What a fun filled second year with Ryan! We really do not know where the time has gone.  Ryan adds such excitement and joy to our lives.  To see his development over the past year has been remarkable.  His curiosity about the world, affection and genuine interest in people, and his passionate nature keeps us charged!

Below are some memories/thoughts from the past year…

• 2 year stats = tall and skinny – 35 inches (70%) and 27 lbs (35%)
• “NOTNIES” = blankies = never leave home without.
• In Ryan’s world there is only one way to drink milk and that is hot.  “Hot milk” is to Ryan as coffee is to Mommy – the only way to start the day.  He chugs about two sippy cups of hot milk every morning whether he is going to Harty’s or spending weekend mornings snuggling in bed with us… hot milk is always the first request of the day.
• Ryan has a love for letters! Around 18 months he started to take great interest in his magnetic letter set on the fridge.  By 20 months he could recognize and name all 26! He has also started to count to ten this past month.
• Thank goodness for PBS kids.  Super Why, Martha Speaks, and Sesame Street (particularly Elmo’s World) are Ryan’s favorites and have overtaken our DVR.  We are not complaining though – it is very nice that he will sit on the couch and watch a show, giving mommy and daddy a few free seconds!
• Eating is not one of Ryan’s favorite activities – you have to stay much too still for Ryan’s liking! Hotdogs seem to be the main source of calories for Ryan followed by oatmeal, ice-cream, breakfast sausage, cheddar cheese shreds, fruit snacks, and lollipops.  I used to think that I would promote a very healthy diet for my child… at this point I am totally fine with McDonalds happy meals because at least I know he will eat!
• Over the past year the “Colebourne Kids” contingent has gotten very close, both the toddlers (Ryan, Amelia, and Luke) and the parents. From summer BBQ’s to Halloween parties to trips to playground, sledding, New Years Eve parties, Super Bowl Sunday, we’ve shared many memories together.  While our crew just met a year ago it seems that we’ve been friends for much longer.  We are very sad that Amelia and her parents will be moving to Trumunsburg in a few weeks but we look forward to visits!
• Harty and her family have continued to play a significant role in Ryan’s life.  When I drop Ryan off in the morning I feel like I am leaving him with family.  We would not want it any other way! In addition, it has been extra special for Ryan to have his best buddy Landon by his side, even if they do greet each other saying “mine” each morning.
• Iron Giant gets recorded as Ryan’s first movie.  It was a “Daddy and Ryan” afternoon when Matt introduced Ryan to Hogarth.  Surprisingly, Ryan watched the entire movie with Matt and has probably watched it at least 25 times since! There was a point during the winter when Ryan would need a daily dose of the movie. Matt found Iron Giant figurines on Ebay  which Ryan named “baby robot toys”.  These robots are much like the “notnies,” do not leave home without!
• Ryan took his first music class in the fall at Eastman’s Community School.  MusicTIME was a weekend class for infants through toddlers. While Ryan enjoyed some parts of the class, he preferred to try to escape from the group circle and play the piano or work the stereo system.  He seemed a little to advanced for clapping and patting, especially since he has wrote his first song on his ukelele “Robot Song.”
• Potty training has begun only because Ryan seemed to initiate it! He has skipped the “sitting on the potty” stage and goes like “a big boy,” pushing his stool to the potty to pee pee.  He is actually very good at this if I am able to let him be naked for hours at a time.   The next step is getting him to wear undies which currently tantrums if we try. No need to push!
• Ryan’s favorites include… play dates with cousins Brice and Brady and Aunt “Codie,” school buses (he actually got to go on Brice’s school bus one afternoon – a major event in his life), any type of water activity (bath, pool, Battenkill river, water table, kitchen sink, hose), “tiger toy” (from RIT), Elmo, “a boo daddy” (also known as hide and seek), playground trips, playing music with Uncle Sean and Aunt Ala’s, and animals (doggies, elephants, kitty cats, monkeys, horses).
• Big events/trips this year… a Florida vacation in February to see Grandgrandpa Henry, lots of Saratoga and Shushan trips to see his Nana and Grandpa and Grandma and Poppy, Sesame Street Live, RIT visits to see Daddy and hockey games, Penfield High School sporting events, his first concert – ukulele phenom Jake Shimabukuro, trips to the Strong Museum.