Are Boys REALLY Easier? You Decide!

Ryan is quickly approaching 2 1/2, and I realized this morning that I have been horrible at recording funny stories about him. One of my favorite things to do growing up was looking through my own baby book and reading the funny things my mom would hear me say. I have done that with Rebecca's book, but have been terrible about Ryan's, especially as he is now speaking in short sentences! So, here is an ode to my sweet and destructive Ryan.

Ryan is really into animals and cars. Those two things will keep him busy all day. Before he could say the the actual words of the animals, he would make the sound of the animal in order for us to understand what he wanted. So, a lion was a "Roar", a kitty was "Meow", and an elephant was an "Er". Why an Er? Because when an elephant makes a sound, he lifts up his trunk high up in the air and says "EEERRRR!"

While watching Ryan, we have come to realize that he is Jon re-incarnated as a young child. I can envision my husband as a little boy, just by watching Ryan. He is quite the comedian. He loves to ham it up in front of people and make them laugh. All he has to do is smile his little cheesy grin at you, and it's hard to say no to him. Until he breaks something.

He loves to talk about Brookie, his next door neighbor friend. During the summer, he would often get a time out for hitting Brooklyn, so we would be constantly telling him not to hit her, but to hug her. Pretty soon, the hits turned into hugs. Now, Brooklyn likes to hit Ryan (and he hits back, mind you). Whenever he is asked about his friends, he ALWAYS begins with "Hit Brookie. No hit. No kick. No Bam. Hug Brookie".

Ryan loves his cars. We have little cars spread all over the house. Even though Mom has a nice little box to put them in, Ryan carries them all around. It's a fun chore to help him pick them up during the evening, as they are scattered all over the house. He loves to talk about "Big", his big truck, and runs them down any ramp he can find.

Ryan is a typical, destructive, 2 year old boy. He has broken more things in my house than I can count, drawn on walls with marker that he has helped to wipe off, spilled Motrin liquid all over my carpet, torn many books, thrown many toys (many of which end up hitting his sister), and is an all around handful. Yet he is so loving. He is a Mama's boy, through and through, and loves to cuddle. He will usually ask "Ok?" if you cough, sneeze, or say ow. He loves to kiss and give big "hug tights".

Will not be quiet during a prayer. It's usually a big fight to get him to be quiet. He will at other times, but is determined to be screaming or laughing during the prayer.

Loves to sing "Birthday to You", and "Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam", with the emphasis on sunBEAM.

He follows Rebecca everywhere. They love to hate each other much of the time, and love to love each other, as well. A love/hate relationship. He will follow and do whatever she is doing through much of the day. When Rebecca is playing and talking to her barbies and dolls, Ryan will hold and cuddle his animals, and talk to them in much the same way.

Is starting to "shoot" with his fingers. Jon has gone hunting several times this season. When he comes home with his birds, he shows them to Ryan and Rebecca. Ryan will say "Aww, cute" to the dead, bleeding bird. Ick! Now, when he hears Dad talking about ducks, he will say "shoot, pew pew" and point into the air. Great, another hunter on the rise!

Loves to play dead. He will get one of his swords, have a big sword/wrestling fight, then lay down on the ground and say "I'm Dead". He is very dramatic and realistic. Sometimes you have to kiss him alive, and other times he will jump and say "ALIVE!". Then, it starts all over again.

Loves to read his books. And he loves Rebecca reading to him. They really are such buddies...when they aren't screaming at each other and taking toys away.

Always wants a "toon" on. Mom is desperately trying to curb the kids away from too much TV and movies. He will crawl all the way in the cupboard where I keep all the kid's movies (stupidly on his level) and call for a movie 24/7.

Halloween was fun with him this year. He was Raggedy Andy, and Rebecca was Raggedy Ann. The problem was he would not wear his red wig. Every time it came near him, he would run away screaming and hide. I managed to get it on his head for a short 2 seconds, and that was it. So, everyone thought he was a farmer. As long as he had fun! He would also horde his candy. He WOULD NOT put any candy in his bag. He would hold onto it, as I guess he thought someone would take the bag away from him. At one point, he was holding onto about 10 pieces of candy, all shoved up into his chest and hands. He finally dropped it all, and screamed when it was put into the bag. How nice. He loved the pumpkins, and would constantly see any pumpkin and say "pumpkin patch", as well as "scary, ghost, Ewwww". He loved every second of it!

Ryan is starting to figure out the whole potty issue. He will go on command, but doesn't really tell us yet when he needs to go. I haven't worked too hard on teaching him, however. So, he was in the bath tub recently and while I was in the other room, I heard this blood-curdling scream. I run into the bathroom, and there is Ryan, frantically pointing into the water, screaming at the brown clumps floating toward him. He was desperately trying to get away, and every time he would move, the poop would move towards him even more. He has done this many times before, but THIS time it bothered him. He talked about that trauma the rest of the night and all the next day. He would say, "No pottie, no poopoos. Scary bathtub". Oh, the joys of parenthood.

There are more, but that is all I will describe for now. He is such an important part of our family. He makes us laugh and cry, all at the same time. Ryan, we love you, man!