Quarterly Blogger...oh well.

 

So, I guess I'm just a quarterly blogger....you're probably thinking, "what's the point?"  Actually, you're probably not thinking that because there probably aren't any 'you're's' even reading this....just me & the screen...Oh well.

 

I guess the point is to at least keep track of a few things that I'm sure I will forget in no time.

 

I feel like it already has gone by so fast & here, today, June 7th, I can't believe Riley is 9 months.  9 months of breastfeeding, 9 months of dirty diapers, 9 months of developmental milestones, 9 months of cuddles, snuggles, giggles, smiles & extreme cuteness....9 months of pure joy...pure & absolute joy.

6 Months

7 Months

8 Months

9 Months

 

So, what have we been up to if I haven't been blogging?  Well, let's see...we went back to Oklahoma for 2 weeks, I try & keep up with Riley & all house chores while Toby works 80-100+ hours/week, I've been back in the grind of working out & enjoying the...top 20 things I don't want to forget. Here they are...in no particular order:

1. How she feels & scratches everything with her one little pointer finger
2. Her first tooth popped up at 7 months & the second bottom popped up shortly after (still waiting on those top ones)
3. Her high pitched squeals & screams when daddy comes home
4. How she absolutely loves bath time & gets excited when she hears the water running
5. How she still prefers to 'army crawl' on her belly rather than on her knees (I think it has something to do with the hardwood floors).  She can crawl to mommy from across the room in a few seconds flat though....looks like a fast little lizard.
6. Her little smirks....melt my heart
7. How cute she looks when drinking from a big kid straw sippy cup
8. How she cries THE second I walk out of the room (yes, it IS a little annoying right now, but I'm sure one day I'll wish she still wanted me around ALL the time).
9. How she bounces & bobs her head every time she hears some music
10. How at 7 months she started turning pages in her books & LOVES reading
11. How we get compliments all the time at stores about how cute she is & how good she is (I'll keep this in my back pocket for the terrible two's)
12. How she loves climbing in out & out of mommy & daddy's laps
13. How cute she is while sleeping...rump as high in the air as it could possibly go
14. How she puts everything in her mouth BUT food...I think we're making progress though
15. How she rubs Mrs. Tiggle-winkle's "small, squidgy nose" in her Peter Rabbit book
16. How she tries to stand up from a frog position completely on her own...not pulling up on anything
17. How she had her first bloody, busted lip & bruised cheek from above mentioned #16
18. How everything is "dada, dada, dada"...however, we do think she's saying it on purpose directly at "dada" now.
19. How she gives the best slobbery kisses ever
20. How she crinkles her nose & flaps her arms slapping her belly when she's mad or frustrated (i.e. throwing a fit)

So, basically enjoying life instead of writing much about it...yes, I guess so!  I mean, don't get me wrong...not every day is 'peachy'.

Toby works what seems like ALL.THE.TIME, so I basically have no relief...which I really don't mind...except that she's been sick like every other week (so it seems to me) from 4 months on. I thought breastfed babies weren't supposed to get as sick as often?!?! And, sickness equals late night wakings & feedings & one tired mommy!! 

 

We also went & visited Nancy Birkenmeier, a sleep specialist at St. Luke's hospital & she developed a plan to get Riley back sleeping through the night.  It was basically a glorified cry it out session that we keep having to re-do after every time she gets over a virus.  But hey, it works!!  Once we get her back on track, she sleeps about 10.5-11 hrs/night which feels like a dream. But man, those cry it out nights are the worst ever...I H.A.T.E. IT!!  We've had too many of our fair share....you would think after doing it so many times, she would give in sooner...but nope, she is so resilient with her crying!

 

Right now, we are SO looking forward to a Florida vacation...couldn't be more excited just to spend some R&R with the hubby & NO work...I'm sure he'll still have some dictations, or notes, or reading to do but at least he won't have to go to the hospital.  Does his learning ever end?!  I'm beginning to comes to grips with the answer.

 

And July 1 marks the beginning of his second year of fellowship.  We've 'heard' this year is supposed to be a bit better (I sure as heck hope so because this last year has, well, sucked in terms of hours worked).  Riley & I are hoping to have him home for dinner a bit more often, more than a couple days off in a month would be nice, & not so much 'homework' would be fabulous.  But, I'm not crossing my fingers.  3 more years, 3 more years of training...we can do it, we can do it. Yes, I most certainly say "we"!

9 month squeal

Loves those books!

Favorite scrunch face

Sun bathing beauty

 

 

 

Little Fishy...well not quite yet!

 

 

Two blog posts in the same week...man, am I getting better or what?!

 

 

Toby FINALLY had a weekend off!! Around here, a full weekend off feels like a mini-vacation...no, I'm completely serious! It's SO nice to actually get the chance to spend time together.  There are so many things we want to do, it's hard to choose between "things that 'need' to be done" or "have fun"...this particular weekend, we chose "HAVE FUN"! 

 

However, Toby DID finally take the trash out...that was a "thing that NEEDS to be done" no matter what!

 

Saturday, we spent the day eating with our friends at The Boat House in Forest Park...it was nice enough to sit on the deck & Riley had her first experience with a public high-chair (which resulted in screams heard across the park...but the third time was a charm after eating some peas on mommy's lap first).  After a late lunch, we decided to take a walk with The Strutts' & their 10.5 month old little girl...why we took no pictures of all this, I don't know.  We don't have much time left with them as they're moving to Minnesota in June for Jon to start his fellowship in Pediatric Emergency Medicine. :(

 

Sunday, well, Sunday...we kind of missed our alarms & slept in....BIG TIME...like 'til 11:30 big time! Yeah, we totally missed church.  Toby had such a sleep debt from the last 3 weeks, he most certainly needed the extra snoozing...& I guess for some reason, I did too.  ;)

 

We decided to extend our "have fun" mentality & took Ry for a dip in the indoor pool at our YMCA.

 

Not sure what she really thought, but she didn't scream, so that was a plus.  I think she was just taking it all in...watching all the big kids play & dreaming of one day doing the same. ;)

 

Here she is...

 

Pre-pool Baby

 

First Dip



A little bit more...



Standing on Daddy's toes



Dip w/ Mommy...



Pool cuddles



Some people have that "natural beauty" thing going on, but I most certainly don't.
Please excuse my appearance (no shower, post work-out)



Watching the big kids

 

Well, this lasted all of about 10 minutes & then we got bored.

 

So, we decided to have take advantage of being there & took a dip in the hot tub while we both took turns holding Ry.  :)

 

Yes, what a lovely weekend!

 

Blog Fail...

 

 

November 20th....really?!  Really?! That was my last post....pathetic!  Blog Fail.

 

Well, as of right now...my house is picked up, laundry is in the works, I've worked out, have a 6 month check-up/Dr. appt under our belt, 6 month vaccinations under our belt, & Ry is down for her evening cat-nap.  There a few dishes in the sink..wait, I actually think I put those in the dishwasher already (score) & trash is over flowing.  However, that's Toby's job & since he's been working 6 am-9pm (or later) for the last 2 weeks, it hasn't been done since his dad was here.  Don't think I'll pull out the "Sarah Synthia Sylvia Stout" poem though....he does have kind of a good excuse this time.

 

So, given all that, I promised myself I would sit down & write a post...

mainly because I want to keep track of everything whether anyone reads this silly thing or not.

 

Well, since it's been a little while...I guess I'll give a run down.

 

 

 

I went back to work full time for the month of December.

 

I decided to stay home full time after the month of December.

 

I love staying home.

 

Ry is sitting up, rolling over & eating big girl food (well kind of...puree ya' know).

 

Been making baby food.  Love the MumiandBubi trays by the way...yeah, yeah, yeah...$25. But they are BPA, PVC & Phthalate free, space savers, & come with 42 cubes....AND I had an amazon gift card okay. So far, I've just made banana, sweet potato, butternut squash, & apples, but we'll be expanding our horizons soon.

 

She had her first airplane ride to Oklahoma....& back.

 

She's had numerous family visits here in STL & our good friends, The Steinochers' visited all the way from WI (they were driving through from WI to OK to TX all while Katy was 27wkish pregnant...man that's a ton of driving!)...but we LOVED seeing you guys!

 

I continue to work every once in awhile.

 

We dedicated Riley to the Lord at our church.

 

And, having fun each & every day!

 

 

 

Oh yeah, & she's been growing.

 

4 month stats:

*Height: 25.7 in (93%)

Weight: 12 lbs 14.7 oz (36%)

Head Circum: 15.7 in (20%)

 

6 month stats:

*Height: 27.75 in (97%)

Weight: 15 lbs 4.7 oz (36%)

Head Circum: 16.4 in (26%)

 

*Pretty sure they measure her length incorrectly EVERY time.

 

You can see for yourself...

  

 

4 Months

5 Months

6 Months

 

 

 

After our 6 month appointment today & the discussion on baby proofing our home & really getting into solids...I won't lie, I felt a tad overwhelmed.  Before long she will be moving all over the place...the days of laying her down & being able to walk away for a few minutes will soon be over. going.to.try.not.to.be.a.helicopter.mom.though.

 

In addition, I'm supposed to start introducing solids for 2 meals/day...in between breastfeeding as usual & napping. Not to mention regular life stuff like chores, grocery shopping, showering..ya' know, the basics.  I guess it's doable though right?! right?!

 

I guess raising a child is kind of a big responsibility...one I feel SO blessed to have! 

As, I watch her grow & delight in everything she does & learns, I can't help but be reminded of our relationship with God. Funny how parenthood seems to make me do that so MUCH more often...He sure knows what He's doing huh?!  Anyway, I can't help but think about how much it must delight Him to see His children (us) follow & learn His ways, grow & transform into something new.

 

  

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.

Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him,

a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious,

you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house,

to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ...

1 Peter 2:1-25