Happy 2009!!!

So there's nothing that I hate more than admitting that my mom is right about anything, and as I've gotten older it's become more and more clear that she's right about alot. She always said that once you turn 18 everything is just downhill and time goes by in a snap - I never realized how true that statement was. It literally seems like yesterday I found out I was pregnant with Riley - it seems like just yesterday that I found out I was pregnant with Paige! Now Paige will be 10 this year, Maddie 7 and Riley 1 - although she's got awhile till that happens but still - she's almost 5 months as it is. Speaking of age.....I turn the big 3-0 this year - yikes!!!! It's just crazy how fast it's all gone by. Paul and I have been together for almost 11 years and that seems like it's flown by too. Wasn't it just yesterday that I was dancing around with my friend Amanda when I turned around to see the hottest guy I'd ever seen right behind me and BAM!! 11 years has just slipped by like nothing. I'm trying to take in everything the girls are doing and taking lots of pictures because they just grow more and more every day! I'm so happy that going into the new year all of my family is not only healthy but pretty happy. A nice home, food on the table, warmth, clothes - all the things that many people this past year haven't been able to keep or have. Hopefully 2009 will be just as Full as 2008 was! So thru all this rambling......Happy New Year to everyone!! May it be healthy, happy and prosperous!!!
Happy New Year!!!


Yeah they're CUTE!!!

Christmas is Done.....Now on to 2009!!

So glad Christmas is over with! The pressure to find all the gifts the kids have their heart set on and all the energy of wrapping and making it to everyone's house is all done until next year - YEA!! Riley got to enjoy her very first Christmas though so that was very special! Paige and Maddie are such good big sisters to Riley and they really seemed to enjoy watching Riley slowly open her gifts (Paul and I really opened them for her but we tried and tried to get her to do it but she is only 4 months old ;) ) Paige and Maddie were spoiled with tons of gifts as always but there's nothing better that seeing their faces light up as they come out on Christmas morning to see what Santa brought for them. Maddie has been asking for a bike like Paiges - which is a trick bike or something with pegs called a Mongoose and Maddie wanted a pink one while Paige has her blue one and Maddie tries to ride it all the time - so Santa must've thought she was pretty great this year! Paige had an electric scooter as her Santa gift so of course she was great too this year and go herself the coolest little motor scooter type Vespa scooter - I can ride it too (and I did - for safety reasons of course) and it's freaking hysterical!! Riley asked for an activity center of since she's the best baby ever ;) she got that and is loving playing with all the different little toys attached to it! I got a HOT Coach purse that I really wanted among many other things that my wonderful hubby remembers that I've mentioned and Paul go some stuff to work on his car with and some Philadelphia Eagles stuff - all around we had the best day - but I'm still glad Christmas is over ...... at least until next year!!!

Not only does she roll but......

She's also 4 months old today!!! Riley started rolling from her tummy to her back recently!! It really does seem like just yesterday I was going into the hospital to have her. I'm amazed that she's so big already and thriving and growing like a little flower! She's a pretty great baby although she does have her crazy baby moments don't get me wrong. Had the normal 4 months check-up appt and of course Riles had to get shots and I sat in the corner while Paul held her down. She didn't cry for too long - that's the beauty of being a baby I guess - short memory! Riley is growing like she's supposed to and she could start on rice cereal but I'm just not ready to stop exclusively nursing her yet - maybe next month :)

RyRy at 4 months!!!

Winter Wonderland

Ok so maybe it wasn't a complete Winter Wonderland but for this area of Texas it was as wintery as it's been in awhile. It was a pretty nice sunny day and then we went out to dinner and walked out to coldness and rain. It was FREEZZZZZZINGGGGG!!! Then it started pouring and lightening then the temp started dropping like crazy. We'd only been home for just a bit when I looked outside and saw the sleet coming down. After that Paige and Maddie checked outside about a million times because they just knew that it was going to snow. Finally the snow started to come down and it got pretty thick for awhile - so out went Paige and Maddie to enjoy what we consider a snowstorm ;) Thank goodness they went out that night because, sadly, by the morning it looked like it had never even snowed. Maybe we'll get some more later this winter, but if not at least we enjoyed what little we did get!

Thanksgiving!

My absolute FAVORITE holiday!! I love the fact that you get to have turkey and all the trimmings and none of the pressure of making sure every gift is wrapped under the tree and everyone has "enough" and how long are we going to stay at this persons house and what time will you be there. Thanksgiving is about being together as a family and being so thankful for everything you have and remembering how nice it is to have everyone around that you love around you. This year we have even more reasons to be thankful - Miss Riley! She's happy, healthy and just the sweetest baby! Although she won't be able to enjoy any of the yummy food I'm just happy that she's here and with us. I'm also thankful for my sweeties, Paige and Maddie, who are also healthy and for the most part happy ;) They have been the BEST big sisters and great kids! Paul and I have truly been blessed with these girls - although check back with me in a few years when the ol' puberty kicks into high gear - YIKES!! I'm thankful for my whole family being in good health. I'm thankful for my mom, sisters and brother, and my grandparents who are like parents to me. I'm thankful for my sweet little house and all the love it contains. On a silly, more material note I'm thankful for direct tv, the internet and my computer, hot hot water and long baths/showers, the hot tub, white wine, Nordstrom and their shoe department, getting back into shape slowly but surely, kit kats, Dr Pepper, coffee with tons of half and half and sugar, Chicken Fried Steak, Jack Bauer and 24, Sean Hannity, and on a not so silly note - I'm thankful to all the men and women who put their lives on the line every day to make sure that me and my loved ones are safe and sound. Last but never least I am more than thankful for my wonderful husband, Paul. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would marry someone who was the best father and husband you could ever ask for. Not only is he in a house full of women (even the dog is a girl) and outnumbered in every way but he never complains when we need him to do something on a Sunday and it's football time or when the girls and I drag him into a million different girlie stores - Paul just takes the baby and walks her around in her stroller and waits for us to get whatever we need and move on. Paul always puts us first and never complains. I could not have ever asked for a better husband, life partner, co-parent, partner-in-crime, and just best friend. I'm thankful that he puts up with all my craziness and chose me to be his wife. I don't know what or where I'd be with out all of his love and support and I'm greatful and thankful everyday for him and the three wonderful beautiful little girls that we have and count every day as a blessing!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! May you stuff yourselves silly and have all of your wonderful family around to enjoy!!

Look at this 3 month old cutie!

Can't believe Miss Riles is already 3 months old!! Time is going by so fast and Riley is getting so big and developing her little personality - she's not just a little blob (thank you Angelina Jolie) she's a little person. I'm enjoying this baby so much - she smiles when she wakes up, hardly cries (she's only a little demanding :) ) and we all fight over who gets to hold her!

Sadness in the Wallace household....

Our beloved 4Runner has driven it's last mile with our family. While driving down the road it threw a rod (every mechanic we spoke to thought we were joking because they had NEVER heard of that happening on a Toyota) and after much debate and going back and forth about fixing it and having it for a few more months or just selling it and putting money towards a new car - we had to go with the new car :( It was such a sad day when the 4Runner was sent off to it's new owner and we went off to the dealership to start a new relationship with a new car. As nice as it is to get a new car and have everything smelling new, looking new and under a wonderful warranty it was just as nice to have no car payment and my baby here. Hopefully the 4Runner is bringing as much love and happiness to their family as it did to me and mine. So long old friend......

Happy Halloween!!!

We had a great night of trick-or-treating!! The girls got tons of candy (which I am now eating my way through) and everywhere we went people told the girls how much they loved their costumes - YEA!! Paige and Maddie were hula girls and Riley was a little lobster! Thank goodness it was warm weather so the hula girls didn't freeze their grass skirts off :)
Sweet Hula Girls and a Yummy Little Lobster!



Yummy Lobster!!

Where did the time go???

Baby Riley is already 2 months old!! Time has just flown by. Riley had her 2 month well-baby check with shots and all :( She's growing right on track - weighing in at 11 lbs and measuring 22 inches long. She's in the 50% percentile for her weight and head and a little under that for her length. She's so different from Paige who was always in the 90th to 100% for head, weight, and length and then Maddie was always a teeny little 10th percentile for everything so Riley is a middle of the road baby. After all the measuring and the doctor answering any questions came the really awful, horrible, gut-wrenching part - SHOTS! I sat in the corner while Paul had to hold Riley's arms down so they could give her shots in her little baby legs. The look on her face and the cries - it never gets any easier and I've been through this twice before. Riley was just looking up at Paul with this face like - What are you doing to me and why?? It was the saddest thing I've seen in a long time. Probably since the last time Maddie got shots. We all survived though and Riley had some pain but she's gotten past her pain - good thing about being a baby - you don't remember that awful pain.
Happy before her shots...


Daddy holding Riles before the pain....

Oh the Pain....poor baby

Doc Visit

So Riley's already had to make a trip to the doctor's office and it wasn't for shots or something that should be scheduled - nope - the poor baby got a little virus :(
It's not surprising she caught something since Paige and Maddie are at school and probably bring home all kinds of nasty little germs and they run right over to Riley and start kissing on her and get right in her face. So Riley gets a goopey eye. We took her in to the doc and not only did she have a goopey eye but she also had some sort of little virus - but no fever or other nastiness - so no meds just pedialite. Poor poor baby!! I'm just glad it wasn't anything worse. She's much better now - YEA!

So Much....

So much has happened since my last post. Paige and Maddie started school the last week of August (YEA!!). Paige is now in the 4th grade and Maddie is in 1st. Time has just flown by and it really makes me sad that they aren't babies anymore - they are little people who think they're big adults! The things these kids have to know now in the elementary grades is just crazy!! Paige is starting to learn about Geometry - is that not nuts?? Geometry isn't something I even thought about until Jr High or High School and now in 4th grade they start to touch on it. First grade is just as insane. Homework every week and math, reading, and tons of other work that makes me too tired to think about :) The girls are both doing great though and still enjoy going to school so I guess I can't ask for too much more than that ;)

Other big milestones is Miss Riley officially turning a month old! She's been eating and sleeping and just generally being cute! She can already hold her head up and I think she's going to be a fast learner who's running after her 2 older sisters. I can't believe my baby is already a month old - it seems like it's going by so fast and I'm just trying to soak up all the time with her that I can!

2 Weeks and Going Strong!!

Riley is 2 weeks old today and just amazing! She hardly cries, loves to eat, and is a great sleeper!!! She had to go in for her 2 week check-up today and she's right on track! Riley also had to get her little heel pricked again (she had it done in the hospital and let out one cry and was done) and this time RyRy did the most pitiful cry I think I've ever heard. Paul held her little hand and rubbed her cheek while I sat in the chair and got teary-eyed. She's an awesome little baby and I'm so happy she's here - I feel that we are a complete family - for now because who knows what the future holds ;)!!!!

She's Here!!!!!

Friday, August 15th our sweet little Riley Sloane made her way into the world!! She is the sweetest little thing I've ever seen (well in 6 years because Maddie was the sweetset thing and before that Paige was the sweetest thing) and is just a quite, good-natured baby. When she came out she was yawning if that tells you anything about her being a good sleeper! She has dark hair and blue eyes with long lashes (thank goodness she got Paul's eyelashes and not mine) and she is just a tiny little thing. She was a planned C-Section and although I'd been through it before with Maddie, she was an emergency c-section, I had 9 months to dwell and think and freak-out about what was going to be happening so I was scared to death. My doctor is so great though and of course Paul was in the operating room with me and held my hand the whole time. Paul has been an absolutely wonderful husband too. He's gotten up no matter the time day or night and gets me whatever I need and helps out with everything. Paige and Maddie have also been helping out with everything too and not complaining - which has been a nice surprise. The girls LOVE their baby sister so much that it just makes me want to cry! While we were in the hospital Baby Riley was the favorite of the nursery. I was told this by the nurses I'm not just being biased :) I'm so glad she's here and I just stare at her constantly. They change and grow so fast. We are a truly blessed family.

Mom, Dad, and Baby Riley....

She's Almost Here!!!

We're about to meet baby Riley and we're all very excited!! Everything's about to change in our household and Paige and Maddie have no idea what's about to be going on here. Can't wait to see this sweet baby and hold her and just love on her!

O popular

Since I've been pregnant I've had my blood drawn about a million times - human pin cushion basically. Paul and I were talking about blood-types and I had just asked the nurse the day before what mine was (and I'd asked about 20 times before that because I can't remember ANYTHING lately) when Maddie walked in. Maddie asked what we were talking about and I told her "We're talking about blood-types" and of course Maddie asked what that was so we explained to her what that meant. She asked what type she was and being the wonderful mother that I am I said I didn't know because I hadn't thought to ask her pediatrician (I'm horrible I know) and we told her all about the different kinds that were out there. So she asked me what mine was and I told her. She looks at us both in all seriousness and says "Well, my blood-type is O-popular" and walks off. Paul and I look at eachother and just bust out laughing. She was so serious and so sure of what she was saying. This kid just cracks us up constantly because we never know what she's going to say, wear, do - she's just her own little person and she doesn't conform or care what anyone else thinks. We have no idea what to expect from Maddie as she gets older but I'm sure she'll always keep it interesting :)

Wonderful Babyshower!

I had the best babyshower with all the people I love making sure to take good care of Riley and me! Paul and I got rid of everything about 1 1/2 to 2 yrs ago so basically it was like us being first time parents with the need for EVERYTHING!!! It was a really great day and everything looked so nice and my hostess' and mom did such a great job! It was a wonderful day and I can't wait to see Riley wear and use all the great things she got!

My cute cake...



Me with my little Thing 1, 2, and soon-to-be 3!!

Me with my Mom...

Sisters...

Happy Birthday Paiger-Paige!!

Today marks the 9th birthday of my amazing baby! It was so crazy and such an amazing and scary experience all at the same time. Paul and I were so young and dumb it's amazing that Paige has turned out to be such a smart, wonderful, beautiful child that I thank god everyday for her (even the days she's driving me crazy with her thinking she's an adult attitude!) July 9, 1999 at 7:10 Paige Reese came into this world "sunny side up" as the doctor said. She slept and ate constantly and was pretty perfect! Paul and I think she slept so much because she knew 2 idiots were making a go of raising her - we've done pretty great so far!

Happy Birthday Sweetie!!!
We Love You!!
Paigey thru the years....

It was a Happy 4th!!

We had a great time and it wasn't too hot! Happy 4th!

Ahhhhh Babymoons!

Paul and I just got back from a wonderfully relaxing trip to Cabo or from a "babymoon". The girls were shipped off to Grandma's for a week and we went and just layed around the pool and had lots of cold drinks. No schedules, no worries, and no cell phones to interrupt our time together before baby Riley gets here. Paul of course could indulge in the frozen alcoholic goodies but I couldn't. Oh well. It really wasn't that bad. I had bunches of frozen drinks - just all virgin. The Miami Vice was nice and cold and the view from our infinity pool was awesome. The Arch was across from our pool so while we were out tanning and drinking we could look across the water at it. It was really beautiful. I never had to get up to do or get anything either because Paul just jumped right up and took GREAT care of me! It was a perfect way to get ready for Riley!




Us in front of the Arch

Paul getting a sufring lesson

the water was COLDDDD!!!!

So beautiful....

Happy Birthday Maddie B!!!!

My super sweet and super tiny baby Maddie turns 6 today! At 11am on June 10, 2002 (and after an emergency c-section) Madeline Belle made her big debut! She was a such a good baby! Always happy to wake up, always happy to see me, Dad, and Paige, and always hungry! She may look more like Paul but she's a serious Mommy's girl! We can't imagine our lives without her!

Happy 6th Birthday Maddie!!

Maddie thru the years..... Dimple Baby!

Meet the Newest Wallace!!

Well it only took 3 sonograms and a trip to the 3D/4D sonogram place but we were finally able to see that we are having a.........

GIRL!!!!

Was there really any doubt (for me and Paul - no) but everything is on track and this baby is healty and where she should be - growing like a weed! We are very happy and relieved that the doc said she's healthy and there's no apparent health problems. The girls were with us when we found out and they were jumping all over the place saying "It's a GIRL, it's a GIRL!" and then they'd stop jumping around and look at us and ask if we were sure it was a girl and once we'd say yes they'd start the jumping all over again. Paige and Maddie are both very excited and have told me they will help me with everything - except diapers :)

We've decided on a name, Riley Sloane, Paul picked Riley and I picked Sloane and we have already been saying Riley this and Riley that and Maddie and Paige both talk to my stomach and call her Riley! I can't wait to meet this little lady in person and hold her in my arms. Paul and the girls are ready to snuggle up with her too! Paige and Maddie will be the best big sisters and they're so cute and excited about Baby Riley! Paul of course will be the best dad (he already is to our first two babies) and he had been taking seriously great care of me. I literally don't have to lift a finger and he just wants to take care of me constantly - I love him more than anything!! I'm too lucky :)

Here are some pictures of Baby Riley from our 3D session although she didn't really want to cooperate that day either - hmmmmm wonder what this is saying for her when she's out here with us!

She's shy - or she just can't be bothered!

Baby Riley side-shot....

We all think she's singing into her "microphone"