M.I.A.

I haven't been blogging too much the last few weeks. I guess I've gotten lazy and I just keep putting in off.
I need a new computer. As I said in my last post, my laptop bit the dust. Which totally stinks cause it was only 2.5 years old. Dan, being the amazing husband that he is, was willing to go out that day and buy me a new laptop. We went and looked but the $700-$800 price tag is a little hard to swallow.
Do I really NEED a new laptop? No. Do I want a new one? YES. I am trying to be content with the fact that I can use Dan's business computer, but it's not the most convenient thing. His computer is in the basement and it's scary down there! Not really, but it is COLD. I have to dress for a winter day just to go check my email.
I am trying to wait it out and maybe for Christmas I'll give in and let Dan shop till he drops. Who am I kidding, I won't make it till Christmas!

Ok Becky, here's your new post.

I am thinking of planning a funeral for my laptop. It died today.

Family history

I haven't always been interested in History. During High School I didn't have much interest in it at all. By the time I finished college I was only a few credits short of a History Minor. It's funny how things change and how your interests grow and change over time. I have come to really enjoy History and learning about the past. One particular area that fascinates me is family history. I often wish I had sat down with my grandparents and asked more questions. There's a lot of things I'd like to know that no one else can answer. Sadly, even though my Grandma Ryan just passed away a year ago, for the last 10 years at least she had suffered from dementia and couldn't answer much about her childhood or early years of marriage. What I am left with are beautiful historic family pictures and no one to tell me about them. I am lucky that on both sides of my family there are many old photographs that at least give me glimpse into where I come from and who my adcestors are.

I thought I would share a photo with you. This is a picture of my great-great grandparents and their 3 children. The oldest girl in the picture is my great-grandmother, the mother of my grandpa Elmer Ryan. This picture had a date on it and it's sometime in 1888-89. I love looking at these old photos and imagining what their lives must have been like. It amazes me that this picture has survived over 100 years. I'm sure they would have never dreamed that their great-great grand-daughter would some day be blogging about it.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Montgomery with Harriet Ann, Rayment,(not sure on this name, that's what it looks like it says) and Charlie.

new trick

Lucy has learned a new trick this week. It's something she's been working toward for awhile, but finally, she can do it. Lucy has learned to sit up on her own. Now, she's been sitting by herself for over a month now, but she would be in that position because we sat her down that way. What she has figured out is how to go from lying down to sitting up. What is funny about it is the way she does it. I've been around lots of babies and have never seen one do what she does. Most babies will get to a sitting position from being on their tummy. They'll get on all fours and then push themselves back to a sit. Lucy's figured out a different way. She will roll onto her side and prop herself up on her arm and from there she will use her arm and lots of tummy muscles to pull herself up to a sitting position. She did it once last week and we thought it was a fluke. Today she was able to do it several times. I haven't been able to capture it on video yet. When I do I'll post it so you all can see it.

Meeting the neighbors

Dan and I have now lived in our new home for about 6 weeks. In that time we've had 2 different sets of neighbors come by with a plate of goodies and welcome us to the neighborhood. It's kind of funny though, the people who live on either side of us have yet to show their faces. Anyway, it's been nice to know there are a few friendly people on the street. One of the neighbors, Rachel, that came by lives about 4 houses down and has a daughter that just turned one in August. We seemed to hit off just from our 5 minute conversation at my door. She is super nice and we have already had our first playdate. From what she's told me, Lucy is the only other baby on the street close in age to her daughter Elizabeth. I can already picture them in a few years running back an forth between houses and riding the school bus together. I am glad Lucy will have a little friend to play with.

9 months old

On Sept. 4th Lucy turned 9 months old. I took the traditional picture and I even remembered to do it on the actual day!

We went to the doctor on Friday and found out that Lucy weighs 26 pounds and is 31 inches long. She's a healthy girl. We've been exploring finger foods and trying lots of different things. Now that she's learning to self feed, I have such a fear of her choking. Poor girl, I break her food into such small bites she probably can't even taste it.

She's not crawling yet. She can get up on all fours but then doesn't know what to do from there. I guess she figures she doesn't need to know how to crawl since she gets where she wants to go by rolling.

This year has flown by and I know the next 3 months are going to bring lots of new accomplishments. Part of me can't wait for what she's going to learn next, but it also makes me a bit sad because she's not going to be a baby much longer.