1 and 19 Months

Ellie is just over a month old now and we are loving her more each day. She is a great baby with just a little issue with gas (this girl can fart with the best of them.) :-) She is doing great and bringing us lots of joy, though maybe not much sleep. Riley is enjoying her more and though he doesn't have a big interest in holding her he does like to be around her and help me with her. He has a small box he carries around with him to help him get up on the couch and other places and he has started pushing it up to the pack-n-play so he can peer in and watch me change her. Riley is growing, changing and learning so much each day. He is now 19 months old and loves to say the word "oopsy". It is so cute. He will purposefully knock things off his tray just so he can say, "oopsy". That isn't so cute but he is learning. And when it comes to Riley giving you a kiss he just pushes his head against yours. Also very cute. I love them both and I'm ever thankful for the family God has blessed me with, especially Griff. :-)

Ellie and Grandpa Kevin getting in a little nap time together.

Ellie and Grammy Sandy meeting for the first time.

Riley is 18 months old and just had his first haircut. It wasn't really much of a haircut but rather a little snip of the mini rat tail that had been growing on the back of his head. Griff had wanted it cut for awhile but I kept putting it off. It's such a big first I just couldn't bring myself to do it. But, while my Dad distracted him I grabbed the scissors and clipped away. The cute little curls are gone but I must say it looks a lot better.

Daddy and Riley getting some playtime at the park.


Ellie's first bath! She did great. While Riley cried his head off during his first bath Ellie rather enjoyed the experience. She also likes having lotion rubbed all over her. I guess that is just a girl for you...likes being clean and smelling good.

Well, we have almost made it through week three of being a family of four. This is our first "real" week together with Griff working regular hours and no extra hands at home with me to help with the kiddos. We are doing pretty well, I think. Ellie is sleeping about 4 hours at a time at night, which I think is pretty good at this point. Riley is going through the terrible twos at 18 months. I think he has just had a lot of change and a lot of visitors lately and it is rattling him a bit. I'm hoping as we settle in to a routine my sweet lovable Riley will reappear.

Griff's parents were out for a weekend (photos to come later, once I've uploaded them). Then, my parents were out for a week. We loved having all the family around. Riley absolutely loves my Dad and anywhere Grandpa was Riley wanted to be. He didn't want to be held by anyone other than Grandpa and if Grandpa climbed a ladder then Riley climbed it too. It was so much fun to see Dad walking around the yard with a little blonde shadow. :-) And since Riley doesn't want much to do with my Mom it is good there is Ellie that she can now spoil. :-) What's the saying, "A grand-daughter for me a grandson for you. Praise the Lord and now they can be through." Ha ha!

Picture Post

Today I gave Ellie a little tummy time. The funny thing was when I went to pick her up off the sofa there was a large wet spot under her. Oops! I am so glad I had her on a blanket.

Trying to stay cool while taking a nap on this hot afternoon.

Bright eyed and ready to explore the world around her...

The first time Riley held Ellie. He was a little reluctant at first but then just wanted to keep holding her. He is such a sweet big brother. He likes to help put the bottle in Ellie's mouth and feel apart of things. And his new thing today is that he was climbing the pack-n-play to get a peak at her while we changed her So we put a box up to the pack-n-play so he can more easily watch his little sister.

Griff was helping me with laundry today and this is what he brought up from the basement. Could laundry get any cuter.

Welcome Ellie Dawn Jones

Our little Ellie joined the Jones family on Friday May 28th at 1:18pm. She weighed 6 pounds 4 ounces at birth and has a head full of dark hair. She probably has more hair right now than Riley has. So far she is eating great and sleeping really well. We arrived home from the hospital Sunday afternoon and have since begun the process of incorporating Ellie into our life. Riley still doesn't know what to think of this little person that squeaks and cries but he is interested in her and even wanted to give her her bottle this morning. I think he will be a wonderful big brother.

This is one of the first pictures in the hospital with our wonderful midwife Cheri. Ellie decided to come really quick after Cheri broke my water at 12:15. She went to lunch with her daughter and we had to call and interrupt that lunch because Ellie was ready to come by 12:45. Cheri made it through traffic and back to the hospital just in time to deliver Ellie.

A few hours after Ellie was born we caught her sucking her middle finger. This is something Griff did as a baby too we are told. Since then she just likes to suck any finger or fist she can get in her mouth. :-)

All dolled up and ready to go home. It is hard to believe Riley was even smaller in this carseat.

Ellie, waving everyone a friendly hello after her first night at home.

And here is a cute picture of Riley this morning while he was brushing his teeth with Daddy. We are really enjoying being a family of four.

Building Blocks

Recently while I was getting ready in the bathroom Riley opened the linen closet and got out all the tissue boxes. At first the were just all over the floor but eventually he started stacking them. So, I moved the boxes from the bathroom into the living room and he has been building towers and knocking them down all day long. This is such a fun age and I am enjoying every last day get with just Riley at home.

Shake Your Booty

A while back Riley's friend Levi was over and the both were in quite a funny mood. They love this little farm on the frig. Riley loves loves loves dancing and this video is great proof.