Reed Says Summer 2019 Edition

I know I haven't done one of these for Reed in a very long time but I've still been keeping track when he throws a zinger out there and have collected enough it's time to share!

Last year leading up to Grandpa's Birthday Reed told me "this is a very special Birthday for him." When I asked why he informed me "because he's so old."
  

Kieran came crying to me that Reed had called him a party pooper. I told Reed that those aren't kind words to which he responded that "Kieran had said he was going to poop on my head and I thought that's what a party pooper does!"

K was really upset that Reed had tattled on him to which Reed replied "I'm not here to be your best friend, I'm here to be your brother."

On the drive to school one morning it was super sunny, yet sprinkling, and on top of that we spotted a rainbow. Reed said "I'm glad I'm not the weather helper (at school) today, I have no idea what the answer would be!"

Reed - "Does anyone even live in that house anymore?"
Me - "Yes, they do, why do you ask?"
Reed - "Because they haven't changed their flags since New Years and that means they've missed a lot of holidays." - This is at Easter

Reed sneezed a couple times in a row, took a deep breath, and then asked "can sneezes ever feel good?"

Reed has always said he doesn't want to move away for college. He learned that when I had been in college I had lived with my friends Clint and Mason (who he knows and loves). He quickly said "wait, you get to live in a house by yourself with your friends when you are in college?"  Needless to say he wants to move away for college now.

I found Reed in his room building some sort of lego/hotwheel/superhero contraption when I asked what he was building he quickly retorted "more than you think I am!"

After attending a couple of Christmas events (all in the evening) Reed commented on a drive home "I bet Santa is nocturnal - all the events we see him at are at night."

Reed was trying to figure out where countries/continents were and asked what's below the D-quator again? (instead of the Equator)

When Reed was suffering from the horrible stomach bug this spring he was in the bathroom after a particularly bad vomit session. Once he got done throwing up he looked up at me and said "I don't think I'm going to make it, I'm trying my hardest to live but I just don't know."

Reed says First Half of 2017 Edition

Mom "Did you hit Kieran with the hulk hammer?"
Reed "No."
Mom "Reed, I saw you hit him."
Reed "Mom that wasn't a Hulk hammer, it's Thor's hammer!!!"

Out of nowhere one evening Reed said "I'm a boy, Kier's a boy, Dad's a boy, and you're outnumbered!"

Reed found Kieran's beloved blue blankie after I had put him down for a nap, he asked if I would take it to Keir. When I told him he was a sweet brother. He replied "I do what I can."

We were watching an Arsenal game when the opposing team scored a goal to go ahead. Reed immediately asked Jon "why did they score an unequalizer?"

On the car ride home from school I asked Reed what he thought about having breakfast for lunch. He replied "Mom you just blew my mind!"

On one of the first warm days this spring I came out wearing shorts. Reed asked me "why are your legs sticking out more than usual?"

We were talking about how much fun the boys were having with Lyla and Jon said
"Tio and C have some good kids huh?" To which Reed replied "we don't know what Zach's gonna be like yet."

We were at Starbucks and Reed started grabbing me and pointing at a lady sitting outside saying "Mom, that thing is on fire in her mouth!" FYI it was a lady smoking a cigarette.

Reed is always asking if we are going to have more kids and one day we were explaining we aren't having anymore kids and that he probably won't be getting anymore cousins either. Reed immediately says well "Uncle Kyle can't have another girl baby, I already have four girl cousins and that would be too many to look out for."

Before Reed lost his first tooth he was very concerned about what the Tooth Fairy would be giving him. Finally I found out that he had been getting conflicting information that had really confused him. "What are you supposed to get when you loose a tooth? In Peppa Pig she gets a coin, in Paw Patrol Alex gets a ball, and in Super Why Wyatt gets a toothbrush."

We found some Everything Bagels that Reed could have and I was explaining how they had "everything" in them when Reed interjected saying "well they don't have blueberries and Mom they can't have everything if I can eat them because I'm allergic to lots of things!"

Reed Says Summer 2016 Edition

As always Reed has said some pretty funny things over the last few months that I just have to share!!!

We were talking about our neighbors and how their son (who just graduated from college) lives with them. Reed's immediate question was "how can a son be a grown-up if he still lives with them?"

I was deciding on what to wear for a funeral and asked Reed what he thought about my outfit. He was not a fan and told me that "if that was me getting dressed I would look much better."

We've been swimming a ton this Summer and not to long ago we all put our swimsuits on to get in the pool. Reed took one look at me when I walked out in my two-piece suit and said "I'm not sure about your bathing suit, you look a little flat and a little chunky."

Sometimes when we walk the dog Reed will get a little hair or saliva on him which I've taught him to report to me so I can wipe it off immediately to avoid an allergy incident. Reedcito announced that "Dodger got hair on my favorite arm!" When I questioned why it was his favorite arm, he replied "yeah, I like to use it for more things than my other arm.'

The Monkey started laughing when things were not going right one morning. I asked him what he thought was funny because I was a little upset about his behavior. He told me that "sometimes all you can do is just laugh about some things Mom!"

I really do think he's inherited Jon's fear of getting older. Out of nowhere Reed turned to me and said "I don't like having change, I want my life to always stay the same."

Before getting in the pool The Reedster asked me "Mom, do you know why I wear a top (rash guard) when I go swimming? So I don't get water in my belly button."

Reed's thoughts on creation - "How did the first people come to life Mom? I think God or Jesus carved two people out of playdoh and they came to life."

Me- "Dad might stop by your soccer practice tonight."
Kieran- "And we will say go Reed, go Reed, go Reed!!!"
Reed- "Save it for my games Buddy."

We were at the zoo last week with Lyla and all three kids kept holding hands, which was adorable, but one time Lyla came up to Reed and said "Reed can I hold your hand?" He looked at her so sweetly and said "you can always hold my hand Lyla."

Reed Says Winter 2016 Edition

I don't really feel the need to give any updates on Reed since I just did his 4.5 year post, but of course The Monkey has had some interesting things to say over the past few months that I just have to share . . .

On the way to school one morning Reed asked me "why don't you make your hair pretty for work?" It was wet in a pony tail - my norm.

In an attempt to help with Kieran's potty training Reed explained to Kieran that "poop is a WHOLE different thing than pee!"

Most mornings Reed attempts to put his shoes on himself. One morning he was struggling with the task and informed me "I can't get my shoes on. I have lots of problems being a kid."

When I was packing for Avila I told the boys they could each take a back pack along with them with whatever they wanted to put inside. Reed took this on as a challenge to see how much he could fit in both packs. I overheard him telling his brother "Kieran, we can only have one bag each. Put Max and Geno in your bag, we have to figure out how Blue Blankie can hitch a ride."

Reed needed to go to the bathroom while at a friend's house and Kieran came along with us saying he "just wanted to watch Reed pee" to which Reed replied "it's pretty boring Kieran!"

Reed commented on the size of Dodger's poop saying "that's the most poop I've ever seen in my life . . . unless I go to a poop show."

There are two girls that have potty accidents at Reed's school. He has taken to calling them "The Poopers." After quite a few conversations I think he understands that's not a nice thing even if "that's what they do, Mom."

Reed kept changing his mind about what book he wanted before bed so Jon just picked one and read it. When Reed declared, when it was over, that wasn't the book he wanted and Jon refused to read another one Reed asked "Dad, why are you such a head-butt?"

The boys have been playing pretty well together lately and I love overhearing their conversations. After breakfast one morning Reed leaned over to Kieran and said "let's get building, shall we."

Reed worked at HMC for three hours last month helping Auntie P. On our way home he decided he should earn $3 for his time, which I agreed to. He asked how much the Ninja Turtle he's been wanting is and I told him it's $10 and suggested he could do some work around the house to earn the rest of the money he needed to buy it. He thought for a moment and then asked me "why don't you just take the rest out of that bank you keep giving my money?"

Jon misplaced his headphones and when I found them he asked Reed "where do you think Mom found them?" Reed replied "I don't know, where did you have them last."

The Monkey was helping me fix a hole Dodger had dug in the backyard. When I laid a trellis over the spot to prevent future digging I said "I think this is going to really pay off." To which he said "Yeah!!! What are we going to buy with it?"

Reed Says Fall 2015 Edition

So Reed turning four didn't mean a flip of the switch and perfect behavior all of the time but I do have to say there has been a noticeable decrease in the amount of discipline at home the last few months. Overall he's been really patient and kind with Kieran lately and does a great job listening at school. Now that he only occasionally takes an afternoon nap we do run into some afternoons/evenings where he is overtired and having a hard time coping, but for the most part he's handling the transition pretty well and sleeping great at night. He falls asleep almost as soon as he goes to bed and regularly sleeps 11-12 hours straight. He wakes in the middle of the night needing to pee, having had a bad dream, or needing the covers put back on his bed about twice a week, but I'll definitely take that over what I've gone through with him over the last four years of sleep (or lack there of).

Jon and I are constantly looking at Reed and commenting to each other how we have a "kid" or a "boy" now, it really is amazing to see the transformation. The social aspect of preschool has been great for him and it is so neat to see him interact with others in such a positive way, it definitely makes me a proud Mom. Reed also is learning to be an advocate for himself regarding his allergies. His teachers are great about it, but he also is amazing at asking for a seat away from someone who is obviously eating something he is allergic to. At Halloween, Reed was pretty much on his own and I guess Clara kept trying to share her pizza with him and he told her no and how he was allergic and when she didn't understand he sought out C to help with the problem. At four that is superstar status in the allergy world!!! Of course Reedster has had a lot more to say over the last few months so here are a few I want to always remember:

One night Jon was trying to help Reed into his pajamas and he was being completely unhelpful. Frustrated, Jon asked "why aren't you helping me get you dressed?" to which Reed replied "I'm trying to stay away from that stuff (pointing to Jon's stubble)!!!"

Apparently on one of Nonna's babysitting days her and Reed were making drawings for different people and Nonna said something about who the first, second, and third drawings had been for. When Reedster finished the next one she asked what number it was to which he replied "say it in that language you were speaking" meaning he wanted her to say "fourth."

I was helping load up Hunky Kevin's car after Melissa's baby shower and Reed was following me around. Apparently my hair was fluttering a bit because he ran up to me and asked "Mom, why do you look so beautiful when the wind blows?"

This one is a bit heartbreaking but still shows how he internalizes certain things and so I want to document it. The Monkey has definitely been going through a bad dream phase and one morning told me how he "had a dream where he woke up and thought it was going to be a good day but he ate something he was allergic to and died." Yes, I broke down in tears but we were able to have a really good conversation about what we do to keep him safe and how he doesn't need to worry about that.

For some reason Reedcito was struggling with turning four this year, anytime we brought it up he would tell us how he didn't want to be four yet. I referred to it as his mid-toddler crisis. Anyway I asked him why he didn't want to be four and he told me "it's a pain to get older Mom, cause it stuns you in the butt!!!"

Reed is still very inquisitive and one day was relentless with questions about babies "popping" from their moms. This is a term he came up with before I had Kieran and that we have just continued to use for the last couple of years. Apparently he caught on to the fact that there might be a bit more to the story and that he needed details. Finally Jon decided it was time for complete honesty and explained that "babies are supposed to come out of the Mom's vagina." Reed's eyes immediately got so big and he said "that would be so owwie!!!"

Reedster loves holding Dodger's leash but at 105 lbs he can be a lot to handle. One day Reed requested to walk him and I said he could but he needed to put the stick he was holding down first (it was like 3 feet long). He then informed that "Mom, I do have two hands" in the most dismissive tone.

I discovered this Summer that Starbucks has coconut milk so sometimes I will surprise Reed with one when I pick him up from school. He absolutely loves it and one day took a big drink and then said "it's so good, it's like the flavor covers my whole body when I drink it."

Reedcito was out of control with our shopping cart toy in the house so Jon had a conversation with him on how it needed to be used correctly. Very solemnly Reed said "okay, I will not do it anymore . . . until I forget."

When we are in the car driving I try to come up with games to play. A favorite lately is to spot a vehicle for each color of the rainbow. We drove by a truck yard that had a whole slew of colors and I starting yelling them out thinking Reed would be super excited to get so many at once. Instead he told me "Mom, take it down a notch." Hmmm, I wonder where he's heard that before?