On the Couch

Evan is getting stronger and stronger. I am able to prop him up in a sitting up position. When I did so on this particular day, I think it was the first time Ryan saw me do it.




Ryan seemed amused that Evan was sitting on the couch.









Back to watching TV...for both of them...

Puddles

Ryan's first experience with puddles. He talked about puddles for the rest of the day.

Manhattan

Today is Ryan's actual birthday, April 18. We spent the morning in Manhattan. Becky's friend from college, Jeanette, and her husband Brad were in town. They live in California so it is a special treat to see them.

Brad & Evan
















Ryan trying out a trike.
















Not a fan of the swings. (But LOVES slides.)

I asked Burke to take a picture of us, but told him to not make us look fat. This is what we got from my hilarious husband.

Happy 2nd Birthday, Ryan!!

Ryan's 2nd Birthday 

Our special little man!! 

Robyn (friend from teaching in Brooklyn), Kara (friend from college), Felicia (Ryan's babysitter), Regina (Felicia's mom/our friend), Julia and Kristine (library co-workers), and Sarah, Nathan & Max (hopefully you know who they are) came to Nyack to help us celebrate.

We visited, ate, sang Happy Birthday, and opened presents. Then Burke and Nathan took the boys for a walk so the ladies could hang out. That was nice!

Blowing out the candle on his cupcake.

Frosting face!

                      Sucking the frosting off the candle.

Evan really liked Robyn! They spent a lot of time together. She totally got him giggling.

He really liked the race car set from Kara. He didn't want to open any more presents after that one and it was only first one. That toy went back and forth between Ryan and Max all evening.

Robyn's gift was also an instant hit. Ryan and Max were drawn to it like magnets.

Ryan doesn't really know about Diego (popular children's TV character), but that didn't stop him from loving this Diego safari set from Kristine. It came with a watch that he was wearing when I put him to bed. I had to sneak into his room to take it off of him. We all know how much he likes clocks.

Evan - 4 1/2 Months Old

I feel I am finally getting to know Evan's little personality, like we have a little better handle on the situation. We can better predict his behaviors and he's on more of a schedule. He's 19 weeks...took me long enough, huh?

Recent fast facts about Evan:
- It is getting increasingly difficult to change his diaper. He is quite the wiggle worm. 
- He began rolling over early. But lost interest in it for a few weeks. Within the last couple days, he has renewed love for rolling over. 
- He has yet to learn to love tummy sleeping. If he rolls onto his tummy while in his crib. He will wake up crying. 
- He has a few nicknames: Big Brother, Little E, Little Ittle E (sounds like Little Italy). 
- He pinches and grabs like a little lobster. 
- I think he's becoming interested in eating real food. He smacks his little lips when I eat while holding him. He also grabs for my utensils and cups.
- He is very ticklish and loves to laugh. 

Spring Fever

Man, am I ready for consistently warm weather. The thing about this time of the year is that one day it's 70 degrees and the next day it's 58 degrees. The morning is cool and the afternoon is pleasant. This makes dressing Ryan and Evan to go outside a little tricky.

Here's Ryan playing in the grass on a nice warm-ish spring afternoon.

Here's Evan before a morning walk. He needs a hooded sweater. But seriously...how cute is he in this little sweater?

Dunk It

Uncle Joey & Aunt Christine got Ryan a basketball hoop for his upcoming birthday.

When we were in Michigan, my brothers declared that they would do what they could to support Ryan's exposure to and participation in sports.

I don't know who taught it to him, but when Ryan plays basketball he says "dunk it" and "hoop". I think that's adorable.

Yesterday was so beautiful out so Ryan got to play hoops outside. Thanks, Joey & Christine!!

Spring Break In Detroit

We were in Detroit from March 27 - April 4. We really enjoyed the time with family and friends. Ryan loves my mom and dad's dog, Jordyn. He also climbed out of his crib and got himself downstairs by himself. That was a first. Evan, on the other hand, was out of sorts a lot of the time. He had moments of peacefulness and everyone still loved him.











My parents have a park near their house so we spent a lot of time there. It was pretty cold when we first got there, but by the end of the week it warmed up nicely.

Bath time.







Ryan loved being outside and learned a lot about basketball.

Playdate at Vicki's

On Good Friday we had a morning playdate at Vicki & Tim's. Beth and her son were there too.

Beth, Vicki and I - with our boys. We went to college together.

Vicki was an awesome hostess, serving up breakfast and lunch! 

Vicki's son Noah (who is 2 weeks younger than Ryan) loves babies and wanted to hold Evan. I think Evan looks almost as big as him. 

Ryan trying out Cade and Noah's jeep. 

Ryan's Early Birthday Celebration

We had a gathering at the Kiddie Klub in Rochester Hills, MI to celebrate Ryan's birthday - two weeks early. There were about 20 people, including kids. I was so happy to have my family and a few close friends and their families come celebrate with us.



There was a big climbing gym with slides and such. There were also trains, trucks, and dress up areas. Ryan particularly like the trucks, bikes, and grocery cart - pretty much anything with wheels.

Evan tries out an excersaucer.










Singing Happy Birthday.

Ryan sucking the frosting off his cupcake.








My friends who came to celebrate - Allyson, Vicki, Beth & Noelle. We didn't attempt to gather all our kids - 7 boys, ages 4 months - 6 years, for the picture.

Coloring Eggs

Our Easter was kind of chaotic because we flew home on Easter Sunday. But my mom still had Easter baskets for us on Saturday night and we colored some Easter eggs Saturday afternoon.

Tuckered Out

Both boys crashed on the way back to Nyack from LaGuardia. The trip/travel tuckered them out. 

Back to real life...

Cute Evan Shots!

These are a couple weeks old, but I love them and just had to post them.

On his changing table, sucking his thumb with the blanket Nana Lokey made for him.









Go Tigers!