Going Gilbert: The Past 2 Months

Last time I blogged, Ryan looked like this:

Now he looks like this:

Don't let this cute, sitting version of him fool you. This picture was a happy accident. He was digging in the toy box and had fallen backwards, which is when I had clicked the button to take the picture. Turned out pretty well I think.

If I had to pick one word to describe Ryan right now it would be "busy". Any object that he can get his little hands on are tested for two things: sturdiness and taste. Even quasi-sturdy items are then used for leverage as he pulls himself up to stand. The celebration of standing for the first time lasted all of 10.2 seconds before he decided he must either stand on his own or walk. Within the last couple of days he has been getting braver at 'cruising.' He holds onto things and has been taking tentative steps. I have spent many an hour watching him explore his world, and it is awesome.

What is not awesome are the things Ryan has managed to get in his mouth before I could stop him. The kid is fast and determined. His favorite targets include Lucy, my shoes, bugs, and carpet fibers. I truly am not a germ-a-phobe, I believe he needs to build an immune system. I do have limits to this though. Lucy's paws and tail whack into things I don't want in his mouth. I'd probably even let him chew on shoe laces, but he has no interest in that part of the shoe. He MUST lick the bottom. (His eyebrows always go up in delight! You'll have to take my word for this or see it in person, I'm not going to let him lick shoes long enough to get a pic.) I pulled a grasshopper leg out of his mouth once. And his favorite game right now is raking the carpet to get a fiber loose, only to pop it in to chew on it. SO, SO, SO GROSS!

Even while sitting in a high chair or car seat his little limbs are a-moving. Things are getting thrown, hit, kicked, etc. Oh, and the screeching! He is LOUD when he wants to be.

Here are some other pics from the last couple of months: