wow

Oh. my. goodness. Worse blogging month ever! 2011 has been crazy so far. Michael and I have both been crazy busy with our jobs. I have been going in early and working late almost every day....early meaning at 7:30 and late meaning until 5:45ish (normally I work 8:30 to 4:30) and once a week we have been staying until 9 at night to try to catch up. Still not accomplished. Oh well! We have decided to not stay late anymore but we are still getting there early. Michael's job has him very busy with a few nights of late work also...we have alternated to make sure Ryan gets picked up on time. Hate to leave him longer than his normal time at school! Because of the extra hours at work, I have grounded myself from my computer at home. Love to get on it and it steals a lot of my time. So I just eliminated the possibility! But that also means that I have not written any on here this month.

Gonna try to do a quick re-cap:
My birthday was January 5th...33 years old! I had a great birthday as always. Birthday week included: date day with Michael with lunch at Saltgrass (yummy!), a movie (True Grit), shopping for and getting a new black coat that I have been needing and wanting, Carrabba's, fun sweet gifts from Michael and Ryan, Chick Fila chicken biscuit (thanks Jen!), New York Pizza and Pasta, dinner and a movie with 2 of my favorite girlfriends, 2 bouquets of flowers and lots of people making me feel very loved. This is my new garden cart! This is the creepy creepaltons cupcake with hair that Michael got me (as a joke). Seriously creepy. Since we have been so busy during the week, we have not had a lot going on for the weekends...need some down time. It has been cold here off and on (typical) and Ryan had his first set of seriously chapped cheeks! Sometimes he likes to pull on our lips....not too fun for the pull-ee!

***BIG NEWS*** Ryan now says momma!!!!!!! I am so thrilled! However, really the only time he says it is when I am doing something and he is down by my feet trying to pull up on me and wanting me to pick him up...and it's usually kindof a cry...like mommamommamomma. Oh well, I will take it! and yes, I pretty much always pick him up :) Ryan has now had 2 sessions with the physical therapist and occupational therapist. After the first visit with the physical therapist, Ryan started pulling himself up (from a sitting in our lap on the floor position)! We are so excited! We are working with him every day to try to get his legs stronger and his balance better. He is so proud of himself when he does it...grins from ear to ear! I have no doubt that he will be running around here soon! Ryan has had another round of ear infections...all cleared up now. His eating is continuing to improve...he eats little pieces of cheese and ham, broccoli/cheese rice, sweet potato, etc. He will eat the best if I feed him off of my plate with my fork :)

Last weekend we mad a quick trip to New Orleans for Michael's Uncle Aubrey's 90th birthday party! Michael has always said he hopes we are like Uncle Aubrey and Aunt Earline when we are older...they still love to travel and spend time together. I got to meet some of Michael's family that I had never met before. I did not take one picture while we were there! :( Our friends, Bryan and Jessica also live close to New Orleans and they just had a baby in November! Ryan and Elliot are a little over a year apart. It is amazing to see Ryan and see Elliot and think that this time last year, Ryan was Elliot's size! They change so fast! Here are us, them and the boys: Ryan is really looking so much like a little boy. He got good hair cut a couple weeks ago and really could use another one! He weighs 23 pounds at 14 months old. He is really thinning up with all his activity. Doesn't really have anymore of those cute baby rolls! (I miss them!) Ryan has been going to bed early this week (7:30 & 8) and I said something to his teacher about it today. She said he has really gotten to where he plays all day! No wonder he is tired in the evening! He mostly just takes 1 nap now.

I am planning on our lives settling down a little soon....next month should be a more relaxed month!