Cavity Free

Caitlyn Leigh is Cavity Free!!!

She had her first dentist experience and actually did wonderfully. She sat in my lap on the dentists chair and opened her mouth at the appropriate times. I was so afraid she'd try to bite the dentist's fingers... but she didn't!  Caitlyn got to pick out a sticker and a toy (she picked out a hot wheels truck)  and there were cookies in the waiting room... This is her afterwards, while I loaded Ashton into the car seat, she waited patiently with her cookie and napkin. Such a sweetie...

Maybe later I'll post how she's doing since I've cut her off of the pacifier... cold turkey!

In Mom's Shoes

Caitlyn's has found interest in my shoes for a while now,

but today she was interested in walking around the entire house...

including the stairs!

Baby Whisperer

Yesterday, when I posted about our trip, I realized that I had no pictures of my mom. I thought all night about how and why that happened... and decided that it was probably because she spent a lot of time washing, waxing, cooking, cleaning, and...

baby whispering!

Ashley and I nicknamed my mom the Baby Whisperer while we were camping because after he and I would spend an hour or two wrestling with Caitlyn to take a nap, she would come in and give us a break and all she'd have to say is, "Caitlyn, it's time to rest your eyes" and I swear to you, she'd fall right to sleep. There were even some times she'd say, "Caitlyn, I can tell you're getting sleepy" and Caitlyn would agree and they'd both go into the camper and go right to sleep. AMAZING!!! Since we've been back from camping, I've tried using both of these lines. They sure as heck don't work for me. Thanks, Mom for all your help at the camper! Even though there are no pictures to prove it... Ashley and I especially will never forget your presence at camping 2009!
Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you!

Kite Festival 2009

This year my Mom, Dad, Me and my children went down to the beach a few days before the rest of the family cause my parents wanted to get some maintenence done around our site. Well... those days that my parents were working were spent like this...... after a few HOURS of walking, they'd both end up like this...Before everyone arrived, my Dad and I found our 1st Geocaches. Searching for them was so much fun that when everyone else arrived, we found a few more. This is something we will definitely be doing more of!

Here is a collage of just a few of the hundreds of pictures I shot at the beach... Caitlyn had a blast feeding the seagulls and running towards the waves!








And here are a few random camping shots of everyone. Enjoy! We all love the Long Beach, Washington Kite Festival and look forward to next year... We sure missed Mandy!!!

4 Months

Ashton turned 4 months while we were at the beach. At his 4-month check-up, he weighed 13 pounds and 13 ounces and was 25 1/4 inches. He loves to hold on and stand and he prefers sucking his fist over his pacifier. He smiles whenever some one looks at him and he giggles at all the funny noises we make at him. He is just as precious as can be and we love him more than yesterday and less than tomorrow.

Mickey Mouse Club House...

... was the theme of Caitlyn's oh so fun 2nd Birthday!

We had such a fun time celebrating with all of our family and friends. Caitlyn is so blessed to have all of you in her life. Her day was absolutely wonderful... she even cooperated and took a good nap before everyone came over.

(click to enlarge)

After everyone left, we videotaped Caitlyn a little more and then watched her entire tape that we've been working on since she was born. I laughed and cried and by the end of it we were all pretty pooped so we went straight to bed. ******************************************

Caitlyn had her 2 year check up today and she did amazing! She out grew the growth chart on her height (higher than 100%) and jumped from the less than 5th percentile to the 20th (the highest she's ever been in her life) in weight.

We truly are blessed to have such a happy and healthy 2 year old! Happy Birthday, (again) Caitlyn Leigh...

We hope all your birthday wishes come true!

Caitlyn Turns 2 Today!!!

Just a few reasons I absolutely LOVE my 2 year old!

Caitlyn Leigh...

I love waking up to you every morning, I love the way you kiss your hand and wave good bye to me on the days I go to work. I love that you are getting better at communicating through sign and words! I love that you love cinnamon rolls and that you really love love love your dad! I love that you are totally into copying everything I do even if it is something like trying to put on my face cream or hairspray (although it probably doesn't seem like I love it at the time). I love that you are one of the most affectionate and gentle toddlers I have ever met. I love that you rubbed your Dad's back until he fell asleep last night. I love your blond curly hair and how you are the spittin' image of your dad! I love that you sing to me in the car and when I sing to you, you try dancing with your brother by tugging on his arm. I love when you come and give me hugs and especially kisses when I don't even ask. I love the way you fall to the ground when singing ring around the rosie. I love the way you get scared to talk to the elephant on the phone but then can't stop talking about it for days. I love how you listen for your brother on his monitor and the second he makes a peep, you let me know ash is up and you run upstairs to check on him. I love the way you run into my legs and hug me when you are super excited or scared. I love the way your tiny feet look in salt water sandals. I love that you can talk to me in long sign sentences. I love the way your voice gets so excited for cinnamon rolls and you yell, "roll roll!" I love that you know how to open all the doors in our house now, even if it has made nap time a little difficult. I love how you squeal with excitement and run to the door every time any of our family comes over to visit. I love watching you sleep and I love even more that you are sleeping right now so I can write about how much I LOVE YOU! I love that you challenge me every day to be the best Mom that I know how to be.

Thank you sweet Caitlyn Leigh for being so darn lovable!

Happy 2nd Birthday!

August Update

Caitlyn- Turns 2 next weekend and is loving life! She is a very affectionate little toddler; she loves to cuddle and hug and kiss, but when she’s tired… she also loves to kick, scream, and pinch (which we’re working on). She gave up on her toddler bed and now falls asleep with us and we then transfer her into her own room where she will then sleep the entire night…. Wait… I’ll update you more on her for her birthday post in 8 days!!!

Ashton- Is as sweet as can be. He actually is back to eating and sleeping a lot… I think we’re getting ready for a big growth spurt. He really enjoys watching Caitlyn and is really calm and smiley when she’s close by… unless she’s trying to pick him up (which she does often to give him hugs), but really it looks like she’s just squeezing the heck out of him and I don’t think he likes it too much… yet! He enjoys tummy time and sitting upright in the swing and bouncy chairs. He doesn’t sleep well in our room, so he’s been in his own room and crib for a while now (he’s a real noisy little sleeper). He goes off and on with sleeping through the night.

Ashley- is the most wonderful husband in the WORLD!!! Really, he is the best partner I could ask for. He had his first weekend alone with the children and when I came home the house was spotless and the kids were happy… what more could I ask for?!? He was Caitlyn’s swim coach in her recent swim lessons (I absolutely LOVED watching them swim and sing together). He definitely knows how to keep our family functional and I’m so thankful for that. Also, we had our 10 year high school reunion last weekend and Ashley and I both had a chance to reconnect with some old friends… it was a lot of fun!

Moi- I just finished my first full week in my new position. It was weird working Monday through Friday, because I’ve never worked full time in my life… (Well I have… but only when I’ve picked up extra shifts)… Thank God for my Mom!!! She’s been watching Cait and JD full time… I know it’s a hard job and I totally 100% appreciate her! Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you!!! I still am trying to lose a ton of pregnancy weight and it’ll be more difficult now with my friend Stacy force feeding me cookies and candy in the office.

Our Family as a Whole- We’ve been trying hard to keep cool, we spent a few nights at my parents house this last week when it was 109 degrees… they have AC! We’ve been BUSY enjoying the summer weather with trips to the park, wii bowling parties, BBQs, weddings, many adventures to the zoo (with Tiff, Avery, and Jax... and also with Grandma and Bubba), wading in the tiny kiddy pool and swimming at my aunt’s really big pool. This summer has been a blast so far and we have a ton of things still to look forward to.

HEAT WAVE!!!

Currently we are experiencing a huge heat wave... Our house is holding still at a cool 88 degrees and according to my little weather station it is 91 degrees at 9pm!!! We're gonna break some record highs tonight at midnight... CRAZY! I have a ton of pics to post but the study is one of the hottest rooms so I only sit in here for a few seconds. I hope all you other moms out there are able to keep your kiddos cool!

Blog Stalkers

I absolutely loved going to my 10 year High School Reunion and having people come up to me and tell me that they 'stalk my blog'.

Thanks for following me and my family and for all of you out there... I swear I will post pics soon...

just not on this very HOT night.

It was my 1st day in my new position.

There is so much to learn, but I love my new team!

Farewell Med/Surg

Today was my last day as a floor RN on the Medical/Surgical unit. I started there on June 4th, 2001 and it has been an amazing 8 years! I have grown and learned and experienced so much. I have made lifetime friends and have so many memories that I will remember for a lifetime.

A few words to describe the past 8 years...

autonomy, annual leave, attitude, and agency

caring, call lights, coffee, cafeteria food, courtyard and on call

chocolate, chaplains, charting and charge nurses

drama, drug seekers, doubles, dues and differentials

empowerment and evaluations

FIT, flatus and FAST

good-bye's, graduations, gossip, Grad school, growth and giving

friendships, frequent flyers and floating

helping, humor and hand washing

low census, loud patients, leadership, laughter and Lake Chelan
MRSA, meetings and medicine

precepting, potlucks, pregnancys, PCA's and pill poppers

rest between shifts, really tired, and retirements

scrubs, SWAT, staff meetings and sick calls

values and Vegas

working out, working over and weekends

*****

I'm sure I could go on forever and even though I was floated to another unit on my very last day...

I wouldn't have changed a thing in these past years ;)

Thank you to all my very good friends and coworkers...

you all have helped me become the nurse that I am today.

This Monday, I will return to work, but in my new role as,

Erin Riggs RN, Care Manager

Yipee!

Birthdays!!!

Happy 27th birthday to Ksavera!!!

We love you tons and tons!Happy Sweet 3 Months to My Little Man, Ashton!

He smiles,

he giggles,

he goo's and ga's,

he watches his big sister like a hawk,

he loves to eat,

he enjoys being upright sitting in my lap,

He's a total sweetie pie

and of course we love him tons too!!

Nobody Believed...

...that we would rock the lightening scar to the

Harry Potter premier..... so we totally did!!!

A Day for the Record Books

Caitlyn AND Ashton have BOTH slept through the night...

and they're STILL sleeping!

Hallelujah!

Budgie Buddies

Caitlyn, Ashton, and I ventured out to the Pt. Defiance Zoo today where Caitlyn made some new feathered friends... Budgies, or budgerigars (brightly-colored Australian birds that eat seeds). We bought a few seed sticks for a buck and they flew right up to us!!! Now picture this- there were no strollers allowed in this exhibit and it was the main reason I wanted to take the kiddos to the zoo, so I unpacked Ashton from the stroller, wrapped the diaper bag around my neck, had Ashton in one arm with my camera phone in that hand, the seed stick in the other, trying to get Caitlyn to stand still so that the budgies would approach us... and low and behold, despite the motherly mess I was... they did! Caitlyn absolutely loved it and she told me (in sign) about a thousand times throughout the day that she fed the hungry birds.

We are for sure going back and you should go too!

Caitlyn's most favorite animal there has always been the elephant. When we first arrived both elephants were on the ground napping. When the other children came up to the elephants, Caitlyn would politely tell them (in sign) to 'sh' cause they are sleeping. We returned later in the day, and they were both awake, swaying their boddies back and forth while shaking their heads. Caitlyn imitated them over and over again until it was time to go home.

We LOVE LOVE LOVE the zoo!