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.

16 months

It has been quite a busy month here in the French household. Reid has been one shaggy little guy and was looking closer to a little boy than a baby (boo!) so I decided he needed a real haircut (last time was more like a trim). In the car before, he was quite excited.


Afterward, not so much. He screamed less this time, but it was still not fun by any means. One nice lady blew bubbles for him most of the time, but he went from sitting in the little car to sitting in my lap. We both left exhausted and covered in hair, but at least he looks a little more his age, now.



Reid is one hungry, hungry hippo at breakfast and lunch times. He will totally scarf down two breakfast bars (plus a fruit or applesauce) these days. Double fisting it:



And just about every Saturday, his LSU garb comes out. Somehow, we have no Aggie outfits in his current size... (but he did wear them all summer--have to represent!)


My parents came to visit on the way to their vacation in Arkansas. We only got to see them for a few short hours on Friday evening and Saturday morning, but it was better than nothing since there's no way Jason and I can make it down their direction on a weekend with working full time. Wished they'd have been able to stay longer, but we're so grateful they dropped by.


I'm not sure who was more entertained... Reid?


...or Grammy and Grumpy?


Reid's shoe fetish continues. We can't keep shoes out in the house anymore. They've all gone to the garage or upstairs into our closet....where he just discovered he was in shoe heaven. At least he's playing with Jason's shoes, and not mine! Trying Daddy's shoes on for size...


"I didn't do it!"


Bath time is finally not such a battle anymore (once we can wrestle him in and keep him from running away, anyways!). He loves the letters that will stick to the walls. I love the little white hiney!


Wearing a ducky hat is always a way to ensue a fit of giggles... Especially if Daddy did it first! And he has figured out how to work all the little cause and effect toys in the bath bar behind him. Not to say he doesn't enjoy just destroying it over and over, still.


I attempted to see how the booster seat went (rather than the high chair). He liked it, but I did not. We ended up with fingerprints and food all over the table, floor, and him. So for now, we'll stick with the high chair, especially since he can't throw the tray.

Cookie Monster

So I apparently can't upload any photos tonight (!!!), but this video somehow worked. I've been trying to teach Reid sign language for the past 10 months. Just the basics...more, all done, milk, etc. He never, ever had any interest in it, so I'd pretty much given up until two weeks ago. Holli, his new (wonderful!) sitter told me he'd been signing 'milk' and 'more' all week. What?? She was sweet enough to send home some yummy home-baked chocolate chip cookies with us one day. We were in the car on the way home, and Reid seemed hungry so I gave him a snack cup with Cheerios. I thought I'd be able to sneak a cookie into my mouth without him noticing (after all, he's never had a cookie), but as soon as it made it to my lips, the snack cup was thrown vehemently to the floor with a, "aaaaAAAAAAAHHHH!!!" Guess I couldn't sneak it. So I gave him one little piece. Not sure if he actually chewed, but he most definitely loved it. 10 seconds later, he was signing 'more.' I was dying laughing (and wishing I weren't driving so I could tape it!) so handed over another piece at the next stoplight. Again, he signed 'more' immediately. So I finally got a little bit of video at home...not quite as excited as he was the first few times, but you get the idea.

Pumpkin Patch

Reid was still so little last year that we didn't ever make it to a pumpkin patch of any kind. So this year I was very excited our playgroup planned an outing (on a Saturday, too--so daddies could help and we could get pictures!) to the Big Orange Pumpkin Farm in Celina.


We met up with a few friends from the playgroup and took advantage of a happy boy to snap some photos.


It didn't last long, of course. All Reid wanted to do was walk. Fast.

We plopped him down for a few more. For about every 10 pictures you take, you get one good one. And that's with two adults!




Our bribe in between pictures? Letting him hold the tiny bottle of hand sanitizer I'd brought. I'm actually shocked it didn't make it into every picture...


He loved the wheel on the tractor



We tried to get a few pictures with the kids from playgroup, but they're all such busy bodies that we were lucky to get one or two of just him!


The hayride started off very fun. Reid loved the breeze in his hair, but soon got tired of it. I'm sure people were irritated with the "whiny kid" but hopefully it didn't annoy them too much.



Reid's admission was free, so just Jason and I had to pay an admission. We didn't know it included the hay ride, a hot dog, and the petting zoo, so it was actually a really nice little deal. I think Jason and I were more entertained with the animals, but Reid did take an interest in these goats. Later on, when Jason ran to the car to get Reid's snack, I put the goat feed in Reid's hand and he was giggling up a storm when they would eat it. Must've tickled! I couldn't get the feed into his hand fast enough, so never made it to the video of that one. But this one from earlier was still cute.

We did manage to have one decent family photo, even though Reid's hand is in his mouth, lol.



Here's half of our playgroup. With all toddlers now, it was impossible to get them all together to sit for a picture. We attempted to bribe them with snacks, which worked for everyone except Reid.
He was one pooped little guy once we got to the car. He even snored a little bit!


It is amazing to think what a little person Reid has become in the past 16 months. He learns something new each day and we are loving our little family of three. It's days like this that I have been looking forward to for years!

15 months

"I am the great Cornholio...give me TP for my bunghole!!" Okay, so normally I'd never post that on my kid's blog, but Jason and I just saw part of Beavis and Butthead Do America on t.v. I'm not proud to say it, but (even as a nearly 35-yr old) I laughed my hiney off, especially when Reid did this the same week... And then he insisted on taking the blue circle (off of his Diaper Genie refill) on our hike.


And on more normal things, I love the normal things! Like how he fixes his toes just inside his high chair. (or on my tummy, whatever's closer at the moment...but lately I think he enjoys kicking me due to the instant reaction he gets)

Other normal things? STILL only six teeth (but he's been working on six or seven more since June!!)

And this one... Don't judge me for being one of those parents (such as the current one who called me at 11am on the first day of school "just to see how my baby is doing!" Hello?! I have 22 five yr olds to teach...I don't even get to eat lunch on the first day!!), but when I found out he was a boy, I saw this at Ross and just couldn't bear to pass it up. At first, I was just attracted to the cute Bermuda shorts (and then I saw the shirt and thought, "No way!!") but then again, it is Jason's son. So it only seemed fitting considering his college stories, hahaha! If you can't read it, it says "Get in line, girls!"


Reid has ignored the cats for the past couple of months (much to Samson's dismay, and much to Dixie's relief) but lately has grown attached again. We aren't exactly sure what his first words (aside from dad/dada/daddy and mom/mama) are, but one day around 10 months, Jason realized he'd been saying "Sas" for Samson and "Di" for Dixie. (Yes, I felt retarded since I'm the one who had spent more time with him and had no idea what he was saying.) So recently he's been very intrigued again. Samson tolerates it well. Dixie just hisses, as usual. I have a feeling that will evoke a response (soon!) that she'd rather not deal with. Curiosity killed the cat, but Reid might be close if he messes with Dixie. They don't often snuggle anymore, but maybe they'll join forces against the toddler child yet.


Or, maybe Samson is a goner...


Reid just "graduated" from ECI (Early Childhood Intervention)! He walks very well w/o any kind of help, so their services are no longer needed at this time. I am very grateful for all the help and wonderful tips they shared with us! Here are two of the wonderful ladies who worked with him. I just can't say enough wonderful things about them!!


Other new favorites? Being able to walk outside, now that the sidewalk won't fry his little feet! He loooooves the garden hose. Please take note of the pot belly :)

"I am toddler...hear me roar!"

"Hmm...interesting texture..."



"Fun to play with and water comes out of it??"

"...and I can drink the water, too!?"

"What??"

Much to my dismay, the latest "I can!" happened this morning. And he's only done it one other day, but looks like it's permanent. Those door handles I loved "because they're so easy"? Not so much, now!!

I recently discovered that there is not just a weight limit on car seats, but a height limit. Needless to say, Reid was past it. We've had a good Britax convertible seat we bought from my sister, but I was scared to install it since I didn't know which "roundabout" version it was. (In the meantime, she installed it when she visited at the end of the summer so thankfully I could see what she did) I've also been battling with the rear-facing versus front-facing dilemma since the recent AAP suggestion changed to 2 yrs instead of 1 yr. We finally decided to go ahead and do front-facing because rear-facing just didn't seem as solid (probably my installation). On his first weekend in the convertible seat, he smiled, laughed, played, and looked out the window happily the whole entire time. It suddenly got very quiet...


All three of us went to cousin Hayden's football game two Saturdays ago. I don't know how on earth I used to lifeguard, because I could NOT handle the heat!! We only stayed about 30 minutes because it was miserable. Reid was entertained with the grass for the first five minutes, and then he was cranky, too.


How's he sleeping these days? Since he's been walking, we've moved bedtime up to 6:15 again. On the weekends, he happily takes two long naps (would've been nice if he had done that this summer, when I had tons to do!!). I've heard that big changes when kids begin to roll over/crawl/walk can disrupt their sleep and I believe it--he randomly wakes up for no apparent reason on and off for the first few hours and last few hours of his sleep. Thankfully, it's only a few times per night and he goes right back to sleep, but Jason and I do not. But how can you be irritated with this?



Even though it's been crazy, stressful, and busier than ever with both our jobs, school beginning, and switching sitters (a wonderful thing!!!), we cram as much fun into the weekends as we can. We try to squeeze in one family trip to the pool each week, and Reid seems to enjoy it. A big change from our first trip at the beginning of the summer!

Happy guy!

"You didn't tell me I was going under!"

Favorite toy? Not toys at all...Mommy's flip flops. Thankfully, they float.

Another fave? Sunglasses, preferably ripped off of someone else's face and not his own pair. Trying on Daddy's: