To start off the year I am shocked at what 2008 has sent our way. First, and most importantly, our little girl was born on February 12th-I can't believe she is almost a year old!!! Before that (on this day last year) we bought our first home. We have settled into our little house in Richmond (right outside Katy) and we are enjoying every minute of it!
After many sleepless nights and endless conversations, Trey decided to leave the wonderful and exciting world of Katy Tiger Football and take a job with Forest Healthcare so he could be at home with his family more. We are still around every weekend to cheer the tigers on and were there to congratulate them on, once again, A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP!!! The coaches, kids, and fans, are very special to us. I am teaching at Katy Junior High again this year and loving it!
Now for the exciting part-RILEY!!! She is the joy in our lives and is the reason, I know for sure, God put me here on Earth. I never imagined that a little person could mean the world to you-it's amazing how much love God provides you with for this baby. I don't even know where to start-she has grown so fast!
She was a very healthy baby at birth (8' 12" and 20 in. long) and has not stopped growing...she is in the 99% for height and weight, which most of you would say-"Wow," but she is a Landers-we are not small people.
She starting crawling around 6 1/2 months and was walking soon after. She is walking everywhere now, which is nice that their hands don't touch the dirty ground, but that doesn't mean she doesn't touch EVERYTHING else! She is into everything and keeps us on our toes every minute of every day!
She is starting to talk a little. Her first word was “da-da” which is amazing since she never lets go of my leg. She will mumble “ma-ma” every now and then but then when I try and get her to repeat it she says “da-da” again. Oh well, I’m sure I will get my lifetime’s worth of “ma-ma’s.” You can tell she really pays attention to words because she is starting to try and repeat you. Especially on words she hears often like "no," "yuck," and "ba-ba" (bottle).
We made a trip to Dallas for Thanksgiving this year and Riley was the star of the show. She got to take her first taste of Mamaw’s home cooking and now she knows what the real stuff taste like-there’s nothing better! Since that weekend she has refused baby food. It’s a little sad, but much easier-she eats almost anything! 
She loves Mickey Mouse and anything that makes noise and moves. She is a very talkative little girl who babbles the whole time she is playing. I love to watch her and think of what she is telling her toys, the oven, the TV, her diapers, or any other inanimate object she talks to.
She got more toys than you could ever imagine for Christmas this year!! Grandpa and Gigi (my parents) got her a Mickey Mouse riding toy that has to always be in her sight. It is rather amusing watching her get on and off of it, but she gets better everyday. Nana and Popo gave her an interactive riding pony that I will admit has not left the box yet, but she LOVES that cars they gave, she litterally carries them everywhere she goes. There are always 2 or 3 in the diaper bag, the car, etc. Her great grand parents (Papaw & Mamaw Mallicote) gave her a shopping cart that you can almost always find any toy you are looking for in-she puts EVERYTHING in it and pushes it around the house. She’s not too good a steering so she pushes her toys until she runs into something and then she screams for you to help.
She is such a trooper and goes with the flow of her constantly moving parents. Trey and I are training for the half marathon in Ft. Worth on February 28th and Riley has been with us the whole way. She bundles up (or strips down-who knows in Houston weather) in her jogging stroller and runs with us. She is such an outdoor baby. She could be outside in the rain and be completely content (she gets that from her daddy).
I could go on and on about this amazing little person in our lives, but I’m sure you guys have other things to do. That is our year in somewhat of a nutshell. We are so blessed to have a home, friends, and family that we love and adore. God has blessed us more than we could ever imagine. So...adios 2008 and welcome 2009!
With Love,
Krystal
She got more toys than you could ever imagine for Christmas this year!! Grandpa and Gigi (my parents) got her a Mickey Mouse riding toy that has to always be in her sight. It is rather amusing watching her get on and off of it, but she gets better everyday. Nana and Popo gave her an interactive riding pony that I will admit has not left the box yet, but she LOVES that cars they gave, she litterally carries them everywhere she goes. There are always 2 or 3 in the diaper bag, the car, etc. Her great grand parents (Papaw & Mamaw Mallicote) gave her a shopping cart that you can almost always find any toy you are looking for in-she puts EVERYTHING in it and pushes it around the house. She’s not too good a steering so she pushes her toys until she runs into something and then she screams for you to help.
She is such a trooper and goes with the flow of her constantly moving parents. Trey and I are training for the half marathon in Ft. Worth on February 28th and Riley has been with us the whole way. She bundles up (or strips down-who knows in Houston weather) in her jogging stroller and runs with us. She is such an outdoor baby. She could be outside in the rain and be completely content (she gets that from her daddy).
I could go on and on about this amazing little person in our lives, but I’m sure you guys have other things to do. That is our year in somewhat of a nutshell. We are so blessed to have a home, friends, and family that we love and adore. God has blessed us more than we could ever imagine. So...adios 2008 and welcome 2009!
With Love,
Krystal
