Rolly Polly

Jude rolled over twice yesterday.  Complete fluke both times, but I had to share.

~~~ I'm amending this on July 30, 2010.  Apparently it wasn't a fluke because Jude has continued rolling over.  Not everyday, but rolling over when given the chance.  What a big boy!  I can't believe it's already time for all of these accomplishments!

She's a Maniac,

Maniac on the floor.

And she's dancing like she's never danced before.

Riley just discovered that you can dance with your legs and feet.  Until now she just danced with the top half of her body, which is SUPER cute.  But now that legs are involved, this is a whole different ballgame...way more fun than before. 

Aw, breakin' it down. (for all you Sid the Science Kid fans, I can't help myself- Break it down, break it down.  Your body knows how to break it down...aw, but I digress)  Nope, she isn't doing aerobics, she's dancing!  There were so many titles I thought of for this post; She's a dancing machine, Dancing Queen.  But She's a Maniac won, mainly because when she dances, it is very reminiscent of the Flash Dance performance (or the Tommy Boy rendition) to the song. To all others watching, it appears that she is running in place while pumping her arms.  But to the educated audience, this is dancing at its best. 

She still learns something new everyday.  And she grows a little more everyday.  And she gets a new tooth everyday...okay, so I'm exaggerating here, but she has 10 teeth now!  That's a lot for a girl that had 3 teeth for 6 months.  Being a part of her life and watching her grow and learn everyday is such a blessing.

Great combos

Things that go great together:
Peanut butter & Jelly
Summer & sunscreen
Wine & cheese
Cookies & milk
Baseball & peanuts
Tailgates & camping chairs
Campfires & smores
Friends & laughter
Melanie & Jeremy Woody

Together, Woody and I have created two of the most precious creatures I have ever laid eyes on.

Two Month Check-up

I can't remember if I posted these things about Riley, I hope I did because I'd love to compare my two babies.  We went for Jude's 2 month well-baby visit last week.  Here are his measurements:

11 pounds, 7.4 ounces (from 7 pounds, 12 ounces at birth)
22 1/2 inches  (from 19 inches at birth)
Head:  44... can't remember this measurement, centimeters?  Someone help me out here.

So we learned that he is in the 50th percentile of weight and 25th percentile of height.  So this boy is short and plump. :o)  And his head is in the 50th percentile too.  But I wonder, what's the difference in size between 50th percent and 25th percent?  It can't be THAT much, can it?  I mean, if we stretched his legs out a little bit more, would 1/2 inch make him 50%?  Not that it really matters, but the size difference in most babies this age probably isn't that much.

He is such a laid back boy.  He let Natasha (our favorite nurse) weigh and measure him without a peep.  He let Dr. Youngblood check him out with no crying, Riley watched very curiously as she always screams when Dr. Youngblood is checking her out.  And then came the vaccinations.  Riley went first.  Yep,  Riley got her last vaccination until she is 4!  How weird that we get to finish up Riley's vaccinations on the same day we start Jude's.  We couldn't do it at her last visit because she was 2 weeks shy of the 6 month minimum time from her last vaccination.  So since we were there, they gave it to her so we didn't have to make an extra visit (another reason we love Dr. Youngblood).  She didn't like it anymore than her other visits, but she was fine as soon as she was given Kitty and her juice.

And then it was time for Jude.  One oral vaccination, and 3 shots.  He did fine with the oral one.  But he turned a new shade of red/purple when he got the shots.  Woody and I had a little giggle at his reaction.  Not that we enjoyed seeing our boy in pain, but he is normally so laid back that watching him get upset was something kind of new to us.  And knowing that he would be fine... and that vaccinations are good for him... and having been through this before with Riley, we had a different mindset this time around.  And as predicted, he was fine as soon as Woody picked him up.  They both did really well and they were both smiling by the time we left the doctor's office.

Sibling love

One morning after breakfast, before nap time, we had some sibling quality time.

Riley loves to give Jude kisses.  You can tell he is very excited about it.  He knows what is coming!  Look at her cute face, already 'puckering up'.  Not only does she like to kiss him, she also enjoys trying to hold him and pick him up.  She is such a sweet sister.

Not sure if he is trying to pucker up too, or if he's rooting.

Awwww.

Wedding bells

Last weekend, our friends Chris and Emily got married in Fayetteville.  It was a beautiful wedding and reception at Scarpino's with all of the personal touches that make such an event memorable.  I told Woody on more than one occasion that when we get married again, we are stealing their ideas- like the songs when the attendants walked down the aisle, the venue, the candles, the food, the dancing.  We get very few pictures of Riley without food or juice in her hand.  My mom compares her to a shark, she never stops moving and she is either eating, or looking for food.

The rare family picture.  When we are all dressed (and me with make-up on), the occasion must be marked with a picture as it almost never happens.  Pretty cute family, even if I do say so myself.

Riley used to love posing for the camera, now she doesn't want to look at the camera.  She is too busy and has too many things to investigate.  I'm glad I got this one!

Aw, bliss.  I love cuddling with her, she needed a break from her running around, and we both liked watching Chris and Emily dance.  I would call this a win/win moment.  Notice "Kitty" got in on the action too.  We still never leave home without her.  This moment was over oh too soon.

I thought this was such a sweet picture, Riley watching Chris and Emily dance.  No, I am not even going to imagine that being Riley in the white dress.  Although I do pray for her future husband and his family. That's all the preparing I am going to do until she is at least 25.  :o)

Redneck Riviera

In lieu of spending big bucks on a summer pool pass,we opted for the $12.99 pool from Target.  I must say, it was well worth the money.  Riley loves it.  We learned last week that regardless of the size of the pool, she is just going to stay on the steps anyway, so why not make the entire pool the 'step'.

Um, yes.  We did put the pool on our front sidewalk for all the neighbors and passers-by to see.  Hey, go easy on us.  We do live in a mountainous area, and this is literally the flatest part of our yard.  I have no idea what kind of look I captured here.  I think she is saying, "don't you mess with my ball mom.  It's my favorite."  It better be.  We thought we were buying a $2 ball, turned out to be $8 (we were at home by the time we discovered it's cost... or value.  Whatever.).  For that much money, it better bounce itself.  Turns out, it does.  It's the fanciest ball I've ever seen.  I will tell you it was worth the money when it's still bouncing when Jude is 3.

Woody's main job on this day was fetching the ball when Riley decided to throw it into the yard.  He happily obliged.  Him being at home during the summer time has been wonderful.