A Case of the Yuckies

Just a lot of yuckies around our house...Reese has been working on her two year molars and has had a pretty nasty cold.

I guess for about a week and a half we have been battling teething woes. I must say, these molars are giving us a lot more attitude than her other teeth. I know she just doesn't feel good :(

On top of that, this week she has gotten a nasty cold. We went to the doctor this morning and I would have bet money she was going to have an ear infection or maybe even some kind of respiratory illness. She has been hacking away all week. She can't be getting good rest, none of us are. I kept hoping it would work itself out but we gave in after an exceptional rough day yesterday. Unfortunately, there isn't much we can do for a cold other than warm baths, running the humidifier and keeping her nose clean. I'm prescribing lots of rest and TLC for the weekend!

Pork Chops

Reese is a very picky little eater. Her diet mainly consists of waffles, chicken and blueberries. She likes most pastas but it's getting her to even taste it that is a battle. Once she tries it she will usually dig in. She has never been much on meats other than chicken though so you can imagine our surprise when she ate two pork chops for dinner!!!!

We like to grill out when the weather allows but Reese usualy ends up eating the sides. This time, and I don't know why, she tried a bite of my pork chop. Next thing I know she isn't waiting on me to cut it up but has picked it up and is chowing down. After she finished what was on her plate and mine she signed for "more." In shock, Robert handed her another and before we knew it, she had finished her second!

Chicago

I usually try to keep our post about the sweet babe but Sunday was Robert and I's first anniversary! Yes, it has already been a year! So we took a weekend trip to Chicago to celebrate!

And have I mentioned how much I love my sister and mom?! Nicole and Cabe met us in Nashville and kept Reese for the weekend. So, really, Reese had a little vacation too. They spent the whole day at Opry Mills shopping and seeing lots of neat things! They had lunch at the RainForest Cafe. It's this really neat restaurant with animals and all kinds of crazy things going on! Mom said Reese was sleeping when they got there and woke up so surprised when she saw an elephant at their table! Nicole has been wanting to take Cabe there for a while. She always has the best ideas for the kids and I know they loved it! I was really jealous I didn't get to go!

In Covington, Reese got to go to the dirt bike track and watch granddaddy and Harold ride. Dad said she was covered head to toe in dirt before they left...can't imagine that ;) She isn't scared to play hard!

We met up with mom and dad on Sunday when we got back again at Opry Mills to do a child exchange. I never realized they had outlet stores there?!? I definitely see a girls weekend there in the future!

I know Reese had fun because when we left she just cried and cried for Su-Su :(

Mean while, Robert and I had a wonderful time in Chicago. If it wasn't -100 degrees there the majority of the year it would be hands down my favorite city! We stayed at a fabulous hotel (The Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel), ate at nice, non-chain-no-kids-allowed restaurants, went shopping, sight-seeing, to a baseball game...ahhh...love just thinking about it!

One of Robert's friends, Joey, even gave us the locals tour! He calls Chicago "The biggest small town." I think that is a perfect description! Here are a few of our pictures...

Our first stop, and probably my favorite, the HUGE Hershey's store!! YUM!

Robert at the Navy Pier. Yes, we were total tourist but the skyline from there was amazing!

The Sears Tower (well, the Willis Tower now)

Sitting on the glass floor!!!! WAY up high!!

Satuday we went to the Cubs vs. Astros game at Wrigley Field I love their stadium and feild. It is so orginal and old you really get into the atmosphere! Robert kept saying "I can't believe they don't have a jumbo tron!" :)

It was FREEZING! And we didn't exactly pack appropriate clothes for the wind! We each had to buy jackets! But we had the best time!

Potty Time!

Reese has been going to the potty for a while now but not very consistently. She understands the concept but I knew it would have to be her decision before we could ditch the diapers. Then...this week the light clicked!!! WOO HOO!!!

Tuesday she went to whole day with dry big girl panties!!!!!!!!! (We did use a diaper for nap time but she stayed dry and we went straight to the potty when she got up!)

If you don't have kids yet, one day you will understand my excitement!

We haven't kicked the diapers completely, it is only the first week but we are well on our way!

Another Weekend Adventure

We spent this last weekend in Murfreesboro celebrating the upcoming wedding of our friends Frankie and Rachel. Some of Rachel's friends hosted a patio supper and the weather was wonderful. It was the first time probably since our wedding that Robert has gotten together with a big group of the UT guys. They were as entertaining as ever!

Reese certainly enjoyed getting lots of attention from everyone. She batted her eyes and ran around crazy. Brandon even taught her how to say "money!" I'm sure Robert and I will really appreciate that in a few years...maybe we will just say "Go ask Uncle Mabry!"

And she now answers to "Peace" instead of "Reese"...I'm definitely going to have to restrict her time with those guys when she gets older :)

Reese was excited to have lots of dogs to chase around. I'm telling you the girl loves dogs. Rachel and Frankie have two dogs, Biggie and Murf. Those poor dogs were so patient with Reese. She dumped out every toy they have, picked them up, kissed them...Rachel and Frankie were very gracious hosts to let us stay with them and play with their doggies!

It was a short trip but good to see everyone...Can't wait for the wedding in JULY!! so close!

Hoppy Easter!!

Every holiday has been better than the last this year and Easter was no different! Reese is really starting to enjoy each occasion and that makes it even more exciting for Robert and I. We had a very busy weekend so I'll try to include all the fun!

Early this week we made Easter buckets with Cabe and Nicole. While Nicole and I painted their buckets Cabe and Reese painted each other! They had so much fun and just giggled!

(Sorry for the poor picture quality. I forgot my memory stick for my camera so all of the pictures from the week are from my phone.)

All Together Now!

Saturday morning Robert flew in early and Reese was so so excited to see him at the airport. (She has turned in to quite the daddy's girl!) We spent the day in Memphis with all of the Browers, literally all of them! Which is special because Robert's oldest sister and her family live in Italy, and obviously can't come visit too often. Lana and her husband Jon have Grace and Carlo, who Reese adored! The Memphis cousins, Elizabeth, Josh and baby Mason, were there too. I bet Grandma Judy and Grandpa Larry didn't realize how rowdy Easter was going to be!

The six grandchildren on the Brower side pretty much stair-step in age from 10 to 6 months so Reese had a variety of people to follow around. She had so much fun and was so tired when we left she was asleep before we got out of the driveway!! I was so upset all the kids were together and I didn't have my camera but we did take so group pictures so I'll try to post some of those if I can get some copies. Family pictures are always so much fun to look back on. Just this weekend Robert was laughing pretty hard at some of the framed pictures at my grandmother's!

Easter Bunny

Earlier in the week Mom, Dad and I tried to get Reese to sit with the Easter Bunny but she wanted NO part of it!! After our visit with Santa at Christmas I didn't want to traumatize her again. But Saturday afternoon we met mom and dad, Jay and Nicole and Cabe at the mall. Cabe wanted to see the Easter Bunny and of course, Reese follows him anywhere so we thought we might be able to get a picture. Cabe ran on up and hopped in the bunny's lap but when Reese realized what Cabe was doing she started slowly backing up. So my mom went and posed her in the picture. It was probably the first time she didn't want to do what Cabe was doing!


Sunday morning the Easter Bunny left a pretty fabulous basket with bubbles, a bathing suit and...cow girl boots!!! For the last two or three weeks every time I tell Reese to go get her shoes she brings me her pink rain boots. So, I figured if she was going to wear boots every day maybe we needed to ask the Easter bunny to bring another pair of boots. Anyway, she LOVED them! I really thought she was going to wear them to church! I really wish I had a video of her spotting the goodies, it was priceless! Just the pure excitement and joy, I'll never forget it though. I couldn't of a sweeter way to start the day.

This picture doesn't begin to show the amount of excitement over the boots and bubble wand!

We went to church with my parents, and Cabe and Reese just had to go into the same nursery class. We ate lunch with my dad's mom. We have hunted eater eggs over there as long as I can remember. This year it was fun to hide the eggs. Reese had no real interest in hunting but Payton was sweet enough to try and help her. She was more interested in chasing the other grandkids around. On that side of my family, including Reese there are 9 great-grandkids! Seven were there and somehow Uncle Bill managed to put all of them except baby Katherine on the four-wheeler with him. Reese was grinning ear-to-ear she was so excited!

Overall we had a wonderful time. There is nothing sweeter than spending the holidays with family and friends! It was a nice long visit, 10 days!! Gosh, thinking back on the holiday is kind of exhausting! Ha!Ha! We did do a lot but it was the first time we have been home for a long visit since last summer so we really enjoyed ourselves!

1st Annual McGowan Egg Hunt

This year Mrs. Ann and Anna Laura hosted the cutest little egg hunt for all of the little children that come over and play. Thursday, Reese and I went over and helped Anna Laura and Ann Charlette dye eggs. AC is a little girl Anna babysits during the week. She is always so sweet and plays so well with Reese.

They enjoyed dying the eggs but I think they liked eating M&Ms more!

Friday was the big day! There were probably 20+ kids there, mostly under 4. I'm sure you all can imagine, it was pretty wild!! All of the kids (and parents) had so much fun.

Mrs. Ann even made an Easter Bunny cake! She is so crafty.

We love the McGowans for so so many reasons - this is another to the list - Fabulous Hunt Hosts!! Can't wait to do it again next year!