The Voorhies Family: May 2012

Our little guy is growing up so quickly. He is developing quite a little personality, which is so exciting to experience. He has become quite the little charmer!

This month we've had some adventures. Ryker and I took a two-week long trip to Maryland. My sister and her husband are relocating back to Minnesota and went there to house hunt while I watched my three nephews. It was a lot of fun, and a great opportunity to get to know my nephews a little better and visit with my sister and brother-in-law. They loved on Ryker so much and spoiled him with attention, cuddles, and holding. My nephews and I would take daily walks and they loved to push the stroller and dubbed him "King Ryker". Sometimes they would bring weapons to "protect" him. They even built him a Lego fortress (which he proceeded to destroy). Ryker enjoyed hangin' with the big boys, going to the park, doing a science experiment, and was mesmerized watching his cousin play basketball. It was a blast!

I had some amount of trepidation about the flights to and from Maryland. I was worried I was going to be "that girl with the screaming baby" on the plane, especially since Ryker is fond of moving around a lot. I was anxious being stuck in a seat for four and a half hours would put him in a foul mood. All that worrying for nothing! Ryker was a rockstar on the airplane. He slept most of the time, but when he wasn't sleeping he was flirting with the flight attendants and becoming friends with a grandpa sitting next to us. Ryker was Mr. Social talking, smiling, and laughing with people around us (especially the ladies). People on the plane and at the airport were great, I never even caught the dreaded eye-roll of fellow passengers for being seated next to a baby (at least not visibly anyway). All in all, a wonderful experience!

Physically Ryker is changing dramatically from one week to the next. One week we get comments about how much he looks like me, and the next he looks just like his daddy! At his four month check-up he weighed in at 14 lbs. 15 oz. and measured 24 1/2 inches long. He is in the 25th percentile for length and the 25-50th for weight and head circumference. It's amazing how much ground he has made up in so little time (after being born so tiny)! He is proudly sporting a double chin, pinchable cheeks (all four), and some thunder thighs that have earned him the nicknames "Chunker" and "Michelin Man". His somewhat thick longish hair that he was born with has been slowly falling out and being replaced with some finer, lighter, fuzzy hair that sticks straight out when lotion hasn't been applied after the bath. His eyelashes are still crazy long and lips still kissable though!

Ryker is breaking out of his shell and enjoys talking, babbling, and telling stories in some language that has the same cadence as English, but has yet to be understood by those around him. He hasn't made any moves to roll-over yet, but usually enjoys his time on his tummy, scooting a bit, turning himself, and making the very beginning crawling motions. The dreaded teething phase has just begun in the Voorhies household (although it may be a while before actual teeth poke through). Fortunately, Ryker's been a trooper and it only manifests itself as excess drool, spitting-up due to the excess drool, chewing on his hands, and a little extra fussiness. You can see and feel the bottom two teeth just starting to try to push through. He still has a hard time in the carseat and in the car, but loves to be outdoors. No matter how upset he gets, going outside, feeling the breeze, and hearing all the birds, always puts him in a better mood. He's our little nature boy! He loves to help Mom with chores, get out and about, and take walks in the Baby Bjorn. Ryker also enjoys standing (strengthening those thunder thighs) kicking, and bouncing, so we tried him in the activity bouncers we have and he loves them! Shout out to our wonderful friends that have handed down toys and clothes - we appreciate it!