Happy Father's Day

 In true Stacey fashion, I just THOUGHT I published this one (but apparently did not), so it's a few days late...  But happy Father's Day to all the daddies out there.  Jason and I don't really trade gifts anymore (unless there's something in particular one of us wants) since we don't see the point in spending money just because it's a day where people are expected to give gifts.  But I saw the most adorable photography ad and wanted to recreate it so he could have an updated picture of Reid at his office.  Needless to say, I needed an adult accomplice to help me.  The small subject was not too keen on the idea...

But he loves clomping around in Daddy's shoes, so warmed up to the idea a little...

 

And I finally got the shot I was hoping for!  Don't tell Jason, but Reid is actually crying, not laughing...which makes it even funnier to me.  

I am so thankful that God picked the perfect man for me!  He is the best husband and father I could hope for, and I love seeing him love our son each day.  I can already see bits of Jason in Reid, and I look forward to watching them enjoying guy stuff together...a game of catch, eating jellyfish strips together at our favorite sushi restaurant, watching football, etc.

Reidisms at Age 2

I SO wish I could take a trip into the mind of a two year old for a day.  Specifically, my own kid's mind.  Reid keeps me on my toes almost constantly, and thankfully the laughs typically outweigh the tears.  This little guy, who is always busy, grows by leaps and bounds each day.  He loves to read (a kindergarten teacher's dream!) and surprised me last week...he can already independently identify 9 or 10 capital letters.  Yes, that is more than some of my kindergarteners know at the beginning of the year, sadly.  I haven't assessed lower case letters yet, but hopefully they're not be too far behind because he loves Chicka Chicka Boom.  He also loves tv, much to my chagrin.  It comes in handy sometimes, like yesterday when I was making shrimp summer rolls (labor intensive dinner, both hands messy) and he begged to watch Cars.  But if it were up to him, there would be days where if he chose the activities, he'd watched Cars back to back 9 times!  Um no. So I try to occupy him with other activities.  Other times, he creates his own...like riding toys that are way too small to be ridden by a 28 pound kid.

Or picking out his own shoes for the pool (Boots in 104 degree weather?  Really?)

Or lining up his diggers in a different spot each day, sometimes parallel parked...other times in a row (usually neater than this, but one of us probably brushed up against the table).  They used to be intermixed with the cars, but now they are NOT allowed to cohabit the same area.  He also makes them beep as he backs them up.  Actually, he makes himself beep when he backs up!  A month ago we were in the Target parking lot and a car put its reverse lights on.  I told him, "Watch out.  That car is backing up." He promptly turned around, began walking backward, and saying, "Beep, beep, beep, beep!"

Think he needed a haircut this month?  Haircuts have finally gotten better.  Instead of screaming and crying nonstop, he actually walked up to the red Jeep and said, "Jeep!"  I'm not saying he waited patiently through the cut, but it was better.  There is hope!

Reid can make two word sentences (or on occasion, three), so we are trying to stretch out the speech to describe more things.  Some of his words are hilarious.  I've begun to stop writing down all the new words he says each day because there are so many, but here are some of the best funny ones, translated:

"nonni" = lemonade
"ahmeen" = Batman
"uhyoo" = love you
"emmo" = elbow, elephant, Elmo, sometimes yellow
"i.d." = ready
"mote" = remote
"note" = no

Other favorite activities include chasing Samson around and pulling his tail, especially this week.  I got a great video of it, but it was too long to post on the blog.  Once Samson got away, Reid ran after him all over the first floor of the house.  It was great fun for Reid and very entertaining for us.  For Samson, not so much...

 His goofy "crooked" grin...  He also makes a silly, scrunched up face and squinty eyes, but I have yet to get a picture of that one.  This ball pit was a great $10 garage sale gem.  He has loved it!

This little guy is a crazy nutball most days, but it has been a delight to raise him for the past two years.  We thank the Lord for bringing him into our lives and can't wait to see how he continues to grow!

Reid's 2nd Birthday Party

Reid still didn't really understand what his birthday was this year, although he suddenly LOVES cake, maybe even more than cookies...  He has sure enjoyed the toys, though!!  Uncle Steven, Taunt, and the boys got him a Reid-sized digger, which he was impossible to get off of for several days.  Note the upside down Cars sunglasses I decided to get him in order for him to not grab my sunglasses off of my face repeatedly ;)

Laura and the boys came in the day before Reid's party, so of course we enjoyed a little pool and splashpad time for two days in a row.  Reid was still not a big fan of water getting in his face and would run back to me saying, "Eyes!  Eyes!"  But he had a blast despite that.  I didn't think to take my camera the second day, but after seeing that his two cousins didn't care if water got in their eyes, he changed his mind and was happy to be dunked, much to my surprise.  A little peer pressure can make you do way more than Mommy can!  He also loved the big floating turtles and jumped off of them repeatedly--fearless boy!  (Scares me, so Jason and I went on Saturday to buy him yet another flotation device...but the puddle jumper actually works and keeps his head above water, so third time must be the charm.)

Back at the house, we set up some things for the next day.  Who knew that blowing up a little pool could be so much fun, even without the water?

 

Following in tradition of last summer, we had to get our annual "boys in the tub" picture.  It was impossible to get them all looking at the same time, or if we did then my little exhibitionist gave us a full frontal.  So this is the best G-rated one I could post!
 

I am not a big party person and our family growing up never did things up all fancy, so my playgroup has put me to shame a bit.  People in Dallas go all out for their kid's parties, so I went a little fancier than anticipated.  Definitely won't do this every year, and it stressed me out that morning until everything was done, but it turned out very cute!  Naturally, since Reid is obsessed with "diggers," it was easy to choose the theme.  I was surprised by how many construction items for kid parties there are out there!  The snack table:

I awoke to a big thunderstorm that morning, so I wasn't sure that we'd be able to go outside at all.  Of course, that's where all the fun things were set up...mini pool, sprinklers, sidewalk chalk, picnic table, etc.  So I got up at 6:15am and began to transform the inside of the house, too!

Luckily, the storm just made the yard a little squishy and humid, but the temperature was amazingly mild for June in North Texas.  It was perfect! 

Our fabulous sitter, Holli, also owns Chickadee's Sweet Treats, her own little in home bakery.  She makes beautiful, delicious cakes so naturally I wanted her to make Reid's.  It turned out even more adorable than I had imagined!!  Plus, it was a scrumptious cookies and cream flavor, which she served complete with crushed up Oreo "dirt." 

Everyone played inside and outside, plus the carpet wasn't even totaled.  Success!  Reid was so excited about the little pool that before I could get there or tell him "no," he'd already hopped in and was soaked.  That was outfit #1.  We went through two more, with the same thing happening with each. 

And then it was time to enjoy the cake!  I'm not sure if the kids or adults were more excited.  The construction cone candles I found didn't really stay lit with the outdoor fans on, but Reid doesn't really know how to blow them out anyways.

He refused to feed himself the cake (but promptly wolfed down every bite I offered him!), maybe because he was so excited to see the new diggers we'd dropped off at Holli's so she could incorporate them into the cake.

Someone else loved the cake, too!  Alex had an even better mustache going, but licked half of it off before I could snap a good pic.

And Ben enjoyed a turn on the big digger.  With his long legs up near his head, it was pretty funny!  He toned it down a bit for the photo.

 Even Dixie enjoyed the party favors, jumping in the basket to sit on the crinkly containers of the ones we had left.  

All in all, I think everyone enjoyed themselves.  Happy 2nd birthday, Reid!  I can't wait to see how you grow in this next year (and hope those "terrible twos" stories you hear don't come into fruition!).  I love you!

Happy 2nd Birthday!!

 I know it's been forever since I've uploaded anything...  That's always how May goes!  The end of this school year was especially busy and I am more than thrilled that summer is finally here.  As always, I had trouble sleeping on the night before the last day of school.  It took me back two years to the same night, when I finally got to sleep but was awakened when I thought my water broke.  That was the big day!  It is crazy to think how this kid has grown.  Jason and I are praying that we are the best parents we can be, which has a daily learning curve.  We are very excited that our pastor is doing a series on parenting at church and we were inspired to begin memorizing scripture together.  Our first verse, appropriately, is Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it."

Reid's birthday this year fell on a Sunday, so Jason and I decided to head down to Houston for some family time.  We stopped at Grammy and Grumpy's house for nap time.

 Reid had other ideas...  Our little piano man:

He never did take a nap, I don't think...just stood in the pack & play...which later became the theme of the weekend.  We ate dinner and headed to Papa and Mamere's house.  Reid must've been exhausted because he nodded in the car and promptly passed out for a few minutes, which he never does anymore at this age.  We slammed doors and unloaded the car, which he slept through, but he awoke when the car was turned off.  The next day, it was time for the birthday fun to begin.  Everyone was off of work, including Aunt Kristen.  There was a beautiful, delicious cake just begging to be cut into, and the napkins and plates I let Reid pick out actually matched perfectly!  Great minds think alike.

Reid needed some help blowing out the candles.  

 And wiping the icing off of his fingers. This kid never has liked stuff on his hands!

I expected him to be ho-hum about the cake, like last year, but he loved it!!  Ate his entire piece :)

"I've been missing out!  This cake stuff is yummy!"

Messy mouth...

 
While the rest of us enjoyed the cake, the birthday boy had fun playing peekaboo in the center of the table.  Then it was time to start bouncing off the walls from all that sugar!

He worked off some energy walking around with Papa...

...and then all the guys took a ride in Papa's golf cart.  Anytime we went to the garage, Reid made a beeline to the golf cart, "Car!! Car!!"  From what I understand, he steered the whole time and enjoyed the breeze ruffling his hair.

Later on, it was time to enjoy Aunt Kristen's Cars bubbles (perfect since we'd just gotten him the movie and he is currently obsessed with Cars fruit squeezies) in the backyard.  He doesn't quite get the whole blowing bubbles part yet, but he sure enjoyed playing.

Watching Annie in the window...

On Tuesday, we headed back to Grammy and Grumpy's.  Reid picked out his new digger shirt to wear, and he enjoyed many activities.  I realized I didn't take that many pictures because we were busy chasing him around (this kid is a magnet attracted to the street!).  And most of the ones I did take had the back of his head.  He is harder and harder to photograph and seems to sense when I have the camera out!

We missed seeing the rest of the family, but I know they were with us in spirit.  We look forward to Grandma Penny's visit at Thanksgiving.  Aunt Laura (or" Lala," as Reid has dubbed her) and the boys will be here for his party next week, and we just got to see Uncle Steve, Taunt, and their boys when Great Grandpa and Marilyn came to town Memorial Day weekend.  We are thankful for our family and for our crazy little man who amazes us each day!

Derby 2012

Thank goodness for modern medicine.  We've had this year's Kentucky Derby party on the calendar since last year.  I was sicker than a dog last Thursday, the day before our drive to Houston.  I awoke feeling especially crummy and thought I could stick it out one day at school.  Bad idea!!  I hadn't run fever, nor did I have any contagious seeming symptoms like fever (C'mon...it's kindergarten.  Seems like I have symptoms to something every other day, and something always seems to be "going around" in the kinder pod...)  My kids were absolutely horrible that day, despite my telling them many times (which I don't usually do), "I need your help.  Mrs. French doesn't feel good today!"  I finally gave in and called the doctor by lunch time and they worked me in that afternoon.  Three shots and a round of oral antibiotics later, I felt somewhat human by Friday at noon.  So the trip was on!  Reid thoroughly enjoyed his "DD" (DVD) and a squeezie on the way down.  The squeezie made me not feel like such a bad mommy when he had his Happy Meal at McDonald's.

At Grammy and Grumpy's house on Saturday morning,  thankfully I was feeling pretty normal.

 

 Reid was loving the attention...

 and the newfound tractor from the garage.  We weren't sure we'd be able to get him away from this one!  With Reid successfully distracted between that, a toy lawnmower (that he's allowed to take outside :), and a trike, Jason and I took off.

Our B&B was absolutely adorable, and it was only a few blocks from the Carlins' house.  Kinda made me not want to leave...especially when we were upgraded to the Austin Suite for no additional charge.  But there was dressing up to do, and good times to be had!

 

  Sadly, I was most excited about my shoes and hat, as far as the dressing up goes.  We did manage to get one good picture of us as a couple (which doesn't happen often these days!):

 Our gracious host and hostess, Dan and Cate.  These two really know how to do a Derby party!

 

First costume change (of five, I think?).  Dan enjoys dressing up more than anyone I know!

Ladies

Gentlemen

 A fun time was had by all and it was wonderful to catch up with some of our Houston friends.  We even visited our old house in Spring.  I didn't take a picture, but it was neat to reminisce about our newlywed days.  But it also made us realize we do NOT miss two things about Houston...the humidity and the mosquitoes!!

In the meantime, Reid had a blast with Grumpy's new lawnmower box:

And back at home, he's been enjoying his new boots from Aunt Lala.  Samson often supervises from the couch ;)