9 Months

Happy 9 Months of life to our little Caitlyn Leigh! Yesterday we went to the mall with Tiffany, Kory, and their daughter Avery to have pictures taken of the two little ones. We had a wonderful time... and I can't wait to post some of the pics we got. Caitlyn has her 9 month check-up on monday... so I will post more then!

Finished Project

I have been meaning to post this picture for a couple weeks now... it is of Cait and I resting right before bedtime with the blanket that I crocheted for her. My mom and I started the blanket while we were in PA and she taught me how to continue on... then I would do a row, then my mom would, then I would... and so on. I took a break from it when I got home and started it again just a couple weeks ago and finished it. I love cuddling with her in it.

She uses it as her night time and nap time blanket.

Congratulations, Scarlet!

Friday, Ashley, Caitlyn, and I drove to eastern Washington to celebrate Scarlet's graduation from nursing school. Scarlet wore my nursing honor cords since I never wore them or went to my graduate school commencement. We are very proud of all her hard work and know that she'll pass the NCLEX with flying colors!
Even though the graduation was right in the middle of Caitlyn's nap time... she did really well the whole trip. Well... she did well with the driving and the behaving during the ceremony and then it came time to sleep at the hotel... which she didn't do at all, but then she made up for it on the ride home the next day and the following night.

Sleepless Sunday

Sunday night started like a normal night. Caitlyn went to sleep in her room around 8:30pm. I decided to stay up and watch some tv... Well, after the 11 o'clock news... Caitlyn started crying. It didn't sound like her usual "maybe I'll fuss a little & go back to sleep-cry". It was an, "I'm awake & someboddy better come and check on me NOW-Cry!" So that's what I did. I found Caitlyn standing in her crib staring at the door waiting for me to come in and play! I tried giving her the pacifier, rocking her, nursing her, singing, and reading to her. Nothing worked... so I sat her on the floor and we PLAYED at MIDNIGHT!

If Caitlyn could talk... I know that this is what she'd have said!

Come and play with me, mom!
If you are too tired... I can play with my teddy bear.
My teddy bear must be tired too.

Come on, Mom... play with me!

I guess I'll try to find Roger... he loves to play with me!
I found him... Quick...take our picture! I'm getting tired... will you please tuck me in again?
Good night, Mom... I sure love you and thanks for playing with me til 2am!

Sweet dreams!

Beautiful Weekend

What a BEAUTIFUL Saturday!!!

My friend Nadia & I started the day by running our 6th annual YMCA run for kids. We were joined this year by Ashley, Caitlyn, my Mom, Ash's Mom, Dad, sister, and Nadia's main squeeze, Mark. I entered the stroller division for the first time this year. Nadia, Caitlyn, and I finished the 5k in 38 minutes!!! After the race Ashley , Caitlyn And I spent the whole day out in the yard. Ash reseeded our grass and I weeded all of our beds, while Caitlyn crawled on a huge blanket and played in the sun... it was 78 degrees!!! I loaded Caitlyn up with sunscreen and had her in her pretty sun hat. She didn't get sunburnt but her dad and I did.

Sunday, Ashley and I cleaned and scrubbed the entire house. We finished all the loads of laundry and even put all of it away. It was a very productive day!!! We then went to church for our "Back to the Basics" class then out to the Olive Garden for some yummy food.

I absolutely love my weekends off with my family!

Caitlyn loved playing in the sunshine!
Oh yeah... and she crawls all over the place now!

(check out the hot behind in the background!)

She loves playing with bottles. Here she is with our empty OJ bottle and a gatorade bottle. She loves to bang them on the ground and make noise.
AND she pulls herself up on everthing... even my pant leg. She loves to stand! She walks around our coffee table then reaches so hard for our couch then walks all around our couch.

She's really on the move now!!!

8 Months!

Caitlyn turned 8 months today!So, last night, I set Caitlyn in her crib for the night and next thing we know Caitlyn was being a little fussy... so Ash and I entered the room and to our surprise... Caitlyn was sitting upright waiting for us to come and...play?!?! It was the first time she sat up in her crib by herself... So naturally, on her "8 months of life" day, we videotaped all her fun new talents AND lowered her crib to its lowest position.

1st Ever Family Photo

Here are just 2 of the pictures that we got on our first ever family photo shoot. We had a blast getting these done.

Caitlyn was in such a happy mood.

I smile everytime I look at this next one. I love her face in it...

She is so darn precious!

She is tucking her bottom lip which she does in order to make the "mmm" sound.

She's said "mumma" a few times now. She has also crawled a few times. She just does about 3 crawls then she rolls over.

She is learning and growing so fast!

My Snuggle Bunny

Just wanted to post a cute picture of my sweetpea!

I love how her eyes twinkle!

Fuscias and So Much More...

I love Fuscia Saturdays! Freddy's was having a big fuscia sale where you buy the plants of your choice and they pot them in their special soil for free... So, naturally... I bought a ton of fuscias, geraniums, and petunias!!! My mom and Vicki met at my house at 8:30am this morning and we were off to the Fred Meyer Fuscia Frenzie! We arrived and the fun began. We split up and started filling our cart with a ton of flowers and then realized that the line for planting was clear out the door (and that was after it wrapped around the inside a few times). I decided to hold our place in line while my mom and mother in law fought for the flowers. 45 minutes later we had ourselves some beautifully planted fuscia planters. Then we realized that were was a lot more than fuuscias for sale... So we went in for round 2 and bought a ton of geraniums, petunias, and an assortment of basket fillers. I can't wait for the freezing to be over so that I can take these pretty planters and put them on display in our yard. We talked and we will definitely be attending Fuscia Saturday next year... we've even plotted some new plans!
Thanks for a fun morning!

Here we are almost to the front of the line.

My Mom and Vicki standing in Ash's truck filled with flowers
Vicki with more flowers in the bed of the truck!
Vicki's car!
My Mom's car
My driveway filled with assorted flowers!
Stay tuned for pictures of Caitlyn helping plant these pretty plants!

Happy Birthday, Mandy!!!

My brother's girlfiend, Mandy!!!

Hope you have a special Day

Easter Day

Besides the stormy weather...Easter was a beautiful day. It started by us waking up and giving Caitlyn her 1st ever easter basket, which included...a stuffed teddy bear, pears and prunes!!! Ashley and I exchanged Easter gifts and then got ready for church. Church service went well . My mom played in the bell choir and they sounded beautiful. After church, everyone gathered at my house for Easter dinner. My family and Ashley's family all came for a total of 19 people!!! The food and the company was great. Thank you to everyone who brought Caitlyn some Easter gifts!!! Here are just a few pictures of Caitlyn on her 1st Easter. Enjoy!!!

Aren't they precious in their robes?!?!?

(yes... ash is wearing my pretty lavender robe :)

Caitlyn exploring her 1st basket of goodies.
The tatsie la la, Caitlyn.
She received this headband from Ash's Aunt Tami and Uncle Larry.
Her getting into her toy basket. Saturday night, Ashley, Caitlyn, and I decorated eggs.

This is the egg Caitlyn decorated all by herself.

(it fell on the ground and cracked)

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!!!