Before and After

Here are a few before and after pictures of our living room and dining room.  When I was looking at these I couldn't believe the difference that some paint and opening up a wall will do!  I am glad we lived in our house a while before doing this because I wouldn't have thought to open it up had I not lived in it a while first.  We are really enjoying the more open floor plan.  There are still a few things we have to do and put away.  And we are hoping to get a new chair soon because the poor recliner is on its last leg but my dear husband loves it so much!

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

                                                                           AFTER

                                                                       BEFORE

                                                                  AFTER

(We closed the window and this is now

the hallway to the bathroom and playroom)

                                                                AFTER

Curls

Anna Riley's hair is getting a lot thicker in the back and is starting to curl especially when it is wet.  (Please excuse the dirty mirror...it was clean at one time but she is constantly kissing herself and touching it so it doesn't stay clean for very long!)

11 months

I just can't believe Anna Riley is already 11 months!  In just another month and she will be ONE!  I just can't believe how fast this year has went by!  Here is what Anna Riley is up to at 11 months:

*She weighed 23 lbs (with clothes on)  today at the doctor when we went to recheck her ears.

*She wears size 4 diaper and 12 and 18 month clothes...shoe size really depends on the brand of shoe.

* She had her first ear infection this month (right at Christmas) but she really did fine with it and its all cleared up now.

*She has 6 teeth now...4 on top and 2 on bottom.

*She still loves to eat and we give her what we are eating.  She does really well with all textures and we don't cut it up as small anymore but she is learning to actually bite into the food. 

*We have been trying to get her to eat on a plate for a while now.  She just dumps it as soon as I'm not looking.  So, we are still working on that. 

*I have also started putting a spoon on her tray when she eats just to let her get used to it.  We are far from eating with a spoon though...we need to eat on a plate first!

*We decided that it was time to start disciplining her.  So, we do spat her hand for certain things.  It is not hard enough to hurt her at all but it definitely hurts her feelings!  It breaks my heart to do it but it has seem to help some.  I just don't think she would understand time out yet and this just gets her attention. 

* Really, the only thing we have spatted her hand for right now is throwing food in the floor after "NO" doesnt work and she is still doing it and laughing.  

*She is all over the place!  She will take steps to us but that is about all.  She still wants to hold on to something or someones hand, even if she is just barely touching you...I guess its that security.  

*She loves to close doors...but then she cries when she figures out she can't get out.

*She giggles and laughs all the time!  I just love it!! 

*Smacks a lot when she eats.

*Loves drinking water.

*She gives kisses all the time! 

*She loves anything Minnie and Mickey Mouse. 

*She dances all the time...its so cute!

*She loves books...but won't be still long enough for us to read a whole book anymore.  But she loves looking at them.

*Repeats "thank you" when you say it. 

*Tries to put her paci in our mouth

*She is so expressive!  I have noticed she mimics a lot of our facial expressions. 

*She is such a wiggle worm when we try to change her diaper.  It is almost impossible to keep her held down.  So, all diaper/clothes changing is in the floor now.

*She takes 2 naps a day.  One around 10 and the other around 2ish. 

*She is really good at adjusting to a different schedule.  If I know we are going somewhere that might fall into nap time, I adjust her schedule a little bit and she does fine. 

*She is sleeping through the night again!  She goes to sleep around 7:30 and sleeps until around 8.  (We finally got back on our pre-time change schedule!)

*She has several things in her crib now when she sleeps: her bunny, another lovey bunny, her little Minnie, her sleep lamb and a soft book and blanket! haha  But with all that in there, when she wakes up she just plays until I come get her.  As soon as I wake up, I have to look on the monitor because she will be awake many times and I don't know it.

*Her hair is getting thicker an is starting to curl in the back

*She is such a daredevil! She loves to flip and loves to be upside down.  And now, she has started trying to go down the slide head first!  Oh my! 

*She really does not like bows in her hair anymore.  So, I have to put it in over and over if it is going to stay.  Riley gets on to me all the time for "making" her wear one!  haha

We just love her more and more each day! She is such a joy in our lives...we are so blessed to have her!

Playing in my new playroom

We got back in our house this weekend and now just trying to get it all back together, organized and clean! I hate a mess so I have been about to go crazy with everything, everywhere. I really don't know how some people move all the time. I couldn't do it! We made lots of progress over the weekend and my parents were nice enough to come and help. Because I have been so busy, its left little play time with Anna Riley so today we made time to play together for a little while. She squeals everytime she goes in the playroom so I think that is a good sign that she likes it! :) We aren't completely finished setting it up but she has had so much fun already!

Uh Oh

While in Fairhope, Anna Riley also learned to climb the stairs. We laughed because she has never really noticed them until this trip and she crawled to them and stood up and looked to the top and said "Uh Oh!" After a few minutes of stepping up and down from the first step she finally figured it out and then she was off! It is amazing to see their little minds turn as they try to figure something out!

Scrub a Dub--AR finally decided to get in the big tub!

We bought Anna Riley the blow up duck tub when she had outgrown the hard plastic one but was still not really ready for the big tub. Well, she loved it! Loved it so much that she has really outgrown it and still wants a bath in it! I think she just feels secure in it because she crawls all over it and really uses it as a big pillow. We had tried putting her in the bathtub a few times and she just cried and wanted out which is so unusual so we just let her stay in the duck. Well, while in Fairhope (after Christmas), she finally got in the big tub and the one down there is a garden tub so it really was a big tub and this time she actually liked it!

 

Happy New Year!

   Well, 2010 was quite a year with lots of changes...some were good and some just weren't.  We were blessed with Anna Riley in February of this year.  And she truly has been a blessing!  But, we also had to say goodbye to someone very special in August.  So I think it is safe to say that 2010 was the year for adjustments.  As always, I hope that 2011 will bring lots of joy and happiness!
    My new years resolution or goal is to just be an all around better person:  gossip less, pray more, be more giving, positive attitude, have more patience,  be healthier.  Not to say that I am not or have not been trying to be this way, but I think it is a great goal to have all the time.