Snow!

Here are pics from Day Four...no school :) Loved every second of it (and all that fun time off almost makes it harder to go back tomorrow!!)






Not our house, but the longest icicles I have ever since in Texas!



Ignore the fuzz and cat hair, but notice the perfect snowflake. Jason and I had the most fun just admiring God's handiwork :)



And (big) kids will be (big) kids! I really think being a parent lets you "rediscover" those amazing little things in life that are so exciting when you're a child. Watching Reid learn about the little things is really quite inspiring. Reid went down for a nap and we discovered that our video monitor works allllll the way down our street, so we went out for a little fun ourselves.








The final product:

We got our new camera delivered JUST in time for all this wonderful white stuff! Still learning how to use it...but it takes great pictures.

Our happy boy loves standing up with a little help.

He wasn't so fond of being outside in the cold due to his runny nose (at least we made it 8 months before his first cold!)...which brought back great memories of my own family's vacation when I was in kindergarten...and gave everyone but my dad the stomach flu. We'd flown to Utah--my sister was scared the icicles would come through the window and get her (Laura, that icicle pic at the beginning made me think of you!) and my dad was bound and determined to get all of us outside. We girls couldn't breathe, cried, and begged to go back inside rather than making a snowman. Sad trip, but hilarious memories full of "3-2-1 Contact," puzzles, and popsicles. But I digress..

The only thing I do not like about the camera is how it shows so many details in my face (I imagine that's how the broadcasters feel about HD tv). My skin is still all funky after being pregnant!! And poor Reid looks yellow/orange thanks to his pickily odd diet. (still working on that, but still only really likes squash, sweet potatoes, and sometimes carrots)

I can't tell you enough how we have LOVED our back porch/patio. Best thing we've done to our house!!

Reid's new favorite thing? Sticking his tongue out. All. the. time.

And I can't forget to mention the kitties. Our snow Dixie surprised us by actually asking to go outside...and liking the cold white stuff.

We still aren't sure how those tiny paws support a Two Ton Tilly cat!! But they make cute paw prints.

Samson refused to go outside until the next day. Pretty funny.

3 Ice Days...and Now Snow!

On Monday, we were excited at the prospect of a late start on Tuesday. (Now most people think teachers like snow days, but in the back of our minds, we are always thinking of having to make those days up later...but I do try to enjoy the day as much as possible.) As a native Texan, I don't think I have ever seen a forecast like this!! (If you can't quite see it, it says "chance of snow 100%")



So on Tuesday, when we awoke to the odd combination of thunder, lightening, and sleet around 4am, I was pretty sure we wouldn't be having school at all. Sure enough, after waiting and waiting around for the "official" call sometime after 6am (even though it was posted on the MISD website waaaaaaay before that), I got to enjoy being a stay at home mommy. Reid, Jason, and I played, played, and played some more.



Look at this handsome boy! ("Who, moi?")


Oddly enough, the temperature never rose above 22 that day...nor Wednesday...or even Thursday! So I have gotten to be a stay at home mommy all week!! :) Besides playing, we've also begun spitting on Mommy during dinner... I did video this one on Monday when it was still kind of cute, but it got increasingly messier each consecutive night.

And more playing... The sleep sack (we've been in pj's all week because they're so cozy) is one I got at the Carter's outlet. Reid picked it out himself--when I held it up, he laughed like it was hilarious or something. None of the other sleep sacks got that reaction, so this was the one I bought.

Our sitter kept telling me how much he loves the bouncer, so we decided to use a Babies 'R Us credit we had to get him one (I know...we're suckers, but he's so stinking cute!). At first, I thought she was fibbing, but I think he just had to loosen up the springs. Since this video, he goes bonkers in this thing and has a ball!

And even instead of naptime one day, I came in to Reid's room to see his sock off and his foot in his mouth (the ol' camera was a little too slow to capture it once I ran back downstairs to grab it, but here's what I could get)...his favorite thing recently.


Jason has been in to work intermittently this week, but we've been blessed to enjoy some extra family time. It's been much less hectic than a normal week (and so entertaining to watch all the crazies sliding around on the ice when we watch the news!)...probably due to a stress free me, lol. I think I am developing carpal tunnel or something--Reid is getting so big and heavy, now! My neck and hands hurt from picking him up so much, but it's a great problem to have :) Even the kitties have enjoyed the week. They have taken turns curling up on me when I'm catching up on all the baby books I'm behind in while Reid is napping, and this morning was even more fun when they discovered a cardinal pecking at the frozen bread I'd tossed out for them yesterday.

7 Months

Wow...where on earth has the time gone??? Here's our little 7 (and a half!) month old sweet baby! He LOVES removing his own socks, which is what he was preparing to do, I'm sure...



Hahahaha!




So the kindergarten teacher in me just HAD to introduce him to Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (one of my faves, no matter how many times I see/hear it!!) He loves it, especially since it can be pulled up on the new, giant tv now. He just bounces right along...




Word! (think "Ice Ice Baby" circa 1991)

He is totally entertained by the gift our sitter got him for Christmas (and yes, it was totally on Mommy's list!!). Getting him to do tummy time is still kind of tricky...has to be a certain amount of time after eating, but he can't be cranky...blah, blah, blah. I really thought he might crawl, but Reid is pretty darn content to just lay back and watch things. We're thinking he'll be a late crawler, but seeing as how we aren't baby-proofed for a crawler, that might not be a bad thing.

Our long, lean (but getting chunky!) little guy.

I realized I forgot the 7 month sign, so attempted again (no bueno). Instead, we opted for an assisted sitting position...sans socks. In the first 17 pics, he was eating his socks, playing with his socks, throwing his socks, giggling at his socks...you get the picture.

In other news, our retarded cat, Samson, (I am very sorry to use that word, but he really is MR) has recently become a lap cat. Why? Who knows. But he's a very cute one ;)

And he has actually learned how to fluff...after 10 yrs... Better late than never, right?

This was one of Jason's Christmas presents (the onesie). Of course, in true boy fashion, he peed on it later at the sitter's house. Sheesh. Wasn't NEARLY as cute when I picked him up in Winnie the Pooh. (For those of you who know me well, I can't stand Winnie. No offense to anyone who does. But Tigger's pretty cute ;)

The sitter keeps telling me how Reid LOVES bouncing, so Jason and I decided to use our Babies R Us credit to get our own. He really hasn't bounced yet, but it's still super cute.

We are attempting to get Reid to feed himself sometimes. He's shown interest in sippy cups, but can't quite get the hang of it. I was amazed how he knew to put it right up to his mouth the first time I ever handed him one (assumably b/c the girls at the sitter are both a little older and he's seen them use one), but he can't get the holding it upright AND sucking parts together. Still cute, though! Eating is another story. He has basically boycotted all things that are not yellow/orange. Seriously. So his nose is beginning to turn a nice shade of jaundice, hahaha. We're working on remedying that...

Not a single day goes by...no matter how cranky he is, how awful it was leaving him for 9 hrs, how stinky those diapers are (and believe me-they're getting bad!!), how much food gets sprayed in my face, or how much he cries...I am so, so grateful that God has blessed us with this little guy.

Reid's First Snow

Look at me--two posts in a day!! That's what a snow day will get you ;) After waiting...and waiting...and checking the school district's website and WFAA.com (who both said the district would be closed today)...then waiting some more, I finally got the official call at 6:15 that today would be a snow day. Exciting, yes, but we were hoping for a late start so that we wouldn't have to make up an entire day later in the spring. Oh, well. I'll take it and enjoy it!! The only thing that marred today is finding out my "special friend" (translated, kid who threw chairs across the room, tried to bite me, and had to be physically removed from my classroom--all on separate days--just to name a few of the lovely things that've happened) will be back in my class this week. I just think it is so unfair for the other 20 children I have to deal with this...and no, I do not have an aide/helper. So we'll all be tiptoeing around on eggshells again, wondering when he'll go off. (Prayers are appreciated--they can accomplish more than anything else!!!) Yes, I've already cried.

Anyhow, had one more video I took before the snow day...Reid LOVES balls that roll, even if they bonk him in the face inadvertently.



On to the snow! Reid wasn't quite sure what to think of his snowsuit (thanks, Aunt Laura! We wouldn't have had anything warm enough if it weren't for this adorable hand me down.) but was all smiles when we took him outside to see all the white stuff.



Daddy built a snowman that was a little bit taller than Reid, but Reid did not want to stand in the cold white stuff.

I added another little hat to make sure his ears were indeed warm enough, but then he wouldn't really turn his head.

We walked (carefully!) down the street to see the sights.

Reid made his first snow angel (with a little help from Mommy, of course).

We found a snowman almost as big as Daddy (and across the street, there was actually a taller one!)...

Back in our own backyard, we played some more. I realized I never put on makeup yesterday...went to church and all! Oh, well.

Our house, from the back:

Once back indoors in the warmth, Jason kept Reid entertained with one of his new Christmas toys. They've played with it a lot, but for some reason it totally cracked him up.

And the newest food o' the week? Pears, our first fruit! Check out his reaction. That was the second day to eat them, and he seems to like them, but it's the same reaction I have to Sweet Tarts, lol. I was very excited to capture it on film!

Cotton Bowl

It was a house divided on Friday...as most of you know, Jason is an LSU alum and I am an A&M alum. So we weren't quite sure what to put our little pumpkin in for game day.

Since I typically dress him, this was my first choice (notice the big smile!).



Add a leather helmet and he could go for the Heisman!



Of course, what fun would it be to only root for one team? Daddy got a hold of him and switched the apparel to purple and gold. (no smile)

Finally, he cracked a gummer grin.

Jason and I haven't done anything fun with just the two of us in quite some time, so we took the day off to catch up with old friends and tailgate. We had lunch with another divided couple--my friend Dave was a Fish Camp counselor with me at A&M, and his wife Tracy worked with Jason's brother at a restaurant in Baton Rouge. (yes, it's a small world!) We met up with them for lunch before heading out to the stadium. Check out their ride:

People looked confused all day, expecting the two Aggies and the two Tigers to sit on the same sides of the booth, etc. It was hilarious!

As we tailgated with a bunch of Tigers, we randomly ran into another Camp Smith friend, Zach.

Later that afternoon, we made sure to visit Mandy and Johnny, old friends from Houston.

Couldn't pass up taking a pic of this sign. I'm not sure why people say Tigers smell like corndogs, but it was hilarous...

...especially with a snared Tiger! (and please take note of the "Cousin Eddie" shoes he has with the yellow golf pants...classic)

The sunset was absolutely breath taking as we headed to the stadium.

My Ags did their best, but we didn't quite score enough points to win, lol. I was the lone maroon in a sea of purple, but thankfully the Tigers around me were fairly nice. It was a good time!

Videos

So I've been putting off the videos because they take forEVER to upload...but they're too cute to keep to myself ;) And pardon my cheesiness. I absolutely cringe when I hear my own (very garish) mommy voice on these. Sheesh.

Here's one of Reid's first experiences with solids (green beans, which he actually ended up liking) the weekend before Christmas.

Our little furry visitor, who peeked in the window several times during the morning hours in my two weeks of vacation. The video turned out kind of dark, but his fluffy little white tail shows up well.

Reid was a good little shopper for most of the break. At first, he hated going shopping anywhere (when I wanted to get it out of the way). Then, we couldn't go a day where he did NOT want to get out. He'd scream and cry in the mornings until we got out and did something! Here's a video where we'd just gone to Hobby Lobby (for a veeeeery long return...not even shopping) and I discovered that he'd crack himself up when I made his Santa lovey bop him on the head. The background parking lot noise is a little bit loud, but his sweet little chuckles are priceless!

A short clip of Christmas (Christmas Eve?) morning...in Grumpy's hat:

A new Christmas toy from Santa (attached to his high chair, which we just started to enjoy because I can actually have two hands to make/warm his bottle once he's strapped in!). The funny thing is that he could care less about this toy ever since.

His newest bouncer accomplishment (yes, I caved in and moved it downstairs....he was never a spitter-upper until the eighth formula switch and I don't dare put him flat for at least 30 minutes after eating nowadays...hoping ninth time is the charm...). Be sure to check out his bib!

He finally realized he can make the chameleon on his jumper go off all by himself. So cute! He was very smiley this day--loved it! He tends to be a very touchy little guy, but we are quite thankful that God blessed us with him, cranky or not!!

And his newest favorite feat (or should I say "feet"?)...drum roll, please...taking off his own socks to chew/suck on. Of course, in true Stacey fortune, he never performs "on demand," but this is just after he'd repeated the feat (feet!) three times or so.

I never cease to be amazed at God's fine workmanship. Reid keeps us on our toes and is such a blessing. The two of us were on a walk today and I just couldn't tear my eyes away from him...his brown hair and beautiful steel blue eyes...so wonderfully created as perfectly stated in Psalm 139:14.

Happy New Year 2011!!

Happy New Year!! Can't believe it's 2011...sounds sooo weird to say that. I am quite blessed to have a "major hunk" in my life. (well, two major hunks--his Daddy isn't too shabby ;)


He wasn't too keen on the idea of taking pictures at first...

But then Daddy blew one of the little horns and voila! Pictures!

What?? It's a new year?! Dixie and Samson didn't tell me!

Now how do I get it to make that funny noise??

And here's his outfit for the day. Just couldn't pass it up!

May you and your family have a blessed 2011!! We can't wait to see what a new year unfolds for our family.