She Knows What's Coming

I don't really have anything to say other than she must know that Riggs is coming because this chica has been eMOtional.  But honestly I think she's teething too.  Her bottom two fangs came in a few weeks ago (while she was sick), and that was no bueno.  So my bet is that her top two fangs are coming in.  She's always got her hands in her mouth, and there's lots of drooling.  Okay, I just convinced myself it's that she's teething as opposed to that my sweet angel is changing dispositions haha.  Mothers tell me this phase passes!  In any event, here are some fun pics for memory lane and for your own enjoyment.  Welcome to my life for the past few days.  Love you Reeser! But man I do NOT love teething!

Hope y'all are having a better week than this girl's been having! Lol. Cheers to when teething is over!

❤, Ashton Tilton

Daddy-Daughter Duo & Successfully Failing

There are few things that make my heart melt more than seeing Todd interact with Reese.  His love for her makes me weak in the knees.  Fo real.  This semester has been a crazy one for Todd.  He has so much to juggle.  Responsibilities comin' out the yin-yang.  He has balanced it all like a champ.  And always has put his girls first.  He makes time to be with us.  To really be with us.  And that means the world to me.  When I asked him to come with us to the park last week, I had to bring the camera to snap some daddy-daughter shots that like I said, make me weak in the knees.  Moments I never want to forget!  Love me some Buns.

For the first 5 minutes she was obsessed with the wood chips obviously.  Once she got over that though, she was on a roll, walking around like a mad women.  She loves any kind of step downs or "stair-ish" surfaces, so she kept climbing over the edge of where the wood chips became grass.  Over and over again.  She's still figuring out how to balance her weight when she climbs things, and it's so freaking hysterical.  One minute she's as cautious as can be, and the next thing I know she's ready to cascade off down the stairs with no help at all.  Yikes.

She likes when we eat her hand.  Must be a toddler thing.

If you're wondering how Todd fit down that slide, he didn't.  And then the trip came to a screeching halt as you can see below.  Usually she loves the swing, but not that day!  Haha, she was totally petrified, poor thing!  Can we say nap time?

Hope y'all are having a great week!

♥, Ashton Tilton

If you're needing a little encouragement on the topic of failure, please oh please watch this clip below.  It's geared towards college students, but it is oh so applicable to eeeerybody.  My father-in-law shared it with his kids, and it was just what Buns and I needed to hear!

"How we respond when we fail will ultimately determine how well we will succeed...We should not be so fearful of failing that we avoid trying new and hard things."

Snuggle Bug

Snuggles from our baby girl when she was sick earlier last week.  Reese has never really been a snuggler.  Never been that baby that just rests on your shoulder or cuddles up with you.  She's always on the move and likes her independence.  But when she's sick, as much as it breaks my heart, I gotta say I love the cuddles.  The picture of me and her was taken by Buns while we were watching Sesame Street.  Have I mentioned Reese's love for Sesame Street?  We watch one show each day when she wakes up from her morning nap, and it's hysterical how she smiles SO big when the song for Sesame Street comes on.  Elmo's her favorite.  It's pretty cool to see how she's making connections.  Like for example, this chick LOVES books.  She could sit entertained for a solid hour just me reading her books.  Lately she picks out the two Sesame Street books we have EVERY time.  As we're flipping through the book, she points to Elmo whenever he shows up!  It's pretty cool to see her little mind making those connections!  

We sure love our girl and are glad she's back to her normal self!  Now off to the doctor's for shots.  #holla

4 more days 'till Friday!! Can't it be the weekend already?

♥, Ashton Tilton

Reese Recently {At Home Edition}

Today I put Reese down for a very early nap.  I don't know if it's remnants of being sick earlier this week, but girl has been clingy and teary.  This mom's at a loss of what to do!  Haha.  So here I am posting some pictures of my typically very happy girl from a couple weeks ago to remind myself that this is her normal disposition! Lol.  

Reese has a buddy that comes over a couple times a week, and whenever she walks through the door she get the biggest smile on her face.  It's pretty dang cute.  Her pal is 6 months older than her and gets excited to see Reese too.  When she walks through the door, she smiles, points, and yells, "EESE!  EESE!  EESE!"  Does a little number on my heart.  Buds are the best.  

Typically the first plan of action is to dump out all of the small toys in her toy bucket, so they are strategically placed all over the front room creating an ankle-breaking zone.  I have learned to embrace this.  Let them be little, right?  So they go to town, while I read, journal, or finance (ew, that's very rare) on the couch next to them.  They keep themselves busy and are seriously the best of friends.   

Most times when Roni is waddling around our living room, I just watch her and chuckle at her growing body.  How she moves her arms and legs, how she's learning balance, how she learns what she can pick up and what's too heavy, how she tries to squeeze through the rungs of the desk chair, etc, etc... Toddlers have the funniest mannerisms, and I love it.  Her little fingers are the best!  That little pincer grip gets me everytime.  Lately she's been very aware of her head.  Either she's just discovered that it's attached to her body or she's finally aware of her lack of huuur.  It's okay baby girl, one day we will rock the piggies!  She also pats her belly a lot which is daddy's favorite.  Kills him.

And then there's that smile.  That toothy grin.  There are no words.  

And anyone who's met Reese, knows this face below.  Her infamous meet and greet.  You see...my child likes to give you a disgusted, get-out-my-face look instead of a smile upon first meeting you.  Thankfully this is usually accompanied by a smile right after.  I promise my child isn't a sass.  Or maybe she is?  Dang it.  In any event...it's hysterical and keeps us laughing.

Can I get a HOORAH for the fact that it's the weekend?!  I have big plans of running errands, doing laundry, eating ice cream, and crafting.  And trust me....all of those things I'm stoked about.  Except laundry.  Duh.  Hope y'all have a great weekend!!

♥, Ashton Tilton

Reese's Winter "One"derland

We celebrated Reese's first birthday a week before her actual birthday, so we could have friends and Reese's little buddies be a part of it too before they left for Christmas break.  I promise not to make this too sappy of a post, but we just love our friends and family.  We feel so blessed to have each of you in our lives.  The way you love Reese makes us love you that much more!  Thank you for all your love and support!  Youda, youda best!  A special thanks to my talented sister-in-law Katie Riley with Katie Riley Photography (click here for link to her page) who took most of these birthday pics, so I didn't have to worry about it during the party:).

Reese's cousin Dyl Pickle.  They're only a few months apart which I was so stoked about ever since we found out we were pregnant with Roni.

Reese's newest cousin, Tegan.  Isn't she the most darling lil' thing?!  

Checking out the Christmas ornaments with Grandpa Bill

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Haha, she was a litte shy with everyone singing Happy Birthday and staring her down to see what her next move would be.  She didn't quite smash it, as I had hoped haha, but she definitely took some bites and seemed to like it!

After we washed her up from the cake "smashing," she was partied out hahaha.  Her cousin Rio's faces while she cries just kill me (laughing-so-hard-I'm-crying emoji here).

Thanks again to everyone who was able to come and made it such a beautiful, fun evening.  We missed all our family and friends in different states that couldn't be there!  Love you all tremendously!

♥, Ashton Tilton