the boy gets a new room

Since my brother moved out, Jeff and I decided to move Riley into the carpeted front bedroom, versus his current tiled room. Safer for the boy that can climb out of and back INTO his crib. :/ Jeff and my dad repainted the room and then I spent 95% of my day moving Riley's stuff into the room.

I took in his changing table. He followed me, saying "Mine, Mama."

I took is his dresser. "Mine, Mama."

His rocker. "Mine, Mama."

His toys. "Mine, Mama."

Yes, baby, all of it is yours. Once I had his room set up (minus the crib that Jeff had to move in this afternoon), Riley wandered around, touching his things. "Ryry. Mine. Ryry. Mine." That little man is POSSESSIVE! haha

When I picked up Isabella from school and she walked in the hallway, she exclaimed "MOMMY! Someone moved all of Riley's things to Riley's New Room!" Yes, darling. MOMMY moved them. Good to know she thinks I have slave boys at my disposal (Can I have a couple of them, for real??).

Now that he is all moved, the next step is to move the computers and crafting back to the room that used to be the office. I can actually craft again!

I have to say, I am pretty proud of the decorating I did today. And nice to know my kids are proud of me. lol

Bye Bye, Binky

Dear Binky,

It's not you. It's me. I don't need you to fall asleep anymore. I can do it on my own. I am a BIG BOY now. I can climb out of my crib (Heck, I can climb back INTO my crib). I drink out of straw cup. I sit in a booster. I can talk in sentences. I'm too big for you.

We've had some good times. When I was new, you were one of my best friends. You've helped me through some rough nights of sleep, and some of the worst teething I have gone through. We had some laughs. I've thrown you more times than I count, tried to feed you to the cats and to Grandma's dog. 

But we have to part ways now. I'm almost two. I hope you believe me when I tell you it's not you. You've been good to me, and I hope you find someone new to chew on you. 

I'll always hold a special place in my heart for you.

Love, Riley

The Week Daddy was Away

I meant to write about this last week but got consumed with family.

Jeff went to Annistan, AL, for five days for a FEMA training seminar. We talked to him every day. Isabella would tell him all about her day at school and Riley would say "HI Dada! Hi!" and give kisses. While Daddy was gone, Riley added about ten words to his vocabulary, which impressed AND saddened Jeff.

Riley and I and my godmother went to the airport to pick up Jeff and go out to lunch. Every time someone would come down the stairs from a departing flight, Riley would yell "Hi Dada!" Eventually he got frustrated because none of them were daddy. FINALLY Daddy came and this was his greeting:

Riley ran across the airport faster than I have ever seen him run! He was SO happy to see Daddy. And we ALL are thrilled to have him back

A 3 year old and a Pair of Scissors (An unfairy tale)

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful little princess names Isabella. One morning, she decided to take a pair of scissors to her hair. She cut a big chunk out of the front of her head and then put the scissors away and hid the hair in the trash. When her mommy, the Queen, saw her hair, the Queen saw red. Right there, in the front of the beautiful Princess' hair, was a huge chunk missing!

"Did you cut your hair?!" The Queen demanded

"Yes, and I put the hair in the trash so you wouldn't be mad," answered the unrepentant preschooler.

"You knew I would be mad but you did it anyway??"

"Yes, because I wanted to. Can you fix it now?"

No, my misbehaving child, I cannot! There is a HUGE chunk of hair missing!!!

As you can see, there was no fixing THAT! So, I brushed other hair on it and tried a clip. No go; her hair is too fine. So, I sent her to school with "messy" hair in the front. Her teacher noticed her hair as soon as we walked in. :P Mommy is NOT happy, but I also know it could be a lot worse. Bangs will grow out faster than if I had to cut her hair because she cut a huge chunk in the back. She apologized and the scissors are now in Mommy's locked craft cabinet. 

What upset me most, though, is that she KNEW I would be mad but did it anyway. I'm kind of impressed that she knew to hide it in the trash, though. 

What am I going to do with this child???!!!

Sometimes...

...they are just the cutest

When we decided to start trying for a sibling for Isabella, I considered the insanity of having them so close together. They are just shy of 22 months apart. They fight, they bicker, they hit, they scream. But they also love on each other, chase each other, snuggle on the couch. Isabella is super protective of Riley, when she isn't beating on him. ;)

During the highest moments of insanity, it's moments like the one above that make me SO happy we had them so close together. I love my babies

4th of July fun!

Jeff's best friend is my cousin's husband. They live in WA and we haven't seen Steve since his retirement party almost four years ago! Jeff misses his friend (but don't tell him I said so -- he's too manly to admit it :P ). They were in San Diego for vacation and we decided to drive to Yuma on the 4th of July to meet them for lunch and let the men hang out. Here's some highlights:

Isabella LOVED playing with Sarah; they spent over an hour playing in the play area while Riley had his big cousin Laura to watch over him (giving Mommy time to just chat, thank you, Laura)

Even though it was a LOOOOONG drive there and home, it was worth it: 

Hope everyone else has an amazing 4th of July!

A boy and his wagon

This wagon and truck made my little man so happy today! Thank you, Grandma! Riley picked them both out and his grandma was more than happy to buy them for him. He then pulled them all around Ross, didn't want to give them up to the cashier to scan, and pulled them to the car...where they rode on his lap all the way home, even after he fell asleep. lol. Love this little man