Thanksgiving 2012

I had the entire week of Thanksgiving off.  Can you say FABULOUS??  The only thing I would've liked better would be for it to be longer...and for us to see our other parents.  But you can't have everything.  We loved our time with Grandma Penny.  It was finally a visit that was long enough (but we still wanted her to stay longer!) to where we didn't feel as if it were, "Hi...bye!"  Reid, in true tradition, came down with some weird stomach virus thingee.  I'm sure it's something I tracked home from school because one of my kids this week has already had it (and I've heard of a few more)...throw up, random fever for half a day, and just general crankiness.  Fun times!  Thankfully, it was over within two days (and yes, I did take him to the doctor to make myself feel better) so he could enjoy his Grandma time :)  Reid and I missed out on dinner with Daddy, Grandma, Uncle Steve/Taunt/cousins, but thankfully he was back to normal on Thanksgiving.  We enjoyed fun times and fabulous hospitality at the Karins' house. 

Chef Steven, preparing the turkeys to fry:

 Taunt with the two youngest boys, Henry and Wyatt

 French Daddies, Penny, and Harrison

Our best attempt at a family picture with a very squirmy Reid. Hoping future years will hold better photo opps...but this does pretty much resemble our lives right now.  We adults look pretty darn tired and wrinkly...but Reid thinks it's hilarious.

The Frenches' kids and Karins' kids made up their own headdresses and performance to do before the meal.  I posted it on Facebook and can't seem to access it at the moment, so here's the still shot.  Wasn't even my kid, but it made me tear up because it was all their idea, all American, and so sweet.

After dinner, Reid discovered this little cart.  He was pushed around by the girls, pushed around by Henry, and pushed around by Harrison.  What's wrong with this picture??  Shouldn't he be pushing his younger cousin around?!

They also loved playing on Uncle Steve.  Harrison used him as a drum and Reid thought it was hilarious.

The youngest French boys and Grandma Penny :)

The next day, Jason, Grandma Penny, Reid, and I enjoyed a nice walk and played in the park.  Reid did actually play on the playground for awhile, but then decided he liked a little girl's soccer ball, "Reid's ball!  Reid's ball!" The family had a spare and was very sweet to immediately offer that we borrow it.

Back at home, I had to get a photo opp with Grandma Penny and Reid, who (of course) had to include one of his beloved pumpkins.  Not sure what we'll be looking for on walks soon with all the pumpkins disappearing because he counts them and yells every time he sees one.

That evening, the other Frenches (minus Aimee and Harrison, who didn't feel well) came over for dinner and fun.  I have a priceless video of Jason playing football with Hayden.  Reid insisted on joining in (Henry loved the ball pit indoors) and Hayden was trying his best to teach Reid how to catch.  Apparently, it's too long to post on Blogger.  But here's a cute one of  Henry and Reid doing a puzzle together...

We are so very thankful for everyone God has placed in our lives.  Reid has five fabulous grandparents, five wonderful aunts/uncles, and five fun cousins.  Jason and I have one crazy, trying, hilarious kiddo for whom we are very thankful for each day.  We are thankful for all of our service men/women who fight to keep our country free.  But most importantly, we are thankful for His Son.  The verse that always seems to come to my mind, especially this time of year, is 1 Chronicles 16:34. "Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting."

Will there (ever) be a #2?

"The quest for character requires that certain things be kept in the heart as well as kept from the heart.  An unguarded heart spells disaster." -Chuck Swindoll (based on Proverbs 4:23)

I have always worn my heart on my sleeve, as my dad once informed me.  Jason has often chided me for letting everything show on my face.  The older I get, the more I notice how "expressive" I am with my kindergarteners at school.  So it's a wonder it's taken this long for many people to discover how long we've been trying for kid #2.

There is a fine line between telling people so that they can be praying for you, and telling people just to get it off of your chest.  Ultimately, it is my great hope that my battle with infertility (both rounds one AND two) will be my testimony.  God is good and He is sovereign.  He knows what's best for me, and what He has in store for our family.

Lately, though, it has been especially hard to digest many of the things going on around me.  Those people who share that they "weren't really trying" or "really didn't want a (or another) kid".  Or the ones who say, "I'm so fertile, all it took was for my husband to look at me from across the room and I was pregnant!."  Well gee, thanks for sharing.  That really makes be feel SO much better.  Or how about last month in church when we were surrounded by babies (I have no problem with people bringing their babies into the service...but really, if you're not listening at ALL and it keeps the closest 50 people around you from listening, too, what's the point, exactly?  Isn't that what the cry room and the nursing room are for?).  One lady whipped out her boob in the middle of the first prayer, fed on one side, burped her baby loudly, then went on to repeat with the other boob.  Really?!   Seems like everyone in my playgroup is either pregnant or just had a baby, too.  I am happy for them, but I still can't handle the baby showers right now.  I could go on and on, but I am bound and determined to be more positive about all this after going through a couple of very bitter months. 

One saving grace, which I'm sure I've mentioned before, is my infertility support group/Bible study called "In His Time" (based on Ecclesiastes 3:11).  I was in the group years ago for two of the three years of round one of my journey, and after going to an adoption baby shower this past Spring for one of the girls, I felt like I needed to go back.  So here I am, going on a collective 5 years of infertility.  It's amazing to hear what each one of the ladies in the group has gone through and what each is currently battling with.  And to me, what it keeps coming down to is that it has to be His timing.  I have tried several things this go round in trying for #2, but I feel like it's like grasping at the wind.  It all boils down to His perfect timing.  I could do all the herbs known to man, I could do reflexology and accupuncture, I could try IUI's and IVF...but none of that matters because if it is supposed to happen it will...and it will be all in His time!  Our pastor is doing a series on the life of Abraham (Yes, people do still preach out of the Old Testament!  And yes, it is very applicable to our daily lives!) and his sermon on Sunday was about exactly that.  Think about what Sarai (Sarah) did--she knew God had promised them a child, but she couldn't wait and jumped the gun.  She gave Abram (Abraham) her servant, which was a custom of barren women at that time, and they conceived Ishmael.  That began the conflict in the Middle East that still goes on today...all because she couldn't wait on His timing.  And no, waiting sure isn't easy.  But whatever we do or don't do, I want to be in God's will. 

I still feel like it's a very lonely road to travel.  I don't know anyone else who has gone through this twice.  And no, having one doesn't "solve" things...although I am extremely grateful for Reid, our feisty little blessing.  People tend to think if you have one, you won't feel this way again.  But, you do.  It's just a little different this time around.   I think most folks think, "You should be fine...you finally had one." but the desire is still there and stronger than ever.  

So I have a new outlook.  I'm just waiting.  I am secure in knowing that God has a good plan for me (Jeremiah 29:11).  He has put this desire for another child in my heart, so he will be faithful to fulfill it.  I just have to be patient, stay in His word, and wait.

Trick-or-Treat!

This is a bit tardy...but better late than never, right??  Reid finally understood what trick-or-treating was all about this year.  It was hilarious!  He absolutely hated his costume (the most adorable costume ever--thank you, Aunt Lala!) until he realized there was candy involved. Our little golfer started out with a plastic golf club, but we realized it was still at home once we finally wrestled him into the car and headed out.  Our neighbors just brought their sweet baby home and we don't really know too many others in our own neighborhood, so we ventured over to Holli's.  Reid loves all her cute decorations and screams, "Punkin! Punkin!!" every time we walk up to the porch.

Trick or treat!

Holli's oldest daughter, Bailey, was a beautiful geisha...

And Megan, her youngest, was an adorable bumblebee.  Notice Reid helping himself to the candy (again!)

I really, really tried to get a good picture of all three...but SOMEone was too interested in the candy.  He was so quick to grab that his little hand was blurry in most pictures, hahaha!

Holli also happens to live in the Bennett (my school) zone.  So we ran into several other kids and parents of current and past students of mine.  I taught Paige's daughter 6 years ago and she insisted that we come by.  Reid LOVED her pumpkins just as much as the candy.  We thought we'd only go to three houses, but I kept running into people we knew.  Finally, we took our tired toddler home...and promptly found where he'd hidden the golf club...in the wine rack.  Who can figure this kid out??

 

Fall Fun

Things have been soooo busy lately that I never seem to have time to blog about them.  These are pics from a few weeks ago when we went to the Big Orange Pumpkin Farm.  My playgroup planned a trip there and we were all excited about it, but it ended up being the same weekend as the A&M/LSU game.  So our little family went earlier.  Turns out it was probably a good thing to be by ourselves since Reid is all over the place!  It was hard to get good pictures of him due to that same thing. 

He's been totally obsessed with pumpkins all month and yells, "Punkin! Punkin!" throughout out walks whenever he sees one.  To his great delight, he found one that was white.  Here's a nice action shot, before it dropped on Mommy's foot.

The Big Orange Pumpkin Farm also had animals you can feed.  Most of them were quite full since we went on a Sunday afternoon, but we did our best to find any goat to eat the food.  Reid thought throwing the food at them was more fun, anyway.

But then we found a customer.  Reid still didn't really understand that you have to hold the food IN your hand for the goat to find it.  But he thought the goat was funny and babbled to him the whole time. 

The giggles when I held his hand with the food in it were priceless.  Also made me cringe a bit to think of how dirty we were getting our hands, but that's life.

It wasn't long until someone ended up in time out for running away....again.  This kid has no fear and it terrifies me!

Waiting in line for the hay ride...

We thought with each admission that you got to take home a pumpkin, but found out later you have to pay extra for a pumpkin on the weekend.  But this kid had worked soooo hard and picked up at least 50 pumpkins to find JUST the right one....couldn't tell him no!

Eating our grilled hot dogs that came with admission... Reid wouldn't sit down to eat it, so it was more of a fly by for each bite.

"Stick hat!  Stick hat!  Hee hee hee!"

Of course we had to sit on the tractor!  (and yes, Reid's pumpkin had to sit on it, too)  He did not want to get off, but it was nearing meltdown time.

"What?!  We have to leave??"

And his next favorite thing, aside from pumpkins, is crab apples.  We told him what they are one time, and this kid loves to point them out.  His newest joy is collecting them (yes, they are kind of heavy!) and throwing them into the stream when we go on walks.  He even randomly was talking about crab apples in the car the other day.  Not sure how a two year old's mind works, but it sure is entertaining!

LSU-v-A&M

Last weekend Jason and I were fortunate enough to get tickets to the LSU-v-A&M game in College Station.  We also were so grateful for family who volunteered to watch Reid (thanks, Papa, Mamere, and Aunt Kristen!).  I can't imagine taking our busy two year old, but someday it will sure be fun to teach him all about our alma maters.  One of our friends hosted a tailgate party, and we visited a few more before the big game.  Gameday, for our divided family:

Our tickets were right at the zero yardline, but we could see really well.  Jason was very easy to find, being the only purple and gold in a crowd of maroon...or was it the shorts?  Or the Cousin Eddie shoes?  Or the golfer hat?  The comments were priceless!

Ahhh...Aggieland!  I have missed you!

In true me fashion, I forgot to take pictures for the first two days of the trip (except for those three on my phone).  I saw Laura get hers out and it reminded me I'd taken none!  After sitting in on Dad's Sunday school lesson, we went to my parents' house to celebrate Mom's birthday.  Reid chased his cousin Alex all around, then they settled in at the piano for a little duet.

We tried our best to get a good picture of the three boys.  Ben and Alex very sweetly cooperated and attempted to get Reid to sit with them, but Reid was just too busy.  (Or should I say TWO busy?  Terrible twos!)

Instead, he wanted to keep throwing acorns in Grumpy's fountain.  Fascinating!

I'm so thankful that all of the grandparents are in good health.  We are blessed!  Each birthday that goes by is a reminder of just that.  I couldn't resist taking a picture of Mom with her new card.

The boys were quite excited about their cupcakes.  Reid, of course, didn't want to get his hands dirty, so he ate his with a fork.  He was very excited to sit at the kids' table with his own chair.

Then, it was back to the piano.  Ben investigated where the sound came out, Reid played a jingle, and Alex looked on.

We attempted to take a few family pictures, at Laura's request.  She's always been good about preserving memories while I attempt to stay out of all pictures ;)  Reid apparently takes after me and didn't want to sit for any of them. 

Laura, Matt, Alex, and Ben

The Thinker

Despite the humidity (how did we ever live in Houston??), Reid ran and played a ton.  His hair was plastered to his head, but he wanted to ride the trike.  Or maybe I should say, he wanted to be pushed on the trike, "Fast, fast!"

The Kirkhams played with the "flying turtles" Laura and I enjoyed as kids.  Still a unique toy...and they sure made things better back then.

Then it was off to the pond to feed the ducks and play on the playground.  

Alex drove Ben around for awhile...

And Reid wanted to swing...on every. single. swing.  

Our sweaty, surprise-filled, sweet, not-so-little guy :)