So, Ryan, who is the next president of the United States?

OBAMA!!! We actually got Ryan to say "bama" a few times and got it on video (someday I'll get that on here). Words cannot convey how completely happy I am about the fact that Ryan gets to live in a time when an African American has finally been selected to be president AND that we all get to see the end of the Bush years (please, Jeb, Jenna, and Barbara, don't try to add any more down the road). I have to admit that my own joy has been tempered a bit by the outcome of proposition 8; I am absolutely floored that my fellow Californians do not see the problem with amending the Constitution to take away rights from people, but perhaps this is the next civil rights battle that remains to be fought and won. I have hope that Ryan (and all of us) WILL live in a time when all people are respected and liberty and justice are truly for all.

On a lighter note, here is a list of things Ryan's up to these days:

• chattin' up a storm: he now says things like walk, sack (for his sleep sack or his PJ's), sock, milk, and rock (for either rocks on the ground or when he rocks out to Elvis Prestley's "Rock-a-Hula", which he seems to like for the strong downbeat and the fact that Elvis repeatedly says ROCK!). Then, there are the words he seems to have made up for things (he'll declare "B" when he sees an airplane, "SHA" when he sees a fan, "BEEDO
  WN" or he'll go "ooh ooh ahh ahh" like a monkey when he wants to watch TV, particularly Curious George) and then a whole bunch of gibberish that I don't understand but apparently has great meaning (it's the opening line of the next great American novel except that I don't speak babyese!).
• eating like there's no tomorrow: he seems to now like persimmons (as of today) and pumpkin is OK. He still likes things like pasta, cheese, and crackers. He was amused by his own ability to eat a peeled slice of apple but that amusement wore off after about 3 pieces.
• running, dancing, and pushing stuff: he likes to move fast, sometimes faster than he can really handle. At least he now catches himself with his hands (he used to just let his face hit the ground, which lead to 3 different boo-boos in about a week). He bounces and gets on his tiptoes when music plays and will sign and say "more" when the song ends. He likes to push chairs, his toys, the dog, boxes, the swiffer - anything that will move. Fairly recently, he and Steve met our friends Tim, Wendy, Jake, and Gia at Big Basin and they walked around the redwood trees for hours.

And on another happy note: My sister, Jeri, and her husband Ray are expecting a baby in May! Jeri and I both have May birthdays, but the baby is supposed to be born between our birthdays, although if she delivers late like me, the baby's bday could be closer to my bday. To see photos of the day she told my folks and Ryan's involvement in breaking the news, go to Jeri and Ray's blog at http://jeray08.blogspot.com/

Yes, photos are coming soon (I really stink at blogging!).