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.

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!