Ryker at 5 o'clock

These last few weeks have been so stressful at work (more than usual). We work non-stop and reserve little to no work day for personal enjoyment. When I finally remove myself from my work for the day, I'm mentally exhausted (*sigh*)! However, (yes, there is a however), even when my brain can barely take another milligram of information or (god forbid) conversation, I arrive at Lovey's at the end of a loooooooooooong day and I am greeted with scenes such as these.

I have trouble recalling what I exactly was soooo stressed about? Wouldn't you?

My view from my bathroom (just feet!)

I can't believe my baby will be 6 months old next week! Where did the time go?

Photo Shoot

A few of my favorites from our photo shoot with Natalie.

Ty Reeves

Justin's younger brother, Ty, came visit us about 2 weeks ago. It was an emotional visit because (1) he met Ryker for the first time and (2) it would be the last time we would get to see him before he leaves to go to Afghanistan.

Ty joined the National Guard right after high school and after serving for a few years was released. However, he has been called back to duty. He called me this week from Fort Benning, Georgia where he is beginning the first part of what they call "rapid movement training". He will spend about 2 weeks here learning CLS (Combat Life Saving) and then will head to Missouri where he will undergo Sapper Training and train in combat and explosives for about 12 days. From there, he will meet up with his unit and leave for Afghanistan. They tell him to expect to be there for at least 400 days.

Ty is a wonderful young man and, although he is fearful of heading to this area of the world, has accepted this assignment with great bravery. Please do me a favor and keep him, and all the men serving our country, in your prayers.

Ty, we will be praying for your safe return! We love you and are so very proud of you and the man you have become. Ryker will hear a lot about his brave uncle and will be ready to see you when you come home soon.

Learning New Things

Ryker,

Somewhere between your 4 month and 5 month birthday your personality has emerged and you have become a little mister man! You are laughing, smiling and talking (gibberish of course, but we get it), rolling over, eating with a spoon and you are just about sitting up all by yourself.

You have grown out of your 3-6 months clothes and are in a whole new wardrobe, this in itself, is a daily treat! In fact, we need to go shopping for you some new digs soon!

You are holding yourself up like a big boy and are now able to enjoy toys more. Which can only mean one thing - Christmas in July! Me, Lovey and 3 buggies later, you are now the proud owner of more activity mats, walkers, jumpers, high chairs and interactive toys that you can handle.

You are becoming more and more alert and observant. When you were first born, Daddy would call you the 'ceiling inspector' because all you were interested in looking at was ceilings. But now, you follow peoples voices and notice when we have entered or left the room. You are also more aware of Cosmo, Luie and Parker. Cosmo doesn't pay a whole lot of attention to you unless you are crying but Luie sometimes hangs out with you on your activity mat and licks your toes.

We traveled a lot this month, so I haven't been blogging about your milestones play by play so bare with me as I recap some of this month's special moments...

(Dear Readers - prepare for a Ryker overload! I'm apologizing ahead of time.)

We've started feeding you cereal by spoon. You don't really enjoy this but it sure provides us with endless entertainment.

Another one of your fun walkers. (Thanks Karena and Kat!) We keep this one at Mam-ma's house so you have something to play with when you are there.

The jumper. You are going to LOVE this one. You can barely touch the floor right now, so you haven't quite figured out what this one is all about, but once you do I just know you will go to town. Especially since you love being bounced around, thrown into the air and shook from side to side.

You are all boy! You love hearing us sing "Ride a Pony, Ride a Pony..." because it usually entails us bouncing you up and down on our knee and almost dropping you at the end of the song. You think this is hilarious. I love hearing your giggle, it's the best sound in the world!

Well hello there, good looking. Posing in one of your cute outfits.

My favorite picture this month! Checking out your new floor mat. You are getting used to this new play area.

Here you are figuring out all of the toys on your activity mat. Really, you'd much prefer us hold you, but we have to insist you learn to entertain yourself. However, rather than doing laundry or washing bottles, we find ourselves watching you entertain yourself. Can we get a life?

Anxiously awaiting your meal by spoon. You are thrilled.

"You want me to eat what?"

Oh, those cheeks!! I love my sugars!

Come bath time you are worn out.

But, you love your baths and your sleep, so when you can sleep while taking a bath - well, that s just the ultimate ending to a great day!

Favorite Pictures from our Trip

Loving the Baby Bjorn! It was a lifesaver!

Carrying the stroller up the Spanish steps.

Resting after a long, hot and bumpy ride.

Out like a light at the restaurant.

He loved wearing his hat and sunglasses!

Fabulous trip all around!

Going Private

Hello family, friends and kind readers! After much thought and consideration, I've made the decision to move my blog from public to private.

I love having a public blog because I get to hear from many of you who have stumbled across our website and tell me that you enjoy catching up with us. Thank you for following our story and I hope you continue to be an avid reader.

When I move to a private site I will have to send an email invitation out so that you can access it. I want to be sure everyone who is reading our blog and is interested in continuing to read our blog receives the invitation.

Please do me a favor and shoot me a quick email so that I have your email address (if you don't think I have it already).

I hope you continue to follow us! Thanks again for your support.

Much Love,
Kelly
kreeves@chetm.com

Clear for Drooling

A Bumpy Ride

The BOB Stroller is the best! We took it to Rome and it traveled wonderfully. It was easy to maneuver the stoller on the old, uneven streets and dirt paths and it was light to lift up stairs.

Check out this video of Ryker inside the Roman Forum - he was quite content in his BOB! Although it's hard to tell in this video, trust me, he loved the bumpy ride.

(Bare with me though, as you can hear us singing his favorite song "Ride a Pony..." )

Roll Over

Let's do this every weekend!

After a little convincing, Justin agreed to make the trip with me to visit my bestfriends and their kids. It had been too long since us girls got together for a good dinner and some girly chit-chat. Ryker and I met Anne and Blair at a new restaurant. Great conversation, good wine and, while the food was a bit heavy and over-priced, the waiter and GM were especially helpful going out of their way to make us comfortable, even warming his bottle for me at our table. Man, you just can't beat good service like that!

Saturday, after a yummy lunch with our crew, Tim and Justin took Avery home, while me, Anne and the boys spent the afternoon shopping. With 2 babies instead of 3 we were able to run errands around town in one car and one stroller. That was nice! However, it wasn't as easy as Anne makes it look. The boys were fairly good but shopping with two definitely slowed us down! Also, judging by the amount of the people in the mall, it doesn't look like we are in a recession. And it was HOT - not just outside but inside! I didn't just have beads of sweat, there was lakes of it running down my back. We were dying! Needless to say, I ended up purchasing 2 pairs of flip-flops and some workout clothes. I blame the heat.

Then we wrapped up a long day by running by Blair's to see her girls and their new house. We couldn't stay long since Tim was in need of us to "save" him so he could go hit golf balls before the sun went down. B - as promised - we will stay at your house next time!

Thanks for a wonderful weekend!

Aunt Blair & Ryker at dinner.

Aunt Anne & Ryker

The young waiter asked us if we were sisters when he overheard us calling each other "Aunt". Really, really? Surely he was just being flirty and didn't think the three of us were sisters? No, we just use the word "Aunt" loosely I guess.

I think we were asked, I'm not exaggerating, 15 times if they were twins.
Anne thought it would be cute if we dressed them alike.

By this time, Ryker had had enough of shopping and being toted around in the 100 degree weather. I think Riggs was just glad to be hanging out with his friend and not his sister for once!

The boys and the pretty blondes!
Charlotte (3 1/2), Ryker (3 1/2 mos), Riggs (5 1/2 mos), Frances (21 mos)