BIG NEWS

no... I'm not pregnant again. I'm not even thinking about that for a long time.

This is bigger than that.

I'm walking in graduation this year! It only took me 5.5 years to finally graduate and 6.5 years to walk across that stage. But dang it... it is happening. I'm finally going to walk across a stage with a cap and gown. For the first time in my LIFE.

So, if you are in Lynchburg May 10, 2008... feel free to come and hear Chuck Norris speak and then watch me walk. It'll be the best day of your life. Ok maybe not, but it'll be a fun time. Maybe we'll have a cookout that night.

(If you don't know the whole story... I never graduated high school, nor did I get a GED. Graduating college is a BIG DEAL for me. I've never worn a cap and gown - not even for pictures.)

2 things...

First things first...

For those that have little girls and for those that know little girls... you KNOW that they need bows for their hair! Check out my etsy shop and order some! The more you order... the more I can buy for Riley and that means more pictures for you to see!

A little glimpse of the styles I currently have (I have PLENTY of other ribbon colors)...
Now... next. While we were visiting my parents, Riley took a nosedive. A nosedive right in to my dads ice cream. Disclaimer: No, she did NOT eat all of it. My dad was helping her. He's a better person than me... I don't think I'd eat after that slobbery mess got a hold of my ice cream!

Another nice day in Suckburg.

By the way... before I get going - is there anyone who would like to tell me how to link blogs on the side of my page? I'm clueless.

Riley and I enjoyed a nice little playgroup at the indoor playground this morning... she loves other kids. She just cracks up at them. I like it because I get to talk to other grown ups. WOO.

This after noon we got to go enjoy the beautiful weather. I'm LOVING it.

So is Riley. You can tell by her smiles and deep thoughts.

Finally a GOOD picture of her sweet smile!

Ah gee. Let me think about that one mom.

all of this cuteness wears a girl out.

We have a 6 month old!

Boy oh boy has it been a crazy week! We left last Wednesday to head up to No. VA for my good friends wedding. I was in it, so we needed to be up there early for the festivities!

Thursday Riley had a play date with 2 little boys from my message board. They're twins and about 9-10 days older than her.

Saturday was the wedding... it was very beautiful! It was kinda nice having some baby-free time Friday/Saturday. Riley has decided she will at least tolerate the sippy cup. But it comes out fast and she gets frustrated. So we have to take our time. She'll somewhat take the "breastflow" bottles. Better than any of the others we tried! Poor thing has horrible allergies, though. So at the wedding she was so snotty!Please ignore Ryan's lack of smile... he refuses to smile normally for pictures

Yesterday was the big day! Riley turned 6 months old!! I can hardly believe she is getting so old! She is still dealing with allergy issues... so the dr told us to try benadryl. If it works, then we can give her zyrtec. Part of me was hoping it was a cold because the thought of already having to give her a daily medicine makes me a little bit sad. But I'd rather her not have a snot crusted face every day. It really takes away from the cuteness.

The nurses all had to come and see her... they thought she was so cute with her little hairbow and sippy cup!

Now... for the stats... ready for it? She is quite the heifer these days! (please note the sarcasm)... 13lbs 4.6oz and 24.25 inches. She is in the 10th %ile for both. She's just a wee little thing! We've got the go ahead to start little finger foods whenever she gets that pincher ability. We'll see!

I'm 6 months old!
What did you say, Mom? I'm HOW old!?
I guess I am the cutest 6 month old!

Caption this picture

it's from Sunday and it might be my new favorite... cracks me up!
Leave a comment with what you think the caption should be...

Last week and some fun in the sun!

So last week it was so beautiful! It was sunny AND warm! Hallelujah - I needed to get out of this house! I like being able to play outside and go for walks! I am in a much better mood on the days I get outside.

Soaking up the rays

Look mom! I can sit by myself! (She decided to play with my pants when I snapped the picture)

Oh hi!

She was so excited to be outside that she puked!

We had a great weekend! Pretty relaxing... woo hoo! Riley is really starting to sit on her own. I love it. She moved to the older kids room at church because she is too active in the little room. By older kids... I mean the 6-7+ months. Most of those kids are already crawling... but I think she did better in there yesterday than she was doing in the baby baby room! They didn't say anything about her fussing, which is TERRIFIC! This week will be loads of fun... Wednesday night, we head north again. My good friend, Katy, is getting married. I have the privilege of being a bridesmaid in the wedding... this will be the first wedding that Riley gets to attend!

Birth Story part 2

So, I had finally decided to tell Ryan to call work and tell them he was coming in late. Mind you, I was still telling him he needed things wrapped up by lunch or at least that afternoon. Then I showered and KNEW he wasn't going to work, but didn't want to scare poor Ryan. I got out of the shower and called the on-call dr to see what he said. He told me to go to the appt, but take my bags with me. CRAP! This was for real! I rushed to finish packing my bag!

Oh yes... I called my mom around 7 a.m. to let her know that I thought labor was coming. I wanted her to have a chance to be ready to leave at any moment. I asked her to call my sister, too. HA! She didn't really believe me and went on to work w/o packing. SUCKER!

So, on the way to the dr, the pains are coming every... oh 3 minutes. I was being brought to tears during the contractions, but was laughing in between. I check in at the front desk and didn't tell them what was going on. However, while we were waiting, I went to the bathroom because I didn't want anyone in the waiting room to see me crying. That scared one of the nurses! She was knocking and knocking and telling me, "DON'T PUSH!" Ding dong. I just was in too much pain to let anyone see! I got in to the see the dr... she checked me and said, "oh my!! You're 4 cms already and 100% effaced. I'm hoping you have your bags and someone to drive you. I'm calling the hospital... go straight there!"

Off we went. A quick stop at CVS to get some chapstick since I forgot my keychain w/ it in my race out the door!

From here on out... I'll give you a timeline!

10:30 - arrive and check in. Nurse was taking her time. I started asking for the Epi right then.
In our room... monitors hooked up. Yep, pretty sure I'm in real labor.
11:00 - still asking for the epi... I was SUPER nauseated. FINALLY puked. Woo! Felt TONS better!
11:30 - Start asking for SOMETHING, anything to take the pain away. I was bawling during each contraction. Ryan laughed at me - which did NOT help! Ryan was so great at letting me just hold on to him through each contraction. He was making sure my family was in the know for everything. He was calling all grandparents and letting them know that Riley was going to make her appearance soon! He constantly updated me on what was going on w/ my family that was driving down - they were waiting on Mandie's drs appt to be over!

Before the stadol...

12:00 - Stadol given. HEAVEN. I called the people I worked for to let them know I wouldn't be there the next day. haha. Called a couple of friends. Nurse checked me - 6-7 cm's already!

After stadol...

1:00 - FINALLY given my epidural! Checked at 1:15 - 7-8 cm's! My family is now making the mad dash and we're all praying they make it here on time. But not really worried... first baby, surely I would have to push forever.

After the epidural... my little brother visiting!

2:00 - Completely dilated! CRAP! My family wasn't there... I couldn't push! I asked if I could just relax for a bit longer and watch Baby Story until I HAD to push.

3:00... nurse comes in and suggests a few practice pushes. I told her to wait a second... let's see where my sister and parents were. Good! They were only 15 minutes away... I agreed to a few practice pushes. 15 minutes later, I pushed... shocked the nurse! This baby was going to come WAY faster than she'd thought! My brother was in the waiting room and told my parents where to go. When they came in, it was chaos! Lots of nurses... the room was being flipped! It was baby time! My dad and brother left the room...

3 pushes later at 3:44 p.m. on October 22nd... Riley Elizabeth arrived! 6lbs 9oz and 19.5 inches! She was a peanut!