settle

Literally, The Roys will never settle in one place, or at least that is what it feels like. Since Sanjay and I got married, three years ago, we have moved THREE times, this will be number four! Not that I have regretted any of the moves because I think we stumbled on a great city that not too many people know about. This time, however, it is just a small move across town. The house we are renting is beautiful, yet it never really fit our needs. 2900 square feet with two bedrooms and two bathrooms, now there is something wrong with that! Ryan sleeps downstairs, while we are upstairs. I don't think I ever fully sleep through the night knowing he is not with us. After looking around for a place to buy, we have decided that time is on our side. If we are patient, then the prices will drop even more. So we have thought downsizing would be in our best interest. There are many perks to living in a smaller place: 1)I don't have to kill myself cleaning, 2) I can do laundry when Ryan is sleeping (did I mention that our washer/dryer is currently located in Ryan's closet? Yeah, I know what you are thinking) 3) Ryan's best buddy, Tyler, is going to be our neighbor, not to mention the fact that mommy and daddy have a great time with Tyler's parents. 4) And most important... cheaper rent!!! So now begins the daunting task of packing and organizing. All I have to say is, thank God I am not pregnant during this move, like I was during the last move. I still cannot find things from that move! So it looks like the Roys will not settle completely this year, but maybe someday soon we will have a place to call our own!

Ryan, the Little Peanut

Ryan had his one year doctor appointment today. He is such a little peanut! Just when I started thinking how solid he is, the pediatrician tells me otherwise. Ryan is 17 pounds and 29 1/4 inches long. He is way below the 0 percentile for weight, and in the 30th percentile for height. The doc says he needs more calories! I feel like he eats a lot, three solid meals a day and I've starting giving him whole milk in addition to those meals and I'm still breastfeeding. He is so active though, so I'd like to think he is burning many calories and that is why he is not gaining?? I guess I would not be bothered by this so much if she seemed okay with his weight, however she seemed a little concerned. Developmentally, he is fine. He waves, claps, points, grasps small things like Cheerios, and has begun walking. She did say that because of his jargon (the conversations Ryan has with himself that no one else can understand) he is slightly advanced in comparison with a "normal" one year old. Whatever that means. Daddy will be proud and that's all that matters. Well, guess I better go feed the peanut! Time to carb load, little buddy!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RYAN!

Today was Ryan's first birthday. How time flies! He showed off his new skill...walking. He has now mastered about five to six steps before dropping to his bottom or knees. He also seemed to enjoy eating his cake, well the frosting at least. The entire outside of his mouth was covered in blue frosting. However, he did not like the feel of the frosting on his hands. He kept trying to hand the frosting to me. This was not an easy feat, as the frosting is so buttery and would not come off his hands. All in all it was a great day. Happy Birthday Ryan!!!!

Where were you a year ago today?

A year ago today, February 6, 2008 fell on a Wednesday. I was putting the final touches on my last teaching observation for the 07-08 school year. I was nervous about the observation, but even more nervous about the fact that I was having a baby in about two and a half weeks. (Little did we know Ryan would make an early arrival into the world.) Also during this time Sanjay and I were finishing my last breastfeeding class. I remembered thinking, "Am I really going to do this, or am I just taking the class so Sanjay will get off my back about the whole breastfeeding thing." I laugh at this now when I am still breastfeeding Ryan. I can't help but feel a little sad that my baby is about to turn one, but I am also filled with joy as I watch him grow. What a difference a year makes!

Ryan's New Hobby

One of Ryan's favorite hobbies these days is looking out the window. He crawls to the window and pulls himself up. Then he either bangs on the window or tries to lick the window and the window sill. I guess there is something he likes about the cold window and his mouth. Since pointing is big on his "to- do list," he points to everything and will not stop until I tell him the name of whatever he is pointing at. Sometimes I'm not quite sure what he is pointing at. His eyes seem to be much better than mine because he can even spot far off planes, birds, or even the trees just blowing in the wind and will point to them. This keeps him entertained for quite awhile. However, the best times to look out the window are when daddy is leaving or returning from work. Instead of pointing Ryan grins from ear to ear and waves like crazy until daddy spots him in the window. Please excuse the crazy hair in the photo, it was taken just after nap time.