"Little" and "Big"

Just to be sure we have it straight, our boys have shirts (care of Aunt Candice) that let us know which one is the little brother and with one is the big ;)

Ayden just LOVES his big brother shirt.  He always asks to wear it and in fact sleeps in it sometimes under his PJs bc he refuses to take it off.  I'm  hoping he keeps this enthusiasm about being a big brother forever though I know there will be times it may waiver!

These pics were taken in haste with a very uncooperative but adorable two year old =)

Is it just me or does it appear Ayden is having way too much fun not listening to Mommy?!?

"Right here it says Big Brother!"

And then his eye caught whatever was on the computer and there was no turning back from the trance....photo shoot over!

At least we got one hand hold in there.

My FUZZY HEAD!!

This is my favorite face of the moment.....

I can hear him thinking..."oooh what's that?!?!"

Look at these two....oh how they just light my world!!

And man does Ayden look monstrous or what!?!?

Told you So!

No matter how many times you are told or how trustworthy the teller, (I believe) a mother of one naturally has some reservations about how they could possibly love another as much as the first.

Well, I'm here to tell you its true. (I know...big surprise).

And for those who told me this would be, go ahead and do the "I told you so dance..." -- great, now that that's over with....



On Wednesday January 26th around 2:30pm, Gavin Xavier Riley entered our lives. He came via C-Section and with a head of red hair that surprised us all! Almost instantly Gavin displayed his calm, patient, and tender demeanor (as well as his thumb sucking skills!). 

My infatuation with Gavin is indescribable. I yearn to hold him close and feel his warm head on my chest.  I can waste away hours staring at him and the adorable facial expressions he already has (not to mention some dimples in the making!).

I wouldn't say that my capacity to love has doubled with the introduction of Gavin.  It is more like ten fold. Adding Gavin to the family has deepened my love for everyone. My love for Ayden is not the same as it was before Gavin, it is (though I never thought it possible) stronger and more intense.  I don't see him as just my son now, he is also a big brother.  And while yes, it is still very early to understand that relationship, I adore watching Ayden play the big brother role. How his comparably huge hand rubs Gavin's little head.  How he worries when Gavin cries and wants to bring him  'warm milkly'. These interactions have tapped into a reservoir of love and adornment I didn't know existed.

They say we use only 20% of our brains...I believe the same is true of our hearts.  Who knows what our hearts are capable of if we let them be... with each new life adventure, the depth, complexity and capacity of mine continues to amaze me!

So, you can take my word for it, or better yet, you can experience it for yourself, because believe me, not even the most eloquent vividly descriptive prose could bring you close to the emotional high being a parent brings.

1...2...3...4...

Counting.  Ayden loves to count.  We took this video back in December when Ayden was learning to count to ten. With my delayed posting, Ayden is not only way beyond ten and on his way to twenty, he is able to recognize numbers as well.

Yesterday he made my jaw drop (which I should by now start getting used to) when he was able to point out the numbers one through five randomly placed on a toy. No matter how hard I try to keep up, he is always a step ahead of me.

Where did you come from Ayden!?!?

So, I share with you this video.  Though perhaps outdated...it is still cute =)

A Family Walk

(playing catch up)

On Christmas day after a morning filled with presents, spanish tortilla and fun, we decided what better to do than a nice stroll through Sabino Canyon.  Sabino is one of my most favorite locations in tucson, not to mention the fact that it is 1 1/2 miles from our house - fantastic!

This beautiful christmas morning we took Ayden to let him run off his christmas energy.  As you can see from the first picture...that didn't last very long.  Unfortunately, the Riley clan was hit with some nasty nasty colds over the holidays and here was our first indication that Ayden had gotten it too =(

But, this didn't take away from the blue sky, fresh crisp air, scenic mountain views and cherished down time with the family.

Nothing feels better than a cuddle with Daddy.

oh how Ayden loves spending time with his "MiMi" (aka Gram-E).

Yup, you guessed it....Ayden found himself some rocks!  

'Cause no day would be complete without some rock playing.

Red hair.....Where????

Mimi bought Ayden Spiderman sun glasses and to my complete surprise, he wore them the whole time we played.

That's one happy, loved little man.

Ayden Turns 2!

Yesterday was a big day in the Riley household.  Our oldest son (yes that's right...'oldest' because we now have a 'youngest'!!) turned TWO!!  It makes my jaw drop just to say it...I have a two year old.  A little man with wise independent thoughts, adult-like antics and the heart of a sweet old man.

Though Ayden's real party is not until the end of the month, we did a little celebrating last night.

Ayden has very quickly picked up the meaning of birthday and certainly the excitement of presents.  He has become an expert un-wrapper and always (ok sometimes with prompting) gives a nice 'thank you'.

Gavin Xavier Riley

He has arrived!  And is just as precious as can be.  This is a picture post only...trust me I have many many thoughts/pictures/experiences to share, but to hold up a promise, I am getting some pictures up....

[not sure that hold up a promise really works as I am a few days late - SORRY!!!]  Been busy admiring my family for a week =)

More to come...