Not a Happy Camper...

The last two nights have not been fun. On Saturday night Riley woke up around 3 and then every hour after that. Finally at 5:30 she woke up SCREAMING!!! To the point that even holding her did not calm her down. The only thing that made her OK was a bottle. So we fed her, then 3 hours later, same thing. She took a 2 1/2 hour nap on Sunday afternoon and then had a blast playing with her friend Hailey. (Pictures to come soon!!)

Joe and I figured that she would sleep really well last night because she had a bad night on Saturday and played a lot on Sunday....boy were we wrong!! Last night was even worse. Starting around midnight, Riley was up every hour, and finally at 5:30 I just got up and we fed her. Actually, Joe fed her, and I showered and began my day. Needless to say I am exhausted.

When I picked Riley up from GiGi's today she had said that she had a bad day and would not nap. She asked if she had a bad weekend or if her eating schedule was of a bit. I mentioned that yes it had gotten off track a little (no ones fault, it just happened!!) And that Saturday night and Sunday night she was awake all night. GiGi mentioned that that could do it since she is on a schedule/routine at her house, so over the weekend we have to try to really keep her on the same sort of routine. Otherwise she will get all confused. She said that the best thing to do is to just keep her occupied and entertained when she seems to be hungry before it is time. She mentioned that walking with her or dancing with her really works well. (Which I have found out over the last 2 weeks!!) By getting up and moving with her she is occupied with other surroundings and seeing other sights. It will take her mind off wanting food or thinking that she wants food. When babies get bored they tend to fall back to thinking it is time to eat (hey, I do the same thing too!! If I am bored, I eat. If I am tired, I eat. If I want something to occupy my tame, I eat!) She said that over the next day or two she should get back on track. I sure am hoping!! She didn't take her normal nap this afternoon when she got home. So she went from 2:30-7:30 without a nap!! Although she did lay on her blanket on the living room floor and was playing with her toys, then put her head down and rested for 15 minutes. So I think she should sleep well tonight (knock on wood).

I will post photos later.

E.

A fun Day

Today Riley had a great time at her Grandma and Grandpa Bouch's house. Joe and I had to go to a funeral so she got to spend some QT with the G-Parents. As always, she had her G-parents wrapped around her little fingers.....it is not hard to fall into her little games. A little cry from her sweet face and you are more than happy to do anything she wants. Bear always loves see them and playing. Grandma did a great job loving her and even got her to take an hour and 1/2 nap in a pack-n-play!! (Great job!!) She also got to spend more time with her Uncle Tommy, which is always fun. So thank you Grandma and Grandpa Bouch for playing with her and loving her sssooo much!!

P.S. I got the videos downloaded in the previous blog....check them out, they are soo cute!!

Happy Birthday Bear!!

We are: 6 MONTHS!!!

Yep, we are 6 months old today!!! And after a long evening of playing, I can actually believe it!! She is growning up so fast. She all but jumps out of her Jumparoo (see video attached!), she is sitting at the table with us and eating (pureed pears tonight!!) She loves to play and is happy all the time (unless she is tired or hungry). She is also standing a little on her own...well, just for a few seconds (video attached). I have also attached a video of us dancing together, it is not one of the better dance times, but she was enjoying herself!! We couldn't be happier!! Here are some videos and some photos for your viewing pleasure:

(Jumping)

Standing at the table

All by herself!!

(Dancing)

(Jumping)

(standing...don't worry, the table is soft!!)

All Grown Up

We are: 25 weeks and 6 days!!

It is hard for me to believe that Riley will be 6 months on Friday!!! That is 1/2 a year (in case you didn't know that already)!! But 1/2 a year seems so old to me!! Let's see...what is new with her these days?!?!

* She doesn't want anything to do with her play mat anymore. She will lay there for 2 minutes, then roll over. She will play with the things on the mat for about 2 minutes, then they bore her.

* Riley still loves to play in her Jumparoo, but likes to "walk" in her walker even more. She rotates between the Jumparoo, Execersaucer, and the walker. Some days she is easily entertained, other days her attention span is about 2 minutes and then she wants to move on to the next toy.

* Riley loves when we dance with her or sing to her. She likes to dance WITH us, but also enjoys when we dance TO her. She will sit in her chair and we (I) dance in front of her and she will laugh so hard. It is really cute. It is great exercise too!!

* Riley is LOVING her new applesauce and HATES lima beans. I tried to get her to like other veggies, but she is very content with the Sweet Potatoes, Peas, Squash, Green Beans and carrots. I am not a fan of carrots, since they stain! But she likes them so I shall feed her them!!

* We are slowly trying the fruits. Tonight will be peaches!! Yum Yum!!

Botton line, We are loving everyday with her. Every time she laughs or smiles it makes you fall more and more in love with her. She is becoming a little girl right before our eyes and I can't wait to get to know her more and more!! Here are some photos for you to feast your eyes on:

Wearing a sweatband....getting ready to work out!!

Wearing Joe's hat and playing (with peas on her shirt!)

Taking a "bath" in Grandma and Grandpa Bouch's sink

A true Redskins fan!!

Heading out for the day...she is almost too big for her car seat

Back to the Grind....

We are moving on.....to fruit!! This weekend while Joe is watching football game after football game I am going to be grinding up fruit!! I will be making more baby food for Ri Bear. She has mastered the cereal and the veggies. So now it is time to try out the fruit. I am thinking I will make bananas, pears, and peaches. I will be buying the apples sauce and prunes. I am thinking the apple sauce it going to be too hard....and I don't think making prunes will be easy.

I will let you know how it goes!!

Healthy Eater

GiGi has informed us that Riley is now eating 4 tablespoons for oatmeal for lunch....followed by a bottle! She usually will have 4-5 ounces of milk after her oatmeal!! We are almost finished with testing all the veggies out to ensure she is not allergic to any of them. (Each was a week long) We have tried: carrots, sweet potatoes, green beans, peas, and squash. Her favorite is the peas and sweet potatoes. She did enjoy the carrots, but if she spits it up, it tends to stain her cloths. So....we put a stop to that....or she eats naked!!

Today when I pick her up Gigi said that she is REALLY taking a liking to Noah. They were playing on the mat today and she kept rolling over to him to hold his hand and hug him!! Gigi took some photos and is going to send them to me. I will post them when I get them. Riley and Noah are even sharing clothes! Yesterday when I went to pick her up she was wearing a truck shirt. She had spit up on her other shirt and her extra ones were all long sleeves. So She put Riley in one of Noahs. I tell you what.....Riley looked like a boy!! Seeing that she looks just like Joe, if you dress her in boys cloths....she could be a boy!! But the second she smiled, she was all Baby Girl!!

I hope everyone is doing well and having a great week.

One Week Down!!

Well, this week went very well!! Riley seems to really love going to GiGi's house everyday. There are 2 other babies there (one is a 7 month old little girl and one is a 4 month old boy). Riley loves to play with Kila and GiGi thinks that she and Noah are "dating". She caught them "holding hands" yesterday!! They were laying on the ground next to each other and she said that the next thing they knew the two of them were holding hands!! Too cute!!

There are 4 other kids there, they are between 2-4 years old. Everyday they go to the park behind her house. Some days they go 1 time and other days when it is not too hot they go twice. They play peek-a-boo, Jumparoo, read, sing, playing on the floor, talk, sing, and she is eating SO much more now!!

Joe drops her off and I do the pick up. I usually get there around 4:00 and by the time we get home (4:10) she is ready for a nap!! She gets so tired from playing that she goes right down for a nap. I usually have to wake her up at 6 for dinner and so that she will go to bed on time. She is also going down for bed at her usual time and sleeps through the night until 5am, then has a bottle, then back to bed!!

Things are going so well!! I am really happy about it. I was so nervous that she would be mad at me and hold it against us. But when I get there she is always smiling and happy to see me. GiGi always says that Riley is always smiling and talking. It is very true. Unless she is hungry or tired she is smiling, talking and laughing.

I am excited for the weekend, I can't wait to spend all day with her!!!

Hope you all have a great weekend!!

Tears Again!!

We are: 22 weeks and 5 days!!

Well, tomorrow is a big day for us.....Riley is starting daycare for REAL this time. Joe is dropping her off with GiGi in the morning!! I have a bag full of stuff for her first day (bottles, diapers, paci's, extra clothes, her rabbit that she sleeps with, oatmeal and formula). I also typed up a sheet for GiGi as to what Riley likes to do, how to calm her down, etc.

Earlier today Joe was out working and she had just woken up from her nap and we were sitting in her rocking chair just relaxing and it made me really sad again!! I truly believe that for as long as she is in school I will cry on her first day!! (Or maybe for the whole week leading up to it!!). I know Riley will make lots of new friends, will love it, and will forgive me for abandoning her!! But I just don't know if I will be able to forgive myself!! Thank goodness Joe will be doing the morning drop offs and I will be doing the afternoon pick-ups.

Anyways.....this weekend was also big for another reason.....Riley had her first sleepover without her mom and dad!! We had a wedding to go to and so my parents offered to watch her for us....OVER NIGHT!! So we agreed....I was a bit hesitant, but you have to do it sometime!! So they came up and got her and they said she was a perfect angel!! They showed her off to all their friends down at the lake and loved every second. They dropped her off yesterday afternoon, and I am sure they are still sleeping!!

Yesterday we had the fantasy draft at our house. There were a whole lot of dudes here!! Riley was very well behaved, and her Aunt Kerry played with her a lot too!! Riley loved that!! Here are a few photos from over the last week.

Joe and his favorite cheerleader!

Getting ready for the draft!

Riley was going to work out