At Home with the Wilson's

Dinners, Parties and Holidays

2012-02-14T14:50:00.000-06:00

First things first: Look at my new poll question above and if you would like to cast your vote, please do! We'll know March 1.

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John Michael declared date night a couple weeks ago, which was fine by me. We had a double date with Kayla and Bennett at Parker House. I wanted a picture so we got Kayla to take one.

I wasn't pleased with it so I said let's take one more. I didn't know until later John Michael decided to smile like this. I told him just for that I was going to put it on Facebook immediately, he didn't like that very much so hopefully next time he won't smile like that when I'm trying to get a serious picture :)

Ryder is big on wanting to take his bible to church, I'm not real fond of this because it's one of those small little dainty bibles and he'll rip the pages out. But this morning he wouldn't give in and grabbed my book off my night stand and proudly carried it to the car. Once we got in he started "reading" to us.

After all Ryder's "tirate" talk last week, he was quite pleased that he got to go to a Princess and Pirate birthday party last Saturday. His little buddy Swayze Jane turned 2, and Ryder was pretty fired up about it. He jumped in the space jump and ran around until his hair was wet from sweating. They dug for treasures and he even got a treasure chest tattoo that I could not get to come off before church the next morning. He was proud of that. (just realized it looks like I meant he got a treasure tattoo on his chest, but I mean it was a tattoo of a treasure chest, just clearing it up).

Ryder sharing his cake with Levi, he's always feeding Levi his food.

I've decided to put a halt on Dora. This is why... the party favors were princess tiaras and magic wands for the girls, and swords and eye patches for the guys (princess and pirate). When I saw them sitting there I had a pretty good feeling which one Ryder would go for. I was right, he went straight for the wand. Then he starts going on about abra cadabra. Of course he loved the eye patch and sword when we handed it to him, but his first pick was the stuff he sees on Dora! OMG we are DONE!

I hate to see it go because crazy as it sounds, it has taught him a lot, not even kidding. He can count to ten in spanish, no lie! And he knows the words up, down, and come on in spanish, and several colors too. Diego teaches spanish, so maybe we'll just stick to that.

Then Sunday we watched the Super Bowl at Kristen and Teddy's and so Ryder got to play with Swayze two nights in a row!

Luckily they still had the jump jump from her party in the car, so we blew it up right in the living room. It gave us moms a nice break.

Thursday night some of John Michael's friends were in town by way of horse and buggy. They are on a trail ride that goes so many miles over a weeks time in conjuction with the rodeo festivities. He wanted to take Ryder and let him check it out.

They sleep in this buggy at night... brrrrr.

Ryder was a large fan of this contraption.

As you can see, we NEVER stop... so that night we went to eat at a friends house, and all the little boys got to catch up too.

Ryder, Gaines and Levi

I was baking the rolls in the oven to take over there to eat and Ryder opened the kitchen drawer, pulled out my oven mits, walk up to the oven and said, "get back mama, it's hot!!!" He has seen me do this 100 times, I love seeing him do things that he has picked up from us.

Saturday night we celebrated valentines at Walker's, double yum! My mom took a picture of us before we left.

Ryder got so upset that we didn't ask him to get in the picture, he fell out on the floor and started crying.

I wasn't expecting anything for Valentines day, I already told JM he better not spend $100 sending me flowers (it's very sweet, but...... it's $100). I always tell him if he is going to get me flowers I would much rather they be bought by him and delivered by him. This morning I walked into the kitchen to eat my blueberry muffins made by him, and he and Ryder had my favorite flowers and a gift certificate to get a mani/pedi sitting on the counter. I was actually really surprised!

Ryder delivering flowers and telling me happy valentines day, plus a little extra commentary.

If you couldn't understand his language, here is what he said: Happy Valentines Day, Happy Valentines Day, we gotta turn 4 o'clock, gotta turn 4, gotta turn 4 mama, CHEESE!

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While we're on holidays, in honor of upcoming Fat Tuesday (Feb. 21) I wanted to share a fun recipe if any of you want to try it out.

Crockpot Jambalaya
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into 1 inch cubes
1 pound smoked turkey sausage, sliced
1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice
3 Tbsp dried minced onion flakes
1 cup chicken broth
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 teaspoons dried parsley
2 tsp minced garlic
2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
White rice or instant rice (exp: 2 packs of Uncle Ben's Ready Rice)
In a crockpot, mix the chicken, sausage, tomatoes with juice, onion, garlic, celery, and broth. Season with oregano, parsley, Cajun seasoning, cayenne pepper, and thyme. (You can do this the night before and put it in the fridge and put it in the slow cooker before you leave in the morning.)

Cover, and cook 7 to 8 hours on Low, or 3 to 4 hours on High. Mix in cooked rice and cook for about 15 minutes to warm through.

Cheesy Biscuits
1 1/2 cups Bisquick
3/4 cup buttermilk
3 Tbps sugar
1/4 tsp vanilla
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

Preheat oven to 425. Stir together all ingredients just until combined. Scoop into a mini muffin pan coated with cooking spray. Bake 12-15 minutes, until golden.

King Cake Knots
1 loaf refrigerated french bread dough
3 Tbsp butter, softened
1/4 cup sugar
1 tbsp cinnamon
1 cup powdered sugar
4 tsp milk (may need more to get right consistency)
1/2 tsp vanilla
colored sugar - yellow, purple, green

Preheat oven to 350. Unroll french bread dough into a large rectangle, about 16 by 12 inches. Brush the dough lightly with softened butter. Mix together sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle over butter. Cut the dough in half lengthwise and then cut crosswise into strips about 1 1/4 inches wide. Twist two stips together. Tie each strip loosely into a knot, stretching gently if necessary, and place on baking sheet about 2-inches apart.

Bake for 25-28 minutes. Cool. Mix together powdered sugar, milk and vanilla. Dip each knot into icing and then sprinkle with colored sugar.

Meet Heidy

2012-02-08T16:02:00.000-06:00

I will say that one of my gifts is the gift of caring, and I mean deeply caring. I have a big heart and I truly want the best for everyone. I haven't always done my best to see that it happens, but it's on my heart and I've thanked God for making me this way. Over the past year or so our church has spent some time on adoption and caring for orphans. I think adoption is one of the most wonderful gifts you can give someone, but it's not for everyone. I personally don't feel led to adopt, but I DO feel led to care for orphans. I've always been one to get suckered into the sad commercials on tv showing the starving kids, and always have wanted to help in the small ways that I could, but I was doing that with my head and not my heart. It was like I was seeing the devastation, writing a check, then not thinking about it ever again.

But now that we've continued to study this at church, I am finally feeling it in my HEART that I...WE, are all called to care for orphans.

It's clear!

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress. James 1:27

Father to the fatherless, defender of widows — this is God, whose dwelling is holy. God places the lonely in families. Psalms 68:5-6

The helpless put their trust in You. You are the defender of orphans Lord; You know the hopes of the helpless. Surely You will listen to their cries and comfort them. You will bring justice to the orphans and the oppressed, so people can no longer terrify them. Psalm 10:17-18.

I was reading a blog about someone who was sponsoring a child through Compassion International, and I have heard about this company before, so I thought I would look into it. As I went through the website it all just hit me, I started crying, tears were running down my face thinking of these poor children and what they go through every day. I think for the first time I truly felt what it feels like to have something "weigh on your heart". My heart was really and truly HEAVY, literally, for these children. Many of them living in AIDS infected areas, where they barely have a chance. Many who are absolutely starving, infected with disease, very little medical care, etc. I was thinking about Ryder, and how if he were to get sick, the best possible care is always available. There is very little to fear for me when it comes to taking care of my child.

But at the same time, I was so happy. I was happy that I really felt passionate about something that our God calls us to do, and that I heard Him this time.

So I knew I was ready to sponsor a child. But where would I start? This organization sponsors thousands of children in 26 different countries. Who was I going to pick? How would I make that decision? It made me feel so guilty that I was choosing one over the other. I started praying that I would just know, that there would be some kind of sign. I'm kind of big on visual signs. So this is how I made my decision, it's going to sound pretty silly.

The morning that this happened I was going to a work conference in which door prizes were given out every hour. Let me just tell you that I am that person who NEVER, NEVER, NEVER wins the door prize. There could be 100 people in the rom, 99 prizes handed out, and I am the one who doesn't win. But early on in the day my name was called for a door prize. I was pretty shocked! And excited! I opened the bag and there was a really nice men's Columbia jacket. I thought oh yeah! I get to bring a fun present home to John Michael. But then I thought, how random. This was a Chamber/Economic Development conference and most of the door prizes were things that represented people's hometown. But then I thought, OH, a "Columbia" jacket. So I'm thinking, okay, could this be a sign? A sweet baby from Columbia? I've prayed for a sign, and I felt like maybe this is what it was. So when I got home that night I was going through pictures and reading stories and I saw this precious little girl who had a heart by her name, which meant she had been waiting for over 6 months to be sponsored. Only a few had this red heart, and she was from Columbia. So I showed John Michael several pictures, including this little girl. And John Michael said pick her (the one I was leaning towards but he didn't know that). And I showed him others saying, "but this one doesn't have a dad, and this one is in an AIDS infected area, and this one has this, or that, etc." So he looked again and he still said, pick "her". Still the little girl I was drawn too. So I said OK that does it for me. CLICK!

So here she is!

Heidy Yuliana Leano Alfonso

(Can I mention that I have always loved the name Heidi, I think it's the sweetest!)

So after I clicked and filled out all the necessary information, I immediately got an email from the company thanking me and telling me all the many benefits this child will receive.

Now, I want to end this by saying:

I absolutely did NOT post this blog to "brag" or to seem like "look at me, I'm giving back." What John Michael and I choose to give is something we do not talk about, that's between us and God (and our accountant ha-ha). I mean believe me, the cost to sponsor this child is $38 a month, that's NOTHING compared to what we all have to give and is certainly nothing to be boastful about. So please know, I'm sharing this because I feel like there are probably people out there who have felt the same things as me, have wanted to help and just didn't know where to start and I hope that maybe I have answered some things that you have asked or have been praying for. I can't wait to explain this to Ryder, and as he and Heidy get older, they will be able to write to each other letters and we'll be able to send her things. What better thing to teach your child(ren)?

So, please join me in praying for Heidy, that this teeny amount of money will provide her with the food, shelter, healthcare, and most importantly, the Word of God that it is to be used for. I want everyone to have full bellies and a roof over their head, but let's get honest, we are all on this earth to share the gospel with others, and if we are not called to "GO" and do these things, let's fund the ones who are willing to, and have chosen to do this work with their lives.

He's Got Jokes

2012-02-02T08:45:00.000-06:00

Such the comedian he is. Here I am, 9:30 at night, fresh out of the shower, hair in a towel, slaving over the swiffer mop, and John Michael thought it would be cute to walk in and start taking pictures of me and calling me Aunt Jemima.

Do you see the resemblance?

I know I'm pregnant and all, and growing by the day at that, but I do hope when he called me Aunt Jemima he was referring to the white towel on my head and not the size of our bod.

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Ryder has been totally cool with the princess pull ups ever since we got them, not sure what got to him this go round. It could have something to do with the fact that another little girl in his class wears these same ones. His teacher told me that when she takes them to the bathroom and they are carrying their pull ups, he is quick to tell her that the ones she is carrying are NOT his!

I knew it wouldn't take long before I caught Ryder on video singing happy birthday to something. The day after I posted about his birthday singing fetish, I caught singing to his green bathtub cup, unfortunately he stops short, but you'll get the drift.

Ryder and I had a little outing at Zaxby's. I walked over to fill up my drink and returned to see my clearly starving child licking his cup of ketchup. I told him to stop eating the ketchup, he said "But I'm starving!"

Ryder has been interested in talking about my stomach lately, and he now truly believes he has a baby growing inside of him too. He likes to pull up his shirt and tell me to look at his baby. He always says his baby is awake and asks me to rub it. Then he said his baby was a boy named Ross and mine was a girl named Anna Ross. He also said that our babies won't be able to walk when they are little because they will be wearing pajamas. He kept wanting to rub my belly but his hands were ice cold, and I don't like people who are cold touching me, so I told him my baby was sleeping and his reply was "But it's probably not sleeping." The word of the week is "probably."

Ryder at the park, isn't he cute!!!

My friends Mandy and Taylor got married in Jamaica earlier this month and we were not able to make it, unfortunately. But she is one of the most thoughtful friends I know, and we got a cute little package from her with a pair of sunglasses and a drink koozie enscribed Mandy and Taylor, Jamaica, 2012, etc.

Saturday we went to a Grow conference at our church, which was basically a conference about being Godly parents, raising our children to know and follow Christ, and shepherding our children's hearts. It was great and we learned alot! Ryder was there most of the day, and then my dad and sister picked him up to take him to get some lunch and back home for a nap while we finished up. They put him down at 1:30 and he woke up at FIVE. Saturday night Ryder's friend Gaines came over to play, but since he was still a little grumpy from such a long nap, he preferred to sit around and watch TV most of the time. In this position.

Sunday we went to a Minnie Mouse birthday party.

Then we took the jeep out on such a pretty day to let Ryder throw rocks and sticks in the water at "the land" as he calls it, which is actually our lot. John Michael and I both had our sunglasses on our head and looked back to find that Ryder had done same thing with his Jamaica shades.

Our lot or "the land"

Ryder's going to love having this little pond in the backyard.

Everytime we go out there he searches for the stump he's standing on. He prefers to throw his collections from this very spot.

Last night after I got Ryder out of bath and was getting some pj's out of his drawer he spotted something on his dresser. He said, "I want to ring the doorbell mama" I said, "the doorbell?" He said, "Yesssss mama I want to ring it, I want to ring the door bell!" I just laughed it off and said ok next time we go to the car I'll let you ring it. He kept on and finally I looked over and just started laughing. He saw his COW bell on the dresser and wanted to ring it.

When I looked on the video at Ryder's school today I saw a few of them were wearing bandana's on their heads. When he got home he said, "mama I want to be a tirate and I want to wear a banana." He pronounces pirate as tirate and I just knew he was referring to the bandana's from school, so I granted his wish.

When John Michael gets home from work Ryder always demands that he take off his tie. He always finds something random to do with these ties. Tonight he decided to use it as a tug of war rope.

(just noticed the plumber crack when the picture was enlarged)

He kept saying, "I want to win, I want to win!!" When I said it was time to put the tie up, he said, "But I want to win first!" Sounds like he's going to be the quite the competitor in life.

The end.

Princess Ryder?

2012-01-25T11:32:00.001-06:00

I was not expecting to have this adorable 12 1/2 week sonogram photo for your viewing pleasure because I wasn't supposed to have one until 19 weeks when we found out what we were having. But the Lord works in mysterious ways, so let me explain.

12 week sonogram

At my 8 week appointment I had a sonogram. Everything looked great on the screen, good heartbeat, etc. But when I got back to my doctor's office to talk with her, I got out the photo to look at it, and then I got a huge knot in my stomach. There was this humongo circle that looked like a big gaping black hole right in the baby's head. I asked my doctor about it, and she kind of looked at it funny, but said it was nothing and she started getting out her medical books to reassure me. I guess I still had a worried look on my face so she called the sonographer to come in her office to look. The sonographer said that it didn't look like anything unusual to her. I felt a little better. But over the next 4 weeks I had been staring at this picture and wondering what in the world was this black hole. I know to you it doesn't sound that bad because sonogram pictures always look a little iffy, but let me just show you what I'm talking about:

8 week sonogram

There, on the left side. Wouldn't that worry you too? So what else to do but start to google. I googled 8 week sonograms and everyone I pulled up did NOT have this black hole.

Fast forward to my 12 week appointment. This was just an appointment to hear the heart beat and talk to the doctor. I was really really really wanting to do another sonogram, but she's pretty by the book on stuff like that so I was afraid to ask her if I could do one. I mentioned it to the nurse when she walked us back, and she said if I was worried about it that I should say something to her, but that my doctor pays very close attention to stuff like that, and if she thought there was a problem she would've definitely followed up on it. That made me feel a little better so I told her I wasn't going to ask for the sonogram (although I secretly still wanted one really bad).

Then my doctor comes in, we chat for a quick second and then she uses the little doppler thing on my stomach. And she can't seem to find a heartbeat. So now I'm a nervous wreck. So then she calmly says ok let's get you back to sonogram. Of course I'm now worried about the baby and have totally forgotten that I was wanting a sonogram for the other reason. So she walks back there with us and the sonographer does her thing and hallelujah, there's the heartbeat and baby squirming around.

What. A. Scare. But I truly believe God knew that I needed to see that everything was fine with his/her little head (which isn't so little), and if that's how He had to get my attention, well, that's fine by me!

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We took Ryder to the movies Saturday to see Chipwrecked. He's never been so I was curious how he would act, especially since that movie isn't a full blown cartoon, but he did really good. I wanted to take him to Beauty and the Beast since the whole thing is a cartoon, but it's in 3D and there's no way he's going to keep on glasses the whole time. And then if you don't wear them the screen is all weird looking.

Next we went to the new and improved Keifer's. I was told during my last pregnancy that I could not eat feta cheese, and she even gave me the example of Keifer's feta cheese. So, I went that whole pregnancy withouth it, and for the last 12 weeks of this one as well. My other pregnant friend told me that she went and asked and they told her that the feta was pasteurized. So I thought I'd go and ask too. The guy went as far as to bring out the big bucket and let me read on there that, in fact, the feta cheese was made from pasteurized milk. So, hopefully I've shared a useful piece of information with you, because I surely wish I would have known this all along.

I always forget to mention this on my blog, but ever since Ryder's 2nd birthday party, he has felt the need to pick up random items off the floor, put them on his head like a party hat, and sing Happy Birthday to You.

"Happy Birthday to Keifer's Menu"

If I had a dollar for every time Ryder picked up something random off the ground, put it on his head, and started to sing Happy Birthday to You... you guessed it, I'd be a millionaire.

I did go through my phone and found a few pieces of evidence:

"Happy Birthday to Cow"

"Happy Birthday to Lego Toys"

Happy Birthday to Christmas Tree

Happy Birthday to Lion King Book

The list goes on and on and on. I need to dredge up a few video's I have of him doing it as well.

While I was searching my phone pictures, I came across this that he made at church. The teacher's wrote down what he said he was thankful for and he listed me and John Michael, and his little sweet friend Levi.

More long lost phone pictures.

The answer to grocery shopping moms prayers.

And let me not forget....

Friday Ryder's Grandaddy and T picked him up from school to take him to the park, etc. They didn't have any pull ups so Grandaddy ran in the store while Anna Terrell stayed in the car with Ryder. I got a picture message from Anna Terrell telling me he came out with some mini graham crackers, wipes and a 25 pack of these:

Oh no, they aren't going to waste at my house. He wears them proudly at home, frequently shouting "I have on princess pull ups!!! But I'm not a girl though!!!"

Fear not, these are only worn at home. I pack his boy ones for outings and school.

#whatisahashtag

2012-01-18T22:14:00.000-06:00

I'm not a hashtag type of gal. Neither is John Michael. I didn't know what they meant for a long time, it was months before I understood why people on Facebook were posting status updates and then ending it with a pound sign and a bunch of words typed together with no spaces. The only time I have ever used one was recently when I emailed my friend Kristen a picture of my 8 week old large pregnant belly with #concerned as the caption. You are probably wondering where this is going.

This morning, about 30 minutes after John Michael got out of the shower I noticed his hair still looked really wet but I'm not a big talker in the morning so I didn't feel like broaching the subject. About 10:30 a.m. I got a text from him that read: "I'm starting to wonder if I used your conditioner this morning instead of my shampoo." #greaser

I laughed and laughed and laughed. I told him I knew something looked odd about his hair this morning. I told him to go home and wash his hair and he said no, that everybody had already seen it at work. When he gets off work at 5 (instead of later) he calls to tell me that he will pick up Ryder. Well today, he called to tell me that he was getting off at 5, but asked if I would go pick up Ryder because he was not going in there having people think he didn't wash his hair this morning.

Not that this is pick on JM blog day, but another incident happened today. You may remember a long time ago I blogged about his episode at the dentist office when he got a little loopy on the gas. Yeah, he asks for gas to have his teeth cleaned. If you will remember, the lady was in mid-cleaning and he whacked his head straight up and started yelling "where am I, where am I!" Well, today wasn't nearly that bad, but he told me that the gas must've gotten to him again because when the lady told him to close his mouth so she could use the little suction tube that sucks all your spit and stuff out (sorry....), he couldn't quite follow directions. She said, "ok, close your mouth" and he proceeded to keep his lips open, and he only shut his teeth (like it was biting it). She said, "no, close your mouth" and again, he just bit down on the thing, with lips still apart. One more time, "please close your mouth around the suction John Michael," and he replies, "I AM CLOSING MY MOUTH!" (keep in mind this is through closed teeth still). Finally, she says, "ok, close your lips too." He finally got it.

I am going to have to switch dentists due to constant humiliation. He's the oldest human being to use gas while getting his teeth cleaned by at least 27 years.

As if the poor guy hadn't been through enough, after his dentist appointment we went to lunch. As soon as the waitress walked up to our table the first thing she ask, "What can I get you ladies to drink today?"

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Ryder got lots of good grandparent time in this past weekend. Saturday his Papa and Becky came over to take him to his favorite place, Chick-fil-A, which helped me a lot because I wanted to get a good house cleaning in because some people were coming to look at our house on Sunday.

So Sunday we couldn't be home when they came, so we went to Vaughan. We forgot his jacket and it was cold out, so we settled with these thermal underwear shirt and toboggan.

Well it did the trick.

Nanni took him for a spin around the yard.

And Grandaddy practiced throwing the football with him.

Then Monday night he went to Poppy and CC's while we had small group. I probably don't say this enough, but we are SO BLESSED to have grandparents living so close to us and that love spending time with Ryder and see him as much as they possibly can!

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As always, Ryder cracks me up every single day. The other night we were all laying on the bed talking and John Michael was grabbing Ryder's feet and hands and telling him he was going to eat his fingers and toes (joking obviously). Ryder responded with, "Don't eat me daddy, I'm not a snack!!!"

Then, on Monday since we were home most of the day I thought it would be a good chance to try little undies on Ryder. I tried to keep him outside as much as I could so he couldn't make too big of a mess.

Then we took a potty break.

All was great outside. And then we went inside. One hour indoors wearing undies = Fail. We were standing in the kitchen and Ryder started going Ouch Ouch Ouch Mama, HOT!!!! I couldn't figure out what he was talking about until I saw the puddle under his feet. I guess it was really warm running down his leg and it shocked him. Thank the lawd this was on the kitchen floor and not while he was sitting on his bean bag chair or his other little anywhere chair. I couldn't be mad with him of course and I also couldn't hold my laughter. We'll give it a little longer before we try that again. He does great staying dry in his pull ups, but of course he has his accidents a lot too.

We'll keep chugging along.

Wrestlin' Ryder

2012-01-11T09:56:00.000-06:00

Friday night Ryder got to go to a WWE wrestling show in Jackson. Boy did he think he was something.

Since they were in town and Teddy was on the show, Kristen was able to get us tickets. It was quite the crowd there. Wrestling fans are hard core. I thought the man behind us was going to go into some sort of cardiac failure if his guy didn't win. And he basically gave us all a nice bath with his spit that flew out with each yell.

We were the only ones who weren't in our black WWE tshirts and wearing a big gold belt displaying the WWE logo. When we went through the line the lady taking up tickets said, "I just have to ask... are ya'll married to wrestlers?" We told her Kristen was, and she said, "OK I wondered, because ya'll sure don't fit the looks of the normal crowd here."

The three pregs enjoying the show.

He was clapping and yelling out the names that the crowd was yelling out. And when they got into a chant of some sort we would look up to see Ryder in full chant mode. "R-TRU, R-TRU, R-TRU" Funniest thing ever. He was soooo serious too.

Ole Teddy himself.

Ryder's new Toy Story obsession has forced us to purchase a pull string Woody doll who goes everywhere we go. Even to wrestling matches.

I never thought Ryder would make it this long, he's set a new record by staying up until 10:00 p.m.

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Where's daddy????

Ryder thought that was just hilarous, I thought it was quite funny too. Reminds me of the witches legs on Wizard of Oz.

Ryder wanted to be funny too. I asked if I could get in, he said, "No mama, you're too big. Boys only"

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I'm a almost 12 weeks now and the sickness and extreme fatigue have pretty much worn off. Except for last Friday. I usually eat cereal in the mornings but we were out of it so I settled for a banana instead. I still took my prenatal vitamins because I thought the banana would hold me over. I was feeling great, loaded Ryder up in the car for school, and about 2 miles down the road it hit me. My mouth started watering and I was at a place on the road where there was no pulling over. And I had about 3 stop lights to go before I could get somewhere. I looked down on my floorboard to see what I might ruin if I have to puke. I was doing my best not to think about it, and just kept swallowing 100 times. Finally I was almost to Ryder's school and got to a place where I could pull over. Before I could even get the car door fully open it all came to surface. I was SOOOOO embarrased. I was in an empty parking lot, but on a very busy road and I just know somebody saw me. I was so scared a police officer was going to pull in and think I'd had a late night on the town or something embarrassing like that. It was awful. Well that's the last time I've taken my vitamins in the morning time. Night time for me from now on.

Buy 3, Get one Free

2012-01-02T18:03:00.000-06:00

John Michael thinks I hoard shopping bags but I always know they will come in handy. When we travel to family Christmas's, instead of making 431,072 trips to the car to get presents, I just stash them all in these handy oversized Belk and Target bags, and off we go! These 3 bags are ready to be hauled off to one of our many Christmas's.

On the eve of Christmas Eve, Ryder was all jacked up on excitement. He's never removed the couch cushions before, but there is always a first time to jump from the couch to the cushions.

Then he built a "fork"

Kayla came to give Ryder his presents early. One of them being Boots!

This is how Ryder's hair looks after all the water has drained out and he wants to continue playing and it's drying out it's on. Youch.

Later that night there was a very interesting turn of events. At 12:30 a.m. Ryder was up and crying so I went in to soothe him. I ended up falling asleep. About 1:30 a.m. JM runs in Ryder's room and says "Brittany where are you, the doorbell just rang!" I was sound asleep but immediately wide awake. Next thing I know JM has run out of the room and comes back with a gun and says he's going to the door. By then someone is banging on our back door. I'm like NOOOO don't open the door they might come crashing in but he leaves the room and I hear him talking to someone outside. I'm freaking out because I know they are going to knock him out and come in and get us. Finally he comes back in and says it was the police and that someone had broken into two houses directly across the street from us. They were both home, nobody was hurt. But seriously, how disgusting are some people? And desperate, it's so sickening. So I got Ryder up and brought him in bed with us and couldn't sleep a wink the rest of the night. Once I thought I heard a gun shot (JM thinks it was fireworks, but at 3:00 a.m. on Christmas eve eve?) So I kicked him and said did you hear that, he literally wacked his head straight up and flew out of the bed and scared me worse. OH WHAT A NIGHT!

So the next morning we went to my grandmother's in Greenville. Here is a picture of every single one of the grandchildren (my first cousins) and the 3 little ones are the great grandchildren.

Christmas morning. Raggedy fort no more, it's a Toy Story tent! And a new tricycle. For the first couple days he could only pedal in reverse... I looked on the streaming video at Ryder's school and they were outside. Ryder was on one of these trikes going 90 to nothing in reverse. Sooo funny.

Then Poppy and CC came over to give Ryder his big present. I told him it was his new chair that he could watch TV and read his books on because I didn't know if he would know what it was.

His very own bean bag chair with his name on it. When we pulled it out, he said, "Open it, where's my chair?" He thought it was zipped up in the bean bag I guess.

All of our parents do too much. I didn't mention the big gift he got from my dad and Becky, it was a nice chunk of change for his college fund. He does that for all the holidays, it's sooo nice!

Then we went to Nanni and Grandaddy's where he got a new slide! He is so rotten.

His aunt T got him this "Woody" hat and a gun.

He knew right where to shoot it. Except he had it pointed in the wrong direction. Lawd I hope he didn't see JM with that gun the other night!

Ryder had tons of fun with his new block toys he got for Christmas. He stuffed them all in his shirt and thought that was hysterical.

Unloading.

Next up, Christmas at CC and Poppy's.

Everyone was admiring Sellers' new bike, especially Ryder. He needs to get the trike down in the forward motion first.

Our family of 3, soon to be FOUR!

Yup, bun's in the oven. Back at the end of October I ordered some Christmas stockings because shame on me, I'd only had 2 stockings the last 2 Christmas's and there were 3 people in our family. Ryder didn't have a stocking :( So, I searched Etsy and when I was trying to choose between a couple of merchants, I noticed one person offered their stocking at buy 3 get 1 free. At this time there was no baby on board, and I didn't know when there would be, but I thought, what the heck, hopefully I'll have another one by next Christmas, I'm going with this person. Good thing I did because a couple weeks later we found out Ryder would be a big brother. I'm a little over 10 weeks and due the end of July. I couldn't keep it a secret too long, because it was getting rather obvious. Between the nausea and expanding belly, the news had to be shared.

Things have been totally different this time around. One, I find myself forgetting all the time that I am pregnant where before it consumed my brain. I haven't glanced at my What to Expect book, even though I don't remember much from last time, I haven't been stalking baby name and nursery bedding sites. I've been extremely exhuasted and have been nauseated most every day, and have gotten sick several times. Last time around I felt like a dream, no tiredness, no sickness, just happy as a clam. BUT, I wouldn't care if I was sick all day every day, I'm just soooooo thankful and feeling very blessed and thanking God for this blessing.

Here's big brother Ryder holding little baby's pics in front of my buy 3 get one free.

Admiring his little baby's pictures. He has requested a little brother and wants his name to be Ross.

He had enough with all that baby talk, he decided to go outside and practice his front pedaling skills. Practice makes perfect.

--------------

My New Years holiday weekend started about 3:00 on Thursday, so I went to Ryder's school to pick him up early. As soon as I walked in the door I saw him running out of the office. I thought uh oh, he got in trouble! But he said, "Mama, look, I gotta red boogie!" I said a what?? Then his teacher said he had just fallen and busted his nose, which was still bleeding and so he said he had a red boogie.

He was being a big boy, but I still wanted to take him to do something fun so we went to the library so I could read him some books.

Then, we went next door to Sonic and drank milk shakes outside on such a pretty day.

Then we went to eat Mexican with friends and afterwards Ryder and Gaines took a cute little bubble bath together and played in their Elmo pj's.

----------------------

Awhile back John Michael got me a groupon for Aqua the Day Spa and the deadline to use it was January 15. I was trying to find a good date and decided on this past Friday because I was off work for New Years holiday. I had $150 to use so I scheduled an hour massage for 10:00 and a pedicure for 11:30. I got there at 9:30 and patiently waited for my appointment. She took me back, gave me my robe and slippers, I got changed and went into the nice warm cozy massage room. She started to ask me why I wanted a massage and what areas she should focus on. I replied that I was 10 weeks pregnant and.... I was interrupted by, "Honey, you can't get a massage, you are still in your first trimester." I was bummed. I told her that my groupon was about to expire, and what was I going to do for the next hour and a half. I walked over to Broadstreet and ordered and early lunch and read my book until 11:30.

And then I got my spa pedicure. It was worth the wait. Although it looks like my legs are in a double cast, they actually felt wonderful in those hot steaming towels!

And the girl was so sweet, she ended up giving me a gift card for the price of the massage so there would not be any hassle with me trying to get the massage after my first trimester, which would be after the groupon's expiration date.

JM was working on Friday so before my appointment my dad and sister met me there to pick Ryder up and keep him. After I was done I picked him up and we went to my sister's, I put Ryder down for a nap, and she and I watched Water for Elephants. It was the most relaxing day I think I've had since college, if that. Then, on Saturday (New Years Eve day) JM took Ryder to deer camp. Ryder said I couldn't go, he said it was boys only, no girls. So when they left at 9:30 I went to Redbox and rented 3 movies, Midnight in Paris, One Day and Something Borrowed. I was literally sore from just laying around all day. I had to get up and move around. I can't believe what a lazy weekend I had. That's just not like me, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

New Years Eve night we were all wild and crazy and went out to eat, the 3 of us. The waiter who appeared to be a stoner, took our drink order, and then asked what he could get for "her" to drink (Ryder). Me being me, I didn't want to embarrass him so I just replied that we would like some milk. He came back with a breakable glass of milk that was bigger than Ryder's head...if that tells you anything :)

It had no straw, no top, he clearly has never eaten with a child before. I just laughed imagining what it would be like for Ryder to actually pick up that glass and take a little gulp.

And today is New Years Day and I don't tend to make resolutions, they are pointless to me, sorry. But I do hope to read my new "Jesus Calling" devotion everyday, try my hardest not to nag John Michael about petty stuff and walk on the treadmill at least 4 times a week, especially since I've moved into the new ages and got some new shoes for Christmas. Out with the 2002 gray new balance, in with the 2012 neon nike's.

Notice I did not say I plan to eat healthier. That's just too hard when the only thing I can eat at this rate is Zaxby's.

Whatyou Want Mama, Whatyou Want?

2011-12-20T19:40:00.000-06:00

A couple weeks ago we celebrated one Christmas in Yazoo City. We were entertained by horses and a fainting goat.

Ryder tried to put up a fight against this one.

This goat was very fond of Brooke.

Later we went to Levi's first birthday party.

Ryder and Swayze Jane weren't letting anything get in between them and their cookies.

Birthday boy!

In an attempt to get a group picture, all the moms plus 10 other guests sang Jingle Bells as loud as we could. These kids were in complete shock. I probably took 30 pictures and while looking through them, there was no movement from picture to picture, they just sat like this for 3 minutes straight staring at the crazy carollers.

Ryder is such a good help with cleaning up his stuff. This particular time I didn't even have to ask. I was in the kitchen and he came waddeling in with this heavy bucket and said, "Look mama, I clean up for you!"

JM always wins fun parent award. Whenever they go somewhere just them two, I always get a surprise. This particular time it was Reeces in the car. Yum Yum.

Ryder has started this new little game with me at night while I'm putting him down. The game is called "Christmas." This is how our converstation goes each night:

Ryder: "Whatyou want mama, whatyou want?"

Me: "I want new shoes"

{Ryder is hustling around with his hands like he's getting them for me and hands "them" over}

Ryder: "Here you go mama, here you go." "Whatyou want mama, whatyou want?"

Me: "I want a new car"

Ryder: "here you go mama, here you go." Whatyou want mama, whatyou want?"

Me: "I want a new garbage can"

Ryder: "You don't want a garbage can mama!"

I've learned that he knows what is a real answer and what's not. He's too funny.

I know we are waaaaay behind the times, but two weeks ago Toy Story 3 came on TV so we recorded it. Ryder has never seen this movie, nor heard of any of the characters. I cannot believe I am saying this, but I have not heard the words Dora or Deigo come out of his mouth in two weeks. He has watched Toy Story 3 every single day. Since then, Toy Story 1 and 2 have come on and those are recorded as well. Unfortunatly though, they were recorded on regular TV, not a movie channel, so you know what that means. Commercials. While I'm getting ready and Ryder is laying in the bed watching it and drinking his milk, every 15 minutes I hear a shrieking sound, and it's Ryder telling me to turn Toy Story back on. Darn commercials.

--------------------

We had Christmas with my dad and Becky on Sunday. One of the things they got Ryder was a big floor puzzle. It had a piece of paper with it that showed how it was supposed to look put together. Ryder was so funny, he kept holding that paper (calling it his map) and pointing to it and saying, "OK, what's next, what's next?" Over, and over, and over, and over, and over until the puzzle was complete.

"Meeeeeeeerry Christmas"

Ryder said he was "parking his cars"

We went to see the Canton lights, I've never been before, it was really pretty.

John Michael, Ryder, Todd & Levi rode the carousel. Lindsey and I willingly stayed back and waved.

We are selling our house so I was taking pictures to send to our realtor and wanted to post one of Ryder's new room (since the bed is NEVER made up in there). It's such a hassle making up that bed since it's next to the wall. I'm just waiting on the front pillow, it will be horizontal in that same burlap fabric as the bedskirt with his monogram in the same green of his two throw pillows.

We've only had one incident from the bed. I heard Ryder the other night on the monitor crying. This happens pretty frequently, but he usually falls right back to sleep. It was 1:30 a.m. and JM and I just layed there pretending we were asleep so the other one would get up (you know the drill). The crying continued for 5 minutes so I started to take Ryder seriously. With the new room setup the video monitor doesn't work as well as it used to. So then I heard him say, "MAMA I FELL OFF DA BAY-ED!" I jumped up and ran in there and sure enough he was sitting on the floor at the foot of the bed. I still think he just slid off and sat down because there wasn't a thump or anything. I think it just scared him because he couldn't get back up. Of course I have to be dramatic so I yelled into the video monitor, "John Michael, Ryder fell off the bed, get in here!!!!"

I find this funny... when Ryder wakes up in the mornings and rubs his eyes, sometimes he will start to fake cry and say "I've got a crumb in my eye, get it out, get it out!" I've never heard it called a crumb. When I was growing up my mom always called it "matter." I've actually never heard of anyone else calling it that, ever.

And he likes to stay in the bathtub for a while playing, so when he gets out he's totally freaked out by his fingers. He's like, "Mama, oh no, my fingers, what's wrong with them?" "Fix 'em mama, fix 'em." So that's my new plan for getting him to get out of the tub. When I can't sit there any longer I'll tell him his fingers are going to shrivel up, it does the trick. "Get me out mama, get me out!"

Then tonight he was sitting in my lap facing me. He grabbed my hair and pulled it around my neck and told me that I had a hair scarf? I wish I knew where he came up with these things.

Gettin' on up there

2011-12-04T22:20:00.000-06:00

I picked Ryder up a little early the other day and they were eating snack. Ryder was in full attire during snack, wearing this hat and blue vest. I was informed he had this costume on all day. Not going to lie, his hair stunk from that hat.

But I was told that he thinks this is his rescue suit and he and another girl in the class play Deigo and Dora all day. He thinks he's Deigo and not Dora, thank goodness... I kind of figured this was going on at school after we were laying in bed the other night and he told me that he rescued the princess today from the witch. And they had to cross crocodile lake to save the princess.

Few funny things he's been talking about: One, he's fascinated with deodorant. Before we leave the house he'll lift his arms and say "I need my odor". Another thing, he does not "sound his H's" when he says certain words. A few I have noticed: "Turn the EATER on" (heater), "You're my ERO" (hero), "I played with Mr. UNTER at church (Hunter).

-------------------

Saturday was John Michael's 31st birthday. He and Ryder did a lot of boy stuff together. First they went to pick up the deer meat from this deer he killed last weekend.

John Michael and his sister with their deer, Anna Terrell embarrassed him... :)

Ryder knows that camo and deer go together, so when JM told him where they were going, he said, "I want to wear my camel-fly (camouflage)." I put this shirt on him and then pulled out some plain pants. He said,"NO, I want my camel-fly pants too-oooooo." Everything is two syllables now.

He also requested that they go in the jeep. Better believe he's going to make sure he and his daddy are wearing their baseball caps if he's going to ride in the jeep.

Saturday night was the Christmas parade.

Lindsey, Todd and Levi were there too! Levi will be one Saturday!

Ryder was picking "berries" this morning before church. You know those hard red things that grow on those bushes that will stick you? I guess they are called sticker bushes, I don't know anything about plants.

This is Ryder in the middle of telling me he wants to go to time-out. He thinks it's funny to tell me he wants to go to time out and he wants to get in trouble. When he hasn't even done anything. Not real sure how to handle this because I want him to be scared of time out.

And he can't quite figure out what is bad and what is not. While putting up the tree the other night he knocked over my 2 ft. tall clay Santa and broke his arm off. He proudly exclaimed, "I broke Santa's arm!!!!!!!" Not long after, he dropped a glass ornament and it shattered, followed by, "I broke that ball mama!!!!!!!" Bless his heart, he has no idea he's doing anything wrong. I tell him time and time again, don't do that, that is not nice, you are going to get in trouble if you do that, but he can't grasp it. Oh well.

------------------

Sunday night John Michael was ordained as a deacon at our church

Anyone there who had been ordained before got to pray over those being ordained tonight. It was special having JM's dad be able to be there with him.

We were surprised when Mrs. Lisa and Brooke came!

Even though he's gettin' on up there, I would venture to say John Michael had a great birthday weekend :)

Family functions

2011-11-28T20:38:00.000-06:00

I heard Ryder grunting and rustling around in his room and found him bringing his shoes, pair by pair out of his closet.

The perfectionist admiring his work.

Thanksgiving #1 with dad and Becky

Since we won't be able to do our regular Thanksgiving festivities with JM's family, we went to their house Sunday to have lunch.

Since T was home from school, they wanted to keep Ryder for the night. When they dropped him off the next day, we learned that his grandaddy gave him a bath before they left. JM and I were starting to wonder if he accidentaly used conditioner... look at that slick down grease!

So glad Shelly was home from Seattle this week for Thanksgiving and we got lots of our high school friends and their babies over to our house to eat pizza and play, and the mommies catch up. They really are the best cure, I haven't laughed that hard in a long time, probably since the last time we were all together.

We did the best we could to get a group shot on Ryder's new bed. Left to right: Mac (Shelly's), Sofie (Ashlea's), Swayze Jane (Maghen's), Ryder, and Levi (Lindsey's) crawling away.

Being entertained by Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

They wanted to build a fort.

So glad I caught a shot of Ryder saying his blessing, even though we broke the southern code and wore a hat while praying.

Thanksgiving day at my grandmother's in Greenville.

Ryder looooves Kayla and Bennett

And we loooove our mama

All the girl cousins

Festivities continue at CC and Poppy's. The kids stayed occupied in the pack n play for a good while.

Ryder and Sellers couldn't get enough of the cookies.

Taking a rest and watching movies.

They wanted covers.

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Sunday was the coldest day so far this year, but once a John Deere tractor is at your house, your child does not care the degree outside. So 3 layers and a toboggan later, we went out to play.

Later on, things went from one extreme to the other. After an afternoon of camo and john deere, I heard that familiar clunkity clunk I hear every now and then, which is the sound of Ryder prancing around in my heels. He was so delighted to find a bag of bath and body works lotions.

He was really into this little game of his. After seeing how he organized his shoes, it did not surprise me that he look the lotions out of the bag and lined them up, put them back in, and repeat, repeat, repeat.

Christmas Cards from Tiny Prints

2011-11-19T08:37:00.033-06:00

Tiny Prints is offering their 50 free holiday cards to bloggers! We took advantage of this last year, and hope to this year as well.
To browse the huge selection of holiday cards, click here.

I'm having a hard time choosing, but I like this one because of the watercolor design... and because it's cute and boyish for my little man.

And I love the colors of this one, and also the font.

Now, off to pick out a picture! Decisions, decisions.

Big bed

2011-11-15T15:40:00.000-06:00

Ryder's school Christmas proof's came in. There were 4 options but I have it narrowed down to these, I can't choose! They were taking at 8:30 in the morning, so unfortunately his little eyes are still sleepy and swollen.

Gaines and Levi's mommies brought them over to play and eat supper with us!

Ryder refused to take John Michael's hat off before his nap the other day. I gave in and let him keep it on, even though I was worried it would wake him up when he rolled around. I went in there 3 hours later and he was still conked out, I had to get a picture. Looks like the flash startled him, but he didn't wake up.

A couple weekends ago we wanted to get out of the house (as always) and drove to the reservior and planned to have a picnic, but then decided that Ryder probably would not eat outside and went to get lunch at a restaurant on the reservior instead. He kept saying we were at the beach.

He was amazed that he could see the water through the cracks.

Then we pulled off the trace, literally right into the grass and got out she he could run around and throw rocks in the water (his favorite sport).

If you don't know, John Michael is the dirty diaper nazi. If Ryder makes the slightest grunt, you better believe ole' dad is checkin the britches.

Ryder tried to make a run for it, but his dad won.

I learn something new everyday, these are horseapples.

Friday we went to Vaughan for Nanni's birthday. Ryder got a present of his own. A new tractor, and as he says it, "I got uhhh Joooooooohhhn Deeeeeeeeeeeeere Traaaaaaaaaaaaaactor"

They took a ride on the big tractor too.

Soon as Ryder hopped off, he began the staring game...

...with this

I think he got a little spooked (Ryder, not the cow) and he took off... and then tripped.... right into a pile of poop. He didn't forget it either, he talked about it the whole way home, "I felled in that doo doo!"

I learned something new. JM asked me if I knew what that line was through the grass. Of course I did not know and could not even guess. He said that when the cows walk to wherever they are going, they walk one behind the other and stay on this same path each time, therefore it has made a permanent indention in the grass. Pretty cool.

After our adventure in the pasture, we went to their great grandmother's old house located way back out on their property that is caving in and JM and his dad pulled down some old wood to make Ryder a headboard. Here is the beginning of the process.

Layed out and ready to be screwed together (and washed really good).

I told Ryder this was going to be his new bed. He said night night and dropped down.

Saturday was a big day. We went to Clinton's holiday market. I got to shop a little and had to work a little too. We ran into Lindsey and Levi.

Next we went to Connie's studio and had photos made with Santa. I was so glad Connie was the one taking them since Ryder is comfortable around her, I think that's why he did so good and wasn't too afraid of Santa.

Although we weren't dressed for the occasion, we hopped in one too.

Cannot believe the child gave him a hug. No fear this one.

Saturday night we cooked out and watched the State/Alabama game with Kayla and her bf Bennett.

Sunday night we decided to try out the new bed. This would be the first time Ryder has slept in a big bed by himself. We didn't have any rails, so I was a little nervous, but he did great. Didn't wake up one time and only one pillow fell off the side.

So now it's been two nights in the bed and he seems to be loving it. The part I love is laying in bed with him at night before he goes to sleep and just talking to him. He loves to hug up on me and he even plays with my hair, it melts my heart. Lately, he will just run up to me, give me a big hug and say "I loooove you mama" with a huge grin on his face. What a blessing he is!

You What?

2011-11-03T22:00:00.000-05:00

The under clothing of Ryder's costume. Those leggins were straight out of the little girl section.

Mr. Potato Head

My boss had the brown felt and made the body for me, and I picked up some different colored felt to make the facial features. I can't sew, so thank you hot glue gun.

Ryder and Gaines at the Haunting of Olde Towne

Ryder, Levi and Gaines

While waiting on the costume contest, we went over to visit the firemen. They offered to let Ryder take the truck around the block, we didn't but it was still a sweet offer.

They showed Ryder how to turn on the red flashing lights and gave him a fireman dalmation.

Contest time

Yeeeahh for first place!!!! At least one of us is excited...

His way of saying thank you for a fun night!

The next day was his party at school. We didn't think he would be too thrilled waddling around in a potato sack all day so I picked up a cape/mask set and got out his blue pants and white tshirt and used the leftover felt from Mr. Potato's nose and cut out an R. He loves Super Why so I told him he was Super Ryder. If you've seen the show, you know he was running around screaming, "SUPER RYDER, WITH THE POWER TO REEAAAD!!!"

Showing off at school

Ryder and his friend Evan.

Saturday morning he put the two costumes together...

Saturday night I had a work event that we put on for the city that was fun for the whole family. It was a "tailgating party" and we had big tv's to watch the games, hayrides, a live band, bbq, jump houses and of course the park to play at. We had a blast! And I must say I'm proud of how our first attempt at this event turned out!

Levi, Swayze and Ryder chowing down on bbq

Fides - great music!

My sweet friends came out!

Ryder was beyond exhausted on Sunday.
"It's stuuuuuutt mama"

"Open it, puhhh-leeeaase"

Sunday afternoon we went to visit Grandaddy for his birthday and it didn't take Ryder long to ask to go see the cows.

He had no clue

On Halloween night we decided not to go trick or treating this year. We'd had our share of halloween events so he had fun opening the door and handing out candy. He kept asking, "When's more friends coming?"

I know this is probably TMI, but I can't help it. Ryder's been using the potty pretty frequently but it's rare for him to go #2. Until recently. And the past few times he's gone, he'll be straining and saying in his strained voice (which makes it funnier), "I'm poopin' a boogie, I'm poopin' a boogie mama!"

You WHAT?

Don't know where he gets it. Then when he's done he looks in the potty all proud and with a huge grin he says "I pooped a boogie!!!" When I'm cleaning out his nose I'll say let me get your boogies, so I don't know if he thinks those are the same or what... I haven't corrected him yet because I just think it's funny.

Paper Nackin'

2011-10-26T21:31:00.001-05:00

Saturday was Mississippi College's homecoming. Since we happen to live two miles from John Michael's alma mater, why not?

Met up with the Perrett boys

Showing respect during the National Anthem

Can't resist a family shot when we are with other people that can take our picture for us.

It got too hot at the game, we found something better.

Either Ryder kept forgetting their name or it was just a mouthful saying Preston and Pace, so he kept referring to them as boys. Come on boys, over here boys, up the slide boys.

The boys with their daddys, very sweet.

I got double lucky Saturday night, my mom AND my sister were over at the same time! We're all so busy, it's a rarity these days!

Sunday morning as I was getting Ryder ready for church I got his pants on but realized I needed to iron his shirt. I heard some clonking around while I was ironing and thought it was John Michael in his boots. But the steps kept getting louder and faster, and I was like what is he dancing around the house? So I went in there to see and realized that JM was in the shower and it was Ryder making all that racket.

In my shoes.

I'm not sure what got into him with this cheesin, but I'll take it...

In such a good mood, yeaaaah!

And one more (only thing I can think is I usually bribe him with candy if he'll smile good)

At what point is your kid too old for the stroller? I thought we had a lot more time with it but he's practically hanging out of it, feet about to drag the ground.

This form of transportation is a little more his style

While John Michael was getting Ryder out of the car seat tonight after the park he said in this little whiny voice, "I tiiiired" and gave JM a big hug, and stayed there (a record). It was priceless for a child who does not calm for one second.

When we got him and ate dinner, I thought it was funny when I looked down at Ryder's plate and he had moved all the spinach over to the side on his chicken/spinach/noodle meal. I asked him why, he said "I don't like dat stuff." Good enough.

Battle scar

So I never forget, I have to type out some of the sweet things Ryder has said of late:

Tonight on our way to the park: "I'm sooooo excited!" (never heard him say this before)
John Michael puts Ryder down a lot, but occasionally he asks for me :) So tonight was one of those. We rocked and talked for a little while then I got up to walk him over to the bed. He started crying and saying "My pears, my pears" I kept asking what he meant, I couldn't figure it out. Then I realized he was saying "My prayers, my prayers." So we sat back down in the rocker and prayed away.
Also tonight, after I laid him down, and got to the door he said in the softest sweetest voice, "mama, cover me up" - something else I've never heard him say.
He loves to call me and JM (when either of us aren't with him). This makes my day and is always a surprise. When I see JM's name on the caller id, I never expect to hear "HEY MAMA!"
Not sure that this is considered sweet, but just funny, "Mama, I gotta boogie in my nose, get it out, get it out! Boogie huwts my nose!"
And this cracks us up, after he tee's in the potty, he says every single time, "Gotta wipe with my paper nackin, I wonta big piece." Where does he get paper napkin from?

WAY BACK WHENSday

What kept you busy way back when? This is what kept me busy...

My Hungry Hungry Hippo

My Nintendo

My pogo ball

And my skip it (if I remember correctly, it counted your skips)

Do the Urkel

2011-10-19T21:14:00.000-05:00

First of all - Good News (for me). I don't have to make blog private anymore because my very helpful friend Mandy told me how to disable right click so people can't steal your pictures. I'm excited about that.

Secondly, we had a great, yet busy as always weekend. Friday afternoon I was in a bad mood because we were having pictures on Sunday and we still didn't have family coordinating outfits. I don't mean matching, but at least something that goes together NOT as in me in pink polka dots, Ryder in green stripes and JM in a blue shirt, you get my drift. When I told John Michael my dilemma, he immediately said, "I am NOT going shopping with you tonight." I pouted a little bit and either he felt like being really nice, or he just wanted me to shut up, and he agreed to go with me (I like it when the whole fam makes trips to Jackson with me, more time with them!) So off we went and I had a little bit of luck. While we were out, we decided to visit the our beloved Burgers and Blues for dinner.

We got on home because I had to make tailgate munchies and get packed up for the next day. We had to leave our house at 6 a.m. in order to get to the 11:00 game with enough time to tailgate. Brutal. As soon as we parked we wanted to change Ryder's diaper in the car before we walked to the tailgate. I figured we'd walk him over to the bushes and let him try before we put another diaper on. He had other plans.

You know you are at Mississippi State if...

...your two year old pees on a tire in the parking lot of a college football game.

Face Paint

We were excited that John Michael's family came to the game this weekend!

Smiling so sweet at aunt Carolyn

Ryder and T

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Snuggling outside before church Sunday. I asked Ryder if he wanted to come snuggle in my lap. He replied, "I don't want to snurkle with you"

After seeing what he was going to wear, he decided to be a dinosaur for the day. He made it very clear all day, "I'm a dinosaur, rrrooaarrrrrr"

Sunday afternoon we had some fall family pics done, so I wanted to take a few myself before we left. I can't ever get him to look ahhhhhh.

Unless he's in the middle of using the bathroom that is. No surprise here.

And these are some that he posted on facebook. They weren't actually going to be Christmas pictures for us, but he had Christmas stuff up, so what the heck.

Sunday afternoon I was going through some clothes that were passed down. Ryder quickly spotted this outfit and said he wanted to put on his "rescue suit?" Which was not complete without his glasses.

Over the past few weeks when I am putting Ryder's pants on, he just has to pull them up himself. And every time he does, he goes Urkel on me. This is real...

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Ryder loves all things truck: firetruck, dumptruck, big truck, little truck. So this morning I heard the garbage truck coming down the street so I told Ryder "Hurry up lets go outside, the garbage truck is here!" I opened the door and he sprinted out yelling to the garbage man, "I want a popcicle!!! Popcicle Popcicle right now!!!" I guess the only other truck that's ever come right up to our house was the ice cream truck and he got a little confused. He cried for a good five minutes when I told him he could not and would not WANT to get a popcicle from the garbage truck man.

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Ryder's class went to the pumpkin patch this morning (in their backyard)

So I snapped some pictures before we left the house.

And here he is by the same pumpkin stand two years ago. I remember thinking this was the cutest picture I'd ever seen. I'm retracting that thought now....

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Way Back WHENsday

If you didn't read as a child, this won't mean much to you. But I can see it now: It's 1991 and I'm digging through the bottom drawer of my white wicker armoire full of The Babysitters Club.

And Boxcar Children

Maybe I was a total bookworm, but that's ok.

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Tip of the day (from Pinterest): Store your lettuce in a mason jar to keep it fresh longer. This is tonight's leftover lettuce. I'll let you know if it holds true.

Way Back WHENsday

2011-10-12T16:49:00.000-05:00

I know I'm a dweeb, but here's my new clever blog segment, Way Back WHENsday. If this already exists in the blog world, I didn't know it. I came up with it all by myself :) I do love a good memory and I'm going to try my best to come up with a good one each Wednesday.

Believe it! Hyper Color!

But wait... this is how hyper color advertised... And our parents let us wear them? Looks a little scandalous if you ask me.

And gross, who wants to wear a shirt that smells like breath all the time. Apparently we all did.

Nothing would make me happier than to post an image of myself in 1992 wearing mine... but I have no clue where that would be. It's too bad.

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John Michael and I went to Orange Beach / Gulf Shores last Thursday through Sunday. It was a great time of year to be there, still lots of people but not congested. And weather couldn't have been more perfect. I didn't get many pictures since our favorite subject wasn't there, but I tried to at least get a couple.

Taking Ryder to school on our way out of town, he doesn't look too upset about us leaving.

Although we missed Ryder dearly, we got to enjoy the parts of the beach that are a little more difficult with a toddler, so we soaked it up. Things such as...

Enjoying a book and not looking up once.

Visiting the lovely Flora Bama. If you are ever in need of an esteem booster, just drop by the FB, you'll leave feeling great about yourself. Just remember to leave your bra before you go...

Watching the State/UAB game at the Hangout

Speaking of way back when, look at the fun metal lunchboxes on the wall at the Hangout.

Good times. The weekend flew by, but was much needed and very appreciated.

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Parent of the year award (not being sarcastic) for the following: We got home from the beach at 1:30 and by 3:00 we were beyond exhausted, but nevertheless, loaded up in the car headed to take Ryder to the fair (another esteem boosting venue - the people these days, sheeeeesh)

Gearing up for carousel ride, nervous

Holding on for dear life - both dad and child

The only other thing he could ride due to being vertically challenged was Bumblebee. It seemed to suit him just fine though.

Since the giant slide is one size fits all, he rode that too.

Next we ventured to the farm area and the nice pig owner asked Ryder if he wanted to pet her pig. I started to cringe for obvious reasons, but I kept my mouth shut. JM was humiliated when as soon as he took his hand off the pig I was already squeezing the sanitizer.

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Ryder enjoys wearing Mr. Potato Head's glasses, he wears them all the time. I'm assuming he thinks they fit, he's never actually seen himself in them.

"Hmmm, let me see what's in this drawer here"

Thank goodness for the glasses, or else he wouldn't be able to read the dosage.

Ryder's teacher took his picture the other day, can't get over this cheezin.

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If you love the crock pot and aren't afraid to use frozen not fresh ingredients, this is for you:

CROCK POT CHEESY POTATO SOUP

1 32 oz bag frozen diced hash browns, thawed

1 medium stalk celery, diced (1/2 cup)

1/2 cup frozen chopped onion (from 12oz bag), thawed

1 32 oz. carton chicken broth

1 cup water

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 cup milk

8 oz. shredded cheese

Bacon bits (the kind in the bag)

4 medium green onions, sliced (1/4 cup)

In crockpot, mix potatoes, onion, celery, broth and water. Cover and cook on low 6-8 hours. In a small bowl, mix flour into milk and stir into potato mixture. Increase setting to High. Cover, and cook 20-30 more minutes or until mixture thickens. Stir in cheese until melted. Garnish individual servings with bacon and green onions. Can also sprinkle with pepper.

Sidenote: We did not use the green onions. Also, this was really good last night, but even better for lunch today. Just add a salad and cornbread and supper's ready.

Ballgames, Books and Fat Booth

2011-10-04T11:56:00.000-05:00

First things first: I really, REALLY don't want to do this, but it appears I have a blog stalker who has been stealing pictures from my blog and making a fake Facebook and using my pictures as their profile pictures (GET a life). These were both pictures that were only on my blog, and never on Facebook, so I know that this blog is where they are getting the pictures, because I have my settings on Facebook where only my friends can see my pictures. With that being said, if you follow my blog, and would like to keep following it, please comment below with your email address, or email me at brittgwilson@gmail.com.

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John Michael took Ryder to his first Arrows game last Friday night. I stayed behind and enjoyed a pizza/movie/popcorn/chocolate night with my girlfriends. The football field is just down the street from us, so I saw them off in the stroller.

JM sent me this picture from the game, so I knew he was having a good time.

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Moving on, we went to Starkville last Saturday with Ryder in tow.

Ryder and Sellers admiring baby Rip sleeping in the wagon.

Poppy feeding Walker and Ryder chips and cookies

This contraption below saved the day. They put rocks in and out of this hole for over an hour. It was a glorious hour.

Time to head into the game.

We love our season ticket partners!

It was the best we could do.

Before the bottom fell out for Ryder.

This face. Not even sure what to say about this.

Luckily, Devin distracted him with a game of Pee Pie.

Whoops, that didn't last long.

Alright, time to go.

Although our goal was to get through half time, we were pleased enough to make it through a whole quarter. Better luck next time!

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Some of the latest Ryder-isms that make me laugh:

When he woke up this morning and I went to get him out of his crib, the first thing he said was "I got a grasshopper in my eye, get it out mama, get it out!" He used to tell us he had an ant is his eye, maybe they really are bothering him?
JM and I were getting ready this morning and Ryder was laying on our bed with his routine milk and Super Why. All the sudden he yelled out, "Mama, Daddy, I love youuuuuu" We both ran to the bed and smothered him in kisses, he's just so sweet!
Ryder as soon as I picked him up from school the other day, "Mama, I hit somebody."
He loves to give "neck sugars" where he'll bury his face in our neck and start smacking away, then he'll say "I don't want no neck sugars on me"

In other news, Ryder is in pull ups at school now. I haven't started using them at home, but he surely asks for them. I'll tell him I need to change his diaper and he says, "I wone my pull ups."

Ryder and I went to the library so I could pick up my newest reading venture, the Hunger Games series. I have no idea if I'll like it, but we will see. I recently finished The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy. It was really good so hopefully this will be as well. And I finished Little Bee last night, don't read it. It got great reviews so I checked it out, but booooring.

Ryder loved the library. He was in book heaven.

I couldn't get through one page of a book before he was already begging me to read 3 others.

After the library, I told JM I was going to get Ryder some fall clothes. He said he would leave work a little early and come along because he needed to run in Dick's Sporting Goods. I said ok, because I just assumed it was to look around or get a shirt or something. On the way I said so what do you need from Dick's. He said, a 22. I thought he was joking, because I'm not fond of guns. I hate guns, I really do, they scare me. Me and Ryder just rode around the store, he found a hat he could not let go of.

Next we went to eat at Keifer's for supper with Kayla and Bennett. Ryder looks pretty miz in this picture, but this was actually the most pleasant dinner we've had out to eat with him in a long time. He was a sweet little punkin.

I'm having a hard time convincing Ryder he does not need to sleep with all these animals.

Felt great Sunday so we went exploring

And found some tracks

Sunday night was cold so we built a fire and made smores.

Ryder was mesmerized by this fire.

"Look I throwed a stick in dare"

He did not like the smores, only the marshmallows.

After bathtime we played with Fat Booth on my phone.

Don't laugh too hard, he didn't look much different at 11 months old.

I came across this picture the other day. No Words.

So this is what it's like?

2011-09-22T21:39:00.001-05:00

...to have a two year old?

The day after his 2nd birthday party. The tantrums begin. He wanted to hold the bag of graham crackers by himself and we didn't want him to get messy before church.

We gave in, that's how it goes with us. We need to toughen up.

Later that day we went to Kameron's 1st birthday party, look how cute!

Ryder and Levi

In deep thought.

My bebe

Cheering from home since his party was the day of the Auburn game, don't worry we know how to schedule, it was an away game.

JM must've caught my glares and got him out of the house so I could get my decorate on.

Ever since the day that crazy looking ice cream van came, Ryder wants a popcicle all the time. Yeah, we're kinda redneck over here.

Last Saturday we ventured to the zoo. We got there at 3:30 and found out they closed at four. It was a zoo marathon. Little cousins Walker, Sellers, Tucker and Ryder.

I wasn't kidding, I believe JM was in full sprint at this point.

CC & Poppy with Tucker, Walker and Sellers

Uncle John Michael quizzing the boys on what their favorite part of the zoo was. Ryder claims his favorite part was Baby Jaguar, Giant Tortoise and Woodpecker. Go Diego Go is to blame for his response.

CC with her grandsons.

CC and Poppy kept all the boys that night (Ryder didn't spend the night but stayed until about 9). I have a good feeling this won't happen again for a long time! I think grandparents might've been a little worn out.

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John Michael has been wanting a jeep for a long time. I'm not a fan. Not because of anything other than I think they are unsafe. I told him he could get a jeep if he traded in his Tahoe. He said no, he wants this jeep to have for fun. He shared with me over lunch last week that he was going to look at one. I agreed because I knew he would have a good time looking and then he would come home empty handed. He did not come home empty handed. He came home with a jeep, much to my SHOCK.

I was not very excited about this and warned him that I would "match his price" for myself (I know that's horrible, but c'mon, this was my only chance to buy things I want without him saying a word!) So my friends, tonight I am typing in my bed on my new pretty MacBook, yes indeed!

Now back to the jeep, let me clarify some things. At first I said Ryder would not be riding in this jeep. Of course that didn't last long because every time Ryder walks outside he says he wants to ride in his jeep (I'm feeling confident JM has been practicing this with him). So my agreement is that Ryder can only ride in this thing in Clinton and under no circumstances will he be going on the interstate. I will stand firm on this!

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More proof that Ryder is indeed two:

Tonight's events at Chick-fil-A:

First, I took a little bite of his ice cream. He screamed very loudly for several minutes, then refused to look at me.

Still avoiding me at all costs.

Then on the way out I tried to sneak past the play area.

He's no dummy I tell you.

On our way out the door we passed two cops walking in. Ryder was still screaming and I said to them jokingly, "I sure wish he was old enough to know what it would mean if I said "If you don't straighten up these police men are going to take you with them." They did not think this was funny. At all. I was kind of embarrassed :(

Also, I feel bad because I told Ryder I would take him to Walmart and buy him a new book if we skipped out on play area. I thought he would forget but he didn't. He asked me why we didn't go to the grocery store to get his book. Oops. I was ready to get home!

A very Seussy birthday party

2011-09-13T15:58:00.000-05:00

I have been planning Ryder's party for a while now because it takes me a while to get organized and have everything just so. I can't do things on a whim like a lot of people, I wish I could. Most everything was a DIY project - I do love a good project.

Here is my inspiration to the party!

The invitation - just made it on my computer and bought the cardstock and envelopes at Walmart, easy and cheap!

"Hat" cookies I made at midnight the night before his party, it was a last minute idea.

Utensils - I made the labels on my computer as well. They say Ryder is Two!

Cake, made by Baker's Bakery in Clinton

Cupcakes, made by yours truly :)

I made the toppers on my computer as well. I just googled Dr. Seuss images and cut them out in circles. I found a template for the cupcake holders online and used a program to make the stripes and cut them out. Another DIY project.

Party Hats. I had some old party hats that said happy birthday leftover from Ryder's birthday last year. So I took them apart and traced them out on this red and white wrapping paper. The blue on the top is cut up pieces from a boa that I found at Hobby Lobby. Supposed to look like the Thing 1 and Thing 2 characters.

These are images from book covers that I found once again on the internet.

Party favors. I thought these looked Seuss-y enough. Designed and printed these tags on my computer as well.

Had to frame that cute picture and put it out.

Poms that I made. Saw the instructions in one of my Southern Livings.

I bought this cloth from Hobby Lobby and found the striped ribbon at Walmart and used fabric tape to stick it to the cloth all the way around. No sewing for this mommy!

As guest left, they were asked to sign this Happy Birthday Book (these are even Dr. Seuss markers!)

The mantle decor.

I love my a & z bookends, found them for five bucks!

I scanned pages to my computer from our Green Eggs & Ham book and cut them out to make the banner.

Balloon wreath. Another DIY. Found instructions online somewhere.

Cake table.

My cookies.

And now for the food.

Crummies in your Tummies (Chips)

Oodles of Noodles (pasta salad)

Goldfish - Of course.

Yot in a Pot (cocktail sausages)

Truffula Sticks (fruit skewers)

And what's a Dr. Seuss party without GREEN EGGS and HAM!

(Nanni made these stuffed eggs and used food coloring, I would be clueless)

And ham (mini ham & cheese sandwiches)

Up next: Featuring some of our party guests, including our very own Dr. Seuss himself!

(I know this is long, bear with me!)

Oh, just waiting on my friends to arrive.

Dr. Seuss (Brooke) trying to tell Ryder to come here

He said you can forget that!

Go fishing!

I created this little fishing game in my head and went to Hobby Lobby and they had everything I pictured. I found some little wooden shaped fish and I glued a magnent to the back. Then I got some wooden sticks, glued a piece of ribbon to them, and a glued a magnet on the end and wah lah. A fishing pole. It was a hit, surprisingly. I printed the sign on the computer and stuck it to a handy BankPlus yard stick.

See, it's fun!

Ryder got a big'n

Preston and Pace caught a couple too.

Sellers was the only child who did not run from Dr. Seuss.

Thanks to Devin we have all the pictures you are viewing, she took my camera off my hands!

Many parents thanked me for supplying a jump jump because they felt that their child would sleep really well that night.

Ryder snackin with his aunts.

Our youngest party animal - Sofie, just 4 weeks old!

Party hat was cutting off his circulation (his head is still in the 90th % you know..)

I like how excited Ryder looks about getting to blow out his candles.

He got them both!

Enough presents, can I go outside now? And wear my new boots too?

Mom and Sister

Ryder and Swayze sharing the Foot Book

I like to think he's saying:

"Thanks for the party, mom!"

Ryder Turned TWO Today!

2011-09-08T21:05:00.000-05:00

Ryder, so that you will be able to look back at this one day, I want to tell you all the many things about yourself at the teeny tiny age of two. You:

Are 28 pounds
Wear size 24 months / 2T clothing
Wear size 7 shoe
Wear size 5 diaper
Count to twenty
Can point to all number’s 1-9 and say what number they are
Sing the entire ABC song without missing a beat and can point to most letters and say what they are
Can identify and say lots of colors: red, blue, purple, yellow, orange, green, pink, white, brown, black
Can identify and say lots of shapes: circle, triangle, rectangle, square, diamond, oval, heart, and even octogan! (pronounced otdon)
L-O-V-E watching tv, and are currently hooked on Diego and Super Why. But over the past year it’s also been Dora, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Clifford, Bob the Builder
Know how to ask for most things that you want (certain foods, milk, juice, tv shows, books, stuffed animals, toys, you name it)
Say your blessing before you eat, and you put your hands together and bow your head. You mostly squint instead of closing your eyes, and you call everyone out if their eyes aren’t closed.
Speaking of eat, you like all fruits, yogurt, applesauce, chicken, french fries and ketchup. That's about it.
Ask to say your prayers before bedtime and you pray for everyone that you love
Will only get into your car seat if you can do it yourself. We are not allowed to help you anymore :(
Know and identify every animal imaginable and what sound they make
Know your full name, Ryder James Wilson
Know our names, Bitny Wilson and John Mitel Wilson
Talk up a storm and speak in clear sentences. There is never silence coming from you unless you are glued to the TV
Love to point out tractors and school buses on the road
Are very picky about your shoes and make it clear when you don’t want to wear a certain pair
Know all your friends and teachers names in your class and talk about them at home
When you don't want to do something, you say always say, "I don't want a milk more, I don't want to play more, I don't want diaper changed more", etc. (instead of ANYmore).
You are most certainly in the terrible two's, BUT...
You make us laugh constantly, and it's always something new, everyday!

This morning we celebrated with muffins for breakfast. But before they were ready I told him it was time to open his present. He started pouting and said "I don't want present no more," I told him I would remember that next year :)

He sang "Happy Birthday to Ryder, Happy Birthday to Ryder, Ryder is TWO", all morning and all the way to school.

He finally came around to wanting to open.

The funniest thing, when we ask how hold he's going to be, he holds his fingers up like "2" but he has to use his other hand to get his fingers in place. So he'll be holding his 2 up and proud and then he'll look back at his fingers and they are back down. He'll say "Where my two go?"

Later in the day, I took cupcakes to Ryder's school so that we could celebrate his birthday there. It was another child in his class's birthday too, so we had a double party.

Getting ready to head to the cafe for cupcakes.

Bit of a meltdown walking down the hall.

"I WONE MY TUPTATE!"

Here are the birthday boys, Ryder and Solomon.

Trying to hold up "2"

Yum, Yum.

One more bite, please.

The class singing Happy Birthday.

Tonight we just ordered pizza and played outside. Then CC and Poppy came by to bring Ryder his present. Unfortunately he was in a mood and wasn't very sweet :( But he ended the night in a good ole birthday bath from CC (she gives him much better baths than I give him!). Now he's laying in his crib talking to his bulldog and his rabbit. All in all, I'll say birthday number two was a success. Now we've just got to get through his party Saturday.
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We took Ryder for a little early birthday excitment to Chuck E Cheese on Labor Day. I'm not sure he's quite old enough to fully enjoy it yet, but it was still fun, nonetheless. And much, much smaller than the children's museum - A plus for us!

(Now I know why John Michael wanted to go so bad...)

We put Ryder on this horse and he started bucking like a wild man.

Look at his head, it was whipping back and forth, we had to take him off!

Nanni found John Michael's old glove at their house, so with the nice weather and all, JM's been out there "practicing" with him.

Ryder and his Kayla. Look at the cute Toms she got him for his bday!

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Now this is what I call dedicated. He was bound and determined to finish this milk. In the end, sleep won. Watch below: I think he fell asleep eight different times in this two minute interval.

Not two seconds after I clicked stop on the recorder.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU BABY DOLL!

Lost and Found

2011-09-01T22:40:00.001-05:00

I just love weekends where we don't have any plans, especially when we don't have plans that cause us to leave Ryder behind :( and we just hang out and do whatever we want to do. We had one of those last weekend. Friday night WWE came to Jackson and Teddy was going to be on the show, so we went out to support him at their tailgate.

Ryder wasn't real sure about Teddy at first... It was like handing him over to Santa Claus!!

But he really seemed to enjoy the band.

He got real excited while dancing and lost his step just a bit.

Then on Saturday we went to the Children's Museum for the first time. Everything was going great, until we lost Ryder. Yes, we lost him for over five minutes. Five minutes is not very long, say... when you're getting a pedicure, watching tv, shopping, eating, and so on. But when your child could be among the thousands of others there and on any of the 3 floors of the museum, five minutes is an ETERNITY! We were running frantically all over the place, John Michael finally found him on the stairs going down to the second floor, we were on the third when we lost him. UGHHH!!!!!

The beginning of our journey

Workin' hard

Picking up a few items from the farmer's market

If you go to the children's museum, spelling out your name is just a must.

I would've loved this area, except this is right before we lost him.

He went running from this spot.

After we found him, we milked some cows...

(if you haven't been, yes liquid comes out and drips into the bucket)

We went fishin'...

And we tried to get on TV, but Ryder thought that was for the birds.

If you read this blog, you know that Ryder wants to be John Michael. What JM does, Ryder does. JM had his feet propped up on the coffee table. Didn't take Ryder two seconds to figure this one out.

My personal scheme-king. Ryder "plays" with JM's wallet alot. JM often wonders where Ryder "walks off with his money...?" I have no idea?

And today is GAMEDAY. And we won our first game. Yes!

Ryder's sweet teacher took these at school for me today.

Ryder and Celie

Getting ready to head out the door this morning. Ryder actually asked me to take his picture, trust me, I'll take it!

Ryder has never been attached to anything, not a paci, blanket, animal, I mean anything. But over the past few weeks he's been attached to what he calls "boooo-dawg" As soon as he wakes up and we go in there to get him he'll say, "Where my booo-dawg?"

This afternoon we had a work event welcoming MC students to town. Ryder came to keep me company and guess who he ran into! His same friend from school! We love our little town.

Ryder scored a goody bag while he was there.

And he tested out the pull up bar at the Crossfit Clinton booth.

He also came into contact with a melted chocolate chip cookie.

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So........... The other morning Ryder woke up and we heard him on the monitor talking about mud. He kept saying, "I got some mud on my fingers, mud on my fingers, mud in my bed, etc." Well that could only mean one thing. And sure enough, he had dug down in his diaper and gotten some "mud" out.

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream... Literally

2011-08-25T15:08:00.000-05:00

On Sunday I was going about my business when I heard JM ask Ryder if he wanted a popsicle. I thought this was odd because it was getting close to dinner time. I heard the front door close so I went to check out the situation and here is my husband taking my son over to this creeper ice cream truck. It looked more like a kidnapper vehicle to me, but by the time I ran out there it was too late for me to say anything, I didn't want to appear as a snob!

Ryder, however, does not judge a book by its cover.

He was in tears when the man drove off.

He can be quite stingy. John Michael took one bite from his popsicle, and this: "MY POPSICLE DADDY, IT'S MINE!!!"

Man, that was GOOD.

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Ryder was busy singing his ABC's... well until nature called.

Ryder and Sellers had a big time spending the night with CC and Poppy last weekend. They were saying Go Dawgs here.

We figured we better strip them down for the pizza.

They are so funny. Sellers is saying STOP RYDER!!!

Time to say goodbye :(

Not much makes him happier than his milk and his mote.

Date night at Salsa's

Later on, we went grocery shopping. We pulled into the parking lot and Ryder said "NO grocery store." How did he know we were at the grocery store? I do not know. But he loves to help carry the groceries into the house. And he wanted to wear a hat like his daddy had on.

Let's see how many ways he can look just like his dad. "I got my tie on, my belt on, and my tape measure hooked onto my belt. I'm ready to do work!"

Ryder's latest fashions. He refuses to wear his crocs unless he can wear them with his socks too. I've tried everything but he won't give in. If he's not wearing his crocs 'n socks, he'll be going barefoot - is basically what he's telling me these days.

A-MEN!

2011-08-17T11:04:00.000-05:00

This is going to be short (for me) because I feel like crud, I think it's a sinus infection. And I don't have time to go to the doctor today to get a prescription and they won't call anything in because I haven't been there in 2 years, blah blah. But, I also feel like I'm getting behind on blogging so I want to post just a few things. For one, I've been busy planning Ryder's 2nd birthday party, which is in 3 weeks. Weird.

It's a Dr. Seuss Party, and planning it has been fun!

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I got a new phone because Cellular South is the best and I told them I would give them props for giving me a fantabulous deal (my job does have perks being that I meet alot of people, and I got a new Galaxy out of it, thank you Jesus now it doesn't take me 90 seconds per picture on facebook like it did with my Hero). Ok enough of that.

Here is a video I took of Ryder singing his blessing before he eats. It's sideways because I didn't know you had to turn the phone for it to show up straight. If you can't understand him, he's singing, "God our Father, God our Father, we thank You, we thank You. For our many blessings, for our many blessings. Aaaaa-MEN, Aaaaa-MEN! That's what they sing at school. Just precious.

Then, I wanted to take a picture of Ryder to try out the new camera on the phone. I was wondering why he made an awful face when I hit the button and then he told me it was bwight.

I thought he was just messing with me so I tried it again. Same reaction, but worse.

He was right! I tried to take one of us and JM couldn't even look at the camera. That flash is brutal!

Our friends Ashlea and Kyle had their little girl, Sofie last week. That hair! Look it! It's really not fair that she has more hair at 1 day old than Ryder at 2 years.

???

I bought Ryder four different packs of flash cards. Numbers, Shapes, Colors and Letters. He is in hog heaven, I tell you.

Like really. He's gung hoe over them. Can't get enough.

I think it's just that he really loves to learn. I took him in a store the other day and if he didn't ask me what every single item in the entire store was. What's dis mama? What's dis mama? What's dat mama? What's dis mama? What's dat mama? Then he'll go, "What about...?" "What about...?" And then I don't think he'll ever remember what I told him and next thing I know, we'll see that particular item somewhere and he tells me what it is. Weird things like oven mit for instance.

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Even though it is alot of work being the only "girl" in the house, it's nice alot too. I wish I knew what they were talking about on their way to the dump.

And it's so nice that when I have late meetings, etc., John Michael isn't afraid to take Ryder wherever. Last night I had a JA meeting until late and JM and Ryder went and played golf, just them two.

Talk about dad of the year, I went to Starkville Saturday for the day/night to meet up with friends and as I was getting ready to leave, JM was getting Ryder ready because they were going to spend the day in Vaughan. He sat Ryder up on the counter to brush his teeth and I looked down at his feet.

When did Ryder turn 65? No thank you, we wear ankle socks. I had to explain to JM that these were his winter socks. He says he was joking by putting these on. I do hope so.

We had a lovely time in Starkville, mainly because it was not yet infested with students. We did lots of shopping and my stomach was literally sore on Sunday from laughing so much. And we got to celebrate Meg's engagement! Yaaaaaaaaay!!!!!

Out to dinner.

As always I was missing little Ryder but JM did a good job of sending me photo updates. Here he is with his cousin Madison reading on the chair. Sweet!

Sunday we made up for lost time on Saturday and played and colored with chalk on the rocks till we dropped.

Thursday night we cooked out with these babies and their parents.
Levi, Ryder and Gaines, they are too fun! Can't wait to watch them grow up together.

Being sweet and reading at church.

Hopefully I won't wait this long to blog again. So long!

Songs and Prayers

2011-07-29T09:39:00.000-05:00

We have been renovating our kitchen and Ryder seems to think it's the coolest "game" he's ever played. He's right behind John Michael every step of the way.

Therefore, he is very into his own tools right now. He has been playing with his tool shed extra lately. And he knows all his tools: his screwdriver, hammer, wrench and he calls the pliers his scissors.

He'll say "Ryder fix it" then he'll say "Mama turn". Everything he does, everybody else in the room has to have a turn too.

Lindsey and Levi came by for a visit last week. Ryder loved reading to him and teaching him all the shapes and animals on his puzzles!

I let Ryder hold the banana by himself for the first time. He took this job very seriously and gobbled the thing down before I could even stop him.

When I noticed his cheeks looking full it worried me and I told him to open his mouth. He can mind when he wants to.

My cousin Micki took a road trip and on the way stopped by the Jersey Shore. And brought this back for Ryder. Hilarious!

Ryder is back on the shoe fetish. Any and every shoe he sees he has to try it on.

He found these all by himself and put them on. They were even up in a little shoe holder in my closet. He was quite determind to try on the perfect pair!

I heard some clonking around.

Ryder's bite mark. When I picked him up from school he had an accident report that he got bit but they can't tell you who did it. Well since Ryder doesn't forget a thing, as soon as I picked him up he was saying "child's name bite my back!" over and over. Ha ha! Sure enough he had a big mark on his back.

We were getting ready to go to the MSU Summer Extravaganza and I wanted to take Ryder's picture in his get up. After nearly 20 tries, this is all he would give me. He basically looked everywhere BUT at the camera. He does this on purpose, he hates the camera with a passion.

Still won't look at me.

It was a pretty bad experience. They had a jumpy there and he was going bisserk when we took him out of it because it was time to go. He screamed the whole way out all through the crowd, everyone was staring at us. Since we were already downtown we wanted Keifer's and hoped he would calm down. He did ok but still wouldn't sit in his chair. At one point he fell out crying on that nasty floor. He cried himself to exaustion and here we are as soon as we walked in the door to the house.

Don't you worry. He wasn't about to go to bed without a bath after rolling around on the Keifer's floor. All clean and comfy. This towel is HUGE and I love it. It's actually from the resort we stayed at in Jamaica. Oops, I really didn't bring it home on purpose. I saw it when I was unpacking my bags.

Maybe I'll return it when we go back in January. That's right! I (think) we are going to be able to go for Mandy's wedding in January. I'm crossing my fingers...

Ryder was seriously enjoying his Mexican "See-Food"

And don't try to take Ryder's drink from him. Even when he's asleep. He was out like a light and when I tried to pry this cup from his fingers he held on for dear life, never opening an eye.

Sunday after church we ate at Mazzio's. Ryder enjoyed mostly the fruit from the salad bar. Watermelon to be exact. He was pretty bummed about messing up his shirt.

I soaked it in dawn and oxiclean and washed it in bleach 3 times before it all came out. But it's out. Lesson learned too... No child under the age of ten needs to wear a white shirt.

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OMG Ryder has been sooooo extra sweet lately! This morning he was laying on my bed and I was putting his shoes on. I said "We've got to get your shoes on so you can go to school" and he sat up and put his arms around my neck and said "I stay here mama". Broke my heart :(

But as long as he's got his animals things seem to be okay. He has to see all of his "animal friends" before he goes to sleep and as soon as he wakes up. He instantly asks for the following: Cow, giraffe, monkey, scout, moose and rabbit. This particular morning he was a little upset so we carried rabbit and moose to the car and then into school. I was able to take them back home because as soon as we got there he dropped them and picked up something more interesting in the classroom.

It was so cute, when he walked in the door at school all his human friends were going "Hi Ryder, Hey Ryder!" And then after he told them hey back, he turned around to me and waved real big and said "Byeee mama!" It was just sweet :)

More sweets: At bedtime he requests songs. His favorites are Deep and Wide, Itsy Bitsy Spider and Joy Joy Joy Down in my Heart (Nanni taught him these). He also likes to sing Jesus Loves Me, He's Got the Whole World in His Hands and the ABC's. Melts my heart! And even better, when he wakes up in the mornings, instead of screaming the moment he opens his eyes like he did when he was a baby, he wakes up and starts singing and talking to his animals.

John Michael usually puts him down and they have started the routine of praying for family members and Ryder has gotten to where JM will ask him who he wants to pray for and he starts listing all his grandparents and aunts names, and even friends in his class. But he always starts it off saying "I pray for Ryder, and baby Ryder" every.single.time. So funny.

Trip to NOLA

2011-07-18T22:23:00.000-05:00

First of all, today is the birthday of someone very very very special to me, my MOM!!! I love my mom soooo much and am so happy I live close to her and was able to see her on her birthday today! Her only wish was that she got to see Ryder, well that wasn't too hard. Happy Birthday mama!

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Last weekend John Michael and I took a weekend getaway to New Orleans. JM enjoyed the famous BBQ Shrimp from Pascal's Manale.

Waiting for the cab

JM reunited with his wacko college friends. I have to say this is the most rambunctious group I know. But these guys are full blooded Cajuns, I guess I have to give it to them.

We went to Lucy's, more of a "local's" spot, and there I met Ben C. from this season of the Bachelorette!

The next day we met up with the rest of the group.

By the way, here we are on this same trip three summers ago!

Group shot 2011

And group shot 2008:

Alot has changed since we took this same group trip 3 years ago We now have an almost two year old, Jan and Payton have almost two year twins, and Kristin and Craig have an almost two year old and a little baby girl. All of our boys are only a couple weeks a part, so fun!

Out to dinner at EAT

Ole MC football gang

As soon as we got home we picked up right where we left off. Crazy child carried his 4 wheeler all the way to his pool, threw it in, hopped on and started jumping up and down while on the seat yelling "Ride the hawsie, Ride the hawsie" over and over and over and over.

Just a reminder: Use your swim diaper.

And don't set crayons down on your child's table that is located against a wall.

After his little "love pat", he told the wall he was sorry and gave it kisses, seriously.

Then he heard the garage open (daddy's home). If he hears an unexpected noise he'll put that hand up to his ear and say "isten" (listen).

Ryder's beloved Chick-fil-A cow head. It's constantly, "MY TOW, MY TOW" (cow)

Coloring time.

Ryder does love a backpack.

He's literally running from the camera - HATES IT. He's now stuck between the chair and the brick wall trying to hide. I said I'll give you a cookie and that's how I got him to look my way. He didn't forget it either.

I picked up these handy number magnets from Target the other day along with alphabet magnets, which I haven't opened yet after I saw the disaster that the numbers make. Ryder very much surprised me when he was putting up each number and stating what they were, from 1 to 9. He's been counting for a while (to twenty!) but I had no clue that visually he knew what the numbers were.

By the way, this will hopefully be the last time you see our oldie appliances in the background of pictures. Our dishwasher broke and we said what the heck, time for a full update. The appliances do all have to match, right? I thought so too.

Ryder was quite patient while we browsed.

I wasn't too keen on him laying on that nappy bed that who knows who has tested out, but all you parents know, you just gotta do what you just gotta do...

He let us have it when we got home though!

Look at that bruise.

And I'll leave you with this... I wonder how my child picks up on the things he does. Everyday when I picked him up from school he has the same routine. He comes zooming up to me yelling "MY TUBBY, MY TUBBY" (his cubby). Then after we walk over to his cubby to get his stuff he reminds me to get "MY MILT, MY MILT (can't pronouce k's), so we walk over to the fridge. I was just playing with him and pulled out someone else's cup and said "Is this your cup?" Of course he said NO. But then he goes, "It's _____'s cup (won't share name). I looked and sure enough it was. Then he started pointing and telling me who each cup belonged to. His teacher saw him doing it and said that yes, he knows who each cup belongs to in his class. Then, we were leaving and he looked back to his friends and said "BYE (firstname lastname)" I was like what?? His teacher said, yep, he knows all the friends in his class' first and last names. That child doesn't forget anything, I'm telling you. He blows my mind sometimes.

The Past Couple Weeks

2011-07-04T22:12:00.000-05:00

WARNING: Photo Overload

So much has happened since I last blogged. Nothing big, just lots of events. We've had father's day, a wedding, our anniversary, my trip to GA, and 4th of July festivities.

This picture is so cute to me.

Mrs. Lisa had a suprise 50th birthday party and Ryder wanted to help blow out her candles. I've never seen him eat so much cake. Literally thought he was going to blow chunks all in his bed. He did not.

The next day was Father's Day. We had lunch at Lula's.

Ryder showing us the trees and the sky.

Father's Day dinner at my dad's.

He got Ryder some fingerpaint, he loved it.

And an apron to keep clean.

Ryder and Papa

Our dad with his girls.

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John Michael and I celebrated our 4 year wedding anniversary on June 23. We had a great dinner at one of our favorite spots, Amerigo.

Killing time while we were waiting for our babysitter Kayla.

He got busted in the closet and didn't know we saw him.

I think he was afraid to move for fear of getting caught... or tipping over.

He loves those boots, always saying "I got muh boots on" or "I want muh boots on"

Then, the next night we headed to Oxford because John Michael's cousin Brooke was getting married. Unfortunately, we could only go to the rehearsal dinner because I was leaving early Sunday morning for Athens.

JM was sweet and gave a speech.

Then we had a family outing to the infamous Library.

Early Sunday morning I boarded a plane and spent a week in Athens, GA completing my IOM. After one week each summer at UGA over the past four years, I've been working toward this goal. And I am now certified in Organization Management in the Chamber world. I must say I am glad to be done. It's not easy leaving for a week, and I know it wasn't easy on JM keeping Ryder by himself.

Receiving my certification.

The three of us from Mississippi, DeAnna, Scott and myself.

My whole class, I've been with them for four summers!

As soon as I got back home on July 1, the Fourth of July festivities began. Each day was packed. Friday night our friends Melanie and Steven came over with Gaines. He and Ryder had a big time.

They started to get a little crazy.

We calmed them down with milk.

And put them in the tub.

On the way to bed, Ryder re-discovered his pillow pet cow that Nanni got him for Christmas and refused to go to bed without it. I had to remember to check on him once he was asleep so I could remove the cow from his crib.

Good thing I did.

Note: Do you see his foot going through the bars? When I went in his room at 9:00 - yes, 9:00 the next morning since he still hadn't woken up, his foot had not moved. Needless to say he needs to have friends over more often...

Saturday night we went to Clinton's annual fireworks.

Ryder and his canteloupe. He could win a canteloupe eating contest. Every time he sits down to eat he asks for his "cayope"

He also had his first sip of coke. It was like he was addicted. Everytime he took a sip and pulled away from the straw, he hurried in to get another sip.

Sunday we went to West Point to meet baby Rip, the newest addition to the Ketchum's. We did a little swimming while we were there. I've said it before, Ryder is not scared of the water. JM was in the pool on the shallow side and set Ryder up on the edge to jump in to him. Ryder took off to the other side of the pool, climbed up on the diving board and started running. Thank God he stopped before he jumped in and I had time to run over there. He has no fear. Here is Will throwing Ryder off the diving board.

Sweet Reese sharing her raft and giving Ryder kisses.

Later that day we drove over to Starkville for Walker's 4th birthday party. But on the way there we had some time to kill and stopped by to check out the new Grill.

Walker and Courtney at his party at the Starkville Country Club.

Walker and Poppy

Ryder and CC. You can see she's got his outfit in her hand. Before we knew it he had already jumped right in wearing his clothes.

That boy loves some cake.

And finally on Monday, the actual 4th, we had a little family get together at my aunt's house.

And if it's even possible, we did even more swimming. It has been like torture to Ryder to put his green float on (he calls it his frog). I looked over and he had practically put it on himself, all but snapped it in the back. He was loving this small part of the pool. Jumping in and swimming back and forth all by himself.

Ryder and his sweet cousins, Hayes and Ava.

After we got home, JM got ready for a run. Ryder said "where my hat?"

And this wild and crazy weekend of ours ended tonight with Ryder conking out on his beloved cow.