Grayson Ryan FAQs

Goodness..it's been a while since I have A) posted and B) posted with any words.  I feel like so much is going on these days that I wanted to update y'all with the latest and greatest, my tricks and my trades, the ups and the downs, my successes and my failures successes!  Lots of people have been emailing, calling, tweeting, etc. and asking question after question and many of them overlap so I wanted to just put together a list of FAQs and answer them one by one.  Here we go (in no particular order):

1. Grayson, how did you get so cute?

This is DEFINITELY the most popular question.  I'm not sure if this is a knock on my parents or what people's thoughts are when they ask but all I can say is that I have some GREAT looking grandpas I take after.  You should hear the split in opinions as to if I look like mom or dad...one minute I look JUST like my mom and the next I look identical to my dad.  I think people are just scared to admit I don't look like either of them and even HINT at the ole' switch in the hospital possibility.

2. Gray, what's going on with your hair?
Sensitive subject and the answer is I DON'T KNOW.  Here's what I do know.  The minute I was born I had dark curly hair - like, tight curls.  Then I took my first bath and it stayed dark but went straight.  Then I came home and went through those awkward early baby phase where some hair fell out and I looked like a 97 year old man.  My hair slowly started growing back in straight and blond and with a natural crew cut with the long on top and short on the sides and back.  I enjoyed that.  Now as it continues to grow I have curls going crazy at the sides and back (although M&D cut these off the other week) but I'm starting to get some puffiness to my hair in the back.  Daisy has a strip of crazy hair down her back - maybe I look like her (in answer to FAQ #1).

3. Do you walk yet?
To that I say...define walk.  I pull up on anything and everything but my favorite to pull up on is mom's or dad's pant leg.  I walk if I'm holding your hand or pushing my tiger but if you want me to get from point A to point B with no assistance...I still prefer the crawl - much faster.  Don't judge me..I was premature, remember?  My question for you...Do you fly yet? Boooyah.  (ps. Yes, mom put me in my hospital hat the other day.  Do you think someone has the baby itch?!?!?!)

4. Do you talk yet?
ALL. THE. TIME.  The real question is, do YOU speak my language?  If you don't then I'm sorry and I can't help you - you should go enroll in your local, "Grayson as a Second Language" class at your community college.  Things I say that we have in common between our languages: dadda, mama, daisy (although I have regressed here and now just point), ROOAAARRRRRR (in response to "what does a lion say", and Ssssssssssssss (in response to, "what does a snake say") - so what if sometimes the lion says "sssssssss" and the snake says "ROAR" - it's a submissive lion and an aggressive snake - don't put them in a box.  I also know the sign for Please (see picture below) and now I use it all the time..even unprompted and I'm finding it's REALLY difficult for mom to say no to me when I'm signing please b/c I'm doing what she has asked me to do for the past 4 months. This really works in my favor and has backfired on mom and dad. So, Lucille and Grayce listen up..learn PLEASE really quickly - I scored two grapes out of the grape bag AT the grocery store today by using that junx. Oooops, I have a feeling I wasn't supposed to tell you that. Is that my first encounter with stealing?

5. Gray, have you committed any crimes?
Refer to #4 above.

6. Dude, how BIG are you these days? 
Let's see - just today I had mom's friend ask if I was 30 pounds as I felt heavier to her than her son who is almost 17 months and isn't a lightweight either.  Then I had the deli lady ask mom how old I was and although tempted to just say "18 months" she was honest with the "13 months" and the lady quickly went wide eyed - "Whoa...that's one BIG 13 month old." and to that I said back to her.."Whoa...you're one big 54 year old, ma'am - now let's go share one of those fresh oatmeal cookies that just came out of that oven."

7. Do you brush your teeth?
Yes, all 8 of them every night.  I actually love it and would brush in the morning too if mom and dad ever remembered.  My dentist is going to be so proud.

8. G-man..do you have any rhythm?
Y'all - I can SERIOUSLY shake what my mama gave me.  I actually LOVE dancing and I found that when I press the nose of my lion walking toy it plays techno.  It's like me and techno are magnets...of opposite ends.  As soon as my jam comes on (ps. track 2 is my favorite and I often skip track 1) I stop WHATEVER I am doing and just shake it.  I do the twist, I do the Mr. Elliott shoulder raise, and I have a Grayson original which you'll just have to wait till M&D get it on video.  One time I was crawling and mom pushed play and I found I have REAL nice moves when I'm on my hands and knees - probably moves that are only appropriate until I'm about 15 months so I'm taking advantage of my innocence.

9. Do you get outside a lot?
Mom and Dad borrowed a hiking pack for me when they thought they were going to an event where I would need to be carried.  Let's just say I've been in it quite often.  "Where do you hike?" you ask...well, my front yard, my back yard, and my favorite...the kitchen.  You see..when mom is home I am a LITTLE on the needy side.  So when it's time to make dinner and I just want to be held, which I'm very verbal about - mom just throws me in the hiking pack, clips all 24 clips and straps together and off we go..chopping and seasoning like nobody's business.  Quite frankly, folks..I don't even like dirt and grass...who says you have to be in mountains or rough terrain to use a hiking pack?

10. Do you have any other fun tricks?
First off - they aren't tricks...tricks are for animals so I would prefer if mom and dad stop referring to them each day as my "new tricks."  BUT, I can...wave, give kisses on command (oh and just FYI - if you want a kiss just know that I'm going to give you some tongue with that.  For some reason the ladies always get taken off guard with this...to that I say, "you're welcome."), clap, empty daisy's water dish - both inside and out..this is one of my favorite "tricks", flex, and read.  Oh and with the reading thing - it's awesome.  Every morning I wake up I know mom and dad aren't quite ready to tend to me.  So, I just turn on my mobile as my light source and grab one of the books mom has left in my crib and read.  It's some of my favorite times and still seems to make mom and dad laugh each morning when they find me.  So far in my kid Bible I've read through Proverbs.