17 Months

Ryan has become much more vocal and interactive this month. He knows and understands more than I could have imagined. He responds to questions with "yea" appropriately, understands close, open , off, on, give hugs and kisses, where's the baby, go get your ball, coat, elephant..., bring to mama. He is also so perceptive- it's unbelievable. He put his cup in his Mickey car before dinner. We had to search to find it. A couple hours later, he says "bubu' and opens the car looking for the cup. It was crazy. He also found two clips downstairs on the futon that were usually in a basket upstairs. I had just moved the basket downstairs the previous day. He found the clips on the futon and brought them over to the basket in it's new place. I couldn't believe he remembered.

Ryan has also become quite the neat freak (uh oh- just like daddy!) He knocked over a bucket of shapes as he was walking by- he turned- looked at the shapes on the floor- then turned back to pick them all up and set the bucket back where it belonged. He also loves "vacuuming with his popper (even under the end table) and Swiffering. He had a small tantrum when I wouldn't let him Swiffer for me. He also gets upset when he can't take Maddy outside (We can't figure out why because we never let him before!) Although he has some small moments, he is mostly keeping us on our toes and laughing. Here are some of our favorite Ryan moments this month:

*He spotted his gifts from Gramma and Grampa early. He said "ooo", pointed and clapped for his new John Deere wagon and Cozy Coupe. The Cozy Coupe should have come out earlier in the evening we decided because he sat in that thing the rest of the night, driving his cup and mom's new water bottle around.

*While mom, Aunt Ali and Steve were playing Beatles Rock Band, we looked over to see Ryan sitting on daddy's lap with his ears plugged, then later his hands over his ears!

*Pulled a bowl of pretzels down from a table. Fed them to Maddy. I asked him if he ate any. He shook his head and said "No, No, No)

*He got a bowl and box of cereal from the cupboard. When I walked into the living room, he was pouring the cereal into the bowl and Maddy was eating it! Partners in crime I guess!

*He loves to climb on things now. He was standing on a box trying to get into his toy chest we said "Uh Un" so he put down his cup and tried to stand on that!

*Dad said he had Ryan's boat in the shower and made the "Hmmm Hmmm!" boat noise. Ryan quick opened the cabinet under the sink where his boat is kept to make sure it was still there. When he saw the boat under the cabinet he closed the door and left. Phew!

*Whenever he sees Bucky, a football helmet, motion W, a football game on tv, the Lee Evans poster we have, he says "Mmba". We think he is saying football. He is our son for sure!