The Next Step

Thought I'd share this:

(If unable to view video, click here).

This is becoming a daily occurrence at our house - it's pretty exciting to watch!

Is my baby almost a toddler?

Spring is here and I have started planning my garden and wow Riley is almost 11 months old. huh?  She has changed so much over the last year and it has really been amazing. We have so much fun playing together and I cant wait to play with her outside soon. She is so close to walking I feel like it could happen any time.

Keenan and I had a good week. We were both a little sleepy from getting over colds but whatever spring is here! I love getting to be outside and going for walks with Riley. On Friday Dawn came over and we had some mommy time together, I mean a play date for the kids. Riley loves playing with the boys and picking on Chip.
  On Saturday we had our friends Rachel and Jordan over for lunch. They are getting married May 18th and we are really excited to attend the wedding. It had been a while since we had spent time together so it was really great to catch up. Rachel and I lived on the same floor my freshman year and I really loved hanging out with her. Well, she was a year ahead of me and wasn't quite as spazy as the other girls on my floor so I would hide out in her room sometimes. haha. I also had a tendency for getting a little too focused so she made sure I always had fun too. I met Jordan in an art history class the next semester. I thought he was a little intense at first but he is great. It just takes understanding his sense of humor and also dodging a few snowballs.

spring is on the way

My Moms birthday was February 16th so Riley and I went to Ottumwa for the weekend to celebrate.  Diane came to Ottumwa too and we all went out for lunch together at Appanoose Rapids, a yummy local place.  I made Mom a cherry cake because that was always one of our favorites but it was taking way to long to bake so it got a little dark on the outside but at least it was cooked all the way through and was still tasty. Riley and Liam are hanging out at the kids table together. Sorry Riley, no cake until your birthday
       Stacy is getting really excited about the new baby and its going to be a girl so she has picked out some cute clothes for her already. The c section is scheduled for July 3 and we are all very excited to meet her.

Riley and the Brue boys at the last play date

Riley is just so happy every morning when I go to get her. Its just so darned cute

yes that is my eye

Sheryl, Jon and Ainsley stayed with us the night after driving back from Texas to watch Riley the following morning. So Ainsley and Riley got some cousin time. Fun!

oh and Ainsley here is that picture you asked me to take

Then on the 20th of this month Riley and I were doing our normal morning routine when she started breathing funny.  It sounded strained like she wasn't getting enough air.  I called first nurse then took her straight to the E.R. where they gave her an x ray to make sure she wasn't choking and ran some other tests. She was diagnosed as having croup and I ended up staying in the hospital for 11 hrs that day.  Shes fine the pediatrician had us there for observation then sent us home with a steroid to help her get better.

9 Month Appointment

 Reading with daddy! So cute

Wow, at the next appointment she will be a year.  Naw that can't be right. Well anyway her appointment went well and she is right on track for her age. They gave her a new touch and feel book so that almost made up for having to get a shot. Then we went around to visit friends that work at the hospital and she got to wave at everyone. She is very proud of knowing how to do this.

Height: 26 1/2 inches and in the 14th %
Weight: 18lb 4 oz and in 36th %

The Burgies party this Saturday was fun. The pork tacos and decadent chocolate dessert were a hit and it was fun to see everyone and catch up. Debra brought those pretty daisies.

Trying to pet Dante

Playdate

Dawn and I have been doing playdates for the last 2 Fridays and Riley really seems to enjoy them.  Its nice to have a friend in the area that also has kids around her age. Today we went for a quick walk. It was nice but I am sure we are going to take a whole lot more once it warms up. 

The troublesome trio Peter, Riley and Walter

Walter posing

 After much consideration I ordered a new carseat for Riley because she is just getting too big for the other one and I was afraid she wouldn't be safe in it anymore. I settled on the Diono RXT model because of its slim design and the steel frame sounded great too. Who knew it was so hard to choose. I am really excited to get her safe new seat installed tomorrow with Keenan's help of course. She has her 9 month appointment on Monday so I will know how much she weighs. It feels like it has been forever since we have been in.

I am getting really excited because tomorrow I am having some Burgies friends over. Its not often that I get to see some of them.  We all got so close working together that its been hard to not see them everyday anymore. I am going to be making pork tacos and spanish rice and my friend Esther is coming over early to help me and to get a scrumptious dessert put together. Yay!

Full Steam Ahead!

I love lazy Saturday mornings.  The kind where you lay in bed for a while and chat about the week then make a wonderful breakfast that might as well be lunch too. Perfection.  Riley has been changing so fast. Its really amazing to see the little changes each week. Lately she has started waving when we do, saying mama and dada, crawling all over and trying to climb on things.  She has even been pulling herself up on things and then gets really giggly. Well...when is Riley not giggly?

Keenan and I don't go a lot of places and I guess we don't really mind. We are both homebodies. He watched the Superbowl this weekend and I worked on my sewing skills and mastering the perfect low fat brownie. There is a recipe out there and I will find it. Too bad Keenan is going to have to eat so many brownies to help me find it. This time I tried one that had a good amount of chocolate in it and had sweet potato to sub out some of the butter.  Pretty good!

 Stop action of Riley standing

 Ta Da!

Playing catch up

 Thanksgiving

This year we gathered at Kendra's newly renovated home for Thanksgiving.  The last time I saw it there weren't floors and it didn't look like it was going to be standing for much longer.  The entire family came together and really made it shine.  Keenan and I were only there once but it made Thanksgiving really fun and memorable to see it complete.  I enjoyed cooking and chatting with everyone, we even made special edible turkey place settings.

It's beginning to feel like Christmas

Right after Thanksgiving it is time to put up the tree and decorate for Riley's first Christmas. It's fun to see the house all decked out. I showed the tree and lights to Riley but she didn't really care but that will be something fun for when she's a little older.
 

Just before leaving for Christmas almost a foot of snow falls outside.  Last winter we didn't really get any snow so the fluffy white stuff was a little shocking, but pretty.  Luckily there was just enough time for most of the snow to be cleared for the drive.  We started slow and careful but the closer we got to Marion the better the roads were.

 Christmas in Marion

Riley spending special time with Great Grandma.  She was just so happy to have her home from the hospital and there to play with her.

Riley and Piper getting acquainted and playing. So fun to have a cousin the same age!

 Riley is learning the art of playing cards with dad

 

 Christmas in Ottumwa

Diane doesn't normally let me take her photo so this was a rare opportunity. Merry Christmas! They are some cute pictures with Riley.

 Riley unwrapping some of her gifts with Jason Christmas morning