A BOY AND HIS DOG

There is nothing sweeter in my mind than a boy and his dog. Scout and Ryder have quite a bond and I love to watch them together. Ryder is beginning to interact with Scout and it is adorable. The other day, he was concentrating soo hard, trying to grab her tongue as she stood beside him panting. I laughed and laughed as he made an honest effort to grab it, but tongues are too quick for little boys still trying to figure out their limbs. Today, I wanted to snap a pic of the little cuties with their bare butts and Ryder just reached out to put his arm on Scout and she looked down at him, like she was saying, "gosh, thanks,Ryder for loving me." Adorable!!!!!

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ALL CANADIAN BOY

When you are Canadian and your Father is a hockey player, you learn to love hockey and Ryder will be no different. Sunday night, September 25th, Ryder went to his first NIHL hockey game in Calgary. You will notice in the pictures that Ryder is wearing an Edmonton Oilers T-Shirt (and he is grabbing his Dad's beer.) He is dressed in the orange and blue because the Calgary Flames were playing the Edmonton Oilers that night, because I dressed him and because the Oilers are "my " team. When I say, "my team" it sounds like I am a hard core fan. I am, but not the kind of fan that knows all the stats or even all the players names. I am the kind of fan that cheers for the Edmonton Oilers even though we live in Caglary and I have been to more Flames games than I have ever been to Oilers games. I am the kind of fan that cheers for the Oilers even though we personally know one of the Flames players. I am the kind of fan who cheers for the Oilers even though some of the kids of Flames players go to our school and I teach them. I am a huge Oiler fan because....my Dad was!

Even though my Dad was as American as they come, when he moved to Edmonton, he became a hockey fan, an Oiler fan. I can remember Dad taking over the TV, announcing that Hockey was what was on the agenda for the night. Forget the "Cosby Show," "Full House," "Friends, "Seinfeld" or anything else us girls might have preferred to watch. Begrudgingly, we'd grab our homework, the phone or whatever other distraction we could find and flee the room. When the Oilers played, Dad watched.

Dad would holler at the TV, sometimes cheering, sometimes cussing, but always with the passion of a man who loved his hockey team. He'd stomp his feet in disgust or in excitement as the plays unfolded and before we knew it, his cheering would become contagious. Slowly we'd drift into the livingroom. One by one we'd gravitate towards the TV and the game. Dad's enthusiasm and LOUD unignorable cheering made a fan out his three daughters. Before we knew it, we knew the players names and numbers and all about penalties and good fights and bad calls. We were Oiler fans during the Gretzky era, when the Oilers won the Stanly Cup a few times. We were fans when Craig Simpson was the league hottie. We were fans when Aimee bought a car and randomly got the bill of sale witnessed by Essa Tikkanen. We were fans when the Oilers were the best in the league...but we were also fans when things weren't so great. When the Oilers traded Gretzky, when the Oilers slowly fell from the throne and we are still fans today, during the "re building phase."

Dad never owned an Oiler jersey and I am pretty sure he never went to a game, but because he loved the Oilers, I do too and always will.

I loved being part of Ryder's first NHL hockey watching experience and I loved carting him around the arena in his Oilers shirt, but I wouldn't blame him if, when he is old enough to dress himself, he pulls on a "Canucks" jersey because the Vancouver Canucks are his Dad's team and everyone little Canadian wants to cheer for his Daddy's team...unless he becomes a Flames fan because probably all of his friends will be....LOL

Ryder, at his first NHL hockey game, sitting on his Daddy's knee.

I love that hockey games are places where you don't have to try to keep your kids quiet! Loud cheering is encouraged!!!

No, Ryder didn't drink the beer that was in this cup, but he sure loved chewing on the cup once it was empty...

Proud Papa, sharing his "love of the game" with his first born son!!

Love going to the games live!!!!

6 MONTH OLD IN BANFF

Ryder turned 6 months old, Sept.20. The day itself was marked with a trip to the Public Health Nurse for his 6 month vaccinations. He weighed in at 20.14 lbs and measured 70cm. Despite my nervous anticipation, the vaccination happened without incident. It was only one shot this time instead of three and he didn't even cry. Then, because I was sooo brave, we stopped at Starbucks for a Skinny Vanilla Latte!

The next day, we had to go to the Children's Hospital as we had to see a physiotherapist for Ryder's Tortacollis. (Basically, he has a stiff neck.) This was a follow up appointment that led to a phone call with the "Head Shape Clinic." We will head to the "Head Shape Clinic" in October to see if Ryder needs to wear one of those plastic helmets to shape his head. He has a little bit of a flat spot and though Marty and I are not really worried about it, the docs and nurses around us seem to be a little concerned...we'll see what comes of his little assessment in October.

Friday, was unseasonably beautiful here in Alberta so after a morning of hanging out in the yard, we decided as a family, not to let this sunshine go to waste! We packed up the holiday trailer and headed out for one last camping adventure this summer. We hadn't really intended on stopping in Banff (the park is only an hour from our house) but the allure of the mountains, the short drive and the huge campground drew us in. It's funny, Banff is a World famous National Park, but we live so close that we NEVER camp there. Sure, we have a park pass and we hike there, we snowboard there, we go there for New years and for the occasional Stag or Staggette, but we never camp there. This weekend, we decided to. We stayed at Tunnel Mountain, a HUGE campground with all kinds of bike and hike paths, large sites and FREE fire wood!!

We set up camp, Friday evening and realized with horror that in our spontaneous haste to leave the house, we had forgotten to pack Ryder's Jolly Jumper!!!! Ryder had spent our entire 18 day road trip in August, jumping near oceans, in forests, and lake and poolside, but he wasn't going to get to "jump" in Banff! Instead we tried to come up with other fun things to do besides eating pine needles and dirt...reading wasn't as much fun, but it grew on him! :)

Saturday morning was crisp! I had bought Ryder and new tuque. He rocked it!

Once we were all properly dressed for the crisp morning, we headed out on one of the trails in the campground so Scout could pee...apparently, Marty had to pee too.....

We came across a wood pile, a cute backdrop for capturing my favorite smile!

Once the sun came out, and we had eaten a hardy campers breakfast, we headed to the base of Sulphur Mountain. There is a steep, switchback hike under the Gondola that we had decided would be the site of our adventure for the day. This was going to be Ryder's first big hike in the Baby Back pack I bought at a garage sale last weekend. Though we agreed to take turns, Marty wore the back pack all the way to the top. We stopped only once to feed Ryder and secretly, I think we were all glad for the short break. All of us except Scout. She had to be on leash and we were clearly slowing her down!!! Ryder "talked" alot on the way up, he looked around, he chewed on the toys attached to the back pack, but he did not sleep. He was not going to miss one minute of this adventure!!!

It was super windy at the top, but it was a welcome warm wind and we sat on a bench near the look out, enjoying the view we had earned.

Ryder has just begun eating SOME solid food, mostly cereal and so far only in the mornings, but he is definately interested in anything we eat. Enjoying snacks has become challenging as Ryder is determined to grab anything we are eating. The snacks at the top of this mountain were just as tempting to the little guy ever. Other than the fudgesicle Marty let him suck on and the animal crackers I let him taste, our apples were his favorite thing to drool all over.

We rode the Gondola down the mountain, which was a big "first" for both Ryder and Scout.

The rest of the day, we spent relaxing. I even got to sit in my lawnchair and read my book. I would have read a lot more of it too, had Ryder wanted to nap, but there was not one minute of this day he wanted to miss...that or, the big Starbucks I enjoyed after our hike, had enough caffeine to keep both he and I alert for the rest of the day.....LOL

We ended the evening with a trip into Banff for ice cream and a big fire in the fire pit!

Sunday, we packed up and headed home. We had a big date planned for 6pm, Ryder's first NHL hockey game. (I will write another post about that.)

EXACTLY!

The following link is to a post that sums up my philosophy on teaching and child rearing 100%!!!

I am currently downing my first cup of coffee today, so I am not functioning at my own full capacity, so I am not sure if this address will work as a link or if you'll have to cut and paste it into your browser. It is a quick, happy read, so please take the time to check it out. It just might be your philosophy too!!!!!

http://magicalchildhood.wordpress.com/2010/08/31/what-should-a-4-year-old-know/

6 MONTHS

I cannot believe how lucky I've been. For the last 6 months I have spent every single day with Ryder James Wright. Forget about him becoming a "mama's boy" I know that I have become a "boys mama." I am soo attached to him. I am finding that as his independence increases, I don't know what to do with myself. He is starting to sleep longer and longer at night though I continue to wake up and sneak into his room, just to make sure he doesn't need me. He has just started eating foods other than breast milk, though my boobs continue to fill up and wait for him to need them. (He still nurses, but he doesn't seem to be as desperate as he used to be.) He has mastered sitting, rarely wobbling over backwards, though I continue to hover over him. He has found great conversation with Scout, yes, she talks to him, though I continue to try to decifer the stories I think he's telling me.

Ryder is growing up already...time is going soo fast....I don't want to slow down time, I just want to keep soaking up every second!!!

Ryder. Sept. 20, 2011

His 6 month birthday.

Sept. 20-6months old

I was going to wait for his 6 month birthday to feed Ryder, food, but I got a "Baby Bullet" and got excited. I fed him pureed bananas a week before and yesterday, I tried giving him rice cereal. You should see him, hammer back cereal!!! I am excited, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried about him not wanting to nurse anymore...I plan to keep nursing for the full year if Ryder is interested, but we'll see....

Oh, Scout loves to hover VERY close to his face...hoping for a little taste...

Today, Scout and I took Ryder for a "hike" in his new backpack.

Ryder with his best buddy, Scout!!!