Rylan

It's been way too long since I did a post about all the little things Rylan does right now.  He's almost 2 (on June 28th) and has changed so much over the last few months.

Rylan copies Carter all the time.  He watches Carter so intently and then does exactly what he does.  Carter will drive me nuts sometimes because he does something he's not supposed to do (like climb into a clothing rack at a store) and then Rylan has to copy him.  Carter can be bossy sometimes and tell Rylan what to do and Rylan will do it (sometimes).  He really looks up to his big brother as someone to learn from!

Rylan had some major "stranger danger" for quite awhile. He has finally gotten over it in the last couple of weeks (though it's not like he trusts everyone yet).  Whenever a stranger would say anything to him or look at him and smile, he would look towards the floor, get a pouty look, and close his eyes.  He was silly though because once we walked away (such as from a cashier), he'd look up and smile (and sometimes even wave or say bye).  He's suddenly though a lot more outgoing.  When we are outside on the screened porch, both Rylan and Carter will yell "hi" to anyone that is walking by (especially all the kids).  When in the yard, Rylan will even give the older girls a high five.

Especially when Carter was at school or still napping, Rylan can play all by himself for at least an hour.  I can be in my bedroom getting ready or folding laundry or something and Rylan can play in the playroom alone forever.  It's so much fun to peek in on him when he doesn't notice you and watch him play with his construction trucks and guys and cars.

Rylan talks a lot.  He says lots of phrases and sentences.  I don't remember how much Carter was talking at this point, but I think Rylan does speak more and have a lot more words.  I think Rylan is also a little clearer with his pronunciation than Carter was at this point.  Hopefully he won't have the speech issues that Carter does!

Rylan is getting his 2-year-old molars.  I can feel 3 of the 4 coming in.  Carter's didn't seem to bother him but I think Rylan's have been.  He was waking up a few times a night and crying for five minutes or so before falling back to sleep.  I started giving him Motrin before bed about a week ago and that seemed to help.  He made it through the last few nights without any so hopefully they aren't hurting so much anymore.

Our bedtime routine is still the same.  We brush teeth, do bath (not every night), get pajamas on, read three books (all 4 of us together), then Brian takes Carter to his room and I take Rylan to his room.  I put Rylan in his crib and sing two songs (Hush Little Baby and The Farmer in the Dell).  Then I tell Rylan I love him and good night and leave.  Now he always screams for me and cries for a bit.  Sometimes it's for just a minute and other times it seems like forever (15 minutes or more).  I hate this even more than when he was little because he seems to old to be crying at bedtime anymore.  And he didn't for a long time.  He does the same thing at nap.  He often settles down quicker at nap and will talk to himself for a bit and then cry a bit and back and forth until he falls asleep.

Rylan has been getting up way too early lately.  He usually wakes up around 5:30 am and I have to get him around 5:45 am before he wakes up Carter with his screaming of "Mama!".  Carter usually doesn't make it much longer (around 6 am).

We turned around Rylan's carseat when we went to Disney and have left it forward-facing.  It's definitely easier to figure out what he needs now and keep him awake when I don't want him to take a nap in the car.  Rylan still loves to dance in the car.  I think he may be into music even more so than Carter.

Rylan's still only interested in listening to the books I read about half the time.  He's definitely still better than a few months ago though.

Rylan is a picky eater like Carter, but unlike Carter, he LOVES pasta and rice.  This is something I've never been able to get Carter to eat (other than a little mac and cheese a few times).  Currently Rylan is a bit obsessed with cheese.  I usually buy those single serve cheese sticks.  He'll ask for one between meals and then another and another.  So far I've always cut him off at three.  His banana obsession is waning a little finally though they are still his favorite fruit.

I may have to do a part 2 to this post because I'm sure there is a lot in forgetting!