Standing toys

Hi, it's Ryan again reporting on the family blog. Last time I reported, I was sitting up by myself and as a result got to play with all sorts of new toys. Well, now I'm standing and again I have new toys (well new to me!) and I get to report again. Here I am in something called a Jumperoo. Would you believe the neighbors were going to throw this away?! All mom had to do was was the fabric and put a little elbow grease into washing the plastic and voila, good as new! In a store, this could cost about $90 and mom found it for free! Daddy says mommy has a bit of Meepa in her.

This next toys is my favorite!!! I got it from my friend and baby-sitter Joanne. I like to pull myself up and stand by it and walk around it while pushing all the buttons. Not only does it plays all sorts of tunes, it says colors, letters, numbers, and shapes in English and Spanish.

This last toy mommy picked up for me at a garage sale (again Meepa rubbing off). I can sit at it and play with the toys on the front of it -but what fun is that?! I'd rather stand behind it and push it like a lawn mower. Mommy is hoping that me liking this toy is a forecast that I'll like to mow the grass or vacuum the carpet.

That's all for now! Maybe mom will let me write again when I start walking on my own. She doesn't think that it will be long.

So nice I posted twice

Mommy mind has totally set in. I guess I uploaded the picture of Ryan standing in the pool twice instead of the one with him and Dean. So Dean doesn't feel left out, I went ahead and did it correctly this time. Dios mios!

Descriptions for pictures below

Well that's something I haven't done before. Somehow I changed the setting when I was updating our blog to "Edit Html" this allowed me to upload the pictures, but not type anything in. So you'll have to scroll back and forth to match the captions with the actual photos below.

#1 Jackson, Britlynn, and Ryan all at the Whitman's house. Two of my high school friends also had children in 2008. Jackson was born in January and Britlynn in May. Because Jackson lives in Florida now, we don't get together all that often. Trying the get them all in 1 photo to pose proved to be difficult. Everytime a camera was brought out, Britlynn thought it was a toy and wanted to play with it. That's why this is kind of a random shot of the 3 of them.

#2 & #3 They say a sure way to make it rain is to wash your car. However, I argue that it's guaranteed to rain when I pull out and fill Ryan's pool. It's happened about 3 times already. Fortunately we caught a break on Saturday. Here's Dean and Ryan playing pool toys and Ryan standing up in the hippo's mouth.

#4, #5, & #6 This weekend Dean and I installed some safety features in the house. Along with outlet covers (which I didn't photograph) I put up some cord winders in the family room and Ryan's room and Dean put up the baby gate and installed cabinet protectors in the kitchen and bathrooms. Ryan isn't a fast crawler (yet), but I'm sure it won't be long that he'll be off and crawling - or heaven help us running!

Friends, Fun, and a Safe Home

Quin and the Fourth of July

Welcome to the newest member of the family, Quin Bennett Doty. My cousin, Sharon (my mom's brother's daughter) had him on 5/24/09. He's pictured here at 4 weeks old at his baby shower.

Here's grandma Katie with two of her great-grandkids (she has 9 grandkids and 16 greats plus a few step great grandkids). Ryan is 8.5 months here.

My aunt Shirley and uncle Terry had the family over for the 4th of July. Unfortunately it rained most of the day. We went back Sunday to swim. Here's Ryan pacing their deck in the walker.

My cousin Ava and I got in both days (the things you do for love. It was cooooold! I too made this face when I first felt the water.

Sunday was a bit better. Here's Ryan, Ava, Shirley, and Dean's arm. Thanks again Shirley and Terry (Michelle & Derek too) for having us over!