18 months already!!

We went for our 18-month check-up this morning...yes, Reese is 18 months old!!! I can hardly believe it! Seems like just yesterday when we were with Su-Su in Memphis for our 6 week check-up.



Look how much she has grown!! (and how blonde my hair is! ha ha)

We can't say enough good things about our Pediatrician. Not knowing many moms in Atlanta, we literally picked Dr. Griffin randomly off our insurance list! God was definitely looking out for us and she has kept our baby healthy for the past 15 months!

Reese is now weighing 23 lbs and 32 inches tall!!

A Wonderful Christmas Weekend

We celebrated Christmas this past weekend in Atlanta. Santa came to visit early so he wouldn't miss us when we are in Tennessee later this week :)

Robert and Reese made the cookies "Christmas Eve"...

good thing Santa wasn't that hungry because they were a little burnt!

It was a blast!! Well, putting together the 38-peice kitchen was not my idea of a fun Christmas Eve but I guess its one of those "experiences" every parent has to tell their children about later. Santa really treated Reese... I think her favorite gift was the pink retro kitchen set. Once she saw it she wasn't interested in anything else! I mean not even her new vaccuum cleaner. Robert had to open her gifts and show them to her. If you can picture it, Robert would say "Reese look at this!" and she would kind of shoot him a look out of the corner of her eyes like, "Dad, can't you see I'm busy cooking?!" It was a priceless morning!

Reese's Christmas pj's were a little big and after playing all morning she walked out of the bottoms!

We spent the afternoon in Stone Mountian, GA with one of our good friends, Laine. They host a Chirstmas themed park (similair to Christmas City or Stary Nights.) They have Christmas lights everywhere, Mrs. Clause reads stories, they show a 3-D version of Polar Express with AWESOME effects and end the night with a parade and a light show. I wasn't sure what to expect but we had so much fun and it definately put me in the Christmas spirit!!

It was so cold but Reese didn't seem to mind.

She was pretty bundled up so you can't see

much of her in the pictures!

Christmas 2009

One year ago, we were celebrating Reese's first Christmas. I would have never imagined then that it could get any better.

But it has!! We are actually celebrating Christmas and "Santa" tomorrow so we can spend Christmas next week in Tennessee. It has taken everything I have to not go ahead and give Reese her gifts!! -- Actually I gave her the shopping cart about 2 weeks ago :)

So tonight will be Robert and I's first night of staying up and assembling gifts...and of course, eating cookies!!

Anyone who has spent very much time with my family is sure to have seen some embarrassing videos of when we were kids...singing NKOTB, in the bath and mainly me doing whatever Nicole did. I'm sure I'm going to have plenty of embarrassing vidoes to show Reese's friends :)

This video is posted especially for Nicole. I think most of my family will have the same thought when they watch this...think cheerleading and star stage microphones!!

Visit with Santa

As you can probably tell, Reese was not a fan of Santa this year!!

We went to see him at Lenox. She was fine the whole time we stood in line (which was a long time!) but immediately started screaming when I put her in his laugh. She reminds me more and more of Mary Jane every day :)

Reese's Christmas tree

Decorated in hair bows!!

Christmas season at last!

Although we put up our Christmas tree last week, I feel like Christmas season is officially kicked off with Black Friday shopping and our first trip to the Atlanta Christmas parade!! Black Friday was a total bomb for me this year. The only two things I really wanted ended up being online only but I guess people really go for the experience...I love to shop!

This morning I was really pumped for the Christmas parade downtown!! More than other kids probably so I was really happy when Robert agreed to go! It was my idea to ride the Marta so we wouldn't have to worry about parking, but I didn't really think to look up what train to take to get there...We had to walk a few blocks in the 37 degree very windy weather.

But we did get to take a picture with the raindeer, which do exist Nicole:)

Reese really enjoyed the big balloon floats and of course yelling at all of the other kids that were there. Overall I think everyone enjoyed their experience and we went to Waffle House afterwards!

Another little manners story...

I guess kids are always doing amusing and embarrassing things but I feel like Reese is always up to something!! Last week, on our drive back from TN, we stopped to have dinner with Beth. Reese was absolutely thrilled to see Little Foot as always :) Beth ordered pizza so of course Reese was chowing down. With sauce covered face and hands, she picks up Beth's white throw blanket and wipes her face!!!! I mean?!?!?! Again, my apologizes Beth and Katie. Their clean white throw blanket now probably has a big red smear.

And, as I'm sure you can imagine, she just grinned afterwards =)

Thanksgiving: Is it too early to start etiquette classes?

We spent Thanksgiving in Atlanta this year. Robert had to work Friday so it was just the three of us. I still made all of the yummies...ham, dressing and sweet potatoes (which I still have no clue how to cook). I set the table and we used chargers and some of our new serving peices. Reese was in a sweet little dress. It was really nice... I guess it was about mid-way through, right as I was saying "ohh Reese, we need to wipe your nose" when she grabbed the bottom of her dress and blew snot all over it!! We have a long way to go....=)

All I Want For Christmas Is You

I know it isn't even Thanksgiving but...we already put up our tree!! We couldn't resist :) And of course we had to listen to a little Christmas music. Reese, like every other girl, loved Mariah!! My camera died so I didn't even get her really dramatic dancing!

It brings me right back to dance parties on Massey!! Ha!! :)

Where's my money?!

I cleaned out the diaper bag the other day and gave Reese a bunch of loose change to put in her piggy bank. Normally, because she eats everything, I just put in for her. So, we sat in the floor and one by one put all of the change in. She was so excited and really concentrated on lining up the change with the slot and so on. Then...we were out of change! Reese wanted her change back. She got so upset when she couldn't get the money back out!! She sat in the floor squealing trying to fit her fingers into the slot. Probably one of the stories you had to be there for to appreciate but it was really funny =)

Sunday Fun-Day!

We had so much fun at the park we decided to go back with different friends on Sunday. The weather was amazing!! So sunny...I think Robert got a little sunburn =) Melissa, Andrew and Camden were just a few of the people who joined. It was a lot more crowded but we still had plenty of room to throw the ball around. Reese camped out right in the middle of all of the girls. So she had good access to candy, gossip mags and cell phones, just a few of her favorite things!

Peidmont Park

We have really been trying to take full advantage of this wonderful fall weather. Although, this last Sunday it felt more like a summer day. I think temps were in the mid-70s. I'm not complaining though! We aren't big fans of the cold weather. One of our new favorite things to do is go to Peidmont Park. It's a really big park located near downtown Atlanta. There is a really pretty veiw of the Atl skyline, pretty trees, a big pond and Reese's favorite part is there are always lots of dogs!

Speaking of dogs, our friend Laine got an adorable new puppy!! She found Zoe on http://www.petfinder.com/ and I think she might be the cutest little fur ball ever!

We met up with Laine at Peidmont Park last week for a play date. Reese was so thrilled!! She literally cried when I put her in her car seat to leave. Poor Zoe (the dog) was probably traumatized. We are still trying to teach Reese how to be gentle. But I think it made Reese's week to play with the puppy. They chased each other all around and faught over toys...fun times!

Why did the chicken cross the road?...

to get to the candy! Ha Ha ok...that was a little corny. But Reese was the cutest little chicken ever for Halloween!

Although, this chicken was more interested in playing with the sticks and chasing dogs.

I think she enjoyed Halloween as much as possible at this age. A funny (now, but not then) story, Reese locked herself in my car with both sets of keys in her chicken costume the day after Halloween. We had gone to visit Mel and its a long story but thank goodness for AAA!

The costume is from Chasing Fireflies. They have the most adorable things and for the most part the prices are good. Then I died an old pair of tights to match. However, I wouldn't suggest letting younger children wear the dye. We think it may have been the cause of her rash that came up Monday morning :(

Picture FYI

For any one like me who takes a lot of pictures, Walgreen's has 30 prints for $3! Just enter the coupon code BOOPRINTS. It's a good price so I thought I'd pass along the word. It might be helpful to all of the new mommies, aunts and grandmothers =)

A Wonderful Fall Weekend

Finally, a weekend to relax and enjoy the wonderful fall weather in Atlanta! We took full advantage of having nothing to do and it was great :) We cooked blueberry muffins (Reese's fav) on Saturday morning, went to a pumpkin patch, ate mexican and watched football.

Robert picked out a big pumpkin and Reese picked out a little one, then spiked it on the ground! Sunday we painted our big pumkin, which turned out to be the most whop-sided pumpkin ever!! Reese had so much fun painting it. We covered the kitchen table with garbage bags and of course used washable paint. Reese painted her pants and socks more than the pumpkin, and tasted each color of the paint!

The only thing that would have made it a perfect weekend would have been one more FEILD GOAL :)

Zoo Atlanta

We finally got a chance to go to the Zoo!! It was Reese's first trip. We have been trying to go for a while but between all of our illnesses and the weather we just got around to it. Yesterday was a beautiful day to go!

The flamingo's were the first thing we saw followed by the birds. Reese really likes bird (second to dogs). I think it is because they make so many noises.

She wasn't really interested in the quieter animals -- she more enjoyed watching the tiny bugs crawling around the exhibits?!

Her favorite thing by far was the petting zoo. At first we were some of the only people in there. Then it got more crowded and I guess the animals got excited because they started peeing and pooping everywhere! So we didn't stay long!!

And we ended the trip with a carousel ride. She love, loved it! I know I say she loves a lot of things but she really loved the carousel!

déjà vu?

No, just another football season! Go VOLS!!

Surgury Update

Reese had eye surgury on Wednesday and everything went suprisingly well. Robert and I, especially me the worrier, had really expected the worst. Other than a little confusion when she woke up she was quite pleasant. The sugury literally took 10 minutes. By the time they moved us to a post-op room the doctor was coming to let us know they were finished. I can't say enough good things about Children's Hospital of Atlanta! The nurses were wonderful, they had lots of toys to occupy Reese and they were on time! We were leaving by 8 which was awesome. AND we have had NO junk in the eye!!!

Before:

After :(

Enjoying the care package from Su-Su:

(A new baby doll and yes, that is powder from the doughnuts!)