how riley grew up too fast and is suddenly six weeks old

tomorrow my baby girl will be six week old. how did this happen? she is growing up so very fast. i think time is my worst enemy these days. i'm always rushing against the clock...it just goes too fast. i fee like riley was just born and then, poof, she got big. really big. she is a solid baby and is much easier to carry these days. and to the gratefulness of ken, she is holding her head up much better. and the best thing of all: riley started smilling at us this week. okay, really she only smiles at daddy (not fair, i know, but he holds her more because of it, so i am rewarded by having a few spare moments to clean up or do my hair and make-up for a change).


this is my absolute favorite of riley. she is so cute i could eat her up! no matter how much we tried, she wouldn't smile...that will have to be for the future.


i must admit it is fun having 4 kids. all the time people ask me if it is hard. well, yes - but only because having a newborn is hard because it takes so much time. but we are already back to our routine and it isn't so hard anymore. so what is six weeks? i think i could have 12 kids if i didn't have to be pregnant.

me and my sweet little baby (she was trying to kiss me back, but only because she wanted food).


not the best picture, i know. but this is for my mom: look at those FAT cheeks. she is a chunker. and she still has that great double chin (but then again, so does ellie, who had the same chin when she was born). i haven't taken pictures of riley in so long because of her baby acne, and you can see that in this picture. it really is bad, especially after she cries. i think the heat is aggravating her skin. i hope it goes away soon. but she's cute none-the-less.


and one last riley picture. this one looks the most like her (i think). she is such a great sweet baby.


on a different note: we went to otho's school on saturday for a water slide party. it was way fun although we died from the heat. i took a few pictures while the kids at their popcorn.


isn't ken so ruggedly handsome? he could be a cowboy with his scruff... my bookclub friend will understand that he is my captain jack elliot. mmm good. ken is delicious. we have our SEVENTH anniversary in a few weeks. i can't believe we've been together for such a long time. i've enjoyed every year more than the last. i love you sweetie!


and here is otho, who is getting to darn old. he starts kindergarten tomorrow and i am so excited and anxious all at the same time. his teacher is mrs. gregson and he has a fun looking classroom with a fish and a hamster and tons of books to read. ach, i can't wait!

what is missing? a picture of ellie! sadly i haven't taken one of her this last batch, which is a change since she is the most photographed child ever. maybe it's good to have an off-week.