My cup runneth over

 I seriously cannot get enough of this kid lately. He stays up way too late (and we sleep way too late!), but I don't even want to put him to bed at night because I miss him right away. Every day he makes me laugh and says something to surprise me. It's crazy the rate they learn and pick up on things! I hope he always loves his Momma as much as he does now :) Because he thinks I'm pretty darn cool.
It's so darling to see a nurturing side start to show. Today Gavin hit me in the head with his pacifier and Riley instantly started reprimanding Gavin and said, "Don't hit my momma, Gavin!" Riley then ran over and patted my head and said, "Sorry Momma, it's okay." Then turned and started yelling at Gavin again. Apparently a bossy side too.
If he's away from me for 2 seconds he immediately runs to me and hugs me and says, "I miss you Momma!" I actually think he thinks I miss you= I love you because he says it a lot to me and often out of context.
Riley has also discovered You Tube and spends much of his allowed Iphone/pad time browsing videos of kittens, angry birds, and previews for Ice Age 4. There's a clip of a little girl doing her own narration of a kitten book and he has memorized it and will watch it and repeat the whole thing. It's hilarious. He's also started reading his books back to me (memorizing). I think he's pretty smart myself.
Don't get me wrong, not a day goes by without a couple of Terrible Two's tantrums...but I think it's my favorite age. Again.

And a few pictures....Thanks Jenn for riding the camel so I didn't have to!  This is Jayne, Riley's first date back in Gainesville, FL. We've managed to find ourselves together here in Texas again. We are so happy to have the Muir's familiar faces around!

Love these little boys. Notice the picture is cut off at the waist. They were all swimming and sliding in the kiddie pool in their birthday suits! What childhood is complete without a naked picture with your cousins??

Adding a second child...

Whenever I bring this subject up to my husband he thinks I'm crazy. I stumbled across a blog today about bonding with your second child. The lady felt that things were just so different than the first. She put into words a lot of things I had been feeling. I think a lot of moms find it hard to comprehend loving another child as much as their first...until it happens, but I've been feeling a lot of GUILT about having a second child. I want her. I would be devastated if anything happened to my pregnancy. I'm planning for her. I look forward to her. And oddly (at least right now) my guilt isn't about her getting the attention Riley did/does or loving her less per say, but my guilt is all directed at Riley. As a stay at home mom and with Craig working a lot since Riley was born, my every second is devoted to him. From the moment I wake up till he's in bed. And often I lie awake at night thinking of him. All of our activities are planned around and for him. I don't have hobbies, and although we have date nights, I rarely go anywhere without Riley and if I do it's hard to enjoy myself.  Can a mother be obsessed? I cater to his every need and he's completely spoiled :) The guilt comes when I think of having to explain to him that I can't play cars because I have to feed baby sister. Or we can't go to the park because baby sister is asleep. Or I can't read him two books before bed because baby sister is crying. His world is going to be rocked! I have confidence he will adjust and be grateful for his sister someday, but I just feel so devastated on his behalf. It breaks my heart to think of disappointing him, giving him less attention, making him feel jealous, or him doubting my love for him.
People ask if I am ready for baby girl to be here. The answer is no...not yet.  I'm terrified. I know that we will love her to pieces, but I hope he will too.
Perhaps there's just too many pregnancy hormones going on here?!

Louisiana Summer

 Right before we left for Louisiana Papa came out to visit for a couple days. Riley was so excited to see him when we picked him up at the airport. He immediately, exclaimed "Papa!" Followed quickly by, "Where's Grandma?" He sure was disappointed Grandma Laura didn't come too :)

 My brother, Trevor and my sister-in-law, Sharae, and her and Wade's kids flew to Dallas and joined us for the drive to my parents. This was our last Sonic break before we arrived. Riley loved spending 10 days with Tasia and Lexi! He only see's them once a year :( We are going to have to start traveling to Canada to visit them!

 The is the little community store where I live. I always try to explain to people how "out there" it was where I grew up. I thought this picture was funny with the big dog sleeping by the front doors of The Store.

 Riley spent every day all day playing outside. He skipped nap time everyday so usually I would go for a drive in the evenings and he would pass out in the car.

 Notice the half open eye. He really didn't want to fall asleep.

 With Uncle Trevor on the carousel. In Louisiana the carousels have alligators.

 The Antley Fam.

 My best friend growing up, Amber and I are just a month apart with our pregnancies. It's her first and she's having a little boy. I'm about 19.5 weeks here, for the record.

 Riley also spent a lot of time playing on the front porch. He seriously rarely went indoors, I'm so glad we went in May this year instead of July. It wasn't AS hot, although still muggy enough that all my iPhone pictures look foggy!

 He was often still playing long after the other kids were sleeping.

Swimming with his cousin Brailen, who lives across the street from my parents.

Church is always a joy because it's just a small branch and there aren't any young children. So EVERY sound Riley makes seems soooo loud. He often repeated some of what the speaker was saying. Luckily, I think a lot of the congregation is hard of hearing too :)

Craig flew out on his birthday and drove back with us a couple of days later. I don't even have a picture of his cake or anything! I think it was gone too fast. But Happy 31 to Craig!!
Again I've failed in the picture department, there's so much I didn't capture! Must. Do. Better.