23 months!

Here we are, only one month away from the big SECOND birthday! How did this happen? I feel like it was just yesterday that we brought our brand-new baby girl home from the hospital. Exactly two years ago, we were being showered with gifts as we anticipated the arrival of Riley Claire. Now, here we are planning a birthday party for a two year old! I guess it really is true when you hear the expression "they grow up so fast".

Okay, enough of my rambling. Here are some of the new and fun things Miss Riley has been doing lately.

• Singing - she is starting to sing songs, mostly "tinkle, tinkle, ittle starrrr" and "posy, ashes" ("Ring around the Rosy"). I've been trying to capture this on video but every time I whip out the camera she stops and wants to play with the camera instead...I've got to be more sly about it, I guess.
  
• Hide and Seek - it is so fun to watch Riley and Josh chase each other around the house! You know she's ready to play when she says "Daddy, hide"...yes mam!
  
• BABIES - this last week she has been extra attentive to her baby dolls. They have all been fed, changed and taken naps...she is such a good little mama! She even came to me last night and told me that her baby needed to sit on the potty!
  
• Counting - not only can Riley count to 10, she can also count to 10 in SPANISH! Can you tell I'm a proud mama? She is also beginning to master colors, purple being one of her favorites at the moment (maybe a future horned frog?).


• Broccoli & Cinnamon Rolls - these are two of her favorite foods at the time being. She loves her green broccoli and "c-rolls"!


• "Oh goodness" - something we've been hearing a lot lately. Funny thing is that she is using it apporiately! If I drop something, she'll say "oh goodness, mess", usually followed by "mommy clean"!
• Books - within the last couple of months we're finally able to sit down and read books! Before, Riley would enjoy bringing us books to "read" to her, but really she would speed-race through them, hop off our lap and go get another one. Now, we enjoy snuggle time before bed and read two to three each night. Her favorites for the moment are Jamberry and Snuggle Puppy ("Nuggle Puppy").

Along with all the fun we've been having watching Riley learn new things, we've also been experiencing the woes of the "terrible two's". The girl is so independent and strong-willed (hmmm...wonder where she got that from?) and we've been seeing the tantrums occur more frequently in our house these days!

"who, me?"