Because I am lazy and because he is so darn cute...

I will share this picture. I am trying to work on my post from this past weekend, but it really is alot to cover...we took 278 pictures! So until then, hear is a picture that Etta took last week in Brewton:

Girls Weekend

This weekend I went to Birmingham to see several of my girlfriends from college. Riley was supposed to go, so Becca could meet him, and so Nancy could get a squeeze in (and spoil him rotten)but he got a cold. He instead went with Etta and his Daddy to Brewton. He is still there and having a fantastic time. This weekend he became enthralled with the umbrella stroller they have and enjoyed being pushed around inside the house. Here he and George are going for a ride.



Please get ready for my girls weekend post...lets just say we had a walk down memory lane...or Arkadelphia Road.

Pawty TIme

Sometimes I click on my blog just hoping somone else will have added pictures of my munchkin and updated it. I know it is a ridiculous hope, but I still do. Maybe someday my husband will learn to work the blog. But until then here goes my latest blog post...

Pollard Henig turned 1 on January 3rd and this past weekend we celebrated his big day. You can see here where his Mommy posted about the Pawty. And below are a few of the pictures I took. And as you will all notice the fact that I have the fantastic new camera does not make me a good photographer. I have a lot to learn!!

Is this not the cutest cake? Ligers Bakery did it and I am so jealous, Rileys elephant did not turn out as well. And as you will see, Riley also liked Pollard's cake better than his.

See Mr. P's personal cake...I think he is thinking, "all this...for me?"

We broke Britton out from behind the video camera for a quick family photo.

This is what a 12 month old is suppossed to do with birthday cake...see Riley!

Here you can see that Riley did eat cake. He ate some cake I fed him until he got board, and then he let Lindsey feed him her Mom's slice of cake. We must apologize to Mrs. Wallace for thieving her slice of Pollard's cake. And Lindsey Michael still wants to know if we can talk you into coming over at dinner time. You really have a magical power. Here you can see Pollard getting excited to see Riley. It is the funniest thing! I was unable to catch Riley's excitement too. ( I know you are surprised I had trouble getting two toddlers in the same frame) Lindsey and I do try to get Pollard and Riley together, as you can see here, and here, and here.

Okay I am tired of writing, and you are probably tired of reading, but here are some more pictures.

Where's Riley??

Peek a boo is a milestone and one of the questions they ask at the 9 month appointment to see if your child is progressing normally. And Riley has been playing peek a boo since that appointment, however he was always playing it with a blanket or lovie held up over his face. The day after Christmas he started playing this game in his carseat with Gie Gie and Grandcoy, using only his hands. It is seriously the cutest thing EVER! (how often do I say that about something he is doing?) Anyway, I have been trying to capture it on film, and these pictures aren't very good, but they will do for now. I was rocking Riley and trying to put him down for his afternoon nap on Friday.

WHERE'S RILEY?

WHERE'S RILEY?

THERE HE IS!

WHERE'S RILEY?

He thinks this game is hilarious and he could play it for what seems to me like hours!

Also if you look really carefully at these pictures you will decipher that at 3:00 in the afternoon I was wearing a grey sweatshirt, black yoga pants, and adorable owl slippers. I was a picture if I do say so myself!

Snow Day with flash!!

More pictures of how we spent our snow day...for the record we did not see a lick of snow! These pictures were taken with a flash! Someday I am going to have time to read my camera manual and take pictures that do this camera justice!

Snow Day 1!!

So above are some pictures I took without the flash on and obviously in the wrong setting, but I like them anyway. And below is a picture of how I spent the day. Due to the inclement weather (and possibility of snow) Riley and I were at home. Riley is absolutely obsessed with books. And I am not complaining. But I do feel a bit like a librarian, constantly maintaining his book shelf in his bed room. He woke up at 6:30 am and after a bottle, some snuggle time and breakfast, we played. By the time he went down for his morning nap at 9:30, I had already read him 18 books, some of them twice or more. His favorite books are: "Pat the Bunny", "Goodnight Moon", "Colors", "Animals", "Dogs"and of course "Curious George". I think I am about to hide a couple of the Curious George books. He loves to turn pages and pull on tabs, and then he points at pictures and makes a little grunt to let me know that he wants to know what it is that he is pointing at...then I say, "blue tractor" and we continue to the next object.

Roll Tide!!

Riley getting ready to go to ECDC on game day!

"I want to...no I want to...no me...no me"

The best part of the day in our household is bedtime. It hasn't always been this way, but now the job of putting Riley to sleep is coveted by all who have done it recently. For the last couple of weeks he has not fought bedtime he has been ready and if you don't time it right and keep him from getting in bed when he is ready you might get him upset...he will let you know.

When you sit with Riley in the rocking chair and you cradle him he will relax and watch you intently while sucking on his paci. Then when he is ready he will sit up and rollover on your chest. He will bury his head and snuggle in and relax. Then he may look at you for a bit, he may try to give you a zurburt, or he may just get cozy and coo. It is truly the very best part of the day.

The second best part of the day is when I sneak in while he is sleeping and pick him up and just enjoy holding that sleeping baby...I mean toddler. How did I get here?

Picture to follow...

It is hard to be an adult...

I know I say it over and over again, but this adulthood business is hard work. I thought that when I got here I would have it all figured out. I thought my parents did. I thought being a parent would be easier...not easy but easier.

This week has perhaps been the hardest week I have had as a parent this far. I know in the scheme of things it is nothing and I am absolutely certain I have harder weeks ahead. But this week with a perfectly happy and healthy munchkin I have been worried, broken hearted, and lost.

There is nothing much to say about where my thoughts have been, but that I have so many hopes and dreams for my baby boy, and I hope that I am able to be everything that he needs as a Mommy.

When you become a parent you are so overwhelmed by so many feelings. Being a parent is the most overpowering thing to happen to me. I love Riley so much more than I ever ever could have imagined was possible. I wish this incredible, life changing, heart pounding, paradigm shifting and joyous experience for everyone I know. It truly is the most amazing thing I have ever done in my life.

Riley loves the bowl games!

Since Alabama plays Texas after Riley goes to bed I doubt if he will see any of the National Championship, but I can guaruntee you that he wishes he could. Riley never watches television, and not because we don't think he should, he just doesn't have any interest in it. He would much rather be getting into things than be sitting still watching Baby Einstein. But last week he learned how to turn the TV on and with that new skill he also became fascinated with the football on the television!

I crack myself up!

Lately, Riley has been getting the biggest kick out of himself.

He must have some kind of imagination because he has started laughing out loud for what appears to us to be no reason at all! It is so funny...so then we laugh too.

Something of note that is not so funny is Riley's little temper. When you tell him "no", he knows exactly what your saying and has for months, however he has recently started throwing a bit of a temper fit in reaction. I picked him up and he reacted by batting his hands at me and then he bit me!! I had two welts on my cheek yesterday afternoon. The hard part about it is that it is so funny...Michael was laughing at me when I told him and showed him my marks. I did not appreciate his reaction but had to admit that despite the pain associated with it I also laughed. It is hard to punish a 1 year old and especially hard to do without laughing.

Riley's Friend

Riley loves this yard gnome at Etta and Big Mike's house. He just begs to go over an check him out everytime he is here. This time he got up close. Here are a few pictures.