Mr. Sun, Please Shine Down on Me!

This morning was Riley's last day of Mother's Day Out. They had a program where Riley performed a few songs along side her fellow classmates. I could not believe Riley knew the words and signs to Jesus Loves Me. I even sang it with her when we got home and she sang along with doing the signs all on her own (the words are a bit broken, but we know what she is saying!). It floors me how fast she learns things, (after Donnie left for work from the program, Riley said, "Daddy go office"). She is learning so much right now.
We enjoyed the first day of sun in a while today! Riley played with water and her swing set for several hours. After eating a nice dinner outside (which is not something you can do very often here in Texas), Donnie and Riley galloped around the house with their horsies "Sha-neigh-neigh" and "Kan-neiygh". Then we capped the evening off with several rounds of "ring around the rosie"...which all three of us HAVE to do (she attempts to get Sophie to play....but no such luck yet...I can't even get the dog to roll over, let alone ring around the rosie).
Tomorrow is a big day for Donnie. He stepped up to the challenge of taking the day off of work to watch Riley and her two cousins, Corbin and Conley, while my sister-in-law and I go shopping out of town all day. He plans to take them to Chuck-E-Cheese (I despise Chuck-E-Cheese....sounds like a big germ fest, eeewww!). Better him than I! They will have a blast. So, needless to say, Donnie gets the husband of the month award (it would have been husband of the week, but since he is watching our niece and nephew too, he deserves it). PRAY FOR HIM PLEASE! Just kidding, those kids are GREAT.

One month later!

Sorry for not posting in a while! Unfortunately, Donnie and I went to Maui for a "business trip". Donnie had meetings in the am, but I just relaxed! Lulu (my mom) stayed home with Riley. They had a blast. I honestly don't think Riley really missed us, but, oh my gosh....did I miss her!
Well, here are some pics of Maui and of Riley showing off the goodies we brought back.

Riley "Hilton" chillin' in the backyard!

Okay....so I know I never posted my results of the test I took to see if I had the auto-antibody to folate. Well, I do. So, basically I don't absorb enough folic acid to pass it along to a developing fetus. Thus....the reason why Riley has spina bifida. I am not happy I have the auto-antibody, but it is somewhat of a relief to have an answer as to why Riley was born with SB. I am now taking 5 times the recommended dosage of folic acid for our next pregnancy.....but don't get any ideas....we are not ready for our next one yet! We are very content with one!

When I took this test, the scientist was telling me that ALL women should have this test that are in child-bearing years to know if they need extra folic acid prior and during a pregnancy. Or, take 5x more than what your normal prenatal pill offers. I took prenatals for 6 months before I got pregnant, and obviously during the pregnancy. I ate a ton of wheat germ and fortified cereal (my only craving), but I still didn't absorb enough. They have yet to market the test, but will soon. If you are interested, I will pass along the info. There is no such test to see how much you do or don't absorb, so they tell you to take gobs of it. I don't mean to be preachy....it's obviously something close to my heart. I just want you all to be informed.

Texas Bluebonnets

She takes my breath away.

Easter Day

Easter day was great. Riley caught on quickly to picking up eggs and she was the best dressed bunny out there with her beautiful dress that her Lulu knit for her. She was so crazy, running all over the place, as you can see in the last pic., she is leading the Snodgrass family to lunch!

More snapshots from WA.

Here are some more great pics. We had such a great time with Lulu, Pappa John, Nannie, Poppop, Emory, Miles, Clif and Angie. Riley already misses her cousins....no one to fight with or love on!

Snapshots from Washington

All I can say is "AMAZING"! Blaine, Washington is beautiful. Now I know why Mom and John decided to leave No. Hollywood and head for Blaine. I would love it if EVERY morning I got to wake up and have my coffee on a patio that looks out to an amazing view of the water. One day!

Twins?

Riley is now dressing Sophie .... her twin!

Also, by practicing often, Riley has perfected the word "no"! I have heard this is quite the popular thing to say at this age! I am looking forward to future stages of "cool dude", "rad", "stoked", etc. Oh yeah, that was my generation...I wonder what our children will say.

Enjoy the pics.

These are a few weeks old! Mom came in town for a visit 2 weeks ago. Riley had a blast with her....Riley talked up a storm (not quite sure what she said...but she was laughing at herself a lot!). She still babbles a lot, but throws in "real" words here and there. She even started singing along to songs a little (she only says the words she knows!). This past week she was moved up a class at her mother's day out program. She is on the younger side of the age group instead of the oldest in her class. She loved it! Maybe this fall I will consider 2 days a week instead of 1.

The other pics are from Valentine's. We went to a sushi place in Dallas and then met up with our friend's Chris and Carrie afterwards. We had a really nice time.

I will post current pics soon.

70 degrees!

Although Riley and I have a bad cold, we managed to spend some time outside during this beautiful day.

So, the info. I was going to give you all is that we are going to Houston to meet with a pedi. neurologist who specializes in myelomeningocele (what Riley was born with). He is going to do a test that will let us know if I have an auto-antibody to folate. If I have it, then that means my body doesn't absorb folic acid correctly and I will have to make sure I take 5x the recommended dosage of folic acid (which I already am at the current time) before I get pregnant. Basically, the test will tell us why Riley was born with SB (that is if I do have the auto antibody, if not, then we may never know). Anyway's, the dr. who researched this in NY was telling me that all women planning a pregnancy should have this test, as well as take 5x the recommended dosage of folic acid before they become pregnant. I remember asking my old o.b. shortly after I had Riley why they don't tell all women PLANNING a pregnancy to take 4-5x the rec. dosage of folic acid...his reply was that 50% of all pregnancies are unplanned (he didn't answer the question!). OB's & women take that chance, assuming a healthy pregnancy, neural-tube defects only occur 1 in 1,000. My advice to all of my friend's and family....please take the extra folic acid or have the serum test done BEFORE you get pregnant, (it's hard to find someone who will do the test, maybe I can help you). Remember, a neural-tube defect happens in the first 4 weeks of pregnancy...before you even know you are pregnant!

Conley and Riley

Riley had a fun day with Conley today. They composed some music together on the piano...Conley was very intense and serious about it, so cute! Some pics. are from Saturday and Sunday, last weekend. (Doesn't Riley look cute for church?).
I have an update on our research regarding possible "baby #2", however, I am very tired and will post it tomorrow. Please remember to check the blog again because I have some very insightful information that all child-bearing age females should know about. Until next time...

Back In Business!

I can not believe how computer inept Donnie and I are! I have been unable to get into my blog for quite a while, and in fact set another one up in the meantime...but never posted anything on it. I guess I will use it to post my lastest projects, so check it every once in a while, www.stompinaroundcowtown.blogspot.com. I wish one of us was a little more savy with electronics...drives me nuts!
Anywho...here are some pics. of random events from the past month. Riley is getting around very well now. She stands up on her own now without pulling up on something. She also said her first two words together, "bye bye Chae-chae" (her Aunt Chata), and "hi so-o-fee" (Sophie, our super-pup). She is understanding and saying so much....it is so cool!!!
Clockwise from top to bottom: (1, 2) Cousin Conley witnesses Riley's 1st haircut (it doesn't look that different, just trimmed and cut a good portion of her Donald Trump piece), (3) Cousin Conley (I kept her for the day on Saturday while Donnie, Travis, and Chata worked at Travis' grand opening for his new shop Gearheads, the girls did great, even napped at the same time...I think maybe I could handle 2 children, but not yet!), (4) neighbor, Chandler and Riley after a group bath with Cole...after all, Riley is Korean, and don't Koreans bathe together?, (5) Riley playing in her crib, (6) Riley and Cole before bathtime, (7) Riley, Cole and Chandler the day it snowed here in Tx. (this happens about once a year here, it's been a cold January), (8) the true definition of "fruit of the loom", Riley's play-fruit velcroed to her bottom!
Enjoy!

I love going through old pics. This is Riley, November '05.



So...this is pretty funny! Donnie and I went to see a movie tonight, The Pursuit of Happiness (GREAT movie by the way!), and you know what....the last movie we saw together was The Wedding Crashers (Summer '05)....and we had Riley in the theater with us then! Is that pathetic, or what??? Maybe one of the grandparents should move to Dallas so we can get out more (but not just for that reason alone)! Just think about the size of house you would have here! Yea, the Rockies are not out our front door, or the Puget Sound out our back door, but we have....we have....ummmmmmmmm, well, beautiful tornado swept prairies (just kidding, it's not that bad!).

Playing at the park in Seven Lakes!

Here I am....playing at the park with my cousins, Miles and Emory. Hey, can you see the resemblance?....at all? ....what-so-ever? I promise...we are related! -Riley 

Mitchell Family Christmas 2006 West End, North Carolina

What a wonderful time we all had visiting with our aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, parents, brothers, sisters, neices and nephew in North Carolina! What an absolutley amazing family my grandparents, Nanny and Poppop, have created! We love you! 

Cousins

 

Waking up is hard to do!

Today I found Riley sleeping with a blanket over her face! It scared me at first, but she's old enough to pull it off if she doesn' t like it! I had to wake her to take her to her 18 month well check. These are the series of pics. I took! She reminds me so much of Donnie....the Franklin frown rears it's...head (it's not ugly....but it's not a smile either!). I better get use to the frown, she's on her way to turning 2, (although I hear 3 is harder). Her check-up went very well, the dr. is more than pleased with her walking, etc.

Oh, don't you just love those deep belly laughs from a baby??? Riley was just cracking up this evening. And you know what she was doing....throwing pieces of her dinner on Sophie's head, which lead to Sophie trying to get the food as fast as she could. Whatever makes her laugh! I just love listening to it! (discipline to follow next time!)

I will post Christmas, New Year's, and my NY trip pics. soon. Meanwhile, here is a post to hold you over!