Fun Day of Playing

Riley had a full day today -- breakfast with Aunt Lauren, playing at home, nap #1, lunchtime, more playing, hitting up Barnes and Noble, nap #2, playing outside, dinner, trip to dad's house, bath and bed.

Breakfast was fun. He loves his Aunt Lauren and he loves to be out in public. He had a few naughty moments however -- mostly throwing food off the table, throwing the cup, throwing toys, throwing a menu.......hmm, there seems to be a theme.

Our trip to Barnes and Noble was an adventure. He is quite the runner when out in public, but loves his stroller, so I thought that if I put him in his stroller he would be ok with that. No, no. The boy wants to move. I let him out of the stroller and let him wander around a bit, but the store was crowded so I picked him up to put him back in the stroller and a fierce cry/yell/tantrum started. I happened to see a stuffed Elmo on the shelf and I gave him that. He loved it and started chewing on the eyes and drooling on it, which in babyland means you have claimed it as yours. Now, I questioned that move of mine after we had left the store. Was that bad parenting? Giving you child something so he doesn't make a scene in the middle of a store? Uh oh.....did I turn into THAT parent?!?!?!?

Well, after nap #2 there was lots of playing with Grandpa Sunday and Elmo (at least he actually likes it so it was a good buy). Here's a video of the two of them playing. Although, as I watched it back, I think Grandpa was the one playing. Riley was his captive audience. Oh -- and to my early childhood people -- notice that he is imitating actions, attending well, handing toys to adults and doing some great turn taking. YAY!! Although, so is Elmo. As I was watching the video on the blog it was a little jumpy. I took the video with my phone so maybe that messed with the quality. Anyways, it's a little long but cute.

After some playing indoors, we went outdoors. He was born to be outside! Unfortunately, the boy knows no fear and just takes off. I think we need to invest in that invisible fence thing. Does that work for toddlers??? Just curious.

Sappy Mommy Post

My little monkey has been asleep for a couple of hours now and I just checked on him to say my final good-night and love you. And I realize that I will never get tired of watching him sleep. His sweet little face is relaxed and peaceful and perfect. He already has bed head because he moves around in his sleep so much and he still looks small in his crib even at 14 months. He's so animated and busy during the day and there's just something about seeing him sound asleep that just turns me into a ball of mushy mommy. When he was little I would just hold him while he was sleeping and there was nothing better. Now I am trying to be a good mommy and do what all of the mommy books say and put him in his crib while he is awake and let him put himself to sleep. He has gotten quite good at this which is great but I do miss those naps when I just held him the entire time. My arms would get stiff or hurt and at times my back would lock up, but I didn't want to put him down for anything. Now that he falls asleep in his crib like a big boy, I just sit next to his crib and watch his little face. (And yes, sometimes I am the nerotic mommy and still check on him to make sure he is breathing!!! I haven't gotten over that fear yet.) He doesn't have a care in the world and totally trusts that in the morning mommy will be there to get him up and start a new day. I just hope that he decides to start his day a little later than 5am!!!!

You Found Us!!

Yay!! So glad you are here. Hopefully you will keep checking in on us from time to time. I need to upload some photos from the last little while to put up and plan to do that in the next couple of days.

And a late Happy Mother's Day to all of the great moms out there!

Mother's Day 2009

Riley is currently sleeping through the afternoon of Mother's Day 2009, but that is just fine with me as it was defininitely needed. And don't worry, he lets you know right away when he is awake. He will scream or shake the railing of his crib. When he is awake, he wants out!!

Riley has started some interesting behaviors lately. We now like to throw our food and sippy cup off the highchair tray and stare you in the eye as we do it. Words like "no" and "don't" and "stop" have absolutely no effect. Mommy just has to calmly take him out of the chair and tell him he is all done. He isn't bothered by that at all. I know he is testing us and becoming more independent so I am trying to not react to all of this aside from helping my sweet little boy learn "natural consequences." When toys are thrown over the gates at the stairs, they are just gone! When the juice cup is thrown off our tray it stays on the ground.

Occasionally all of this brings about a fit. We had our first public outburst last week at Best Buy. Ri wanted to get down so he could walk and he just took off. After trying to get him to walk with me, he had to be picked up again so we wouldn't just be running around aimlessly. This set off a major scream and cry fest. A little embarrassing, but not too bad. The best part was that as Ri started crying another baby about the same age as Ri and a couple aisles away started grunting back to him and they started going back and forth. Probably discussing the mean mommies that keep them from what they truly want to be doing. They were definitely commiserating with each other!! I guess we all need someone who feels our pain!

He is doing some things that don't involve screaming! He knows the signs for more and all done. He also says duck, cracker, dada, and round and round (says this so we will turn the fan on). Last week he also learned how to crawl down the stairs. And he continues to laugh, smile, and just be adorable so the little bouts of throwing objects and fits aren't so bad!

First Post

Hello everyone! I am in the process of learning how to work blogspot. Yes, I realize it isn't all that complicated, but I am just trying to get the hang of it so bear with me. I am hoping this becomes a good place for friends and family who are out-of-state to get updates on my little Riley.