Fotos Only Friday

It just can't be, can it?

This weekend we hit a HUGE milestone in our house....

Riley took her first unassisted steps.

If your mouth is hanging open right now then you look exactly like Matt and I did when we watched her do it on Friday evening. If you have a tear in your eye then you just look like me.

About two weeks ago she figured out that she could sort of manipulate her learning walker to walk a little ways. By this Thursday she was zooming it all over the house by herself as she finally figured out how to control the speed and keep up with it. Then Friday night we were up in our bedroom and she was standing up ALONE, yes that's right she can stand now unassisted for 1-2 minutes at a time. She saw me sitting nearby, giggled, and just took two little totters into my arms. We were shocked to say the least.

As the weekend has gone on she has become more and more confident and has gone from tottering towards us a few little steps to tottering towards the couch from the ottoman and to the dogs from the couch. She thinks it's hilarious and I'm sure it heightens the entertainment value for her that Matt and I just squeal and sputter everytime she does it and takes just one more step than she was before.

She was up to 4 steps tonight before bedtime so she's not fully mobile yet, but could it be another 2 weeks before we're chasing her all over this house???

Here's some video of her using her learning walker that I was really excited about and took too long to publish since now she's trying it on her own!

Riley with her learning walker

It's beginning to look a lot like

CHRISTMAS!

I know I'm a week and a pinch too early, but I just don't care. I've caught the Christmas fever and even though I'm usually all about giving Thanksgiving it's due, this year I just can't help myself. I think it's because I have this sweet baby Princess to share all the wonderful Christmas things with!

The Christmas take over began slowly a few weeks ago when I bought Riley her first Christmas ornament. Then I started listening to a few Christmas songs in the car (the radio stations are playing them already!). I perused the $1 section at Target full of Christmas junk that you don't need, but just have to have (but I AVOIDED THE FULL ON CHRISTMAS SECTION AT THE BACK OF THE STORE) Finally this week, hubby got me a wreath that I liked so much to help cheer up his sick ladies....and then the spirit of Christmas snowballed!

Instead of singing Riley her usual lullaby I sang her Jingle Bell Rock and Silent Night. She only stared at me with confusion for a moment before snuggling in.

I switched my plug ins to evergreen tree and the delightful smell of Christmas tree permeated the house.

I hung my beautiful Target wreath up on the front door!

We bought our little elf some adorable Christmas outfits to wear this month - we're still on the hunt for cute Christmas socks for toddlers. Leave me a comment if you know where we can find them!

And then the coup de grace for all things fall and Thanksgiving...I had Matt bring up the Christmas decor boxes. I squealed with delight as he carried them up from the garage with only the slightest grumbling and mumbling. Riley and I spent part of the afternoon decorating our mini tree with Pooh ornaments Gammy has been buying me for over 10 years. It was a pretty special moment to be showing my daughter the ornaments my mother has been collecting for me since I was a kid. Here's the princess checking out the tree.

We had a good time and it's finished! I promise I'll post pictures when I can get our little wormy to hold still by the tree for one second...oh and to stop trying to eat the ornaments.

COACH

"That confirms it...we're old!"

As if we don't have enough on our plates these days, a week ago I agreed to be the assistant coach for a local high school swim team. It's been two very interesting weeks and by interesting I mean eye opening. Not to date myself, but I realized today that it's been 10 YEARS since I graduated high school and to tell you the truth, not much has changed. They still listen to the same music, they still have their own language (did you know they don't say dis they say fry now???), and they still gossip about the same old stuff.

Here are the strangest things for me so far:
1. I am the shortest person on the team and I have to stand up on the bleachers so they can see and hear me. As a kindergarten teacher who towers over everyone I am just not used to that. AND I used to be one of the taller girls in high school - is it possible I am shrinking with old age???
2. It takes me 10 seconds to react when someone is yelling Coach at me because I still think I'm one of the athletes.
3. Instead of being in the pool groaning and mumbling under my breath about the sets, I'm doling them out and thinking to myself "suck it up you pansies".
4. Speedo came out with much cooler, much bigger and PINK practice bags.
5. They practice pretty darn late at night! 8:30-9:30 two of the nights a week! Even worse I'm so old that I'm exhausted and lamenting that 9:30 is past my bedtime and they are all wired and raring to go!

It has been fun to be involved in swimming again and a little nostalgic for me because my high school swimming days were pretty enjoyable. The kids are nice and entertaining. By entertaining I mean they say things like....

Boy Swimmer: Coach, are you ever going to get in and show us some drills, turns and stuff?
ME: (10 second delay until I realize I'm the coach) Umm that would be a no.
Boy Swimmer: Why not? Didn't you swim a long time?
ME: Yes, but I just had a baby...(and I'm in horrible shape, and gravity is working against me these days)
Boy Swimmer: So?
ME: You know what happens to women when they have babies right? It's just unflattering.
Boy Swimmer: OH.

Ahhh to be on the giving end of a life lesson for a group of teenage boys. Who knows I might suck it up (and by suck it up mean try and lose 20 pounds) before the end of the season and get in with them and show them what's up. Til then you can just call me Coach V.

We're Febrile

There's only one reason I'm not a posting fiend and there's only one reason I'm away from blogging this long...if you've been following me for a while you know this only happens when the princess is sick.

And sick she definitely is. We're down and out with a fever wreaking havoc on our little home. Miss Riley scared us to death on Friday night with the highest fever she's ever had (seriously she felt like a baked potato all over) and while we thought she was on the mend, that fever creeped right back in last night.

Good news is that so far it seems to just be a virus and that the fever means our princess is trying her best to fight it off. Bad news is that it's been a month and a half now since she's been UNSICK and we're OVER doctors poking and prodding, listening to and touching us. In fact, since a not so gentle doctor slammed a strep swab down her throat on Saturday the sight of anyone medical makes her shriek and reach for Mama.

Say prayers for her return to good health and Matt's and my mental state, half jokingly. We'll be back when she's on the mend.

Free Photo Books

**UPDATE!! The coupon can only be used until tonight, but you have until Sunday at 11:59 pm to make and order your books! Cash in those coupons tonight, just click on this link and sign up for or log in to your snapfish. **

A friend of mine at work sent me a link from yesterday's Oprah show. Snapfish which is an online photo website kind of like shutterfly or kodak is giving away free photo books! Only catch is your coupon is only good until midnight tomorrow night, but if you've got a ton of photos stored up like me you can make one in a jiffy. You can design your own or just use their pre- made layout, either way you'll get a gorgeous hardback photo book of whatever you choose. This isn't just for baby books either - you can use it for engagement photos, wedding photos, friend photos or get it as a gift for your Mom or grandma or significant other.

As for me, any guesses on who will be featured in my book???? DUH. :) HAPPY BOOK MAKING!

http://www.oprah.com/slideshow/oprahshow/20081029_tows_messyhouse/7
****DON'T BE CONFUSED BY THE LINK! It goes to the Oprah page and they used this idea to show what poor clutter moms could do with their kids art work. You don't have to use art work, you can use photos! Just click the highlighted link on her page that says Get your free book!****

WORRY

Ask just about anyone close to me in my life and they'll tell you, I'm a champion worrier. It's my least desirable trait, and I wish it wasn't so. Count yourself lucky if you've never had to be my seatmate on a plane or the sounding board for my questions about the safety and health of our daughter. Bless you if you've ever had the patience to help me sort through my worries about jobs, money, houses, or the unknown just around the corner.

My mother tries to help me by reminding me that it is a sin to worry, but of course that only compounds the issue and makes me worry that I'm sinning constantly because I worry constantly. In my prayers each day I ask God to help me turn my fears, concerns, stresses, bothers, and problems over to Him. Somedays I do better than others and it is a constant struggle for me.

A friend at work whom I often discuss these things with was kind enough to share this Bible passage with me and I wanted to post it here for anyone else out there who might be a fellow worrier. Even bigger than that I wanted to post it here so that someday when my sweet Riley is reading this blog she'll know that her Mommy wants her to remember: Don't worry your life away my love, for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Luke 12:22-34
[22] Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. [23] Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. [24] Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! [25] Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? [26] Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? [27] "Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. [28] If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! [29] And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. [30] For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. [31] But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. [32] "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. [33] Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. [34] For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

SWISI

Miss Riley Roo has been keeping us on our toes lately. She is a mover and a shaker and is not at all content to do anything that would involve sitting quietly. We suspect that at times she finds us boring. At the very least we know we pale in comparison to the fun she has in the mornings with her daycare buddies. So we've been scrambling to find ways to entertain her and this morning with a laundry basket and computer charging cord a new game was formed! Sledding WIthout Snow Indoors or SWISI consists of Matt and I taking turns dragging the princess in her "sled" around the first floor of our house. Don't let the pictures fool you, she quite enjoyed herself!

She started out sitting upright and then assumed full relaxation pose after the 10th time around.

"Protesting" because the puller got dizzy from too many turns around the island and paused for a millisecond break to regain her composure.

Ahhh content again as long as we kept it moving. Next time I'm going to attach our floor cleaner to the bottom and tackle two jobs at once; clean floors and entertain baby.

Riley Hearts Spaghetti

Tonight was Riley's first spaghetti experience. She started out a bit unsure, but then took to eating with great gusto. The pictures say it all...RILEY HEARTS SPAGHETTI!

Say it ain't so

Can you believe that this sweet 9 month old baby already knows how to throw a shrieking, tears involved, terrible twos style temper tantrum?

Me either, but oh boy can she!!! Now I'm pretty sure my "Baby Bible" What to Expect The First Year referred to this phase simply as a milestone achieved in which "baby might possibly be able to protest when you take something away that she wants". Protest you say? Not our baby, try INFORM AT THE TOP OF HER LUNGS. On the upside, my "Bible" referred to babies with this "skill" as having "advanced maturity realizing at an early age that they are a separate entity from their mother".

Watch out world, she's only 9 months old yet keenly aware she's got a mind and opinions of her own and she isn't afraid to let you know about it. At least according to Gampy, she came by it honestly and is merely displaying eerie similarities to her fabulous Mommy at the same age. We also must take this moment to thank Gampy for being so supportive and stating this so delicately while on the phone with us tonight. Because for all of us who know BIG R. well, know that he's a straightshooter and what he was really thinking while laughing to himself was payback is a witch isn't it???? :)

Mish Mash Monday

It's been a few days since I've posted and so many things have been happening! I decided that in order to fill you all in I'm NOT going to do Not Me Monday today and instead will fill you in on all the details in one fabulously Mish Mashy blog post.

Friday was Halloween, whoop de doo! Okay, I'm just not a big Halloween person, never have been. Matt and I decided that since princess is too young to understand we might as well enjoy one last year of peace and quiet on this day before at least 12 years to come of costuming, trick or treating, and sugar comas. So we didn't dress her up in a costume, but she did have a cute little outfit courtesy of Gammy and instead of trick-or-treating, we brought her to the character parade at school and she had a great time. She was only slightly terrified by a child dressed up as a huge veiny eyeball, but I was too so I couldn't blame her.

For my die hard Halloweeners out there, don't worry I'm not a complete Scrooge! I always put a bowl full of yummy candy and prizes out on the front step for the kiddies! This year our bowl had only one visitor, a late night eater who had very specific tastes, Reeses Cups! Beware, if you see a sugar high squirrel on the loose it's because he partook in Halloween at our house. :)

Saturday I had the absolute PRIVILEGE of watching Zaden while my best Mommy friend moved to her new house. He was an absolute dream. ***Watch out those of you without children, one day with Z and you'll be wondering what all the hullabaloo about babies is about and you'll be hightailing it home to start a little family of your own!!! Simply put he's not a "BC" baby, but we'll lend you Riley who has KILLER separation anxiety these days if you'd like. :) ***

Matt and I had so much fun with Riley and Z the day just flew by. After a very relaxing morning, great naps and lunch, we took them for a walk at our favorite park and finished up with a ride on the swings. We were amused by all the perplexed people watching us with two babies that looked pretty close in age, but not at all twin like. A great day was had by all, though we will admit that simple math does apply and even 2 very easy babies means 2 times the work - big ups to all you moms of multiples out there!


We wrapped up our weekend with my used to be favorite "holiday", otherwise known as Daylight Savings Time. Pre.Princess.Riley. this day meant an extra hour for Matt and I to sleep, lounge, movie watch, etc. Excitement was replaced with nervous anxiety about what our sweet baby girl would do!

Very wisely we went to bed at the regular time on Saturday night because she was up at her usual wake up time of 645 which thanks to DST was actually 545. Luckily we managed to stretch the awake time before both her morning and afternoon nap by 30 minutes though and she was right back on schedule. Another parenting dilemma solved - go us! What did we do with our extra hour this year? We finally got around to carving one of our pumpkins. Riley was fascinated by the way it lit up and enjoyed standing up and banging on it's head.

WHEW! To wrap up the mish mash post, in the spirit of Not Me Monday here's a few not mes from our week....

I so did NOT actually worry about DST for a few days prior to have it all turn out okay. Absolutely NOT that would just be ridiculous and we all know I'm many things, but not the least bit ridiculous.

I did NOT obsessively check MckMama's post and most certainly did NOT cry when I read that God performed a miracle and baby Stellan diagnosed by doctors "with no chance of survival" was born perfectly healthy. Praise the Lord!

Lastly, I did NOT boohoo about my friend moving away because if anything I am so happy for her little family and their beautiful new home. I am definitely NOT acting like she moved out of state when she only moved 30 minutes away. And I will NOT let 25 extra minutes keep me away from my dearest friend and her sweet baby!