Merry Christmas!

This is my 2nd Christmas, but this is the first one that really counts! I'm so excited for Santa to come! Molly the magical elf has had her eye on me and every day I told her that I'd be a good girl so Santa would bring me lots of toys! I've tried my best! I asked him for a puppy!

Braxton is my girl...as annoying as she is sometimes!

Ry's "spot"

Ah! The puppy!

This was her position most of the morning! She definitely loves the puppy!

Yes, the farm had to be built upon seeing it. This one is also a favorite of hers.

I actually gave this little tent to Ryiah a week early because I couldn't stand having so many things for her and not giving them to her! So I cheated!

That's papa, um, trying to crawl through!

What? Adults can't have a good time?

That black ball in papa's arms is is pup Winston.

A little down time with her papa!

So ~ Santa brought mom and dad a new toilet! Merry Christmas! I guess they figured they needed to try it before accepting it!

Victory!

Ryiah couldn't pass up a good time!

Me and daddy

I'm sad I didn't get very many pictures! Oh well.

This Christmas was super exciting for me because I knew Ryiah has a small clue of what was going on. I couldn't wait to set all of her things out and see her eyes light up! The crappy part was that I thought I had gotten her so much and then when I was done wrapping it all and setting it out I realized there really wasn't much there! Not that a one year old needs a ton, but still! I guess lesson learned and I'll remember that next year.

Ryiah Is Too Smart

         I'm not sure what happened to Ryiah in her sleep last night, but she woke this morning speaking even MORE clearly and putting 3 or more sentences together! It's insane how much this child comprehends and retains. She doesn't forget things I tell her which makes it dang hard to lie! I thought one of the perks of parenting was getting to lie to you children. ;) She makes that impossible! She truly is unbelievable. I love her so much the thought of not having her hurts. Even through her tantrums and moodiness (where the heck did that come from?) she is an angel. I'm so thankful for her and for all that she teaches me. I love her more than I thought I could ever love someone! 

Why am I 29?

29 snuck up on me, but to be honest I keep thinking I'm 30! WTH? Although I THINK that, I still feel like I should be 21 and looking forward to enjoying my 20's. Weird. I am completely looking forward to my 30's and all that those years will bring me!

 My birthday was filled with my family and food! I love my family even if I do have to throw a party to get them to all hang out! I don't mind and I'll do it again next year! I have decided to treat myself to Disneyland next year for my 30th! I'm soooo excited!

 I didn't get very many pictures because my camera was missing and no one else took very many...boo. I'm pretty sad about that. So these pictures here are all I have to remember of the bash, but it was good...I think! ;)

Sweet cousins and great grandpa Marley

My itty bitty Gma Marley

I'll post more pictures when someone sends me some!

Christmas Outings

Ryiah and I went out and about the other day to have a bit of Christmas fun! We started at Town Square to do some shopping. I have to say that Tuesday morning at 10am is THE TIME to go to Town Square! No crowd at all! We stopped in to see Santa (Mrs. Clause was a surprise) and we were the only ones there! It was great! Ryiah hid her head for about 30 seconds and then warmed right up to them. She sat on Santa's lap and nuzzled right in for a hug. She got to sit with them for almost 10 minutes with no interuptions before more people came in. She loved it! I loved it! Then we got to see the Christmas tree (although at 10:30am the lights weren't twinkling), but Ryiah thought that was cool! Then it was time for the slides which Ryiah can never get enough of! My sister met us there with her little one for some play time and lunch at a place that was clearly confused with their identity and menu. No details necessary.

Then there was Opportunity Village! That was awesome! I hadn't been there since I was a kid so it was all new to me again. So many lights! Ryiah's favorite part was the train and the carousel!

Pulling the bell at the fire station

The drive home was very quiet. She was so tuckered out!

 

Potty Training

~The following is notes I took while training ~

November 3, 2010

I cleared my week. I'm doing hard core potty training. No diapers,

pull ups, training pants, or plastic pants. Just panties, nerves, deep

breathing and faith....

DAY1

I told Ryiah there were no more diapers and she got to start wearing

big girl panties today! She no, "No." Then I showed her they were

Hello Kitty and she smiled.

We've gone through 8 pairs of panties so far and it's only 10:00am.

She doesn't seem to mind peeing on herself.

Ryiah just went down for a nap. I'm nervous.

She woke up dry!

By the end of the day we went through about 20 pairs of panties!

DAY 2

Ryiah woke up last night about 1:30am and had wet the bed. She went

back down and woke up dry this morning!

It is 1:30pm and we have not had one accident!

***Man I Love This Girl!***

Okay... 2 accidents the whole day. Awesome!

DAY 3

Ryiah slept through the night and woke up dry! Aside from her whining

for no reason this morning to the point of me wanting to drop kick

her, things are going perfect!

DAY 4 AND BEYOND

Ryiah has got the potty down! Best moment yet - she needed to go potty

on the way home from Costco and I told her,  "Hold it! Wait! We're

almost home!" She folded her arms and closed her eyes tight. Haha - she

made it! It was almost 3-4 minutes and she made it! Awesome little lady!

So it is now 3 weeks later and Ryiah has done exceptionally well. She has accidents every now and again but I think they are generally from holding it too long and as she tells me she needs to potty she is no longer able to hold it. She does very well though. I am so proud of her! Potty trained at 19 months is early, so I'm okay witht the accidents.

This picture was not taken during training. She is now an expert pottier and sometimes takes her own reading material. It's weird that she does this because (maybe this is too much info but...) she's never seen me read on the pot. I do my thing and I'm done. No need to waste time, but apparently she feels otherwise.