December 31, 2010

Love you so, so much Riley Claire! You’re my best friend and the reason my heart beats. Can’t wait to share 2011 with you!

Christmas

Dear Riley,

I can’t wait to tell you about your Christmas in 2010. You were so lucky to get so many presents that you love!

Your first gift came from Aunt Morgan a few days early. I just couldn’t let you wait another week to open it!

(Zebra print bed comforter with hot pink sheets!)

Next we went to Papa and Gigi’s house where you received your most favorite gift from none other than my Mom. Very surprising.

(Disney Princess dress-up clothes; the only one you care about right now however, is Snow White)

Then, we came home and waited on Santa Claus. He left you so many presents!

You received a Disney princess table and chairs, Disney princess shoe boutique (which went really well with the dress-up clothes), a travel writing table, two Snow White dolls, clothes, and Etch-a-Sketch, a princess tiara, a drum set, two puzzles, a Pillow Pet, Pocahontas DVD, a Leap Frog DVD, and a water color book. You also had a stocking full of goodies. Notice a theme with all the Disney princess presents? It’s because you LOVE Snow White! When you dress up in Snow White’s clothes, you walk around and tell everyone that your name is Snow White, not Riley. It’s cute!

Your Daddy and I hope you had the best Christmas! Ours was great just watching you enjoy your gifts. We were very blessed this Christmas season when a family very close to my heart is hurting so much.

Love you Riley!

Love, Mama

Merry Christmas 2010!

Who do you think you look like?

Dear Riley,

When Aunt Morgan and I were younger, I can always remember asking the adults in our family, “Who did I look like when I was little?”

Well, I don’t know. I think you look a little like me.

You can be the judge.

John Deere Green

Dear Riley,

Grandad loves his tractors. I loved to ride on the tractor with him anywhere he went when I was little. I just didn’t like to get splashed with mud.

You however, don’t like the tractor at all.

This is so far the only picture you’ve had on the tractor with Grandad because of the fact this is the only time you’ve been on the tractor. You don’t like; it’s too noisy I guess.

One day you will come around!

Love, Mama

Riley Claire–Two years, three months Newsletter

Dear Riley,

I thought you would FOR SURE be potty trained when you turned two because you are pretty smart. Boy was I wrong. Three months into the second year, we are no closer. You just aren’t interested in anything but standing on your potty. It makes a very nice stool. No pun intended.

You are as rambunctious as ever, running, jumping and climbing all over the place. Look what happened to me when I was about your age:

(Jumped from one end of the couch to the other. Came up a little short.)

Your energy level is always on high, which is a good thing. I know what it’s like to have a negative energy level, so it’s very refreshing to see you so bouncy and happy all the time.

I’ve probably told you before, but you are still very caring. If I cry, you want to know why and you give hugs and kisses. If I have a band-aid on, you want to kiss it to make it “All better!” When your Daddy is sick, you are a “sick girl” too.

You love to help me in any way you can. I’m sorry to report, I have taken advantage of your helpfulness and put you to work. You always empty the dishwasher of the silverware and put them in the right drawer. You are always willing to put anything in the trash can, dirty diapers included. The only chore you don’t like doing is cleaning up your toys.

You love to help me cook. You think the spot on the counter in the picture above is your seat. Anytime I am cooking or fixing something, you want to sit there. See all those spices? You take them all out and line them up and then put them all back in the cabinet.

Your Daddy and I spent an entire evening shopping for your Christmas presents. We can’t wait until you can open them! It’s hard to not let you tear into them right this minute! We’ll be patient and continue our Christmas morning tradition.

Love you so much sweet girl!

Love, Mama

The Fireplace

The fireplace at Grandmom and Grandad’s is the center of the house. Not in the center of the house, but THE center of the house. Especially in wintertime, household activities revolve around the fireplace. Grandad always builds the fire early in the morning. Grandmom is always adding wood to it or poking the fire, trying to keep the fire blazing. And the rest of us try and stay out of their way while they are doing it. Pictures are taken in front of the fireplace, and memories are made while staying warm in front of it. We complain that the fire makes the house too hot, but on those really cold mornings, we are all guilty of warming our backsides at the fireplace.

Pregnant

Cruising by the fireplace

Timothy; with the fireplace in the background.

Braxton playing.

Riley posing.

“Throwing a piece of wood on.”

In front of the fireplace.

Again, in front of the fireplace.

The fireplace is where PJ used to keep warm on cold nights. The fireplace is where the porch swing would bang if you were swinging too high. In front of the fireplace you can always find my Grandmom, keeping her feet warm. The fireplace is where someone will always warm their hands after coming inside on a cold winter day. The fireplace is where the little ones love to “throw a piece of wood on.” The fireplace is where the wood crackles, reminding you that you are home and safe. The fireplace is where memories are made.

Big-girl Bed

Dear Riley,

On November 30, 2010, you slept in a twin sized bed for the very first time. Your new bed came from Grandad’s house and has been in the family for many years. I think it is so pretty. I should also mention, the sheets you are sleeping on are the same sheets Aunt Ma and I slept on when we were younger. My sheets were The Little Mermaid and Aunt Ma’s sheets were The Lion King.

You weren’t too jazzed with idea when I mentioned to you that the new bed would be where you would be sleeping. All you wanted to do was jump on your new bed. “Bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce.” You really say that.

When I put you to bed I went through our nightly routine: kisses, “I love you”, “See you in the morning”, “Sleep tight”, “Sweet dreams”, tucked your two babies in, made sure you have your favorite blanket, and more kisses. I turned the light off and shut the door. I thought to myself, “That was easy, let’s see if it lasts.” Not 1 minute later, here you came out of your room.

I told you, “Get back in your bed!”  (The next morning you told your Daddy I said this to you. You little tattle-tail!)

So again, we went through our nightly routine. This time, you fell asleep in your big-girl bed!

You didn’t stay in your bed the whole night, or any nights since then. But, you will go to sleep in your bed by yourself, so I think that’s progress.

And besides, I love waking up to you standing by our bed wanting to sleep with us.

Love you,

 

Mama