16 months

 Ryder boy is 16 months old today and it's for me to grasp how fast he's growing up.  I vividly remember the girls at this age and he's so darn cute, just like they were.  We have a full fledged toddler on our hands.  He's busy, busy, busy, and into everything.  Never a dull moment with this kid around.  Here are a few highlights of our little man:

• Loves playing peek-a-boo with anyone and everyone.  He thinks it's hilarious and it never gets old.
• Sleeping like a champ at night, about 12 hours and taking 2 solid naps during the day.  I was trying to push him to one nap but it was backfiring, so we're back to a nap somewhere in the 9 o'clock hour and again in the afternoon.
• He's pointing at everything and loves telling me which direction to go by pointing.  When I'm putting him to bed he's always pointing out to the family room like that's where he'd rather be.
• Saying more words and signing more too.  He can say Ryan's name and it sounds like "I-an".  I've heard him say 'Reese' once.  It sounded like "eese".  He signs please, more, hurt, all done, bath, outside.
• Loves animals and the noises they make.  He says, "moo, neigh, quack, baa, chirp noises for birds, & elephant.
• Doesn't want to sit in his highchair.  He would rather stand on the barstool next to his sisters or sit on the kitchen island so he's in the mix of everything.  He climbs on the barstools in 2 seconds flat and refuses to get down.
• He loves his belly button and everyone else's.  We ask him to find Mimi or Mommy's belly button and he's running right over to lift up a shirt and poke your belly button.
• His hair is getting L-O-N-G.  It's so cute and curly in the back.  The front is getting a little shaggy but we're still letting it grow.
• Ryder LOVES daddy.  When the door chime beeps he says, "Dada" and goes running for Cory.
• The last molar broke through and he now has 16 teeth, 8 on the top and 8 on the bottom.  I think the teething is over for a bit.
• Still our little skinny guy that can wear 6-12 month pants and fit into a size 3 diaper.
• I can tell that he's understanding everything we say.  I know his comprehension completely exceeds his verbal language and it's fun talking to him, knowing he's understanding everything we say.
• He has such a fantastic personality and we love watching all his adorable expressions.  His face lights up over the littlest things.  He makes his excited face and we all crack up.

We love you so much, Ryder boy.  You are SO much fun right now and we love watching you change and grow.  Each day with you is a gift that we treasure.