Travel Update

Thank you to everyone who gave me input on where we should go for our warm weather adventures next month. We ended up deciding on Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The main deciding factors were seat availability on the flights and cheap hotel prices ($79/night + tax). We are only going for 2 nights, unless we end up deciding between now and then that we want to stay for 3 nights, but I am really looking forward to it! Hopefully Ryan will decide to like the ocean this time, and if not, hopefully there is a nice pool:) Will be curious to see if he decides to start walking before then so that he can run around on the beach. He has been taking steps for about 4 weeks, but today he has really seemed to have made huge advances so I wouldn't be surprised.... Anyway, from all of the votes for St. Thomas, I think that will have to be our next big trip. In the mean time, we are going to Washington D.C. next week to see the Cherry Blossoms in bloom and then down to Baltimore a few days later so that Ryan can play with his cousin Corina (22 months), who has apparently been asking for him.

Taking a break...

It's tough to be a baby, sometimes you have to just take a break from all of the playing...

A Boy and his Dog

I must say that Sasha is very good with Ryan. For the first part of Ryan's life, Sasha was interested in him, sometimes more so than I would like, but I knew the time would come that the roles would be reversed and he would want to play with her more than she wanted to play with him. I just didn't think it would come so fast:) She is very tolerant of his poking and prodding and will usually just walk away if he starts to irritate her too much. They are pretty cute when they play though...

Sleepy Boy

Ryan is awake in this picture. He does sleep with his hands tucked under him like this though. Often times when he is tired, he will take a short break from playing to lay down like this. Very cute...

"I'm tired, but I want to play with Sasha."

Funny Faces

Ryan has so much personality - his different expressions just make my day sometimes...

In need of a haircut....

BEFORE

AFTER

Matt and I took Ryan to get a haircut on Monday. I wasn't sure what I thought of the cut for a few days, but when I was looking through pictures from a few days before the haircut, I realized that his hair really was getting a bit unruly. So, I am pretty sure I like it now:) Of course I think he is adorable regardless of what kind of haircut he has!!!

More Easter Fun

Ryan chilling out at Grammy & Pop's on Easter in what Matt calls the "Charlie Brown" chairs.
My mom had put this car on Ryan's head and I happened to click a picture right as

it was rolling off. I thought it was a pretty funny picture.

Easter Blessings

Throughout this past week a number of people have asked how my Easter was. I have responded that it was fine - but that it was basically just like every other Sunday in that we went over and spent the afternoon at my grandparent's house and had dinner with them, my mom and my aunt Cathy. I was going through pictures today from that day and it struck me how odd it is that spending Sunday afternoon with my family has become ordinary. I moved away from this area when I was 8, and only saw my grandparents, aunts and uncle a few times a year after that. I moved away from where my mom lived almost 9 years ago. Now I am back, with my husband and a wonderful baby boy. And I am able to spend time with my family every Sunday and for that matter any other day of the week. What an amazing blessing! So, yes, Easter Sunday was just like any other Sunday, but I should add that every Sunday is special. I am so happy to be able to see Grammy, Pop and Cathy (and of course my mom) so often and I am thrilled that they are playing such an important role in Ryan's life!

Fun at the park

Longwood Garden's Orchid Extravaganza