Snow

It started snowing Thursday around 11am. I ran outside with Reece on my hip and my camera in the other hand to introduce Reece to this spectactular phenomenon.
You can see a few flecks on his hoodie.I tried to show him how snow was collecting on his swing. Backfire. He wanted to swing and was not a happy boy when we went back inside. Too cold, sweet boy.It stopped during the afternoon and started back up when Darren got home. Took just a couple, quick ones, as D was cold in only a l-s t-shirt. You wouldn't know it by that smile.Not sure if Reece is watching the snow or Lucy trotting around the yard...my bet is on Lucy.
He's really started petting and playing with her....sweet.

Bass Pro

Ah, Henry will be proud. Sunday was our first family trip to Bass Pro Shops, an outdoorsman's wonderland. Although not stocked much, the fish tank was the biggest attraction for Reece.(sporting his camo like half of the people in there)Seems like he's eavesdropping on the fish.
Are they talking to you, Reece?And Reece nabbed a moose,went camping with mommy,and learned that bears are HUGE!
It was good to get out together. We are going to try to do a family outing every weekend.

Ornament

I love our Christmas tree. It is filled with ornaments from years gone by. Between my Mom, Maw, and Aunt Beth, I received at least 1 new ornament every year since I was a wee one...and that's pretty darn many (not that I'm counting). Of course we have some collected from vacations, some gifts for Reece's first Christmas, and some pretty, sparkly ones. But, there is one that is my absolute favorite...
It was given to me on my first Christmas by Aunt Lorraine. It is beautiful in it's simplicity, in the way you want to cradle it with both hands even though it could easily dangle on one finger.

So small, yet it speaks volumes to me. Only a baby, I just know Aunt Lorraine's heart yearned for me to know what Christmas was all about, and wanted me to come to know the one that gave love and life to us all.

I want the same for sweet Reece. All of a sudden, I have gotten emotional writing this, my typing fingertips damp from wiping my eyes...
It is with honor and joy and anticipation that I look forward to sharing this ornament and Jesus with my little boy...
the most important story of my life.

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving started early this year. Reece woke up crying at 4:45am as he had a few days in a row. His cough has been waking him up, and he has not been able to get back to sleep, rather intensely upset. I certainly wasn't giving much thanks when I first woke up.

After a nursing and some milk, Reece, Daddy and I played together for a little while in his room. We were both exhausted having gone to bed around 1 am for probably no great reason. D laid down on the floor. Then, I laid down next to him while we continued to play with Reece, much less enthusiastically than usual. Then, within moments, Reece laid down next to me and fell asleep. What a tender moment and a beautiful image that must have been from God's overhead view. Although tired, we were giving thanks for our very early start to this Thanksgiving day. Yes, Lord, much, much, much to be thankful for.

Past Monday

I'm behind on blogging, but I don't want to miss posting about our visit with Tootie this past week. It was wonderful having her here. She is always willing to help in any way she can, so selfless when it comes to her little girl, and now her grandson. Still much to learn from her.

Went to the Arbo last Monday to enjoy the outdoors together and to hopefully get a picture of Reece for our Christmas card. I had something specific in mind, and the settings out there were perfect. I've excluded those shots for now...
There are little houses out there, great for my little explorer.Tootie was on the other side of the window.
He's shrieking at her in delight.

I love it out there, like being on a farm.
The pseudo-photographer in me had to share the simple beauty of the corn.While I was "stalking" the corn, Tootie and Reece looked on nearby amongst the hay and the pumpkins.As we strolled around, Mom, daughter, and grandson, we spotted something...a little reminder of our family...sweetheart roses.
Paw used to bring home sweetheart roses for his sweetheart. They are the perfect rose, so small, dainty, and graceful yet smell so fragrant and beautiful, just like my Maw.

Although the house mom grew up in is gone,
the sweetheart rose bushes were all saved with great care.
Thanks to my sweet and sentimental cousin Trey, the roses are now blooming with a renewed passion at his home in Alabama.
It was nice to remember them today.

11

11 months. Ok, I'm ready to start going backwards for a while.
This year is creeping up much, much too quickly now. Shouldn't I have some rights as a mother on how this thing goes? I say we count backwards for a few months. Who is with me?

With Tootie here, Thanksgiving, 4:45am wakenings, and GI issues, I'm a little behind on posting...so, prepare yourselves, it will be a long one.
Everything goes into your mouth still.
I think you've figured out that leaves aren't tasty,
but give pretty much everything else a try...
Ahhh, pointing.
You love to point, and say 'Dat?' when you want to know what something is.
If we just pick you up and walk around when you are cranky, you often are happy just looking around and pointing at things.
Waving. You wave bye-bye and sometimes hello.
Even to strangers. Someday I'll have to teach you about strangers.
But...the best wave is when it's time for 'night night'.
You wave night night to Daddy and Tootie and anyone that is around.
A few times you've waved on your own when you are tired and ready for bed.

We have been working on blowing kisses, which you have done a few times.

You clap joyfully and tenderly, and usually peer back up into our eyes for acceptance. We clap back saying 'yay', and you often repeat a 'yay' of your own.
These are some of the sweetest moments of our lives.
I wish we could scoop them up and keep them somewhere
to open when we need a little lift. They will always be close to our hearts.
My personal comedian.

You make soooo many faces and they are too funny.

It seems you try to do things just to make us laugh.
By holding onto something, you swat down and say 'down'.
Then, once you have our attention, you pull yourself up
really fast straight up, locking your knees. When I repeat 'sit down', 'stand up', you do it several times. We laugh and you seem so proud of yourself...little funny man.What are you feeling? Well, it's all out there for us to see, as you are so expressive. You can say so much with just your eyebrows.
Oh, but you do not stop there.

You love to babble and yell just to hear yourself. Your smile, oh that ear-to-ear smile...who can resist? Your chuckle of a laugh, it just softens my heart. And Reece, some days my heart does needs softening.

Speaking of, you fuss with the same expressive nature, almost always with tears. When we try to hand you something you don't want, you slap it out of our hands or push it away with clear intentions. Got it, Reece. Message received.
Good or bad, sweet boy, I think these expressive genes are from your momma.
Oh there is so much that is new and that I haven't captured with the camera (Can you believe that?). You bob up and down when music is playing. You twirl your tongue and rest it sideways in your mouth a lot...very talented. Thanks to toy sharing from Anne and Tara, your walkers have become a favorite toy, shuffling all around the house and just figuring out how to steer and get out of a jam.

Yesterday you took two quick mini steps to me from the couch without even knowing it. Soon enough, sweet Reece.

(It looks like I'm interrupting his call...)
Besides the hair brush, windows, and walkers, you have a few other favorite toys. One is Dad's old cell phone (deactivated without a battery). You mimic me saying 'hello' and it cracks me up how you always hold it up to your face backwards.
All this stuff is so new, and so fun for all 3 of us.

Throwing the ball...Oh, how you love it! Holding the ball, you raise your hands as high as they will go over your head (we didn't teach you that) and use all of your might to throw it. You love to toss it back and forth with us, but are equally as happy chasing after it yourself too.
Curious and an explorer.
You study things with a tender patience at times. At times with something new or different, you shrug your arms as if to ask 'What is this?'. Other times you are more of a physical explorer, and have gotten bumps, bruises, and scratches lately.

Your changing pad is evil for some reason. You used to love it there. I remember when Daddy said we should buy more of them! Nowadays, it takes some of mommy's best material to get us through a diaper change. A pretend sneeze is one that almost always gets a laugh.
Signing! You've started signing for milk, which is more with your fingertips like a sign for money. You also sign for water by patting your hand over your mouth. Sometimes you sign for milk when you want food also. It's amazing to see you learning and communicating. I'm going to show you more signs...

Words. You repeat a lot and are taking it in... I have heard you say: dada, light, dog, lucy (you pet Lucy when she'll sit still for you), down, done, that ('dat'), momma. I think you have said more words and are probably wondering when I'm going to catch on. : )
Feeding yourself pretty well these days. Bananas, O's, bread, ham, cheese and peas are among your staples. With the phlegm lately, we've been doing more baby food veggies.

When you are done, you will say done while swiping the food from your tray onto the floor. (Mommy isn't a fan of this method.) Smoothly and fully transitioned from the bottle to a sippy cup. Thanks, Kirsten, we are ready for big boy milk. Nursing once a day first thing in the morning.
Although you probably don't realize it, you have some great friends already, Reece. These moms, dads, and babes have been a tremendous blessing to our lives.
And you've got some pretty decent family, too. ; )

You have changed my life in so many ways. I am still adjusting to this new job and life...still much for me to learn. Know that I am so happy that I am staying home with you and have NEVER, not once, regretted or second-guessed that decision. I only continue to pray that God equips me to be the kind of mother that is pleasing to Him....there is much work for Him to do still!
The Christmas tree is up and December is peeking around the corner. I'm not yet ready for you to be a year old just yet, sweet Reece.
Take your time and let's make it a great one.
You are an incredible gift to us, Reece, and a happy, happy 11 month old boy.

Gogh, Gogh, Gone

Mom, Reece and I went to the DMA today to see the Van Gogh Sheaves of Wheat exhibit. Van Gogh's use of color and movement always draws me into his work.Julien Dupre's Glaneuses was one of my favorites. The detail and crispness is unbelievable. This piece by Emile Bernard is so interesting and the technique reminded both of us very much of my talented artistic grandfather. Wish I had a piece to show you...

Reece was more interested in the lights, the audio tour device, and flirting with the art afficionados. He was so sleepy and required some holding, although fared pretty well for his first museum experience.Lunch was delicious in the Atrium...but...
Although I have been feeling really well lately and able to eat, I had another episode after lunch...stink. Next step is to have an abdominal catscan then endoscopy. Fun, fun.
Went to the Arbo yesterday...will post some pics of that later.

Doggie in the window

These are not for sale!

Miles of smiles

Happy Birthday Miles! We had a great time today at Miles' b day party. Will update with more pics, but here's my personal favorite.
It says it all...

My little monkey

Like mother, like....son? That's a new one.

Well, people do say he's a pretty baby...
or maybe he's just showing you that he's finally getting some hair.

Either way, I'd better be on my best behavior.
The monkey see, monkey do has started.
I love my little monkey.