Eat your words, mommy

So not 6 hours after I wrote that Gabe wouldn't hold Riley, he asked to hold her. As luck would have it, he was also wearing his new big brother t-shirt (and not much else, thanks to our 70 degree weather today!) so it made for some very cute pictures. Enjoy!

Congrats Chris and Lauren

Yesterday Riley and I took a road trip down to DC (or a Gabe calls it, Washington ABC) for Lauren and Chris's baby shower. It was a quick trip, but she was a trooper and slept the whole way down and back - and was awake to entertain the troops during the shower. She was passed around so much I don't think I saw her for several hours! She did do her proper duty for all the parents-to-be in the room by throwing up on nearly everyone. So, folks, consider yourselves prepared! Otherwise Riley and Gabe are both doing well. Riley is up to a pretty consistent 6-7 hours of sleep a night (~11-5:30) and on Friday she gave us a little weekend gift by sleeping nearly 9 hours! Not to be repeated anytime soon, I'm sure, but it was a big treat to sleep for over 8 hours straight. She is really good during the day but her "fussy" (read: screaming bloody murder) time is around 8 to 10 at night - just after we've put Gabe down, of course. But she'll work through that soon. Growing is hard work. Gabe is slowly but surely getting used to the fact that his baby sister is here to stay. He is a good helper but not very interested in touching or holding Riley. He's also caught onto the fact that when I take him to day care (3 days/week) I'm not going to work and she isn't going to the infant room across the hall, so now dropoff comes complete with a full complement of "I want to stay home with you and Riley" screaming tantrums. Little does he know we don't go home - I have to use the time alone with my more portable child to do the glamourous runs to the post office, grocery store, library, and (only slightly more glam) outlet mall. I'm not brave enough to go any of those places with both of them, so off to day care he goes. Of course 5 minutes after I leave he has a great time and I have to drag him out kicking and screaming when I pick him up. You can't win! Here are some pics from the shower!

One Month Old

Yesterday Riley turned one month old - which is really weird since I feel like I brought her home last week! She is doing really well - sleeping consistently from 11-4:30 and then from 5-8. Ryan has been getting up with Gabe so I am sleeping when Riley sleeps - meaning I'm sleeping 'til 8, which is working out perfectly! She is also getting into a nice little schedule of eating, awake time, and napping. By the way, if anyone is wondering, the book "The Baby Whisperer" by Tracy Hogg is where we learned how to get both our babies onto great schedules that allow for both happy, well rested babies as well as happy, well rested parents (this last part is where some other methods are lacking). I haven't tried her other books on toddlers but this one hit the mark for us. Since a lot of my friends have recently or are about to become parents - this is my #1 piece of advice! Well, that and never wake a sleeping baby. No matter what the lactation consultant tells you.

I think we're alone now

So it's official: we're on our own. My mom (Ca-Ca) left yesterday leaving us with tears and growling stomachs. Luckily she left us dinner, but from here on out we're left to our own devices (read: Boston Market)! Here are some new pictures of Riley (awake and alert more and more!) and Ryan showing Gabe how to cook "snakes".

Update from the Trenches

Greetings from Broom Street! We have had a crazy busy week, with Ryan's parents here this past weekend and both our mothers here Monday and Tuesday. Pat was a great help and went back to Buffalo yesterday, and my mom will be here through the weekend. Then real life begins! Riley is continuing to be my easy child! Although she is awake and alert a bit more, she is still a terrific sleeper at night, usually with three 4-hour stretches between feedings. Gabe has been sick this week so he's been home with us up until today and has literally ravaged my house and our collective patience. We've been indulging him a bit because of being sick, and he's definitely taking advantage! If I see one more episode of Curious George I just may go on a monkey-slaying spree. Gabe story of the week: We were eating dinner the other night and he said 'I want something else'. Ryan told him that he first had to eat what was in front of him, then he could have something else, and without missing a beat the little booger picked up his plate and moved it way over to the side. We were all pretty stunned at first (as in, did he really just do that?) and then had to turn away and laugh. I probably laughed for a good five minutes, then started to worry. I mean, if my 2-year old is this clever, what can I expect at 10? Here are some new pics!

Let it Snow

We had the year's biggest snowstorm this weekend and our wimpy son manages to spend about 5 minutes playing in it at a time until he declares himself "too cold!". He does forget from day to day just how cold the white stuff can be, so every day he begs to play in the snow and we spend 30 minutes getting all bundled up, 5 minutes playing and then 20 more minutes stripping down. Then again, I don't have many other pressing engagements these days, so that's just fine!

Here are some new pictures of Riley, too!