I DID call Lyle (my bro) yesterday to wish him a very happy 24th birthday! He was so happy to hear from me and I was so happy to talk to him.... though I did wake him up (He's been in San Diego since Feburary). WHOOPS! But he was happy to hear from us.

I got the present though! Lyle is moving back, just in time for Reese's 1st Birthday!!! And to meet her in person for the first time! WOO HOO! Can't wait!

Hope you had a great birthday Lyle!

Btw, this is my bro:

(9 months 2 weeks 3 days)

So I've been trying to train Reese on how to use a sippy cup the past 3 weeks or so..... she gets frustrated with them because she's blowing out instead of sucking in.... and when the "surprise" inside comes out she gets a little look of shock on her face. Think that she's equating it to a toy more than a tool for getting out liquid. She LOVES when we feed her through a straw.... it's really funny.... but again, no sucking, we just drip it into her mouth.

I then had a thought of "wonder if we try a different type of nipple on her bottle." I have a TON of Advent bottles.... I mean 20 - 30 bottles and have yet to use them....

Let me step on my   for a moment.....

I've always used regular bottles with the NUK nipples. THANK GOD. I was told to use NUK's during all of our birthing classes, online and AT the hospital.... I started out not wanting to use bottles at all, but with the breastfeeding issue the first 6 weeks it wasn't an option. The whole time I've used regular bottles being anything BUT Advent.... they are sneaky in the way that they design their bottles and nipples. you can ONLY use their proprietary tops, nipples, bottles, etc. It's a RIP. I know that there are a lot of babies and moms out there that use them and love them.... which is GREAT, but when looking at all the other options out there the bottles are bulky, expensive and then the nipples.... geez! You can't throw those bottles into any ole small bottle holder cooler pack and if you need to use a spare bottle you better ONLY keep Advent around..... I know, I know... you have to try all bottles and nipples to find which one works right for you and your baby.... but I'm so thankful for Mandy for giving me all the bottles she had in her house, which did include Advent.... but the best were the gerber/medela bottles and NUK nipples they were a LIFESAVER at 4:30AM, Sunday, October 10th, 2004.

Stepping down off my box to get back to my original point.

I noticed that the shape of the advent was nothing like the NUK's which make the baby work harder for milk and thus cut down on nipple confusion if you are nursing..... I popped an advent bottle in Reese's mouth because it has pretty much the same motion as a sippy cup..... what'd Reese do? CHEWED on the nipple and got even more frustrated because nothing was coming out.

A BUST.

So, we are still working on different type of sippies and using the ole adage of "practice makes perfect."

(9 months 2 weeks 2 days)

Yeah, some might say I'm biased, but come on..... I have PROOF!

What does a 9 month old win for having 4 PERFECT shots in 4 MINUTES?! That included scene changes, chatting it up and setting up camera positions!!! I saw the computer timer when we went to select photos.

We were the FIRST people at Kiddie Kandids this morning and I was so impressed with both Rachelle and Reese I called Scott, who's away on a business trip, with tears in my eyes to tell him how wonderful Reese's photos were.

EVERYONE that was in or around the studio by the time we left just kept complimenting Reese. I was so proud!

She was smiling/laughing so much she got excited and stood up on her toes! It was so perfect!!!!!

Other shots:

God she looks like a little girl now.

After the photos, nap and lunch... I took Reese to the local wading pool! 1 foot deep HUGE 40 foot circle wading pool. It's so great! Reese peed on me again... oh well, nothing that the SUPER chlorine filled pool didn't take care of! hehe

I even met a really nice single mom and her 5 year old daughter! She gave me her number and hope that we can meet up there again! Get this, her dad works as a lawyer too!!!! I think he even knows Terry. SMALL WORLD.

Reese had SUCH a good time! I could tell she was getting SO tired but was fighting it until I changed her... as soon as her head hit the soft towel she let out a HUGE yawn.... and she's currently passed out for her afternoon nap.

AND.... for a complaint...

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD.... if you are going to leave your dog chained to the side of your garage all day you can AT LEAST make sure that he has more water than a small mixing bowl when it's supposed to be up in the 90's all day.

The poor dog was out there barking for 45 minutes before I went over and investigated.

I feel so bad for him, dug out a plastic party dish and filled it to the brim with water and gave some of Oreo's food to him.

He's quiet and I did give him a dog biscuit to let him know I wasn't trying to hurt him. Poor thing must be beaten often.... He cowerd and peed when I came up to him. Our neighborhood is nice, but white trash has moved in beside us... thank goodness we'll be moving soon!

(9 months 2 weeks)

All these for $2.50..... that INCLUDED batteries.

a TRAVEL BOOSTER SEAT FOR $2.00!!!!

So who wants to come yard saling with me next time?

After toodling around Norton Acres for a good 2 hours and since I was so close to my uncle/aunt in law I headed over for them to see Reese. Phyllis met me on the way out to get her “hair did” but to go in and see Gary and her daughter/son-in-law. Reese was so thrilled to see JERSEY the yellow lab!! Reese was laughing so hard and running around like a mad woman. At one point Jersey was so wound up that she was barking and Reese was laughing so hard at all the barking that Reese had a steady stream of drool from her chin to her chest! She LOVED walking around the table and inspecting the vents. I know what you are asking “Sue, did you take photos?!?!”… as David once said to Dawn “I lived the moment.” Maybe next time! Gary asked what time we went out in the morning and how long we were walking around. I didn’t understand why he was asking, but he was trying to see how Reese did. It took me by surprise because I never give a second thought to taking Reese ANYWHERE. I mean if I need to go, she comes with…. I just pack enough bottles and food for whatever we’re doing and as long as I can get a spoon in her mouth at lunch/dinner time I’m good to go. I take for granted how wonderful Reese is compared to some of the horror stories that my own personal circle of friends have expressed, as well as what I’ve been told by others. Reese is SERIOUSLY setting the standard super high for her little brother(s)/sister(s)…. Lyle I love you, but if our next one(s) are like you were as a child I don’t know what we are going to do!
I then changed her and we headed home for her to get some lunch…… THOUGH…. She slept right through lunch and didn’t wake until 3:30!

Scott ended up feeding her lunch while I got things together for an evening of HUBBY and CHILD FREE evening with the ladies! I had a wonderful time with about 10 ladies sipping on a glass of wine (first one in over 2 years!), great gabbing and hot tubing! We had such a wonderful time, can’t wait to do it again! I didn’t even get home until 12:30AM!

(9 months 1 week 6 days)

Welps, Reese's top teeth have FINALLY started to come through. Her top right popped through today and the left is on it's way in any day now.

ALSO today (tonight) I submitted this photo a few weeks ago to the Akron Beacon Journal Community photo contest AND just got off the phone with them because they are putting it in THIS Sunday's PAPER! WOO HOO! Awesome shot Mom.... see and you thought I didn't know what I was talking about when I wanted you to take it like this! You're going to be famous too! hehe

So everyone check out THIS Sunday's ABJ Community section!

More about our weekend tomorrow... it's late and I'm tired, but had to share today's news!

COMPLETE WITH BATTERIES IN EVERYTHING.
(Phyllis, that's the matching vibrating puppy that matches the cat you gave Reese last Christmas)

That's right... to the Deal Queen yet again!

(9 months 1 week 4 days)

http://www.osba-ohio.org/status.htm

463* Combs CHICKEN POX IMMUNIZATION Requires students to be immunized against chicken pox subject to certain exceptions. Passed in the House 5/27/04.

Now to figure out what the exceptions are to see if Reese qualifies.

(9 months 1 week 3 days)

Reese had her 9 month baby wellness check-up on Tuesday. It was supposed to be at 5:00 but the doctor didn't see her until almost 6:30!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Oh well... he was very apologietic especially after he saw how healthy she was and it only took him less than 5 minutes to do a once over becuase I had no questions and she's "a healthy growing gal."

Her current stats are as follows:

Weight: 19 lb 15.6 oz (20 pounds AND 1 year we can turn her car seat around! WOO HOO!) (65th percentile)

Height: 28 inches  (57th percentile)

Head Circ: 19 inches (97th percentile)

We'll see him again on October 11th for her 12 month check up where she'll get 2 shots in each arm and one in her leg. One will be the chicken pox vac..... I'm really apprehensive on this shot. I think I need to do some more research before I agree to let her have it.... I know, I may just be over reacting, but still, I'm old school... I got em from my bro (2 years younger) so we ended up having them at the same time..... it didn't injure me for life, so what's the big deal with some itchy spots?