Ryder's First Newsletter

Dear Ryder,

You are turning 1 in just a few days and I am baffled with how quickly this year has gone by! You are a blessing beyond words. I often describe you as my "joy baby" because you light up my entire existence (and others as well). You balance out our family with your sweet spirit and grinning face. I am so in love with you and am so thankful you came to me when you did. You keep me sane. I will have a hard time ever letting you go, just so you know. It's true that once you have more than one child you don't get as many pictures or documentation of their life as you would like so I hope I can remember some of the milestones now to record them for forever. Maybe we should go backwards since what you have done this week is easiest to think of.

We have been vacationing in California and have visited the beach as much as possible (your daddy is a beach bum who would live in the water if he could) where each time you also eat as much sand as possible and it shows in your diapers. You speed crawl everywhere and have been doing this since a little bit after you turned 9 months. You love holding our hands to walk and you cruise along anything you can. I can tell you are very anxious to learn to keep up with your big brother.
You and Cohen love to wrestle already and you both giggle and laugh as you roll around on the floor together! (Your big brother is toughening you up!) I love that you and Cohen have grown to love spending time with each other as you play. Sharing is an issue for Cohen, but I see light at the end of the tunnel.

You have just two bottom teeth that came in about 10 months and two top teeth that have been threatening to come in for weeks! You are growing out of liking any baby food so hopefully you will get more teeth soon to help you chew all the big boy food you want! You completely weaned yourself from nursing before 11 months so you are now happy to take a warm bottle. I felt sad at first, it was bitter-sweet, but am enjoying a little more freedom now to have time to myself occasionally and sometimes even a date night for your daddy and I! About that same time your separation anxiety kicked in, in high gear! You follow me around the house and cry at my feet or throw your body at me if you are not in my arms. Sometimes I feel quite claustrophobic, where in I remind myself that the bond between you and I right now where you still depend on me for all your physical and emotional needs is priceless and beyond rewarding!

You are a blankie baby and LOVE holding a silky blanket and sucking your right two index and middle fingers anytime you need comfort or are falling asleep. (It makes my heart melt!) You have slept well most of the time and started sleeping 10-12 hours a night after 4 months. We have had patches where you would wake up once or twice a night but most of the time I would just feed you and you would go back to sleep. You take two naps for an hour or two still. In the morning Cohen loves climbing into your crib first thing to play with you.
You had your first hair cut at 10 months. You had a baby mullet that had to go and while I was holding you and daddy was using the clippers, Cohen grabbed the camera and took a picture of you all by himself! Some of my favorite pictures of you Cohen has taken.
Your first words have been Mama, Daddy, Ba Ba, Uhu-uhu (no) and just today you said Tracy (Aunt Tracy)! Your favorite word is Uh-oh! and you use it all the time with so much expression it's funny! You babble a lot and laugh and make funny fish faces and blow bubbles. You seem to love animals and have been having so much fun with our doggies. You love petting them and sticking out your finger for them to lick. You love bath-time and will hang out next to the tub to let me know you want to get in. You loved going swimming this summer and even fell alseep in my arms in the water once. You really love being outside and get frustrated when the door opens and you can't crawl straight out to play. You love exploring and will dig up lots of things you should not put in your mouth! You have gagged and choked on so many things that it is almost an everyday occurrence even though I scour the floors for any and all small objects where ever we go before putting you down!

You started smiling early on at about 6 weeks, but even before then when you were not even a few pounds wiggling around in my tummy I could feel your joyful spirit. I can't explain it, but I know your sweet disposition and love for life is something you were just created with.
I am so excited you see you each and everyday. I miss you while you sleep and squeeze, smell and kiss you as much as I can while you are awake.
Happy First Birthday my "Joy Baby"! Your Daddy, your brother and I all love and adore you so much and we celebrate your life and that you are a very special and important part of our family.

XOXO,
Mommy