Action Packed April

Ryleigh at 18 months (April 15, 2012)

26 pounds, 34 3/4" (one tall baby...still)

I want to start off this blog by officially welcoming little baby Olivia to the family.  April 19, 2012 my brother and sister-in-law welcomed their little girl to the world.  Weighing in at 8 pounds 1 ounce and 20 1/4 inches, Olivia Payton made her grand entrance at 2:43 am.  We over here at Casa Richardson are so very excited to get all our hands on her and squeeze those chubby baby cheeks.  When Ryleigh sees her pictures she says "beebee"....we're still working on the Olivia part ; )

Jason, Bekah and baby Olivia

So...this past month has been a much calmer month over here.  With Mommy & Daddy back from their European vacation and Yaya back in California, we are finally getting back into our routine.  The weather is getting warmer and Ryleigh is really enjoying being outside and not having to worry about stuffy noses or congestion...Mommy is too : )  Ryleigh is also developing quite the little personality.  Can we say sassy?  I wonder where she gets that from?  Surely not Mommy.

I said last month that Ryleigh has turned into a "full blown toddler" and that has not changed since then!  We are having tantrums, and telling Mommy "no" and definitely pushing Daddy's limits (which isn't too hard, since he caves so easily).  But I wouldn't have it any other way.  This just means our little girl is growing up and trying to figure out her place in our family.  The one thing she can dominate....Lucy.  And boy has she learned that!  It's hilarious to watch her with one hand on her hip and shake her little finger at Lucy and say "no no no!"

She is learning so much at daycare and I am so glad she is getting that experience!  No matter how highly I think of myself as a Mother, I know that there is no way I could teach her all the things that she's learning there!  I got to watch her a little bit from the doorway the other day before picking her up and she was holding hands with a friend, spinning in a circle.  They'd fall to the floor and laugh, then get right back up and start spinning again.  They joy on their faces was infectious!  And just knowing that she is making little friends and having so much fun when she's spending time away from me is so heart-warming.

Her vocabulary is growing daily and she is becoming a little parrot.  She knows what to do when you sit her on the potty and if you ask "are you poopy?", she will say "poopy" if she is in fact, poopy, or "no" if she isn't.  I guess the next step will be getting her to tell us before it happens, haha.  We haven't started the transition from crib to bed yet, even though I was so adamant about starting it at 18 months.  Although, I was also adamant about no binkies after one year, yet she still uses one at bedtime : /  We'll see how it goes.  I find myself becoming more and more lenient on things that just seem so arbitrary now.  I can't seem to tell my little girl "no", especially when she comes to me with those big blue eyes and says "peeeeeeeees?"  I mean, it breaks my heart to see her sad...and if binkies make her happy, take one million!

Eventually I'll get stronger....right?  In the meantime, I'll enjoy spoiling her.  And you guys, as well.  Here are some pictures and videos from our last month.

Ryleigh playing with her friends at daycare...shes in the back right pushing the yellow bulldozer

singing and dancing with her baby

apparently she enjoyed her dinner

"what? is it not normal to lick your plate after eating?"

kisses for Mommy

"cheeeeeeeese!!!!"

such a ham

blue steel?

oh wait...the Fresh Beat Band is on...

a rare Lucy shot..

my baby's got some lovely blonde curls : )

The following pictures are from Easter Sunday.  This is Ryleigh's second Easter, but last year she was only 6 months old and while I did give her chocolate then, this year it was so much better.  Gammy was here to spend the weekend with us, so she helped us search for eggs and make an Easter feast.  We had lots of fun with her and as always, love it when she comes to visit us! 

Ryleigh's Easter basket

Ryleigh dives into her Easter basket

"whooooa"

Not sure who enjoys the toys more, Ryleigh or Daddy

 a face only a Mother could love : )

hunting for eggs

neatly putting everything back...she must be mine : )

Ryleigh's first "Easter egg hunt"

Daddy, Ryleigh & Mommy on Easter Sunday

enjoying some Easter chocolates

our little genius : )

Eighteen Months...I can't believe it.

This last year and a half has been so rewarding and we can't believe it's already been 18 months since our little angel graced us with her presence.  We have been trying desperately to make Ryleigh a big sister, but it has been a little difficult this time around.  We ask that you keep us in your thoughts and prayers and hopefully we can share good news soon.  In the meantime, we will continue to enjoy our time with Ryleigh alone and cherish every memory we all make together knowing that God has a plan for us : )