Christmas 2010

Another year is coming to a close and we are amazed everyday at what a wonderful little girl Riley is. We continue to have to remind ourselves to watch what we are saying. Riley LOVES to repeat us and loves to remember everything we say - even if it wasn't for her ears. OOPS! She is such a good girl! She loves to remind us that, "I am such a great listener! And I don't go to timeout!" Which is very true. She does listen well and very rarely visits timeout.

We visited Santa a few weeks ago - that didn't go so well. Riley was really excited to meet him and to sit on his lap. She waited "patience" in line but the second it was her turn she screamed, shouted, kicked, hit, and yelled, "GET ME AWAY FROM HIM!" She loves to SEE him, but not be near him. She loves Christmas lights, our tree, our Elf on A Shelf, and our nightly fire. Santa was really good to her this year. He brought her a bike, Thomas the train, Barbies, and lots of other wonderful toys! However, after spending the day with her cousins Gavin and Jack she played with their cars and trackers. Now, that is all she wants to play with! So, on the 26th we had to hit up Target and buy her more trains and cars! She hasn't stopped playing with them since!

I am currently 18 weeks along with our second little munchkin. We find out on Wednesday what the sex of this one will be. Can't wait!! Hopefully the little nugget will cooperate!

Hope you and your family had a WONDERFUL Christmas and have a safe New Years!!

OOOPS!

It is almost December and we are growing so fast. Not only is Riley growing fast but our family is too. We are expecting our second kiddo on June 1st!! We are all very excited. I don't think Riley knows what is going on, but she sure pretends to know! She is 2 and 8 months!! Full conversations, understands everything we say, and is a complete and total mommy's girl. She tells me all the time that I am her best friend, but will quickly take that privilege away when she gets mad or in trouble. She is a wonderful little girl and really does not like to be in trouble. She is very independent and constantly tells us, "I will do it myself." This includes getting undressed, dressed, potty, getting milk or juice, and doing stuff around the house. We can not ask if she needs help, it has to be her idea to ask for help.

She is fully potty trained. It took only a week - we went with the no pull-up method. (only for sleeping). She even hates to pee in the pull up and will occasionally wake up in the middle of the night to have us change it or to take her to the potty. So proud of her! She loves to inform me of her friends at school who have accidents. There were 3 of them that we all being potty trained at the same time, she has only had 1 accident at school, and she loves to let me know when the other kids have them.

We are still really lucky with her sleeping. She is still great about going to bed around 7:30/8:00 and sleeping on the weekends until 8ish. Then one of us will go get her from her bed, hit the potty, get undies on and climb into bed again. Joe and I will continue to sleep and she lays in between us and watches toons. A great little system!! Finally around 9ish we all get up and head down for breakfast. FNT is still in effect - we try for Saturdays and Sundays. Riley still naps for 2+ hours. The girl plays hard and sleeps hard.

She thinks she is trying out for American Idol and will sing her heart out all day long. She loves to lay in bed and sing until she falls asleep. For a while she was singing until 10pm! She would finally fall asleep mid song. Too funny!

Riley is very happy and honestly a really well behaved little girl. Occasionally a little sassy - but not a fan of getting into trouble, so one look from Joe or I and she will stop, or if we start to count to 3 she usually will stop after 1. We could not ask for a better little girl!! Here are some updated pictures of her:

Riley as our little ladybug!

Hayride at Great Country Farms

Joe and our cowgirl

A fun summer day!

Swimming at Grandma and Papa's house

Dressing up in mommy's boots

Spending time with Carol


Our BIG announcement!

UPDATE!!

Well, I again have been very bad about updating this!! It has been 5 months and a LOT has happened.....Riley is 2 now, actually she is 2 and almost 4 months. She is a bright, funny, sassy little girl! We are having full conversations, she fully understands everything we say or ask of her, she talks back, and has no problem telling us when she is not happy! Riley still is fairly well behaved and listens well. She rarely has to go to time-out and if you explain to her why she can't do a certain thing or have something she understands and doesn't complain. She is big into telling us that we are "her best friends". We are enjoying our summer together, although she is going to Gigi's a few days a week. She loves it there and loves playing with her friends. On May 1st we moved to Gainesville and Riley LOVES the new house. She has a bunk-bed now and loves our new neighbors Lauren and Jesse (and their dog Rooney).

Riley is LOVING the pool. She has a float that is wears in the water and she has NO FEAR! Just jumps in and goes under water and pops right back up. Riley is totally a water-rat. She would stay at the pool for the whole day if we let her!

Here are some updated pictures!

Riley and I on a wagon ride to go pick peaches.

Joe and his little Cowgirl!!

Riding her bike outside our old townhouse.

Grandma and Papa at Easter!!

Riley riding a horse at her friends house.

Wearing her tiara!

Riley, Joe and I on her 2nd birthday!!


Riley and Ms. Hilary at the Little Gym

Enjoying the Little Gym

Having fun on Grandma and Papa's boat.

Snow, Snow and More Snow!!

We have been spending a LOT of quality time together lately. Last Friday we got a huge snow storm that dumped close to 25+ inches! Then, a few days later we got another 5-10 inches!! We are in a winter wonderland and have been cooped up inside for the last week. Riley has been a great trooper through it all - seeing that she is not a big fan of all the snow. Riley likes to walk outside to look at it, but not to touch or get it on her. As we learned early on Riley does not like to get dirty! So we have been playing some new games inside. We have had to be come creative - drum on an empty water jug, painting, LOTS of play-doh, playing with mommy's old Garbage Pail Kid cards, and giving mommy and daddy a lot of fake tea from her talking tea set. Riley has learned what time-out is over the last week. However - she LOVES it and puts herself in it for fun! Normally we will have to just say, "Riley, you have until the count of 3 to ________" and by 2 she has stopped or come over to us. But one time she didn't and I asked her if she wanted a time out and she said yes - so I put her in the time out and now she LOVES it! She will say, "mommy, I go to timeout" and will walk over and sit on the steps for a while, just nice a quietly. It is quite cute!! I guess we should be blessed that she is very well behaved and that she really has not hit "the terrible two's" yet. Granted, she gets moody and sassy, but the second you tell her no she is sad that she upset you and offers up hugs!!

We are beginning to plan her 2nd birthday party - but I am in a bit of denial that it is approaching so fast!! I can't believe it! Here are a few photos from the past months.

Heading out for a walk!! Walking with daddy!!


Playing her "drums"

LOOK AT ALL THE SNOW!!