6 months of Rylee

 

And what a joy those 6 months have been! Our little girl is so precious to us and seems to be doing so much now. We started her on rice cereal about 2 weeks ago. She has almost mastered the spoon and she loves it.  She also is fairly good at grabbing toys and taking them straight to her mouth. She sleeps in her crib but no significant improvement in her sleeping. She really is a happy baby. She loves her baths, her toys, being outside, being held, and attention from anyone-especially her big brother. She could watch him all day. The most common thing I get from people when they see her is how gorgeous her eye lashes are. They are pretty much to die for. Her teeny weeny bits of hair are not red. Bummer. They are a light color. That is about all I can tell. She talks and coos and loves to grab faces. Cade gets a kick out of this.We look forward to all her next milestones and developments. 

Height 25.75 in  49%

Weight 16lb 10oz 62%

Head 41cm 10%

Cade might be around if...

the water bottle lids are making a train....

the pear was attacked by a pencil...

when asked, "What did you do with my make up?" He answers very matter-of-factly, "I made a pile."

 and random acts of streaking.

"Daddy, your head is cracking!"

This is Cole. I had a conversation with Cade the other night that was worth noting.

Me: Cade it's time to say your prayers, so we need to fold your arms, close your eyes, and bow your head (I bow my head).

Cade: (grabbing the top of my head) Daddy, your head is cracking!

Me: What?

Cade: (with his "oopsie, what are we gonna do?" face) Your head is cracking!

Me: My head is cracking? What do you mean my head is cracking?

Cade: (Using his hands to pull apart his hair on the crown of his head-see picture below) Like this!



Cade: I need a new daddy.

Me: You need a new daddy? Why do you need a new daddy?

Cade: Your head is cracking. I need a new daddy to play with me.


So I have been aware, for sometime, that the hair on my head is escaping me-and I'm actually quite alright about it. However, I was not aware that it make me a defective playmate. I guess it's time to look into some Rogaine! Thanks for the insight Cade!

Halloween

Several weeks ago I told Cade Halloween was coming up and I asked him what he wanted to be. He said an elephant. I told him that he was an elephant last year and to pick something else. He said, "ummmm a monkey!" So I was at a local consignment sale for children's clothes and found Cade a way nice monkey costume for super cheap. I thought how cute would it be if Rylee was a banana. So I went to the smaller sizes and there it was! I was so excited. Then last minute I thought (well I think it was actually Shan's idea) it would be fun to do a theme and make Tarzan and Jane costumes. It was so fun to go as a theme!!

 Cade loved going around to each car at our trunk or treat party and getting candy. He wanted the candy placed in his hand, he would then carefully inspect it, and then finally put it in his bag.

His favorite candy is suckers. (Random note: the other day he saw someone smoking and said, "Look! He is eating a sucker!" Ahh the innocence.) Rylee was a trooper and did great. She put up with her costume wonderfully and just looked cute all night. She helped me pass out candy while Cole went around with Cade.

Us at the end of the night definitely ready to go home.

Going through the goods with dad!

The Ratcliffe's Lately

I feel like I need to give an update but there is not much to update on. Cole continues to be super busy with school, his TA position, and his calling. He will soon apply for Doctorate programs. More to come on that.  I continue to be super busy with these two adorable kiddos we have got. It is amazing how much busier I am with the addition of Rylee. I think once she gets on a good sleeping schedule things will improve dramatically. Maybe I felt like an update was needed just as an excuse to post cute pictures of them. Either way here they are in no particular order.

 Rylee is doing well at sitting in her Bumpo. She was watching me doing laundry the other day and I looked down to find her like this! Asleep and sucking her thumb. Adorable. (but wishing it was a binky rather than her thumb!)

 We decided to be festive and actually carve a pumpkin. Our tough little boy could not bear the thought of getting his little hands messy so he watched in disgust as Cole emptied out the pumpkin. We let him pick the different shapes for the face. He chose stars for eyes, a diamond nose, and a mouth with a tongue sticking out. (don't mind my frizzy hair-I told you I was busy!)

 Rylee is just starting to realize that she can grab things and play with them. At dinner the other day she found the tortialla packaging and loved playing with it. We all thought it was so funny. Cade really like being able to see Rylee do something rather than just sit there.

 Mommy's new sunglasses so of course they end up on Cade's face.

Cade and this cars and trucks. A day does not go by without him playing with these. 

 Cade was so excited to be holding Rylee like this. I think he felt like a "big boy" since we really were not helping him. But don't worry-we were hovering very close.

Rylee at 4 months

Time is flying by.Our little girl is so much fun to have around. Definitely lots of work but definitely worth it. Rylee loves to be outside. She wiggles around a lot, looks around, and does lots of happy squeals whenever we go outside. Which, by the way, we try to do lots since our weather right now is beautiful! She loves to watch Cade. She continues to hate the binky and she has found her thumb-a habit I am going to try cut out early. But it is adorable to see her sucking on it. She loves to be held and she loves to stay up late. She continues to be sooo gassy. Sometimes I think all she has inside her is air! Whenever we go places I get lots of comments on how adorable she is. I have to agree. I take Cade to a community playgroup and whenever I take Rylee out of her car seat there are always a swarm of other kids who want to see her and touch her. Her hair color is still TBD. Her eyes are still blue which is darling but I am watching closly for any change. The more green they are the bigger the chance of red hair. She has gorgeous long eyelashes that curl perfectly. She has started to coo and babble more lately. It is so sweet to hear! It is nice to be hearing happy noises rather than all her noises be crying or fussy noises.

 

Stats:

Height 25''  78 %

Weight 13lb 10oz  51%

Head 39.5cm 10 %

 Cole is thrilled that Rylee already loves to watch football with him.

Cade loves his little sister (although I am pretty sure sometimes he just wants to see how much she can endure at once!)

Things to Remember

1) Sometimes your idea about a good family event, doesn't go over well with the kids. Over Labor Day we thought we would have some good family time and go fly a kite. It was a warm, windy, perfect day. However, the kids hated it. Cole and I made the most of it and had a good time flying our Buzz Lightyear kite.


2) Cade has remarkable word choice. About a week ago our family was coming home from an event and it was completely dark outside. Rylee was crying and Cade asked us to turn the car light on. When we asked him why, he responded with, "Rylee not like darkness". Not sure when darkNESS became part of his vocabulary.

3) Rylee looks really cute in leg warmers!

4) Touche for Cade. About 2 weeks ago, there was an outdoor "pep rally" to kick of the Kansas State football season. Manhattan closed down one of its main streets to host vendors, inflatable bounce houses, a display of vehicles (firetruck, ambulance, school bus) for kids to tour, toys for kids to play with (i.e. a black train), and a small firework show at the end. Tonight, while I was laying in bed with Cade, he got really chatty (obviously trying to avoid "sleepy time"). He asked, "What was that black train and school bus? I go inside school bus and under red car (one of the bounce-houses). What was that called?
I responded, "it was a big party."
Cade: I do that again.
Me: Well, they cleaned it all up.
Cade: Where did they go?
Me: They put it all away.
Cade persisted in this way wanting to know where they went. In frustration I finally said, "Cade it's ALL GONE." Cade thought for a minute, then said: blue sky. The blue sky is still there.
Me: Yes the sky is still there.
Cade: Road. The road still there.
Me: Yes, your right Cade. The road is still there.
Cade: And people and kids. They're still there.

Touche Mr. Cade- the blue sky, road, and people are "still there."