Football shirts and stuff

Ryder is growing too fast! Everyday he says something so funny! I wish I could remember it all. Right now every single day and even when getting ready for bed Ryder wants to wear a "football shirt" = a Football jersey! We have managed to collect, Tony Romo, Roy Williams (DEf), Jason Witten from the COWBOYS, and his amazing "godfather" and cousin Grant is a huge Chargers Fan so we now also have Phillip Rivers and Darren Sproles, and a UT jersey. So the count is now 6, almost enough for everyday of the week! Ryder had a great Christmas and got a bike and a monster truck from Santa, and a bunch of other cool stuff from Mom and Dad! I am not sure we have broken 30 lbs yet, but we are working hard at it. I think he runs non stop all day everyday and sometimes in his sleep, so much so that he can't eat enough to keep up! We had many visitors for the past few weeks, Ryder spent a few days at Gran and Pops, then Papa and Grant came, and the Ballew family with Grandpa Jim. This week we are expecting possibly Aunt Moni, Snoogie, and Bit! Ryder will be 3 in April, I can't believe it! A few things that are important to me are that Ryder learns how to be a good ole fashion gentlemen. I have worked on having him open and hold doors for ladies, and elders. I want him to be a good husband and father, by that I mean, he is loyal, honest, trustworthy, faithful, and hardworking! Ryder is learning how to play tricks on his daddy, he is a negotiator for sure (he gets that from his momma) I love that boy!

Ryderisms these days:

I hurt myself, and it's bleeding (he seems to get hurt a lot when it is bedtime)
I need some medicine
I am awful
Holy Moly
Oh My goodness
Crash and burn
Daddy needs to wipe my boogers (why he needs a tissue)
It's a big turd momma
Is my face blue? (when he is dropping a duece and he has to push)

Oh Ryder is an avid nose picker, and when I ask him what he is doing he says, I got a hard booger!

b

Little bit of Ryder in my Life

Ryder just had his third halloween and he was Spider Man aka Spyder Ryder. We spent the day before halloween attending birthday parties all day long. Declan had the first one at 10:00 am at the park in Southlake. He was dressed like Spider Man and had chocolate cake. Later that day we went to Audrey and Holden's party, there were a lot of kids there. After the party we carved pumpkins and cooked the seeds. Ryder enjoyed naming all of his pumpkins "DD pumpkins". Every time Ryder got a pumpkin and I asked him what he was going to name it he said "DD Pumpkin".

On the day of Haloween I was really suprised he wore his Spiderman mask. He made it for about an hour of trick or treating. We did the usual and had a trailor full of kiddos. Ryder did great, he never even tried to cry, I think it was the practice we did before hand. Ryder rang our doorbell and Daddy would answer and Ryder would say "Trick or Treat!". By the time we finished he was an expert. Each house he would get his candy and then see what he got and wanted to eat it before going to the next house. I really thought Ryder would be tired and grouchy, but he never fussed once . Papa and Grant came to see him this weekend. Grant went to a few houses and then found himself sitting in the back of the truck in a chair looking for sweet tarts.

All in All Halloween was a success!!! Everyone had a great time!

Fun with Ryder

I finally had a week off from work, and boy was it needed, for me and for Ryder! We spent the entire week together and had so much fun. Ryder has been missing his mother, she has been working way too much and it showed in his behavior. All week he made sure I was not going to leave him.

Sunday- Fer Fer, Ryder, and I went to the pumpkin patch in Flower Mound, the original PP was too busy for Ryder, so we went to the "other " pumpkin patch which was more Ryder's speed. he asked to get in the Jump house several times, but never would get in. Ryder also got his first big boy hair cut!! It took a little getting used to, but we all love it now!

Monday- We went shopping and found a great sale at Old Navy, we ended up getting more for the Kastner baby, but it was fun! We shopped for carpet and Ryder enjoyed running around and climbing on the carpet, I am not sure if the carpet store loved it that much, but oh well! We went to Academy and found a small basketball, because the one we got at the garage sale had a hole in it. He wanted to dribble and dunk! So we did just that! We also found a small football at Old Navy and he and Fer Fer and Daddy worked on throwing a spiral like a quarterback, and catching, Ryder got really good at throwing it this week! Great technique and quite the arm!

We didn't take a nap on Monday because we had too much Pulaying to do!

Tuesday- Dad had to take Ryder to school and they both were very unhappy about it, Ryder has been going to mothers day out at First Baptist Church in Justin, and he cries a lot when he is dropped, off and Daddy doesn't do very well when Ryder is crying. I had a Dr.'s appointment.

Wednesday - Ryder went with me to the eye dr and got a lollipop for good behavior, we met Carla and DecDec at the pumpkin patch again. We all ate lunch at McDonalds and then went to the packing store to send Papa his birthday present! A picture of all of his grandkids at the church after Ryder's Baptism! Papa is gonna love it!

Thursday - Back to school for a little bit so mom could run some errands, but we went to Sonic and got some drinks, Declan went with us! Blue drinks for everyone! After Sonic we picked up Carla and went to a park in Southlake to see if it was a great spot for Declan's third birthday, and Ryder and Dec Dec played for a long time (great park for kids)! Declan had an emergency poop in the park, and that was funny! After the park off to Central Market to grab a bite to eat and then home!

Friday - We went to the Gainsville Zoo with Lauren Jemeyson (Mrs. Lauren). We saw Kangaroos, Ostrich and their eggs, Giraffes playing, a bear swimming and some other cool stuff, had lunch in the park and rode the choo choo train, and then some chocolate ice cream.

We had a fun weekend also and went to church on Sunday evening and Ryder went to Awanas!

Some funny Ryderisms:

Fo Shizzle

That is the biggest (Insert) I ever seen in my whole life

Ryder will be spider man for Halloween and he enjoys wearing his outfit and playing, specifically sliding around on the floor with Dad and FerFer

He is learning to throw a football and catch

Fast Shoes - this is his tennis shoes!

I'm a quarterback daddy

I like this song

Just a few things Ryder is doing right now!

Ryderisms at Two and some special stuff

Wow I can't believe how fast time flies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't believe it has already been two years since I was blessed with a baby. It has been an experience I can't imagine living without. I mean people tell you all the time, but if you haven't done it you don't know what you are missing out on. If you think you might want kids, but aren't sure...ONE is AWESOME!

Ryder is small, but MIGHTY! He is ALL boy and goes non stop. He loves monster trucks, every ball you can imagine, slides, climbing, jumping, and his family! He talks non stop and and forms complete sentences. He sings, Twinkle Twinkle, Itsy Bitsy Spider, ABC's, You are My Sunshine (moms favorite), and says now I lay be down to sleep. He loves to tease his FerFer by acting like he doesn't want her, but he knows...... Sis is in and out, but he loves to show off for her...and Ben. He doesn't see his Brother much, but knows who he is very well. Papa and Grant are favorites of his...and don't forget Granny and Popa... He loves MY popa and Granny. The only place he wants to go to leave Momma and Daddy is to Granny and Popa's. This weekend he wanted to go home with Gran or at least that is what he said, we took a ride around the neighborhood with Gran before she left. He likes to " take a ride". He also loves to make coffee with FerFer,but since she has recently stopped drinking coffee he hasn't done that in a few weeks.

Ryder loves KK, Augie, Bay, Mango, Holden, Lizzy, Naynay, Blake, Sally, Caroline, and Mark Anthony, Lala, Aaron, and DecDec.

Things that he says that I love are:
" take a ride"
"May I have some _____ please?" - he says this when i ask him to ask nice.
"Uh Huh" - Yes
Kaboom, Oh my gosh,
"Nuggle"- Snuggle
"Hold you Momma"
"no want that either" - He follows everything with either when he is upset.

Ryder likes to do things on his own. I watches you and then he does not want help.
He shares well if you ask, if you just take it from him he will scream and then possibly hit you.

His second Birthday party was Yoooo Gabba Gabba. People in attendance: Kastners, Goulds, Gigi, Anglins, Bodies, Moodys, Colton Cogdell, Lauren Jemeyson, Mindy Carlisle, Rommel, PaPa and Grant, Granny and Popa. Then boys played, but it was wet outside and was sprinkling some. Towards the end of the party I couldn't find Ryder and finally looked outside to see Ryder and Holden playing in the rain/mud. Ryder was laying face down on his belly and Holden was splashing by running through the puddles, so Dec Dec and Jacob came to join the fun. When they were done the boys all got a bath!


James Ryder Balch, you are the sunshine of my life, and there are so many cool things about you I am sure I will have to come back and edit this post.

I love you,
momma

Funny Ryderisms

"Hold you mama!" - Need I say more.

"I don't like it!" - He usually says this when he doesn't feel like changing his clothes or he is in a crabby morning mood and i am dressing him, as he is crying and trying to rip off his shirt.

"Marshamellows!" - Okay so he asks for cereal by saying marshamellows, but when he eats Lucky Charms he picks out all of the Marshmallows...

" Daddy does." - So this started because Jimmy taught him to say "who loves you?" and the correct response is " DADDY DOES!". So now when I ask him any question related to love or "who"...he responds "DADDY DOES!". Like..." Who's mamas baby?"..Ryder says " DADDY DOES"..Just funny!

"I did it!" - This is just stinkin cute! He does this when he likes what he has done. Funny thing is he has standards. So he may do the same thing over and over, but when he does it good...he says "I did it"

"How much I love you!"...At night when we lay in the bed I always sing mommy's favorite song. You are my Sunshine!!! and when we get to the part "you'll never know dear.." Ryder screams " How much I love you!". It makes mommy's heart go pitter patter. (is that how you spell that?)

No Fer Fer No!!!! - Anything Jennifer does this is what Ryder says. He knows it makes her CRAZY, and it is like his way to "get her". It is so cute.

When you put the phone one speaker and let someone talk to him, I always say " Ryder, tell so and so you love them." and then he proceeds to kiss the phone, which is funny because he doesn't do that in person.

Oh oh....Ryder hates when things break! Specifically his granola bar. If it breaks he gets mad and throws it and cries " I brokt it mama!!!"

"Hi mama!"- this you just have to see....cause he puts this little face on that he knows is sweet and his hands by his face....

"Wake up mama!"

Okay....there are probably a thousand of them but this is all I can think of right now....hopefully I can get to sleep tonight and not be thinking of how many Ryderisms I forgot!

I mean really I thought I was okay with not having a child a few years ago. I had pretty much come okay with the idea that I wasn't going to have a child of my own and Jimmy and I would be young empty nesters and then.....on 08/31/07 Liz and KK took me to OTB for lunch and told me my news! "You are pregnant!". I wanted a girl so bad it hurt, but deep down I knew, I just wanted a girl so bad I thought I could want it bad enough...sorry ladies...you can't. So the day James Ryder I was born I never even gave it another thought. NO REALLY! God knows what you need and he gives it to you. I needed a boy, and I am so happy to have my little thoroughbred! PERFECTION!


just thinkin bout my little boy tonight and how much he is loved!
mama

Keep Smiling because I can!

Things I am thankful for:
1. Tender
2. My husband (yes truly) You are always there for me when I need you. You always support me!
3. Having the best sister/s and parents! Again ALWAYS supporting me and helping me, and just loving me for who I am, my faults and all!
4.AWESOME girlfriends. I have so many true friends, I am blessed!
5. having a job at this point
6. being able to pay my bills! that may be an extention of #5 but whatever! All jobs don't pay the bills.
7. co-workers that care about me!

thanks Lauren for the great Idea to post what I am thankful for!

Crushed.....

I think I am a good person in general. I mean I have made my share of mistakes in life and feel like I learn and grow from each one personally and professionally. Over the last few years I feel like I have really changed a lot. My life has changed a lot and I always try to roll with the punches. I see myself as a caring person, but usually not very emotional. I am an ethical and moral person, so I think right now in my life someone is trying to teach me a lesson...I guess. I can't imagine ruining someones career. I have always been an advocate of people growing their career because someone always been there to support me until recently. Have you ever felt like you couldn't do anything right no matter how hard you tried? I think based on the fact that I have always been someone you could depend on to support you and I guess I have always recieved that in return. I think I need some time to think about how to be someone that has no emotions or learn how not to care about people personally as well as professionally.

Who is that evil? I know I know! How do you look at that person every single day and treat them the same as the other people and why do they deserve to be treated that way anymore? Especially when what you are saying is a total lie!

YOu are a sick individual!

rant complete!

brandi

Well I have not posted in a long time. It seems I tend to post when I feel bad in some way or another. When things are going well I usually don't have too much to say.

So throughout my life I have always loved the managment piece of my job and felt I was rather good at it. As things turn out I guess I SUCK! I have allowed myself to be friends with the people that work for me and let me just tell you that gets you in trouble. If you are a manager don't let your guard down EVER! My life has been turned upside down in the last two months and I am having trouble really "wrapping my brain around it". I am very care free and I think I have a strong work ethic. I mean don't get me wrong I get frusterated just like the next person but it usually doesn't last too long, I figure just do the best you can and move on. Things change and it seems like the trend it to just WORK MORE....DO MORE....PRODUCE MORE. I understand it, but along the way you need some encouragement. You need to feel like the work you are doing is appreciated, not just by your manager, but by the people you manage. When you really feel like you give it but never recieve it, it gets exausting! Guess what I am exausted! I don't know what people think about me when they think of "Brandi", my friend, my co-worker, my boss, my mother, my spouse, my whatever they are to me. I will plug my husband here and where I bitch about what he doesn't do in the home, he is AWESOME at building my self-esteem. He he always tells me what a great wife, mother, and worker I am. Okay back to the real stuff......

I have worked hard my entire life, I like to think harder than most. I have provided for my family and given of my self unconditionally. I have remained ethical and stick to my morals, and I feel really good about that, because I know not everyone can say that. When the pressure is on people will do about anything. YIKES! I have really taken the high road and I am proud of that. So really all I am saying is I AM WORTH IT!

Okay I know a lot of people say they ramble, but I know I am the best at rambling...I start one story or thought and then something comes up and I completely change direction. So for that I am sorry to anyone who reads this! Night Night Sleep tight and don't let the bed bugs bite! Oh and Ryder's newest favorite "uh oh spagettio!" that just makes me smile and feel all warm and fuzzy inside!