Ryan's Car

So, I have to better explain Ryan's car. Yes, it's a P.O.J. (piece of junk), but it's only a '99! It's not even that old! Ryan's parents bought it just before he came home from his mission in 2002. It was in perfect condition, with very low miles, and they even considered it a sports car (I considered it a grandma car). The first time Ryan ever came to my house, when we were just friends, I looked out the window when he left to see what kind of car he drove. I was surprised to see him driving an Oldsmobile. I was also surprised that he had a little white poof-ball dog named Sugar. Back then Ryan had a reputation for being wild, meaning that he went cliff jumping every night, he had bleached blond hair, and was once seen at church sporting half a go-tee. So seeing him with his old lady car and dog made me wonder about him. Anyway, getting back on the subject, Ryan has really prematurely aged his car. The high miles have come from many road trips from Austin to Salt Lake City and back again. Ryan also used to work at Papa Johns delivering pizzas and he also likes to drive around just for fun. So that's the story of Ryan's car. It's not old, just junked. Ryan is proud of it and it's smell. So don't feel sorry for us because he is the one that drives it, I only drive it once in a blue moon. It's paid for and it gets him from point A to point B. I just hope it a lasts a little longer!

Yes, the trunk is closed!

Notice the manila folders keeping the window up.

He loves it, for some reason.

Blue thinks she going too.

She's sad because she doesn't get to go bye-bye with Ryan.

So she chases after him.

Here's a cute picture of Cannon and his cousin Cole who is 11 months old. We actually had a few cool days this week. Lil' Buddy is a dog toy, not a baby toy.

Cannon is 5 Months Old & The Top 10 Reasons Why I Hate Driving Ryan's Car

Today Cannon is five months old! To celebrate, he got to eat nectarines for lunch. Of course he loved them! On Friday we are going to try peaches. He has sweet tooth, like his mommy, so he loves all fruits. Actually, he likes just about anything we give him. He has a definite interest in what we are eating, but doesn't understand why he can't have everything we have.

Here are the foods he eats so far: applesauce, avocado, carrots, green beans, nectarines, pears, prunes, rice cereal, squash, and sweet potato. His least favorite are green beans, but he will still eat them. Sometimes I get creative and mix foods together, such as squash-sweet potato-pears. He likes it when I do that. He eats solid foods twice a day. For lunch he will have a fruit or vegetable and for dinner he will have rice cereal mixed with formula and a fruit or veggie. He also nurses six times a day. Lately my milk has been really low for his bedtime feeding, but I have been able to get him to take 5-6 ounces of formula and then nurse. Ironically, I am the only one he will take a bottle for and he will only use the UT bottles Ryan got him for Christmas last year. I would like him to take a bottle for bed so that Ryan and I can go out and the baby-sitter can put him to bed. So far our bedtime routine is working well. He usually goes to bed around 8:00, sleeps for nine or ten hours, eats, and goes back to sleep until 8:00 or 8:30. He is still taking three naps during the day, two short and one long.

Other facts about Cannon:
-He screams like a girl
-Current play list: Jack Johnson, Oasis, Old McDonald had a Farm (with a cow), classical piano (bedtime only)
-He still likes to be swaddled for naps and bedtime
-He must be sung to before naps
-He like to go upside down (a daddy activity)
-Recently discovered Baby Einstein (from grandpa)
-Despite going bald, new growth is appearing
-He has harry legs

Today Ryan took my car to work because his had a flat tire. Cannon and I headed to Sears this morning to get his tire fixed. We ended up having to replace both rear tires because they were so bad. Ryan's car is junked, we are just waiting for it to die so he can get a new one. Hopefully it will last a while longer because we can't really afford a car payment right now. It is rare for me to drive his car, but being in it today caused me to reflect upon it's beauty. Here are the top 10 reasons why I hate driving his car:

10. The doors squeak when you open and close them

9. It smells

8. Ryan hasn't cleaned the inside in over a year

7. The fuel gauge is broken - you could be full, you could be empty

6. If you try to start the car too quickly, it goes into anti-theft-mode and you can't start it for 15 minutes

5. The back seat is falling off - yes, the seat

4. The rear windows fall down - manila folders have been shoved in the crevices to keep them up

3. The Service Engine Soon light is always on - yes, we serviced the engine...is there something still wrong with the engine...probably

2. It has 196,000+ miles - it could die at any moment

1. I'm sick of other cars telling me, "Your trunk is open!"

Many years ago, Ryan tried to tow another car by tying a rope to the inside of his trunk, thus jacking up his trunk. It does look like the trunk isn't closed all the way. I do have to point out that the AC in his car is super cold (nice for Texas summers) and Cannon's infant car seat fits incredible well in the middle spot (the broken seat in on the outboard).

Okay, after this long post, here are lots of pictures of Cannon.

Videos of Cannon

Here are a couple of recent videos of Cannon. They were taken with my phone, so I apologize for the low picture quality.

This first one is Cannon with my dad last Sunday. This was a miracle because he had been so miserable all day from teething . My dad can always get Cannon to laugh!





This one is Cannon is his jumpy thing. As you can see, he mostly just spins around in it. He loves watching Blue and this provides enough entertainment so that I can make dinner. Yes, Blue has to be a part of everything!




Cannon has recently discovered how to scream, like a ten-year-old girl. Ryan has a video of this on his phone, so I will post it soon.

'Lil Longhorn, 'Lil Cougar

Cannon was ready for both football games on Saturday. We were only able to watch the BYU game, which worked out because it was an awesome game! Ryan is looking forward to watching many more games with the Can Man.


He looks great in burnt orange!


And he looks great in blue!


Unfortunately he outgrew these shoes before he could wear them. I tried to squish his foot in it, at least so I could get a picture, but his foot is way too big.


Ryan took this family photo of us lounging on his mini couch.


My sister Shae is our #1 baby sitter. Cannon was getting relaxed as she rubbed his head. Maybe this will make his hair grow back!

Cannon's first football game

Last night we went to Stony Point's football game. Ryan teaches at Stony Point, but high school football here is big enough that you don't need a personal connection for attending the games. Plus, some of Ryan's students are on the team and Ryan wanted to show off Cannon. We thought that the Can Man would enjoy the sounds and colors and crowd, but we were wrong. He was really happy as Ryan carried him into the stadium. And he was content looking around while we were seated, but when the crowd cheered it startled him and he started to cry. It was too much stimulation for him, too much to see and hear all at the same time. After a little while he started to get used to it, but I took him home at half-time. I think that when he is a little older he will love football games. It was also close to his bedtime and I think that made him a little sensitive too. But it was still a fun little family outing. I know Ryan can't wait for Cannon to get bigger so he can teach him everything about football.


He had this worried look pretty much the whole time we were there.




This is a modified version of what his face looked like when the crowd cheered.


I finally found a way I can get ready with Cannon. He likes to sit in his little chair and look in the mirror!


Now we can both have a good time!