Happy St. Patty's Day!!!

Happy Birthday, Mom!!!

My mom was born in '54... and this year she turned 54. She said it was her golden-golden birthday! We celebrated by getting some soup at Infinite soups and then walking down to Corina Bakery to eat some birthday cake. We then went home and watched a movie until the other girls got home and then we went out to dinner. Hana and Ksavera arranged an ice bucket in the mini van with sparkling cider and we sipped on that until we arrived at the Red Lobster. We all had delicious food and a great birthday celebration! Happy birthday mom, and I hope that you had an amazing day... you definitely deserve it.

Also thanks so much for your help with Caitlyn lately.

I am feeling more rested already!

Trip to PA

I've been contemplating the best way to recap our wonderful and eventful vacation... and my friend, Tiffany's blog, inspired me to do a recap in the form of a list...Top 20 Reasons I loved My Trip to PA...

by Caitlyn

1. I got to meet my Pra Babcia (Great Grandma) and Pra DziaDzia (Great Grandpa) for the 1st time.

2. I also met all my Pra Cocias (Great Aunts) Pra Cocia Char, Pra Cocia Pola, Pra Cocia Sonya, Pra Cocia Mich, & my favorite Pra Cocia Roz and all my mom's cousins.

3. I got to spend extra time with MY Babcia and DziaDzia (I even slept with my mom in her bed with her and Babcia).

4. I got to see a snow storm.

5. Getting to stay with my Pra Cocia Char and Uncle Paul.

6. I was able to help celebrate my Pra DziaDzia's 80th Birthday!

7. All of my new toys... thanks to everyone!!!

8. I ate many great dinners and visited with family every single night.

9. I got to eat (through my mom's milk) a ton of polish food including duck soup, poor boys, grilled cheese with onions, pigs feet, perogies, and home made limoncello.

10. Enjoyed dessert with every meal including breakfast... I'm pretty sure my mom ate a whole rhubarb pie while we were there.

11. Enjoyed a drive on the orange, red and purple belts and got to see where my DziaDzia grew up.

12. My mom learned to crochet and began making me my first hand made blanket.

13. Looking through a ton of albums even one from when my mom was first born and Pra Babcia went to visit her in Alaska.

14. My mom was the tatsie lala, Karoake Queen of Lower Burrell!

15. Going to see the property Pra Cocia Char and Uncle Paul are starting to build their new home on.

16. Flying on an airplane... psyche... I really only enjoyed the flight over there ;)

17. Seeing Heinz football field.

18. Spending 10 whole days...precious time... with extended family.

19. Sharing over a thousand hugs and kisses.

20. Coming home to my daddy... the #1 Man in my life!!!

4 Generations of Rychlinski's/Riggs'

Happy 80th Birthday DziaDzia!!! We're so happy to have been in Pennsylvania to celebrate with you!!!

Thanks mom and dad for a wonderful trip and for all of your help with Caitlyn!

We're Back!!!

Well, I thought I had it in me to post my favorite pics of our Pennsylvania trip... but then realized that I took well over 200 pictures. I will find time after work tomorrow to pick my favorites and then blog about our good time. It's good to be back! Stay Tuned!

My buddy, Luke, from work let me borrow his camera for our trip and he taught me a few things about photography...

so I think I have some great pictures!!!

9 years and 1 day...

...or 2 years. Monday, we celebrated our 2 year wedding anniversary. The day before we have been together for 9 years. We totally planned to get married close to our original dating anny (kinda corny, I know) At least I'm not counting months anymore (I stopped after our 100 month anny). We celebrated with a special dinner at C.I. Shennanigans on the waterfront in Tacoma. We plan on going to the beach when I return from Pennsylvania and Ash returns from Arizona and Mexico next month.

Top 10 Reasons I love my Husband of 2 years

1. He is so kind and has the biggest heart.

2. He makes me smile and laugh... a lot!

3. He is a great cooker, cleaner, helper, and an overall hardworker.

4. He keeps me and our life together very organized
5. He is hot as hell (especially his very kissable lips)!!!

6. He doesn't laugh (too hard) when I get teary over little things

7. He loves me

8. He helped make Caitlyn :)... and loves her!

9. He is such an amazing Father!

10. He makes me look forward to forever!!!

Oh man, I am gonna miss him so much. Caitlyn and I leave in a few hours to Pennsylvania. We'll be back on the 10th... Stay tuned for a bunch of family pics.

The Cake Crew

Caitlyn and I met with a fun group of mom's and their children at the Point Defiance Zoo. We walked around with our new friends, Jodi & Sophie, Hillary & Henry, and Camela & Jack, we enjoyed looking at the elephants, monkeys, goats and the tiger.

This is Caitlyn waiting in the sunshine to meet her new friends.

From left to right... Jack, Sophie, Henry, and Caitlyn.

Afterwards, we headed to a small soup restaurant and then to a bakery. We all enjoyed some delicious soup and decadent chocolate cake. I look forward to many more walks with our new friends. I then went over to pick up my Mom and Yssim, we also went for a walk on the Tacoma water front. The weather was perfect for a day filled with walking.

I accidently cut my mom outta the picture... sorry mom!Caitlyn was vary amazed at the waterfront...

She loved listening and watching the waves gently crash onto the rocky shore.

A Privilege

This morning I had the privilege of watching my best friends baby!!! She is so darn precious. She has bright blue eyes and the longest eyelashes I've ever seen on a baby. She was a little cuddlebug and Caitlyn loved watching her. At first, I had no idea how to handle 2 babes...for one second they both cried and I sat down and picked them both up in my lap ...then they were happy. I think Caitlyn was a little jealous of the attention I was giving Avery so she reached over and took out Avery's pacifier. Avery handled it like a champ. I forgot how tiny Caitlyn once was. I am so happy and feel very privileged that Tiffany trusted me enough to watch her little angel.

Thanks Tiffany, Kory, and Avery for a good couple of hours!

Routine Visit to the Doctor's

We had Caitlyn's 6 month check up this morning. She did amazing! She weighed in at 14 pounds and 1 ounce (10th percentile), she was 27 inches long (90th percentile), and her head measured in the 75th percentile. She's still our little 'string bean'. She had some more immunizations today and screamed for only a few seconds... then I held and nursed her to sleep. She then slept for the car ride home and woke up around 1:45pm, she finally tuckered out until 3:30pm. Ashley and I spent the day rotating who was holding and comforting her while the other did some household chores... Now, we have 4 loads of laundry complete, 3 bathrooms clean, 2 sparkling vehicles, and 1 babe who got some extra special attention from mom and dad today... thanks to all those presidents (Ashley had today off of work). She finally went back to sleep about a half hour ago... and I am heading there shortly.

I had to post this picture...even though Valentine's Day is over, we found this headband wrapped in a valentines gift bag (thanks to our household cleaning).Thanks Aunt Tami, Uncle Larry, Morgan, and Natalie

Class of 1999

Ashley and I both graduated from Stadium High School in 1999... Well, when they did the renovation of the building, they sold engraveble bricks. Today, Ashley, Caitlyn, Vicki, Scarlet, and I ventured back to the old high school in hopes to find our brick. After about ten minutes of searching... We found it! Proud Graduates of SHS! Afterwards, we took advantage of the wonderful spring-like weather and walked around the historic Stadium district of Tacoma. The day was beautiful!

Spring is in the Air

Saturday, Ashley and I transplanted a hydrangea plant, a peanut butter tree (the leaves smell like peanut butter... I have no idea what it's really called), and a lot of ferns from my parents' yard to ours. Keep your fingers crossed that they live through the transfer.

This is a picture of Caitlyn helping us in the yard.

New Friends

Today, Caitlyn and I met our new friends, Jodi and Sophie for coffee and conversation at the Mandolin cafe. I work with Jodi's husband at the hospital and we have had many conversations about her. Sophie is three months older than Caitlyn and when Caitlyn was born, I emailed Jodi for lots of 'new mom' advice. She had invited me to go walking with her and a group of other mothers but at the time... I felt too new as a mom which made me nervous. I finally was able to join her for coffee today and I don't know why I waited so long. I had a blast talking for almost three hours about babies, motherhood, work, and other fun stuff. I hope to join her and her other friends at the Point Defiance Zoo next Friday! Thanks Jodi and Sophie for a fun day!

Sophie is the spittin' image of her daddy, Jim. She has the most beautiful eyes and very long eyelashes.

The Day of Love

What a lovely day today was. Caitlyn spent the day with my mom while I was at work (eating way too many goodies from the Valentine's Bake Sale). I picked her up and headed home where Ashley prepared me a candlelit, lamb and creamy asparagus rotini dinner. It was delicious! Only 11 more days til our 2 year Anniversary!

My sweet Valentine dressed pretty in her Valentine's Day outfit!

The 2 loves of my life!

Happy Day of LOVE!!!

6 Months

Caitlyn turned 1/2 a year on Saturday. It was my weekend to work so Caitlyn spent the day with her daddy. The day started with her and daddy playing. We bought her a new jumping toy so she played in it. Then Grandma came and picked them both up to go shopping... he bought Caitlyn the most beautiful stand up mirror for her nursery. Then they stopped by my work to say hello. I fed Caitlyn (which was great cause nursing her is a thousand times more enjoyable than pumping at work). Then they were on there way to have lunch with pappy.

Ashley fed Caitlyn carrots for the first time... which she enjoyed! When I got home we ordered pizza, filmed Caitlyn, and played with her until it was time for bed. What a great 6 month birthday!

Half a year has gone by so fast. I love celebrating her months of life. It gives Ashley and I a chance to slow down a little and really celebrate how lucky we are to have such an amazing, happy, and healthy babygirl!

I can't imagine my life without little Caitlyn.

Election Year

Twenty years ago, my mom took me up to the University of Puget Sound to hear Democratic Presidential Candidate Michael Dukakis speak. Today... my Mom, Caitlyn, and I walked up to the University of Puget Sound to hear Democratic Presidential Candidate, Hillary Clinton speak. The Washington State Nurses Association and the American Nurses Association both are endorsing Hillary Clinton, so I thought (since I'm a nurse) it would be an exciting and memorable experience for all of us to go and hear what she has to say... and because I am a nurse, we got to the front of the line. Many people... mostly nurses and other healthcare workers gathered to support her. We were about 6 rows from her podium and she was speaking about universal healthcare for all ages and said, "I see we have a little baby here today" and she pointed right at Caitlyn. I have not decided yet as to who I am going to vote for... but this sure was a fun experience. We are making history as she is our first ever female presidential candidate. Hopefully, when Caitlyn grows older she will be happy I took her along today! Tomorrow... she turns half a year!!!

Catching Up

I haven't blogged in a few days... so I thought I'd better post a few good pics of Caitlyn. She is growing at lightening speed. Here are a few of Ash's and my favorite pics of her lately... Enjoy!

Here she is staying warm during all the freezing weather we've been having.

This is her in a new sweater, made by Sara (Ashley's cousin). We think she looks like a movie star! This is us on Super Bowl Sunday. I love the dress she's wearing. It was a gift from Ash's Aunt, I remember opening it last July and picturing how cute it would be on her... and here she is in it. Time flies!

Another try at rice cereal... Although you can't tell in this picture... she's getting better at swallowing it.