I have a 7 month old. Holy crap.

Ok... before I start... I NEED THIS c.d. It is not a want or a desire, it is an absolute necessity. Listen to the song "I'm Not a Marsupial"... I promise, you will fall over laughing. I have it as my song on myspace and I crack up the entire time. I will be getting it. Good, wholesome music for the Rooster.

Now. Let's see. She's rotten as ever and I love it. Last Saturday she got up from her nap in a foul mood. I mean, I didn't know that a baby could be that mean. She was giving dirty looks, even. But then Ryan set her on the floor so he could go get a diaper and that just threw her over the edge. She had her butt up in the air (like in the below picture) and put her face in her hands and just SCREAMED. Hello temper tantrum. It was the funniest thing I've ever seen. I just walked away because I can't be giving her attention for that sort of behavior. But, I won't lie... I totally laughed. I have a feeling I will NOT be laughing when she is still doing this in a few years.
She's still trying her very hardest to crawl. Yesterday she did move her hands and THEN face planted. She's good at rocking on her hands and knees, but usually it just throws her on to her face. Still trying to pull up on things, but hasn't quite gotten the hang of it completely. She is still surprised whenever she pulls herself all the way up to her knees. Yesterday she had the whole top half of her body inside of her little box of toys we keep in the living room (it was laying on the floor) trying to get a ball out. Who cares that she had 5 other balls that were identical to it on the floor. Oh and her fake coughing... it's getting excessive.

As for us... nothing really new. I start working again in a few weeks. Babysitting again. I'll be honest - I'm looking forward to going to the pool a LOT this summer. It will be heavenly. I'm NOT looking forward to wearing a bathing suit. No sir'ree, Bob. Ryan finally got his internship paperwork turned in. He will FINALLY be done this fall. We're definitely praying about where God wants us to go after that. We will see!

There will be 7 month pictures and stats later on today... but for now, look at the pictures below. They are sure to make you smile.

So tired...

but I must get these pictures up... they are great! Well... they are not quality great, but they are great moments captured!

In the morning, I'll post an actual blog/update. But right now... I'm tired! And Riley will be 7 months old tomorrow! AHHH (actually it is technically today, but I don't switch days until I wake up)!

nothing much

just a little video to make you laugh. Riley has discovered herself in the mirror on the exersaucer and is beyond fascinated... she is also really in to fake coughing! Enjoy!

Who wants to ride the crazy train?

because Riley is drivin' it!

I'm starting the engine, who's coming??

Slow drivers... get out of my way!

Oh I give up. I'm just gonna chew on this little gel thing.

...or make out with the dog?

(Please note the dog's tongue on Riley's face.)
"Oh Ella. I love you, too."

"Mom! Do you see how funny this pup is??"

"Thanks, pup. Mom forgot to get those peaches off of my head."

We've had an uneventful few days. We did not get to go out of town last weekend. So no zoo for us. BOOOOOO! No spending my dad's b-day with him. No going to Addy's b-day party. Can you tell I was disappointed? I hate these stupid gas prices. HATE them.

On the up side... we didn't have to ride in the car with a (almost) 7 month old and dog. Didn't have to rush around... just stayed home and relaxed. It was pretty nice. Sunday night we went to ConVerge and it was a bonfire. Yes, Riley DID attend her first bonfire. She was SO good. It was WAY past her bed time. She likes being the only kid... she gets lots of attention.

Lynchburg is nice and quiet now... LU has gone home for the summer. I'm not disappointed about that. It's so much less chaotic when school is out.

P.S.... about those pictures of Riley and Ella... I most certainly caught Riley sticking her tongue out when the dog licked her face. I put an end to THAT one. There will be no making out w/ animals in this house. No sir.

Oh... and her new trick

This is a little bit deceiving... I actually stood her up for this picture. However, for the nap before, we found her pulled up on the end of the crib on her knees.

God, help me. Nothing is safe anymore. NOTHING.

"ummm Mom. Do you like this new trick I've been working on?" (Please excuse the box of clothes... those are ready for the attic.)

Brace yourselves

Um... so I had an entire post written up and then I accidentally deleted it. It wasn't short, either. Let's see what I can remember!

We have had a big few days! Friday was a first for us. Riley had her first non-family babysitter! I had graduation rehearsal and so our friend Bethany came over to play! (Well, technically I've left her with the neighbors before, but she was asleep the whole 30 minutes so that doesn't really count) The Rooster did great... although she didn't want to nap! That was fine, I just laid her down when I got home. Friday evening, we met up with my mom and Kathy and had dinner! It was great having them here! Lots of hanging out was done... so that was wonderful!

Saturday was graduation! Chuck Norris was within 20 yds of me! I wanted to check for the 3rd fist in his beard... but couldn't get close enough. We found out that the only reason he sky dived for George Bush's birthday was because he didn't want to admit to the (former) president that he'd never done it before! I didn't stay for the 2nd ceremony where you actually walk across the stage... I was starving, Riley was starving and exhausted, and all the paper was going to say was "your diploma will be mailed." Mine should've been mailed months ago, but I still have a $100 balance at LU, so they are holding it hostage. One day I'll pay that. lol. We had lunch at Red Lobster and then I went shopping a little bit with my mom and Kathy. It was SO nice having them here! Riley got spoiled rotten, like usual. Saturday afternoon, she also showed us her new trick. Ryan went to get her up from a nap and sure enough... she'd pulled herself up to her knees and was holding on to the side of the crib! Time to lower the mattress! EEK!

Speaking of new tricks... let's discuss... she is trying so very hard to crawl. Gone are the days that I could just plop her down and go do something and expect to find her anywhere near where I'd left her. No, no, no. She is scooting all around. It's only going to get worse. Nothing is safe... she's officially declared our house a war zone. Everything is about to go on lockdown.

Yesterday was TERRIFIC! My first official Mothers Day! Ryan was fabulous! He got me an 8x10 picture of Riley that said, "Happy Mothers Day"... very very cute. He also changed ALL of the diapers yesterday! I never knew how exciting that'd be. He made lunch... but that's nothing new, he does that often! He's a good good man. When I got Riley up from her nap, I was standing her up in her crib and she was holding on to the end and pulling herself up! Her feet kept lifting off of the mattress! AHHH! We went to a 'cook out' (actually a cook IN since it was raining) last night. Riley - of course - won the hearts of many as she is the only baby at this new church! Spoiled, I tell ya.

Now a video from last Thursday of Riley's predictions for the weekend... and some pictures!

A little video