Tis the season!

This is going to be a random Christmas-y hodge podge post...

Here is our Christmas card this year!  I am not techy enough to figure out how to upload the proof that I got (hhdesignhouse.com), so I had to take a picture of our card with my camera.

Front...

 This family picture was on the back...

Reid loves the Christmas tree and has done very well with it overall.  His face lights up every morning when he sees it.  It's the sweetest thing. 

A tradition that I started last year is giving Reid new Christmas pajamas and a new Christmas book on December 1st.  This year he got That's Not My Reindeer!

 Another tradition that I started last year was making an ornament and also buying one for Reid that represented him that year somehow.  I saw these handprint Santa ornaments on Pinterest and knew I had to try to make them.  I intended to make some for the grandparents too, but that didn't happen.  You would have thought I was making Reid put his hand in fire the way he was SCREAMING when I placed it in the dough.  I think it turned out pretty cute though!  

The ornament I bought for him this year was a giraffe...his favorite animal!  

 These were last year's ornaments...

On Thursday we went with Mumsie, Popsie, and Auntie Alli to Zoo Lights at the Houston Zoo!  We had a great time!  Reid loved looking at the lights and we even got to see his favorite animal in the whole world...GIRAFFES!

 This one is not a real giraffe, but don't tell Reid. :) 

 Amazed at the giraffes!  

 Auntie Alli took him on the carousel and he got to ride on a giraffe!  

The jury is still out on whether or not we are taking Reid to see Santa this year.  Of course I want to take him for the sake of having a picture.  My friend's mom had a "Breakfast with Santa" a couple of weekends ago at her house and Reid was TERRIFIED of Santa there.  Like clinching onto me and screaming if I even brought him near Santa.  We didn't even come close to getting a picture.  I feel horrible taking him to see Santa when I know how scared he is going to be.  We'll see...

Tis the season!  

18 months!

Well, Reid is now 18 months old and I am LOVING it!  Our little blonde haired, blue eyed ball of sweetness is just so much fun.

At 18 months Reid loves...

...to dance!  He will turn on the music on a few of his toys and start shaking his precious little booty!  He puts his hands out to the side and moves back and forth.  He is kind of specific about which songs he likes.  He usually turns on the ABC song on his house.

...airplanes and birds.  Two of my least favorite things. :) He must have excellent vision because he can spot an airplane so quickly once he hears the sound.  I would prefer that he didn't become a pilot when he grows up.

...ketchup.  We can trick him into eating most things if ketchup is involved.  He enjoyed a lovely snack of bananas and ketchup a few days ago.

...animals, specifically dogs, giraffes, and zebras.  We are working on animal sounds.  He has his own sweet version of what chickens, horses, and sheep sound like.

...trucks.  He loves to watch the garbage truck in the mornings and his favorite book right now is a truck book.

...helping.  He likes to help unload the dishwasher and feed the dogs.  It's adorable and he is so proud when he completes his task.

...sleeping.  He is still a great night time sleeper.  He almost always goes right to sleep after we read his book (we still read "Good Morning, Good Night" and pat all of the animals).  Lately he doesn't even want to read his book and just walks to his crib and stands there and grabs the rails until we put him in bed.  He usually sleeps until about 8 am, sometimes later!  He takes a pretty good nap every afternoon.  He is always ready for nap time.  After lunch I say, "Let's go change your diaper and take a nap" and he always walks right into his room.

At 18 months Mommy loves...

...Reid's "surprise face".  Anytime he sees something he likes, his little mouth makes a perfect O and he raises his eyebrows up and it is just the most adorable face.

...the way he says a quick little "mmm" when he eats something he likes.

...his smile!  He smiles with his whole face and I love that.

...that he is cautious and careful. :) He almost always checks with me (by looking at me) before trying anything new.

...how he flutters his eyes almost closed when he is doing something he knows he shouldn't do.  I think he must think that if he can't see me that I can't see him.  It's pretty funny.  Sometimes he also does the eye flutter if he falls down or bumps into something.

...that he still lets me rock him most nights.  He loves to grab at my nose and mouth and giggle.  We sing and cuddle and I just cherish it.  I know it won't last forever.  Last week I actually got to rock him all the way to sleep one night.

 

Official 18 month stats from our appointment this morning...

Weight: 27 lbs, 12 oz (89%)
Height: 34 3/4 inches (98%)

There was a zebra stuffed animal in our room, which was perfect.

Sometimes I get overwhelmed with how quickly time is passing and wanting to remember every single thing.  I know that isn't possible, but I know that 30 years from now I may not remember all of the details, but I will always know how much I enjoyed and loved this stage in our life!

Deck the Halls

Like most people, we've spent the last few days decorating for Christmas!  Tonight we will finish the tree.  I did a Christmas decor post last year and other than a couple of additions, we didn't change much!  

 These adorable little pillows are from an etsy shop called "eleven one creative".  

 My favorite part of our Christmas decor is my snow village.  My mom gets me a new piece each year and last year I got this toy truck shop!  I love it because I think it's a great boyish addtion to the village.  I just love the whimsical feel that a snow village brings.  I love to pretend that I live in a perfect Christmas town with snow instead of the sauna that is Houston, Texas.    

I also feel that holiday smells are a crucial part of the month of December.  I got Yankee's Holiday Garland candle this year and it is quite possibly the best smelling candle EVER.

 William Sonoma soap is definitely a treat and not something a buy often, but I couldn't pass up this Winter Berry scent. 

It's been so fun to see Reid notice the Christmas decorations.  He's been playing with the nativity set this year and it's so sweet to see.  I know he doesn't have a clue what it all means, but I just love seeing him play with it!  

Since we're in the Christmas spirit, I'll end with venting a few frustrations (which I don't like to do on here often, but sometimes it just feels good)...

*The wreath - Last year I invested in this wreath.  I stored it in the attic (instead of the garage), thinking that it would stay cleaner up there.  We just set it on top of a few tubs.  Well, when we got it down this year, we noticed that a little rodent friend had been snacking on my wreath all year long!! I was not happy.  Luckily, I was able to salvage it for the most part.  Ugh!  

*Christmas technology - Chris laughed at the fact that I called lights "technology", but whatever they are called, they never fail to cause a problem.  This year it was just the garland for the mantle, but last year it was the brand new tree we bought.  Things just aren't made like they used to be!

*Reid's clothes situation - I'm sure every parent of young children in Texas is feeling this way.  Reid has a whole set of fall/winter clothes in his closet ready to be worn, but it feels like summer.  I may get weird looks if my son is wearing a seersucker jon jon with a crab and a shovel on it in DECEMBER.  Most of his summer things don't fit anymore anyway because kids grow so quickly at this age.  Get it together, Texas.  

I feel better, now. :) Christmas isn't about decorations or candles or clothes.

Hooray for the Christmas season!  

Thanksgiving at the Ranch

We spent Thanksgiving at the ranch this year!  The ranch is such a special place to Chris and his family and I know that they were so excited for Reid to see it for the first time! We had a great couple of days of family, food, and football!  Reid loved the pumpkin pie! 

 Reid's traditional holiday attire (something smocked) was swapped out for camo this year. :) 

 This vehicle was recently purchased by Grandpa for the ranch and named "Reid's Ride". Reid was so excited to check it out!  

 I love this. :) 

 I couldn't get over how BLONDE his hair looked in this picture.  

Although we weren't able to get close enough to any deer for Reid to really look at them, he was very excited to see birds.

We have so much to be thankful for!

Also, as of today, we have an 18 MONTH OLD!  Official post coming soon. :) 

Thursday Thoughts

*I know I am about 5 years behind, but how in the world did I not know about Friday Night Lights?? I got the whole series on Netflix and I am addicted to it.  Maybe it's just because I grew up in a football obsessed town, but it's SO GOOD.  Football is really only a small part of the show.  It's the kind of show where you think about the characters even when you're not watching it.  It's nice watching it a few years later because I can watch six a couple of episodes at a time instead of having to wait a week for the next one.  If you are looking for a new series to watch, I highly recommend it.  If you like being productive during your child's nap time, I don't recommend it.  I am also really liking the show Nashville.  Coincidentally Connie Britton stars in both shows, so that is a little confusing.  I love, love, love her in Friday Night Lights.

*I have been noticing that we do a lot of tag-team parenting.  Chris gets home from work...tag, you're it,  while I finish dinner.  Chris starts Reid's bath while I finish cleaning up the kitchen and then I join them...tag, I'm it, while Chris runs off to throw a load of laundry in the wash. Yes, he does laundry.  I'm lucky.  Tag-team parenting makes us much more efficient!  I try to be conscious of it and make sure we spend a lot of time all together too and I think we do.

*I was really trying to hold off until next week, but I couldn't stand it any longer.  One of Amy Grant's Christmas CD's made its way into my CD player today.  No one does Christmas music quite like Amy Grant in my opinion.

I wanted to tack on a few random phone pics from the last couple of weeks...

Fun times. 

 I pick my battles and this one wasn't picked.  You want to take the swiffer on our walk? Sure! :) 

 This is blurry, but I love it! Annabelle loves giving kisses to her brother! 

 Happy Thursday! 

new mom

dont blink
obsess about weight
high chair
pictures of self with baby
hair does crazy things
birthday party
dont stress about timelines, focus on enjoying and building character
may not remember every detail, but i will always remember how much i loved every minute