18 & 19 Months

Halloween and Thanksgiving flew by and now Christmas season is upon us, this special time with Reese moving faster than I would like! We are enduring a bitterly cold winter- even as I write it is snowing, making it hard to remember how long it has been since there hasn't been snow on the ground.

Reese and I find plenty to do- though it isn't always easy! She is happy when busy- so even if she is just helping me put away clean dishes (silverware in her case), sorting laundry or watching me cook, she is a delight. Sometimes, ok- usually, this means it takes me twice as long to complete a given task but when we are cooped up inside I don't mind. Thank goodness for gymnastics class, play dates and BSF every week to get out for a little bit!

If the sun is out we try to get out too. She loves her swingset out back and the park, and has recently mastered the skill of climbing to the top of the slide and going down, all by herself.

She is a little climber. Chairs, stairs, couches, beds, she can hoist up on them all.

She eats what we eat most nights, minus vegetables. I have a hard time getting any greens in her, unless in juice form. She has started feeding herself at meals, using the fork and spoon better than I thought she would.

She smells our feet then says "Shoooeeeyyy!" Or "Ewww!"

While we were making cookies earlier I was counting out cups of flour she chimed in and I learned she can count to five!

She doesn't like the radio to be on in the car, and says "No no" if I turn it on (unless I play the Chipmunk Adventure cd).

A few weeks ago she started saying "Now" when she wanted out of her high chair. While we thought it was funny we knew it wouldn't be cute for long so Dillon and I made a point to correct her when she said it. She turned it into a joke and will whisper "Now" then burst into giggles before finally saying "pweese!"

If she wants to go outside she will bring me her boots and coat and sit down in my lap. She often does this when the temperatures outside are frightful- but I get her ready anyway, then send her out on the deck and watch from inside!

She takes a long nap after lunch, from 1-4 most days. Bedtime is 730, and we love this time with Reese. Dad takes her on a horsey ride to bed, then gets her pjs on, brushes her teeth and we all read books together. Then we sing and pray, and put her bunny blanket on her.

At church everyone loves her! She doesn't usually cry when I drop her off in the nursery, unless she is having an especially clingy day. After church she asks "Don-i? Don-i?" and we go get donuts in the fellowship hall. She constantly gets compliments on her vocabulary and sweet disposition.

Thanksgiving 2013

We flew to New Mexico this year to spend Thanksgiving with the Mathis & Mee family in the Ruidoso cabin. It was a fun and yummy time! We fed lots of deer off the deck, saw 2 huge elk walk by, enjoyed a fancy dinner at Texas Club, did a little shopping for Baby #2, played Texas hold-em with all the cousins, passed Reese around like a hot potato and relaxed in the cozy cabin. And of course ate more than we should have!

Life

So far I am not complaining... I hear from family and friends back in Texas all about the heat and un-Fall-like conditions. But I must say, I am so surprised at this South Dakota weather! One week it was sunny and warm- the next I was welcoming Fall, and suddenly- Winter was upon us! Photos to prove:

They say this was the worst October blizzard in history. We are sure counting ourselves lucky because we only went without power for 2 hours, while many friends of ours went 4 or 5 days without! We also were fortunate that we did not lose any of our trees, when so many of our neighbors did. 

All to say- Fall is underway and it has been busy and good. Last year this time Reese was just a few months old and I was fearfully figuring out her routine and how to take care of a newborn, which meant we had a completely empty schedule. This year, I am feeling a bit of freedom with Reese dropping to one afternoon nap. Tuesdays we go to gymnastics class- a fabulous time to get out of the house, burn some energy and make new friends. Wednesday we (Reese and I) go to the city wide bible study, BSF- already it has proven to be a blessing for us both. Sunday mornings I help with the Kidventure dance team at church. 

Dillon has been busy busy busy with home projects. A few weeks ago he built a firepit in our backyard- hauling in bricks and rocks to make a little oasis. The past few weekends he has been working on tearing out and building a new deck with my dad. I am ready for him to be finished so we can have our weekends back with him!

'If Only I Had Known'

   I often tell Dillon that if I had known how fast Reese would grow up,  I would have given her way more kisses back when she couldn't run away from me! (Yes, our daughter often cries 'NO!' and wiggles away when we ask her for a kiss...which we ask her at least 100 times a day. We then grab her and steal them anyway.) Dillon then usually looks at me like I'm crazy and tells me that I have in fact, kissed her about as much as is humanly possible since the moment of her birth.

  I think that I often have this mindset when I look back...This idea in my head that 'If only I had done this'. But I am starting to see that I am remembering incorrectly. For example, today I have loved on Reese with as much as I know I have in me- I have hugged, kissed, cooked for, read to, sang with, walked with, romped with and laughed with her and I *should* have no regrets. 

Because the thing is, I DO KNOW: how quickly time flies, how each day is a gift, and how much I cherish my daughter. From the day she was born, I have been learning this bittersweet truth of motherhood. So a year from now, when I am recalling today, I should not say to myself 'If only I had known...' I think that phrase is a false word I say to myself when I am wanting to relive a moment in the past- but I should start claiming Joy instead...something like 'I am so glad that I held Reese so often as a newborn' or 'I am thankful I was able to nurse her as long as I did'. I want to remember all of these sweet memories without that self-imposed guilt. 

And I am not saying that I always live out my love perfectly. I know it is unrealistic to say I will never have any regrets. But it is equally untrue to say to myself that 'I didn't know...'. I think the best place to be as a mom is to rest in Christ's grace and truth that each of us has been entrusted with our unique children to raise and we are able to do so fully in Him, with no regrets.

Evolving Nursery

I recently painted a couple of simple pictures for above Reese's bed and found some frames for them at Michaels. We also hung a Hobby Lobby chandelier which adds a fun touch. I want to always remember what her room looked like, such special memories made in these walls!

14 months

I still cannot believe our little tiny newborn is now a walking talking toddler. You spend your whole life looking ahead to each life milestone, and having a child has suddenly made me want to reverse this forward-vision that consumed me for so long. Each day literally flies by. And simultaneously keeps getting better, if thats possible. Because I want to freeze this moment forever, I will do the next best thing and document a typical day.

6:30 a.m Dillons alarm goes off and we check the monitor and always find that Reese is already up, playing in bed. One of us goes to her room and brings her back to our bed for a few minutes to nurse before she starts playing torture the parents (poke, sit on, climb over, squeel etc... until we relent and crawl out of bed)

7:00 Dillon gets ready for the day, while Reese and I let the dogs out, open the windows and I start breakfast for her which consists of a scrambled egg and yogurt. I make myself a cup of green tea and feed Reese, who usually chows down promptly.

730-8 We send dad off to work with lots of kisses, and wave goodbye out the window. Then we often times go out back if the weather is nice and play on the patio. After that we usually head inside to watch a show (Dora, Sophia or Mickey Mouse). Any time there is a song in the show Reese loves to stand up and dance. Sometimes I join in.

900 Reese goes down for a nap. She still sleeps in her sleepsack and we turn on both fans and make sure Rapunzel, Froggie and Pascal are in bed with her. Lots of kisses and then down she goes without a peep. Typically I shower, tidy up from breakfast, dishes, feed dogs, etc. Of course a little social media.

1100 Reese is up! She usually doesn't cry so I have to keep a close eye on the monitor. She eats shortly after getting up. Favorites include: black beans, lunch meat, any and all fruit, bread, pasta. Depending on the day, after lunch we may: Run errands, Have a playdate, Have lunch with dad. She loves putting her shoes on and gets excited to leave the house. I love to look in the rearview mirror and see her smiling and talking as we drive around town. She LOVES the song 'Call Me Maybe' so I play it frequently as we are out and about.

200 Another nap. I start thinking about dinner, and do any food prep during this time, housework, call family/friends, etc.

400 ish- Reese is up! We go outside to swing for a while, have a snack and wait for dad to get home (depending on the day)

530 Dad is home and we eat! Sometimes she eats what we are eating and sometimes I feed her earlier, depending on how she is doing.

600 Family time. This always varies. We may go on a walk, we may play out back, we may play in the living room with toys. Usually followed by a long bathime.

730 ish Bedtime has gotten pushed back with the longer summer days. The sun is just too bright! Dad gets Reese ready for bed (pjs, brush teeth, wash face if she hasnt bathed that day) and then we all read a few books together in her room. We sing a song, give kisses, lay her down and say prayers.

8-10 This is Dillon and I's time together to relax, watch a show, read, talk, do a little cleaning. We often look at pictures of Reese on our phones before we fall asleep and laugh about the funny things she did that day.

Thats a simple, wonderful day with Reese!

Just Life

Reese is now a year old {13 months to be exact} and I am loving her SO much and this phase. I can't imagine having two though- she keeps me QUITE busy. 

We celebrated her first birthday in Dallas with family {album on my Facebook account}. It was simple- a Fiesta theme with lunch at Chuys followed by fun at the park.

Since then, life here in Rapid City has been full of spending time on the back patio, lots of walks and time at the park, a few play dates, time at the fountains downtown, Storybook Island, hosting a Childrens Ministry lunch, Old MacDonalds Farm (Mothers Days), hiking, Nights on the Square and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

A snapshot of Reese these days:

-Eats eggs, yogurt and bread every morning

-Starting to transition to one nap {I think}

-Still waking up some nights to nurse 

-Running everywhere

-Loving bathtime

-Says the following: Dada, Mama, Bye, Night, Boo, This, No

-Will kiss on demand

-Cries when I leave her

-Dances to any music she hears

I think she is the most adorable girl around! Silly, Hyper, Sweet and of course, Brilliant! ;)