Riley at the Hospital

Riley had her tear duct surgery on Tuesday morning. She was hungry and tired because we couldn't feed her and we had to get her up to get to the hospital by 6 am. (way too early for a Mitt).

She was really impatient when we tried to get her changed but calmed down after I gave her a bit of liquid meds. Most of it ended up down the front of her tiger, hospital outfit and not in her mouth!

Her tearduct surgery only took a few minutes and when we were able to go back and see her again, the nurses were fighting over who got to hold her and she was already pretty alert and very happy! Apparently most kids wake up pretty upset - but not her!

Happy Birthday Rachel!

We had fun making a lemon poppyseed cake with cardamom and ginger and a raspberry whipped cream filling.

The sheer height of the cake was ridiculous and the individual pieces were "surprisingly" big!

Happy 25th, Rachel!

More Fun with Great Grandma & Grandpa Utt

Riley had so much fun seeing her Great Granparents and exploring the orange trees!

Hugs for Everyone!

Riley got to visit Great Grandma and Great Grandpa over the weekend. She loved seeing all of Grandma's dolls, stuffed animals and cat toys. It was the dolls that were closest to her size that were the lucky recipients of multiple hugs!

Girls' Weekend Special - Mitt's Second National Park!

This weekend was our annual "Girls' Weekend". To celebrate we drove to Riverside and Saturday we drove out to Joshua Tree National Park. It was cool, sunny and beautiful. We picnicked, and climbed up a large collection of rocks that gave us a great view of the mountains, valley and sunset. It was beautiful and I want to go again.

I think this was only Riley's second National park - as she visited Haleakala National park in September!

(Pictured in these photos are Riley's Aunt Whitny, Steph, Mel & Michele.)

Teething is tough

Dad comforts Riley as tooth #8 cuts through her lower gums. She was this miserable after ibuprofen and a bath. :(

Messers-Mitt

We are so proud of Riley's enthusiastic eating at dinner. She ate mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes, and garlic all in one large meal. She is a very slow eater....we both waited at the table for a long time so she wasn't left alone eating. She is so mitt-ticulous with her food, choosing tiny pieces at a time. I'm trying to get as many veggies in her diet before she turns two and decides she is no longer eating anything but mac & cheese. Fingers crossed this won't happen!

Dawn of the Undead Riley

Riley started taking a step here and there in October. She's finally started walking, a lot more - on her own! Right now her walk looks a bit like a zombie. Stiff legs, arms out in front of her! She's getting bolder every day and is walking further and further. Below is why you shouldn't coax a nap-deprived baby to walk, she walks for the tylenol bottle and proceeds to get a bit fussy.

An Invalide's Outing

Riley, Grandma and I all headed out this afternoon to enjoy the long absent sun. We walked a block away, to our tiny park. Riley enjoyed the swing, and walking around the park, while holding onto a finger of ours. She even met a 16 month old girl. Riley stood on her own and then stepped forward and gave the other little girl the sweetest hug.

I also took some beautiful portraits of Riley in the sunshine, only to discover that the memory card hadn't been in the camera and I got nothing because the camera played back all these pics in "demo" mode. Demo mode was designed to trick people who don't feel well into believing that they are still getting gorgeous photos of their kids, only to return home and realize that the demo photos, which all played back - are gone once the camera is turned off and then on again.

I am thoroughly depressed about this. This sucks.

{Insert adorable photos of Riley in her hat, purple sweater, & green corduroys at the park and walking in the sunshine at the park}

Last Chance for Christmas Lights

During tonight's walk, we decided to go check out the lights on 53rd & S - just to get one last look. Thankfully a couple houses still had lights up and on, on January 2nd.

We took a few photos, which we will have to enjoy until next November, when the lights go back up.

Walking and looking at the Christmas lights are my favorite parts of Christmas, I bet Riley will enjoy it even more next year!

Happy New Year, I Just Might Make It

After being sick with persistent mastitis since the second week of December, I'm finally starting to round a corner. (At least I hope so). I've tried three antibiotics and am now taking a fourth something-rather to get rid of what I was told was MRSA. (Not Good).

To celebrate the fact that I finally feel like I may not be dying, we walked to our little, local park before it got too dark. It was nice to get out of the house.

Riley & Dad took a walk around the park and we sat on the swings for awhile. Sadly, Riley is still a little freaked out about the slides, surprising since she usually isn't scared by anything!