Soccer!

Jacoby started his soccer class last week.  It was pretty interesting, the coach wasn't great but fortunately he prefaced the class by telling us that he was not the permanent coach so we're hoping it gets better.  Jacob was sort of all over the place, he grabbed a kids hood at one point and pulled him down and then spent a lot of the class either running away from the ball or picking it up and throwing it in the goal.

The coach asked Jacob first if he wanted to give him a high five and tell him his name and Jacob said "No!"

Listening to instructions

Jacob got a haircut after soccer

I mustache you a question!

The Road to the ATTT Surgery

So I'm super behind on blogging, so far behind in fact that Riley is due to get her second cast tomorrow.  Our first appointment went well, we were his last appointment of the day and did our pre-op exam and questionairre so we should be good to go for February 20th.  Riley wanted a rainbow cast but there wasn't enough cast there to do it so she surprised me by coming out with a pink cast, she had been telling me all week that if they couldn't do rainbow, she would want blue.  Dr H feels this is a definite thing, that we'll have to do the surgery eventually so we might as well get it done.  I just want Feb 20 to be here and gone already.  I am a wreck anticipating this surgery, stressed, tired, grumpy.  I hope these next few weeks go quickly. 

Ri of course has been a rockstar.  Knock on wood, but the 5s have been good to us thus far, I know we're only 2 weeks in but we have seen a huge jump in maturity and behavior in Riley since she hit 5!  I'm not complaining!  She's such a big helper, has a great attitude about everything and lets stuff roll off of her without a fit.  Even day care is telling me how great she has been, now if only I could get Jacob on board with this whole behavior thing...

Jacob was on his second lollipop by the time we got called back

Surprise!  It's pink!

Jacob went with Marc and Riley to get Riley's cast put on while I did Riley's medical history, they gave him gloves to keep him busy.  After Riley's cast was on Dr H came back to the room where I was, plopped into a chair, and proceeded to tell me how exhausting Jacob was.  I said "Try living with him!"  I love my little man but he's a handful!

Our traditional picture outside his office

And we've been in a drought for 3 months, no rain, not even fog, and what happens within a week of getting a cast put on my 5 year old?  Rain!  Such is my life!

5 Year Well Check

Last Friday we took Riley to her 5 year well-check.  I can't believe my little girl is actually 5 years old!  And that I am old enough to have a 5 year old.  She looked so old and mature standing there doing her vision test.  She can read crazy small letters.  Then they did all of her vitals.  A year ago she threw a fit about doing her blood pressure, this year she offered her arm like it was no big deal.  She also sat and did her hearing like a big girl.  Happy to say she got a great report.  Great eye sight and hearing, they told her she could no longer pretend not to hear us because she had really good hearing.

Here are her stats:

Height: 40.7" (18th percentile)   She grew 3" since her 4 year well check and jumped from the 12th percentile to the 18th
Weight: 34 1/2 lbs (14th percentile) (30lbs at 4 and 10th percentile)

So it seems she's caught up a bit in her size!

Ri has definitely matured in the past few weeks, things that used to set her off into a tantrum, now roll off of her.  Even her teachers have noticed a change in her and we hear that she is listening better.  I guess she is really ready for kindergarten!

All Birthday'd Out

By the time my birthday rolls around on the 17th, we've had Jacob's on Dec 19th, my nephew's on Jan 4, Ri's on Jan 12, and my mom's on the 15th so we're pretty much birthday'd out.  Marc and the kids did their best to make it my special day, Ri even told Marc that it was my special day.  I worked a half day and then had a haircut followed by Riley's 5 year well check (more on that in a different post).  After her well check we went and picked up Jacob and then went to Baskin Robbins to get my ice cream cake (love it) and then picked up sushi to bring home.  After dinner the kids sang happy birthday to me and it was seriously the highlight of the day for me!

And this was my favorite present from my favorite 5 year old!

The Celebration Continues

Sunday was Riley's actual birthday, the kids were beat from the party so they actually slept in.  Then we took our time getting up, had bagels with my parents and Riley opened her presents from family, family friends and us.  The hits of the bunch - a light up pillow pet and a rainbow loom!  After their naps we went to the mall where they got to each make a new bear thanks to the Goines' who gave them both gift cards to Build-A-Bear.  They both loved making bears.  Ri also got a gift card from Jacob so she got to buy a chair for her bear and some more clothes.  Then we ran a few errands before we went to tepanyaki for dinner, Riley's choice.

I bought my baby girl flowers for her birthday

Riley stuffing her new friend "Birthday:

So excited!

Jacoby's turn!

He's so excited!

The kids and their new friends - Champ and Birthday

Excited for her birthday dinner

Birthday girl gets a Shirley Temple

In awe over the show

Housing miso soup and rice

Dessert for the birthday girl!

Look how our Riley has grown!  Sadly, you can also see how much her left foot has regressed this year.  Age 4 doesn't look great but Age 5 is even worse.  Looking at her foot like this and compared to age 2 and 3 where it looked corrected I know surgery is the right route.  Even Marc looked at this and admitted she needed it.

Reading up on Rainbow Loom techniques

Pump It Up!

Saturday we had Riley's birthday party with all of her friends at Pump It Up.  Naturally she picked a Sophia the First theme.  Ri had a fantastic time, she didn't stop moving the whole time and absolutely had a blast with all of her friends.  After the party she thanked me for letting her have her party at Pump It Up and that I was the best mommy ever.  Melt my heart!

Sophia cupcakes, chocolate and cookies and cream.  A couple of people asked me where I bought them.  Of course all homemade, because that's my happy place

Getting pumped up to party!

She's just a little excited!

All the way at the top and ready to slide down

Spitting at me, he's a caveman

Finally got the birthday girl to stop and pose

On the move!

Hurricane simulator!  I learned that my daughter is louder than a hurricane

The whole party!

Sliding with daddy

Ri wanted Jacob to sit on the throne with her

Love these two!

How Jacob eats cupcakes, hands are overrated

Cupcake on the go!

Opening presents at home, a Build-A-Bear, her favorite.

Watching Big Sis open her presents

My little man, such a lover

She looks so big and old here, like a 5 year old! :)

With her buds Nate and Bella

Rock climbing!

Awesome day with my awesome girl!  Happy Birthday my sweet girl!

To My Riley Madison on Your 5th Birthday

Wow, Riley Roo, how is it possible that you are 5 years old today!  It doesn't seem that long ago that we were in the hospital meeting our 4lbs of Fury, staring at our crooked foot, wide eyed baby girl, wondering how we could have been so lucky to get such a perfect girl.  This year hasn't been an easy one, you've been going through some difficult phases and we've had to deal with a regression of your clubfoot but through it all you have proven how strong you are and your smile continues to light up a room.

I came across a saying: "And though she be but little, she is fierce" and I thought of you immediately.  It is almost as if Shakespeare knew you all those years ago when he formulated this quote; you are the smallest of your group but you definitely have the strongest personality.  Riley, you are the bravest, strongest little girl I know and I couldn't be prouder to call you my daughter.  You have faced your regression with a sense of bravery that is well beyond your years.  You've had to accept things that 4 year olds shouldn't have to accept but you've done it all with a smile on your face and a bravery that is both inspiring and awe producing for a child of your age.

But through all of this, you were a regular 4 year old, now 5 year old little girl; you love Disney princesses, Sophia the First, jumpy houses, shoes, and you have enough sass to fill a stadium.  We've seen you blossom in t-ball this year and thrive in pre-k as you learn to read and recognize your sight words.  You have a passion for learning and a contagious smile.  You love to be a helper and now have the job as salad maker and egg cracker in our house.  You were eager to have your brother turn 2 so that he could move into the next room and share breakfast with you in the mornings at day care.  You wanted to show him where to put his plates, clean up his messes and help him get in line to go to his room after breakfast.  I always see you look out for your friends' younger siblings and you often take younger kids under your wing, your brother is no exception.  You love your brother to no end and my fullest moments are when you think I'm not paying attention and I can hear you and Jacob laughing and playing together.  You are a born leader Riley and I look forward to watching you develop that trait as you mature.

5 is going to be a big year.  You will start kindergarten and of course you will have to face your clubfoot surgery, but always remember, it could be worse, we're lucky it's only your foot and you can lead a fairly normal life in spite of your obstacles. Use this experience as a way to be a better person.  Be compassionate of those who are different, who aren't as lucky as you and remember, you are only given what you are strong enough to handle.  You, my dear, will tackle this year with your usual fierceness.

So my Riley Madison, I wish you a very happy 5th birthday, may all of your dreams come true and may you have the best year ever.  And always remember:

"I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,

As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be"

Let The Celebrations Begin!

Last Saturday we gave Riley an early birthday present, I took her (with her friend Bella) to see Disney Jr Live featuring Sophia the First (her favorite!).  Ri had an amazing time!  She wore her Sophia dress, amulet, and crown and looked oh so adorable.  We had a great time together and she kept turning around to thank me for bringing her and telling me how much fun she was having.  I brought her potty at one point and she said "This is the best day ever!"

So much fun!  I can't believe my little girl is going to be 5 in two days!

Early birthday present - A new amulet

My little princess

Two Sophia the Firsts

These are the smiles I get these days

Me n My girl!  Can't believe she's going to be 5!

She picked Doc McStuffins as her souvenir (she made a special appearance)

Dancing

The finale - the show also featured Jake and the Neverland Pirates