Thursday

We are very blessed to live in a big city that has so many wonderful things for kids. We have a fantastic aquarium, a fun children's museum and one of our favorites, the Cincy zoo. Since the weather has cooled off we packed up and headed to the zoo early this morning. My plan was to get there around 10, stay for an hour or so then head home for lunch and naptime.

The weather was absolutely perfect and the zoo was not crowded at all. Ryan found this alligator he just had to pet! I figured it was harmless even though he don't like gators around this vol nation, haha! Ryan was "petting" the alligator like he does the dogs. He pats them on their back.

We came home, ate lunch and played a little. I got some great video of Ryan walking around that I might have to share later. My mom has been dying for more videos of Ryan.

After I shot the video I played it back on my Iphone to see what footage I got. As I was playing it back I held it up for Ryan to see and he was completely amazed at the video of himself. He sat fixated and watched it three times!

While Ryan was walking around he found the vacuum cleaner and he was fascinated with it. I think a play vacuum might be in his future, ha!

Shoes and Couches

We had a great day. It's finally starting to cool down around here. I am so over this heat and so ready for fall.

I'm thinking about getting the book "Deceptively Delicious" by Jerry Seinfield's wife. Has anyone used it? It's a cookbook for picky eaters. It has recipes for popular food but with hidden healthy ingredients. I refuse to make Ryan chicken nuggets for every meal. He will eat grilled chicken and for that I am thankful. I keep presenting veggies and fruits at every meal and just hope he will get over his texture issue soon.

Ryan is quickly growing out of his two pairs of shoes he currently wears. He has one pair of brown sandals and one pair of tennis shoes. This afternoon we went to Target to find some cheap tennis shoes for fall and hopefully winter. I found these cute shoes. Hope the laces aren't an issue, his current shoes have velcro.

Yesterday our new couch and loveseat were delivered!!! I am soooo excited about them.

This is a terrible picture but you get the idea.

This is our old couch and chair! The couch is in the same spot and the loveseat is where the chair was.

We have been shopping around for awhile for a new couch because our current one is plain worn out. We got it soon after we got married at Sofa Express. The big mistake was going the cheap route. The cushions are worn down so you feel like you are sitting on the floor. We started shopping around this summer and found these beauties. They are so comfy and we are very happy with them.

It's so hard to get a pic of Ryan walking. He is always on the move and he is fast! I thought this pic was adorable!

Babies and Picture Frames

Today Ryan and I went to visit our good friend Kristin and her sweet baby Jackson. He just turned one month old and he is the sweetest thing. It was great to catch up with Kristin and meet Jackson. Ryan was good but he wore me out, ha! He tried to climb the stairs no less than 10 times in the one hour we were there. Didn't matter where I put him down he would find the stairs. I'm in big trouble when this boy starts running!

Ryan must have wore himself out because he fell asleep on the way home. I laid him down asleep when we got home and that never happens. Some of the things we did this afternoon...

Reading and looking at his flashcards.

Taking a ride in his car.

And feeding the cow. He loves to put the veggies in the cows mouth on the barn.

I've been searching for just the right picture frames for our family pictures that were taken this summer. I found these two frames at Michael's last week and I love them. They are prefect. Now I just have to find the right place to put them.

I'm thinking about putting this pic of Ryan in our master bedroom!

Labor Day 2010

This past weekend we headed down to Norris Lake with the family. Matt's Uncle has a house down there and we enjoy getting down there relaxing and boating. Ryan enjoys boating too!

We headed down to TN on Friday night. The traffic on the way down was nuts. We got to the house late Friday night and crashed! Ryan did well on the car ride. He doesn't watch much TV and nothing really keeps his attention but he loves some PraiseBaby. I am on the hunt to find more PraiseBaby DVD's.

Saturday we packed our lunches and headed out on the boat. The weather was absolutely beautiful. It was a little chilly in the morning but by afternoon it warmed it nicely! We made it out to the big part of the lake, parked and had lunch. Matt went swimming in the lake and said it felt like bath water. I was taking care of Ryan so I didn't swim.

Captain Ryan!

Saturday night we grilled hamburgers and hotdogs then we made smores by the fire. Matt's cousin Isaac makes a mean fire. We usually sit out there forever just chattin and enjoying the fire.

Sunday we took the boat out again and enjoyed the beautiful weather. I can't wait til they get a tube for the boat. I love me some tubin! We ate dinner Sunday night then got on the road to head back to the Nati! We had a great time and enjoyed spending time with the family.

Matt had to work this morning so we did our normal monday morning workout at the gym then came home for lunch and nap. I love marathons on holiday weekends. I caught up on Little People, Big World and House Hunters International. It was a nice relaxing labor day weekend.

What Time Is It???

It's FOOTBALL time in TENNESSEE!!!!!

I absolutely LOVE this time of year! I'm soooooo excited college football has officially begun!!!

Our TN vols have a new coach and a young team this year but I am a Vol fan through and through! I will be watching and cheering on my Vols every week!

Can I just tell you this picture above was taken last September when Ryan was 13 weeks old and it gives me LOTS of baby fever! Oh I miss his squeshiness and being so small! Oh my!! He is so cute in his UT orange!

One of my favorite things we do during football season is get take out for dinner, you know wings or pizza, all the things bad for you, ha! We put Ryan to bed and go down to the basement and watch the game on the big tv in high def. You almost feel like you are at the game! I love it and can't wait! Go Big Orange!!!!!

Who are you cheering on this season?

Our Day

Today was one of those days that we just hung out and played at home. We ran a couple errands but we were at home for the most part. As I mentioned in Ryan's 14 month post he is taking one nap during the day now. I like this because we have lots of time in the morning to run errands and do fun playdates.

I noticed last week that Ryan wasn't taken as long of afternoon naps like he was when we were on vacation. On vacation he would take 3+ hour naps. I know were were doing alot but I was hoping when he moved to one nap a day he would take a longer afternoon nap. Well this week I put a blanket over his window thinking it wasn't dark enough in his room and wouldn't you know he has been taking 3+ hour naps ever since.

He was trying to call Nana and tell her hi! He will know put the phone up to his hear like he is talking on it. What's funny is he usually puts it behind his ear, it's so cute!

Tonight we went to dinner with our neighbors, the Pairan's, to celebrate Angie's 40th birthday! We went to Brio's and it was so yummy!

We are so glad to have such great neighbors. They are the sweetest family. Maggie and Mack enjoy playing with Ryan and they love to entertain him. Ryan is completely fascinated by them.

Here's the birthday girl herself!

The cake was AMAZING!!! It was from Cicninnati fav Busken Bakery. It was so yummy and moist.

The cake says "Lordy, Lordy, Angie's turning 40!

How sweet is this picture? Absolutely precious! Ryan was giving Mack loves!

Ryan was absolutely amazing during dinner, and we were there for a long time. He colored a little and played with his book. He must have been starving because he ate all his peaches, a ton of cheerios, a good amount of chicken and drank all his milk. I was amazed and so happy he ate so well. He will sleep well tonight!

Playdate and Lunch

Today we went over to our friend Ruth and Nicholas' house for a playdate and lunch. Our friends Anissa and Elizabeth came too. They kiddos are a month or less apart in age. It's so neat to see them play together now.

Ryan absolutely loved Nicholas' treehouse slide. He went up and down the slide no less than 57 times, ha!

Ruth has decorated the cutest playroom. It's so cute! Ryan had the best time playing with all of Nicholas' toys.

This adorable lawn mower was one of Ryan's favorite toys he played with. He loved pushing it around. Daddy just wishes he was old enough to push the real mower, hahaha!!!

Nicholas and Ryan were non stop. Total boys - they never slowed down!

We had so much fun and I enjoyed hanging out with friends. It was nice just letting the kids run around and play and just be kids!