St. Patrick's Day

A pretty uneventful day around here today.  I'm busy getting ready for our trip to Montana in a couple days so we decided to just hang around here.  We did get to the park for a picnic lunch, which unfortunately didn't go as planned.  Hey not every day is a perfect day in Decker land :)  It was too windy to really eat outside and Rilyn had two accidents so we called it an afternoon and headed home for naps.

Of course I had to take some pictures of the kids decked out in their green.

Feeding Giraffes

We love the Colorado Springs Zoo!  We got a membership there this time around instead of the Denver Zoo because although they are about the same distance we don't have to worry about traffic and it is a gorgeous zoo!

Feeding the giraffes is probably the coolest part of the zoo.  For a minimal fee you can buy some lettuce  (breakfast) or crackers (lunch) and hand feed them.  Rilyn got some money from her great grandparents for Valentine's day and decided to spend it on feeding the giraffes as well as a carousel ride.  Thanks grandma and grandpa!

It was a beautiful day!

Gotta Love Colorado

Only in Colorado can you go hiking one day and sledding the next, with the likelihood to go hiking again in a couple days.

On Thursday, Stacey and I took the kiddos for the first hike of the season.  We went up a trail right across from the street from Tyler's parents house.  According to Yvonne and Rilyn - we went up to Grandma's rock.

The trail was pretty muddy with snow in some spots, but Rilyn did really well and only wanted a lift from Stacey a couple times.  She even tried climbing some rocks after seeing some boys scale them like Batman.

Of course all my "good ideas" usually turn into failures - this one ended in a nice little fall for Ryder, Rilyn, and myself.  Ryder came out unscathed thanks to the protection of the carrier and one of my arms, but poor Rilyn got dragged down by me and ended up with a bleeding lip and a scraped up hand.  My leg probably got the worst of it.  The good news is the kids are okay and I've learned my lesson to wear pants when hiking.

Then yesterday we got about a foot of snow so we had to take advantage of what might be the last good snow of the season.  And Tyler and Rilyn created the cutest little snowman ever today!

And nothing to do with this post but we had to do some practice for some egg hunts coming up and lots of cuddling :)

Stayed tune for some gorgeous weather pictures coming up this week since it's supposed to be in the high 60's this week!

Ryder at 7 months old

Ryder is 7 months old!  He is now closer to being one than a newborn.  I can't believe in just a few months we will be planning his 1st birthday!  

Tricks: staying on his stomach longer and attempting to crawl, imitating his sister, laughing more frequently and definitely more at his sister, entertaining himself for longer periods, drinks from a sippy cup, holds his own bottle at Grandma and Grandpa's,

Eating:  he is still usually nursing every 2 hours, but is starting to have more frequent periods of going longer.  If we are out he won't ask to nurse which has been nice for going places.  He loves food, but already is picker than his sister was.  Tonight he scowled at us when we gave him broccoli after he had been eating some delicious cheese rolls that Tyler had made.

Sleeping: Ryder is sleeping through the night with one feeding.  Typically that feeding happens between 2 and 4 AM.  Most nights we don't have to get up at all to give him his pacifier either!  His morning nap is getting pretty short 30 - 45 mins and most days I don't push for a longer nap so he is ready to go down again when Rilyn's ready for her nap.  His afternoon nap is usually 1 1/2 hours to 3 hours.  

Stats: No stats until 9 months, but I just switched him into 12 - 18 month clothes.  Pajamas and shirts that don't button at the bottom are 9 - 12 months.  He also got his two canine teeth on the top a couple weeks ago and looks like a vampire with the two teeth on the top!  He has 3 more trying to pop through!

He is really starting to try and move, which is funny to me since he still doesn't sit up long on his own.  When I sit him up I will put the boppy pillow behind him and next thing I know he has fallen over and rolled over and off of the pillow.  He LOVES story-time, being outside, and has enjoyed lots of time in the carrier lately.  

when I left him he was sitting up in the boppy

ready to crawl

First Foods

A couple weeks ago, February 16th, to be exact we decided to start Ryder on solids.  We were trying to wait until he was more sturdy when sitting up on his own; however, he has very little interest in sitting up.  He can sit up and has for more than 2 minutes at a time but he throws himself back quite quickly.  He's just a mover and can't move much when sitting.

So, anyways....we decided to give it a shot.  We have planned on the Baby-Led Weaning approach again because it just worked well for our family.

His first meal was scrambled eggs and toast for breakfast.  He definitely had to figure out how to get the food into his mouth and struggled a little knowing he also had to chew and not just swallow the foods.

But, two weeks later and he is a champ.  He rarely gags anymore (a total normal occurrence with baby-led weaning)  and has eaten quite the variety.

So far he has eaten: sweet potatoes, toast, yogurt, applesauce (grandma Decker's homemade of course), squash, cucumber, blueberries, blackberries, eggs, pears, bananas, broccoli, potato,  and cream of wheat.  I think that is it.  His favorite is pears and cries if we take them away when he is eating.

We really try to push the veggies at this age and it's been nice to really focus on that because Rilyn wants to eat whatever he is eating so she has been getting quite the fill of veggies too.  She also loves to help prepare any meals for him :)  She is such a great big sister!

waiting for his first meal

working hard to get it in his mouth

not sure of this....

yogurt can be quite messy...

If I Could

Friends,

Tonight I literally said to myself:

"It hasn't been that long since I blogged".  Turns out it's been since November which means I'm way behind.

My commitment to you then loyal readers is a glorious month.

I hereby say "March will be the month of ATONEMENT" (but don't forget this is still February and counts for my once per month commitment).

Also, since I'm in such a rush to get this up there's a good chance that Anna takes this particular post down.

Yup, I'm going rogue people.  No approval.

Anyhow, know how normal guys have a "list"?

A list of those 5 most "kissable" ladies on the planet (and by kiss I mean a "G" rated peck)?

I also have a list...only it's a little bit different.

I don't spend my time day dreaming about smooching Jennifer Aniston or Angelina Jolie.

No, I dream about other things, and that friends what this post is all about.

In descending order, these are the people I most want to fight.

Before I get to the nitty gritty, I feel I should set some ground rules about my list.

1)  It can be anyone in the history of the world
2)  It can be anyone in the history of the fictional world
3)  Societal rules about physical interaction with the elderly or women are OK

Here we go:

5)  Eve

Really?  Thanks a lot.  For a frickin apple?  If it was a chicken wing I'd totally be on your side.

4)  Mr. Belding

Tell me you didn't watch one episode of Saved By The Bell and not want to kick his AZZY.

Seriously, without Belding Saved By The Bell probably lands on HBO.  Think of Entourage on steroids.

Can you even imagine what Morris and Slater would have pulled without Mr. Belding holding them back?

3)  Abraham Lincoln

Listen, I fully agree with you that he's probably the greatest human being in the U. S. of A.'s history.

That friends...is the appeal.

Do you have any idea how much cooler I'd be if I could tell everyone that I opened a can of HOO RAH on Lincoln?

Also, tall gangly dudes with full man beards scream grit so you know you're getting an entertaining brawl.

2)  Mr. Miyagi

Again, a total awe fight.  I know I have no chance but I'd feel the need to try.  It's the same thing as people that continue buying lottery tickets.

Because what if?

1b)  Mariah Carey

Let me say first I'm not even sure she's alive.  There's a good chance she's the beginning of the robot takeover.

In case that's actually true...I've got this.

In case it's not I don't have to explain to you how much she needs to stop talking.

Ryder at a half a year

Ryder turned 6 months old a couple weeks ago!  Obviously time is flying by since I haven't even had time to write his 6 month post!

Tricks: putting his feet in his mouth, pouting, sitting up when he wants to, rolling from stomach to back, takes his socks off, and making lots of new faces.

Eating:  Ryder is still just being nursed and we haven't started any solids yet.  He eats every 2 hours for mom but will go up to 3 hours for Grandma Decker.

Sleeping: Ryder has gone backwards in his sleeping again.  I'm not sure why he sleeps good for awhile and then reverts back, but it is sure frustrating.  I just keep trying to remind myself that this season in our lives will pass and someday I will miss my babies needing me so much.  Ha, I'm totally just saying that to make myself feel better....I will never miss these all nighters...ugghhh.  So, he is up about 3 times a night which averages out to 3 hour stretches for me if Rilyn doesn't get up also.
He naps good still though!  Gotta count my blessings :)

Stats: Ryder weighs 18lbs 3 oz which puts him in the 60% and his height is 27 1/4 inches long which puts him in the 75%.  He is wearing 9 - 12 month clothing.  He is definitely not chunky all over like Rilyn was but his thighs have about 4 amazingly cute rolls!

He loves to be held and played with.  He listens to stories and likes singing songs with his sister.  He plays with toys well and really likes the dogs.  He is such a cute little boy and we just love his smile.  He is still a snuggler and would be more than happy to fall asleep in my arms everyday at nap time if I would let him.

"Look mom I can take my socks off!"

Rilyn doesn't love to squeeze her brother or anything...