I decided to take the plunge and start walking. Right after I blogged last time, I figured that I should just let Mom and Dad see that I really can walk. And guess what? They were so excited! It was very rewarding just to see how excited that they were. Everyone was there and everyone started clapping. It was great. Even Emmett started clapping for me. (I clapped too, I have to admit. I was very proud of myself.) Then Emmett came over and gave me a hug. So nice!

Well, since then I’ve taken LOTS of falls. I’m not super coordinated, but I am very determined. It’s not too big of a deal if I fall, except when it’s outside on the sidewalk. I did that yesterday. We went for a walk with everyone for Mother’s Day and I fell. But don’t worry! My face broke the fall. I split my lip and my gums. My upper lip swelled up so big that it was hard for me to suck on my sippy cup. But, oh well. Daddy said I had to walk it off. And I tried. But then I decided that snuggling it off was a better idea. And Mom helped me with that.

There are some other interesting goings-on here. Emmett and I moved into the same room together. So now we are roommates! That first night was so great. It was like a slumber party. We laughed and yelled and squealed and threw stuffed animals. Only after a few hours of that did we decide to try to get to sleep. That next morning wasn’t so great. I was really tired. This happened again the next night too. Then today, Mom and Dad went to the store to buy what they called blackout curtains. I’m not sure what they are but Mom and Dad said that maybe we’d go to bed earlier and stay asleep later if the sun wasn’t coming into our room. We’ll see if that works.

I’m really picking up sign language with Emmett and also verbal language. I like to help Emmett with his words since he’s a bit shy with them. Mom and Dad will ask Emmett to say something and if he doesn’t say it right away, I’ll step in and say it for him. They always thank me, so I know that they are happy that I am helping.

It’s getting to be really nice outside, so we are spending more time in the backyard. We like to play with bubbles (Dad got us a lawnmower that spits out bubbles!) and also dirt. Emmett even jumped into the pond. Maybe that’s why Mom and Dad are filling it in with cobblestone next week. Maybe not. Who knows…

Anyway, we helped Mom to have a great Mother’s Day and I am so looking forward to Daddy having some time off from work and school so that we can all work in the yard together.

I’ll let you know how that goes,
R

Don’t tell Mom and Dad but I can secretly walk already. I have total control and strength when I walk assisted. Even if I only have one hand of held, I am great. No problems. But when you let go of my hand or when I let go of my walker, its like I am a newborn giraffe. Collapse right to the floor. So Mom and Dad think that its a confidence thing. But what I’m not telling them is that I can already walk when they aren’t looking. I just want them to think I need their help. It makes them feel needed.

So, I’m thinking that I will start taking some steps without their assistance pretty soon. Like within a couple of weeks. I’ll give them a little more time thinking that I am still the baby. But after that-watch out! I will be forever on the go.

Other things I’m up to now: I still copy everything that Emmett does. He makes up words for things and I say those words. I will repeat what he says instead of saying the real word for something. I copy the sign language he uses. Its nice that we are both on the same page with that. It’d be awfully confusing if we were using two different words (or signs) for the same thing.

I’ve got some new things that I do in my carseat. I like to try to hold Emmett’s hand when we are in the car. We sit right next to each other now and I like to reach out and grab his hand. He giggles, but we both think its nice. I also will help Mom and Dad with Tessa while we are driving. They are all the way in the front seat, so I like to make sure that Tessa has her pacifier. I will even taste it to make sure that there’s nothing wrong with it and then I will give it right back to her. When she has a blanket on, I like to take it off because that would totally make me overheat so I’m sure that Tessa doesn’t like that either. All helpful things.

Maybe by my next post I’ll let the cat out-of-the-bag about the walking thing. I’ll gauge it by what Mom and Dad do. We’ll see…

Riley

It took less than a week for me to decide that Tessa is my new favorite toy. I can’t get enough of her.

When I hear her cry, I say her name and point to where she is. When she is on her play-mat on the floor, I crawl over to her at warp speed and I give her kisses. Even if I have my pacifier in my mouth, I will give her pacifier kisses.

I like to point out her eyes and her ears. And I giggle when I hold her little hands.

I will actually wrestle with Mom to get to Tessa. She will try to keep me from putting my fingers in Tessa’s eyes and I will cry and flail my arms and shake my head until I can get to my little sister.

Emmett’s interest in the baby has waned. He likes to help with her. Get her a pacifier or her bottle. But he’s not as eager to give her kisses or to try to play with her as before. Maybe when she gets a bit older and can play back… But he still loves her. I can tell.

Check back next month when I talk more about how much I love animal crackers, walking with my walker, and talking.

Riley

I would love to say that I am super excited to announce that I have a new little sister… But, to be honest, I am kind of wary of this entire situation. Her name is Tessa Kate and she was born on January 30th, which was only 7 days past her due date. She was 7 pounds 7 ounces and 20 1/2 inches long at birth. A good size little girl… She’s a good eater and sleeper, so Mom and Dad are happy about that. Emmett loves her. Loves to sit and stare at her. Tries to pet her and give her kisses. But I’m not so sure about her.

I admit, I like to smack her. But that isn’t just a thing with Tessa. I smack everyone. It’s great fun. But because she so little, I guess, Mom and Dad don’t want me to smack her. They are trying to teach me the word “gentle” and to not hit her. But really, is this necessary? Shouldn’t she just toughen up? I’m helping her, as I see it. She’ll thank me when she’s a bit older and not such a whiner. (Says the little boy who cries whenever his mom puts him down. Anyway, I’m sure we’ll get to be great friends. She is very cute, I have to say.

On another note, I am so close to walking I can almost taste it! I have been furniture surfing and now I push things around and kind of use them as walkers. Just a few more weeks, maybe, and then I’ll have the strength and coordination to do it without any help! Until then, I crawl mostly on carpet and army crawl on hard floors. I go up stairs and down them. I’m very mobile. Don’t you worry about me…

I’m really quick with language too. I say lots of things. Mostly I am a good repeater, but I do use a bunch of words regularly too. Like doggie. And more. And done. And I like to make sound effect noises and to sing too. I really am a little ham. But in a good way.

So, check back in in a few weeks and I’ll let you know how this having-a-little-sister-thing goes. I’m not excited about sharing Mom and Dad with her. Mostly Mom. But maybe this will be good for me, as I am not a great sharer of anything just yet.

Check out the new pictures we uploaded. There are some really good ones of Emmett and I at the Little Gym and of all of us with Tessa.
Talk soon,

Riley

Christmas was great for me. I got to play with a ton of tissue paper, which I loved. I would pull the tissue paper out of a gift bag, not so interested in the gift, and then I would flap the paper up and down, all the while giggling almost uncontrollably. Then, I would cover my face with the tissue paper, laughing until I ripped the paper off of my head. It was amazing. Mom and Dad will post pictures soon. Not too many good ones came out, but there are a few of Emmett and I opening presents…

I got some good things for Christmas, but I don’t think that, with the exception of the our new art table, I really have played with anything the way that I played with the tissue paper. My new books are good, but I’m not really a reader yet. Emmett will ask to be read specific books and then he’ll read then to himself. Or, he’ll pretend like he can read and just talk to himself and turn the pages. I mostly like to turn the pages and rip them, if I can. This means that I am not allowed to play with anything other than board books right now. Too much destruction.

I am furniture surfing and walking while pushing things. So exciting! Soon I will be walking without any help and Mom and Dad will be so happy! I am still an army crawler. Its not that I can crawl conventionally, but I prefer army crawling. Mom has a theory about that. She thinks that regular crawling is hard on the knees, especially on our hard wood floor. This makes sense, as I do more regular crawling on the carpet upstairs and in the basement. But as it doesn’t really matter, I think that I’ll just concentrate on standing and walking and go from there….

New Year’s Eve was fun. Pizzas, a small snippet of a movie, bath and bed.  A perfect night.

Happy New Year’s to everyone! I can’t wait to see what this year brings. I know one thing that’s coming: Next time we chat I’ll have a little sister (or brother!)…

Riley

This is the best time of year. I get to see all of my favorite people all the time, it seems. There’s my birthday in October, then Thanksgiving, Emmett’s birthday, Hanukkah, Christmas–and that’s just the start. They come over and play with me and give me presents and love.

I had a ton of fun at Emmett’s birthday. First, he got a slide from Mom and Dad. And the box was just as much fun as the slide itself. But since I’m really getting the hang of climbing up things, the slide is fun because I get to show off this skill. The box is great fun, except when Emmett sits on the open end and traps me in there. That was not so good.

After presents and cake, we went to a light display at a local wildlife museum. We saw Santa, reindeer, and lots and lots of lights. It was great because Grandpa Bob, Grandma Cheryl, Aunt Ashley and Ann came. I’m not quite as shy with new people as Emmett is, but these are most of the people that I like to spend my time with.

Mom and Dad have taken to calling me the “Stage 5 Clinger.” Once I get a hold of Mom, I won’t let go. I hold on like a spider monkey. And when Mom tries to pass me off to someone else, I cry and cry and cry. Usually its only food or Mom (and not necessarily in that order) that will get me to stop.

Next time, I’ll post pictures of Christmas and Emmett and I at our gym classes. They will be wonderful, I promise.

Have Great New Year!
Riley