Ryken is TWO

Ryken is TWO!!!

What a big and busy boy he is! 

He is so much fun. Learning SO much right now! Soaking it all in!

He has grown and changed so much over a year!

He weighed 24 lbs 11 oz and is 2' 10" long at his 2 year well check. 

He is such a little character and brings smiles to our faces every day!

 Where to begin! :)

Ryken has quite the personality. 

He loves being involved with whatever is going on around him. You go up stairs, he is never far behind. You go downstairs, he's behind you yelling "come!" letting you know he's coming. With that being said, it is safe to say that Ryken is so very curious.- Every new noise he hears and new things he see's he is interested in them and wanting to know what it is and about it. He is such a little sponge right now and can not stop learning. Ryken is so observant - There is never a plane that goes over our house, dog that barks, dryer beeps when done or garage door that opens that he doesn't notice and comment on. When we are driving, he is very aware of what is around him and is so excited to see it all. Ryken has such a good memory - You will have a conversation with him once, and he will bring it up again later when something connects with it and reminds him of that conversation. He never ceases to amaze us. Ryken is sensitive - He is very aware of when people are hurt or are acting hurt. We notice it the most with mom, he is quickly concerned when there seems like something is wrong with mom. It's sweet. Ryken is helpful - He is always quick to help out. He helps sort the laundry, helps empty the lint tray, helps throw diapers away(while saying stinky), helps bring things up or down stairs, helps clean up spills, helps shut doors, helps vacuum, and boy does he help out with his little sister. Helps rock her when she is crying in her car seat and says "it's okay, Raya", helps wipe up her sit up, helps keep track of her socks, helps cover her with blankets, helps get spit up rags for mom and on and on. Ryken is thoughtful - As much as he loves his food, toys and cuddle shirt, he thinks of others and shares it with them happily. Not only that, but he keeps everyone involved, he doesn't like to leave people out. Ryken is imaginative - He is quick to come up with some new games or pretend play and enjoys it so much. He can be so creative and actuate along the way. It's so much fun to watch him and   hear him talk through it. Ryken is stubborn and strong willed, he is determined, he is persistent, he is smart, he is silly, he is learning, he is joyful.

Ryken is such a joy to us and our family!!

Ryken loves anything that has to do with transportation, construction and sports.

Cars, trucks, buses, motorcycle, bike, trains, planes, helicopters. Ryken loves playing with this cars.

 He liked to line them up all in a line. He makes little ramps for them to drive on. He can point out police cars on the road. He makes a cute sound that mimics what their sirens sound like. He loves firetrucks and their ladders. He recently fell in love with planes and helicopters. We have watched many youtube videos on planes and helicopters lately. He loves to see planes in the sky and hear them when we can't see them. He watched the Cars movie for the first time this year.

Since there is so much contraction going on around our neighborhood, he has learned a lot. Whenever he hears hammering, he says Bang Bang...and he calls the men working "the bang bangs." He likes to hammer like they do. He loves watching all the big machinery that is used around us: Fork lifts, diggers, excavators. He was given a book on all the many different trucks and diggers. 

Soccer ball, basketball, football, baseball, tennis ball, watching and listening to "the good game" (soccer game) with daddy, and yelling GOALLL!!! Daddy got him his very own Arsenal(dad's favorite team) soccer outfit. His favorite thing to do with daddy is play soccer in the house! :) Ryken will run around and daddy will kick the ball and then Ryken will kick it. He will throw the ball too. He will bounce them. Ryken has jammies with all the different balls on them, and he called them "the game" jammies. 

Ryken is such a loving big brother!

Before Sorraya was born, we told Ryken that he has be nice, take care of and protect his baby sister. He loved his little sister from day one when he saw her in the NICU! When I heard him say "Raya" for the first time, I just couldn't help but smile and tear up. I always wanted a big brother, and now Sorraya and whatever other children God see's fit to give us will have Ryken as their big brother. And what lucky siblings they are. He has such a caring concern toward her. When he comes down from a nap or in the morning, he asks about Raya. He likes to know where she is all the time. He will go and check on her at times. He wants to give her things of his. He loves to talk to her and watch her. When she cries, he says "Raya cry" and then says "help Mommy" and then he guesses what she needs: change or a milk snack! :) He gives lots of kisses to her. When she is in her car seat and crying Ryken will lift the flap (from the winter cover that is on the car seat) and say "It's ok Raya" and then will rock her seat a little bit. Sometimes he is a little bit too helpful, but what a blessing it is to have him around and showering his love on her so tenderly.

Ryken continues to be a good eater and sleeper.

This little guy can sure eat and eat... and eat and eat. Anyone who watches him, they always seem to 

comment on how much he eats. But he is just a little guy, you can hardly tell. He can use a spoon 

successfully and enjoys using it and asks for one if we haven't given him one. He loves most things, fruit is still probably the highest on the list...along with french fries. :) He loves to dip things into sauces, like chips and salsa, pretzels in sun butter, and chex into yogurt. Ryken loves his water, milk and orange juice!

Ryken is such a good sleeper! He has grown so much in this area in just over a year! He loves sleeping these days! He asks for naps and to go nigh-night. We put him in his bed with his puppy and his cuddle shirt, turn the noise maker and leave. He would turn over and fall asleep within minutes. Once he wakes up from naps, he is so patient as he waits till someone comes to get him. Right before he turned two, Ryken slept in his big boy bed for the first time for his nap. He had a few tears and had to be reminded to stay in his bed once, and then he fell asleep and slept great. Once he woke up, he waited in bed till someone came and got him out. He wakes up sometimes at night still. With just a little rocking in the rocking chair and a few more kisses, he is good to go.  It has been such a relief not having to fight with sleeping anymore. 

Ryken loves to talk and sing!

He is just a little chatter box and it has been so much fun getting to see and hear him add more and more words and 2-5 word sentences to his vocabulary. He does such a good job at trying to say words when he is asked too. Sometimes he gets them right away, and others it takes a few times. He has trouble pronouncing his s's and t's. He still doesn't quite finish words either, leaving a few of the letter sounds out. But he is doing great and is just  excelling in the talking department. He is a very friendly kid in public. He will say "hi" to people often as we pass them. He can say his name. He uses the words I and my often. He will also talk about Ryken's things. It has been so nice being able to communicate with him more these past months! And his little talking voice is so cute too! :)

Ryken has recently picked up singing. He started holding our bulletin inserts with all the songs on them and pretending to sing. Then he would try and sing with mom and dad when we sing Psalms at night before he goes to bed and then he would make up little songs here and there. The songs that he will sing that he makes up are usually about cars, obeying and Raya! :) They are so fun to hear. Just early this year, Ryken started singing songs that he has learned. It was while Grandma Flin was here that he really picked them up. His favorites are Rock a Bye Baby, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, and Driving In My Car. 

There is something special about Ryken! Because of him, Chris and I became parents. He is our 

beautiful gift from God. There are some tough times with him because of his sinful heart, and ours, but there are so many sweet and memorable moments with him. We love him for who he is. We love him just the way God made him. He is perfect for our family. God is using him to sanctify and teach Chris and I in many ways. 

"Children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward."

-Psalm 127:3

I have never believed the truth from this verse more, than I do today being the mother to my big boy Ryken for the last 2 years and his little sister!