I forgot

She can also tell you what the dog, cat, chicken and monkey all say. She's brilliant! I wish I knew how to add a sound file!

Monthly update

So, if I can get to this blog once a month, is that good enough? I sure hope so, because that's about my track record so far! Riley is so great. She keeps us so busy. Let's do a run down:

8 teeth

Can tell/show you how old she is (1!!)

Is doing some baby sign language ("more" "eat" "please" "milk" and my personal favorite "monkey" Don't ask me why we taught her that one, it's just cute.)

She is building quite a vocabulary and whether or not she says "real" words or not, is talking all the time.

Loves to go to the park, but will not let us help her on any of the playground equipment, resulting in a scratched nose and busted lip. Oh joy. Adverterous like her daddy!

Loves books! Bookworm like her mommy!

Got a teddy bear from a boy at school for Valentine's Day.

Has uncontrollably curly hair.

Gets more BEAUTIFUL every single day!

Worst Blogger EVER!

Wow, I'm really bad at this blog thing. Riley just keeps me so busy that I have a hard time finding time to keep up. But, I have a few moments now. We had a great holiday season. Christmas morning, my side of the family came over to open presents and have a big breakfast. Then, we spent the rest of the day at Ty's family's house. It was such a great day and being able to share it with our whole family was fantastic! Riley really got the hang of opening presents. She made out like a little bandit! She had a great time playing with her cousins and grandparents and great-grandparents the whole day.
After the new year came Riley's first ear infection. She was trooper though and was pretty much over it in no time. She's back up and running in full force. She's learning some baby sign language, which is cool. She's still talking, too. In fact one of her favorite new games is to throw something down on the floor from her high chair and look at me and say, "Up, Mama, up." Okay, so she's a little demanding too. We're all learning our boundaries and what battles to fight and which ones to just let go. But, it's tough. I had no idea she'd be such a little diva so early! Fortunately, she's also such a sweetheart and for a one year-old she actually minds fairly well. (For me anyway- she's totally got her daddy wrapped around her little finger!)
Alright, well I'm going to add some pictures and call it done for awhile. I'll try to be a better blogger!

Birthday Girl!

I can't believe our baby girl is already 1! Where has this year gone? It simply befuddles me. I pray every day that she will know God, follow His ways and that He will bless and protect her always. It has been a truly amazing year and she does something new and joyous everyday! I am so incredibly blessed to have such an amazing little family. We were just meant to be together and I am so thankful. Enjoy the birthday photos and say a birthday prayer for our girl!

still more pics...

more pics...

1st Thanksgiving!

This year for Riley's first Thanksgiving, we went to see her great-grandparents in Oklahoma. What a trip! We even drove! (OG came too! She was good company for Riley in the back seat.) She was an incredibly good baby, but what else would you expect? The weather was COLD, but we survived. (Despite the fact that we showed up in flip flops and T-shirts.) Fortunately, I had packed warm weather gear.
Riley enjoyed her first turkey dinner. She especially liked the stuffing and the green bean casserole (one of her mommy's favorites, too.) She had a particularly funny way of eating it though; she would suck all the stuff off the green bean, spit it out and then suck the bean back in. It was hysterical. I'm not sure why she did it that way. Her great-aunt Leslie and 2nd cousin Michael made the trip as well. Her aunt went a little crazy buying her fun jeans and stuff, so Riley left OK dressed better than when she arrived.
After dinner on Thursday, we took Riley to the city park to see all the Christmas lights. I think she really liked it. She also got to meet Santa for the first time. She was okay with him until I tried to put her on his lap. She wasn't having anything to do with that! Unfortunately, the batteries in my camera picked a most unfortunate evening to give out. Aunt Leslie got some pics of the ordeal though, so once she sends them to me, I'll post them. They're too cute!
On Friday, Amy, Jimmy and JT came in to see us. JT is such a cute, happy baby! He's gotten big and he's crawling all over the place. He and Riley had fun together.
On Saturday, Ty and I headed to Norman for the OU/osu football game. BOOMER SOONER! With a score of 49-17, the Sooners ran away with the win. It was a great game and Ty finally got to see a "real" football game. Thanks to my fabulous friends Becky and Jake (and their parents) for the tickets. Unfortunately, Jake was sick, so it was just Becky, Ty and I for the game, but it was fun. I ran into some friends from college that I haven't seen since I graduated.
All too quickly, Sunday rolled around and we had to say a tearful good-bye to everyone. But, shortly they'll all be out here for Riley's Birthday Bonanza Blowout!