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...