Boiler Up!

While I was organizing my office yesterday, Zuri was being a little too quiet in her room.  I walked in to see that she had thrown EVERYTHING out of the dresser drawer and onto the floor!!!!  It ended up being a good thing because I found out that she has entirely TOO MANY 2T pajamas and she has this Purdue cheerleader outfit!  It was perfect because Daddy had on his Purdue jersey. 

Go team, go!!!

We went to Franklin Skate Club for Hailee's 8th birthday party.  We did not skate, but Zuri was fascinated with everyone skating!


I can't wait to do that!

After Hailee's party, we went to Uncle Randy and Aunt Tammy's for a birthday party for Alex.  Zuri wanted to play cornhole with Uncle Randy.

Boom!

Today, we went to the park with Tony, Anthony, Breeanna, and Paige.  Breeanna is the only 12 year old I know that I feel comfortable with leaving Zuri alone with on the playground.  I knew she would not let Zuri get hurt.  It was nice to be able to let her go play and not worry.  :)  At one point, Tony told Anthony to get down from something and Zuri said "Anthony, no."  Super cute!

Paige, Anthony, Zuri, and Breeanna

We had dinner at Ralph and Lane's for several birthdays: Mariella, Lars, and Shelby.  Good food and good company, as usual!

Mariella and Zuri.  The jeans Zuri has on used to be Mariella's!

Vance and Zuri drinking together.  Juice and water, of course!

Wordless Wednesday (sorta)

One year ago today, we experienced something no parent ever wants to experience.  A sick infant and emergency surgery.  It's amazing how much things change in a year.  You can check out the blog from the Riley experience last year by clicking here.

Weekend Recap

Zuri and I went shopping with Aunt Julie for a little bit on Saturday.  Before we left, Zuri showed Julie her new favorite "game".  She likes to run to her room, climb up on her crib and say, "Nite, nite!".  This means she wants to get in her crib and play with her animals and play with you.  She has to show you each and every animal and tell you his/her name.  Here's a picture while she was playing.  :)

She's a ham!

After we went to Kohls where Zuri was spoiled by Julie and Kenny with 4 sets of PJs and an Elmo book, we met Daddy for lunch at Jockamo.  Zuri loves the monkey they have up front, but not so much that she will stand next to him for a picture.  LOL 

"I'm not standing next to the monkey. 
I will talk about him nonstop and I will walk around him, but I will NEVER stand by him!"

After shopping, we had cousin Mason's 2nd birthday party to go to.  Zuri was obsessed with cousin Gannon's car seat.  She kept sitting in it.  We tried telling her she's a tad bit too big for it.

Baby Zuri

Since she was too big for Gannon's car seat, she decided to get in Papaw's truck.  Even though we told her she was too little for Papaw's truck, she insisted on "driving" it.

I thought we had 14 more years before she'd be driving.....???

This morning, we went grocery shopping at Target.  Zuri picked out a cupcake for us to share later in the day.  The cupcake had a Ferb ring on it.  Here she is licking the icing off the ring. 

Look at those eyes!!

We had a few people over for the Colts game today.  Zuri was napping when everyone showed up.  When she woke up, she was all about mommy and daddy.  She finally warmed up to everyone.


Hugs for cousin Trevor.

Cousin Andy came by later.  Zuri warmed up to him too and even demanded asked him to read her a book.

Andy's a natural!

Wordless Wednesday

Ready?

My Melody

Zuri slept in about an hour this morning.  Once she was up, she wanted to read Winnie the Pooh.  Take a look at her PJs........!!!

 

 

My dad watched Zuri while Brent and I met some friends at Scotty's for the Colts game.  Papaw sent me this picture while we were gone.  :o)



Here's a picture of Mommy and Daddy hanging out with friends at Scotty's.  Cindy and Michelle are on the left.

 





Snug As A Bug In A Rug...

Zuri let me swaddle her today.  I had to ask Brent to get the camera ready as I was swaddling her because I knew it wouldn't last!!!

Wordless Wednesday

Just Another Day In Paradise

I can't tell you how much I look forward to getting home at night and spending time with my favorite little girl in the world and her Daddy!

 

Tonight, we grilled out and ate outside.  While waiting on the food, Zuri wanted to drink Daddy's water.  She got a little too ambitious!

Whoopsie!

 After dinner, we put Zuri to work.

"You want me to do what?"

"Oh, I get to play with dirt too?  I'm in!" 

I came across this picture while saving the ones from today.  This was 1 year ago today.  My how she has changed!!

Captain Zuri

We met Jodie and Lucas out for frozen yogurt last night.  Zuri was obsessed with the girl working by the yogurt machines.  Lucas was obsessed with the yogurt his mommy wasn't feeding him fast enough!  Before we left, Zuri and I got matching stamps.  I forgot to take a picture.

 

This was the best picture we could get of Lucas and Zuri together.  Just ignore me please.  LOL

 

Today, Brent and I both went in to work so my dad and stepmom came over to watch Zuri.  Here's a picture my dad sent to me while we were gone.  I just want to squeeze those cheeks!!

"CHEEEEEEESE!!!!!"

After we got home, we hung out and watched football.  When I was flipping through the pictures I took, I saw this one and immediately thought of the Captain Morgan commercials.  HA!!!

Call me Captain Zuri

18 months

Princess Zuri is now 18 months old; I can't believe it!  Thanks to my friend Ashley, I have already started thinking about dance.  We are probably 6 months away from her starting dance......ahhhhhhh!!!  Yes, seriously 6 months.  My friend's daughter is majoring in dance and I contacted her to see what age she started ---- 2.  I asked my other friend when she put her daughter in dance ---- 2.  That can't be right.  I am not ready for the extra curricular activities.  I should have several more years before all that!!!  Of course "I" includes Brent.  Contrary to popular belief that wives speak for husbands ALL.THE.TIME, I try not to speak for Brent, but I think he'd agree that he's not ready either.

There's not a ton to update with since the 15 month post.  Zuri has 16 teeth now.  She can (and does) say anything.  She is super smart (I'm not biased or anything).  She loves her friends at school.  She talks about them a lot!  She likes to talk on the phone to papaw.  By that, I mean that she pretends she is talking to papaw.  When I actually do call him so she can talk, she won't say a word.  Tonight, she called Uncle Eric without us realizing it.  She was "talking" to "papaw" as she usually does and I heard a voice on the other end.  LOL  Sorry for the "Zuri dial" Uncle Eric!

Zuri has been having issues sleeping.  We assume she is having night terrors.  For the past 6 weeks or so, she has been waking up between 11:30pm and 12:30am at least once a week.  This past week, it has happened more often.  The first night, we thought she was just fussing so we tried getting her back in her crib.  She was fine while we were holding her, but freaked when we would try to lay her down.  We got about 3 hours of sleep that night --- a work night, nonetheless.  After that, we resorted to just putting her in bed with us.  I plan to talk to her pediatrician about it at her 18 month checkup this week.  Hopefully there is something we can do to help or she has some advice for us!
************************
Dear Zuri Lane,

You are by far the most loving, caring, adorable, spoiled rotten, intelligent, rambunctious, tiresome, precious little girl we know.  You make our days brighter.  We cherish each and every day with you.  We could not ask for a better daughter.

We do have one request: please stop growing up so fast!!!!!

Love,
Mommy & Daddy
************************
Here's a picture because I know you're all dying for one!  ;o)

Daddy, I hope you don't mind I borrowed your Dolphins jersey.

Wordless Wednesday

New Friends

Brent's nephew and his wife (Shawn and Mandy) were in town so we met up with them for dinner last night and lunch today.  Today is Shawn's 30th birthday.  Happy Birthday, Shawn!!!  :o)

 

Anyway, Shawn's good friend and his wife and daughter (Brock, Tracey, and Carly) joined us.  Brock and Tracey welcomed Carly into this world just 6 days before we welcomed Zuri.  Zuri loves Tracey!  She is usually a little hesitant to go to people she doesn't know.  She actually reached for Tracey.  Zuri and Carly played well together for what little they did interact.  We really must get them together for a play date soon.



Tracey preparing for what's to come in a few months (the newest member of their family will arrive in January)!!! 
Mandy taking it all in.  :o)

Shawn was trying to get Zuri to drink her water.  He got suckered into ended up holding the cup for her!

So cute!!!!

Now, the stare down..........

And, I'm throwing this one in here because I think it's adorable!  My dad sat with Zuri while Brent and I sent to Once Upon A Child.  Zuri was fussy so we knew she'd end up taking a nap.

awwwwwwwwwww!!!!!

Raney (not rainy!) Reunion

Today was my family reunion (the Raney family).  We were worried about the rain.  How fitting would that be to have rain on the Raney reunion?!  We had a few moments of light rain, but nothing too bad.  Here are some pictures from today with Zuri.  The other pictures are on Facebook.

Zuri hugging Trev.

Yummmmmmmmm!!

Bree and Paige with Z.

Papaw and Z

And again.....

Here, I want to try.

I'll get it this time.

Go long!

Bike!