The Final Celebration

And was it a celebration to end all celebrations! Saturday we had Riley's official birthday party. Of course it was Dora themed and of course it was at a gymnastics place, her two favorite things in life. It was an AWESOME time. We held it at a place called Gymtastic! It was awesome first off the staff was fantastic, they did everything for us, they kept asking if everything was going ok and tailored the activities to the crowd. Second, we had the place to ourselves which was amazing! And third, Riley had an absolute blast!!! I didn't see her the entire party, she did stop long enough to give me a kiss in the bouncy house and tell me that she loved me but other than that she went from the bouncy house, to the zip line, to the bars, to the bubbles and back again. It was a great time shared with great friends!

All dressed and ready for her party!

Happy Birthday to my Riley Roo!

Bear Crawl, bear crawl!

Stretching

Jacob was less than impressed with the party!

Zip lining

And again

and again (I stopped taking pictures at this point, she went about 3 more times!)

Getting her birthday medal

Ta-da!

Group shot - the best I could do with 20 toddlers!

Dora favors

Dora cupcakes

One happy girl!

Yay for my birthday!

Singing to Riley!

Making a wish

Thanking her friends for coming

My living room post presents

A video of Riley zip-lining:

Moves Like Jagger

Riley had a birthday party Saturday morning for one of her little school friends and Marc got this video of her, she was the only one in the whole party dancing!

Conquering Her Fear

As I've blogged before, Riley is now in a non-parent assist gymnastics class, which is so nice for us!  We can just chill and watch her.  She's doing awesome in the class but being in a big girl class means doing big girl stuff, like the rope swing over the foam pit.  Last week she was too afraid to do it, but this week my girl put on her big girl {owl} panties and gave the swing a try!  She doesn't seem too traumatized.



So proud of my big girl!!!

On It Being My Birthday

Tuesday the 17th was my birthday, it was very low key, I didn't make a big deal about it.  I actually had to stop and think about how old I was, seriously, I didn't even know.  It's funny how when you have kids, your birthday becomes less and less important.  So instead of living it up with shots or adult beverages (ok, I did have a glass of wine, the nurses said I could as long as it was with food) I spent my 33rd birthday (yes, I finally figured out how old I am now thanks to some quick math) at Riley's 3 year well check (she weighs 26.2 lbs and is just under 36 inches), changing diapers, feeding Jacob every 3 hours and doing tummy time.  I didn't even go out to lunch, I stayed home with a Lean Cuisine and my little man (Riley went to school after her appointment) and I really wouldn't change a thing, I like the month of January being about Riley and her birthday and I really don't mind taking backstage to her.  I really don't think it's anything to do about getting older and being bummed about that, I think I just enjoy seeing the pure excitement and delight in my daughter's eyes and face when it's about her and her birthday.  The pure innocence and excitement is plenty for me!   I did pick up sushi from my favorite place (which Marc doesn't particularly care for so it's the only time a year that I get to enjoy it!) and Marc ordered me an ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins (my guilty pleasure) and on top of it my bestie Amber sent me some chocolate covered strawberries. 

My yummy cake, Marc made me blow out a candle, we didn't have 34 and I don't think they would have fit (Riley helped of course)

My family was super excited to sing to me (and about the ice cream cake)!

This girl loves her some birthdays!

Play Time

At Jacob's appointment last week the Dr told us to go ahead and start tummy time.  Marc went out last Tuesday night with some friends, Riley was in bed and Jacob as wide awake so I decided to let him try out his new play mat.  He definitely dug it!

Jacob is 1 Month Old!

I can hardly believe that our little man is 1 Month old already!  I took him to his 1 month well check today and all is going well.  He is up to 7lbs 9oz, a full 1lb increase since last Tuesday and he was 20 inches, a 1/2 inch growth since last Tuesday.  The boy likes to eat!  He's still nursing for 30-40 minutes and then taking 3oz of formula.  He surprised me last night by sleeping a 5 hour stretch and then a 4 hour stretch!  Of course I woke up at about 2:00 anticipating his cries but he kept sleeping and I had no problem falling back asleep until he did wake up.  He's still pretty mellow but he has developed his witching hour which hits between 6 and 7 and lasts until about 10 when I feed him and put him down for bed.  He's getting a little needy and needing to be held to fall asleep but the Dr says that's totally normal at his age.  We've explored his playmat, have started tummy time and Jacob is starting to coo.
Here is his comparison picture for the month (and here's a link to Riley's 1 Month post for reference)

And the Celebration Continues

Saturday Riley started her first non-parent participation class at gymnastics.  We weren't sure how it would go but it went great!!!  Riley was so proud of herself doing all of the activities by herself and would yell across the gym "I did it myself!"  She even did the balance beam by herself which I have been fighting her to do for months in the parent participation class.  We are SO proud of our big girl!!!

After gymnastics we headed to the park down the street for Riley's monthly playdate with her friends from KinderCare, alot of them no longer go there but we all stay in touch and get together monthly.  This month, since the weather has been so nice we met at the park down the street.  I made a cake (thanks to Betty Crocker, I really wanted to make cake pops but I ran out of time) so that we could celebrate with all of her friends. 

One more celebration is in store, her "real" party is on the 28th and it's a Dora theme (big shock) at a gymnastics place!

Winter Gala

Friday night Riley's school had a Winter Gala.  Her class and the 2s class sang 3 songs.  Let's just say that there were probably about 30 or so kids and 60 parents jammed into her classroom.  All of the kids filed in and stood in front of the parents to perform.  Many kids did not even make it to the the stage, they were so afraid that they melted down.  Riley, well, Riley didn't care much about all of the eyes on her.  Her face at first was a little worried but once she found us she was SO excited and smiling.  She did great, she sang all 3 of the songs and stood in her spot the whole time!  Shy is something Riley is not! 

Riley spotted Mommy and Daddy!  All is good now!

The 2s class and Preschool A class lined up before the performance

Singing their first song

Our little performer!

Of course the kids were rewarded afterwards with a jelly bean!

Cuddle Bug

Jacob is way more of a cuddle bug than Riley ever was.  The past week we've noticed that around 7:00 he gets super needy and cries until he is held, once I pick him up and put him on my lap he snuggles in, passes out and is good to go for the night.  I am loving his cuddle bug stage, knowing that he is our last baby is helping me enjoy this young phase, no matter how exhausted I am.  (Have I mentioned that 2 kids is pure chaos!?!  And who ever coined the term "Terrible 2s" clearly didn't stick around long enough to experience 3s, because they are WAY worse!).  But even though I have to eat dinner most nights one handed and over the little man, I'm loving all of the snuggles that he wants to give me!

Riley's Birthday Celebration

Riley wanted to go to school on her birthday {sniff, sniff, my girl would rather be with her friends than her mommy, definitely a sign that she's growing up fast} because she wanted us to have a birthday party in her class.  When she woke up we cheered for her birthday, Marc had created a countdown calendar because Riley was SO excited about her birthday.  They crossed off her last day and we sang to her, then we brought her downstairs where this was waiting:

A big girl bike!

How big does she look here?

Riley also got a "pretty dress"

And a baseball glove

After we dropped Riley at day care, Marc, Jacob and I went up to Walnut Creek for some shopping and lunch before heading back down home to bring cupcakes and goody bags to Riley's class.  Riley loved having everyone sing to her and the kids loved celebrating her birthday.

Waiting for her cupcake

A special Princess cupcake for the birthday girl!

And here is Riley's official 3 Year growth photo!

Happy Birthday!

to my Riley-Roo!  3 Years old, such a big girl!!!

How can it be that 3 years ago today my 4lbs of Fury entered this world!  I truly can't believe the transformation from that teeny, tiny baby with a ton of spunk and chutzpah to the vivacious little girl that is still filled with chutzpah.  Riley, you continue to amaze us on a daily basis.  Your memory astounds us, your compassion is immeasurable, and you understand everything.  You are truly wise beyond your years and it is an absolute pleasure to be your parent.  You definitely give us a run for our money, you are strong willed, stubborn, and have a mind of your own which can be both challenging and infuriating but I wouldn't change you for anything.  My greatest pleasure is watching you be a big sister and seeing your compassion and concern for your brother when he is crying or when he is hurt.  Your "Riley-isms" continue to get better and better and it's been a blast watching you understand sarcasm over the past year. 

Some of your favorite things from 2-3:

1. Dora - You absolutely adore Dora, you can't get enough of her
2. Cereal - Good thing I now work for Kellogg's because you could eat cereal for every meal
3. New shoes - especially sparkly, light up ones
4. Gymnastics - you still love gymnastics and you are excellent at it also
5. Playing outside with your friends
6. Your "YaYas"
7. Story time and getting your back patted

Wow, What a Week!

It all started last Tuesday (which ironically was Jacob's due date) when we took Jacob into the Dr for his 2 week well baby check.  His temperature was really low (about 97) and he had lost 5 oz over the week from when I had taken him in for a weight check (and he was actually gaining weight).  The Dr had us check his billierubins because he was still pretty jaundice and then sent us home to keep him bundled and started supplementing his feedings with formula.  We did everything in our power to keep him warm; we layered him, pumped the heat up, put his blankets in the dryer but throughout the day his temperature kept dropping.  When it hit 95.5 I called her back, he was also very lethargic and I had a horrible time trying to wake him up to feed, he didn't even really want to take a bottle.  The Dr told me we had to head to the hospital to be admitted because his temperature was just too low.  Urgh.  So off we went again to Valley Care (we went through this with Riley).  Thank goodness for our wonderful friends Jen and Pat, not only did they take Riley in on the night that Jacob was born but they once again came to our rescue and picked Riley up from day care when they got Bella.  We seriously would be a big mess without them!  So we took Jacob over to Valley Care, got admitted and went through the whole process that we went through 3 years ago, blood tests, spinal tap and IV antibiotics to make sure he wasn't septic.  After his tests he was still running a low body temperature even though he had a ton of layers on so they brought a warmer in from the nursery and put him under it for a few hours.  That warmed him right up and he was able to maintain a normal temperature the rest of our stay.  It also perked him up enough to get him to feed better and so he started putting on some weight.  He put on 3 oz while we were there and then another 4 oz from Thursday to Friday when we got released and went back to his Dr for a weight check.  Thank goodness all of his tests came back negative and it was just a case of (as my friend Autumn said) being a "wimpy white boy."  He's now eating great, though we are still supplementing, and on Tuesday he was up to 6lbs 9oz and grew an inch and a half in a week!

All in all considering the circumstances our stay wasn't half bad.  The nurses were great, we actually had the same nurse that we had when Riley was in the hospital there and she doubles as a lactation specialist at the kids' pediatrician and she remembered us.  She set up a little table and brought Riley stickers, coloring books, and crayons.  Riley was able to visit so Marc brought her in the morning before school, she loved picking up coffee or bagels for me, and then brought her to visit after school.  The nurse sent me out on our second day to give me a break and get me fresh air so Marc and I went to Babies R Us and got Jacob some warm Newborn clothes, hit Starbucks and went to Old Navy before getting Riley and bringing her back to the hospital with us.  The hard part was, Riley wanted to stay with me. :( Jacob even managed to pee on both the Dr and the medical student his last day there which all of the nurses loved! :)

My poor little dude!

Starting to feel better!

So sweet!

Feeling better and plumping up, check out the extra chins he's working!

Not sure what this face means but it was cute!

He was so hungry that he was holding his own bottle

The nurse set up a little area for Riley

Going home, part deux

Big Sister posing with brother on the way home

So Thursday we went home, Jacob was crying on the way home and Riley was so incredibly sweet she said, in the sweetest voice ever, "Oh no, brother, what's the matter?  It's ok, I'm here."  It was so sweet.  Friday, Riley had an appointment with Dr H to check her clubfeet.  I am happy to report that her feet look perfect and we are once again going braceless at night to see how her left foot responds, he felt her tendons were stronger and her tone better than when we tried 9 months ago so we are giving it a go for 6 weeks.  Riley had been talking about not wearing her "night nights" for quite some time and so the night before I prepped her that Dr H could very well say that she still needed to wear them.  After many "whys" I told her Dr H was the "boss man" so if he said she had to wear them she couldn't argue.  Friday brought us to his office and Riley referred to him as "my Hoffinger" and then told him he was the "bossy man."  Haha!  She was hilarious.  When he told her that she didn't have to wear her night nights anymore she put her hands in the air and said "Hooray!  Yayfeety pj's like her brother!  After Dr H we headed to the pediatrician to get Jacob re-weighed, he weighed in at 6lbs so we were on the upswing.  We went back yesterday and he was 6lbs 9oz so we are well past his birth weight and have been given clearance to feed on demand which meant not one but two four hour sleeping chunks for mommy last night.  Woohoo!

Daddy and his babies at Dr H, Jacob is sporting one of the hats that Beverly gave him

Happy New Year!

from our little family of four!  We had every intention of staying home this New Year's Eve but at the last minute our friend's Jen and Pat invited us over for dinner and celebrations.  They even offered to have Riley spend the night to give us a break from having two kids but since Riley has been "unfit" for public lately I decided to have her come home with us.  Wrong move!  Riley and Bella get along so well and Riley actually asked to sleep over.  I told her we didn't bring her stuff and she told it was ok, she could just sleep on Bella's floor, she totally remembers sleeping there the night Jacob was born.  Riley and Bella rocked New Year's Eve and stayed up until 10:00 when we finally made Riley say good-bye, we left with a ton of tears.  It's so adorable to see Bella and Riley play together, they are definitely besties and Riley feels so comfortable at her house, it totally cracks me up. 

Playing dress-up

The little princesses

Ready to PARTY!

So happy new year from our family to yours.  Many 2012 bring health, happiness and much joy to all of our friends and family!