Visit with Ian & Julie

We recently met our nephew, Jackson.  He's such an adorable baby boy!  Aaron and I had so much fun holding him and giving him lots of love!  What a sweetie he is.

I was able to have a visit with Julie last week in Maryland while she was staying with my parents.  It was a fun, indoor, day.  We were able to catch up and swap baby stories.  :)

Jackson sleeping on my shoulder

Auntie Abby and Jackson

Julie, me, Jackson and Riley

No luck getting Riley to look at the camera...

Mommy and Jackson

Riley being an active butterfly

Mr. Cutie

This was when Riley pulled Jackson's sock off

I love that Jackson fell asleep with his arm like this...haha!

Then, this past Sunday we got together again (with Ian and Aaron this time).  They stopped for breakfast while driving to their new home.  Yup, they just moved to New Hampshire.  Congratulations you guys!

Auntie Abby and Jackson

I just love him!

Auntie burping Jackson...

Cute outfit!

Ian and me

The little family - Julie, Ian and Jackson

(Once again, the camera man is not in any photos!)

Fun with a scarf

When Emillie and Hannah were over, they were playing with Riley and a scarf.  It was cute seeing them put it on her.  She looked all cozy warm!  I got a couple cute photos of Emillie and Riley together. 

Hannah decided to tie the scarf on Riley's jumper, and she got major static hair!

8 months

Riley is 8 months old!

Exhausted and Happy

Here are some photos taken of Riley the last week.  She's moving all over the place...and now, standing up while holding on to things.  She requires constant attention.  I'm feeling a bit exhausted as I get into the groove of this.  (Not to mention, she's fussy because of teething too...)  During naps, I have little time to get things done - and there are always the priority things, like prepping things for dinner, or laundry, or dishes.  I'm falling behind in some things - but I'll catch up.  When she goes down for bed, I have a million things on my mind and sometimes don't know where to begin!  Well, usually I begin with a much needed shower and my pj's.  :)  I'll get the hang of this eventually.  Even if I feel exhausted at night, I'm so happy to be home with Riley.  I have loved watching her do things, and play with her.  This month has been a big month for her!  Sitting up well, crawling, standing.  What's next?  Walking?!?

This toy is the first thing she used to get herself to standing.

"Let me out!"

Crawls into weird places, like in her walker...

Standing while holding on to our coffee table (which is now pushed to the side of the living room)



"Haha...I'm touching the tree, Mom!"



Staring, in awe, at the Christmas tree.

"I want, I want, I want!"

Gosh, I love her. 

I want to pull my hair out some days (today is one), but what I feel mostly, is joy. 

Onward and Upward

Onward...

I can't believe tomorrow is December 1st!  So unbelievable to me.  This year has flown.  Hard to believe that last Christmas I was pregnant and now this year I will have an 8 month old crawling around!  Time is ticking.

Upward...

Riley is standing.  As a standard practice, I checked the video monitor after putting Riley down for a nap this past Saturday.  I turned it on, and Riley was standing in her crib.  I couldn't believe it!  I quickly showed Aaron, and he ran into her room to take photos.

O Christmas Tree

Yup, our tree is up.  With Aaron off this weekend, and time on our hands we decided to take advantage of it.  We didn't dare go out on Black Friday...it's just not for us.  So, instead, we stayed in (again) and put up all our Christmas decorations.  The house looks good, but the tree is best!

So much to be thankful for...

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  It's such a nice holiday and one that, especially, makes us think about what we're thankful for.  I can't help but think about my life; where I've been, what I've done, and who has been by my side along the way.  I have many things to be thankful for.  What tops my list most these days, is being a mother.

I love Emillie and Hannah so very much, but I never have felt like a mother to them.  They have a mother.  If anything, I have felt like a big sister or just another role model for them to look up to.  Even saying the word "stepmother" seems so odd to me.  I know that's my title, but it still has the word "mother" in it.  I love my relationship with the girls and they give me so much joy.  Even if I don't feel like a mother to them, I absolutely love the fact that they are my stepdaughters.  Being a stepmother is not something that we all are and I feel privileged that I am.  I'm thankful for the girls, and am so happy they are in my life.  But, I still never knew what it felt like to be a mother until Riley came along. 

The second Riley came into this world, my life changed.  She's my blood.  It's a bond like no other.  My love for Riley is different than my love for Emillie and Hannah and I think that's completely natural.  We all can experience love in different ways.  I now know how deep a mother's love is.  It's so special, so powerful.  I am a mother now, and I feel it 100%.   

I thank God for my life, my family, my daughters...

********

We were terrible at taking pictures this Thanksgiving.  You'd think we would've been on top of it, being Riley's first one an all...but we weren't.  The day was busy.  We had my parents over and Emillie and Hannah too.  The weather outside was a bit dreary, cold and rainy.  We even had some snow flurries during the morning hours!  We stayed inside all day.  Lots of talking, cooking, eating, laughing, and fun.  We even watched The Muppet's Christmas Carol!  A family favorite.  Thank you Mom and Dad for coming up to spend the day with us.  We enjoyed your company!

Even though we have no pictures of the food - we all had turkey, even Riley.  Though, hers came later since she was napping when we ate, and hers came from a jar.  It was her first taste of turkey, and she liked it!