A couple random pictures.....

Did I post the story about Ryder cutting his finger pretty bad?

I looked down while we were both standing at the mirror and saw blood on his face, hands and the mirror .....

This is nothing ..... there was so much more blood to follow. If you know me well, you know I don't handle blood very well. I almost fainted. So glad I didn't.

When I took this picture, I had no intention of posting it ... but here it is. Ryder's 2nd time pooping in the tub. The first time he was really tiny. This time it was solid and Rudy had to fish it out, haha. He did it again the next day.

I should really be trying to get more things checked off my "To-Do Before We Leave" list, but we got quite a bit accomplished today so I thought I'd take a minute to write, since something big happened today ....

Ryder took his first step!!! At 9.5 months! Now I don't think he'll actually be walking anytime soon, but it was quite an exciting moment. Rudy and I both got to see it which was great. He has been working on standing without help (usually for 1-2 seconds before falling) and Rudy was having him show me his progress. Rudy stood him up and let go. He hung there for a few seconds, even got a couple bounces in and then plopped down. I was so excited about the bounces, I grabbed him up and then sat on the floor with him. I stood him up and got him balanced, then let go. He stayed and then wanted me so he reached out, took a step toward me and then wrapped his arms around my neck. Rudy and I both shouted, "You took your first step!" and it was excitement all around. I am so glad we were both there to witness it. Such a proud moment. :) And scary too, because even though he may not walk across the room tomorrow, it's not far off.

Ryder has been so funny lately! He has a Leap Frog Learn and Groove Table (which he loves!). It's basically a small table with different buttons and gadgets that plays music, etc. One of the toys plays the ABC's (his favorite song) and he knows exactly which one it is. He will go over to it, stand up, make it play and start dancing to it! He does it a couple times and then he is on to something else. It just cracks us up. It's like he needs a little dance break. He pretty much dances whenever he hears music and it is sooooo cute.

He is also telling us no alllllll the time! Not actually saying it, but shaking his head. He has been shaking his head like that for months and it used to be mostly when we did it he would copy. Now just about every time you talk to him he shakes his head. I will say, "Ryder, come to mommy." He will look at me and shake his head "no" and then flash a huge grin. Or, if he is doing something he isn't supposed to I will say, "Ryder, nooo." He will shake his head - sometimes looking at me and sometimes keeping his back to me. He is such a little stinker!

Ryder LOVES his ball popper toy. Basically using air it pops the balls out a hole at the top and then they drop into a slide type of thing, and repeat. He knows how to turn it on himself and when the balls go crazy and end up on the floor he loves to put them back through the hole. Sometimes he tried to put others toys in there too. :) I never know what I will find jammed into the hole. Today he tried to put my flip-flop in there, silly boy!

Well I really should go get a few more things done before heading to bed. Today we got the weeds pulled, seed pods from the tree picked up, garage organized, and a couple errands done. I hope to finish all my errands tomorrow and get a few more things done around the house. Rudy has already started packing, which completely surprised me!