About time for another update I'd say!

Well one thing is for sure, Riley keeps us busy! As if you couldn't tell from the decades appearing between posts!

She's 20 months old now, going on 4 years... She REALLY keeps us on our toes. Right now her vocabulary changes daily, she's learning new words and meanings constantly and won't hesitate to tell you that her favorite animal is an elephant (her favorite color is "elephant" too), or that EVERYTHING is either red or pink.

She is still one for adventure and we can't keep her from climbing anything, she has the will and has already found a way - it's just the waiting game to see when someone isn't watching :)

This last weekend David and I took Riley and I to the Stock Show so she could see real live farm animals - rather than just seeing them in books. She absolutely adored the petting zoo, she pet every animal (as well as another kid or two!), hugged the baby goats and sheep and thought the duck playing in the water was hilarious. She got to see lots of big cows, big and small horses, bunnies, alpaca's, guinea pigs, baby lambs... and even ponies. Riley got to go on her first pony ride and LOVED LOVED LOVED it. When the ride was over she was so upset and didn't want to leave the ring. With the promise of seeing more animals she bucked up and went on her merry little way - leaving us with great photos to share with you all!

Hope you're all well and I'll work on posting more often!

Fourth of July

Here are some photos from our 4th of July celebrations! First Riley, her cousin Gabi and friend Bostyn all rode together in our wagon for out neighborhoods parade, they were in their leotards dressed as the US Womens Gymnastics Team :)

The girls were so cute, they waved to all the neighbors and waved their flags in the air, and they beahved so well for the entire thing. The parade ended at a neighborhood park so all the girls got to play on the playground, eat ice cream and even check out the cop car that joined us in the parade.

A little catching up...

Yikes! Sorry I did it again! It's amazing how fast time flies!! I'll do my best over the next week to get ya'll caught up, it looks like I skipped the entire summer!

This summer has been a blast! Riley has gotten to do quite a few neat things and has grown SO much! She's definitely a monkey! Her favorite thing to do is climb, and of course explore EVERYTHING. A few weeks ago I put her to bed in her crib with a bottle and a binky then headed out to the living room where David was playing Wii, finally is quiet and calm. Three minutes later out walks miss Riley with her binky and bottle in hand. She must have actually planned this escape and thrown both her binky and her bottle out of the crib, then herself, picked up her items and headed out to Mommy and Daddy. I have to admit I was pretty proud :)

Riley has been in a baby gymnastics class this summer (parent & tot class), it has helped her motor skills extremely (which may be the cause for the crib escape....). Her instructor Mrs. Pam is awesome and Riley adores her, her favorite thing is the balance beam and has recently started to like the bars. She's actually strong enough to hold onto the bar and bring her feet up to touch it all on her own. They taught us a new song, a coocoo clock song, which has become a major favorite of Riley's - she LOVES to be thrown in the air so she gets so excited when you mention the song to her.

Ry's vocabulary has expanded tremendously! I taught her to say her own name on a Saturday and by the next day she already knew to say it when someone asks "what is your name?". For some reason she won't respond to "what's your name", it has to be "what is", goofy kid. She'll attempt to say any word you ask her to now but on her own her favorite is to ask for 'more' which she'll say and sign at the same time, she'll also sign please when she wants something. Aside from just words and sounds I've also had fun teaching her a few other things, if you ask her what 'Daddy says' she'll shake her finger at you like she's saying 'no no no' and (my favorite) when you ask her what Oma says she'll say "Raarrr" and bring her hand down like a claw. I know I know, evil. But fun!! :)

Riley helped daddy mow the lawn!

Riley had a fun filled day outside today, she helped Daddy mow the lawn, played in the sprinklers and even played at the driving range while Mommy and Daddy attempted to hit some balls with Papa Reed.

Riley following Daddy with her mower:

Trying to catch up to Daddy, but his legs are longer!
Riley's first real experience with ants, she thought they wer SO cool! Look at those chunky little legs in her swim suit:

1st birthday photos

Riley's 1st car:

Riley eating her 1st birthday cupcake:
Her monkey birthday cake made by mommy:

Present Princess:

It's my party!

Riley is finally one!

A whole year already!

It has been an extremely long and trying year when it came to family and health but also the most amazing year of our lives with Miss Riley. It absolutely amazes me how much she grew and how advanced she is... I'm sure most parents say that but walking at 10 months, running at 12 and just her general understanding of the world around her - she's much farther along than the other one years olds we see.

She's SOOOO extremely tall (she must get that from me), the average tallest height for a baby her age is 30.5 inches; Riley was 32" at her one year check up and at the 100th percentile for height, 76th for weight (only 18th compared to height, but that's considering most kids her height are older and weigh more).

We had her birthday party on Sunday the 10th, Mothers Day, and she had such a fun time (photos will be posted soon!). She really didn't realize it was about her until it came time to eat the cake and everyone was staring at her. Her favorite present so far is the little car, she sits in it every night and pushes the horn over and over again.

Riley will also be starting swim classes on Sunday's at the end of this month and "Gymtastics" gymnastics classes on Mondays next month. Riley already knows when I say 'hands down' to set them on the ground, then we say 'head down' and she sets that on the ground so that I'll grab her feet and make her do a summersault. I think she'll fully enjoy gymnastics classes and all the tumbling she'll get to do. The swim classes should be a hoot too, Riley LOVES her bathtime and I can only imagine what a big pool and other kids will do for her. Hopefully all the kid interaction will be good for her!

Pictures will be posted over the weekend, thanks for checking out her blog!

Riley's 1st Birthday - almost!

Here are some photos taken today for Riley's 1st Birthday. She had a blast taking these today (timing between naps was perfect!!) and they turned out so adorable! I will post more after her birthday party next Sunday, that should be fun too!

Pointing to her piggies:Lookin' so pretty in her tutu

I love how she looks surprised, like we weren't really taking photos of her

Kabunk! Not the softest floor to land on...

Looking absolutely adorable in the dress Smoochie gave her

My most favorite photo of Riley's smile, it doesn't get any more innocent than this...

Sweet yet sporty, that's my girl! The photographer tried to give her a rose, I gave her the ball instead and I LOVE this photo! It might just be up on Auntie Di and Coach Jeff's wall already!

I hope you enjoyed the photos, check back next week for birthday party photos!