Reagan update

Reagan,

You are now 15 months old.  You are an active little girl.  I can't clean up behind you fast enough so this is the "messy house" phase of my life that I have to take lots of deep breaths and get over it.

Okay, back to you...
You still LOVE your sister even though you have started 'fighting' her and telling her to "gop" (stop). You pull her hair, pull her bows and barrettes out, mess up her room that she just cleaned, and you think she is the funniest person on earth.  You try to do what she does, you want to play with her toys (and vice versa), the two of you are two peas in a pod.

You learned how to climb out of your high chair.  

Now I have to make sure to buckle you in.

 You are so freakin CUTE!!!

You are going through a picky eating phase.  You used to be in love with fruits and veggies and milk and eggs. The past few weeks you won't drink your milk.  At all.  The doctor is concerned and coached me on other options and tricks.

When I put eggs, bananas, strawberries, peaches, fruit cocktail all the things you used to eat faithfully on your tray - you meticulously drop each and every piece on the floor.
(I've thought about getting a dog just so I can have help cleaning it up)

You are very attached - to me.  While I think this is cute and every mother (admittedly or not) likes to hear their baby cry for them and call their name "ma ma", I've let it get a little out of hand.  As in, I can't do much of anything around the house without holding you. This has made for an interesting topic of conversation/argument between me and your daddy. *We need to fix this before next Monday when you begin your new school.

Exhibit A - 

Gammie can't hold you because you are determined to get back to me

You are definitely a handful but I wouldn't change it for the world.
I think you are the reason I stay "skinny".
Good girl.

Love you sweet girl.

-Mommy

Dreams

Just want to remember this little story...

This morning while brushing teeth, washing faces and combing Ryan's hair in the bathroom, she says,

"Mommy last night I had a dream that Jaiden was driving a car without a grown up"

I started laughing.  Uncontrollably.  I started crying I laughed so hard.

Then I asked her,

"What did you do?"

She said,

"I tried to tell you but I was in the car with Jaiden so I couldn't tell you so I told Jaiden to stop and go back.  And Gracie was in the backseat."

(Gracie is another cousin)

Cue my uncontrollable laugh.  Again.

She loves Jaiden.  She dreams about him.  He aggravates her.  She still loves him. I love it.

Jesus' Birthday 2014

This was a good Christmas for us.  Beginning with BEFORE - I didn't stress about shopping.  I didn't have a list I just shopped and it felt good...
*sidenote - using this technique I did forget a couple of things for #1 that I "meant to get" so she got them after the fact so I'm not sure that I will go without a list next time.

Here is our holiday.  In pictures.  With simple captions. :-)

#2 enjoyed the ornaments while #1 loved being my deco helper

 We had breakfast with Santa (without Reagan because she was sick)

 We made a gingerbread train (Ryan says next year it HAS to be a gingerbread house)

 Christmas Recital  

 Uncle Evan was home from college and spent A LOT of time with us (love you Evan!)  

 Christmas Day

 This light up Let It Go singing dress was THE ONLY thing she stressed about Santa bringing.
So much so that I had a hard time figuring out what else to get her.

Mr. and Mrs.

 My mother with her children

Granddaughters
(#2 was trying to get back to the photographer aka mommy)

Grandson

 (he gets a picture by himself because...he's Jaiden and that's just the way it goes)

 Mi familia

Poppie with his babes

 Sweetness

 Cuteness (and happiness)

Blessings,
House of Hamptons

Matthew 1:21  

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.

Sisters

I have a "baby" sister.  I love her and she loves me (I think).  We have a special sister-girlfriend-bff-frenemies relationship that I wouldn't change for the world.

We both have children and treat each others children as if they were our own.  My sister often talks about moving away out of state and I get excited and then not because, if she leaves, who will I go to Target with?

When I was pregnant and found out that I was having another girl I was SUPER disappointed.  I wanted a boy for two reasons:

1. I wanted to be able to say definitively that the shop was closed
2. I really wanted my honey to experience having a son

Once the initial shock of another girl was over and I was reminded of how blessed I was and that it didn't matter as long as I had a healthy baby I thought about how Ryan would be the best big sister...just like me. :)

My girls are best friends.  They are Ying and Yang.  Salt and Pepper.

It brings me pure joy to see them play together.  Ryan bosses her. Reagan fights back. Then they chase each other around the house.  Then #1 is tired of #2 following so she barricades herself in...I could go on and on.

My heart skips a beat when they hug each other.

Their eyes light up when they see each other in the morning after waking up and in the afternoon when they are reunited after school.

The most special thing that truly makes my heart jump is when Ryan says,

"Mommy, we love me-chuther" 

(as in "we love EACH other")

And I don't even bother to correct her because I love to hear her say this and want her to say it over and over and over again.

Day Care (Baby School)

I had the luxury of staying home with Reagan until she was 3 and 1/2 months old.  When I returned to work after the holidays last year, I had arranged for her to go to an in-home daycare.  Apparently while I was at home playing SAHM, another baby took her spot, although I was under the impression that could not happen - long story that I will not revisit at this time - so luckily my grandmother was willing and able (Reagan's great-grand) and she took care of our sweet baby. 

There were occasions when I would even have to call on my dad to babysit when my grandmother had a doctor's appointment or needed to run errands or just needed a day off.  We have plenty of family around to keep our girls.

Then the time came where Reagan needed to transition to

Day Care.  Why?

My grandmother is getting older and I just didn't want to burden her with having to keep our very active little girl full time.  Although my grandmother is a trooper, I could tell that taking care of lil miss RC2 was weighing on her.  With that in mind the search for Baby School began (because that sounds so much better than Day Care).

After lots of research, visiting, asking for referrals, playing with numbers (i.e. budget) we finally settled on a place referred to by our neighbors.  I visited a couple of times and upon visiting I immediately felt a sense of love, comfort, and cleanliness.  I took my mother and my grandmother to check the place out in case I was crazy (RC1 stayed with my grandmother until she was 2 years old so choosing her preschool was, well just different).  Everyone weighed in and the decision was made with a start date for the middle of August.

A couple of weeks prior to rc2's first day, I had to stop by to drop of some paperwork.  As I spoke with the director (an angel) I began to cry. I was super emotional from just dropping off paperwork. 
She gave me a hug and assured me they would take care of my baby.  Then an older lady (reminiscent of a grandmother) stepped out of the baby room (Reagan's future classroom and one of her teachers) and said, "We're gonna love on that baby and take care of that baby, don't you worry" and she gave me a pat on the back.  That was the moment I know the Lord was telling me it was going to be okay.

Reagan transitioned well.  She only cried the first two days and after that she was a pro.  I couldn't have asked for a more perfect fit for us.  Small.  Loving. Christian.

Fast forward to the week of October 20.  When I arrived to pick up Reagan that day I was given a letter in an envelope and pulled to the side by the interim director (a couple of weeks earlier the director left to pursue another career opportunity).  She said the day care would be closing because they had yet to find a replacement director and had been also attempting to find additional staff with no luck.  Due to these circumstances the last day would be November 25.

When I got in the car I called my grandmother and just cried and cried.  I had to sit in the parking lot for a while until I got myself together. 
Then I called my hubby. Then my mom. Then my sister.

It had taken me months to find this baby school and now I have to start over. 
Reagan had just gotten fully used to baby school and her teachers and her new schedule.
Now I have to start over.

Tomorrow will be Reagan's last day at her first baby school.  I will probably cry at drop off and pick up.  We were blessed for this short period of time to have had the BEST childcare aside from me or my grandmother for rc2.  I pray with all my heart that the Lord blesses Ms. Karen, Ms. Suzi, Ms. Beth, and Ms. Lanae.  I am so grateful that they were the ones to take care of my precious baby.  Ms. Beth was right, "We're gonna love on that baby and take care of that baby, don't you worry" .  They did this wholeheartedly and for that I am truly thankful. 

(FYI - After much worry and prayer, we have found a new baby school. I feel like they will live up to the old place although our original spot will always be dear to my heart)

#1. Birthday. Party.

As I documented a while ago, Reagan had her first birthday party.  She was well rested and had a good time with all of her grandparents, great-grandmother, cousins, aunts and uncles, and last but not least - her big sister Ryan.

The beautiful birthday girl!!

 I called myself transforming our dining room.  :-)

I am a detail kind of girl.

 

 Happy Birthday to the sweetest baby I know.

Dear Girls

RC1 and RC2,

You girls are our world.  Daddy and I love you more than you will ever know.  We love to hear you talk.  We love to see you play together.  I get so excited when I get off work to go pick you up from school and day care.  Our daily reunions are my favorite part of the day. 

It melts me when I see your beautiful smiles.  When you laugh or when someone or something makes you happy, your smiling faces are like gold to me.  You are both so different yet so alike in so many ways.  When I look at the two of you it amazes me that God chose us to be your Mommy and Daddy.  You are both little miracles. 

Please remember to always put God first. Pray everyday, for yourselves and also for others.  I pray that you are always kind to each other and everyone around you, that you are sweet and loving girls, and that you always remember to do the right thing by making good choices (Ryan I say this to you everyday before you go to school - Reagan you will hear it too one day).

I love you with all my heart.

Love,
Mommy

One Year

I guess it's true that the older you get the faster time flies.  This time last year (which seems like it was just yesterday) I was home with a newborn, a 3 year old, a husband, and wondering - "what in the world have I gotten myself into!"  While this year has been a year of major adjusting, I am glad to say we made it. 

And what better way to celebrate than with a party for the sweet little blessing that God blessed us with on September 23, 2013.

For 1st Birthday celebrations, we do a small family party (which isn't small since we have a pretty big family)...but anyway, here we go.

The Baby

The invitation/party design theme (courtesy of B.Elliott Designs)

I will post actual party details later, which in "natisha blog time" means in 3 months - but I will try my best to do it sooner.  Everything was SO CUTE.

Here is Reagan at 1 year old:

Likes

• Ryan
• balls
• running around the house getting into anything and everything
• telephone, iPhone, remote
• eating (banana, potatoes - fried, mashed, baked, all of the above, green beans, broccoli, eggs, chicken nuggets, french toast sticks)
• Nana
• JaidenNel
• dogs (at least Jaiden's dog Blu) - and we all know how I feel about animals...
• Song, This is the Day (that the Lord has made) - we sing it when I wake you in the morning

.  Dislikes

• GETTING YOUR HAIR COMBED (I am sending a prayer request for this situation.  Everyone please pray)
• taking something away from you
• new people (you take a minute to warm up)
• sweet potatoes
• Being confined to one space (per Daddy)

Words

• Dada
• Mama
• Wine (Ryan)
• Daden (Jaiden)
• Nnnn (Nana)

(You are not much of a talker- unlike your sister, but these are a few of the things that you will say when you do decide to speak...which is actually becoming more and more frequent)

Dear Reagan,

 You are the sweetest baby ever.  You like to cuddle and give kisses ("kissy"). You sleep all night long.  I'm sure this is because you go all day long.  You are a very busy and active little girl.  Between chasing you around the house and just watching you go from one thing to another, we are all worn out by the end of the day. 

 Last month (August) you started day care.  We all cried - you, me, and Nana.  She hated to see you leave her but the time had come.  Thankfully your daycare is awesome.  They love on you and treat you like their own.  We have been so blessed for that.

 You and your sister are so sweet together.  She takes good care of you and it melts me to see the two of you playing...and occasionally fighting over a toy.  Here is what she told me just yesterday about you,

"Mommy, I love my sister soooo much.  I mean, she's just so pretty and beautiful and sweet.  I'm so glad I have a little sister and that I'm a big sister.  I have to take care of her.  I love her soooo much."

 

Your most recent trick is that you have learned how to have a tantrum.  The only time you have one is if I take something from you that you shouldn't have, like the nightlight in Ryan's room that you seem to have a universal attraction to.  You lay out in the floor screaming and rolling around.  Not a tear. Just screaming and hollering.  Then you eye something else to get into and it's over.  For 5 minutes. Then you head back to pulling that nightlight out of the wall.  Then I decide to go on and unplug the nightlight and put in the protector.  Then you lay out and roll. Yet again. :-)

 

 You like to play in the kitchen.  The real kitchen AND the play kitchen.  You like to play music on my iPhone.  The phone will be locked but somehow every time you have it you figure out how to access the music.  Then you smile and laugh at yourself as the songs begin to play.  It's like you figured out a puzzle and your proud of yourself.

 

 Daddy continues to call you rambunctious.  Not sure how I feel about that description but I must admit it is pretty accurate.

 

 I love you so much Reagan.  Here is your song, not sure if I have documented that I wrote this song for you and have sung it to you every night since you were around a week old.

 

Reagan the sweet little baby,

Reagan the sweet little baby,

Mommy and Daddy love you,

The big sister Ryan Claire loves you,

Reagan the sweet little baby.

Reagan the sweet baby girl.

 

"Children are a heritage from the Lord. and the fruit of his womb is his reward"

Psalm 127:3 

 

Happy 4th Birthday!

Thank you to my dear friend Allison for being the photog for Ryan's 4th Frozen Birthday party.  You rock.

Thank you Hadley for celebrating 'Wyan's' birthday with her.  I know all the kids had a blast!  Ryan was thoroughly satisfied and is already talking about her 5th birthday party (and I get exhausted just hearing all of her thoughts).

You can view the pics from our Frozen bash here Happy Birthday Ryan Claire!

8 months & Graduation

Reagan is 8 months old. Time flies too fast.

Likes:

• rolling
• eating (especially stuff she's not supposed to have - i.e. our food and paper)
• remotes and telephones
• being free!!!

Dislikes:

• not being free
• not having her way

Size:

• depends on the brand....6-12 mos and even some 12 - 18 mos!
• 4 diapers

She is the cutest sweetest baby.  She's so cuddly and loves to have our attention. She is trying to crawl but knows how to manipulate between rolls and military crawls/scoots to get to where she wants to be.  She also tries to 'stand' independently.  I believe she will be a little feisty girl and will not be as much of a talker as her big sis.

I LOVE BEING A MOTHER.  I believe that being a wife and mother are my sole purpose in life.

Love them.

This is the best we could do on this family photo.

And.....my little brother Evan graduated!!!  I cannot believe it.  My "Evan Stevan", the graduate. 

Class of 2014