Riley Turns Two!

Happy birthday to my crazy-sweet girl. It's hard to believe that it's already been 2 years since you joined our lives and it's even harder to believe that we had a life before you came along. You've taught us the purpose of family, how to make mundane days fun and how to live on 2 hours of sleep. You love so much and are so loved by so many. We're so proud of you and lucky to have had 2 great years with you!





Riley is trying to hold up just two fingers to show me that she's two - a trick her grandma taught her today.

Riley is pictured here with her new sparkle shoes that her great-auntie-Lynn gave her. She LOVES them and they look adorable paired with her Lincecum shirt. Busy girl was playing mama tonight with her shoes and stroller.

It's 10:45 p.m. on Christmas Day

And the kiddos are TIRED but refusing to stop playing with the new toys. Riley tries out her new coaster car with little, 8 wk-old, sister on board.

Baby's First Christmas

This photo pretty much sums up Alison's first Christmas. Her Christmas present to herself was a nice, lazy day! She woke up at noon and pretty much snoozed all day. What better way to spend a holiday than relaxing, sleeping and drinking!

Merry first Christmas baby!

You had me at ridiculous!

Riley nabbed a pair of her grandma's glasses and was really enjoying wearing them.

For some reason she thinks it's way more fun to wear them upside down. I don't get it, but I feel like she's about to tell me that the average human head weighs 8 pounds.

I can't take her seriously. Ever.

Some sister pics

I can't believe that my Ali-B'dah is now 7 weeks old. Where did the last, nearly-two-months go? She's so calm, so smiley and therapeutic! What a perfect addition and augmentation to our family with her wild, exuberant sis.

B'dah at 2 weeks

B'dah got to meet her great grandma and great grandpa Utt when she was two weeks old, almost 3 weeks. She is so sweet and so mellow here, getting a kiss from baby Ri.

Summer Bliss, June 27, 2010

Finding these photos gives me serious summer fever, especially since it's so cold and dark - with today being the winter solstice! A summer afternoon spent in the pool, eating fresh peaches. What could be better? Seriously, nothing!

Riley spent an hour and a half standing on the underwater bench in the deep end of the pool, playing with her measure-up-cups. She poured water in and out of them and enjoyed every ounce of the afternoon.

She then retreated to the edge of the pool and chatted on her cell - a girl needs to keep her phone handy when she's sunbathing!

It's Baby B'dah!

So I'm almost a month late, but here are some photos from Alison's arrival. Alison came so quickly after a long day at the hospital.

Here, B'dah is less than a minute old, she had good lungs and after a quick dry with a towel, she was gorgeous and got to lay on my tummy and chest for about 45 minutes. It took us about an hour and half to name her. Dad was still pulling for "Abigail" and I was still thinking we'd probably name her "Ainsley", but without an actual name picked out we had to discuss and improvise and we both thought Alison (with one L!) was the perfect match. A nice Irish/Scottish name to compliment her sister's name.




Here she is at about 45 minutes old, enjoying the heat from the baby toaster as she gets all her official bracelets.











And here's her first photo with mom and grandma....









And getting to know dad for the first time.

Riley has been calling her "B'dah" or "Abadah" since before she was born, she still loves to point to her and kiss her while bellowing "B'dah!".

Happy Thanksgiving

Riley enjoyed using the high chair that my dad built for us when we were little. She did look angelic in it, though she was a bit of a wreck for the long day without a nap.

We enjoyed delicious food and Alison was mellow, as always, for her first Thanksgiving.

Sister time

It is pretty much impossible to get a photo of the two girls together. Riley is always smothering her sister or poking her in the fontanel, and a few of the photos we've tried to pose end up with Riley picking up the baby or trying to get out from under her. This is sadly as good as it gets!

Trick or Treat (or just knock on the door and stand there quietly)

Riley had her first experience Trick or Treating. We took her out in her oven mitt costume. It still fits great from last year and this year she's finally old enough to walk in it and candy gather.

We went to several houses in our neighborhood. She enjoyed knocking on doors and readily took candy from the people that opened the door and she successfully stashed it in her bag.

What she didn't master was saying anything to people. So I tried coaching and ultimately said the "trick or treat", "happy Halloween" and "thank you" to everyone and Riley waved good bye.













We went houses to house until Riley "dropped". After about 6 houses, Riley sat on a lawn in a front yard and spralled out on her back. It was then that we headed home and Riley checked out her loot.

I let her pick just one candy for tonight and she chose and enjoyed an Almond Joy.

Last pics as a family of 3

Our last family photos as a family of three.

I forced Matt to come outside for a couple quick photos during the World Series Game. Riley wore her lucky tights for the game and they were quite successful!

RIley Meets Cousin Hannah!

We drove to Davis to see baby Hannah the day she was born. I got to be there for the entire process and was thrilled to meet her so quickly and be with my sis for the amazing event.

We came back later in the day and brought Riley to meet her new and only cousin, Hannah Grace! Riley was pretty interested in the new little girl and enjoyed petting her soft, blond hair. I was pretty tired from being pregnant (overdue at that) and from having stayed up all night. Thankfully I got a few days rest before Alison showed up.

Fairytale Town, Part two

Riley and her dad ride two of Cinderella's horses before trying out the seat in front of the stagecoach and of course, sitting in the pumpkin stagecoach itself.










































Riley also got to try out the wheel behind a large pirate ship and inspect the cannons on the boat!