Merry Christmas!

Okay, so Santa is definitely NOT the reason for the season, but every American kid has to have one of these pics! We waited in a 'virtual' line for a quoted 90 minutes...which ended up being a good 190 minutes. Sometimes it pays to be able to see the line, I guess.



I hope everyone had a wonderful, blessed CHRISTmas! We were fortunate that much of our family is now in Houston, so Reid got to see most of them on Christmas this year. We are so thankful for our family and ultimately, for God's gift of His only Son being born on Earth over two thousand years ago.

December Craziness

December has been fast and furious. No pun intended, because I absolutely can't stand those movies...in more ways than one nowadays!! (Let's just say it's pitiful when a kindergartener is telling you about boys and girls "kissing" and people fighting in the newest "Fast 5" movie! Ugh.)
Reid loves helping put away the water bottles.

And Mommy's sunglasses...

That first week in December, I hosted playgroup. Since everyone was really busy (and we'd just had Thanksgiving), I opted for the easy out and did it at McDonald's. I forgot how much fun I have making crafts!! Here is a (really bad) pic of the goodies Reid and I handed out... Reid had just had his first Happy Meal two weeks before that. Let's just say he's a fry burglar.


Later that week, I looked up and he was just hanging out on the couch. Didn't even know he could reach it! Since then, it's one of the highlights of his day.


BUT then the Christmas tree came along. As soon as we get downstairs each morning, "Tee! Tee!" The tree must be turned on stat, or else! This past week has not been relaxing in the least bit, but I have thoroughly enjoyed every single moment (except maybe today, when Samson somehow simultaneously puked on the blinds, couch, window, and windowsill while I was trying to--gasp--bake!). Reid has been sooo good, even though he is into every single thing in the house ;) I hope his happiness will continue as we visit three houses in the next few days!!


And a couple of weeks ago, we had the Christmas play date. Reid, following his usual pattern, was the fussy kid. We left earlier than anyone else, as always! But you can't tell from the pictures...




The night before was Jason's company party. It was good food and good company. Next year, we decided we should stay there (we've said that three years in a row, now). We were thank Uncle Steve and Taunt were willing to watch Reid for us. He'd had croup for the third time in four months...thought he was fine, but he had a coughing fit that night (and then I felt like a crummy parent! No coughing the previous two nights!), so I felt really bad.



Here is our crazy boy's newest fave... The garage door!! Woo hoo! Don't know why it's so suddenly exciting, but it cracks me up every time now, too. I haven't managed to get a good video because he runs around so much, but all he says is, "SEE, SEE!!!" assumingly meaning, "I see the door moving!" I suppose...

Photo Bomb

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, we (attempted) to take some good pics of our little guy. Little did I know how difficult it would be!! Pictures and toddlers do NOT mix.... But, 400 pictures later, we did end up with some great ones. Please allow me to translate:

"Tee!" (tree)

"Mom, I am SO done with these picture things!"

"Please, Lord...make Mommy stop!!"

"I'm not as innocent as I look..."

And this one would've been fantastic, aside from the shadows. Still, pretty cool lighting! I love how his eyes look.

"What?! We're not done?? I have a GQ shot after this..."

So those ended up being pretty cute, which made my recent knee aggrivation well worth it (apparently, you cannot take up jogging at 35--with a stroller, mind you--after years of not doing it!), but we really wanted to attempt some good family pics for the Christmas card this year. I enlisted my mom, who was a great sport using an unfamiliar camera et al. Reid was not a fan (but what else is new??), but there were some great shots.



Love this one...it's kind of an updated version of one of our engagement pictures. Just add Harry Hargis (the self-appointed vagabond photographer) and some split rail fencing ;)


And then Reid totally did not cooperate once Grammy and Grumpy came into play. They were both great sports, but he was d-o-n-e.



And the little guy, in front of "his" tree, the Japanese maple we bought on our babymoon :) It is oddly familiar to him...he is quite intrigued with that and the river birch (Jason and I planted both after moving in).


And what photo shoot could possibly be done w/o a boys' pic? Grumpy, Jason, and Reid had been outside (yes, Reid is in total "Daddy!!!!" mode the past month) checking on the turkey for a while. He already fits right in...

Aquarium

Over the Thanksgiving break, we decided to take a family trip to the Grapevine aquarium. He got cranky in the stroller, but didn't seem to be interested in anything aside from running when he was outside of the stroller. We desperately tried to get Reid to enjoy the fish (Jason and I did enjoy them, at least!), but here's what he seemed to like the best...

Round two, same story!

I wish I'd have gotten a video of when we walked on the plexiglass "shark walk" where the fish swam below you. He started to take a step and then realized he might fall (optical illusion) and didn't want to go any further. When I held his hand and we walked, he got enough courage to run around, but I guess it messed with his equilibrium because he kept tripping all over the place. It was hilarious! Finally, we discovered what his absolute favorite thing at the aquarium was:

So he didn't exactly love the fish this time, but we all had fun. Hopefully someday he'll enjoy the wildlife as much as we do. But until then, it's the little things in life :)

Thankful

Many of my friends on Facebook are posting something each day for which they are thankful this year. I caught on a bit too late to do one each day, but would like to put my two cents in with the wonderful upcoming holiday. To borrow the words of our wise pastor Chuck Swindoll (yes, we are so fortunate that he leads Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, TX...couldn't believe that such a grounded, world-renowned man started a church here!), "I've got a love affair going with Thanksgiving. It seems to blend together all we Americans hold precious and dear--without the sham and plastic mask of commercialism." I am so very thankful for so many people and things the Lord has provided for us that I don't even know where to begin... So I'll attempt to be short and sweet...and pick just a few :)

First of all (and definitely most importantly), I am so thankful for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. God didn't have to give up his only Son for us, but He did!! It compares with no other religion--we are saved by grace, alone, not by works!

Second, I am thankful for our little miracle who isn't staying so little anymore. It seems crazy that it took three years (and that's just of actual "trying"...think we were ready before that!) for him to be conceived. On a daily basis, I'll get, "So...is he two?" They are always shocked when we mention he's about to be 18 months "but he's pretty tall!" He's still only about 24 lbs, but is well past 32", as of his 15 month appointment. We totally need to measure him again, because I know he's definitely grown since then...


I am thankful for Holli, Reid's "new" sitter this year. She is so wonderful that I cannot say enough good things about her!! She treats him like one of her own kiddos (and her own two girls are fabulous, sweet, and beautiful :), has found things he will eat (which I am always, always looking for these days!), and brings out the best in Reid. I'm not sure who loves her more...Reid or me! I do not worry about him one single bit once I drop him off each morning...and that is the total opposite from last year. Holli is amazing!


I am thankful that our little guy is learning manners (thank you, Holli!) and new things each day. This one shocked me last week...but then he did it again a few days ago! I wiped his nose, set the tissue on the table for a second while I unpacked some of our stuff after school, and the next thing I know, he's taking the "tash" (trash) to the trashcan. I did it again so that I could get video:

And I am thankful for food. Yes, this one sounds a little bit random, but if you know me at all, you know that I LOVE food. Love it! Tonight I made Phat Thai (can't remember what makes it Phat, not Pad) and we ate until we were nearly sick. Soooo yummy that I had to take the pic below. But the fun part behind it is all the years of "odd" foods Jason and I have grown to love. I realized as we were eating that we probably never would've had Pad Thai had we not visited Uncle Pete and Aunt Tanya when they were in Frankfurt. Their maid was the cook on the chef's day off (and boy, was it a treat...who gets to have authentic Thai in Germany?!) and our taste buds were introduced to a whole new world, halfway across the world! Little did we know we'd actually visit Phuket, Thailand a few years later and fall in love with the food.


We are hoping that Reid follows in our footsteps of loving travel and trying the foods from those places. But until then, I am quite thankful that he is beginning to enjoy feeding himself. Not so crazy about him having fast food, but these days if I can get him to eat ANYthing, it's considered a plus. I have literally tried every fruit and veggie out there, but so far he really prefers meat, cheese, and bread. That's about it :( So here's his first Happy Meal...

17 Months

Reid surprises us every single day. He's such a baby, yet so grown up at the same time! Here's his cute little "fall" outfit...and NO, that is not a cigarette :( Why on earth would you put a white pocket in toddler pants?!


I guess it's just because my dad was a pilot and we LOVED every second of flying, but I can't tear myself away from anything with an airplane. Yes, Jason and I were "those people" with a 16 month old who bought a 4T "Top Gun" outfit at the thrift store last month!! He may never want to wear it for Halloween, but it was so cute...




He learns new things every day... from words, to gestures, to expressions. (And yes, I'm assuming most of the facial expressions are my fault, hahaha!) Tonight, the gibberish he spouted sounded AWFULLY close to "I love you!" Or maybe it was just me...



And his latest feat is (attempting) to eat with utensils. It's quiet entertaining. Plus, as a bonus to me, he will sometimes eat (gasp!) vegetables!! As a side note, I'm really, really scared at this point because he will eat no vegetables by themselves. Zero. Nada. None. Zippo. Frightening for two parents who love 'em.

Halloween

Our Halloween weekend started early this year. My playgroup enjoyed an afternoon at one of the girls' houses. All the kids came in costume and it was a fun time for moms and kids. Reid had two costumes this year--a cute pumpkin hand-me-down from cousin Alex, and Jason and I couldn't pass up this lion outfit at Target. (kind of went with the zoo theme beginning last year, with his giraffe costume) It was perfect... One for Friday, and one for Halloween!


I couldn't really get Reid to stay still long enough for a great picture, but I tried. He is one of the youngest kiddos in the group, so it's sometimes hard because I tend to compare him to the others, who can talk, sit, and decorate cookies.


The other kids could decorate their own cookies (with a little help) and also enjoyed sharing the sprinkles. It was precious.




Reid really hated the hood on his outfit. I figured he'd love it since it's soft on one side and silky on the other...just like his lovey. But it was cute nonetheless. And check out all those teeth!


No, I don't normally braid my hair like Pocahontas. It was the end of Red Ribbon Week for me at school--"crazy hair day." And Reid couldn't wait to eat his cookie, so no decorating for us. I think it's only the second official 'junk food' cookie he's ever had (in my mind, vanilla wafers don't count, right?).




Monday was Halloween. I'd had quite a long day at school, and Reid was very fussy because he was breaking another premolar. A ride in his trike seemed like the perfect solution.





Our neighbors took a last minute trip to Vegas, so we decided to have our only trick or treating to Jason and Ann's house in the next neighborhood.


The adults caught up while the kids played. I think Reid enjoyed each and every toy they had. We finally headed home, but not before snapping adorable pics of their two little guys.


Kaden was a cute little bumblebee...


And Jacob was a skeleton.

And we had to get one shot (before the hat was ripped off yet again) in full attire, on the trike.