Baths, Not Pools

Dear Riley,

Yesterday, your grandparents came over to see you, my mom and dad, and they brought you presents like they always do. They brought you some washable markers so that you can make us some beautiful drawings and a package of magnet numbers. You love to play with the magnets on the fridge at your great grandma's house. They also brought you a water bottle with pirates on it and we asked you, "What do pirates say?" And you immediately said "Arrrrgh!" That's why they bought it for you, just so that they could hear you say that whenever you use it :-) You are very adorable, and everyone loves you so much! They also brought you some teddy grahams and you were sharing them with Grandpa. Then he said no more you tried to give him one last teddy graham and as he leaned forward to get it you held it to his mouth and at the last second, snatched it away and put it in your mouth. Everyone laughed so you had to laugh to. That is something you always do. Whenever people around you laugh hard at something you have to make sure you aren't left out and let out a big laugh too. It is so sweet and I will never get tired of hearing you laugh.

Today we went grocery shopping and you said hi to someone that you didn't know for the first time. You are very shy when it comes to the store. When people talk to you you always pull your shirt up, trying to cover your face or you hide your face in my shoulder. Its adorable but I wish we had more opportunity for you to be around people so that you wouldn't be so shy. We bought you some marshmallows because you wanted them so badly :-) Then we went over to my friend Kat's house. She babysits a little girl named Autumn who is about 6 months younger than you. Kat has a little kiddie pool in her backyard and we thought you two would love to play in it for a bit. You love to take baths, when you are anywhere near the bathroom you want to either climb into the tub or brush your teeth. So we thought you would enjoy playing in the kiddie pool. Apparently we were mistaken :-) You hated it at first, so much so that you basically threw yourself out of it into my lap. So we taught you that you could splash in the pool while standing next to it and then Kat got a few tupperware things from her kitchen for the two of you to play with. After that you let down your guard enough to get into the pool and you had fun. Until Autumn was waving around a cup of water and splashed it in your face, you hate water in your face even in the bathtub. Then you wanted out and refused to get back in. Which was fine because it was nap time anyway so we headed home. After your nap you sat in Daddy's lap while he watched a movie and you ate marshmallows. And now you are both in bed, fast asleep and I am writing this to you in the hopes that someday you will happily read over it and know how loved you are and how you hold a special place in everyone's hearts.

I love you, Mommy