Ryan Gunner

"Ry-Ry" was born in August. It was a sweltering hot day and I was so done being pregnant! I went into labor a week before my due date, I was ready. This delivery was another piece of cake, thank God! 6 hours in labor and a couple pushes and Ryan was born. He was a solid 7 lbs and 19 1/2 inches long. I loved him with everything I had the second I saw my little Ry-Ry. 3 boys....wow. Again, we were so wonderfully happy and felt like our family was growing and only becoming more and more complete.

Daddy with Ryan

Ryan had a bit of a challenge latching on to nurse so that led to him having to be supplemented with formula. Which in turn led to a colicky baby. :( He would cry for hours without any indication of stopping. I felt so horrible and exhausted. He would cry all the time. It was such a difference from Gavin and Jordan. But, when his tummy was calm, he was a happy and funny baby. James would tease him and call him a "baby booga head", Ryan's bottom lip would touch the floor! He would make pouty faces. I felt so bad, but it looked so freaking cute!

Ryan seemed to talk earlier and he can have an entire conversation, and he has to always mention his "bess friends" (Gavin and Jordan). He looks up to his brothers so much. But, has a funny way of showing it. Ryan is the boss of the house. He tells the boys what to play with, what to watch and what to do. Gavin is always so compliant to him and is such a great big brother. Jordan on the other hand is just as head strong as him so they do fight. Ryan beats up on the two. I'm trying to nip that in the bud before he goes to pre-k but this kid sure is stubborn! LOL

Mommy, Nana and Ryan

Ryan used to have 4 things in order to go to sleep: blue blankie, blue pillow, baba, and mickey mouse. We've cut out all but blue blankie now that he's almost 3. He carries that blankie around like the kid on the Peanuts cartoon. Thank you Marci for making the blanket for him! He LOVES it! I think it's way cute too.

Ryan is so smart also, and definitely knows what he wants. I was pregnant with the twins and had about a month left of my pregnancy and Ryan was still sleeping with James and I in our bed. So reluctantly I suggested to James that we should start trying to put Ryan in his own bed. I was reluctant because I felt enormously guilty that I was "kicking Ryan out to bring the girls in". I didn't want him to feel like he was being replaced. That next day around naptime (without me mentioning to Ryan about my prior conversation with James about him sleeping in his own bed), Ryan said to me, "Mommy, I fleep in my bed". I took that statement with a grain of salt and said that would be ok and led him to his bed expecting him to come out of his room a few minutes later. I was pleasantly surprised when he slept in his bed for his entire naptime! From that day on, he just decided to sleep in his own bed and he has ever since! I mean, who does that??!!! LOL Now THAT is the kind of awesomeness that I'm dealing with over here....

Ryan at the beach in San Diego

4 weeks after a bath

1 year old with his blankie

5 months old