Life Update!

Wow, gang, I'm embarrassed!  No posts since March 26th?  Do I still have any followers out there?

We've had a busy spring and busy start to our summer here at Team Steen headquarters, but we're starting to get control and I'm ready to get this blog back on track!

Today's blog is focused on giving you all an update on what we've been up to lately!

April 7, 2017 - Ryker becomes a big cousin!

We were excited to welcome Baby Zander Wright into this world!  My sister, brother-in-law, and two nieces added the first boy to their family, and Ryker LOVES his new baby cousin!  Seeing him with Baby Zander has assured us that Ryker will make a GREAT big brother!  Congratulations to Team Wright!  You can follow their blog at www.GrowingWright.com!

April 8, 2017 - Ryker stands in his crib for the first time!

Logging into the baby monitor and seeing THIS was one of the greatest sights of all time!  We are SO proud of the progress Ryker has made!

April 16, 2017 - Ryker perfects his batting game!

This, folks, was definitely a home run!

April 25, 2017 - Ryker is starting to stand!

It may look like Ryker's been practicing his yoga (with excellent form in a downward facing dog), but Ryker is actually learning how to stand!  From being told he may never walk, to THIS, is something we do NOT take for granted!

April 28, 2017 - Ryker gets an AAC devices and  LOVES Cardinals' Baseball!

Over the past few months we have been working hard with Ryker and his speech development.  He has been excellent with sign language, but adding the Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) device has been a game changer (literally!) in our household!  We watch a lot of Cardinals' baseball games per Ryker's requests, and we have had a fun time seeing his personality develop even more with the help of his AAC device!

May 4, 2017 - Big day for Baby Steen #2, big day for Baby Steen #1!

Baby Steen #2 is one healthy, growing little baby (with about the cutest profile I've ever seen!) -- we are so thankful for healthy reports for this little one!

While mommy and daddy were at the doctor taking a peek at Baby Steen #2, Baby Steen #1 decided to take a leap from his high chair, resulting in two broken bones in his forearm.  Ryker has a cast on since May 4th, and we are all anxiously awaiting June 21st when he can finally take the cast OFF and hit up the swimming pool!

May 25, 2017 - Striker Steen perfects his pitching game with Daddy!

Not even two years old and Daddy has Ryker on a pitch count!  This boy LOVES baseball, and we're awaiting the day for the MLB recruits to come knocking!  Watch out though, with pitching skills like these he's going to have multiple offers coming at him! 

May 26, 2017 - My name is Ryker Steen!

Words cannot describe the joy and excitement we feel when hearing Ryker announce his own name (and, of course, favorite thing to do)!  The use of the AAC device has been a huge blessing for us all!

---

Our days have been full of so much more than what I can capture here, but, as always, we are full of faith and gratitude for what God continues to do in our lives and in Ryker's life.  Thank you all for your continued prayers for our family, and your never-ending friendship and love!