ZOOsday

We were intentionally out of the house all day on Tuesday. After GymDandies, a 20 minute nap in the car, a visit with Chrys and Anne, and another 15 minute nap in the car, Reece and I met Angela, Mel and the girls at the zoo.

 

I absolutely love flamingos.
They appear nothing like the man-made florescent pink plastic variety. They are elegant, beautiful creatures. I could have watched them for hours.

Reece was mildly interested in the penguins, mostly just running
up and down the ramp and stairs on the way out of the exhibit.

Mel with Danijela and Reece. What a lovely nanny she makes! ; )

Isn't he incredible? The look in his eyes was so intentional. He kept watching us, somewhat bored, but always checking to see if we were there. Reece DID NOT like the gorilla; I think it scared him and he fussed a little wanting mommy for protection.

This was our first trip to the zoo together.

Reece held up really well, especially since he barely napped. He wasn't that into the animals though, preferring to just run around in a wide open space. After Angela and Mel left, we tried to see some of the larger animals like elephants and giraffes, but they had nestled back into their cages for dinnertime...so we headed home with the same idea.

Glimpse

The video is a hair long, but a pretty good glimpse of what this time is like with Reece. (Minus the times I 'talked' to him for throwing the ball into the street.) And, there is an amazing football catch in there. It looks like I am pretty close, but that was the camera....I was pretty far away. You can hear my excitement/surprise.

Balls, balls, balls are his best friend. Chatty cathy!...and busy, busy. He is signing, understanding, and repeating more and more. He loves cars (cah-cah and sometimes just cah, almost always with the sign) and airplanes (points and sometimes tries the sign, works hard on the word, but usually sounds like something else). He says moon (mah), and has recognized the moon in a book as the same moon in the sky (where he first saw it). How do they do that?

D was gone for 5 days last week on a little vacation. We had fun with Lisa and Olivia in the front yard, Starbucks, Pottery Barn Kids, and Glorias (Reece LOVED the black beans). I enjoyed her company, although didn't capture much with the camera.
Olivia refuses to smile for me...plus we were pretty busy keeping up with them in PB Kids... Hey, how did that rabbit get in there?
Sweet baby boy napping in his diaper... This is also a common occurrence right now...often just coming from no where. The molars aren't affecting his sleep, just his 'tude.
He wants to be held by his momma.
Hears an airplane. Kicking the ball. When the weather has been nice, this is how D finds us when he gets home from work. Welcome home, daddy!

Dandy Pancakes in the Park

Tuesday was a good and busy day.
GymDandies...Reece is a ball boy. Of all the toys and slides and stuff at GymDandies, he ALWAYS plays with the balls. He likes the really big ones or ones he can hold in each hand the best. He stalks the teacher when she brings the big basket of smaller balls.

See if you can spy Bailey, Reece, Penelope, and Noah.

Then, we celebrated National Pancake Day at iHop with Anne, Penelope, Angela, Danijela, Melanie, and Kiley. Reece was a fan of the pancake. Oh if he only knew about syrup!
Kirsten and Grayson came after his 15 mo appt. Although Reece was ready to go, we got to visit for a few minutes with the jet setter. (sorry, no pics)

Then, after a nap, strolled from Angela's to a neighborhood park with Danijela where Melanie and Kiley joined us.

Reece is into cars (cah cah) and airplanes. There were so many that flew over and drove by. He's working on saying and signing for both.

First Night Away

I registered for Newk's tennis camp several months ago during the summer, thinking surely I would have spent a night away from Reece by then. Hah!

No offers for a night away and just not making the time, I found myself a bit anxious about a 3 day weekend away from my boy...not just my first night away, but 3 days, 2 nights. I felt my blood pressure rise each time I thought about it.

As the time approached, I considered backing out. But, I searched my heart for the reasons why. Once I realized that it honestly would be good for Reece and Darren to have some quality time together and for me to have some time away, I didn't look back again. I prayed for peace about it and asked my dear friends to do the same.

Darren never once seemed anxious about my trip. He and Reece have really bonded the past few months. I love watching them play. I can imagine thought that D may have felt more nervous about an outing several months ago. But if he felt even the slightest bit nervious about this weekend, he never showed it. Who knows, maybe he was just being strong for me. That's the kind of guy he is.

I had an absolutely fantastic time. The tennis was fun, helpful and exhausting. The weather was beautifully sunny albeit a little chilly at times. And the company, outstanding.

(I'm far left with my camera)

These gals are some major outlet mall shoppers, karaoke singers, bootie shakers, junk food eaters, of course tennis players.

We sat and talked at night in our pjs, giggling and munching on assorted junk food like we were back in college. Saturday night was karaoke and dancing in the lobby area, which was a total blast. I have to say, this girl has some moves.

I enjoyed dancing with the girls and think I was equally as sore from the tennis as the dancing the next day. It was a really fun weekend. Major props to Mac Daddy for doing such a great job with Reece and keeping me just enough informed and worry-free.

Choo Choo

One of the other party favors from Hank's birthday was a train whistle. Didn't take long for Reece to get the hang of it. Is he a busy boy or what?
(Click here if you can't get it to run above.)

(also I updated the below post with a few more pictures from Valentines)

My Funny Valentine

It was nice to have 2 Valentines this year. My older Valentine got cut out hearts with all the ways/reasons that I love him. Naturally, there were many. He also got a yummy cookie bouquet thanks to the much needed help of my favorite baker, Tara. This is only part of it.

Reece got the above torture for one. But at dinner, although he signed and said all done, he realized he wasn't quite once he got a taste of one of the cookies. 'UM!' He said.
A few kisses and hugs good night...

 

Hanky Panky

Hanky Panky. That's what his older sister calls him. 'Hank the Tank' according to dad. This laid-back, sweet-spirited little boy was certainly cause for celebration. He turned 2 on Sunday.

Reece got to take his first ride on a choo-choo train around the neighborhood....it was a fun but chilly one in the 'burbs.

Hank is tender and deliberate in his movements, not spastic or rambunctious like other kids. He runs around, yes, but there is just something so sweet about Hank.

We enjoyed the extra time we got to spend with the Miller's after the other friends headed home.

Later that evening, Reece wore his train hat party favor while Daddy pushed him around the house. He loved it. (He loves the buttons on the train....we can't get those songs out of our head!)