Beautiful Day

It has been so cold and rainy here that we were so excited to have a BEAUTIFUL Friday and Saturday! We tried to be outside as much as possible and it really got us in the mood for spring. Saturday it was actually so warm I had to go change into shorts. I have never been more ready for a season to change than I am now! I am patiently waiting for Spring! Friday, Anna Riley and I took some of her toys outside and played and then had a "PB&J picnic." I thought she would probably not sit still but she actually did and really enjoyed it...and I did too! :) Saturday, Riley and I took her to a park for a while, but unfortunately all the parks around here were so crowded and there isnt a lot to do for her size. We do not have good public parks that are geared for all ages here which makes me sad! So, we just came back home and played in the backyard. We had such a great day full...Im ready for the next "spring like" day!

Playroom Pictures

I forgot that I never posted pictures of the playroom. We plan to probably get an entertainment center built because we can't find one we like so for now we have a temporary one that we already had. And we still have to get a rug to go under the couch (probably just going to get some binded carpet for now to save on $). But we need it because the room echos really bad. The pictures on the wall are pictures that Riley painted in an art class in high school. His Mom had saved them and they went perfect in here! I can't wait to display her artwork in here soon!
She loves her new space!! She goes from one area to the next! It never stays this clean for long...she can destroy it in 5 mintues!

Sick Baby

Anna Riley had a bad case of the stomach bug Wednesday night. Poor Baby! I kind of knew something was up but her nose had started running and I think she is also getting more teeth so I thought she wasn't feeling good because of that. She has always been such a good eater and she didn't eat much for breakfast or lunch that day. We had pictures with Kim after lunch and just as I had predicted, it didn't go so well! She was so ill!! But I know Kim and I am sure she got some good ones. But I really don't think she smiled for one picture! I just knew she would LOVE the smash cake session because she loves cake! But she didn't even eat much of it. She of course made a HUGE mess with it but didn't really eat any of it...just a little bit of the icing. So that was another clue she was getting sick. Anyway enough about that...Well that night, we had ask Riley's Dad to come over to eat dinner. She literally took 2 bites and threw everything up. She ended up throwing up at least 15 times from 6 pm-2am. I had called the doctor around 9 (first time I ever had to call the doctor after hours but I was so afraid she was going to get dehydrated). She kept pushing everything away and couldn't hold anything down. I can't recall even having a virus that bad in a really long time! Poor thing hung in there like a trooper though! She spent all day Thursday resting and drinking lots of fluids. She is finally getting back to herself today. We have had lots of cuddle time...watching cartoons & reading books! She has doing this thing where she lays her head on my shoulder and pats my back like I do hers! Its the cutest thing. She is in that "loving" stage they get in when they are sick.

What we have been up to...

Here is what we have been up to lately...

PARTY
I have been steadily prepping for Anna Riley's birthday party. I am usually not a crafty person, but for some reason I am all of a sudden trying to make all of this stuff. Which turns out to be pretty simple but time consuming! It is all coming along pretty well. I can't wait to put it all together on her big day! I just can't believe she is about to be one!

WEEKEND
We had a really good weekend. Friday night after Anna Riley went to bed, Riley and I grilled steaks (or I guess that should say Riley grilled steaks). I have mentioned before that I think his steaks are so good and he makes an avocado spread that we put on top or dip it in. (Someone ask me before whats in it and I think its just avocados, mayo, a little horseradish, a little A1, seasoning salt). Saturday night, my Mom kept Anna Riley and Riley and I went to see little Talon at the hospital. Our friends, Cameron and Courtney just had their second little boy and he is just precious. Riley and I went to try out a new restaurant in town called FIVE and it was really good. They only give you five choices of everything so for indecisive people like me, that's just what I need! Sunday, we had lunch with my parents and grandmother at Cypress Inn and Sunday night we had our pizza night with Riley's Dad, Brian and the kids and Mimi.

PICTURES
Anna Riley has her one year pictures today with Kim Lawson. I can't wait to see how they turn out. Kim always seems to get really good shots even when I think there is no way we got a good one! But I am worried because of course she woke up yesterday with a runny nose and I think she is getting more teeth! :( It always happens at picture time too!

BYE BYE BOTTLE...HELLO BIG GIRL MILK
Last week I started weaning Anna Riley from her bottle. I was really afraid she would have a hard time with it so I just switched her bottle to a sippy cup (with formula still) just during her afternoon bottle the first day and then just did really well so we took the morning one away and then finally the night time one away. She transitioned really well. I still had just a little bit of formula left so I let her keep doing formula the rest of the week. I had debated mixing it and doing half and half but I didn't want it to taste different so I just decided to do a switch all at once and if she didn't do well we could go from there. But Monday, I gave her the cup of whole milk and she did great! She didn't act like it was anything different.

Drinking her last bottle...

Little Naked Runaway

Changing her diaper and clothes is quite an event now.  She is constantly getting away from us.  We are usually chasing he around to get her dressed! I can only imagine how it will be when she is walking around good!

Let it ice, let it ice, let it ice!

Well here in Alabama it is a "winter storm"... kind of!  Well, I am upset because all we got is ice!!  But, it is enough for everything to shut down.   Riley stayed home until about 9 and then decided to go work at the office for a little while...even though I begged him not to go...but work has to be done I guess!  Because we only got ice we were not able to play in the snow which really makes me sad.  We didn't have any to stick at Christmas either so Anna Riley has never played in it.  We did take her out in it to see what she thought about all the "white" and took a few cute pictures. 

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!