Gobble, gobble.....

Ryan's first Turkey Day was a four-day vacation full of family, food, drooling, and endless kisses on the cheek. Uncle Bo & Aunt Barb were in town for the holiday and sure did love on me! Ryan spent lots of time with cousin Jack, each trying to out-perform the other to get everyone else's attention.

Two monkeys.....

Getting in the holiday spirit - doing my best Santa impersonation: rosy cheeks and too much milk.

Uncle John & Jack with my folks and I

Very studious, thank you Grandpa...

Not too psyched to be forced into matching outfits with my cousin...

Chillin' in my Baby Einstein

My mom told me it was rude to point...

Have you ever tried to get 4 kids together for a photo? Thank you Aunt Mary Lee for hosting a yummy breakfast at your house!!!

Two tots in a bucket...

Crazy mom got a little over-zealous with the Christmas attire... Barb is that a turtleneck and sweatshirt, circa 1984?

Ryan goes to Texas to see her Great Grandma Pegs!

This past weekend was terrific in so many ways. Ryan took her fourth plane ride and Dad learned that traveling by yourself with a baby is a nerve racking experience (wow!). She was a doll on the way down (slept the entire flight) and then cried throughout the Love Field airport. The main focus of this trip was to introduce Ms. Ryan to her Great Grandma Pegs (Margaret Stiff). Pegs is a LOYAL reader of the blog, an amazing woman, mother, grandmother and great grandmother many times over. Pegs is about to be 98 years young and sharp as hell. I can't say enough about how truly magnificent this special lady is - trust me...she is on the ball and then some! We also got to see Grandma Ella (my mom). Ryan cleaned up at the toy store with Ella and had mucho fun at bath time. Here are some pics from the trip!

Hanging with Pegs:

You look good next to those colors!

Bathtime with Ella!

Air-drying is the way to go, especially if you have diaper rash!

Can I sleep here?

"Hold My Hand"....Hootie & the Blowfish

My new friend Lilly...

We went to Highland Park Pharmacy for lunch -- I slept most of the time but did wake up to smile at Grandma Pegs. The Pharmacy has been around forever, my grandparents went on dates there back in the 1800's, or something like that...

Saying goodbye for now...

A bottle for the road...

First day of school!

Ok, apparently dad didn't get the memo that we were retiring the pink polka-dot outfit. Sorry Barb, it reappears one more time. That thing will walk on it's own when she finally out grows it. With mom out of town, Ryan apparently wears whatever she wants, even if that includes sporting her pajamas on her first day of 'school'.

Dad dropping our little girl off:

Ryan's new friends:


Playing with all sorts of fun new toys:

Her precious little name tag:

Lazy Sunday...

In the few days I've been out of town, our little girl is apparently moments away from rolling over, has become an avid thumb sucker and is down to a few strands of hair on her head (a small sacrifice, I suppose, in our endless attempt to beat cradle cap - suggestions anyone?). Here she is, enjoying some football with Grandma. I swear, she has grown ten-fold since Thursday.

Happy Halloween!!!!

Mom is beyond sad that she wasn't there for Halloween, but our little Ryan still enjoyed herself.

Dad showing off his pumpkin carving skills:

The mouse (Jack), cow (Ryan), astronaut (Nolan) and friendly witch (Anisten) all fighting for Grandma and Grandpa's attention (and/or money):

There is a mouse loose....

It hurts me, she's so damn CUTE!!!!! (Ryan isn't too shabby herself)

Bonus pic from last week --- bring the most-precious-baby-ever-to-work-day:

PS - We will be retiring the beloved pink, polka-dot outfit that my sister has so nicely (and often) pointed out that Ryan tends to wear a lot. So sorry Babs to offend your sense of style. It is with sadness that we say goodbye, she was a good outfit.

4 month check up!

Ryan had her 4 month checkup yesterday --- she's doing fabulous. 13 pounds, ? ounces (I'm a terrible parent b/c I kind of forgot the ounces - she's somehere between 13 lbs 8 oz - 13 lbs 11 oz), I can't remember. As she grows, my brain shrinks. Ryan is a lanky 24.5 inches long and her head is now 16+ inches. For all of you who have conversations that now revolve around dirty diaper counts, feedings and sleep patterns, here are her percentiles: 50+% in weight, 50+% height, 75% head circumfrence. For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, bless you! Have another drink on me!

She also took her two shots like a champ! Didn't even cry for the first one (just a heartbreaking quiver of her chin), she did test her vocal chords with the second one but as soon as she was able to be picked up and held she quieted right down.

Learning how to share with Jack. It's still a work in progress.

Are you going to drive or me?

The Bread Company with Aunt Mary Lee

Grandma brushing off the last few remaining hairs of my awesome mullet

Random pics!

Just a few random pics of the most precious baby alive, little Ryan. She's getting so big and is so alert and loves to laugh out loud now --- too cute!