Balloons!

Awhile back, we were bored and needed to get something at Metro North.  Turns out the store we were needing had finally shut down too so we were there and had the idea to take Reese over to the balloons.  We turned to corner and all I heard was, "Ohhhhhhhh!"  She was thrilled.

After spending many a Saturday at the mall the balloons brought out some nostalgia in me.  I danced on the platform once and I just think of trips to the book store to get another in the Christopher Pike series or running in to Claire's to test out their Stress Test key chains whenever I go in.  Capturing Reese there made me smile and I hope they do you too.

Windy, Windy

We always say a little prayer that we'll have a storm that will ruin our roof but not hurt anyone or anything else.  So far this has not happened.  But this weekend we had just enough wind to knock a few limbs down and get us a good tree trimming.  We were lucky that it fell just inches from my car.  But dang it, FALL ON THE ROOF next time!!

Here are a few shots of the clean up.  I think Dustin was in hog heaven getting to use power tools.

Here's a big limb that needed cutting back.

Dustin's cousin Adam helped with the removal.  In fact, Adam brought the chain saw, trailer, ladder and a lot of man power to help.  We took him out for lunch after and there he provided lots of entertainment for Reese!

Some of the large debris.

And the limb that came inches to ruining my car.

And of course the Project Supervisor.  Isn't she precious?

Wordless Wednesday

The Animal Exhibit

Last week, Reese, River and I set out to go to the animal exhibit at Crown Center.  It was packed with kids but also packed with fun for sweet little Reese.  She slid down the slide, ate a hot dog, got some popcorn and played in the elephant room for a long time.  She thought it was the best day of her life.  And maybe it was, it sure made my day wonderful to see her so excited.  Here are a few of the highlights.

 

Reese turning the elephant (elephan!) wheel.

 She was really into sliding, but a little scary because there was a huge blind spot for me and I had to have a lot of faith in her. 

River just hung out and took it all in. He was halfway buckled in here, it kind of looks like he was being choked, poor guy, but I promise I had my eye on him!!

Hot Dog!  Hot Dog! Hot Diggity Dog!

 And the happy face I saw all day. 

Next up: Wonderscope (we found a Groupon for it) and then the Dinosaur Alive exhibit comes to Crown Center so we're all about that too!!

Friday Funnies

Reese has been potty trained pretty well since the first of the year.  She has an accident every so often and she definitely has trouble going poop in the potty but for the most part, she has it down pretty well.  I'm proud of her, she did it like a champ....but she has her moments.

When I make dinner, Reese loves to sit on the counter and watch or help.  I like it too and usually we really enjoy ourselves.  Last night Reese really enjoyed herself.  We were making fajitas so I was chopping peppers, onions and chicken and Reese was standing up looking in the cabinets for her cups so she could fill them up with the veggies.  Pretty soon I hear a tinkle and notice that she is peeing all over the counter and the cutting board full of veggies for dinner.

We ran to the bathroom and cleaned up while I cried over our ruined dinner and the mess left behind.  Today I can laugh about it, but honestly, that was an ugly mess.  Oh Reese, how I love you, but oh how I despise your ability to use this house like a toilet.

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Two

My Girl is getting more and more talkative all the time.  She comes up with the funniest pronunciations of words and it often leaves us asking for her to say it again and again or howling with laughter.  Mostly though, it just melts my heart and I wish I could bottle it all up and keep it for when she gets older.  I know I'm going to miss it.

She's also becoming quite the big sister.  She helped pack River's bag for the hospital this weekend.  She made him a sock puppet to use herself for soft play.  She also picked out the bag for him and helped us wrap it up.  She is going to be quite proud to give it to him.  (He also bought her a Mickey Mouse laptop, but it's a surprise).

She is becoming a potty training pro.  Almost no accidents at all.  (Let's pretend yesterday never happened, we had a small set back but back to it today).  And she is very proud of her Daisy underwear.

She gallops through the house as fast as she can go.  Which unfortunately also means bumps and bruises, but she's getting it.

Reese loves to know where the dogs are and what they are doing and constantly asks, Mil?  Nah? Then she gets mad at them and makes them go lay down in the "char" (chair) whenever they bother her.  Or she'll tell them "excuse me" when she wants around. 

So, two is upon us.  Attitude, sassy two.  Loving, sweet two.  I think I'll take it, although some days, I'd rather shut my head in a car door.

Wordless Wednesday and Some Dialogue

First of all, can I just say, I have a cute kid.  Look at that little thing sitting all by herself at the table.  She was very proud of drinking her "choos" (juice) out of a glass and eating with Mama and Dada.  All we could see were those two little piggy tails, but she was ready to move out of the high chair.

She has been keeping us busy.  Chasing her around in the evenings has gotten to be quite a load but we also have quite a bit of fun too.  She can open the doors to the bedrooms now so she locks us in, slams the door and scares us out of our beds over and over again until it gets pretty old.  But she loves it.  She's also into Mickey like crazy, always saying "Mimmie" and pointing to the TV.  She can tell us who all of the characters are and the girl loves to shake it when the Hot Dog Dance comes on. 

We are getting ready for potty training.  It's coming fast and furious and I'm a little sad to see it come.  She shouldn't be old enough for that!  But she loves getting her Mimmie stickers when she goes.

She loves to reply "Mama" when Dustin asks her who farted.  I really loathe that but she always whispers it like she doesn't want to disappoint me by saying it.  So I guess I forgive her. 

She sings Itsy Bitsy Spider, Head & Shoulders, and Wheels on the Bus.  She eats cheese and drinks milk well enough to never make me wonder if her bones are strong or not.  She adores Christmas "Yights," says Ho Ho Ho! and rearranges the ornaments on the tree constantly. 

My girl is the same as she always is.  A lover of Daddy, a mover and a shaker.  Hard to please because she has high expectations.  Beautiful, sassy, devilish, perfect.

My Two Year Old

Isn't she lovely?  Isn't she wonderful?

 Isn't she precious, less than one minute old.

 I never thought through love we'd be
Making one as lovely as she
But isn't she lovely made from love

 Isn't she pretty
Truly the angel's best

 Boy, I'm so happy
We have been heaven blessed

I can't believe what God has done
Through us he's given life to one
But isn't she lovely made from love

Happy Birthday, Sweet Baby Reese!

We love you so much.

Birthday Week, Day IV

I know a girl,

She puts the color inside of my world

But she's just like a maze

Where all of the walls all continually change

And I've done all I can

To stand on her steps with my heart in my hands

Now I'm starting to see

Maybe it's got nothing to do with me

Fathers, be good to your daughters

Daughters will love like you do

Girls become lovers who turn into mothers

So mothers, be good to your daughters too



Birthday Week, Day III

Oh, her eyes, her eyes, make the stars look like they're not shining

Her hair, her hair, falls perfectly without her trying

She's so beautiful, and I tell her every day

Yeah, I know, I know, when I compliment her she won't believe me

And it's so, it's so, sad to think that she don't see what I see

But every time she asks me do I look ok, I say

When I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change

Cause you're amazing, just the way you are

And when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for a while

Because girl you're amazing, just the way you are(yeah)

Birthday Week, Day II

She's got a smile that it seems to me

Reminds me of childhood memories

Where everything

Was as fresh as the bright blue sky

Now and then when I see her face

She takes me away to that special place

And if I'd stare too long

I'd probably break down and cry

Sweet child o' mine

Sweet love of mine

Reese's Birthday Week!

There once was a girl
With a little curl
Right in the middle of her forehead
And when she was good, she was very, very good.
And when she was bad she was horrid.

My daughter made me angry yesterday.  Angry, ANGRY.  She was horrid.  And I was sadly disappointed in all that is Halloween. 

I wish I had a picture of my girl standing on the door step with a bucket to go trick or treating.  I wish I had a girl standing there with a costume on.  But instead I have a bruise from the kicking and screaming fit she had because I wanted her to put on a costume.  So, I gave up.  Took the costume off and cried all night instead.

She was horrid.

But this is her birthday week.  It's getting close to the big day.  The TWO.  The Terrible TWO!  I caught a glimpse of that yesterday. 

So in her honor I leave the poem about girls.  It's true.  Because this morning when she crawled in to bed with me to watch Mickey I couldn't help but smile at the sweet baby hands that played with my hair.  When she is good, she is very, very good, with just a touch of horrid when she knows I hate it the most.

Messy, Messy, Messy

This is what toddlers do when they are eerily quiet.

and we'll always be best friends forever.....

Tonight Reese and I were having a very loving mother-daughter moment.  She was brushing my hair and I was smiling and talking to her.  We were discussing how funny she is and how much fun we were having.  She was being just plain adorable.  I looked her directly in the eye and said, "Reese, will you promise me something?  Will you promise to be my friend someday?"  She smiled at me and turned her head to the side and said, "No."

But then she grabbed my face and kissed me really hard.  I think maybe it was more of a "We'll see...."

The Moments

My baby, the not-so-baby-anymore baby, has her moments.  She laughs and giggles.  She bosses and screams.  She snickers her silly half laugh and scrunches her nose.  She lays on the floor and pounds it with her fist.  She lays her head on my shoulder as she's carried off to bed and then screams through the door until I walk her back to bed 25 times a night.

There are moments that take on some 2 year old traits.  She has outfit preferences and likes to have a fluff of makeup in the morning.  She takes care of the baby instead of being cared for herself.  She picks the books and sometimes reads them to herself with no help from Mama.  She walks herself to the car and climbs in alone with her new, "I will do it myself" attitude.

But there are moments when the moments are soft and sweet and so lovely to watch.  Moments when she crawls in my lap and lets me hold her sippy cup to her mouth like she did as a newborn.  Moments when she lays on the doctor's table with me and listens to Mama's baby's heartbeat.  Moments when she first wakes up and all she wants to do is give good morning kisses.  Moments when she's my baby again.  Funny how those are the things I remember most.

An Admirer

Tonight at the park, Reese had a little admirer.  He was very interested in what the little blondie was doing.  First they teeter tottered then he helped her up the little ladder and then told her to "be careful now" while patting her back.  She would swing, he would swing.  She could climb, he would climb.  It was the cutest thing.

Reese just kept right on playing oblivious to the attention.  I hope that attitude stays around, we don't need to have any boys in our life too soon.  But all the same, Reese's first admirer was a sweet one.  It's like love at first sight and it's the simplest kind of love, the best kind of love, the love of a child.

The Potty Chair

A couple months ago we got a potty seat for the little miss.  Right away we put it in the bathroom and just let her get used to it.  She brought it out to the living room several times and pretty much just seemed interested in it from the get-go.  I on the other hand have been ignoring its existence.  I have no desire to cross into that territory.  AT ALL.

But lo and behold the signs have been present.  And although I still believe she isn't ready, one must start somewhere.  And last night was where it began. 

Before bedtime we took off her diaper and let her give it a shot.  We sat her down and after a few seconds the chair sang and we clapped and cheered.  Her face was one of pride and joy.  So was mine, but only after the shock had subsided.  We were pretty pumped up.

So again we tried this morning and again she went.  Call it beginners luck.  Call it a fluke.  I don't care what you call it, my little girl used the big girl potty!  So, here we go....wish us luck!

The Rainforest

Crown Center has a great FREE event every few months.  I try to make it down at least once to check it out especially when Maggie is here with us.  But this time, we were bored on a hot Saturday so we went down to the event to check out the Rainforest.  It was an awesome exhibit and Reese had a blast.  She climbed and played and checked things out.  It was so fun to see her go up to kids and try to get them to play with her.  So here are a few pictures of us at the Rainforest Exhibit at Crown Center, check it out!!