A couple of years ago I was spending day after day in bed, ridiculously sick. It was all for a good cause though. I distinctly remember the tangerines on our tree (which produces the yummiest tangerines...but only every other year) started to ripen in the middle of February, and I was so sad. One of my favorite things to eat in the whole world, and they smelled and tasted horrible in my pregnant state. My mind fast-fowarded two years to when we would have another new crop, and I thought to myself, "This baby will be eighteen months by the time I can enjoy those tangerines again!" That seemed like forever into the future, and I was in denial that my baby would ever be eighteen months, so I tried to forget about my beloved citrus and pretended that the day would never come. Well, I looked out my window a few weeks ago and saw a tree full of those delicious, juicy, almost-ripe tangerines and knew what was coming. I am really not very good at letting my kids grow up. Shouldn't they come with a pause button? I have to say, I think I'm handling it all pretty well. It's hard to be sad that Ryan is growing up when more of his cute personality emerges every day. He is SO FUN! And so cute, and smart, and funny, and talkative, and flirty with the girls, and energetic, and sweet, and happy, and independent, and did I mention cute? We are so lucky! So, the good news is that I can enjoy my tangerines and my eighteen-month old. Because I really do love this age.
The other day I had the camera out taking pictures of Nathan and Ryan came out and started posing for me!
It was hilarious. Eighteen months of mom taking pictures...he's got it down.
He got a little carried away...
Ry-guy loves the sandbox. He and Nathan spend lots of time out there!
One of Ryan's favorite things to do is to pretend to cook in the kitchen. Here he is mixing candy hearts and flour. He'll take whatever he can get his hands on!
This is very serious stuff:
It was cold and rainy on his "big day"...you know, when he turned eighteen months...so we built a fire (another one of his favorites) and spent the evening around it.
Nothing like a fire in the fireplace and a good book to read:
Ryan loves watching Nathan shoot hoops in the backyard. Here he is enjoying the view from the safety of the supply box:
Oh, another favorite is "Elefun." I heart this game (so does Ryan!)
Ah, yes, cooking again...I had to banish the bar stools from the kitchen for his own safety. He climbs like you wouldn't believe. We call him our little monkey. :)
Love you, Ryan....you know you'll be my baby forever, no matter how big you get! :)
