My Quiet Time

  Why am I up this late?! It wouldn't be because for the last two weeks we've been up with a clingy baby until usually midnight or later each night. ;) There were a few nights she slept in bed with me because she would scream if I tried to put her in her crib. Oh believe me, we would rock her, sound asleep, then the moment we went to lay her down, she knew. So we have been getting in some extra cuddle time. I told Tim the other day as much as I cannot get stuff done with her being so clingy, I am really enjoying the extra cuddle time. She's only this little once. Speaking of which, who can believe she's now 7 months?!

  I took these about two weeks ago and forgot about them. Don't mind the slather of sunscreen on her head. She LOVES Bella and I think the feeling is mutual...

And then today I also let her have some fun with her food...

Wonder who she was staring at...Yep, Bella... :)

Thankful

  I saw this video a few weeks ago and wanted to watch it, but didn't get to it at the time. I saw it again this morning and really believe it was the timing that was ment to be. To say Riley has been fussy would be a little bit of a understatement. The last few days have been one of those I feel like she is fussy and screaming more than she is happy. She has a top tooth getting ready to poke through so she has just been miserable. The one night she screamed from before midnight to a little after two am before we could get her to sleep. Then last night it was at bedtime until almost ten. It's days and nights like that are frustrating as a parent. She doesn't feel well, you're trying anything, you're not getting good sleep and then can't get anything done during the day because she just wants to be held. At the end of the day, I always try to tell myself it could always be worse. At least we have for the most part, even on her worst days a happy, healthy baby. I am always so thankful for that.

  It takes me back to before Riley was born when Tim & I went to my doctor appointments. I was always so nervous going and would make myself sick with worry on the way there. Then after the doctor came in and would say "She's normal and growing so well." It's just this relief you get from knowing your child is ok. I know growing up, my parents didn't get to hear that always. I can only imagine how hard that was to go through. Even growing up I always just assumed something was wrong to make the news easier. I am thankful for everything I went through though, because without it I wouldn't be who I am today. It makes me appreciate each day even more and try not to take it for granted. I know others whose lives were cut short, they don't get to graduate college, have the joy of getting married and raising children, but I have been lucky to experience those things. Riley has helped me to appreciate even more the gift of having a child, a healthy child. Even if she does have something some day, I will try to help her understand it's God's way of shaping us into who he needs us to be, not just for ourselves, but everyone else in our lives.

  So in saying all that here is this inspiring and beautiful video:

Adding Grey Hair

  Oh Riley. Well last Friday we had some excitement. Riley & I were yard sale shopping, finding some great bargains! She got some clothes and toys of course. ;) Our biggest bargain was a playpen for $20! My mom & grandma talked me into it. Now that I have it home I realize it was a good buy especially now that she's moving around more I don't have to worry every time I walk out of the room. I actually found the original sales receipt on the box, it was originally $180!

  Now onto the real excitement ...not the fun kind either! I was giving her a bath before bed and afterwards got her our to dry her off. I sat her on our bathmat and she was being her usual squirrel self. She kept trying to grab my shirt to stand up. I reached into the cabinet to get her diaper out and she tried to grab me to stand up. Well she was about to smack her head on the bathroom cabinet and I instinctively grabbed her arm. Then heard a loud pop and her arm went limp. :( She yelled for a minute, but then settled down. I could tell her arm wasn't moving right though and assumed something was out of socket. We took her to the emergency room, after x rays and everything they confirmed her elbow had just popped out. The doctor reset it and we were good to go. Cross your fingers it doesn't happen again!! I am no longer letting her hold onto my hands to pull herself up to hopefully help prevent this.

Here's her playing in her new playpen.

Happy Napper

  Today was the first day since I've started more of a nap schedule she didn't have a meltdown. So to celebrate I took some quick pictures of her after. 

I see puppies...

Motherhood

  I wanted to take a time to talk about being a mother since Sunday was mothers day. If you would have told me 5 or so years ago I would be a mother, I might not have believed you. I hate to admit this aloud, but I even made it clear to Tim that I was never 100% I wanted to have kids. I'm not sure why, I guess I wasn't "ready" or not sure I could do it. I knew that if I brought a child into this world I wanted no doubt in my mind it was what I wanted. I didn't want to have children just because it was the "next step" in our life. Well obviously one day I decided I truly wanted a child. Now to fast forward ;)

  I can truly say without a doubt in my mind Riley is the best thing that has happened to me. You never truly realize how much children change you and you hope it is for the better. I really believe she has made me a better person. It has taught me first and foremost how to truly love someone. It is amazing how much you love a child. I wish I had a dollar for every time someone told me that and it is so true. I would do anything for her and sacrifice everything for her. Being a mother is amazing. I wondered if I would like being home with her, if I would long for a career and something else. Granted I'm doing some small business stuff on the side still, but it's enough to make me keep me busy, plus her. I love being home and taking care of her. I feel so blessed to be able to be a stay at home mom.

  I love having a family and cannot wait to have more kids. So in celebrating my first official mothers day here is a picture I took last week of my two loves. :) Happy Mothers Day!

Holy Headband Mommy

  Now that Riley's skin can tolerate wearing headbands, I'm cut loose! ;) I have found many I like on Etsy, but they're usually at least $10-15 each, so I wanted to figure out how to make my own. Well today I made her first one! I don't think it turned out too bad.

She's trying to crawl something fierce...it won't be long. Crap. I enjoyed my stationary baby. "Here I come mommy!"

Still trying...

She heard some thunder outside

Avocado

  No! Well, we tried... She had some hilarious faces, but avocado was not her favorite tonight. ;)

Oh mom, that looks good!

No, I changed my mind!

How do you people eat this??

Finding Mushrooms?

Nope! Well at least we tried! I convinced Tim to wear the ergo to give my back a break. Riley loves going for walks in it. :)