Exceeding Expectations

Back in November we worked with a Mizzou journalism graduate student, Hayley Bartels. She produced this multi-media project about Ryleigh and our family. While there are some things we may have done differently, she did a really great job. We just wish she would have shown a little more of how much Ryleigh is like other kids her age. But prepare to be impressed... we have one awesome kid.


Exceeding Expectations from hayley bartels on Vimeo.

We recently found out that a local weekly newspaper/magazine is going to pick up the story and publish some of the photos this week.

And here are some of the photos Hayley shared with us.

girl loves her blankie

meeting truman for the first time

Ryleigh & Gerti in matching shirts :-)

one day we'll get her some mouse ears of her very own

All I can say is that this kid is not lacking in the love department. We absolutely adore her. Period.

New Baby and Our Weekend

On Friday my sister Christy welcomed  a new baby into the world. A son after two daughters. He is just about as squishable as can be. I cannot wait to get to Indiana and get my hands on him!

Nolan Alexander

big sisters are in love

gah! just love him!

Luckily we live in the time of iPhones and I have been texted daily photos. And luckily my friend Christy here in Columbia will be giving birth to my surrogate nephew this week. So there is some baby squishing in my near future. I am so excited to meet these little guys!

Saturday I got in some sewing time, I am making some curtains for little baby P's nursery. Not a day too soon, right?

So I have a rotten(ish) toddler on my hands.

mommy says, "ryleigh don't drop your cup on the floor."
ryleigh gives mommy a dirty look. drops cup.
says, "uh oh" in the sweetest voice you ever did hear.
little turd.

Sunday we went to the Mizzou vs. Kentucky women's basketball game. Fun was had by all, until Truman the Tiger tried to get too close. But as soon as he was about 15 feet away, she was all, "hi! hi!" and waving at him. It's ok, I felt kind of weird taking her over to see Truman dressed like this anyway:

checking out "ry ry" on mommy's phone

It was freezing cold and the awesome parents that we are, didn't bring Ryleigh's hat with us. Oops. So I put my hat on her. Yes, I brought a hat and gloves for myself and not my child. That's Rowe, with an "E" when you're engraving my "Mother of the Year" plaque. But I digress...HOLY CUTENESS! I mean really.

Other highlights: Saturday we got a babysitter and Ron and I went to a birthday party with wine and dancing...a lot of wine. And I got a ton of laundry done. Hooray for weekends!!

Becoming a Big Kid

Well, I am not really succeeding at my new years resolution to update the blog more consistently. My 2013 is not necessarily off to the greatest start...but more on that some other time.

Check out this kid.

cheese!

sometimes a girl just wants to lie on the kitchen floor, you know?

I think it's safe to say we are officially into toddlerhood. My little baby is not so slowly turning into a big girl. I mean, how grown up does she look?? and just this week she started calling me "mommy" instead of "mama" some of the time. She's been going back and forth between "dada" and "daddy" for a while now, so we're used to that. And while hearing her say "mommy" in that sweet little voice is heart melting, it's just another sign that my baby is growing up right before my eyes.