Big Girl Bed

You may remember our darling escape artist...this wasn't a one time deal. Almost every day after nap, or sometimes before she napped, Riley would climb out of her crib. Jackson and I would hear her playing with toys--outside of her crib--on the baby monitor. 

A few weeks ago I wondered what the bruises on her legs were from but thought they were from her daily falls. Turns out they were from getting her legs between the crib railing/cage area. We planned to convert her crib last weekend but she had a really bad cold and later the doctor diagnosed a Tympanic Membrane (TM) Perforation in her right ear. Poor baby. She was miserable last week as well from cutting four teeth at once. 

After lots of mommy suggestions (thank you) and removal of the beautiful Pottery Barn Hayley bumper/step-stool, we decided it was in Riley's best interest and safety to convert her crib to the toddler bed. 

Her last night in the crib. I wanted one last night with this bumper.

Operation Conversion Complete.

Jackson was all too eager to show her the new bed. He asked if he could have a slumber party with her...ummmmmm not tonight. He loves her dearly and really can't wait for her to grow up a little more. He is excited when she has new words and can do things on her own. Our Big Girl! SNIFF! SNIFF! SNIFF!

Daddy giving her kisses before bedtime. 

Finally!

Hmmm....I think I need more of my stuffed animals in here!

We followed her usual bedtime routine and she slept the entire night. She did the same things Jackson did at this milestone--she tried to climb out (even though there is a clear spot to get down from) and brought her favorite stuffed friends in her bed. As an added bonus, she brought Abby the cat's treats and blankets to her bed. She then tried to get Abby to stay...no such luck. But Abby did enjoy the extra treats from her bestie! This morning she actually slept in until 6:45 a.m. (usually up at 6:15 a.m.) and I awoke to, "Mama! Mama!" a little louder than usual. I found her waiting at the doorway. She had thrown her favorites (kitty, Ah-Goo, and Cuddle Bear) over the safety gate. 

This is how she woke up--the gate keeps her in her room...for now.

Big Bro was pretty tired after helping Daddy convert the crib.

First nap in her toddler bed. We had to put her down early so we could attend a birthday party later.

I cheated and nursed her to sleep. She's still in her same PJs from last night. 

Jumping...


Riley trying out her Big Girl Bed!

So now that Ri is a Big Girl, I've been pinning ideas for what to do with the bumper. Her PBK bumper is so  pretty and has brought us so much joy. Riley loves looking at those birds and saying "night, night" to them. Any ideas? I found some cute jumbo blocks I think both kids will enjoy stacking...but they only make a few.

source: Makin' Projiks

Hmmmm...and sweet...I don't remember seeing this before but I just had to order the matching growth chart for her room. I mean, she is growing up after all! 

xoxo

Riley's Half Birthday: 18 months!

6, 12, & 18 months sure did fly by!

Riley turned 18 months old yesterday and is showing more toddler than baby qualities...but will always be my baby. Here is a question and answer session we have almost daily:

Me: Riley, what is your brother's name?

Riley: Bubba!

Me: What is your dad's name?

Riley: Dada!

Me: What is my name?

Riley: Mama!

Me: What is your name?

Riley: Baby!

Over her 17th month, Riley continued to scream, kick, and fight getting into her car seat. Jackson did the same thing around this age and over the last three months it has become worse. So bad in fact I would plan each outing 15-20 minutes ahead of the time we needed to leave just so I could coax her into her seat. This was the most stressful part of the day for us, so I can't complain. But I did sweat a lot! 

Crying about the "buck-ul."

I tried tickling her into her seat, talking her into her seat, distracting her with fibs: look, there's a kitty! look, there's a truck! (not good with Big Bro sitting there), letting her try to put her "buck-ul" on, having her watch Jackson get in like a Big Kid, letting her play for 10 minutes or so in the car...finally we decided to turn her around. Jackson was 2 1/2 when we turned him around in my car to forward facing. He was shorter and didn't seem to mind looking at the seat. Riley is in the Monkey See, Monkey Do/Monkey Hear, Monkey Say phase, so I think seeing Jackson forward facing really got to her...so now at 18 months she is forward facing and still causes drama getting in her seat...but less than 10 minutes now. Once we are driving she's fine...but still several stressful moments there!

Riley really enjoys helping us bake and cook. She now climbs up on the chair to join us at the counter. 

A favorite part of her day is emptying her dresser drawers and then putting the clothes back. I should start hanging more items because I refold a lot...but I enjoy looking at her sweet little clothes at the same time. 

Riley climbed out of her crib during her 17th month a few times. We're still debating converting it to the toddler bed like we did with Jackson at 18 months. Removing the bumper could solve the little step/boost it's giving her...but it's so cute and cost more than the bedding. She seems to like her doll's bed because it is just the right size for her and "Ah-Goo," her favorite blanket.

Riley runs all around with The Mouse and the Motorcycle. We think she likes the pictures of the animals inside this Beverly Cleary read. Don't tell anyone, but when I was a little girl I really thought Ralph in the movie was played by a real mouse. I found out the truth when I was 21. Sad day. Come on, he looks real when he's hiding in that hole, right? 

Chips and salsa are a favorite snack. Just like Mama! I can never just eat one. Bad!

How old are you Riley? Riley holds her finger up for "one." At least she stopped saying six!

Another favorite is emptying the toy basket and getting inside, then adding the toys back, only to get uncomfortable. Repeat. Then clean up.

On her 18th month half birthday, our neighborhood participated in National Night Out. We had a great time as usual with our neighbors. We love our block. Hana and Riley had fun with the "buck-uls" in the red wagon. They are 9 days apart and live directly across the street from us. Too cute!

Ri: Mom...not another picture. Hana: Come on we're busy!

Hugs for Ashley!

These two friends are 10 days apart! Ash is older and wiser!

Jackson happily delivered this month's copy of the SRCA's newsletter on our block. Riley, as usual, kicked back in the wagon. See how she puts her arms up? Total princess. 

Dear Riley,

You are ONE 1/2 already! We can't believe it. It makes us sad that you're not the little newborn we brought home 18 months ago. But at the same time we are extremely happy that you are so healthy, happy, smart, and loved. You are our Riley Smiley at home...and in public you become Riley Shyly in new places. You are a little lady and are very particular about how your toys are put away, what clothes and shoes you wear, and having clean hands. You help me out so much now. You put dishes away, know the difference between recycling and trash, help with laundry, feeding Abby, and cleaning up your messes after you eat. Each day I'm amazed about the things you know and do. Your new words over the last month: "yellow, cookie, "aminul (animal)," cow, moo, dinosaur, buck-ul (buckle), and ha-low (hello)." You have pretend conversations on phones. So, so, cute! Jackson is your favorite and you always ask to give him a hug and kiss before you go to sleep. He comes into your room in the morning when he hears you on the baby monitor and gets in your crib to play with you. I love hearing you both having fun together. 

You weigh 25 pounds and you are 29" tall. 

You love to eat and try new foods. Your favorites are chips and salsa, Mama's spaghetti, broccoli, oranges, berries, and watermelon. You eat very well with your fork and spoon and doing pretty good with a regular cup for water. You still enjoy Mama's milk, too. Every morning and every night...sometimes after nap. You grew a couple more teeth last week and two more are coming in now so you're a bit feisty. 

You are really running these days. You run everywhere you go. You enjoy walking backwards to be goofy. Today you kept spinning around. I know Jackson taught you this because he loves to make himself dizzy...and  now you know the feeling, too.

We love you, our sweet Riley Grace.

Love, 

Mama and Daddy

One Year -- You Mean Vaccine(s)

Well it's always hard seeing your baby cry and especially when you know what is about to go down. Riley saw the nurse as we checked in and started to cry...

Then she cried when she was weighed (never fails)...

And after Dr. Upton declared she was: social, advanced, beautiful, had a nice round belly, as verbal as an 18 month old, healthy as can be, and can start eating everything (including cow's milk)...

Riley cried some more as the nurse poked her one, two, three, four times. Poor Baby!

But you know who didn't cry? Mama! That's a first! It all happened so fast!

She started smiling two minutes later when I told her I would give her milk. She walked out of the office one happy one year old...although her little legs did feel sore for two days and she was pretty sensitive to those tender spots.

Stats

Weight: 19.6 lbs. (50th percentile)

Height: 29 1/2" (60th percentile)

Head: 18 3/4" (90th percentile)

So once her cold is finally gone I will start to wean her daytime feedings. Nursing every two to three hours for a year is a tad tiring. But worth it. Yawn. I'll miss my constant Facebook updates, though. ;)

Baths helped bring her fever down. 

Resting with her buddies. Fever of 102. 

Brother makes it all better!

eleven months

that's baby Charlie upside down making her first appearance

monthly sticker picture hardly shows up: 11

I'm over these pictures!

So fresh and so clean!

...sigh. I held Riley a little longer before bed last night knowing that these moments of her cuddled in my arms fast asleep are going to be less and less as she quickly approaches toddlerhood. I still need to write her birth story...it only took me three years to write Jackson's. I have time. Here are some recaps over Riley's tenth month:

Food and Milkfest

• Eats everything we will allow. LOVES broccoli, green beans, avocado, and pears. Coincidence they are all green?
• Tried peanut butter and jelly this month--wasn't thrilled but she ate it anyways.



Happy New Year!

• Nursing every 2.5 to 3 hours. Still. I tried four hours and she was pretty upset for an hour...then made up by nursing an hour after she just nursed. I'm going to check at her one year appointment about introducing whole milk and trying to wean. I'm tired. I would prefer three times a day.

Toys

Playdate with Miles 

Really into her dolls! It's adorable. Cousin Eleanor gave her a dolly stroller/walker for Christmas and she loves pushing her "babies" around. She also gives them hugs and we added tucking them in at night to her bedtime routine. Another favorite are balls. She enjoys throwing and rolling them as well as walking around with them just in case someone wants to play.

Also loving her new kitchen that we gave the kids for Christmas. They spend 30-60 minutes in the morning making things for me. Love it.

First time at Disneyland!

Animal

Cats. Riley says "cat" for almost any furry animal and goes nuts when we are in the cat aisle at the pet store. There are cat pictures everywhere. Ha!

Personality

Santa Baby

We call her Riley Smiley and Shy Ri for a reason. She is shy at first but then gives huge smiles once she feels comfortable with you and realizes Mama isn't leaving.

Firsts

• Added another tooth (top) after WEEKS of pain. Riley has been pretty grumpy after 3 p.m. over the last two weeks and only wants to be held. That makes dinner making interesting.
• We went to D-land over Christmas and she loved the music, colors, and people watching. I think we went on two rides together.
• Went to Julian and Riley had her first bites of apple berry pie! 
• Riley increased her steps to full on walking and met her goal by Christmas. I wasn't a big fan of shoes because it was just another thing to put on both kids...but now she really needed real ones (not the soft soles she owns). So we went to Stride Rite last night to pick up her first pair of walkers. She loves shoes. She could play in my closet or her own looking at the shoes for an hour and be perfectly happy. So being at the shoe store was a dream come true...and so it begins! I had promised her pink sparkle Toms once she started walking but they don't come in her size (Toms run big). I ordered them anyways for when her foot grows. Nordstrom Notes put to good use!
• Can slide down her slide by herself--and begs to go outside so she can slide and swing.
• Sat in the car cart with Jackson for the first time while grocery shopping. 
• Plays pat-a-cake
• Loves her new pal, Violet, who sings to her during diaper changes and helps us keep this squirmy baby still for a few seconds!
• New words: shoes, yes, this, bath, night.

Sliding Fun!

We went to the doctor on Christmas Eve morning because I had to verify her ears were good. She had a fever of 101 and was so unhappy...just teething. But we did get a weigh in...20 pounds!

Oh Riley we love you so much and just can't believe how fast you have grown. Feels like you were just in my belly and we were asking you to hold on until after Jackson's birthday to come...and you did...four days later! Love you baby girl. xoxo

Measuring her foot...size 3 1/2

Thanks Grandpa and Gram for this bench for our yard!

Reading about the different faces babies make
and making one of her own...

Grocery shopping in the car cart

Day trip to Julian (food poisoning the next day-yuck)

Sliding at Java Mama with brother

Baths are fun!

First time falling asleep in the grocery cart! LOL!

Favorite teething toy--her toothbrush!

Home Depot has the best carts!