Little Chef

Riley loves helping me in the kitchen, so I've dubbed her my little chef.

A few weekends ago we were stumped for a lunch option and then TG remembered that we had all the ingredients on hand to make personal pan pizzas.

The two of them got to work while lil man and I kicked up our feet for a change.

"Mom! Come quips! Come take a pitchers of my wittle pee-zas!"


Enjoying the fruits of her labor.


"Mom! Go! Eats! Your! Pee-zas!"

Her Birthday Extravaganza

Riley's 3rd birth-day was more like, Riley's 3rd birth-week.

Her actual birthday fell on a Monday so to celebrate we went with our birthday bestie to the Baltimore Aquarium. Even though I took us on a small-ish detour (because I'm a dope who ALWAYS does that on 495) ahem...we made it safely to the Inner Harbor. We all had such a good time together visiting all the exhibits, going to the dolphin show and picking out a birthday treat from the gift shop. It was the perfect way to spend her big day!

Later at home we sang, made a wish and had cake...or a cupcake from the play kitchen. "Cocalate cake with cocalate icing" just as the princess requested...several times in the weeks prior. That apple doesn't fall far from the tree. :)



YUM!



She opened her presents with glee. We got her a kid's digital camera and she proceeded to take almost 300 pictures in less than 24 hours. Some of them were pretty artistic and I had no idea it would be such a big hit! Tata wrapped her gifts in Steelers paper - AWESOME!



She LOVED her singing Ariel doll.



Tuesday we went to Chuck E. Cheese. I somehow forgot that it was a Teacher Workday. It was crrrrr-azy town there. Then the store's credit card machines go down and mothers who aren't used to spending the entire day with their kids slowly start to lose it when they are told they can't get the rat's house pizza or tokens unless they have cash. Luckily I was raised on the "you catch more flies with honey" mantra and just by being polite (after witnessing 3 major Gucci Mom meltdowns) I was able to score free tokens. YES! However, my short lived MOY status was quickly revoked when Riley threw an epic tantrum because I said it was time to go. It was so loud and out of control in there I couldn't get her to stop until I got right by her ear and told her that screaming was going to wake up the rat and he was going to come out. Not one of my proudest moments, but sometimes you have to do what works.

That night God smiled on her/me and gave us enough snow to get TG out of work for 3 days! Granted we spent most of those days watching the 24 hour stomach bug work it's way through our household, but I consider it a birthday blessing that 1) I didn't have to weather that storm of child pukes alone. I'm one of those wimpy people that don't do throw up well at all. 2) That mine was more like a horrible 1 hour bug. 3)My mother arrived just before TG and I took the big dive. I will never be able to thank her enough for not getting on the first flight back out of here when less than 1 hour after her arrival things went...south.

Luckily we all bounced back for Riley's joint birthday bestie party on Saturday. Gammy, Gigi, Papa, Aunt Natalie and Uncle Justin all came to celebrate her big day. This is the second year we've shared a party with our bestie at a local kid's gym. WE LOVE IT - no set up, just enjoying ourselves during the party and the best part no clean up! Thanks for being the photographer Gammy!

Her awesome cake.


Tiny bubbles.


Loving all the attention!


Rollercoaster ride! She's an old fan of this.


WHEEEE! The plane zipline was the big hit.


Swinging with Char.


Her royal birthday princess walking the runway amid applause, to take her seat on her throne.


We were all exhausted at the end of the week, but it was worth it for our big 3 year old.


Whew. Although I feel like 3 is going to be the year that gives me a run for my money (seriously terrible twos is misnamed), I can't wait to spend another year laughing with her and watching her grow.

I love you Riley Boo!

She Loves To Twirl

and twirl...



and spin...



and whirl...



until she gets dizzy and falls down.

I Wish To Go To The Moon

Riley's 3rd Birthday from Mama V on Vimeo.

The Big 3

Dear Riley,

Today you are 3.



I can't believe someone so little can be so full of life. It's hard for me to explain what exactly I mean when I say this. The best I can do is say that you are just so happy.



You are a little bit sassy too, but we're working on where and how we draw the line with that. You speak and act with emotion and you're not afraid to tell us and show us when you're sad or mad.



You have so many things on your mind. You are constantly singing and talking and making up imaginary scenarios. The other day you sat at the table for over an hour with a paintbrush, a cup of water and some watercolors pretending to make soup and singing something about honeydew. You've started asking me if I want to hear a story and you tell me the cutest story about "one day" a "wittle fish" and a "meeean sark" where the mama fish always ends up saving the little fish from being "eat, Eat, EATEN!" by the shark and they all "wiv happiwee eber afer".



You are the best big sister ever and I try to tell you that as much as I can. You love Camden so fiercely. You are always sharing with him and taking care of him like his second Mama. When he wakes up, be it from bedtime or naps you are the first one racing up to his room because "my brudder awake!". You love to drag the stool in there so you can stand and talk to him in his crib or be right by him when I'm changing him.



Even though you love dressing up in "beyewteeful pwincess dwesses", sparkly shoes, and big bows - you love being adventurous and you are so daring. You love being outside, running, falling, sledding, sliding, riding, jumping, and swinging. You live your life at full speed. I love it and fear it all at the same time.



You love to twirl and you ask me to dance with you like a princess all the time. This means I hum a princess tune and we dance, spin, and dip around and around. Sometimes you will accept Mickey as my stand in dance partner.



Yes, you still have a paci at nap and night. I just can't find the heart to take it from you. It's like asking any other mother to separate their 3 year old from their special blanket or lovie - point me in the direction of one of those mothers and then we'll talk. But for now, it's not happening. The funny thing is that you don't just suck on them, you suck one, and hold one or two others in your fingers and rub them. We always read you stories before bed. Sometimes it's books from the library, but more recently it's one of the growing collection of princess books.



You are beautiful.



Three years ago today, you and I were in the hospital together just getting to know each other. I held you all night long. The nurses couldn't persuade me to let you sleep in the little hospital bassinet by my bed, much less send you to the nursery. I loved you at first sight and just knew I could never be separated from you, at least not for long.



You constantly amaze us and you make us laugh all the time. It's been such a wonderful and happy 3 years. We love you so much baby girl. Happy, happy birthday to you!

Our Tree 2010

Last weekend we headed out to a local Christmas tree farm to cut down our tree.

Before you fake tree people get started let me just tell you that we've seriously contemplated a fakie every year. We know they are cost efficient, don't make a mess, are perfectly symmetrical and can stay up longer. But we just can't give up that smell of fresh evergreen. And I'm sorry, but no candle, room deodorizer, or spray smells as good as the real thing. (Although I'd have to admit Yankee Candle comes close).

So we bundled up the babies and hit the road on a crisp and sunny Saturday afternoon and headed west.

When we pulled in and Riley saw all the trees she said, "Wook Mom, it's farm world!" You can plainly see she was excited.



After walking around for ten minutes where TG kept turning down every tall and skinny tree I liked I finally gave in and let him choose something a little wider (that about perfectly sums us up as a couple) and he got to work.



Our little quality control workers.



After TG did all the hard work Riley said, "Let my try!" so we gave her a quick turn.



Camden just loved being outside and watching everything. TG and I couldn't help but think ahead to next year when he'll be running through the trees with his sister. But we definitely stowed away this little memory of him sitting so happily amongst the trees showing off his big boy teeth.



My boys.



My sweet girl.



She helped TG drag the tree down to be shaken, wrapped and purchased.



And we wrapped up our visit with some hot apple cider.

Seen and Heard

SEEN:

Our little friend Elfie. We read the story and named our Elf on November 30th. Day 1 - she was skeptical, like she wouldn't go down the stairs once she spotted him sitting on our tv. So I told her that the gift each day in the advent calendar tree was from Elfie. Now the first thing she says after "Good mer-nin Mom" is "Where Elfie? I tinks he brought me a pr-wesent!". She always waits until she spots him to check her present tree. It's too cute.


Riley helped decorate our "widdle twee". I think the hair things give it a nice touch.


TG and Riley hung lights on our door. She loved it.


Posing with my sweeties by our door. See my burlap wreath in the background?


HEARD:

Riley pitching a fit because she doesn't want to put a jacket on over her pw-etty dwess.
Riley: I don't want to.
Me: It's cold out Riley. You have to.
Riley: BUT I don't wanna wear dat wacket!
Riley: It dont matches my shoes!

Listening to her little daycare friend babbling to her.
Riley: I'm sorry Bud. I have no idea what yous sayin.

Looking at our tree all lit up and decorated.
Riley: Mom.
Riley: I wubs our bid (big) tr-wee.
Clasping her hands.
Riley: It's wub-wee (lovely).

Camden is trying to play with the little baby laptop Riley has.
Riley: No no no brudder. in a very sweet motherly voice
Riley: Lets my see her. What can I gibs you to keep you busy.
Tapping her finger on her mouth with one hand on her hip surveying the toy baskets.
Riley: I knows! Mickey!

Gobble, Gobble, Cough!

Thanksgiving 2010 didn't turn out quite as we had hoped.

Because our county furloughed it's teachers this year we had an entire week vacation. We had been counting down to this for a few months and were just waiting to get some rest, fun times with family, and delicious turkey. At least we got the delicious turkey.

The trip started off well. We made it safely to Gigi and Papa's house in record time - there was hardly any traffic on 95 at all which means either we hit the traffic jackpot or everyone flew for Thanksgiving this year.

Sunday we visited with the family and hung out at the house.

Monday, Riley's nose started running. No bigs. I mean most of you with kids know a constant runny nose can be the norm this time of year.

Tuesday, Riley's voice was hoarse. It was so bad it seemed like borderline laryngitis. When she tried to talk at her usual octave she couldn't. Camden's nose started running. Uh oh.

Wednesday, Riley woke up with a slight temp. Again, not a big deal. She seemed a little run down so we took it easy and went on our family date to see Tangled. Camden's voice went hoarse.

Wednesday night, I sat up in my bed at 2:30 am. I'm not sure what woke me, it might have been her, but I didn't hear anything. I went to the bathroom and went to check on her (we are in a jack and jill at Gigis and Papas). When I got to her bed she started hollering some mumbo jumbo about a scary cat in her room. I went to hug her to calm her down and realized that she was burning up and soaked in sweat. I spent the next two hours with her wiggling beside me in bed waiting for the motrin to kick in and bring that fever down to a tolerable range.

By Thanksgiving day she was a mess and Camden was too. Both of them had high fevers, nasty coughs, and hoarse little voices. We made the decision to take them to an emergency center. Where they insisted on taking a rectal temp for Riley. While I was holding her. Causing her to pee all down my leg and onto my shoe. And not a little bit. It just kept coming. When she finally stopped the nurse said, "Well, at least we know she's hydrated."

Camden was a dream at the doctor and only fussed when his older sister was screaming her face off, which was every time a nurse even tried to come into our room. They diagnosed Riley with a virus and an ear infection. They took chest x-rays of Cam and then diagnosed him with just the virus.

We spent the rest of turkey day in bed. I felt so terribe because Gigi had worked hard all day to make a meal that was absolutely delicious. Matt and I barely managed to get out of our pjs for dinner and kept having to rotate away from the table to check on Riley and to make sure Camden was still sleeping.

Riley, despite her illness, kept referring to it as "the best day e-ber Mommy" due in large part to the fact that she got her first experience eating in bed off of a dinner tray, unlimited movies and lots of attention.

Camden merely slept his face off on a combo of motrin, tylenol, benadryl and a cool mist humidifier.

So I guess from the kids' point of view Thanksgiving 2010 was a success!

Now that I'm typing this it's been almost a week and they are finally feeling a little better. Here's the few pics that I got of our trip.

Riley hanging out at the craft table Gigi set up for her.


She loved that it was a little table full of things for her to do.


A freshly washed chubbers in a fluffy white towel. Love it.


Modeling the new bunny slippers Gigi got for her.