Pain at the pump!

Peyton likes to help with everything that we do...including pumping gas. Normally he just wants to use the window washer and wash the car but today he had other plans.

I had to stop and pump gas on the way home today like any other day. Peyton asked to help and I said yes. He got the window washer and proceeded to clean my car (in the rain) as I pumped gas. Away he went making sure it was clean...he heard the pump click off and ran over and asked to help. I didn't see a problem considering he has done this multiple times before...Lets just say that after today he will not be helping anymore!!!

He was standing right in front of me and all of a sudden the gas "exploded" right in front of us. It scared me silly!!! I grabbed him and fortunately it just got on our clothes and not in our face...praise the Lord!!!

I made him ride home in just his undies and socks...but my car smells like gas and now our clothes continue to smell like it!!! Gross!!! Trying to find a remedy to get the smell out!!!

I guess that was my wake up call as to not let him near the pump ever again... or until he can drive!!!

5 years ago today

Happy Valentine's Day from the Riley's...

We are having a pretty low key day around here. Peyton had his party at school yesterday and he loved getting his cards and candy. As for Valentine's Day, yes it is a day of love, but this day marks something else for Kevin and I. I can remember the day very clearly...and I think I will for the rest of my life.

We had a meeting with Dr. Robin at the New Hope Center...we had been there quite a few times before trying for a baby and nothing had worked so it was time to sit down with "THE DOCTOR!"

I remember meeting Kevin there and being so nervous about what she was going to tell us. We sat in her office and she came in and told us the news..."The chances of you guys conceiving on your on are slim to none!" Really not what you want to hear. She then proceeded to tell us our best chance of ever having a baby would be to go through IVF.

I think Kevin and I were numb the rest of the day. In complete shock that our dreams of having children would only be possible with serious medical intervention.

So, needless to say that was one of the most difficult Valentine's Days we have had. I remember fighting with Kevin that night and wondering where we would be a year later...Now, 5 years later here we are with 2 very healthy, loving boys and we couldn't be happier!!!

Maddox Dylan...4 months old

Maddox is somehow already 4 months old. I know I say it every single time, but where has my tiny little baby gone??

He had his 4 month appointment today and Dr. Karp says he looks great.

He weighs 11 lbs 3.5 oz and is 23 inches long. He is in the 3rd % for everything, but corrected age he would be in the 10th % which is where Peyton always was.

He is wearing 0-3 month clothes all the time...he can still fit in his newborn clothes, but they are a bit too short!

He is wearing a size 1 diaper

He is doing pretty well overall...he normally will wake up between 7 and 8 eat and then go back to sleep either in the carseat or the swing and if I am lucky his bed!!! Normally he will nap about 1-2 hours. He then wakes up and eats again and play for a good amount of time before catching a quick cat nap...about 30-45 minutes. He then will eat again between 1 and 2 and will be up about an hour. Usually he will nap about 2-3 hours this time. Which is great considering that is when Peyton sleeps. Up again anywhere from 5-6 and eats again. Sometimes he will try to doze back off for a few, but more times than not he will be awake until bedtime which is around 8. At bedtime, Kevin will take him up and rock him and give him a bottle....usually about 7 ounces. After bottle, Kev will rock him for a few and then he goes to his crib and falls asleep. He normally will sleep until somewhere between 3-4 am, i go in to feed him and I am trying to get him back in his crib after that feeding. Usually he does great with it, but other times he is not happy!!!

Overall he is a pretty good baby....kind of fussy, but for the most part always smiling and talking and laughing ~~~

A sweet laugh...

Memory for me...

Maddox laughed out loud today for the first time...

What a sweet sound!!!

Just to Remember..

I just wanted to write this down so I can remember...pretty boring!!

Maddox went to bed last night at 7:45...he knows when it is bedtime for sure! He woke up at 4...I have been bringing him into bed to nurse him and normally he will fall back asleep. Last night, he was very fussy in bed, so I took him back to his room where I rocked him for a while. After that I decided to lay him in his bed...he was kind of in and out, so I did.

I heard him peep one time right after I put him down, but then he slept until 8!!! I was glorious!!!!

He is smiling and cooing and talking all the time now!!! Such a sweet age!

Happy Birthday Popi!

This weekend we went to North Carolina for a very special birthday!

Our Popi (My Daddy) turned 60 years old on January 11, so we missed his actual birthday, but went to celebrate this weekend. This was the first time that we have made the drive back to NC since Maddox was born.

I was nervous about taking a 3 month old on a 5 hour car ride, but he did great! We left at 3 and he and Peyton slept a majority of the way...Maddox woke up with about 30 minutes left in our trip because he was hungry. Oh the things we do with a newborn. I hovered over his car seat and fed him...quite a challenge if I do say so myself!

We met for dinner and headed to Noni and Popi's house and Maddox didn't miss a beat! We were a bit nervous about the nighttime routine since he had been asleep for almost 5 hours! But he took his bottle and off he went and slept until 4:30 so we were very happy about that.

Saturday we did absolutely nothing! Peyton wanted to play pool and shoot hoops...so we were able to play pool, but it was a bit chilly to play outside!

After playing all day, we got ready and Kev, Maddox and I went back to the hospital where we had been 14 weeks ago!!! Talk about a crazy, emotional walk into the hospital. We made our way to the NICU floor and got to visit with one of our nurses, Candace, and our most favorite NNP, David. It was very strange being there with a perfectly healthy 3 month old, who just 14 weeks prior was on all kinds of oxygen, stopped breathing, etc.

David came out and quickly grabbed Maddox and it was as though Maddox recognized him. He was talking away to David. We could not believe it...do they actually remember that voice that he heard for the first two weeks of his life??? It was so wonderful to go and visit...we are already planning our next visit back!

After the hospital, we met up with the family and had a fabulous dinner at the Chophouse! Yummy!!! Maddox was very fussy, but it didn't matter....we had our own private area which was so nice since we had 4 kiddos...We got to celebrate my wonderful Daddy and a terrific Popi!

Sunday was our wonderful drive back to VA!!! No fun, but the boys did great again! They both slept almost the entire way home...they get worn out while visiting. So it is back to the real world and on to our next big adventure!!!

MDR...3 months old

Maddox turned 3 months on Saturday...as I said before I can't believe how fast it has gone by!

As or Maddox, he is a pretty "tough" baby. I am sure I was the same with Peyton, but it just seems that Maddox is a very fussy baby. He likes to be held and loved on all the time, which isn't a bad thing except for that fact that I have a hard time getting things done!!

He is doing great at night. Kevin has the nightly routine and he is taking about 6 ounces, a combo of breast milk and formula. He normally goes to bed between 8 and 9 and will sleep until 3 or 4. The other night he slept until 6 and I thought I was in heaven!!!! He wakes up and eats and will go back down...not very soundly, but will sleep until around 7:30 or 8!

Naps...totally different story! This child fights me ALL DAY LONG!!! I usually can get him to take a nap, you just never know where it will be....the swing, the couch, the carseat! Who knows...at this point, as long as he is sleeping I am happy!!!

He is wearing size 1 diapers and 0-3 month clothes. He has grown so much the past month! I can hardly believe how big he is. I will be anxious to see how much he weighs at our 4 month checkup!