Meeting Baby Riley Orth hospital video =)

Alyvia and Riley meet

I have lists and lists of things I want to write about regarding sweet baby Riley and my big girl, too. As the ideas flood my brain I furiously write them in my phone so I won't forget.

But then more moments happen, and I'm all I need to write about that, too. And now the moments are stacking up

so high I just don't even know where to begin. Some are fine being just for me, for us---but sometimes I need to 

write stuff down so I don't forget it. So I remember. So I can look back on those moments and remember my 

emotions and feelings. That's why I write about them. These moments.

Alyvia meeting Riley was insanely special to me. This little person we had talked about for months and months, 

finally on the outside, tangible to a 2 year old now, this little baby--here in the flesh, so she could finally lay eyes

on her and kissy her and "grrrrr" her. It was and still is one of those moments I will remember forever. It makes 

me tear up just thinking about it.

I am so grateful that we got a video of the first few times my girls were together. I think they will 

cherish this so much in the future.

And really? I think this speaks volumes. More than my words really can right now. All I know is--I'm in love with 

both of my girls so hard I didn't even know it was possible. My heart just expanded, and I love these little people

with my whole heart, both of them.

I thank God for my sweet gifts. I really, truly do--because I don't deserve them, but I'm so grateful he saw me fit

to be their momma. 

I Used to Do Things -- Now I Have Kids

Fantastic article from the Huffington Post:

"I used to drink before going to the bar. Now I feed my kids before taking them to a restaurant.

I used to pack toilet paper in my purse for a night out in case we ended up at a bonfire in the middle of nowhere with no bathroom. Now I pack extra Dora the Explorer underwear in case we are in the middle of a mall with hundreds of bathrooms, but none of them are right here, right now.

I used to go about my life, completely unconcerned with the bathroom habits of others. Now I have two people who treat their own toileting like a personal favor to me. "Ugh. Fine. I'll go potty." And I'm all, "Thank you!"

I used to eyeball other people's plates to see if what they were eating looked better than mine. Now I eyeball other people's plates to see if they ate three bites of broccoli and if they left me a chicken nugget.

I used to be embarrassed if I was the last one up in the morning in a houseful of people. Now if I were ever the last person up I would brag to everyone I know and buy a lottery ticket. That would be a lucky day, to be sure.

I used to think people who didn't take their childless friends up on offers to babysit were dumb or martyrs or both. Now I know that those friends who offer to babysit don't really want to do it. They think they do, but they don't. They will, but it will be a favor, not, "Oh my gosh! I love spending time with your kids!" This doesn't count for babies. People like watching babies.

I used to eat dinner at 7:00 p.m. or later. Now I eat dinner at 4:45 p.m. And again at 7:00 p.m. or later.

I used to be able to read an entire novel in less than two days. Now I have trouble reading all 40 pages of Pinkalicious without falling asleep.

I used to need complete privacy in a soundproof room to move my bowels. Now I have two children and a dog keeping me company, and I'm so beat down I don't even consider closing the door when I'm on the throne.

I used to be able to carry on a conversation on the phone without interruption. Now the same child who wanted nothing to do with me five minutes before my phone rang has an eyebrow that hurts and also can they get out the finger paints and have some candy?

I used to know that I wanted to make babies with the man I am lucky to have as my husband. Now I marvel at the blessing of watching my heart walk around in two people I grew in my body.

I used to do things. Now I do other things. But every now and again I get the chance to do one of the old things, and then I feel new again."

Great mother's words..

For all Mother's 
(including soon to be Mothers) 

We are sitting at lunch one day when my daughter casually mentions that she and her husband are thinking of "starting a family." "We're taking a survey," she says half-joking. "Do you think I should have a baby?"

"It will change your life," I say, carefully keeping my tone neutral.

"I know," she says, "no more sleeping in on weekends, no more spontaneous vacations."

But that is not what I meant at all. I look at my daughter, trying to decide what to tell her. I want her to know what she will never learn in childbirth classes.

I want to tell her that the physical wounds of child bearing will heal, but becoming a mother will leave her with an emotional wound so raw that she will forever be vulnerable.

I consider warning her that she will never again read a newspaper without asking, "What if that had been MY child?" That every plane crash, every house fire will haunt her.

That when she sees pictures of starving children, she will wonder if anything could be worse than watching your child die.

I look at her carefully manicured nails and stylish suit and think that no matter how sophisticated she is, becoming a mother will reduce her to the primitive level of a bear protecting her cub. That an urgent call of "Mum!" will cause her to drop a soufflé or her best crystal without a moments hesitation.

I feel that I should warn her that no matter how many years she has invested in her career, she will be professionally derailed by motherhood. She might arrange for childcare, but one day she will be going into an important business meeting and she will think of her
baby's sweet smell. She will have to use every ounce of discipline to keep from running home, just to make sure her baby is all right.

I want my daughter to know that every day decisions will no longer be routine. That a five year old boy's desire to go to the men's room rather than the women's at McDonald's will become a major dilemma. That right there, in the midst of clattering trays and screaming
children, issues of independence and gender identity will be weighed against the prospect that a child molester may be lurking in that restroom.

However decisive she may be at the office, she will second-guess herself constantly as a mother.

Looking at my attractive daughter, I want to assure her that eventually she will shed the pounds of pregnancy, but she will never feel the same about herself.

That her life, now so important, will be of less value to her once she has a child. That she would give herself up in a moment to save her offspring, but will also begin to hope for more years, not to accomplish her own dreams, but to watch her child accomplish theirs.

I want her to know that a cesarean scar or shiny stretch marks will become badges of honor.

My daughter's relationship with her husband will change, but not in the way she thinks.

I wish she could understand how much more you can love a man who is careful to powder the baby or who never hesitates to play with his child.

I think she should know that she will fall in love with him again for reasons she would now find very unromantic.

I wish my daughter could sense the bond she will feel with women throughout history who have tried to stop war, prejudice and drunk driving.

I want to describe to my daughter the exhilaration of seeing your child learn to ride a bike.

I want to capture for her the belly laugh of a baby who is touching the soft fur of a dog or cat for the first time.

I want her to taste the joy that is so real it actually hurts.

My daughter's quizzical look makes me realize that tears have formed in my eyes. "You'll never regret it," I finally say. Then I reached across the table, squeezed my daughter's hand and offered a silent prayer for her, and for me, and for all the mere mortal women who stumble their way into this most wonderful of callings.
(Author Unknown)

A day we will never forget...

I am going to attempt to recap the last 8 months since Alyvia has been born so that I can move forward and update this blog weekly with current events (at least that's my goal). I feel guilty that I did not start this earlier but as the saying goes, better late than never. Let's start with July-when it all began.


Alyvia Marie Orth was born on Saturday, July 16, 2011, at 11:10am. I have the details in a journal (and most of you reading this already know them so I will spare you) but everything worked out perfectly. I will never forget the moment she was placed in my arms. Ed and I both started tearing up as the emotions hit us all at once. It was the most incredible feeling in the world. Nine long months leading up to this. We have a healthy baby girl and our lives were (are) forever changed.


I have experienced many happy moments in my life. I had the wedding of my dreams and I remember the natural high that I was on for months after. I even remember saying "it can't get much better than this". I was oh so wrong. Although my wedding ranks high up on my all time favorite days, giving birth to our first child, Alyvia Marie, trumps the wedding day. As a matter of fact, it may trump every other day for the rest of my life. Welcome into this beautiful world baby girl! We love you more with each passing moment!

Here Goes Nothing...

Alyvia turned 8 months old three days ago (March 16th) and I have been beating myself up over not starting a blog yet. I wanted to start one when I was pregnant and then right after she was born. Instead, I have been putting reminders in my phone every time she had a "milestone" or did something cute or made us smile. Right before we left for our cruise I almost had a panic attack because I thought my calendar was lost forever along with all the Alyvia events. It has since been restored and now everything is in the cloud (thanks to the Iphone). Anyway, the reason for wanting to start this blog is because I wanted to keep family and friends in the loop about our life...ok, about Alyvia's life...since both Ed and I know we are chopped liver now =) Since we have family and friends spread out across the US, we figured this blog was the best way to communicate the Orth (or, Orse) family happenings. I can't promise it will be updated every day, but my goal is to at least post something once a week. If you made it here, thanks for reading and ENJOY!