19 months and counting

Reagan,

You are my baby.  You have grown up too fast.  It brings me joy but also makes me very sad.

Lately you have been a daddies girl.  You get all excited when he comes home.  You are more likely to climb into his lap than mine.  I must admit I am a little jealous BUT I know this is just a phase. :-)

You are beginning to talk.

A LOT.

I don't know if I've ever mentioned it before but I was worried because you didn't seem to have as many words as your sister did at your one year old check up.
(Sorry for comparing children, kind of can't help but to)

The doctor assured me that you would be fine and as long as you had some words by your 18 month check up then you were on the right track.  We showed up at that appointment with...5 words.  Again, the doctor was not worried but I was freaking out!!!  Soon after this appointment I left for a work trip to Toronto, Canada.  We FaceTime'd every night that week and you began to talk.  I mean, you had plenty to say when I wasn't there.  You were babbling and gibbering and putting together sounds - it was like your own language.  I guess you just needed me to not be around.  I don't know what your daddy said to you when I left but it worked.

Now you just talk up a storm.  When you want to.  You are kind of stubborn like that.

Here are some things that you say:

"Where's Ryan?" - you kind of sing this and it sounds more like  a hum and "Ryan" is actually "Wyan"

You also say:

"Want snack?" "I want more" (in your singing/humming voice)
"Mine!"
"Top!" - Stop
"No, no, no"
"Shoes"
"Joos" - Juice
"Mama"
"Daddy"
"Shammie"  - Daddy's mom
"Gammie" - My mom
"Daden" - Jaiden
"Choc" - chocolate
"Nanny" - great-grandmother

You are a bit feisty.  You know what you want and are determined.  You also have a bit of a temper, I knew this from the time we brought you home from the hospital.

You like  love to eat.

You love your Nana and Ryan and Jaiden and Daddy and Mommy and Evan.

You are a bit of a cry baby.  I guess I just breed crybabies because your sister was and still is one.
(Told you, can't help but to compare)

You DEFINITELY KEEP ME ON MY TOES and keep my weight down.

We love love love you so much.  I can't imagine my life without you and your sister, my two girls.

"Sushi Roll"

Once upon a time (this evening) as I was in the kitchen cooking dinner, my girl Ryan came in to talk to me.  Reagan is screaming in the background because it's dinner time and well, that girl likes to eat.

Here is how this story goes.

Ryan - "Mommy do you like sushi rolls?" remember Reagan is still hollering

Me - "No baby, I don't like sushi.  Do you like sushi rolls?"
In my mind I'm wondering what does she know about sushi.  I just assumed that maybe there was a birthday party at her school and someone brought sushi to share??  I asked if she had tasted sushi before and she said yes and I was a bit confused but I was also busy trying NOT to burn the veggies so...I don't know, I rolled with it.

Ryan - "Well mama, I like sushi rolls. They taste so good.  I really like sushi rolls."

Me - "Okay, well maybe one day we can go get you some sushi rolls."
and I finish cooking our wonderful dinner of tilapia, rice, and sautéed veggies (zucchini, broccoli, carrots, and spinach) - one of the RC girls favorite meals.

Fast forward to the dinner table....

We all sat down to eat our lovely meal.  Reagan had finally stopped crying - food is one of the only things that makes her be quiet  and we are all having friendly dinner time conversation.

Ryan - "Mama, I'm full.  Can I be done now?"

Me - "I need you to take one more bite of your fish and then you can get up"

Ryan - "O.k., then can I have dessert.  You promised me that I could have dessert after dinner today"
Because at the House of Hamptons, dessert is not an everyday thing.  I do not want my girls to get in the habit of thinking they are supposed to have something sweet every evening after dinner.

Me - "Yes, baby.  I promised you could have dessert. What would you like?"

Ryan - " I want something out of that bowl", as she points to the candy/fruit dish sitting on the counter.

Me - "Okay, what would you like?", as I take the bowl off the counter so that she can reach what she wants.

Ryan - "I want that sushi roll", as she grabs a Tootsie Roll from the dish.

The End.

Just like that.

I hope you are laughing as hard as R and I laughed this evening.

Easter

We haven't had a professional family picture taken since Reagan was a newborn.  So sad.

Many reasons for this travesty but mainly time.  I mean, I can't even schedule a hair appointment let alone booking our photographer for a family photo session.  Not to mention the crazy weather...rain then sun then snow then sun then cold then warm then - you get the picture.

I am working on scheduling a photo session sometime in May or June for sure but until then we will make due.

Now, back to Easter.

Since I do not have a good recent family pic of us, on Easter Sunday I decided to put an end to it.  While snapping pics of the girls in their pretty dresses and Easter baskets I decided to try and get a family picture in.  But who would take the picture?

The couch.

And I think my sofa (the photographer) and simple camera with the help of the timer did a pretty good job.

Unfortunately I don't know how to edit the screaming toddler but then again this is a TRUE representation of us so whatever. :-)

Happy Easter and Happy Spring!