When I was pregnant with baby Ryan, I was sitting in Emmy's dance class with Jennilyn and we watched as our girls danced to "The Circle of Life." I hadn't heard the song in years, and as I imagined that little baby Simba being held up for all of the animal kingdom to behold, I couldn't help but cry. Jennilyn laughed at me - it was an obvious case of pregnancy hormones.
When I went to the hospital a little over a year ago and the nurse felt my bulging, contracting belly and predicted that my baby would be about seven, maybe seven and a half pounds, I immediately figured we'd be adding a third girl to our family.
Imagine my surprise when Matt announced "It's a BOY!" and I was handed a slippery and sweet and unexpectedly BIG bundle of joy, weighing in at 9 lbs. 8 oz.
I'd heard that big babies were great sleepers, but quickly learned that big babies are hungry babies. He ate constantly. While still in the hospital, we were debating about names, and when we told my mom that the name "Ryan" means "little king" - my mom said, "well you have to name him Ryan then!" And so we did.
A couple months later, after Matt gave Ryan his name and blessing in church, he must have known how I love things to be a little theatrical, and so when he turned to give the congregation a little glimpse of our baby, all of a sudden he lifted him high over his head - Lion King style - for all to see. He had no idea of the little emotional outburst I'd experienced a few months prior.
And so it seemed fitting that we celebrate Ryan's first birthday with lions. Aunt Ashley even taught him to growl at the sight of a lion. When he saw his cake and when he opened up his gift, he let out a roar just as he'd been taught. What a good little king!
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| We are so lucky that Grandma Jo Jo makes the most beautiful cakes! |
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| Let me at it! |
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| All of our wild friends! |
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| Born with manners, Ryan opened the card first |
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| Showing the other lion who is the boss |
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| Emmy and Sophie were sooo excited about Ryan finally joining the world of sugar |
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| party's over |
