Update, Update, Update....

We keep forgetting that the point of having a blog is to actually update the blog. Maybe we will remember starting now...but probably not. July has come and almost gone, but not without plenty of fun and happenings.

(Not a fan of the hair dryer)

The weekend of July 4, Nana and Papa made what has become almost the annual 4th of July trip out to see us. Things definitely seem to start a little more smoothly with each trip out. The start of this one was not hindered at all by the "Kiss Me" Elmo they brought. She loves Elmo...finally, something besides Yo Gabba Gabba...so that was bound to be a hit.

While here we all went to one of her favorite places, Celebration Park in Allen, so that she could play and Nana and Papa could hang out with us as well. We all had a good time on what was a perfect day for summers in Texas...overcast, breezy, and in the high 80's. Nana and Papa even got to partake in the fun by having a go at the see-saw.
All did not end well on this fun day though, as Riley become very much obsessed with climbing the stairs to the highest slide...then back down the stairs (not the slide...ever)...then back up...and down....and up...and down.

(Not coming down for anything or anyone)

When finally we pulled her away to leave, it was quite the performance for anyone who cared to be watching. A kicking, squirming, screaming little girl who was not happy at all. Luckily almost everyone who goes there has kids as well, so we are sure they shook their heads thinking "Been there done that."

*No pictures made of this unpleasant departure * :)

With the help of Papa...or Papaw as Riley is now saying it...we made a lot of progress towards her new room, buying and assembling her new crib, as well as her shelves (Ikea directions are such a joy). In what was one of the funniest moments, PaPaw was asleep on the couch while the rest of us were in her room. So Riley comes in from the living room and exclaims, in a most excited voice "Daddy! I see PaPaw!"

(Finishing up her room. I was just helping)

(Cheeeeeese!)

Aside from that, it was a long weekend of mostly hanging out and just spending time together. We did make our usual trip up to the Nestle Store, and somehow days after they had departed, Riley saw Nana's brownie she left on the counter and said "Nana". She did the same for Papaw with the mustard...remembering how she had seen him put that on a sausage biscuit. And since they've left when sees the animal crackers he bought to snack on she calls them "PaPaw's snack". She does not miss much, and seems to remember the smallest of details.

Since then the month of July has been filled with a lot of good times and more than a few cranky moments thanks to the slowest...molars...ever making their way through the gums. Thankfully we're almost in the clear with those, and not a moment too soon! Every day seems to bring a new phrase or new word of some kind. The nightly bed time routine now consists of high-fives ("fives!") and hugs, and this is probably my favorite time of day because of that. Hair washing is gradually becoming less traumatic as well. :) As mentioned earlier, she still loves Yo Gabba Gabba, and Mommy/Mum/Mama/Ma! and I know almost every episode and song by heart. But she's also into Elmo and Mickey Mouse and pals (most notably Daisy and Goofy).

She is absolutely crazy about the donkeys down the road from us. Every day on her way back from the sitter she looks forward to passing them and saying hello. :) Also among her favorite things at this point are chocolate. If it's chocolate, she wants it. She has also recently discovered she likes to feed the ducks (and herself) at the pond at Celebration Park (we go every weekend usually).

(So, so good)

She is quite a picky eater, so we are hoping that changes with time. For now she seems rather content with blueberries, strawberries, turkey dogs, grilled cheese, green beans, and a few other things here and there. Oh, and we also got our third beta fish. Here's hoping this one has a better fate than his two very recent predecessors.

To start this most recent week, Nana and Granddaddy were in town for a conference, so we got to spend some time with them as well this month. Riley had a little more time with Nana this time around since Granddaddy was pulled away for work, but she had fun seeing them both just as they surely enjoyed seeing her as well. She has gotten better with saying "Granddaddy", but we didn't think she was going to say that to prove it...but right before he left she did say it, so that was good. Of course she got to see Rocky, Nana and Granddaddy's old man poodle as well. She does love Rocky. Maybe more than Cosmo and Shelby :) But not more than the kitty.

So finally we are up to today, where we learned the big news we have been waiting on for months now: Riley will have a little brother. We were pretty sure it was going to be a boy, and most of our friends and family seem to have had a gut feeling (or pure lucky guess) that it would be a boy as well. As it turns out, the gut feelings and lucky guesses were correct. We will know the official due date next month, but we're tracking towards the week before Christmas.

The date is way wrong in this picture of course.

(Her rain experience is almost as rare her snow experience these days)

Enjoying her bottle in style

(After a grueling round of Wii golf)


(Little brother's little feet!)

Big Weekend and a Big Announcement

This is a little late so forgive us, but trust me when I say we've had a lot going on! First off, the big news... This December, Baby #2 will be making his/her debut! That's right, Riley is going to be a big sister and we couldn't be more excited. The due date is December 22nd (what a Christmas gift!) but since I'll be having another c-section the actual birth date will probably fall somewhere around the 15th. So currently I am 12.5 weeks pregnant and feeling good. Exhausted, but good. People were telling the truth when they warned me how tough being pregnant is while chasing around a busy toddler! And I know it'll just get tougher as my belly grows and grows, but I'm looking forward to it. With this big news, comes lots to do around the house (um...lots for Mark to do around the house...) like painting, switching rooms around, moving furniture, putting together new furniture. Lots to do, and a very exciting time for our family

In other recent news, we made our annual trip over Memorial Day weekend to visit Nana and Granddaddy. The most exciting part was it was our first meeting of baby Maddie!!! She's absolutely precious and Riley loved her. A little too much sometimes, but she meant well :)


Riley had a blast at Nana and Grandaddy's as always. She got to swim with Daddy, kick her legs in the water with Nana, go for walks to look at the sheep, watch Grandaddy work in the yard, and relentlessly go up and down the stairs.




A couple of weeks ago Riley had her 18 month well-check. 18 months...where does the time go? She weighed in at 27lbs and 34 1/4 in. tall. She is still big for her age, the same size as most 2yr. olds! The doctor said she looked great and was most impressed with Riley's verbal abilities. This girl can talk. We've counted a minimum of 75 single words, and this number grows daily. She's even using phrases like "Open it", "I see you", "I want it", "Don't want it", and "more Gabba". She never ceases to amaze us, and we know she'll make an awesome big sister!