A Star Is NOT Born

Ok, so the stage is not Reese's home...at least not yet. At her school's Fall Parade back in October, she cried and cried once she spotted Daddy. She latched on to him and wouldn't let go until it was time to go trick or treating in the church halls.

Fast forward almost two months... Reese was playing an angel in the manger scene.I could tell she looked nervous but just beautiful when they entered the room. As soon as she saw me she burst into tears. So, Mommy, who also does not like to be the center of attention with a big group of people, got to go on stage and hold the sad little angel during their portion of the program. There's one in every class, right? Ü

So, all was well in Reese's world with me holding her ... until the very end of the program when this precious angel got very sick in front of 50 or so people! It was not pretty. I took her home and she was fine until bedtime when she got sick FOUR more times in three hours! This from a child who's never thrown up before. She seems perfectly fine today. But beware, I've heard from two other family members in different parts of Texas that there's a bug going around. I'm so glad she's feeling better now. It really scared her...and Mommy!

Before the BIG Show
With Miss Sara
Not letting go!
Looking very proud of her loot

Another mom managed to get a couple of pics of Reese before the meltdown. I'll post those as soon as I get them.

Here they are!

A Crazy Busy Week

This has been an incredibly full week! Sunday: I volunteered at church for the Toys for Tots drive. Reese and Daddy had some quality together. They colored, watched Santa's Buddies and who knows what else. Tuesday: I made 3 Sad Cakes for the MOPS Cookie/Treat Exchange the next day. Wednesday: MOPS. One of the "teachers" in Reese's room commented that she needed to go to preschool there next year because she would be in her class. She said "I just can't get enough of her!" Awww. Later that afternoon Reese and I went to the airport to welcome some friends home who were arriving with the baby boy they just adopted from Ethiopia. It was a really special thing to be apart of. I also met another couple there who had just adopted their baby boy four months ago. Then, I went to a MOPS Night Out to decorate my first gingerbread house ever. It was fun and good girl time. Wednesday: Ran a few errands in the morning. Audra and John Austin came over that afternoon so we could exchange gifts before she left for Guatemala the next day. I don't know what I would've done without her friendship the past several months. Completely exhausted that night, but still had to get gifts together for Reese's teachers, etc. Thursday: Made chicken tenders for Reese's Christmas lunch at school. Took Reese to school and stayed for her little Christmas program. Kyle had a meeting and wasn't able to be there, but I recorded it for him on video...as much as I could. Reese ended up getting sick at the end of the program and had to come home with me only problem was, I had a much-needed hair appointment in an hour. Yikes. Thankfully, my friend Amy's sister was able to watch Reese. Ended up not going to sleep until midnight because our poor baby was sick sick. I'm ready for a break!

Sleeping Beauty

You know how you'll see a parent carrying a sleeping toddler through a mall or restaurant every now and then? Or, how you hear about kids who fall asleep in the car and the parents are able to carry the child to bed without them waking up? Or even, kids who fall asleep while playing or eating? None of those scenarios had EVER happened with our Reesey-bear...until this week!

She fell asleep in the car with me one morning after breakfast and I was able to carry the little sleeping beauty up three floors to her bed without her waking up. Then today, she fell asleep while eating lunch. Two firsts within a week! I won't hold my breath for her to fall asleep in public though. She's way too much of a social butterfly to do that to her audience. There's always one around, you know. Ü

This pic was taken last weekend on our drive home to Texas. I love the way she's sleeping and haven't ever seen her in this position before.

Toddler Translations

It seems like Reese was practically born talking. She's always been a little Chatty Cathy. Of course way back then, we didn't have a clue what she was saying. And honestly, every now and then today, that's the case too. The way she says certain words is so cute that I started making a list of them. She's often really animated when she talks, which is pretty funny to watch. This is a pic of her in action at the park.

1. Glasses = Glashee
2. Keagy = Teedee
3. Sock = Suh-ock
4. Pumpkin = (Can't even attempt to spell it, but it has at least 3 syllables)
5. Outside = Ide
6. Andi = Neenee
7. Water = Wallah
8. Windy = Winnee
9. Down = Noun
10. Movie = Moonie
11. Puppy = Puh-tee
12. Munners = Moaners
13. Bunny = Money
14. Jacket = Tah-chee
15. Lovey = Wuddy
16. Cooper = JuJu

Another thing I love that Reese says is "OH WOW!!!". She says it so excitedly that it's just precious. Love my baby girl!

winter wear

since we've already had several really chilly days, it was time to get reese a winter hat and gloves. we headed to baby gap. she's a bit particular about getting her picture taken lately. sometimes she runs from me, sometimes she refuses to look at me...and then there are special times like these. oh how i love this precious child!

pumpkin patch

i joined a MOPS group last month. the girls in the group seem really sweet. i'm enjoying getting to know our group. we had a playdate last week at a pumpkin patch in bixby. i invited john austin and audra to go with us. john austin is amy's son (amy works for kyle) and audra is his nanny. it was a cold and wet day, but we had fun.

very friendly goat - actually licked reese's face!

reesey with some of the neat looking pumpkins


reese and john austin lounging while audra and i cleaned the mud off of them...just before reese was accidentally locked in the car and had to be rescued by the bixby fire department!

and, we're back!

ok, so obviously my blogging will be sporadic. i'm ok with that and hope you are too. i'm just going to start with this month with the goal to go back and fill in between now and my last blog...8 months ago. Ü here's hoping i can be consistent with this. "i can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." phil 4:13

baby to big girl...

our reesey-bear had a big day this week...more evidence that our baby is growing up.

now that she is a year old, she's able to face forward in the car like a big girl. kyle and i made a big deal of it and she seemed so excited at her new view. we quickly discovered a downside to her new view though... she can see almost everything we are doing in the front seat without her...like eating. she told us in no uncertain terms how she felt about being left out of her favorite past-time.

reese surprised us, and maybe even herself, when she successfully attempted to climb our stairs. we were right there with her each step of the way and she did great. kyle went to the gym while i was on the phone and the next thing i know she's managed to climb all the way upstairs...all by herself to my shock. mommy will be keeping a much closer eye on our new little turbo climber. oh and, daddy bought and put up a gate that day.

and reesey's last big girl feat for the day was sitting through, and seeming to enjoy, an entire movie at a theater. we had our first showing of the house and needed to make ourselves scarce. daddy went to the gym so reesey and i went to see Hotel for Dogs. for the first 45 minutes, she sat so still i had to keep peeking around her to see if she was sleeping. she wasn't. it was a cute movie and i'm sure she liked all the puppies. the only time she fussed was towards the end of the movie when she finished a Red Vine and wanted another. i didn't realize until we left the theater that she had red ALL around her mouth and on her little hand from the licorice. it was so cute. should have taken a picture.

it's so hard to believe that the little 6 pound baby we brought home barely more than a year ago is getting to be such a big girl already. it just seems that we love her more with each passing day.