happy birthday

Today Riley is 5 months old. She weighs 15 lbs 7 oz. Last month she was 26" long, so she's maybe an inch or two longer now. She's napping right now, so I don't dare try to measure her! She seems to be learning and developing so much right now. She is aware of everything going on, which has actually made breastfeeding more of a challenge. She becomes easily distracted and wants to know what that noise is she hears or often times just want to stare at my beautiful face :) It's hard not to worry that she's actually eating enough, but she's gaining weight and growing, so I just have to trust that she's become a super efficient eater and that she'll take what she needs. She has started to pull her chest up when laid down, so it seems like she's in the beginning stages of sitting up. She also loves Doc. Whenever she sees him, she squeals with delight and could sit and stare and smile at him for hours. She lets him lick her face, but he never does it for too long. They are best friends already! What a joy Riley is...we are so blessed to be able to love and take care of her.

Riley's newest trick:

Happy Birthday also to my brother Andrew. Today he is 30 years old! Andrew lives in St. Louis, but his girlfriend's parents flew him, themselves and Lindsay out to Seattle as a surprise to Andrew for his birthday. They flew in this morning and we have a big family birthday dinner for him at the Flying Fish restaurant in Seattle tonight. They told him at dinner last night, and he said he has never been more surprised in his entire life. And more excited too! Tyler and I leave at 3 today so we can get down to Seattle, get ready and be there by 6:30 tonight. We are very excited to see Andrew, as well as everyone else and can't wait to honor Andrew's 30 years of life. Here's a picture of Andrew and Lindsay...