Spring?

Spring has finally sprung!  I think...  Although Riley's closet is bursting with adorable, colorful tank tops, dresses, rompers and sandals, it seems that mother nature just wants me to stare at them every day and have her wear her winter clothing thin.  It is killing me!  Just last week we got an 80 degree Monday (I think I said to myself that it was one of the best days of my life, haha), and by Wednesday we woke up with the temperature back in the twenties with snow on the ground.  But one thing is for sure - this winter has made me truly appreciate the sunshine in a way I never have before. 

Times are busy... very, very busy.  We have a busy girl and a busy schedule and life seems to be flying by.  I am doing my best to capture it, but every once in a while I realize that I haven't taken a picture of Riley in a weeks.  And I also realized I haven't taken a single pregnancy picture.  To be honest, I forget that we are expecting another baby girl in just three months!  That is one of the beautiful things about the craziness of life right now - this pregnancy is soaring by.  For me, this is a good thing.  I cherish pregnancy because the end result is remarkable, but lack patience for the symptoms that come with it.  Above all else, I have a hard time being held back by this expanding belly.  I am missing the energy needed to keep up with Riley! It is tough because there isn't much room on my lap for book reading or snuggling, and carrying her is quite a challenge (and probably funny to look at - she basically sits on top of my belly).  But I know it is all worth it - the end is (somewhat) near.

Riley's personality is just exploding.  The words I would use to describe her right now are spirited, serious, focused, inquisitive, unpredictable, determined and sarcastic.  

I saw this quote the other day that reminded me of her - "Let her sleep, for when she wakes she will move mountains." I feel like when she wakes up (as long as it is on the right side of the crib), she wants to tackle the world.  Of course this means that anything in her way needs to get out of her way promptly! She needs all doors to be open so she can wander in and out of rooms, and she needs to know what is inside every drawer, cupboard, box and bag. 

She has some of the funniest personality quirks.  For example, she would rather not have ANY snacks or treats than to be given a small portion of them.   No matter what is offered to her (or found in the pantry), she has to fill both of her little fists to brim.  If she is not allowed to do that, cheerios and fruit snacks go flying and she crumbles. Again, it is her way or the highway. 

Life is good, and I am going to keep dreaming of warm, sunny days!

15 Months and a Trimester

A Long Winter and Busy, Busy Toddler

I think the time has come to shift my image of Riley from baby to toddler.  When I use the word baby, it just doesn't quite fit anymore.  She still has the baby soft skin, has most kissable and cute toes, and needs to be snuggled to sleep half the time, but when she is awake she is all toddler... 



And to be honest, she frightens me half the time! Well, not fear as much as pure awe and confusion.  The last few weeks I have found myself speechless and unable to come up with an appropriate reaction to some of the things that she does.  Her tantrums have gotten very extreme, and we are rapidly learning how to understand and manage them.  Her will is amazingly unbreakable.  The toughest one to tackle is the full-body tantrum where she arches her back, throws her head quickly back and wriggles with all of her might (while screaming of course).  This is scary at times because she has gotten so big and strong, and sometimes I can't keep her in my arms (and she's bonked her head, bitten her lip, fallen down, etc.).  Setting her down doesn't help either as it typically exaggerates the behavior. The question I have, though, is where did she learn to do this?! It clearly is something some babies are born knowing how to do.  Each day I try new methods on how to react: ignore, try and talk her through it, distracting her with something else...  All I know is that I am terrified for the "terrible twos."  I have to say though that I admire her stubbornness, and feel confident that her will and determination will serve her well in the future (well, maybe won't serve us well when she is a teenager!).

Tantrums aside, I think this is the most fun and entertaining phase she has entered to far.  Her personality is exploding, and her mannerisms are simply hilarious.  When she gets excited she claps while squatting up and down as if she just can't contain herself. Her laugh is a belly laugh, and it really comes out when she is watching/chasing the cat. She has the goofiest gait - I could watch her toddle around forever.  

Her favorite things right now are her chair, car and baby stroller.  She definitely knows that these are miniature versions of adult things made just for her, and she cherishes them. It amazes me how much a 15 month old can understand the concept and purpose of things.  All switches, buttons and knobs serve a purpose (and she tries them all out incessantly), each tool and utensil does something (I just love how she immediately imitates what we do with a spoon, can opener, hammer, etc.), each facial expression means something.  I know it is part of human development, but I still think it is incredible how much these little guys pickup and learn without us ever really teaching or explaining it to them.

And the language development... it is so much fun I can't even stand it.  I can't really pinpoint with word was her first because it all happened at once, but the word that sticks in my mind as the clearest is bottle (bobble).  I love when it is time for her bottle or when she sees one just so I can hear her cute rendition of the word - bobble.  Other words she has picked up in the past three weeks are: car (cah), up, bath (baa), bubble, help (hop), bye bye (da die), and baby (bay).  The two words she says the most though are hi and up.  She says hi (always with a massive smile) anytime she enters a room, opens a door and sees someone new.  Up is funny though, because she also says up when she wants down (and sometimes when she wants something out of reach).

Riley has been very patient with this ridiculous winter.  Right now we have walls of snow lining every street.  Sidewalks are either icy, snowy or mushy, and I don't think we've seen the grass in months.  It has been tough, especially with a kid who just wants to roam around and explore her surroundings.  We have been going to indoor playgrounds and play dates as much as possible (sometimes I go to the mall, stores or library just so she can wander the aisles and get exercise), but we are craving the spring more than ever before.  

Clearly I have not been doing the best job with photo documenting.  I have found that videos are more valuable at this point in her life and will hopefully start uploading a few on my blog soon.

But life is good!

And Riley is going to be a big sister! Baby GIRL Poole will be here in the beginning of August.  We feel so blessed that we will have two girls so close in age...  and we are slightly terrified that we will have two girls so close in age, haha.  Life is about to get really good and really, really busy.