One small step...

Actually a few small steps for Ryne - one giant leap for my life because it will never be the same from this point on!

I was so excited yesterday. I just knew Ryne would walk any day now. The pediatrician said he thought Ryne would walk by 9 or 10 months, so we've been anxiously waiting. Ryne can stand up without pulling up on anything. So surely that means he has enough core strength to walk - he just needed to get his legs moving! He is still not a pro at walking by any means and crawls mostly, but before long I know he will be running through the house like a maniac!

His first "solo mission" consisted of taking three steps and then falling onto the glider ottoman. I don't think he realizes that he has to keep those feet moving! I started crying with excitement, and then thought that maybe my mind was playing tricks on me. So I stood him up to make a second attempt. That time he took two steps and fell on the third step. Then I really started crying! Ryne started giggling and jumping up and down - he likes to see me cry.

Hopefully we can get him on video soon!

10 Months!

Ryne is 10 months old! I just want time to stop! I can't handle the fact that in two months he will be a year old!

This past month has been insane! Ryne had an ear infection and was on antibiotics for 40 days - that's right, 40! It is so heartbreaking to know you child is in pain and all you can do is give them antibiotics and tylenol (tylenol that was shortly recalled AFTER we finished an entire bottle!). It's hard on the parents too. This past month I've felt like I licked my finger and stuck it in the electrical outlet! Ryne has been pulling at his ear the past few days, so I'm praying he doesn't get another ear infection!

Ryne has started talking a lot more! He says "mama" (only when he's crying),"papa", "dada", "baba", "bapa" (his favorite character is BackPack from Dora), and "boo" (for Boots the monkey on Dora). He has also said two "real" words! He says Daddy, byebye, and he said "river" once! I know most people don't believe that a 10 month old baby said "river", but he did! There was an episode of Dora where they cross the noisy river and of course they repeat the word a million times, and he said "river." I wouldn't have believed it myself, but I was sitting right next to him when he said it. It doesn't hurt that Ryne's favorite cousin also shares that name. BackPack doesn't stand a chance against Cousin River!

Ryne has also been swimming a little lately. We start them out early in this house! It's no surprise that he would absolutely LOVE the water. Adam and I met at the pool and the pool has been a huge part of our lives since. Hopefully as the weather warms up, we can spend even more time in the pool. Ryne will be ready to swim with the 8 and under age group on the swim team next year! Ha!

Ryne is still NOT walking yet. He walks and pushes his walk-behind truck, but he will not do it on his own. If we try to get him to walk on his own, he just sits down. He can actually stand on his own, without pulling up on anything, which makes me think he should be physically capable of walking unassisted. I honestly wonder if he knows he can get around quicker by crawling than walking right now!

Even though I don't want Ryne to grow up to0 quickly, I'm still excited to see what the next month holds!

Ryne giving Dadda the face, while Dadda attempts a "judy chop!"

In the big boy tub!

I Heart Squash!

Real men wear leggings!

Ryne's Baptism!

I do not Heart the back float!

Pool Time!

Craftiness

It's getting warmer here in Tennessee, so it's time to bust out the tank tops and sundresses! A lot of my summer clothes from last summer, are in much need of alterations. This time last year, I was six months pregnant. I didn't want to spend money on a lot of maternity clothes because when we have another child, it may not be during the same time of year. So the maternity clothes may never be worn again. I thought the best thing to do was buy empire waist dresses and tops, stretchy skirts and loose fitting rompers so I could wear them the next year. I honestly thought my hips would never go back, I'd always have a little more weight on me, etc. Well.....not so much the case! I lost more weight than what I gained with pregnancy and I can't seem to get some weight back on. [I know you want to smack me, right?] If you've ever seen me take Ryne out to eat dinner, you would understand why. So I've decided that since Ryne's wardrobe is cutting into my wardrobe budget, I need to get crafty with some of the clothes I already have.
I recently came across a blog called New Dress A Day where this girl buys dresses muu muus from yard sales, and such, and she alters them into cute dress and shirts. She has a $365 budget for 365 dresses, hence, a new dress a day! I decided to take some of her ideas and put them to go use. I had a white chiffon dress that I bought to wear at our wedding reception (almost 5 years ago!). I never changed out of my wedding gown, so the dress was never really worn. With David and Sarah's wedding coming up, I wanted to wear the dress, but I can't wear a white dress, when it's not my wedding! So, in the words of celeb fashion coordinator, Rachel Zoe, "I dye!" I dyed the dress a pretty, canary yellow!

I have never dyed anything before so I figured if it didn't work, I could try to redye it black, or throw it away! It actually turned out pretty well!

Now, I just need to learn to sew so I can start altering other dresses and clothes!

Before: plain white dress

Dye Job

After: very yellow and wrinkly!