O my!

O MY! I gave Reece his first O's (Central Market Organic Toasted O's) last night. He LOVED them, and shoveled them into his mouth. Then, we continued with some green beans. This was the completely unassisted result of trying to feed green beans to a wiggly boy grabbing the spoon. He looks like a little clown....my clown.It seems this new yummy finger food has sparked a real interest in feeding himself. He was less interested in taking much baby food at lunch today and again shoveled in the o's. I tried some fresh cado and yams on his tray along with the peas and o's. He's still not sure about that just yet. Mealtimes have just gotten messier...but he's learning! (I'll keep reminding myself of that.)

Reece WithHisSpoon

Gerber organic green beans with some peas that didn't quite make it.We're due for a feeding update...
- Has eaten fresh, homemade foods avocado, yams, peaches, pears, peas (and rice cereal)
- Prefers jarred baby food over fresh (green beans, bananas, pears, yams). We're doing organics, either Earth's Best or Gerber Organic.
- Practices his palmer and pincer grasps with frozen peas (idea from Anne). Much better than puffs because they don't stick to everything. He gets them up to his mouth and either misses, or spits them back out. Sometimes he just spits the outer shell back out.
- Eats best out and about. I don't know why...likes to show off? likes all the commotion? who knows, but the boy eats best in the midst of activity. Maybe he thinks that if he doesn't eat it, someone else will!
- Water...likes it and any water bottle he can get his hands on. Holds his sippy cup w/o handles by himself pretty well. Sometimes he doesn't get it high enough to get liquid, but he's steady holding it....and likes to gnaw on the plastic lip.
- Spoon...once he gets it, it's one of his favorite toys.

I'll keep trying fresh foods, but going to stock up more on the jarred stuff since it works so well. We're off to the store this afternoon for some Earth's Best and Organic O's. The O's will be a first. Will keep you updated...

Our State Capitol

Went to Austin Saturday for our annual fantasy football draft. My job every year is twofold....'Vanna', putting up the players names as they are selected AND heckling the drafters every so often just to keep them on their toes. I always enjoy it. Yeah, I'm a football gal.

The draft was held downtown at one of the guys office's....with a saaaweet view of the capitol building. Gorgeous.

Tootie came up from Houston to keep Reece for us during the draft. We stayed with family, Barbara and Chris, who have an amazing home in the hills overlooking the lake. It was a beautiful view and a nice little getaway.Reece was awesome in the car both ways. He was a charmer with family, and napped well given the new surroundings. He slept pretty well, awaking at 5am dirty and fussy. After a change and nursing, he slept until almost 9am (went to bed just after 9pm). His rash is slowly getting better, and he does not seem to be in pain like he was the other day. Here's another shot of our airing out from Friday...couldn't resist...so cute!

Airing Out

Reece has got a pretty icky case of diaper rash, so we spent a little time this morning 'airing out'.He was so uncomfortable yesterday and last night from the rash. It was hard to see him in pain. Sweetly though, I was needed as it took a little Tylenol drops, and a lot of mommy holding and singing to put him to sleep last night. He awoke twice in the night (something he hasn't done in a while), but managed to put himself back to sleep after a few minutes...not so easy for mom worried about her little boy. I was so wiped out that I napped during his first nap this morning...oh that helped!

Then, off to the doctor to get him checked (including his ears) and confirm the diagnosis. 'His ears look perfect' per the doctor and we were doing the right stuff for the diaper rash...whew! Then, of course, our traditional weigh on the scale: 16lbs, 10oz.

He Crawled!

He crawled, he crawled! This morning he crawled for the first time and I got it on video. It is so crazy how all of a sudden...



I thought he would go through a stage of getting on all fours and rocking back and forth way before he would crawl. I continue to learn how much I just don't know about anything. We're excited. Now, he's not crawling all over the place...but hit a big milestone this morning. Very cool.

All Fours

Starting during Monday Night Football, Reece is showing signs of a boy trying to learn to crawl. It was a good night...Cowboys win, and Reece wriggling to all fours. And then, the next morning...right back at it. (Tried about a million times to post this yesterday...Video Egg seems to be working again!)

#1 Day

(Blogger was giving me so much grief the past few days. I wanted to post this sooner. With Picasa, I finally was able to work around it.)

It was a #1 day. We had a wonderful time celebrating Penelope's very first birthday...and felt honored to be included. Families (moms, dads, and babes) coming together to celebrate life...pretty good stuff. Click here to view some of the other pics I was able to capture (new web album feature in beta Picasa).

Penelope is a beautiful little red-haired girl. She is petite, but not dainty...she's actually quite resilient. Quiet and pensive, it's like she has wisdom to share. If we'd only stop long enough to listen, to watch, I bet we'd learn something from her.

Hope it was happy, sweet birthday girl...Thanks, Chrys for the above two pics...love them!
(And for the clever blog titles for my standing up boy.)
We also went to an adult b day party that evening while Grandmama and Papaw Ben kept Reece. It was a nice evening also, and great to be a couple out with other couples.

A Stand-Up kind of guy

Reece is a stand up kind of guy. That boy loves to be on his feet...even though he isn't very stable. This was how I found him in his crib after a nap.
These days, he won't stay on his belly very long, which I guess that was the motivation for this move today. A few minutes out of the crib playing on the floor, he rolled from his belly to sitting, which was the first time I've ever seen him do that. That must be what he did it in his crib to then pull up from a sitting position. Way to go, big boy!

I peeked in the door and saw him standing...and ran for the camera. So, these are the first shots of him seeing me, too. He looks pretty happy to see mommy and pretty proud of himself!.What you can't see, and I didn't notice until I put him down for his next nap, was that his two toys/animals were tossed onto the floor. Hmmm....not sure what that means. Anyway, I am super excited about him being able to get into a sitting position. We called Dad and work to tell him of our 'new feet'

Reece's First Stand

He's pulled up from sitting before, but never from a laying down position until today during a nap...

Jenna's 3rd

What a shindig those Miller's put on! There was a bounce house with an attached water slide, a kiddy pool, swings, a swimming pool, and a fountain...all in honor of Jenna's 3rd birthday.She had a great time splashing in the kiddy pool...My favorite time, though, was during our Jenna-guided tour through her new house. Up in Hank's room, she pulled down books for each of us to play with. A little shy in bigger groups, I think she's a small setting, close conversations kind of gal...me too, Jenna. She is a thoughtful, sweet, and inquisitive little girl...sweet time.

Soooo glad I got this on camera...
Hank is putting lipstick on Mr. Manly Man Henry.
Ok, so it's chapstick...same difference, right?
Henry keeps a tube on him at all times...even in the pool.
With all the older kids running, splashing and having a great time, I yearned for next year when Reece can join in the fun. But, there will be many birthdays to come, and for this one, we were glad to be there celebrating family, friends, and sweet babes growing up together. Happy Birthday, sweet Jenna.

I'll have what he's having

Remember the line "I'll have what she's having" from the movie When Harry Met Sally? Love that movie. Well, that was Reece at lunch today.

Oliver was minding his own business eating a delightful jar of (organic) green beans and rice. Waving his arms, hitting his palms on the table in excitement, and intently staring at the spoon, Reece let us know that he wanted what Oliver was having. Not only did he want it, he liked it too.

These were taken after Chrys gave him a few bites. As you can see, Oliver was not too keen on sharing his beaners.
We're feeding Reece twice a day now, planning to go to three times. He's started taking yams well when mixed with rice cereal, and are planning to do the same with cados too...great nutritious brain foods for that little boy. After today, looks like we'll be adding some jarred foods to his diet!

The More the Merrier

Reece is handsome sporting his Auburn onesie and cargo shorts.
Camp was trying to grab and pull Reece's hair.
He must have microscopes for eyes!
I agree with his mom, he is a cutie patootie.
Reece and Caleb are in the same hair club. And, they both are sitting and pulling up (when just the right height and angle).
Watching Camp crawling and taking a few steps,
they were studying closely.
A little glimpse of Max, Miles and Penelope.
It was a full house today at playgroup, and truly the more was the merrier.

Tucked Between His Knees

I just peeked in on Reece during his nap. This is often how I sleep...naturally with a pillow instead of a stuffed lamb. Is it in the genes?

Grandmama's B Day

For Grandmama's birthday on Saturday, there was much excitement...Swimming...Presents...just after some Spring Creek BBQ...And FIRE!I mean cake...

Happy Birthday Grandmama. I have a feeling Reece is already looking forward to next year when he can help decorate the cakes with his cousins and eat a piece first hand.

Happy Nap

I heard babbling from the other room and came to check on Reece from his nap. When I opened the door, he immediately flipped from his back to his belly looking for me...so I grabbed the camera.



He was a happy boy, and there's even a little chuckle at the end. And, yes, I'm embarrassed that I said 'nappy nap'.

Baby Dress

Take a good, long look.
This will likely be the last time I get Reece in one of these kind of outfits. Although not a dress, it sure looks like one. It is white with little blue trains embroidered, so it is for a boy, although not really my thing. But, he is so sweet in it.

In honor of Tootie being in town, and Kerri's birthday (who handed it down to us), Reece gracefully wore this today...