Welcome Abygael!

On Monday, December 29th, Leigh and Dean went to the hospital at 5 am to be induced. Many hours later, Abygael Campbell Dean entered the world. She's a healthy 7 lbs 3 oz (so much for all those predictions that this was going to be a big baby) with the cutest mop of dark hair.

To Abygael: we can't wait to meet you and kiss you and introduce you to your sweet cousins. And to Leigh: aren't you still 15?? How can it be that you are married, working, and now a mother? Where did the time go? I wish more than anything that I was with you to hug you, hold Abygael, and talk through all the fears and questions I know you will have. But with a newborn myself, that will have to wait a while. Know that I am praying for you, Dean and Abygael. I pray for wisdom when she's not eating or sleeping well. I pray for patience when the crying seems to be too much. Perhaps most of all, I pray that you will soak up every bit of joy this new life will bring you. Remember that she is God's child, and He has entrusted her to you as a precious gift.

Well, my Anna is calling, so I must go for now. Until I can see you in person, I'll see you on Facebook.

Abygael Campbell Dean
12-29-08
7 lbs 3 oz
19 inches

Christmas with a 2 year old

So fun! I love how Holly starts handing out presents to Matt and me. Sweet girl.

Her rain boots are a little big, but all the more fun to stomp in...

Anna's Here! A month overdue announcement...

I owe an apology to my second-born. I promised I would not be the parent that takes fewer pictures of you or never gets around to making a scrapbook of your first months of life. I have failed to deliver on my promise - your bedroom (Holly's old room) still has pictures of Holly in the frames and some of her toys in the closet. And now one month has passed and I'm just getting around to posting an announcement of your arrival. But it is not for lack of love! Quite the opposite... it is out of pure love and devotion for you that moments spent holding you, rocking you, feeding you, and introducing you to life (crazy life!) with your precious sister take priority over pictures and scrapbooks. And even blog posts. I definitely want lots of pictures to record these first months and years, but we'll get to that. Right now, in these sleep-deprived and hazy days, I'm enjoying just enjoying you.

And my apologies to those of you who are just learning about Anna's birth! You must be wondering if she is a month overdue.

Anna Caroline Rife

November 19, 2008

8:08 pm

8 lbs 8 oz.

(I try to keep Facebook fairly updated with photos. If you're not on FB, you can check this link: http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2011456&l=df807&id=1171625296)

Here we go...

I was on the computer this morning while Holly played in the kitchen. Then I heard "I'm naked!" I looked up over the computer monitor and this is what I found.

I promise she started the day with clothes on. At least the socks survived.

Daddy's helper

There must be a Simpsons episode about this

Yesterday I packed Holly in the car and told her we were going to the store to get Daddy a present. She's really into presents these days, so I thought having that information would make her a little more agreeable on our shopping trip.

We went to a particular store (which will remain unnamed in the hopes that SOME of the surprise can be salvaged) where I picked out his gift. Handed over the credit card, picked up the bag, and we were on our way back home.

Fast forward to 6:15 when Matt walks in the door from work... After some hugs and kisses, Holly said to Matt "Daddy present!" He laughed and asked what it was. Before I could stop her (although I must admit, part of me was curious how much she would divulge), she said "Beer!!"

So much for my great gift idea. We laughed and wondered what else she is soaking up that we're unaware of. I've learned my lesson though - keep my mouth shut, because two year olds can't keep a secret.

Holly says the darndest things...

I'm always trying to remember the funny and cute things that Holly says so I can pass them on to others, mainly her grandparents. Here are a few for those of those you who are interested:

1) When she talks about babies (her cousin Evan or our neighbor Aiden) she always says "oh, he's so cute!" and squints up her eyes, as though she's 20 years older

2) After watching the Little Einsteins "Instrument Dinosaurs" episode, Holly flapped her arms around and called herself a piccolo-dactyl. This continues, but now her stuffed animals are the piccolo-dactyl.

3) This morning I spilled some juice on the floor. I said "Mommy made a mess!" She watched from her chair and calmly said "Don't worry, Mommy."

4) Out of the blue today she said "Fantastic!" I don't ever say that. Where does she get it??

5) Every once in a while she calls me "Mom" and calls Matt "Dad." Shouldn't I be Mommy until she's at least 7 or 8??

6) As Matt carries her upstairs to bed each night, she always calls down to me and says "I love you down there!" Just might be the best part of my day.

This is some of the cute stuff...I'll spare you the rest. We're in the middle (I pray not the beginning) of the terrible twos, and much of our day is spent correcting, redirecting, disciplining, and generally doing everything possible to avoid meltdowns. It's in the emotional aftermath of those tantrums that I make myself stop and remember the cute, sweet, funny things Holly says and does, and simply be thankful for such a bright and independent little girl. I tell myself that this too shall pass - and then feel a little guilty for looking a little forward to my upcoming days in the hospital while someone else is in charge...

Her first real haircut!

Yesterday was a big day for Holly - she finally had a haircut! Her bangs were hanging in her eyes but still not thick enough to really hold a barrette, so we took her to see our friend Brooke for her first beauty consultation. She loved it - didn't want to leave. She's been talking about her haircut all day. That's my girl...

Every girl has wardrobe changes...

Halloween was a lot of fun at the Rife house this year. Holly had seen a Dora the Explorer Halloween episode a couple of times, so at the beginning of the week she was walking up to me and saying "Trick or Treat!" By Friday, she was in full Halloween mode. Our little ladybug experienced her first trick-or-treating Friday night/afternoon. We were that crazy family who went at 5:30, while it was still light outside. Holly got some good stuff (I PROMISE I've only snuck into her stash once!). Special thanks to the Taylors, who had Dora stickers waiting for her. Those have helped us bribe her into brushing her teeth each night... The next night was our neighborhood block party, and Holly was a flower. I got this costume from ebay last year and it was too big then. It worked out perfectly this year - how embarrassing would it have been to be seen in the same outfit twice?

Since the weekend, Holly has come up to me a few times, pointed to the cabinet where her candy is, and said "trick-or-treat." A couple of tantrums later, she's learning that that little phrase doesn't work the other 364 days of the year.

Already looking forward to next year, when we'll have two little ghouls...

The girl loves balloons...

My favorite part of this is when she suddenly stops and says "little pumpkin!"

Happy Birthday Holly!

Holly had a pretty big birthday weekend. Thanks to Grammy, Pappy, Nana, and Papa for being with us to celebrate and make it so special! And for the presents...so many presents... I'm still trying to find a place for everything.

It was especially fun to see that Holly sort of understands what a birthday is. We started telling her last week that her birthday was coming up, and she immediately asked for birthday cake. She knew she wanted a cake and a balloon. Actually, we could have stopped there and she would have been happy.

So hard to believe that two years have passed. While part of me always looks forward to what's ahead and seeing more of the the person she is becoming, another part of me wants to have my baby girl back. I guess that's just part of being a mom.

Fun with Daddy

Yesterday was kind of a Daddy-Daughter day for Matt and Holly. I got to steal away for a long-overdue brunch with my great friend Brenda, and got a little grocery shopping in. Even when I returned home, the afternoon consisted of lots of play time with Dad while I held the camera. And when you see the videos, you'll understand why I didn't join in...

Will Anna have a tail?

Holly and I spent a long time swinging on the front porch today with her baby and teddy bear (loving this weather!). She pointed out the bear's tail, so I asked her if she has a tail. She reached behind her and said "yes!" I explained that, no, little girls don't have tails. She then patted my belly and said "Anna tail!" Hmmm. Let's hope not.

(Aunt Leigh, this video is for you!)

Megan is home!

After battling complications from a blood clot in her leg, our sister-in-law Megan is finally home after nearly 2 long weeks in the hospital. Thank you God! It is completely by His grace and mercy that she in home now with her family - especially her precious little baby, Evan.

Matt, Holly and I went to Greenville this weekend to spend some time with Kelly and Megan, and Grammy and Pappy. This was Holly's second time to be around 3 month old Evan, and she was quite the character. It was interesting to watch her jealous streak come out...and she wasn't at all jealous of me. In fact, when Matt's mom was holding the baby, Holly would say "Mommy hold you!" She wanted ME to hold Evan so that Grammy could be 100% hers. Pretty funny. She really did try to be sweet with him, even it was just to get our praise. She would give him (hit his head with) his little toys, and lean in to give him hugs.

I have a feeling we can expect lots of crazy cousin antics in the years to come.

Happy Days

Last Saturday was the Happy Days Festival here in Hapeville. Yes, our little town has a festival! It was a great time with neighbors, friends, great weather and yummy food. Holly had a blast - here are some highlights.

Fun with pretend play

In the last couple of weeks, Holly entered the brand new phase (for us) of make-believe. All those stuffed animals that used to just sit in her basket are now her friends, and her baby dolls need frequent naps and diaper changes just like Holly. They sometimes even have to sit in time out.

The other day Holly put one of her babies in her new baby doll stroller (thank you Aunt Boo!!) and walked her up and down the hallway, saying something that was at first unintelligible. I soon realized she was saying "Going to Starbucks! Going to get a coffee!" Grammy and Pappy, I think Holly misses those walks to Starbucks in downtown Greenville!

I love this stage - I'm getting to see more of the little person Holly is becoming. While there are plenty of babies being dropped (thrown?) on their heads, she almost always follows it up with a kiss and "Poor baby. All better now." That's somewhat reassuring, since there will be a real little baby in her world soon. I did only say somewhat.

As I write this, she is in the living room, feeding coffee to her baby doll and stuffed llama. And I have a few precious minutes to myself. Thank you, God, for imaginations.

Happy Birthday Dad!!

Over the weekend, our family gathered in Memphis to celebrate the upcoming birth of Leigh's baby, Abygael. But we also were able to take a few minutes to celebrate my dad. Today is his birthday, and I can't help but get a little sentimental when I think about what he has meant in my - our - lives.

It's a big job to be the father of two daughters. Dance recitals that he had to (pretend to) be excited about, tears he had to wipe, but perhaps most importantly, displaying for us how a husband loves and honors his wife.

Thank you, Dad for teaching me not to settle. Thank you for helping to protect this little girl's heart as I waited for God to bring my prince. And thank you for teaching me that, if that prince was never to come, I already have my King in heaven.

Happy Birthday, Dad.

Happy Birthday Pappy!

We are so blessed to have such a wonderful dad, dad-in-law, and Pappy. So today we celebrate this wonderful man who brings so much joy to our lives. Hope your day is full of walks in the park and lots of Starbucks coffee!

Holly and her big girl bed

Above are a couple of pictures of Holly's new room. She's been sleeping in her big girl bed since last Friday, and has adjusted wonderfully (to my amazement!). I was terrified of taking this step, as this girl LOVED her crib. But she was super excited about the transition and has slept through the night every night! She can climb in and out of her bed through a gap between her bedrail and footboard, but she hasn't been brave enough to try it. Until today...

When I went to get her up from her nap this afternoon, I noticed a lot of light coming from under her door. I thought it was odd, since I had closed the blinds before walking out of her room. I opened the door and this is what I found (see below). Blinds open, hat on her head (and a few in her bed), toys and books all over the floor.

She has discovered freedom. I am just hoping I don't walk in tomorrow morning to find her curled up in her bookcase...

And she will be called...

Anna Caroline Rife!


After a process that had to be more grueling than vetting for the VP nominee, we finally chose a name. And it was all by the grace of God - truly - because we were about to pull our hair out and just call this poor child Number 2. A couple of people asked it we had prayed about her name, and our answer was "no" - it seemed such a trivial thing to pray about when there are much bigger things on our hearts. But we were reminded that names are important to God: "As his name is, so is he" (1 Samuel 25:25).

Names were so important to God that He often changed people's names to reflect their new identity in Him. Abram means "father," and God changed his name to Abraham which means "father of a multitude." And we can't forget Saul, who before meeting Christ on the road to Damascus was a persecuter of Christians, and whose name meant "demanding." After his encounter with Jesus, his name became Paul, which means "worker." And what a worker he was! From persecuter to the perescuted, from Christian hater to one who would give his life to spread the Good News to the ends of the earth...

So we prayed about it, and a few others did as well. And within a few days, it was clear to us both. No arguments, no disunity - having been through this twice now (Holly was no piece of cake!), that's a miracle in itself!

Anna (gracious, merciful)
Caroline (beautiful woman)

Some cute (I think) Holly videos

A couple of weeks ago we visited my parents in Nashville (Mt. Juliet). In this video, we're at the John Deere park and Holly's wearing - gasp - a John Deere t-shirt. Am I even spelling Deere correctly? During our stay in middle Tennessee, I even found myself dropping the "g" off of participles such as "eating." Instead, I did a lot of eatin' and sleepin'. I love it! Lots of thanks to Nana and Papa for a great weekend, and to Uncle Drew and the boys for making my car as good as new!

We're in the process of putting Holly's new room together. Still waiting on the headboards/footboards for her twin beds, and excuse the lack of wall decor. It's coming. But we have the pink shag rug, and really, what more does a girl need?

Not a burp, but a...

I apologize in advance for the crudeness of what you are about to read, but I can't help but share. Here is an actual scenario that took place at our dinner table tonight:

- Holly passes gas...loudly

- I tell her to say "excuse me"

- Holly instead says "I burped"

- Me: "No, you passed gas."

- Matt: "We are not saying 'passed gas' in this house."

- Me: "What are we saying? I'm not allowing us to say 'fart'."

- Matt: "We'll say 'toot'. Holly, you tooted."

- Holly: "Toot. I tooted."

There was more to the scene, which involved Matt telling her how a toot is different than a burp, but I'll spare you. I'll also spare you a photo that corresponds to this story, and instead share a sweet, smiling photo of Holly.

I hope I haven't scared you away from this blog.

I'm back!

Do you ever feel so behind that you just don't know where to begin to get caught up? That's how I've been with the blog lately... I let a few too many days go by, and all of a sudden I've taken a full blown summer break. Well, here's a quick summary of what's been going on in the Rife household over the past few weeks...

1) Beer-tasting day finally arrived! For those of you who are curious, and not close enough to get a taste of the home brew for yourselves, it turned out really well for a first attempt. Matt's already made notes about how to improve the next time around...

2) Dori came to visit us (or should I say to visit Holly?). I hope she doesn't kill me for posting this picture of her in yard clothes - she was helping me plant some flowers in pots (BTW Dori, when she sees her Dora the Explorer coloring book, she says "Aunt Dowee!")

3) The Bonassos came from Pittsburgh. They left us last August to return to their PA roots, so it was a fun reunion! Holly and Louis are the same age and had become pretty tight, but I'm not sure if they remembered each other. But Holly's still talking about him...

4) Holly started school! Well, she started Mother's Morning Out two days a week, but since it requires a lunchbox, that's school in my mind.

Sorry for the long hiatus, and I'll do my best to be more consistent with updates from now on!

Holly in concert, Part 2

She could seriously do this ALL DAY.

At the end she says "Cheese!"

Congrats Leigh and Dean!

Here is a picture of my sister, Leigh, pregnant at 13 weeks - 4 weeks ago. She just found out yesterday, after a little sweet-talking her doctor (since it's still a little early), that she's having a GIRL!! How exciting for her and Dean, and how fun for Holly and Baby ? Rife.

Now, the race is on to produce the first male heir...

See you in Beijing

Of course she stopped showing off once the camera was rolling, but Holly was walking her Grammy's leg like it was a balance beam and she was Mary Lou Retton. We've got to get this girl enrolled in gymnastics...

Toddler tales

I have two funny (sort of) Holly stories from today... This morning, I caught Holly sitting on the kitchen floor with something in her mouth. I scolded her for eating something off the floor (because I'm pretty sure it wasn't food). Then, in what seemed like an act of total defiance, she picked up something else off the floor and put it in her mouth. This time, my patience very thin, I raised my voice and said "Didn't I just tell you not to eat things off the floor??" She immediately stood up, stuck her lower lip out, and started tearing up. She ran away from me, and I followed her to the hallway by her bedroom. I had an idea where she was headed... Sure enough, she sat down on the floor right by her bedroom door. This is her time out spot. She had put herself in time out. Broke my heart. The moral of this story - keep your kitchen floor clean.

Second story... Tonight, Matt was going through his nightly ritual of getting Holly ready for bed. As usual, after brushing her teeth, he brought her out to say goodnight to me. I gave her a kiss, then noticed her staring quizzically at me. After two or three seconds of pondering, she said, "chocolate?". Before walking into the living room, I had eaten several M&Ms, which were apparently still on my breath. I was totally busted sneaking chocolate before dinner by my 21 month old.

Come to think of it, that's probably what she was eating off the floor this morning...

Sweet homecoming!

Matt returned home yesterday after nearly two weeks in India. Two long weeks for a little girl to miss her daddy! I was a little concerned that, though Holly talked about him constantly and wanted him home, her reception would be a little...chilly. You just never know with kids. Will she be like a dog - mad at him for leaving and a bit standoffish? Would she be indifferent, which would almost be worse? Well, when we met him inside the airport, she immediately started dancing and stomping her feet. She went into full hyper mode, showing off all her "tricks" for him (jumping, touching her head to the floor, spinning in circles). When we got home, she showered him with lots of kisses and even wanted to rub his back. She pulled out all the stops (do I have to leave for 2 weeks to get some of that love?). I couldn't have asked for a better reunion for daddy and daughter.

And I must say, I was pretty excited to have him home as well (minus the dancing and jumping).

Holly Rife, in concert

Sometimes you just have to say it with a song... Today, Holly decided her sippy cup would be her microphone and the high chair would be her stage. Her usually extensive vocabulary flew out the window in exchange for gibberish, which I guess sounds much better to 21 month old ears. Anyway, enjoy her concert. Next time, we just might charge admission...

Happy 30th Rachael!

Matt's in India, for two weeks, which gave me a great excuse to go to Memphis for Rachael's 30th birthday party. I dropped Holly off in Nasvhille (thanks Nana and Papa!) and have had a much needed girls' weekend with three of my best friends - Dori, Carrie, and Rachael.

I'm so glad I've been able to celebrate Rachael's 30th with her, as well as Dori's...um, we'll say 29th. I'm so thankful for these three girls and the blessing they have been in my life.

Holly-isms

21 months is a great age. I never dreamed that having a toddler would be so much fun!

A few of Holly's latest antics (non-grandparents/relatives, feel free to skip this one!):

1) She sings the alphabet, repeating "C" five or six times. Once she gets to "T" she can usually nail the rest. Something about "t"...

2) She's becoming obsessed with women's hair. I think she's desperate to have some of her own, so she runs her fingers through everyone else's. And sometimes holds it up to her head...

3) She doesn't like giving fives - only tens. If you hold out your hand and ask her to give you five, she offers both and says "ten!"

4) She assigns an object to everyone and announces it - the ball is "Mommy's" and the plastic golf club is "Daddy's." But she says it with the coolest Sean Connery accent... "Mommaysh, Hollaysh, Daddaysh." This is one of my favorites.

5) She LOVES broccoli. I think she thinks it's candy.

6) She loves to shop - that's great right now, makes me a little worried for the future...

7) She has a love/hate relationship with men. Really shy at first, then coy, then downright flirty. Again, cute now, but a little worrisome for the future.

Lots more to share, so I'll add more later...

Bottling Day

One step closer to Matt's Pale Ale (yet to be named, kind of like our next child). He's already a proud papa, making me sterilize my hands before I touched any part of the precious process. Do I get the Best Wife Ever prize for getting him this for Christmas, or what?

Don't try this at home

And to prove she's okay...

Like father, like daughter?

Matt's parents have told me stories about how he used to play "office" in his closet. He would shut the door and pretend to be hard at work conducting his business matters (like lining up his Matchbox cars). His MiMi even bought him a couple of secondhand blazers at a yard sale to complete the fantasy.

I, on the other hand, played Barbies and school. Throw in a Cabbage Patch doll or two, and I was in heaven. I watch Holly and often think I see a little engineer or analyst in her. It's so fun to watch her personality develop and see who she's more like, and in what ways. More than anything, though, she seems to be turning into her own little person. She's also got a flair for the dramatic...I think her dream is to make it to Hollywood and guest star on Sesame Street. We'll see...

Fun times

We went to Greenville this weekend to meet our new nephew, Evan. Holly, meanwhile, did a lot of showing off for her Grammy and Pappy. Here is a quick sample of the hyperness that was Holly this weekend...

Are we ready for this?

The results are in - it's a girl! Two daughters... three women under one roof... poor Matt! Actually, I think right now all he is thinking about are the two weddings we'll be responsible for one day. When talking about the uneven distribution of estrogen in our house, my mom said it best - we'll just have to get a male dog.

Seriously, I'm super excited that Holly will have a sister. I can't imagine not growing up with my own sweet sister, and am so glad Holly will get to experience that as well. I look forward to years of playing house, dance lessons, sister bonding, catfights, tea parties, and yes, even soccer games.

Here's to our house of chicks!

Boy or Girl??

Tomorrow is the big day... the day we find out the sex of Baby #2. I don't know why, but I think I'm more curious this time than with Holly. I guess it's because with your first child, your life changes so drastically regardless of the sex. But so many family dynamics change with the birth of the second. There is a 50% chance that Holly will have a sister that will be her best friend and with whom she will never argue or fight, and a 50% chance she'll have a brother who will set her up with all his cute friends (in her 20s, of course, when Matt decides to let her date). Fortunately, there is 100% chance that the baby is one or the other. We'll be thrilled either way!

Holly's first cousin!

Matt's brother, Kelly and his wife, Megan welcomed Evan Austin Rife into the world Sunday, June 22nd at 5:38 pm. He was about 9 days early, but weighed in at a healthy 7 pounds 5 ounces. Everything went smoothly and the new family is now resting (sort of...) at home. We are so thrilled for Kelly and Megan - and selfishly excited that Holly now has her first cousin.

Welcome to our family, Evan!