Riley Kate - almost 4

Riley Kate - I've been meaning to write a post about you and what you have been up to lately...so here it is. (You are a little less than 3 months away from being 4!)

Yesterday you came into the kitchen, where I was, and said "Mommy will you hold me?". It's getting much harder to pick you up these days and hold you on my big belly, but I can't help but do so. I know that soon you won't be my littlest anymore and I'm trying to hold on tight to you! So, I picked you up and you said "Can I tell you something pretty?" Of course! You said "I love you a lot". Oh, my...melt your heart moment! It just made my heart smile knowing that you thought that was something "pretty" to say...only from the mouth of a little girl.

Riley you are at such a fun age! I have so enjoyed the 3 mornings we had to ourselves this year, while Avery was at school. You were my little sidekick! Most days, if I was busy doing something like folding laundry, or working on embroidery, you had to be right in the same room. You would just be in there playing with toys or talking to me. I remember thinking as the days passed that it was our last time by ourselves...next year on your mornings off from preschool, we will have your brother here too. As much as I am looking forward to that, I will miss my sweet time with you. But I am sure glad we got that time!

You LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to get a pair of my high heel/ wedge shoes and put them on, while carrying around one of my big purses, pretending to talk on the phone and wearing my sunglasses! You are way more stylish than me, my dear! Oh, I am going to get a picture of this soon and post it here. When most of the time I have to tell you sister to pick up her toys in the living room, for you, I have to tell to put Mommy's shoes back in the closet! You love to put on chap stick or lipgloss and say you've put on "my makeup". "Don't I look pretty, Mommy?" you say.

Today we sat on the porch for a good 20-30 minutes. You sat in my lap just talking to me. I kept asking if you wanted to go play with your sister but you just looked at me and said "No, I want to stay with you". You talked to your brother, in my belly. We played patty cake and laughed at each other as we took turns wearing your sunglasses. I love that you want to be with me so often.

On the other hand, your hardest times are getting in the car and buckling up! haha It seems so silly but you get so distracted when getting in the car. You can point out 10 things, or want some gum, or ask what I brought to the car, or worry about what your sister is doing and walk back to her seat...all this before entering your seat!! You've learned how to buckle yourself but haven't quite mastered the unbuckle part...we will be practicing in the next couple of months. It sure would make it easier once your brother comes if you could do it all by yourself. :)

Well, that's all I can think of right now. I'll write more later. xoxo