***LeT iT sNoW***

It has been a pretty mild winter here in Central New York - but here it is the end of February, just a few weeks shy of the first day of spring and we get SNOW!!! Today I left work a little early so I picked Riley up and decided that when we got home we were going to play in the snow. Riley tried to make a snowman, a snow angel, and catch snowflakes on her tongue. She had so much fun!!

I got just a little bit of video (before my camera battery died - figures) of Riley in the snow. Don't mind the sound of the wind blowing into the microphone of the camera.

We were out there for some time. Riley would not go back in the house. I had to bribe her with hot chocolate to get her to agree that it was time to go in! But at least she had fun right???

PS - Riley wants to thank her big cousin Keira for the snowsuit!

18 months and someone is tired...

...and it isn't Riley!!! I mean, does this face look like after 18 months of life she's ready to nap?!?! No way!!


Today Riley turned 18 months old! We still can't believe how time has flown. At 18 months, Riley has certainly developed her own personality and is clear on what she likes and dislikes! So let's list them:

Dislikes:

• The word "no"
• Diaper changes (although I keep telling her that if she learns how to use the potty this won't be an issue - LOL)
• Taking pictures - she is ALWAYS on the move!
• Going to the doctors (but this is ever so slowly starting to change).
• Sleeping in!!!
  

Likes:

• Almost every food (she especially loves Munchkins from Dunkin Donuts and Gerber Cereal Bars).
• Pretty much anything on Nick Jr. that has catchy songs that she can sing (and she does sing) along to.
• Justin Roberts and Laurie Berkner CDs a MUST for any car ride!
• Stickers
• Coloring - or any project for that matter
• My Gym on Saturday mornings
• Her family - well that may actually be a LOVE!!
  

Riley is still a sweet, loving and smart little girl. Her daddy and I become more and more proud of her with every day that goes by!

PS - This is a picture of Riley giving the "thumbs up." Guess we have to work on how to actually do it!

What's your name?

It has taken a couple of days but I finally got some video of Riley telling us her name (listen closely at about 5 seconds). It is certainly an understatement when we say that we just can't get enough of this little lady!!

Girl's Weekend 2010 - well not quite!

This weekend was supposed to be Girl's Weekend 2010 - but Aunt Jenny got the flu so we had to change things up a bit! Instead we went to Juh-Juh and Grandpa's house. Aunt Laurie spent the weekend there too and Keira came over and had a sleepover from Sunday to Monday. We had such a fun time! We went to Jumpin' Jakes, played with Play-Doh and toys and wore matching jammies!!







On Monday, Aunt Jenny was able to come over to pick up Keira and so I got to spend some time with her too!



So what it wasn't exactly "Girl's Weekend" it was awesome to hang out with my family and especially my best big cousin Keira. Now it just gives us an excuse to plan another Girl's Weekend - soon, please!!

PS - If you want to see more pics from my weekend and from Jumpin' Jakes - check out this site

Superbowl Sunday

It's Superbowl Sunday and while neither the Lions nor the Cowboys are playing in the Superbowl we still got some yummy snacks and watched it (Riley and I rooted for the Saints, while Jeremy rooted for the Colts) . Since Jeremy is really the family football fanatic he asked that we all don Detroit Lions gear for the game. So I decided to play along and put on Jeremy's Calvin Johnson jersey (sorry dad)!!!

Of course I found it to be a perfect opportunity for a family pic! Hope everyone enjoyed their Superbowl Sunday and didn't eat too much!!!

My "sick" day

I have been fighting some kind of sickness for the past couple of days. Yesterday I spiked a fever of 102 and I was not allowed to go back to daycare because I don't want to get all my friends sick. It was mommy's turn to stay home with me, but little did she know that yesterday was my last day being sick and that today was a new day, a new me, a better me!

The day started off when I woke up at 6am, but then decided that as long as mommy and daddy let me sneak into their bed I would go back to sleep until 8:30am!
When I woke up, mommy thought I could use a good breakfast - she was right. Mommy made me some yummy pancakes, I ate 3. I was really hungry!!
Then mommy said that since I was feeling better and I didn't have a fever there was no need for laying around. Instead she pulled out the finger paints and I began working on my masterpiece.

After the finger paints I still wanted to do something. I asked for my "colors" and mommy went and got my markers and paper. I drew daddy a picture to hang in his new office! I hope that he likes it.
Now, I would not be telling the whole truth if I said that the day went off without a hitch...I had some moments. Mostly my moments came when mommy told me no because I was touching things I am not allowed to.
After a nice nap and some lunch it was time for the dreaded doctors. I was supposed to be going for a follow-up from my ear infection from 3 weeks ago, but I knew mommy was going to tell about my recent fever. Needless to say, I wasn't feeling going to the doctors. Mommy let me bring my penguin with me into the office and I managed to make it in and out of the office without shedding one tear. Mommy was so proud of how brave I was that she took me to the store for a prize. She bought me Play-Doh!!!

I had so much fun playing with my new Play-Doh. Mommy helped me make different things out of it. I can't wait to play some more!!


Daddy came home, we ate some dinner and then it was our usual nightly dance time routine. Mommy broke out the maracas while daddy sang some songs from what they called "the 80s" it was a lot of fun!!!!!
Mommy and I played Peek-A-Boo...but really I was playing because I know mommy thought I was being cute and I was avoiding having to get into my jammies and go to bed. Hahahaha - I have them both so fooled!!
I had an awesome day with my mommy and can't wait until the weekend when I can spend the days with mommy AND daddy.
And I couldn't possibly end my night without Diego! I hope everyone had as good of a day as I did!!

In My Daughter's Eyes

I have the need to sit down and write this blog today because of so many changes that have been happening in my little girl recently. I don't know what happened to my 8lb. 10oz. baby - she is now this "grown" 17 month old who is learning non-stop. She is literally a sponge.

She has an interest in almost everything - especially animals. She can tell you every animal (including the lemur and tapir) by picture and loves Go, Diego, Go because of his animal rescuing. She is a social butterfly at daycare and will name every child in her class (and kiss them all goodbye - GERMS). Ask her who her boyfriend is and suddenly she doesn't remember names - don't worry Everitt and Riley your secret is safe with me :) !!!!

Here are some of Riley's other interests - in no particular order:

Riley loves to color - she calls crayons, pens, markers and any other drawing utensil "colors"

Riley is such a great helper with cleaning the house - she needs her own dust rag and will clean the tables and floors with it, as well as her toys and the couch.

Riley loves her baby dolls and takes good care of them.

She loves to sing and dance. She will dance to anything - I mean it, anything! She sings the ABCs - with help. I think it's adorable that the letter 'k' is pronounced "cake" and the letter 'q' is pronounced "cute." She is a fan of Itsy Bitsy Spider and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and believe me EIEIO has not left the rotation. The only difference is she comes up with the animals (duck, cow and chicken are the most popular for her to call out).

In 3 short weeks she will officially be moved to the TODDLER room at daycare. I love that she gets to return to her old friends who have already moved, but I know that she (and probably me a little bit more) will miss her awesome teachers Miss Brittney and Miss Carol. They were the sippy cup crusaders for me months ago when Riley refused to give up her bottle and they were the Nap Time Warriors and helped get Riley on a nice long nap schedule. They will truly be missed!!!

What I love most about Riley is that she knows how much we love her. Every morning when I drop her off at daycare and when we put her in bed at night and she is told that she is loved, she responds with an "I love you too" and a big 'ol smooch...now if that isn't enough to melt a mother's heart, I don't know what is.

I love looking at the world through the eyes of Riley. Each and every day with her amazes me more and more. I cannot believe that I had a hand in raising this smart, funny and cutie pie of a child. I look forward to watching more of what she is capable of learning.

In my daughter's eyes I can see the future
A reflection of who I am and what will be
Though she'll grow and someday leave
Maybe raise a family
When I'm gone I hope you see how happy
she made me
For I'll be there
In my daughter's eyes
- Martina McBride