Walton Christmas

We had Christmas at my mom's this past weekend. We had it a little early because my brother won't be here during Christmas (he works off shore on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico). We had a great time!

Sawyer, and my sister's boys, Brandon & Brayson

Lilah & Riley

Lilah says, "Okay Riley, if you're going to keep touching my face, I'm going to bite your hand."

Sawyer was excited when I told him that he got a racing bike

Riley really got into opening presents!

I didn't get a picture of all the cousins together at Christmas, but this one is from Thanksgiving

8 Months Old

It's been a while since I've posted! I wrote a 7 month post for Riley, but never actually posted it because I never had time to add pictures. So here's her 8 month update:

• She's started crawling, but only has one gear...REVERSE! It is so funny to watch her go from sitting to down on her tummy (the picture below is after she's crawled backwards under the Christmas tree)

• She has three teeth now--two on bottom and one on her top right
• She's still a drool monster, but her cheeks and neck have greatly improved since I started using Aveeno Soothing Relief lotion
• She's babbling and "talking" all the time. She woke up last night and was talking in her crib and it sounded like she was saying "Mama" but I can't get her to say it on demand.
• All of a sudden, she's not liking any green veggies. She did love them and I thought peas were once one of her favorites, but now she just gags. But she eats all other foods with enthusiasm!

• She loves her brother and thinks he's quite funny--she gets tickled just watching him play

• She's clapping

• Riley can stand with a little support (and help getting up)

• She's still my chunky monkey with rolls and dimples everywhere
• She loves bathtime and sitting up in the tub playing with her toys
• She is content to play by herself a lot of the time
• She's got her big girl carseat now and loves it

She truly is a sweet, happy, content baby and we are so proud that God blessed us with her! It's so hard to remember what our life was like without her.

Trick or Treat

Lilah, Sawyer and Riley

Halloween was a family affair at our house this year. Heather (my sis-in-law) and my niece, Lilah, joined us for Trick or Treating. It was so much fun! Neither one of the girls had napped well, but they were troopers. They were the cutest cowboy, flower and pumpkin I've ever seen!

showing off his belt buckle

adorable

Sawyer loving on Lilah

backseat full of babies (I'll definitely need a bigger vehicle if there's a baby #3 in our future)

happy and excited about her first Halloween

"Please stop Mama!"

Everyone was exhaused by the time we were finished, Mamas included. Riley and Lilah were both asleep before we got home.

6 Months Old

It's so hard to believe that Riley is 6 months old already! She is growing and learning so much! At her six month check up last week, she weighed 19lbs 4oz and was 27.25 inches. So she's gained over 11lbs and grown over 7 inches since she was born!

• Riley can sit for a couple of minutes without any support
• She really loves her Jumperoo...so much so that she rubbed a blister on her big toe
• She really loves baby food...so much so that she gained 3lbs in a month since she started
• Peas, sweet potatoes and bananas are her favorites
• Riley loves to splash in the tub
• She has her first tooth...her lower right tooth has broken through
• She's trying to hug...she grabs us really tight by our face, hair, clothes...whatever is in reach
• She's definitely got the high-pitched, top of her lungs girl sqeal down to a science

Thanks to her recent spurt in weight gain, I'm afraid all of the cute winter clothes on bought on sale in the Spring won't last too long. The shirt she's wearing the picture up top is a 6-12 months and is definitely snug ;)

She is 8 weeks post-op and we've stopped steri-strips and started massage with Mederma. We'll also have to be deligent about applying sunscreen whenever she goes outside.

Don't let the food running out of her mouth fool you...she was distracted by the camera

That 's not a carpet stain, I promise...

Happy Fall Y'all!

My Little Cowboy

Sawyer is really loving his pony. Pop bought him a cowboy hat last week and Sawyer thinks it's the best! He was wearing it galloping around the house the other night. Everday when Brock gets home from work, Sawyer asks to go saddle up his horsie and ride. Then he explains to me (every time) how he needs to go put on his big blue jeans and boots "like this" (demonstrating to me) so he can go ride.

A little nervous during his first ride

Much more confident now

All smiles

So excited that he fed Little Joe by himself

5 months old

Riley is 5 months old today! It's going by SO fast! She's also 3 weeks post-op. The suture that was coming up through her skin dissolved on it's own and fell off today. Yay! Only 3 more weeks of arm restraints and steristrips. I'm honestly so tired of the restraints...I know they are required to help protect the awesome work that Dr. M did, but I'm ready for Riley to be able to be a regular baby. A baby that can play unrestricted, can put her hands in her mouth, can roll around on the floor. Dr. M is pleased with how her lip is healing. She does have a little puffiness under her nose and I'm hoping we can help reduce that by putting her steristrips on tighter.

Here are 5 things about Riley:

• she loves to be naked and take baths--she's likes to splash around
• she's laughing out loud and is very ticklish
• she can roll over both ways, but not with the restraints on :(
• she can sit up fairly well with little support
• her favorite toys are her bouncy seat and overhead gym

And one more thing...she loves to growl!!


Here are some pictures I took today:

Lilah & Riley

And some of Riley playing this week:

Sawyer & Riley playing under the gym (and Riley trying to roll over) 

Sawyer thought Riley wanted to play with her dolls

5 years

Today is our 5 year anniversary! Brock and I were married at sunset on Makena Secret Surf Beach in Maui, Hawaii. We dated for 5 years before we got married. During that time we were in several weddings and decided that a big production was not for us. So to Maui we went! It was beautiful and was the trip of a lifetime! Now, if I could only convince Brock that we have to go back (he's not much of a traveler).

Photography by Sawyer

Sawyer loves taking pictures with my camera. Usually I just delete them because they're typically really close-up pictures of the remote, couch cushion, toys, etc. The other night he had my old camera and managed to take a few decent pictures. I'll have to be sure to let Santa know that Sawyer might want his very own kid camera for Christmas.

Sissy Roo--the only picture out of 10 that her head wasn't cut off

Daddy looking a little crazy

 self portait--and close up view of boogers (sorry, he has a cold)

I've been thinking that I want a new camera for Christmas. I have a Fugi FinePix that I got for Christmas when Sawyer was a baby. If any of you have a awesome camera, I'd love to hear about it.

Pretty Face and Ponies

Here's a look at Riley's beautiful, unobstructed face! Her Logan's Bow fell off Saturday night thanks in part to tons of drool and Riley pulling on it every chance she could get when her restraints were off. Man, she's fast! I took the opportunity to take a few pictures after I changed her steristrip last night. Dr. M says that there are two "dots" on the right scar line that we need to keep an eye on. They are dissovable sutures that are just under the skin. I'm praying that they resolve on their own and we don't have to make any unscheduled trips to Boston! But we couldn't be more thrilled with Riley's result. And are so proud of her dimple!

Sawyer went to Lottie and Pop's (Brock's parents) house Saturday afternoon and came home with a pony! They took Sawyer to the local horse show and came back with this little prize. He was already named Little Joe, but Sawyer insists that his name is Joe Dexter (that's Brock's daddy's name). I think it's hilarious. I've suggested every name I can think of to change it to, but Sawyer wants him to be Joe Dexter. Sawyer is so excited about him!

I fully intend on posting more about Riley's surgery, but I just haven't had time. Naps have been hard to come-by (Riley wants to be held and wakes up the second her body touches her bed). I'm hoping I have time to post more this week! Happy Labor Day!

Back at the Hotel

post-op day 3--swelling and bruising almost gone

out to eat

a tub full of baby...gotta love it!

We got discharged this morning and are enjoying some down time at the hotel. Riley is doing great. Eating 5-6 ounces every 3 hours during the day and Tylenol is controlling her pain. She only woke up once last night (to eat) and I'm hoping she'll repeat that tonight. She's talking (cooing) and playing and trying to get her new smile figured out. I'm amazed at how great (and how different) she looks!

New Face

Here's a look a Riley's new face! She's very swollen, but you get the idea. She's doing good...resting pretty well but not eating much. We are SO very fortunate to have a private room and that makes things so much easier. I'm going to post later about our trip in more detail, but just wanted to give a little peek at my angel...