Riley boys first day of school

After much debate, we decided to send Riley to "school" this fall. I try to keep him entertained and provide lots of activities, but this is one busy kid! I've felt for a long time he needs more social interaction...so here we are. I told myself if it was ever not fun or he cried we were done. I definitely wasn't forcing him, but wanted him to have more opportunities to play with and interact with kids his age. He goes two mornings a week for 3 hours and he seems to really enjoy it and although I NEVER wanted it to be about me, those few hours to myself have been quite refreshing. I miss him like crazy while he's gone. Craig's really worried about what's going to happen when he tries to leave for college. I'm sure he'll just want to stay at a local community college. 

 The best part is his best buddies/cousins go with him! He and Gavin are in a class together and love it.

And a few tidbits of cuteness from him....
He voluntarily, out of the blue, said he loved me for the first time today! I know, a little delayed right?? He tells me he misses me many times a day, and we've always assumed that's kinda what he meant, but it was so sweet to hear the right words today!

Earlier today I responded "small" to a question Craig asked and Riley chipped in, "You're not small Momma! You're bigger." Then he hugged me and rubbed my back and said, "But you're so cute. Just like Mia." (Mia's our cat...who is not known for her slim figure.)

It's such a fun age because he cracks me up daily with the funny things he says. I wish I had a pause button because I know someday I'm going to long for these days!

Carousel Designs

When I was pregnant with Riley, my mother-in-law was kind enough to make all of his crib bedding. It was so fun to go to the fabric store and design everything just for him! I wanted to do the same this time, but just could not find the "perfect" fabric.
I stumbled across this website www.babybedding.com
I thought their stuff was darling, but it gets better! You can order all the fabric swatches to make sure the colors are just right and to see and feel it in person. You can also order the fabrics they use by the yard, so you can make anything you want to completely customize your nursery! I could find nothing but praiseworthy reviews of the company online. Apparently, it's owned by 2 retired military men and everything is made in the USA.
You can even completely design your own crib bedding (they also have toddler bed, etc.). I actually loved one they had for sale so I am buying some pieces of it and ordering fabric for Laura to sew the other pieces that we could do for much cheaper.
I'll let you know if for some reason I'm disappointed with the final product, but I'd thought I put the tip out there in case there is anyone else who spends as many hours on this type of thing as I do :)

Riley turns 2.5

I don't even know how to "summarize" this kid. He is one of the funniest, smartest, cutest, craziest kids I've ever met. Partial maybe?

He makes me laugh everyday and even cry somedays.

He's taught me patience I never thought I'd have.

He's taught me to love in a way I never could have imagined.

He's taught me to want to be, and willingly be, a selfless person.

He can make me want 6 more kids and NO more kids all in the same day. 

Just so I remember....

- Riley knows his colors, shapes, and can usually count somewhere between 10-20. 

- He sings the ABC's, but mostly from memorization, not because he knows all his letters.

-He speaks really well, I think. I understand 95% of what he says and he speaks in complete sentences and puts ideas together. He can answer questions like "why' with because....For example, today he never went to sleep for his nap and cried in his bed for quite some time. When I went in

I said, "Riley, you didn't take a nap, why?"

Riley (who immediately stopped crying), "Because I can't sleep."

Me, "Why?"

Riley, "Because I'm crying."

Me, "Well, why didn't you stop crying so you could sleep?"

Riley, "Because I need to go play.

- He's become a bit bossy, perhaps in preparation for being big brother.

- He still hates bedtime, though it's much less of an issue than in the past.

- He's napped very few times in the last 3 weeks, but he still seems to get tired and need them so we will see what happens there.

- He's more interested in Dada than ever, but still a Momma's boy.

- He tells me his misses me 20 times a day. It seems he uses it as an I love you, but he never says I love you unless coaxed. When I say I love you to him, he responds with "yeah momma' or "okay momma", but never says it back. Then he'll tell his baby giraffe he loves him. I'm pretty sure he's playing as hard to get as his dad did. Poor girl that has to deal with him someday!

- He's still a pretty good eater. Generally I let him eat what he wants because I feel like he makes enough healthy decisions to allow his unhealthy ones.

- Up until the past week or two I'd say the terrible two's haven't been so bad. We've had a rough go lately.

- He's a Copeland financially. When we are shopping, he'll tell me something costs too much money and put it back.

- He seems to be past (fingers crossed) the hitting/pushing phase. That was a rough period.

-He's not potty trained, nor does he show much interest. I go back and forth on giving it a try before baby #2, but I'm running out of time.

I'm sure I'm forgetting a million things I'd love to remember. I've been really bad at documenting things so at least I have something now! I've gotta do better at writing on here the cute things he says daily so I have them.

He's got 2 months left as the only child, it'll be interesting/fun to see how he changes over the next few months.

10 Year High School Reunion

Some of you may be thinking, she only graduated 10 years ago!! But for me, I can't believe it's been 10 years. I went to a very small school (no, this isn't everyone) that was K-12 so we were all very close for 13 years. Some people I see every time I go home, but it's always fun to get together and especially to see those I hadn't seen for quite some time!

 This is Kasey Antley (I was Cassie Antley).

 One of my friends had a baby the week of the reunion- these were the preggos left.

 The bestie Amber!

 Crystal and her boyfriend. I hadn't seen Crystal maybe since graduation? Besides going to school together for 13 years, we played on the same softball team for probably 10 years!

 Oh Amy Istre. :) I have no brief summary for this girl! Plus, she'll probably read this. We've had A LOT of laughs and memories over the years.

I seriously could tell you a million stories about every person in this pic- so fun to go to a small school!

Jamie and his wife Mitzi. My first T-ball practice was in his yard when I was 5. The beginning of something beautiful. Ashley and Andrew both went to school with me at some point and ended up marrying. Unfortunately, she has to live with the fact that he was MY boyfriend in 4th grade.

No one has uploaded a group pic yet, so I'll have to add that later. I debated driving back for the reunion because I had just been home a month before, but I'm glad I did! So fun to talk about the good ole days!

More of Riley's Summer Fun

We haven't left town much this summer, besides a couple of trips to Louisiana. Summer is Craig's busiest time at work and pregnant and all I just haven't felt like traveling too far with Riley alone. However, we've tried our darndest to still have a fun summer! 

 Lots and lots of pool days. Riley has been in a swim school most of the summer and he's made so much progress.  We began the summer with him not letting go of me if we were in the water. Now he jumps in with his floaties, goes under water and is completely fearless in the pool!

 I finally convinced Craig that Riley absolutely needed a swing set in the backyard. Besides the brutal heat of a Texas summer, I think it's been a good investment- especially when friends and cousins are over.

 Father's Day came and went and Craig and Riley downed this cookie cake (almost) by themselves within 24 hours!

 Riley feeding the catfish in Louisiana- yes, this pond is almost dried up!

 Eating popcicles with Papaw.

 Thank goodness for leather couches!

 Riley rarely eats the cookies I bake, but he sure loves making them! I think it's the dough.

 Fourth of July fireworks.

 A little skeeter ball with Gavvy at Jaxon's birthday party.

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?!