Well, as you have read we had QUITE a time on Saturday with Scott having to take my mom to the hospital, thankfully nothing that a ton of fluids, some anti-nausea medication and a good night’s rest didn’t fix. THEN Reese was baptized on Sunday.

When we got home from our breakfast at Bob Evan’s… sometime while we were at church, Oreo managed to grab the Blockbuster bag on top of the table and devoured 2 boxes…. YES TWO BOXES OF SNOCAPS!!!!!! She puked for about 2 hours, but the vet said that was a good sign and since it wasn’t baker’s chocolate it wasn’t “toxic chocolate.” When I was busy cleaning up the carpet Oreo followed me into the kitchen and upchucked again, Mom was fantastic and cleaned it up for me! She joked “Sue, you are cleaning up everyone’s puke this weekend aren’t you?” Guess it’s just an induction to motherhood eh? By 9:30PM Oreo was 100% back to her old self.

Mom left yesterday afternoon around 3:30PM, but only after seeing the final seconds of the Duke game, which they won. HOW WEIRD IS THIS… I played AAU basketball (Roanoke Stars) with JJ Reddick’s older twin sisters… they were my teammates for 2 years. I remember JJ being a really skinny kid that shot two handed and had a REALLY hard time getting the basketball up to the rim…. My how times have changed huh? AND SMALL SMALL world.

Sunday was spent gearing up for another work week along with Reese trying Barley cereal for the first time Sunday and LOVED LOVED LOVED IT! I think after the peaches episode, anything is fantastic! :hysterics:…. Today flew by and I need to get my butt in bed, but wanted to post that I’ve uploaded all 5 month 1 week (23 week) photos of Reese. Here are a few highlights:

 

 

 

 

With these simple questions and answers, we made these promises for Reese today in front of several hundred people. It was a rather moving/touching moment for me… Scott and I were one of two families… but Reese was 1 of 4 children being baptized. We were first… Reese was enthralled with Reverend Brown’s purple sash, and when he would talk Reese smiled and SHRIEKED a happy laugh, which made everyone chuckle warmly. Reverend Brown was so sweet and made mention that “This little one right here has been staring intently at me!” My Godmother later remarked “Sue, Reese stole the hearts of everyone at the service today.” I was doing ok until I just realized the impact of what we were promising today, a lot like Scott’s and my wedding day… I couldn’t hold back the tears… but I wasn’t a blubbering idiot like when Reese had her pictures taken with Santa. (It is blastphamous to mention Santa in the same post as Jesus? )

It was such a wonderful day and the weather was FANTASTIC. Rebecca met at our house so that we could all drive over together. When Rebecca came she brought gifts and so did my mom! Rebecca gave the biggest hot pink bunny I’ve ever seen in my LIFE along with a wonderful frame from Things Remembered and a gift certificate to get it engraved. My mom gave Reese the CUTEST Carter’s outfit, a Gund Bear that’s shirt has Reese’s name on it and it was holding a box that contained Reese’s first piece of BLING. Reese has her first baby bracelet! It’s VERY nice! And one of the most expensive pieces of jewelry in our house next to my wedding ring!


Tom, Matt and Linda were running a bit behind, so they just met us at the Church. We took Reese back to get changed into her Baptism Gown, and let me just tell you… even before I got it off the hanger EVERYONE was fawning all of it. They just couldn’t believe how beautiful it was… and I was asked on several occasions if it was a Family Heirloom!! I proudly said "I hope it will be!!" and that it was made roughly a month ago, and finishing touches were done in the last week or so... with the bloomers and socks arriving on Tuesday. Mandy, you DO SUCH WONDERFUL WORK, and everyone could see and so much appreciated it.

After sitting down, we went through the normal proceedings of our Methodist service. My MIL was happy to see that the pink rose I had ordered was on the alter and also mentioned in the program. Reese did REALLY well… only “talked” a couple of times when we were singing, which I didn’t sing too loudly because I wanted to hear my mother sing Even after 18 months of chemo/radiation about 7 years ago her voice can still belt out bible hymns. Roughly 10 minutes before the service, the binky just wasn’t cutting it… Reese never tried to suck it, but chew it… so it was making her mad, but good thing I had warmed 2 bottles before we left our house, REESE WENT THROUGH 1 WHOLE BOTTLE!! I tried to burp her before we got up there so she wouldn’t puke on me, but wasn’t enough time… and well… it would come out white, or she’d just puke on Rev. Brown.

After our responsive reading, the congregation was asked to participate in a responsive reading and we were then released back to our seats. Reese was pretty quiet but when everything went silent, pretty much everyone in a 3 person radius heard Reese expel a little gas. We all chuckled and I thought “great”… so I walked her quietly back and changed her…. False alarm, only a wet diaper and we came back in. Reese did some REALLY LOUD high pitched laughing twice, and each time Scott leaned over and said “Do I need to take her back?” I had to keep telling him “No.” He was on pins and needles, but not sure why seeing as though there were other kids sitting with us and they were being loud but it was constant…. When it was all said and done everyone on our pew said that “Kids do that, it’s ok.” Poor new dad.

After the ceremony, we all waited for the Reverend to come back so we could take some photos. We were asked not to video tape or take photos during the ceremony, obviously the other family didn’t get that memo, it was like paparazzi in the front row… not sure that everyone was very impressed with that little maneuver. But we got a couple of good shots with the Rev and then we took a few with the family. I’ll be taking Reese to get professional photos done later this week. I wanted to make sure we got through the baptism unscathed before we ventured to a studio.

When we got back to our house after eating breakfast, we opened gifts from Tom/Linda. Linda gave a TON of outfits she had picked up from the Carter’s Outlet when she was out and about with the ladies… along with a Cuyahoga Falls Tigers sweatshirt!! The principal of the local high school is good friend’s with my MIL and wanted to make SURE that we knew that he wanted us to stay in the area so Reese would be a machine in their athletics! Hey, she is on track to be a good 6’0 TALL! Linda also gave Reese is duck that dances and sings “Singin’ in the Rain” by Gene Kelly. It’s hysterical and Reese loved it! AND… you’d think the presents would stop there… but no, our child is LOVED. Linda found a CUTE metal basket and had Kim (the woman who painted Reese’s dresser) personalize a bunny face and Reese’s name on the front of it! IT IS SO CUTE!!!!! Of course the basket wasn’t empty… it had a TY bunny and a TY duck along with Easter socks and a onesie! THANK YOU EVERYONE!!! Reese really appreciates it all!


Today was just a wonderful way to start off a new work week. Here are a few photos taken, the rest can be see in the special holidays section under Baptism.

 

 

 

Mom was released from the hopsital after a bag and a half of fluids and a couple of anti-nausea shots.... BUT THANK GOD NO SURGERY! She's now recovering our our couch. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR THOUGHTS!!!

My mom had what I had 3 years ago.. version of the Norwalk Virus. Mom said that the doctor said that no matter how much you wash your hands that all it takes is to touch a doorknob then touch your eyes, and you have it.... this stuff ENTERS THROUGH YOUR EYES!! SCARY SCARY STUFF!

(5 months 1 week)

I thought I was exhausted yesterday, but apparently there are varying levels of exhaustion. It feels like I'm PG again! No, don't freak... not possible, ovulation nor menstruation has returned... yeah I know "you can still get PG while breastfeeding"... but you need to factor in that a bed needs to be used for more than "sleeping." But this is not to say that Scott and I haven't had discussions about #2.

Reese is just sleeping like POOP the past week... this growth spurt couldn't get over soon enough... she zonked out at 7:45 last night. I tried to keep her up, but her eyelids were just two heavy for her to handle any longer... she then shrieked herself awake at 11:45PM.... I tried to let her cry it out, but it was one of those "I'm really hungry and my diaper is so wet I can't sleep" sorta cries... so I changed her and nursed her back to sleep until she woke again at 3:45AM..... nursed her again, it was like she hadn't been fed in 3 days and she fell back asleep and I was still awake enough to put her back in her crib, but she woke again around 6:00AM and we just hung out together until around 7 to start our day.... which also included me having to go out at around 7:30 to shovel off about 4 inches of SNOW that had fallen over night off my car... I miss Scott on mornings like this!  I love all my Alberta friends, but PLEASE... PLEASE keep those clippers to yourself!!

Yesterday was a good day! I'm 100% caught up on dishes, 95% caught up on laundry, 100% of Reese's is done and the last couple of 3 - 6 outfits that I thought I could squeeze her into I've given up on and they are now packed away with the other 100 or so outfits from 0 - 6 months. YES, I said 100 or so... I reorganized her closet to put dresses, jeans, bibs, shirts, over shirts, winter wear all the way down to springy/summer stuff.... Un-hung onesies / sleepwear that have now made a place in her dresser and the REALLY SAD THING IS it doesn't look like I took out a huge pile of clothes! But not complaining! The deals I got at yard sales and Reese's most fantastic baby shower in the history of baby shower's gifts are nothing to sneeze at.... And what's cool is that it's almost yard sale season again! I now need to look for 18m - __T wear. I have a few items (about 15 outfits) that I've grabbed fantastic deals on... my latest, 2T 2-piece outfit from TRU because the day I was in there if you asked for a coupon from the sales clerk you got an ADDITIONAL 50% off 1 already marked down clearance item.... Snatched up a really cute yellow top with matching crazy flower pants that match for $3.50.... can't beat that!

 

And there is another thing that I was stressing needlessly over… I don’t know why I thought this…. But I was going through all of Reese’s toys and things downstairs and wondering if I had toys to keep up with her until her birthday (i.e. 6+, 9+ and 12+). During the overhauling of her room I went through her smaller closet we’ve been using to keep the bigger clothes and misc things that we need, but not to keep out all the time. THE ENTIRE BOTTOM WAS FULL OF FISHER PRICE STUFF! Things that I had forgotten she was given during her shower and Christmas. I pulled all of it out and put it downstairs stood back and thought “My goodness! It’s like Christmas all over again!” So it’s official… Reese has excess…. But I’m not complaining! SHE CAN ALWAYS ACCUMULATE MORE! Or as Hether told me this morning “If you have twins next time, you’ll have more than enough for all 3 kids.”

After getting laundry rolling, dishes going and realizing that I was running low on pureed bananas... remember, I had only purchased 3 small ones earlier this week to see if she liked them, well, she LOVES them... we're up to 2 oz + ebm (expressed breast milk) mixed in twice a day so any food doesn't stay long in the freezer. I needed to grab a shower, and since Reese was already banana covered, she took one with me. She's actually had several showers and LOVES the water hitting her on her tummy when she's laying down in the tub.... She tries to DRINK the stream but the best thing she likes is the shower liner... something about the smooth texture and it being clear, who knows, it intrigues her like a mathematical equation. She doesn't mind the water running in her eyes either, which is good, because I've been trying to get her used to it when we start swim classes in 3 weeks as well as having water dripped on her head Sunday during her baptism. :

Anyway, I digress... so we take showers, get dressed and head out to pick up some more bananas... for some reason in my lack of sleep thinking, I headed to wally-world thinking that they would have them.... which is completely wrong because that Wal-Mart IS NOT a Super Wally-World, but I think it was divine intervention because I found SHOES THAT MATCH REESE'S BAPTISM DRESS! They are PERFECT! I'd post photos of everything, but want to let the Grandparents/Grand-Godparents see it first so though Wal-Mart was out of my way, it worked in my favor! And while I was standing in line, I had Reese in the wrap and she was starting to doze off. A nice woman behind me saw Reese and just fawned all over her and we started chatting. Another woman with a newborn walked in front of our aisle and I said "Oh look, there's a new one too!" The lady behind me said "Oh, how old is your daughter?" I said "5 months... 1 wee..." She stopped me bug eyed/jaw dropped and said "SHE'S ONLY 5 MONTHS OLD?!" I said "Yes, she's just very tall for her age, my husband is 6'4"." She said "WOW! I was guessing 9 months! My son is her size and he's 9 months!" I just chuckled to myself and she followed up by saying "She's going to be a tall beautiful girl... I can see her as a model later on!" I said "I would love that, but not sure my husband would!" But I later thought about it... he'd only be upset if she became a cheerleader. No offense any ex-cheerleaders that are currently reading.... It's just my husband's opinion.

I finished checking out and as I was leaving, the nicest older lady stopped me at the door to tell me how wonderful my wrap was! And that it was so nice to see mom's who carry their children because "you see so many mother's who automatically throw their children into strollers and car seats." I didn't want to rain on her parade, because I would have put Reese into her stroller if I knew she wouldn't howl, but she's not a big fan of it right now... so I opt to hold her, and well, I really like it... so I'm taking full advantage.

Shoes were taken care of, but bananas were still on my list of "To Do"... I had a hunch that there just had to be a grocery store somewhere around Graham Road, sure enough there was! It was a whole 1/2 mile from Wal-Mart, but by the time I parked the Reesinator was passed out.. I mean having wonderful conversation with The Sandman. She didn't really budge when I popped her out of her carseat and re-rested her on my chest so she could continue to sleep. I locked the car and started to walk in... and another elderly lady look at us, smiled the warmest smile I've seen in a long time and as she passed by she said "Those are the BEST of times! Enjoy every second!" As I contined walking feeling Reese breath and being 100% comfortable to sleep in the position she was in it dawned on me, and just when I thought my hormones were in check, I thought "Yes, this is the most perfect moment in time... I would change it for the world."... as I was biting my lip because tears were starting to well in my eyes....

Anyway....

Linda should have arrived in Cleveland with Reese to pick up my mom from the airport!!!!!! Linda was a little nervous about having "to drive that far with Reese." But I 100% trust her and I know that she'll do just fine. Reese will hopefully have passed out in the car by the time they get up there.... AND of course, everyone able to find each other outside of the airport. As I type this CONFIRMATION! Everyone met and are safely on the way back home!!! In the middle of the conversation mom "had to throw in that Reese is so cute!" I'll be seeing them in an hour or so!

That pretty much wraps up what's been going on the past day and what's coming this weekend. I'll hopefully have photos up and going from Reese's baptism and my mom's visit next week so make sure to check back!

Have a great Friday!

Start of a nice clean face.


Hurm..... not peaches... may give this another go....


OH YEAH, KEEP SHOVELING IN IT BABY.


Oh good grief... reminds you of a scene from Fox's Stars Without Make-Up right?

SHE USED HER TOES TO SUCK ON!