Sorry crazy busy here, especially since Reese's party is on Saturday we are
cleaning like mad people, Scott's even steam cleaning the carpets!
I have about 10 loads of laundry to do between towels, seat cushions, table
clothes and floor mats!
I still have got to clean up the hallway, both bathrooms, put big toys upstairs
in a storage room so that the other kids don't break them..... I ordered her
cake today and 18 cupcakes. SO CUTE!
I picked up a t-shirt for Reese to wear on Wednesday when we take her to Chucky
Cheese for the first time...
"The Toddler Laws of Property"
1. If I like it, it's mine. 2. If it's in my hand, it's mine. 3. If I had it a little while ago, it's mine. 4. If it looks just like mine, it's mine. 5. If i think it's mine, it's mine.
I LOVE IT!
IT was a WHIRLWIND weekend....
Friday, Mom's Night Outt at Bahama Breeze. It was 12 of us ladies with NO
KIDS, NO HUBBIES and lots of good conversation, drinks (except for those not
pregnant or nursing) and did I mention no kids or hubbies? Laura
met me at my house, then I drove and picked up Stacy and off we went to meet
the rest of the ladies. We got home around 10:30!!! I
came in thinking "Goodness, it's a wee bit quiet, did Scott really get Riley
downt o sleep without me nursing her?!?!" I said "Hi Oreo" really quietly
and then I heard a grunt.... I went through the kitchen and into the living
room where Riley was sitting beside Scott watching TV! Scott
said "She's been sitting like this with me for 2 hours.... she did take an
hour nap, but she's obviously hungry."
I nursed her to bed, Scott took her up and we went to bed.
Saturday we worked around the house and I did laundry until around 2:30 when
we took a brief nap, kids went down around 1:30, but got up at 3:00 to head
out to Amazone in Medina. It's this place that kids under 3 are $4, 3 and over
are $6. Adults are FREE. It's this HUGE indoor playground. It was AMAZING.
It had slides, tunnels, padded everything, big balls, it was great. Except
for the dumba$$ RTOC Marine kids. If I was their sergeant leader guy, I'd be
embarrassed.... I kept thinking, "These are the dorks that are going to
protect our country in the future?!?!?!?"
Reese, Isabella and Lucas had a BLAST! Reese learned how to say "Play" which
comes out "Pie" but she says it! We had a great evening!
Sunday we woke up early, got the kids together and out the door to Scott's
softball game we went. They got slaughtered in bothg ames... For
the life of me why someone can't catch a fly ball even in the sun is BEYOND
me... that's what gloves are for people.
Poor Scott and Mike are pretty much the best people on the team of 10. oh yeah,
slow pitch softball rules are nutty. 10 people in the field, 4 outfield.....
every time you go up to bat it's 1 and 1. WEIRD. Oh, and the tie doesn't go
to the runner.... I think I'd hang myself playing, Scott is funny and says "I
have a smile on my face for the kids.... but I'm dying on the inside."
After the game Laura and I headed to Angie's with the kids and had a cheap
home cooked meal. I love Angie's they are an awesome mom and pop restaurant.
Reese was seriously tired by now, so we went home... she fell asleep in the
car, DRAT!!! I tried to keep that monkey up... but those eye lids musta been
20 pound weights.
By the time we got home, Scott and Mike had finished getting the bush stump
outta the ground (now what to do with it, it probably weighs 200 lb, the trash
manager came to my door and said they couldn't take it because it's 'crazy
heavy'" So
Scott's gotta figure out how to cut it up in pieces... but someone took the
broken come-along. They
are gonna kill themselves.
Let's see..... oh yes, after the stump, Scott took a shower and we went to
the Cider Festival in Norton. I FINALLY got my funnel cake, and Reese got to
dig around in some saw dust for pennies.... SO CUTE. I have photos, just needt
o upload them.
We went back to Scott's parents house so I could feed Riley and Reese and Scott
played outside.
Reese spotted her first REAL LIVE NOT IN THE ZOO BUNNY!! She yelled "Daddy,
BUNNY BUNNY!" Got close to it and it hopped away and she turned on her heals,
ran the other directions screaming "Bunny! Bunny!" it scared the pee outta
her! But
she kept telling me where it was!
We left their house at ohhhh...... 5:30? Came home, made some dinner and off
to bed we went.
I gave Riley a bath and came out to "Sue, what in the world did you do to the
banister?!"
"What? Nothing, what are yout alking about?!"
"Look at it!"
" What
the heck is that?"
"You tell me!!! It's like it was chipped all the way down!"
****Me leaning down and inspecting****
"Scott, Reese chewed it!!!"
Yes, REESE LILLIAN make two tiny teeth marks ALL the way down the banister
at ever step!!! SHE CHOMPED ON IT LIKE THE KID FROM LIMMINEY SNICKETS!
It all clicked too when I was nursing Riley and Reese had something white on
her cheek! A FRIGGIN' PAINT CHIP!
What in the world got into her?! She's NEVER done ANYTHING like that!!
Ahhh well, good thing my hubby works for a paint company...... just sucks,
I'm going to have to take her to the banister first thing in the morning and
tell her she was a bad girl......though it is kinda funny... and as Scott said "That
little punk!"
I forgot to mention that Reese showed her first protective big sister mode today.
While Reese, Lucas and Isabella were running around, Riley was in my lap.
Bella spotted Rae [a bunny teether/stuffed animal] in Riley's infant seat.
Bella picked it up, and before I could even turn completely around Reese had
ripped it out of Bella's hand, walked over to Riley, gave it to her then stood
in front of Riley/Me blocking Bella just in case she was coming over to get
the bunny from her again. Laura and I DIED laughing. I love my kids.
We get up early, Reese knows it's "pancake day!" Seriously, no clue
HOW she knows this, but every Saturday she goes inot the dining room, pulls her
chair by the stove, opens up the fridge and yells to Scott "Daddy! Daddy!" pointing
to the pancake mix and syrup. THey
make and eat pancakes HOT off the pan! She had 4 before I even got downstairs
with Riley!
By 9:30 it was Sue the slave driver. Reese, Riley, Oreo and I cheered on Scott
as he cut down (I was his battery bitch for his saw zaw) dug about a 5 foot wide
by 2 1/2 foot hole around this bush I want OUT of our front yard. Too bad the
sucker is solid as a ROCK in there, but Mike said he has a chain wench that if
we loop one end around the telephone pole we can put the other end around the
stup and get it up just enough for Scott to saw it out. PHEW! At 12:30 I told
him to quit and come inside to eat some lunch.
I did some laundry around the house and just did some odds and ends before Mike
came over to head down to Eric / Maleah's house to pick up a langern
thingy statue that Scott had been salivating over since they moved into their
house! I
was giving Reese a bath,g etting all the dirt from helping Scott with the stump
earlier, so I didnt' get to see them leave, only come back, but they said that
they had a good drive down and Scott liked the lantern even more.... "heavy
though, REAL HEAVY."
Sunday, we wake at around.... oohhhh..... 7? Get bathed, dressed and off to watch
Scott at his softball game! Scott and Mike both play on this as well. Mike plays
on Scott's basketball team.... so Mike recruited Scott for his softball team. I
headed out, BUT, I saw that I had forgotten Riley a hat and I needed to get her
more cold medication...... stuff for a runny / stuffy nose, not just fever reducer.
Poor girl, such a hard time between a cold and teething... HER SCOND TOOTH IS
ALMOST ABOUT TO ERUPT! ANywho....
we headed out at 9:30 to get to his game at 10:15. But we were there and having
a good time! Laura, Lucas and Isabella and her sister were there. I'm going to
be really bumed when they move to Salt Lake City, but it's a good move for them.
AS SOON as we left the game we headed to get lunch then out to Lowe's and Wal-Mart.
We got ALL the plants for the front and back yard. Lowe's had a TON of mums in
their clearance section for $0.99! We
literally walked the whole 100 feet from Wal-Mart's garden section to Lowe's
to do some price comparrisons! We
got 11 mums, 7 cabbages, 3 bearded iris bulbs & 50 tulip bulbs.
Scott had been working all week on digging up the front flower bed area and the
back area and spreading the truck load of free mulch I had gotten us!
I planted all the plants in the front yard and side.... as well as watered it.
I felt GREAT when our next door neighbor came over to tell me "your front
yard looks amazing." Made my aching back feel better!
Riley had finally passed out in her infant seat, so she was sleeping in the living
room the entire time until I got to the 50 bulbs, I dug about 10 in the ground
and then Scott had to take over.
Scott wasn't slacking iether... he was tackling the back yard!!! Our next door
neighbor is giving us about 25 decorative 2 x 2 pavers! Those jokers are about
80 lb each. Scott was picking them up and carrying them about 200 feet. He
dug down the ground to put them in at ground level to make them less of a trip
hazard and make the back yard start to look incredible.
He also dug out the back corner area, placed the lantern, put int he mulch. I
helped to dig up some hastas that had over taken the garage door on either side,
dont' ask me why they planted those there, but I dug up about 15 of them, need
to dismantle about 15 more.... HARD FRIGGIN WORK..... but anyway......
Scott laid about 8 pavers and replanted the hastas for me.
Well, Santa went shopping early this year and got both girls their very own TMX. Though by the looks of things on eBay, santa may sell it for a profit for other toys. hehe
I will say that it's SUPER cute and even if we don't sell it.... it's perfectly annoying to keep Reese and Riley laughing for at least 30 minutes and Oreo barking at it to protect her hairless puppies!
Poor Reese. Yesterday I noticed she was sneezing a couple of times... I thought "must just be dust in the air." Last night she was sneezing a ton more and thought she was starting to get a low grade fever.
This morning she woke up sneezing a couple of times and by noon, her nose is running. My baby has a cold, which I think the whole family has after being exposed to it when we went to our cousin's party on Sunday. We didn't know before we got there that everyone in the house was getting over being sick or still sick.
We all had to be exposed at once because not only is Reese sneezing/achy, so is Riley and myself. It was a rough night on Riley, and Reese was just cranky before bed... and a little "off" today. I just dosed her with some Tylenol.... hopefully she'll start to feel better. I know she's not 100% herself when she didn't fight me on going down for a nap after lunch.
For those reading this if we had already scheduled to be at a playdate this week, think we'll skip them as not to spread more cooties. I'm sorry!
If there is any silver lining, at least it's this week and not the week of her party! I'd be so heartbroken if she was sick and we had to cancel her party.
What a BUSY BUSY BUSY weekend! Satuday we hit the road and raced all over the place running a ton of errands before heading to a surprise birthday party for one of Scott's best friends, Steve. He had NO clue and it was SUCH a good time had by all..... there are no photos because *gasp* I didn't take my camera. I figured since I was Bjorning Riley I just wanted to enjoy the day as an observer. The facility has an indoor soccer field where Reese took FULL advantage of! It was hysterical. There were 2 other little boys running around, one of which had on lighted shoes like Reese's Strawberry Shortcakes. All you saw were streaks of lights running up and down.
Reese isn't huge into soccer, she likes throwing the ball, so we grabbed up a dodge ball where Scott would throw the ball and Reese would retrieve it... then she realized that there was a basketball hoop. It was so cute. She stood under it. Looked at the hoop, looked at the ball.... looked over at Scott and said "Daddy." Gave him the ball and pointed ot the hoop. She DIED laughing everytime he made a shot. SO SO SO CUTE.
Tom, Scott's Dad and "Pah", kept her busy until almost 8:30 with the ball and running up and down. I've NEVER seen Reese that red and sweaty!!! She had a blast. The ENTIRE way home our conversation consisted of "Mom.....mom" "Yes Reese?" "Pah hit the ball............................................ WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!" *Scott and I erupting in laughter* She must have told us this about 30 times. NOT EXAGGERATING.
Sunday we got up nice and early to eat breakfast while Scott took Oreo to get groomed. Reese cries EVERYTIME I take Oreo with us and drop her off so I figured that since Scott was able to do it, it would be less traumatic. WRONG. As soon as Scott scooped up Oreo and headed out the back door Reese started to cry and say over and over "Doggy bye-bye, Ree bye-bye. *sob*" I kept telling her that Oreo was getting a bath and would be back soon. Eventually she said "Oreo, oreo, oreo" that reminds me of yoddling more like saying "Oreo" then signed "bath."
I could tell she was SUPER tired from the night before, so I put her down for a morning nap to kill 2 birds with one stone. Get the nap in because she was tired, but also because we had 2 events to attend that afternoon! We had a bite to eat at Jack's baptism party to see Kim and her family as well as Ryan's. GOOD FOOD!!! YUMMMY! Linda held Riley while I wolfed down food so we could jet off to our next playdate at a local children's festival. Reese had a blast!
Again, the whole way home "Mom.....mom." "Yes Reese?" "Ree WEEEE!!!"
There are certain phrases that are told to you as a child that you instantly think "God, how cheesey, I'll NEVER say that to my kid." ................... YEAH RIGHT.
Since Reese has begun to enter the "Sue, there's a reason they are called Terrible" age of 2 I find myself easing into the "M.o.m." roll.
"Reese, please turn on your listening ears." "You are 2 and I'm pushing 30 you aren't going to win." "Please stop calling me mom!" (Usually I say this after about 50 times of her saying "Mom, mom.... *holding up toys I just put away*", Just ask Scott)
Funny how there seems to just be "standard answers that every parent gives" that carries down through the generations.
It's been a few days since I've posted anything about our Ree-Ree.
It's so hard to believe that my Chunky Monkey will be 2 in 20 days..... but who's counting. I was going through some items and ran across Reese's first pair of slippers she wore home from the hospital. I got a little teary as I placed her size 8 shoes on the shelf and hung up her 3T clothing.
She is becoming such an independant little thing that baby proofing has run rampant through our house.... well almost. Just seems she liked to get into things when she knew mommy couldn't repremand her..... primarily when I am nurisng Riley. Scott put cabinet locks on all cabinets and drawers because she liked to get into her silverware drawer by reaching over knifes.... and then we had to get a fridge latch because she likes to get out the syrup from the door and poor it into her play pans to make pancakes. Well there is a picture of a stack of pancakes on the front, why wouldn't syrup magically turn into fluffy "Daddy *point* *point* Daddy."
There was a brief wrinkle in time today while I was putting her down for her nap. She had a bit of diaper rash and I said "Reese, does that hurt? Do you have an owie?" She looked at me, really studied my mouth and the way I said it and repeated "Ow----eeee." She really was working hard to get her mouth to move to sound out what she's trying to say. It was very cute. We worked on saying it about 10 more times and then pointed out every single "boo-boo" now with the choice of "Ow-eee" past and present. The most recent, a scrap on the knee from the driveway at "Pah *point* *point* boo-boo *point* *point* Pah"... but as I was told she got right up, and went about whatever she was aiming to do.
Potty training is still going on, we probably need to be WAYYY more presistent, but she tells us when she needs to go, and we ask through out the day, but there are still accidents. Think we just need to go cold turkey over this next weekend... let her pick out big girl undies and cut out the diapers except for over night. Letcha know how that goes. But I'm really proud of where we are right now.
Think that's about it. Not sure what's going on this weekend... probably diving into some massive cleaning and organizing to gear up for Reese's massive 2nd birthday party. Yes, by the time you figure in our family, then Reese's friends and their adults.... there are a bunch-o-kids and their parents in toe. Ahhh well... the more the merrier!
So I've made a list of words and things that Reese says so I know a round about count when I talk with our peds on Oct 5..... god, my baby is gonna be 2 in less than a month.
She even put her sandals on by herself while I was on the phone with Amanda today, granted they were on the wrong feet, but she did it!
Anyway... here's my semi-chatterbox..... she probably has another 20 or 30 words she says... but I can't remember all of them right now!
Words I say:
1. Mommy or Mom 2. Daddy 3. Mah (Grandma) 4. Pah (Grandpa) 5. Maun (Matt & Shaun) 6. Doggy 7. Bunny 8. Reese (Ree or Reash) 9. Hungee (Hungry) 10. Yucky 11. Mo (More) 12. Done 13. Ball 14. Dah (That) 15. Wah (What) 16. Nummy (Yummy) 17. Bum 18. Bob bob (Spongebob) 19. Home 20. Mowey (Mowing) 21. Mow 22. Boo Boo 23. Boo (Blue) 24. Down 25. Pah pah (Potty) 26. Bee 27. Ni-ni or Niney (Riley) 28. Ni-ni (Sleep) 29. Done 30. Bah (Bath) 31. Bah (Sheep) 32. Bubble 33. Bye bye 34. Boggy (Barney) 35. Dory (Dora) 36. Boy 37. Man 38. Right 39. Coming 40. Bauey (Berry) 41. Pitty (Pretty) 42. Guck (Truck) 43. Duck 44. Monkey 45. Ho (Horse) 46. Onsta (Monster) 47. Nindy (Cindy) 48. One 49. Hit
There are probably more items that she can name. But she does not assign names to objects, but who she associates with each object. For instance: Scott’s company car. No matter what color she knows the make / model… points and says “Daddy! Daddy!” If you dressed her that day she will point to her clothes and say “Mommy… Mommy.” Whoever helped her boo boo feel better will have it pointed out and the person’s name said aloud. Toys are the same way. Dog bone… “*point* Doggy, doggy.”
Words I sign:
1. Monkey 2. More 3. Elephant 4. Bath 5. Please 6. Thank You / Your welcome 7. Banana 8. Dog 9. Down 10. Sleep 11. Baby 12. Kitty 13. No (shakes her head) 14. Eat ...but now being replaced by "Hungee" 15. Pig... but making the snorting sound. It's pretty funny. 16. I love you... mostly the "I" with STRONG emphasis on "YOU!"
Sentences I use often:
1. *Mommy hungee 2. Doggy home 3. Daddy mowey 4. *Mommy yucky 5. *Mommy ni-ni 6. *Mommy nummy-nummy 7. Doggy yucky 8. Daddy coming 9. Daddy Home 10. Mommy home 11. All done 12. Way dah? (What’s that) 13. *Daddy bye-bye 14. One more 15. Daddy hit the ball (Golf) *(Insert whoever is near)
Reese understands simple and complex commands. “Go get a Reese [or Riley] diaper.” She comes back with the correct size. “Put away your toys” she puts them away. “ “Please grab the baby wipes” “Watch your legs [when getting snapped into her car seat]” “Go get your favorite book” or "Go get a pair of shoes you want to wear today."
Body Parts I Can Identify:
1. Eyes 2. Nose 3. Cheeks 4. Hair 5. Mouth 6. Teeth 7. Neck 8. Tummy 9. Arms 10. Hands 11. Toes or Piggies 12. Head 13. Chin (Usually followed with boo-boo...she busted her chin a few months ago) 14. Ears 15. Face 16. Butt or Bum
Yes, we must be MUCH more careful about what words we use as well as in what context with eachother when Reese is in earshot.... this also includes actions!
The other day while driving along Scott was recounting something, can't remember what it was now, but he was saying "That bum blah blah".... and from the back Reese interupted by saying "Bum." Scott and I stopped, looked at eachother then DIED laughing. Scott responded "Yes, Reese is a bum." Then I said "Wait, we can't teach her that..." So he changed it up and now has her pointing to her butt and now says "Ree bum *point* *point*"
Signing is also coming along. I'm trying to attach a sign to things if she dosen't quite now how to say a word just yet. Case in point.... Elephant. Reese LOVES animals and since the nursery is in an animal theme each animals needs to have a name or you will hear "Wha dat?.... Mommy? Mommy? Wha dat?" over and over again until you tell her exactly what she's pointing to. There is an elephant hanging in Riley's crib, thank you Pat!, and Reese pointed to it and SIGNED ELEPHANT!! Then today while watching Sesame Street there was a cartoon elephant on the screen and she said "Mommy! Mommy!" in the tone of "Look at me please!" and there she was grabbing her nose.... then waving. I knew what she meant by elephant. She was so proud of herself, and in turn, I was so proud of her.
The next thing we are working on is she being able to hold up 2 fingers when someone asks how old she is. I've tried to get her to SAY "two" but we've reverted to her looking at both of her hands and those wheels are turning as to try and figure out how to make her ring/pinky fingers fold down and her thumb to hold them while keeping the index and middle finger straight. Seems easy, but for a toddler... not so.
And what is up with the "mommy is on the telephone therefore I must get into EVERYTHING, start yelling and cry when mommy motions for me to be quiet" gene? This can be doubled if Oreo is in the area and there is a constant "Diggy,diggy,diggy,diggy.... DAAAWWwwwwWWWWW-GEEEEEE!!! *slapping thigh*" and some "Oooo" over and over again with just her tongue breaking the sound of the O to form "Oreo." But as soon as the cell phone clamps shut the world is set right again.... off to read nicely at her desk, Oreo sitting nicely. It's like we were catapolted an alternate universe as soon as the phone rang.....
REESE PEED IN A PUBLIC POTTY!!
While at PP today Reese kept saying "poppy, poppy" while I was changing Riley.
My first thought was "crap! how are you supposed to get a 2 year old to sit on a big toilet without falling in?!" But I pulled her pants down, took off her diaper and sat her up on there holding on for dear life! She was trying to push me away, but I said "Reese, you can't push me away, you'll fall in!!!"
The photographer gave her a sticker, and sometime between taking photos of Riley and looking up....she promptly ate it.
I'm still proud of my lil' soon to be diaperless diva!
It's now almost noon.... Reese, Riley and Scott left at around 9 this morning to head out to run a bunch of errands.
He was armed with a bottle, snacks, diaper bag and double stroller.
His mission was to get Riley's halloween costume, Children's Place Pumpkin, OH MY GOD AM I ABOUT TO WET MYSELF JUST THINKING OF HER LITTLE ROUND FACE IN THAT ROUND COSTUME!
I haven't gotten any calls of desperation, well, take that back... Scott's all thumbs when it comes to poney tail holders.... he called me to tell me that he had to stop by Claire's and get some clips becaues Reese took off her shoes, tried taking off her shorts and took both pony tail holders out of her head. "I tried everything to get those things back in her hair... I think I pulled her hair too tight once, she started to cry... so I stopped whatever I was trying to do."
Reese learned to sign monkey a few weeks ago. And got really good at identifying them, even the monkeys on frames and clothing. Two days ago she started SAYING "mon-key" And today, I asked "Who's my monkey?" She responded "Ree mon-key" and said it in such an endearing way that I didn't know whether to laugh or cry!
She's gotten really good at 2 word sentences and has started to throw in 3 - 4word sentences here and there. A few months ago she said "Go get in carseat" and her newest are "Doggy ha-mm" [home] and sometimes she'll say "Doggy at ha-mm." I need to record her saying some of her words. My mom actually taught her how to say "Home" but Reese says it like she's saying "humm" with an "ah" thrown in.
I need to compile a list of words she says, I haven't been as diligent at that as I should... especially since her two year check up is coming up on Oct. 5th.
Did anyone see GMA's segment called "Head of the Class" with the author of Freakamonics discussing a study of 20,000 kids (Yes, TWENTY THOUSAND) from pre-school to 5th grade.
They studied things such as TV, SAHM, WAHM, Gender of Teachers, etc.
The ECLS data show no correlation between a child's test scores and how often his parents read to him. How can this be? Here is a sampling of other parental factors that matter and don't:
•Matters: The child has highly educated parents. •Doesn't: The child regularly watches TV at home. •Matters: The child's parents have high income. •Doesn't: The child's mother didn't work between birth and kindergarten. •Matters: The child's parents speak English in the home. •Doesn't: The child's parents regularly take him to museums. •Matters: The child's mother was 30 or older at time of the child's birth. •Doesn't: The child attended Head Start. •Matters: The child's parents are involved in the PTA. •Doesn't: The child is regularly spanked at home.
They said that the TV thing was due to for example: 200 people work an hour of Seasme Street vs. 1 teacher of 35 students. And that women over the age of 30 having children had smarter children due to the fact that most mother's in their 30's have had more education than those with children in their 20's.
Why does everything have to be touched, opened, poured, shaken or tasted?
Guess that's the "growing up" part huh? But for the love of all that's sane it's driving us insane! hahahah You think that Reese is playing nicely, which she does.... 100% an awesome independant player... but there comes a point where she's "too quiet" only to come in and find that she has learned to open the refridgerator door and found that the picture of pancakes on the label must mean "nummy nummy nummy" pancakes and proceeds to take it over to her kitchen and pour syrup into one of her plastic pans to "Daddy, daddy." [Scott makes pancakes for Reese all the time.] STICKY MESS.... but funny none-the-less.
Reese has also learned how to open doors in the past 2 days. It's funny being downstairs nursing Riley and have Reese slowly creep down the stairs or to wake up to what Scott calls "The Ultimate Alarm Clock" of Reese slowly walking in, getting 3 inches from your face and saying in a whisper "Daddy..... daddy... daddy" or feeling the covers shift as she brought in her "stu" [stool] to climb up in bed very gently as not to wake "Mommy night night."
She is so stinking funny! Inanimate objects aren't recognized by their names, they are recognized by who she associates them with! Case in point: Boo-boos. Where ever she's had a boo-boo, whether it be yesterday or 2 months ago, she will point to it and say "Mommy boo-boo" or "Daddy boo-boo" depending on who was there at the time to make her feel better. Whoever dresses her for the day gets kudos by Reese patting her shirt/pants while saying "Daddy... Daddy" or her new thing when she sees a lawn mower "Daddy mowey... daddy mowey." --- yes, everything currently is getting an "ee" stuck on the end ----- "hungee" [hungry] -"on-gee" [orange] - "ucky" [yucky, well that one makes sense]
Though Reese isn't "saying" the word "no" she knows that if she shakes her head to motion "no" she gets a reaction of "Ok, we won't do this..." or "that's fine" or "that wasn't a suggestion or a question." If you have asked her a question and don't look at her for her answer she will say your name over and over again until you look at her to shake her head. hehe If she gets the response she wants she dies laughing. Two year old empowerment..... I equate that feeling as being the same as I feel when I ask her to bring me down a "Riley diaper" or grab a burp cloth off the dining room table and she brings it to me.... I love "being on the same wave length." God help me when she TALKS back.... then I'm sure I'll start saying those staple phrases of "Don't sass me" or "Don't talk back to me young lady."
The thing that really melts my heart as of late is that she gives hugs.... right after we say prayers she looks at me arms out stretched and says over and over "Mommy, mommy" until I bend down and we give eachother a hug. I love that kid.
I'm also really getting impressed with her overcoming her fear of heights. She went through a time where standing up on the couch to get dressed was frightening, but would stand up in her high chair and giggle as we freaked out to tell her to "SIT DOWN!" Last Wednesday we met up with Laura, Lucas and Isabella at McD's to let the kids play on the jungle gym. They were late, but I let Reese run around like a crazy almost 2 year old. She did AWESOME doing her own thing. Going up 3 stories and climbing around like a monkey and coming down the slide. She would have gone all the way up to the big slide, but she's not quite tall enough to get up the large steps that come up to her chest to climb one at a time..... but speaking of height.............
Reese is 3+ feet tall at less than 2 years, but while at McD's and especially the local wading pool & gym when we meet other kids there is always the same greeting "Hi pretty girl! What's your name?" "I respond "Can you say Reese?" Then it's sort of a "Who can ask first" of "How old is your little one?" and EVERYONE..... I mean everyone, I can't ever recall someone NOT responding this way..... "Wow, she's tall." And I know what they were thinking PRIOR to this question "Is she slow?" "Does she have a speach problem?" "Is she handicap?" But it's as if it's "exceptable" for her to be tall and 2 but still have a wee bit of "shock" on their face and to lighten the mood I seem to always throw in the same line and get "Oh, that explains it" when I follow up with "My husband is 6'4 and we're both the short ones in our family." Then it's as if it's come full circle and my child is now acceptable to play with and I love when she's standing beside 4 year olds that are at least 2 inches shorter than she and the parents tell their kids "________ be careful, she's little."
Reese peed on the potty before nap time! WOO HOO! All I had to say was "if you go pee pee you'll get a sticker." Guess a Mickey Mouse sticker did the trick.... but she opted for Pluto aka "diggy diggy diggy" (she knows how to say "doggy" but when she's excited, it comes out "diggy").
Reese also tried changing her 4th of July Dog Purse yesterday. According to Linda she was at her computer responding to an email and thought that Reese was "a little too quiet" playing about 8 feet away from her. She looked over and she had put vaseline all over the dog's butt and pulled out a "Riley diaper" and had vaseline all in that.... Reese then realized she had WAYYY too much Vaseline on her hands and wiped it on her shirt. Linda washed the shirt twice, but it didn't come out, I soaked it last night, and going ot wash it today, hopefully that'll do the trick.
Linda did say that she was weird all day yesterday after the fact, we think that maybe she was feeling bad. Reese didn't want to go to "Pah" until after he picked her up and threw her up to the ceiling. She's such a smart little cookie and totally knows the difference between right and wrong.
She kept trying to climb on my lap, which is still in SEVERE pain from my pretty intense sun burn from Scott's and my tubing trip with Mike/Laura Saturday! Yes, photos to come, we had a blast! But my legs and Scott's back are burnt to a crsip.
And we have 100% set a date and theme for Reese's 2nd birthday party.
If you've spent any time around Reese you know her #1 love............
So on October 7 we'll be turning our back yard into bikini bottom. I've already got all the paper goods and such. Gosh, my baby is turning TWO!!!! :(
I think we've figured out what we are going to get Reese, and I also stumbled across the BEST deal at Target while looking at things. A $20 3T jean jacket was miss marked to $1.84!!! WOO HOO!
Scott took Reese out with him to mow / weed eat the yard. They came back in to take a shower. I stayed in the other room so that she wouldn't try and come and see what I was doing. The next thing i hear is Scott saying "Sue, come quick." I'm thinking she got her shirt off her big ol' noggin by herself, but when I rounded the corner he said "She peed in the potty!!!" SURE ENOUGH SHE HAD! And was SO proud of herself!!!
Excuse the hair. She was helping daddy with yard work, sun screen, sweat and the remenants of a pony tail.... not always a good combo.
Reese just got a little bit bigger today.
'Fun threw up............... and it's in the van.'
Scott said that as he was coming, MULTIPLE trips, from cleaning out the van when my mom was here.
What can I say, I love my van, my van loves us. hehe
Reese is hysterical. One minute she's being a COMPLETE ham.... and then the next she's hysterical because we've taken away her bouncey ball and she's crying so hard she can't think straight.
I thought we had another 1 1/2 months until we hit the terrible twos. But I'm working with her on "feeling" signs so instead of her going nuts because she can't reach something she can at least sign what she's trying to say.
Today she just grabbed my hand and brought me into the kitchen for bananas.... she had 6 today.... on top of her regular meals and snacks. HELLO BOTTOMLESS PIT.
Reese is doing better today, her red rash is now looking more and more ilke heat bumps... I feel so bad for her! It's ALL OVER her legs and now the back of her hadns, but as my mom said it'll continue to come out as she gets better, and she echoed the same thing the doctors said "it'll be gone in about a week"
I'm just glad it's not itchy, or if it is, the Tylenol is helping it.
SHE FINALLY had a full meal today at lunch. Thank goodness. Not that I think she's going to shrivel up and blow away, but at least she's eating somewhat normal.
I also asked about the chances of RIley getting it. In breastfed babies they don't see anything under the age of 6 months. PHEW. Scott and I kept asking over and over if she was going ot get it and us. But luckily the kid version is MUCH milder than the adult version, so we haev antibodies to overcome it. AND by the time Reese showed symptoms we would have had them too, cuz she was contagious a week ago.
Thank you all again for all your kind words and thoughts!
I now have a visitor badge and leg band to add to Reese's baby book.
AND, to add insult to injury...
Reese got stung by a SWEAT BEE tonight! RIGHT ON HER HAND!! She went to brush it off the table and it turned on her and stung her. Thank goodness for the bite medicine stick thing that Jeanne had at her house. Put it on it two times and Reese stopped crying.
Laura
met me at my house, then I drove and picked up Stacy and off we went to meet
the rest of the ladies. We got home around 10:30!!! 
I
came in thinking "Goodness, it's a wee bit quiet, did Scott really get Riley
downt o sleep without me nursing her?!?!" I said "Hi Oreo" really quietly
and then I heard a grunt.... I went through the kitchen and into the living
room where Riley was sitting beside Scott watching TV! 
Scott
said "She's been sitting like this with me for 2 hours.... she did take an
hour nap, but she's obviously hungry."
For
the life of me why someone can't catch a fly ball even in the sun is BEYOND
me... that's what gloves are for people. 
So
Scott's gotta figure out how to cut it up in pieces... but someone took the
broken come-along. 
What
the heck is that?"
THey
make and eat pancakes HOT off the pan! She had 4 before I even got downstairs
with Riley! 
I was going through some items and ran across Reese's first pair of slippers she wore home from the hospital. I got a little teary as I placed her size 8 shoes on the shelf and hung up her 3T clothing. 
RIGHT ON HER HAND!! She went to brush it off the table and it turned on her and stung her. Thank goodness for the bite medicine stick thing that Jeanne had at her house. Put it on it two times and Reese stopped crying. 
