the walking dead, walking babies and stuff.

well, it's been awhile since my last post so i thought i'd pipe in for a bit while i'm feeling up to it.

i vividly remember several days during nap time where i thought to myself, "i should write". bless my poor hustling soul! i mean every single time. nothing was prying this ol' body off the couch. i've been tired yo. two up and at it babes will do it to you. oh yeah, first things first though the baby (who's not really a baby anymore *insert crying whining sad face*) girl is finally walking! it only took her 15 months, but i'm not complaining and i honestly don't know how i convinced myself both times that i was ready for them to walk. dead wrong on both occasions.

speaking of dead, we've recently developed a thing for the walking dead, you know, the tv show. i know, i know, we are way behind, but the husband signed us up for a free trial of netflix and it's been non-stop walking dead after the kids are in bed (did that just rhyme?). and we are totally not zombie people. i don't know how they do it. plus, i've trained myself to look away during the gory parts and have only had nightmares once, so there's that.

oh and the little boy is up to all the best things. i know i say it all the time but three has got to be my favorite. plus, we're finally potty trained. so the two's can kiss it on that one.

here's some favorite convos and/or things he's said:

me: "you got pepper on your tooth!"

ry: "cheeeeeeese!"

me: "do i have pepper on my teeth?"

ry: "nooooooo, you got a burger on you teeth!"

/ / /

(wanting me to play with his hair) ry: "can you pet me mom?"

/ / /

me: "ry do you want another baby?"

ry: "yes."

me: "do you want a boy or a girl baby?"

ry: "boy. can we have another boy? can we have another rylan baker?"

/ / /

"hold my hand so we can dance."

/ / /

(to me at bedtime) "i want you to lay here a minute, k?"

/ / /

(ry translating for tenley to us a breakfast) "she said i'm eating get out of my spaceship!"

/ / /

"no! don't shoot me! i'm a doctor!"

/ / /

(tenley crying in the car) "tenley cut it out!"..."tenley cut it out! i don't need that! ten...listen. ten listen to me. i'll get you something if you be good and not cry."

the other day we went and visited a mother's day out program that we are considering for rylan in the fall. my emotions are all over the place about it. i know he will do great with whatever we decide, but i've been there for all of the moments and i don't want to miss a thing (*cue singing*). the reality that he's growing up is hitting me square in the face every day now. i'm finding less and less crumbs under his seat at the table and i'm asking more and more of him-the fetching of the diapers and the clothes and such, and he's specifically told us that he's not a baby, he's a boy, he's just rylan. as we were leaving the  mother's day out program that we were checking out, he says to me, "i want to go to school." my heart just crumbled on the floor.

a couple of days later, we were playing in our "classroom" at home and he says the most precious words a stay at home mommy can hear, "mom, i'm so happy you be home with me."

and all was right in the world.

rylan and the threenager.

i'm calling today the "day of the poops".

by 11 am i had already changed three horrendous poopy tenley diapers in the span of three hours (or less?), so yes, that equals out to about one poop per hour (that's a lot of poopin'!).

then an hour or so later, after i had just given the kids a bath (lunch is messy y'all!), i tried to squeeze in a quick potty break for myself. i finished washing my hands and *CLINK* i hear the toilet lid go up in the kids' bathroom (this is NOT a good sign). i literally sprint to the other bathroom and there rylan stands. poop smeared all over his butt, holding his dirty poopy undies over the toilet trying to dump the poop from them into it's proper place. i'm mortified. i feel my brain starting to explode. and i'm certain there was steam coming from my ears. he dropped the undies in the toilet and all i can think to do is squeeze the water out of them and trash em'. i then proceed to deal with the poop on the hiney and straight to the tub for bath numero dos he went.

***

the days are long and hard, but i love this age, really i do. it may kill me, but i love it.

it hit me today, as birthday number three is approaching, that in the same amount of time that has already passed from this next birthday forward you will be SIX! that's just impossible. i'm declaring a worldwide age stoppage right this instance! as long as we can get our poops in the correct spot that is ;).

our rylan is becoming mr. independent. "i do it." he says. and i just sit back and watch. mistakes are made along the way, but i'm right there for every moment. to teach him, correct him and guide him. and oh, when he gets things right, what a bittersweet day.

he's saying some of the best things these days too. that's probably my favorite thing right now. like the other day during dinner we were going around the table asking each other questions like "what was your favorite thing we did today?" and he asks daddy, "what was the perfect thing you saw?". isn't that just the best question ever?! i was so proud. i pray that you grow into a man who asks questions and digs deep into the souls of the people you love. oh, and one night while getting you dressed we had a long conversation about how God made us, "He made your feet, and legs and arms, and your beautiful eyes" and at the very end of it all you exclaim, "gigi has three eyes too!". seriously, the best things are coming from this mouth of yours.

and let us not forget, cory. yes, cory. your imaginary friend who we are now using to get you to finish your cheeseburgers. we were sitting at braum's the other night and there was an extra chair and you asked me who was sitting there and i said no one. you were delighted to tell me that cory would be joining us in the open seat. you then claimed him to be your "best buddy" so i dug in a bit more...

me: "what color is cory's hair?"

you: "red."

me: "what color are his eyes?"

you: "green."

daddy: "is he tall or short?"

you: "tall."

daddy: "taller than me?"

you: "yeah."

the description was pure genius.

what an imagination.

but then there's the threenager. i don't know why no one ever told me about the threenager, but it's true and we aren't even technically there yet. there's the bossiness and the stubbornness too. along with a healthy dose of entitlement. and i'm pretty sure you've told everyone in the house to "obey" you at some point or another. and the fits. yeah. perfectly done kid. to a "T". i honestly wouldn't even have the energy to put on one of your little fits much less two, or three, or however many you're pulling off these days. i'm holding out hope that the teenage years won't hold a candle to this. i guess we'll see.

there are lots of sweet times too though. like when you ask me to sing you one more song or to lay with you when i'm putting you to bed. and how during your first movie in the theater you kept saying, "mommy wook at dis!". and when you get scared of something (like going on the elevator) you cling to my leg. makes my heart want to burst.

so although these days may be long and hard, they are some of the best because of you.

a big boy room.

rylan's "big boy" room has been a work in progress for a while now. i had a couple of items from ikea in mind to replace the dark wood furniture that we had in his nursery so we had to do some online shopping. and waiting. we met a few bumps in the road along the way and after spending literally hours on the phone with ikea and explaining to my neighbors that we aren't just listening to elevator music for fun (if you're gonna keep me on hold that long you could at least play some greatest hits from the 90's to smooth things over) we received the final missing package. or packages. whatever. did you know that if you are missing just one of the packages to your ikea piece of furniture they mail all of the packages regardless? weird, i know. so now we're sitting over here with two of the three packages for an extra mandal dresser. who knows what we're going to do with it. i'm not even about to get back on the phone with ikea and ask them what to do!

a couple of things have been added since these pics were taken and i didn't even get a photo of the mandal dresser (except the top of it pictured above), but it's there and we love it!

bed: the sundvik bed from ikea
bedding: the eivor ord duvet cover and pillow case from ikea, quilt: gift
world map pillow case: similar here
banner: DIY
tee-pee: DIY
toy box: gift
rylan letters and baseball decor: hobby lobby
baseball gloves and shadow boxes: thrift store find
canvas hamper: babies r us
dresser: the mandal dresser from ikea

two and a half.

you're like a little ray of sunshine everywhere you go just spreading light, joy, happiness. i want to be just like you. except for the tantrums, you know, not publicly acceptable for adults and all.

you love to talk and you're pretty good at it i might add. one guy told us that you should be doing the NBC nightly news! i'd be sure to tune in to see that! if i'm ever being too quiet you say, "mommy talk!". bossy too. i can barely keep up ;).

some favorite sayings:

-"mommy whadyou fhank?" aka mommy whatcha think?
-"belax" aka relax
-"i see you hiney!"
-"whatchu doin'?"

you've been obsessed with Siri on our iphones lately. you like to ask what's she's doing. i tell you she's taking a nap ;). one night when you were praying you even thanked Jesus for her! i tried to hold the laughs in, but i lost it! lots of character in you kid.

you have become one of my best friends over the past two and a half years. you are simply one of the most amazing souls on earth and i'm blessed to call you my son. you've changed me, challenged me, made me a better person, and drawn me to my Savior like never before. two and a half years of being abundantly blessed by your life and yet a lifetime with you would never be enough. so here's to more nights praying for your little heart to one day be His and for an eternity together with Him.

p.s. you're a great big brother. minus all the pushing, you know, and the hitting. you're just trying to teach her to stick up for herself, right?

love you forever baby,

momma

29 months.

you're getting so old! not really, but yes! really!

you continue to amaze us every day. like that time you told daddy to sit with us at the table. you know, you used the term correctly and everything! we're just wow-ing over here.

your vocabulary and sponge brain are really the best. you're just soaking everything up.

some favorite sayings:

"where IS penguin?" *emphasis on is

"that's what i'm talkin' bout!"

"it burns goin' down!"

"good morning momma."

the other day i was talking to you about my upcoming trip to africa and i was getting all sad and mushy telling you how much i'd miss you and you came up and gave me a big hug, tiny pats on the back included, and said, "don't worry momma. he'll getcha out.". sweetest. moment. ever. really.

you're becoming such a big boy and i can hardly see the baby at all anymore. the chubby cheeks and feet, the innocence, where have they gone?

my my my, this is going by too fast.

love you forever my little man,

momma

28 months.

so yeah, lots of things going on with you over the past month or so. still in the process of potty training you (it's going much better these days-cheers!) and you seem to be getting the hang of your big boy bed aka mattress on the floor. we are in the process of finding the perfect new bed :).

you were the ring bearer in your aunt pay-pay's wedding this month and you did a great job! i was so proud! i will never forget watching you walk down the aisle to me and realizing as you got closer that you were "shooting me" with the stick in your hand. seriously. day. made. no, life made.

but really you are the most ornery little boy on the planet. and i can't help but fall for you. guess i'm a bit drawn to the "bad boy" in you ;).

you are so contrary. sometimes to get you to eat something we tell you not to eat it and what do you know-you do! reverse psychology for the win! did you know we are fantastic parents?

oh yeah, and growing up. yeah, i really hate that part. you've been doing a lot of it lately. at the wedding you wanted to dance by yourself, you want to sit on the "big" potty without momma steadying you, trying to feed you something on a spoon is pure torture, and you've been kind of a daddy's boy lately.

i'm trying to accept all of these things because i know it's reality.

sweet little boys grow up,

but you will always be mine,

no matter how big.

love you forever,

momma

p.s. favorite sayings: "hairs lookin' good" and "lookin' good momma". what a charmer you are ;).

27 months.

so, potty training.

will it be the death of me?

i can see it now,

dearly beloved mother

1985-2014

death by potty training

this has been by far the hardest part of parenting you. we've tried potty training with you two other times and this time we decided to dive right in head first. mickey undies. that's right. we heard from the "experts", whoever they may be, that it's best to just move straight to underwear and that the accidents are the best way to learn. who are they kidding?! the first day you peed every mickey undie in the house! we've been at it for over a month now and you have good days and bad, but we're sticking it out.

oh and #2's! you like to refer to them as "snake". oh. my. gosh. typing that out just kills me! your wife is going to have some good stuff on you one day :).

some things that seem to work for us: telling you not to pee pee on mickey, "look daddy wears undies too", "if you have to go potty-STOP-and go right away"-thanks for that daniel tiger ;), and skittles-kid definitely has an opinion about these kinds of things and chocolate chips are not an acceptable alternative. that and staying calm. daddy has done a great job at this and i think he's been the key here.

oh and get this, you earned your big boy bed by stripping down to your diaper, removing it and peeing in your crib! so congratulations to you!

some favorite sayings:

"pwweeease."

"oops, my bad."

"oh ma'am." (instead of oh man)

"no way!"

"get snake out."

"yes, i did."

"oh. my. gosh."

"hi friends."

"hi _____. what yn doin'?"

"sowwy momma. yunidntyudonthavetosay sowwy." aka you didn't do anything, you don't have to say sorry.

p.s. where are all the people who say they potty trained their kids in 3 days??? let me at em'!! or better yet come on over-he's all yours! good luck! ;)

even during these "trying twos" you are still one of my favorite people.

i love you so much and can't wait to see you on the "other side" -dry mickey undies and all :)

love you forever,

momma

you are my wild.

when i found out i was having a baby boy in 2011 i was in a bit of a state of shock and disbelief tinged with a hint (or perhaps a lot of hints) of uncertainty. i grew up with only one sister and although i spent the majority of my childhood as a "tomboy" i was scared.

the life and ways of "boy" were uncharted territories for me...

fast forward a couple of years and i cannot imagine my life without him. there's just something about us that's unlike any other thing.

i love all of the things that make him, him, and all of the things that make him, boy. i'm fascinated by him and the way he can transform almost anything into a play gun...straws, rulers, boxes of raisins. the way he prefers to knock things over instead of building things up. how he throws everything and wants to always be outside. his energy. how he has already perfected the sound of shooting or something exploding (i always wondered how they do it, i guess they are just born with it...). his innate sense to fight or protect. how he pretends to be brave when chasing down the "bad guys".

sometimes i can almost feel his need to escape, for adventure, to be free, beating beneath his chest. like an untamed horse, this boy is so perfectly wild and wonderful.

i may not ever fully understand the life and ways of "boy", but it is something i get to marvel at now daily.

what a privilege to be his momma.

i long for Christ to make me as bold and as wild and as free as he is.

he is a beautiful soul.

26 months.

i guess there's always a curveball thrown in when you've got kid(s). you've been trying to change up our schedule around here lately. which i'm, of course, not a fan of. you used to sleep until 8:30-9:00am and have been trying to wake up around 8:00am. i know, i know, that's normal for most people, but i'm NOT a morning person. i need my sleep people!

your nap is getting shorter as well...

all signs of you coming out of babyhood.

can't you just stay there a teeny bit longer?

oh and the fits too. can they just go away?

disciplining is so hard. i'm trying to be consistent, but some days i feel like you are in trouble all day long and it's not my favorite.

we've been discussing during your punishments that your heart is "ugly" and that's why you act the way you do sometimes and that Jesus can make your heart beautiful. i know you don't really understand yet, but i'm trying to get to the deeper issue as simply as possible. it is my hope that this will help lead you to Christ. that you will see your deep need for Him. and hopefully sooner rather than later.

your vocabulary is astonishing, well, to me anyway.

you love curious george and "racing".

and, if we would let you, you would probably go up and down the slide at chick-fil-a all day long.

oh and you doing "crunches". funniest thing on the planet.

i can't believe how fast you're growing up.

i'm going to miss you. right here and right now. and these days.

love you forever,

momma

6/52

"a portrait, once a week for 2014"

a few weeks ago we visited some friends in kansas. they have a little boy about a year older than rylan. our little guy fell in love with his buddy's nerf gun and mad scientist goggles!

the 52 project

taking monthly pictures is so much fun.

you should hear all the hooping and hollering that goes down just to capture these pictures! things start to decline drastically fast. the place turns into an absolute madhouse. i'm not even kidding. oh, but once you get just one good one it makes it all worth it...right? am i right? i can hear the Mr. "puhh-ing" in the background. oh well, let the hollering commence! i'm sentencing these two to side-by-side pictures for life!

p.s. good lighting makes the biggest difference, therefore, i'm hating you Mr. Winter for the dreariness you bestowed upon this past couple of month's photos!

p.p.s. i will announce the GooseWaddle Giveaway winner tomorrow! today is the last day to enter!

and p.p.p.s. sorry i haven't been posting the 6 week crossfit workout plan! if you are still following it, here are weeks 4, 5, and 6! i am stuck on week 5! grrrr.

5/52

"a portrait, once a week for 2014"

i love these two little goonies.

the 52 project