Riley's "Lellow"

This picture. Even seeing it now brings a slight tear to my eye. To probably everyone at the winery this weekend, Riley was my daughter. She wanted her "lellow", which I was affectionately referred to the entire time we were in St. Louis this weekend. And to most people looking at this photo, I'm just flying a kite with a two year old.

But this two year old is so full of spunk and sass. She has the sweetest smile and the orneriest grin that could get her anything she wanted. She is everything that I have ever envisioned Madison would be. And seeing that their birthdays are only a few weeks apart, she's the closest child in my friend realm to what Madison should be doing. What she should be saying. The experiences I should be having with my own daughter.

As Eric and I sat on the couch last night after a day with Riley (and Jaycen and Katie of course) full of kite flying, lots of "uppies", some couch cuddles, story time, and hand holding everywhere we went, Eric asked what I was thinking. I got real close to him, smiled, and remarked how much fun I had had that day. And in the exact same breath, my heart came crashing down as I also said how much it reminded me of the life we could be having if Madison were here. While we will never know exactly what that life would have looked like, I'm thankful for friends like Jaycen and Katie who let me love on Riley all weekend long. I'll tell you there's nothing sweeter than waking up and hearing Riley ask her mom and dad if "lellow" was awake yet. I hope she always likes me that much! (And maybe one day knows my actual name!)

But enough of the sappy stuff- here's a little peak into our weekend in St. Louis! We don't get to see these guys near enough, so we love to soak it in when we do. 

After chilling at their house that morning and Riley's avoidance of an afternoon nap, we decided to drive up the road to a local winery. Remember when I said earlier that people probably thought I was Riley's mom? See photo below ha!

I'm so glad that Jaycen brought out their kite. Saturday was the perfect windy spring day. We all had a blast flying that thing. I think I might have earned the title of best kite flyer of the day!

And of course I have to include a few candids Eric took of Riley and her actual momma, because seriously, could these two get any stinking cuter?? I hope that when I get to mother some babies here on Earth that I can have as great a connection with my own babies as these two have.

And last but not least, my rock of a husband! (And Jaycen photo-bombing while kite flying in the background.) Here's to many more adventures with you!