Rykee#4

I'm currently listening to this dude sing the Barney song. It's so him. "I love you, you love me." A lover indeed. This dude loves people, loves his toys, loves doing things. He really loves life. He often, and very randomly, shouts out how much he loves Russell or me.  Car rides usually bring out the random "Mom! I love you."  He tells people that he's excited to see them, can't wait for them to visit, and often doesn't want to leave somewhere because he is having "too much" fun to leave!

"We're a happy family!  With a great big hug and a kiss from me to you! Won't you say you love me too!"

Oh Ryk, if someone could kill you with kisses we would have been dead a long time ago. The kid smothers us in kisses. Russell actually woke up to lots o'kisses this morning.  Ryk wants hugs and loves and without them he might wither away and die.

Over our trip to Texas I watched Ryker do his Ryker-thing.  He connected with every last family

member that he could-Legos with Melissa, wrestling with Travis, more Legos with Troy, water fun with Riya/Arjan/grandpa, Star Wars with grandma, food with Kaval and Jess, playing rough with Michael and Karl,

videos with Emer/Jack/Hud, carrying on his shoulder with Thomas & the list goes on.  Ryk has an art of finding those that you would least likely see playing with kids and makes it happen.  He connects in physical ways (wrestling, high5s) but his biggest connection piece is his smile and laugh. You just can't say"no" to that winning smile and chipmunk laugh.

I've told Russell before that sometimes I don't feel like Ryk is mine.  It's weird to say that, and even harder to explain. I guess because he is just such a different bird than what I was as a little kid. He is so social! And full of energy! And shyness is never a word I pair with Ryk. And also he just doesn't look like me at all. Luckily, Russell is able to lay claim to him with his ever growing/changing dark  features since I've dominated with AJ and Demps.

Whether or not I feel like he is mine, I'm super blessed that he actually is. He kind of is the kid I wished I would have been! So it makes me happy to live vicariously through him.  He has been on a streak of Momma for awhile now. Momma's blanket goes to bed with him, Momma reads to him, Momma holds him when he wakes up slow, he waits for Me when he wakes up early and I'm on the treadmill.  I'm excited to see what the fourth year brings for Ryker. So far we have some soccer planned, sleeping in his room all night would be awesome, and climbing some mountains will do too!

hBD little Ryker 29 dude!

Love,

Momma