DANCE!!

Riley started dance class in September!  For those of you who met me later in my life I danced for many, many years and it was a very important part of my life.  So when Riley started dance it was a big deal in our house.  I didn't realize how much I wanted her to dance and how excited I was until we started looking for a studio and shopping for dance clothes! 

The best part ... Riley absolutely loves it!!  She can't get enough of it.  Although she only goes to class once a week our kitchen has become her stage and she dances for us everyday.  Now I am happy to say that she will try many things in her life.  Soccer in the spring in the next adventure and anybody that knows her Dad knows that sports will play a role in her life.  And if in the future Riley decides she doesn't want to dance anymore I will be perfectly okay with that.  But for now, my girl is a dancer through and through and I love it!!

9 Months Already!

Earlier this month Jayden turned 9 months old!  He weighed in at 22.5 pounds (Riley weighed in at a whopping 31.5 pounds on the same day :).  He is doing great and seems to be growing everyday.  As you can see he is a very well rounded baby ;)  His pediatrician said he needs to work on his core.  Does anybody know where we can take a baby Pilates class?

It's funny what happens when you add a member to your family.  It has only been 9 months but it feels like he has always been with us.  I don't even remember what our lives were like before he arrived. It feels like we are now whole.

Happy 9 months Jay, we love you!

Riley turns 3!

On September 30th Riley turned three!  I am great full for her every day but every year on Riley's birthday I reflect on the day she was born and the weeks following (1st birthday post: Happy Birthday Ri!!).  She had a rough start but I think it has turned her into a tough little girl.  She is also beautiful, smart, creative, independent, stubborn, and very loving.  I couldn't be more proud to be her mom!

Of course a birthday meant a trip to Michigan to celebrate!  We drove straight through both ways and lived to tell about it.

This is Riley's Dora Ice Cream Birthday Cake.  She had been asking for a Dora cake for 4 months!

Riley enjoying her cake with her cousins Kendall and Drew!

Riley with her cousin and BFF Kendall!  They couldn't love each other more!

We all loved spending time with family and not only celebrating Riley's birthday but introducing everybody to Jayden. We can't wait to see everyone again at Christmas!

On Riley's actual birthday we went to Rainforest Cafe to celebrate.

Happy 3rd Birthday Riley!!

Preschool!

Riley started her first day of preschool on September 1st! She is going to school for 2 half days a week.  And she absolutely loves it!  And she loves her teacher, Mrs. B!  I was actually afraid she wouldn't want to come home but she has coming running to me with open arms every time I have picked her up (which is the greatest feeling!). 

Now I love my daughter with everything I am.  She is the light of my life, the twinkle in my eye, and the reason for my being.  But having 6 hours a week that we are not in each others face has done wonders, for both of us!

YAY for school!!

Jay's Half Birthday!

A couple of weeks ago Jay had his 6 month well visit.  He weighed in at 18lbs 5oz and was 26 inches long.  Although he ranks #1 with us, he ranks in the 75% in weight and 50% in height.  That's right people, 50% in HEIGHT.  We are celebrating our boy's average height!!

You're Welcome Boston!

Ok, so as it turns out, every time we move to another state that new state has a professional sports team that wins a championship.  Please review the evidence below:

2001:  We move to Connecticut and the New England Patriots win the Superbowl!

2005:  We move to Chicago and the Chicago White Sox win the World Series! 

 

2011:  We move to Boston and the Boston Bruins win the Stanley Cup! 

This is obviously no coincidence, the Steins are good luck!  So you're welcome Boston and enjoy Lord Stanley!  If only we could make it back to Detroit, maybe the Lions would have a chance :-]

And my babies (to add cute factor to the post)!!

Where does the time go?

I was updating my today and decided to transfer my pictures as well.  Here is my first picture and my last picture:

 

 

 Where does the time go I ask you?  How did Riley go from a baby to a little girl so fast?

Our Big Boy!!

Jayden had his 8 week well visit.  Here are his stats:

 

10lbs 14 oz (30% percentile)

22 inches (15% percentile)

 

Jayden gained 5 pounds and grew 4 inches in 6.5 weeks!!  Honestly, I was a bit shocked at how much he had grown.  This would explain why he is busting out of all of his clothes and why an emergency shopping trip was required this past weekend (or his birthday suit would be the only thing that fit ;).  The 30th percentile may not sound like much but he wasn't even on the chart 7 weeks ago.  And Riley still hasn't made it to 30%.   So we are very proud of our growing boy!

 

Our Boy is here!!

 

Jayden Tyler Stein

January 14, 2011 @ 12:16am

5lbs, 4.8 oz

18 inches

Jayden officially joined our family on January 14th by emergency c-section.  My blood pressure went very quickly out of control (not a surprise for those who know my history) so they decided to deliver me right away.  I was 36.5 weeks along.  That may seem early to some but for us it was huge to make it that far.  I was actually 3 days away from being considered full term!  

Jayden and I were able to come home together which meant so much to us.  We are all doing great!  Jayden is growing bigger everyday and Riley is a great big sister.  She loves to hug and kiss her baby brother and loves to help with anything she can get her hands on.  Here are some pics from those first few days:

Jayden's first day!

 Meeting Dada for the first time 

First kisses from mama

Riley and Jayden meet

 (no caption needed)

 

Let me introduce you to trouble and bigger trouble

The B's of my life!

We will start with the obvious: Blogging!  So I haven't blogged in almost a year. What really can happen in a year?  All I can say is that now that I am a SAHM (see future B) I will make every effort to blog on a regular basis.  Be prepared to see all kinds of random pictures of Riley from over the last year or so. 

Next has to be our Baby Boy!  That's right, we are having a baby boy!  I'm about 35 weeks along and due February 6th.  Those of you who know Riley's story know that making it this far is a great achievement for us.  I did have a scare about 7 weeks ago when my blood pressure spiked but it has been under control since.  Now it looks like we might actually make it the distance (knock on wood).  We are very excited to welcome our newest addition to our family!

Boston is my last B.   About 5 weeks ago we moved to Boston.  Adam was offered a position he couldn't pass up so we upped and moved and started the next chapter in our lives.  I have always loved Boston.  Adam and I visited several times when we lived in Connecticut and I was excited to come back to the East Coast.  However, it was never our plan to move further from family :(  But we have to play the cards we are dealt and this was the best move for our family.  This has, however, given  me the opportunity to be a stay at home mom which I am very excited about.  So, if anybody wants to visit Boston let us know, we love to have visitors and Boston is a great place to visit!

So stayed tuned and be ready for all kinds of blogging!!