The Voorhies Family

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

5 Months

Ryker continues to be a sweet tempered little boy (although I don't know many mothers that would tell you otherwise about their baby). He likes to smile, laugh, talk, and squeal. His new form of communication is blowing raspberries. He sometimes concentrates and works so hard to get his mouth to make sounds to babble, and he has replaced a lot of syllables lately with raspberries. He also thinks it's funny to cough when putting his arms into and out of clothing. Simple games, sounds, songs, toys, textures, and activities amaze him and often make him squeal and laugh. He especially enjoys being lifted high and decending with jerky movements which sends him into giggles.

All smiles at 5 months

Whoa, bright light!

A boy and his dog, or a dog and her boy?

All walked out

BIG BOY!

Ryker's linebacker physique is up to about 16 and 1/2 pounds. Super light fine baby hair is now very visible on his arms and legs, and his eyes are still blue for now. His fuzzy blond hair on his head sticks straight up, and is getting longer (we often get comments about how "cute" his hair is, which means it is probably pretty funny looking). He is working so hard at being able to roll over without our help, but his chunky arms keep getting in the way. He does enjoy scooting in circles around his rug though.

Family time

First big boy jammies (two-piece), his gut likes to sneak out!

Good morning

Tummy time on his bear rug from Grandma Voorhies

Love this face!

Ryker has made many new friends lately. He enjoys the library program for babies and is quite the little socialite. We had the opportunity to visit a few friends and their babies as well. Most notably, we enjoyed our first visit with a dear friend and her adorable set of triplets. Ryker had a charming conversation with the little girl of the set who was a bit enamored with his blond hair, blue eyes, and multiple chins... or maybe she was just excited to see another baby besides her brothers.

Ryker and his friends the triplets

Tuckered out

Who me?

This month has also brought a bunch of firsts for our little guy. He enjoyed his first time swimming in a pool (a gloriously heated pool, I might add)! Ryker loved the water and may be the next Michael Phelps with the way he was splashing and kicking. We also went to our first Texas Rangers baseball game and had the pleasure to witness our dear friend play the national anthem and sing at the 7th inning stretch - what an experience! Sadly, it was also Ryker's first time being sick (upper respiratory virus), but he took it like a champ and recovered quickly. I think it was harder on mommy and daddy than it was on him!

First Rangers' game

Getting sleepy at the game

First Speedo (complete with love handles)

First time swimming

First time sick :-(

We are grateful for and enjoying every moment with our little miracle and all the wonderful nuances of parenthood.

Otto likes the rain, and Ryker likes to watch the rain

Pooped out while playing

Ryker and Daddy

Ryker and Mommy

Getting sugar from Mom (I think that's a southern term)

Friday, May 18, 2012

The 4th Month of Parenthood

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!

First flight was a breeze!

Sleeping away on the airplane

"King Ryker" of Maryland

Special time with cousins

At the park with cousins

Ryker loves his cousins, Jake, Nick, and Luke

Taking turns pushing "King Ryker"

King Ryker's Lego fortress built by loving cousins

Who's that funny guy?

Bath time in Maryland

Loving his first time in activity bouncer

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Help! I'm being eaten by a shark!

Talking

Tummy time

Yikes! Who are you calling the Michelin Man?

4 months with his teddy!

All smiles!

Monday, April 30, 2012

Month 3

I know, I know... I'm way behind. Here it is a week away from Ryker's 4 month birthday and I'm just now getting to write about his 3rd month. We've been busy this month (more to come about that in a couple of weeks).

Let's see, Ryker's 3rd month of life had several firsts involved. Ryker survived his first tornado warning with 12 tornadoes in the area, but no damage in our immediate area, thankfully. I spent a good part of the day in the tiny closet under our stairs (no basements in Texas) with two babies (Ryker and his friend Emery), two large dogs, and a cat that didn't want any part of the hullabaloo. It was quite a day!

Ryker also attended his first concert. He went to go see our good friend, Mr. Colin Boyd, rock the outdoor patio and recognized several of Colin's songs that were played to him in the womb. We hope to instill a love and enjoyment of music in our little guy - so far so good!

Also, Ryker met his Aunt Amy and Uncle Jimmy for the first time (I'm sure they would protest if I didn't add something here about them being his favorites). They flew in from Minnesota for a few days and got to spoil Ryker rotten and take some pictures to be used later for blackmail (Ryker was NOT impressed with all the girly hats Aunt Amy made him wear for some pictures). In spite of this, he can't wait to see them again (and meet the rest of his aunts, uncles, and cousins) in July when he will visit Minnesota for the first time.

Additionally, Ryker got to meet some of Daddy's side of the family. He met his Great-grandma Von and great-aunts Marthann, Jenna, and Dana. He got passed around and loved on like crazy. I think I even heard them say he was the most handsome well-behaved boy they'd ever had the pleasure to be around (that could just be a mother's selective hearing though). He also met the crazy Voorhies clan at a family reunion on St. Patty's day!

At his 3 month shots (we are doing an alternate vaccine schedule) Ryker weighed in at a hefty 13 pounds and 15 ounces (so we just called it an even 14 lbs.). He has graduated to size 2 diapers and size 3-6 clothes right on cue; although, at the rate he is growing, I'm sure that will change quickly. He also has started babbling and interacting a little more. He has gotten much better at tracking and focusing. He is still being a good boy and letting mommy sleep 8-10 hours each night!