What a week.

OK so I just busted little Miss Lyla splashing around in the toilet. Grosser than gross. This baby is into so much more than her big sister was at this age. Lyla is now officially a climber. She eats dog food. Enjoys throwing plates out of the dishwasher and shattering them on the kitchen floor. She broke an aqua globe in one of the potted plants while eating fistfuls of dirt. She laughs in my face when I say NO NO! We are now just one week way from the big birthday number 1!

It just amazes me that my two children are SO different. Riley was not walking or even thinking about walking at this age. She was too busy talking, and talking, and talking some more. Lyla on the other hand could care less about talking. She has added a 4th word to her vocab. "Mermaid". What the hell, I have been working on sister, doggie, Pammy, something familiar. While mermaids are a popular item in our house I am just surprised to hear her bust it out the other day in the bathtub and again later to her dad.

Now on a side story on Friday we woke up to some jackass on our front porch. Turns out some of the neighbors down the street had some wild drug induced party and this guy was a guest of theirs. He managed to break into several vehicles and one garage on our street. John confronted him in our front yard and then chased him on foot for a while. Luckily he was caught by the police and is still in jail. Little did we know this jerk was also carrying a gun. I am SO unbelievably THANKFUL that he didn't use it on John. Makes me sick to my stomach to think of what could have happened. People are just crazy! I have called 911 three times this week. Once for the robber, and twice for wrecks I witnessed. I hope they don't like flag my number.

On the lighter side we enjoyed a wonderful dinner tonight with Max and Liz. They came over and Liz cooked us dinner. What a great person. Who comes to your house and cooks dinner for you? It was awesome we cherish our friendship with both of them. This week will be busy planning and preparing for the big bday bash. Riley is trying to convince me that Lyla would like some Barbie's, but I am not falling for that. :) I hope everyone has a great week, and by everyone I mean my mom who maybe the only person who reads this.

Home Again...whew

After more than a week in the Mountains of WNC we are happy to be back at the beach. Not so happy about the heat and humidity and the beach traffic, but thrilled to see John. I took the girls up to Asheville last Saturday to visit with my mom, grandparents, my dad, sister and brother. We got to spend a lot of quality time with those most important to us that we unfortunately do not see as often as we would like.

Lyla was great she actually let my grandmother hold her several times this visit. She is slowly letting those other than mommy have a place in her heart. Riley was thrilled to see Granddaddy Mease and Grandma Patty. We "helped" put up the corn that had come in. I had hoped we could have helped with beans, but my Mease Grandparents have their garden harvesting down to a science after all these years and I think we were mostly in the way.

We had a great week in Asheville we went to the drum circle, Mount Mitchell, and many other fun day trips through out the mountains. We missed John/Daddy very much. I think he actually got a little bored here without us. He said one to two days is enough peace and quiet. After that it gets a little lonely. However, last night when we were all piled in the same bed cris crossed over top of each other, he did mention he did no miss sharing the bed with so many people :)

I can't believe we are well into August. Baby Lyla turns 1 in two short weeks. She is so grown up. She too is tiny just like Riley and many people are shocked when they learn she is almost a year old! Where in the world have the last 12 months gone???

Still here...

My my where does the time go it's almost August. There will be no pictures with this blog as we haven't really taken any this summer. We have been pretty busy. We went on our annual pilgrimage to Helen, Ga. for our Setzer Family Vacation. It was fun. This was the first time I have been since before Riley was born because I always had to work. (See there are perks to unemployment.)

Riley has had her four year old check up complete with 4 shots and a finger stick. It was as awful as it sounds. Luckily no more shots until she is 11. She had her first trip to the dentist. She came home and brushed her teeth six times that day. She has a pair of red white and blue flip flops that have stars on them. She informed me that they were her "Barack Obama flip flops". Where does she come up with this stuff?

Lyla is blazing new trails every day. She is up on all fours crawling at top speed in an effort to keep up with sister. She is pulling up and holding on while walking along the furniture. I also noticed she disappeared today while we were in the hallway. She has apparently learned to climb up the steps and was half way to our bonus room. Bring on yet another baby gate. She adores her big sister and wants to do whatever Riley is doing. This causes much frustration for Riley. Riley informed me she would rather have a big brother than a little sister. Lyla has no interest in baby food she wants only people food. She is still VERY clingy to mom and is in fact screaming for me as I write this. I am hoping this will pass. I packed away the co-sleeper and she is sleeping in her own room about half of the night.

I hope everyone is well. Come visit us if you are in the MB area we love to have company!

4....

Well I can not believe that four years ago today I became a mother. What a whirlwind it has been! Riley, you have filled my life with love and laughter. You are so smart, funny, and strong willed. Daddy and I are so proud of you each and every day.

You have, and I am sure you will always be, your own person. You have become such a great little personality. You remind me a lot of myself. I also think you remind me a lot of Tissie. Some days I think you are channeling her. God help me!

You have become such a wonderful big sister. Although, you did tell me just the other day that Lyla was getting on your nerves! Sorry, honey but I think that is what sisters are supposed to do. You two will have a long road of strained nerves at times. My hope is that you will one day become best friends.



Sorry to everyone for not blogging in a while. We have been so busy. You would think that when you are out of work things would not be so busy. However, we manage to stay busy each and every day.


May's happenings have included: Riley getting her ears pierced. My sister Tiffany got married May 23rd. Riley and I were both in the wedding. Riley came down with some crazy rash while at the wedding and it turned out to be Fifth disease. Riley danced her you know what off at the reception. She literally danced EVERY song. We all thoroughly enjoyed the fondue fountain! Lyla had her 9 month check up and is only in the 5% tile for weight weighing in 15lbs 11oz. We have to work on bulking you up little lady. Riley's 4 year old check up is coming up soon. There will be four shots I am already dreading it.

We have been anxiously awaiting the hatching of 14 duck eggs from "Mother Duck" that laid eggs out side our neighbor's front door. Riley and I check on her everyday. We figure she is due to hatch any day now. She began laying on Mother's Day and continued until she had 14 eggs to sit on. We take her bread and water although she is not thrilled with us when we get close!Hopefully, our pond across the street will be full of baby ducks within the next couple of weeks.

John has been really swamped at work for the last month. He is studying for another test at the end of next week. We had a great time last night at our neighborhood cook out. Riley swam and swam and swam!

Once again, Riley, Happy 4th Birthday. I love you! Here is one of your first pictures. June 14th, 2005 12:45pm 7lb 2oz.