A Whole Lotta Happy

The NC State Fair is a big deal around here! Some people love to go for the rides, some love it for the animals, others love the exhibits but most love the food! That is the category we fall in. What's not to like fried food delicacies you eat only once a year? The new food item this year was the chocolate covered bacon. Gross, huh?

This year we had fried cookie dough and reese peanut cups. They were both sooooo good! It amazes me how expensive the fair is. The rides cost between $3-6 to ride. Growing up I always got to ride the rides for free since my Papa was the fair manager in Manatee County, FL. Thankfully Riley doesn't know about the rides yet to ask to go on them so we luck out there. We did take her to see some of the characters from the shows she likes and the animals. She was more excited to see the cut-out characters than the dressed up ones.

Communicating...verbally

Lately Riley has been saying new words on a daily basis. I have been trying to teach her what things are and she has been catching on real fast. Last night we were reading a book and she was pointing things out in the book and saying what they are. That was a first! She is pretty good with B & C words. Here are some of the words that have come out understandable:

Dada & Mama

Nana (for banana and my mom)

Papaw & Mamaw (just said both of these yesterday)

Hi & Bye (loves to say to people)

Ball

Baby

Bird

Bubbles

Please (says it every time she wants something, it is hard to say no to!)

Car

Cat

Coffee (knows that coffee goes in a coffee mug which is weird because I don't drink coffee that    often!)

Cousins

Please (says it every time she wants something, it is hard to say no to!)

Ruff Ruff- for dogs

Jump

WaWa- for water

P-ew- for stinky things like diapers & shoes

Shoe

Outside

Cheese

Down

Uh-oh

   Again (always with a southern drawl)

Hillridge Farms

This past weekend my mom (a.k.a. Nana) came to visit. Even though she lives 800 miles away we still get to see her every 2-3 months. I am very grateful for that! A local farm I had been wanting to visit was having Teacher Appreciation Weekend while she was here. Since she is a teacher she got in free plus two guests! So we decided to take advantage of that deal. The weather for the day was overcast/rainy and cooler than the days we have had lately. We decided to chance it in hopes that it would not rain while we were there.

I was surprised at how much stuff there was for Riley to do there. We had a really good time and the weather held up for us too. I can't wait to go back next year!

They had goats, chickens and rabbits

Instead of a sand box, a corn box

An 80-ft slide, that Riley wanted to go on over and over

Hay maze & tot maze

A teepee to play & hide in

Bounce houses...in the words of Riley: jump, jump, jump

A hay ride that took you to the...

PUMPKIN PATCH

We each got to pick out a pumpkin to take home

So true

Train ride around the farm

A play fort

Tunnel to crawl through

16 Months Old

Dear Riley-

You keep getting bigger and smarter by the day. You never cease to amaze me or your daddy. Just this week you started repeating things we ask you to say. Not all of them come out understandable but some do and we are proud of you for trying! You make friends everywhere you go. At the grocery store you say "hi" and "bye" to everyone and they can't help but stop and say it back. There are two little girls in 3rd & 4th grade who live in our neighborhood who come by the house and ask if you will come out to play. The first time they came, I thought they had the wrong house. They chase you around the cul.da.sac and you love it! You have become a climber lately and can climb on the couches and the desk chair. It makes very nervous, because then you stand up and want to jump. Speaking of jumping, you love to do it. Mostly on our bed. I have such a fun time watching you as you bounce between pillows and blankets. Everything you do, you do with a smile and with joy only a child could have. I thank God everyday that you are mine and that I get to keep you!

Love you bunches,

Mommy