Celebrations!!!

In the last week we've had two friends give birth and celebrated both Jon and Reed's Birthdays - talk about a popular time of year!!! Here is a quick rundown of the celebrations that took place, leading up to the "big event."

On Sunday Gran and Papa joined us for dinner so they could spend time with all of us and give Jon and Reed their Birthday presents. Reed loved reading his card, opening his gifts, and insisted on immediately making Nonna go to work reading one of the books he received.



Papa and Gran watching Nonna and Reed

Wednesday was Jon's Birthday. He wouldn't give me any ideas for Birthday presents and said he just wanted to play soccer for his Birthday. I organized an evening game with some of our friends, followed by watching an Arsenal game at our house with everyone while enjoying some pizza, beer, and cupcakes. Reed thought helping Dad blow out candles was awesome and was also a great sport about playing and sharing with six month old Clara.

Reed and Clara playing with their Aunties on the floor

I'm skipping over Reed's party as it will follow in a separate post, but couldn't not mention that on Saturday I went over to the coast for the day to celebrate Auntie "M's" last days as a single woman . . . yes that's right, at almost 8 months pregnant I attended a Bachelorette party. It was a lot of fun and even though it was an exhausting week, I wouldn't have missed it.

Reed are you Ready?

Other than "how are you feeling?" the question I've received most often while pregnant is "how is Reed going to handle having a new baby in the house?" To be honest, I really don't know. It's going to be a huge adjustment for all of us and probably most significant for him. I worry about my ability to pick him up and give him cuddles while I recover and care for a newborn, but luckily he has a Grandma and a Nonna who he adores and who I know will be around to help us out.

We have done a few things for Reed over the last seven months that we hope will help him embrace his new role as a Big Brother. We told Reed early on I was pregnant and that there was a baby in Mommy's tummy. While he was confused for a bit and thought there was a baby in his tummy too, he's been very sweet about giving my belly hugs and kisses and saying hi to the baby. He's felt the baby move a couple of times as well. We also started working on the nursery pretty early. I knew we were going to have a busy summer and wanted to be able to work on things as we had time. This worked out great because Reed has loved showing the "baby's room" off to visitors, likes going in there to play with some of the toys but completely understands he can't take them to his room, and even brought some books from his room he said he wanted the baby to have (melt my heart). We also worked on a special art project for the baby's room that he thought was really neat.

Just need one more foot-print to complete our family

Other than some toys, etc. that Reed has outgrown we plan to move his changing table and crib into the nursery. This involves getting him into a big boy bed and this past weekend he gave me the perfect opportunity to do some furniture rearranging when he requested his crib be under some paper decorations I have hanging from the ceiling. This is exactly where I want to put his bed so I jumped at the chance and Reed and I quickly went to work rearranging furniture in his room. He's still in his crib, but I'm hoping if he gets comfortable with its location for a week or two the transition to the bed might be easier. The rearranging also means the changing table is out of his room. He's not in love with the idea of putting it into the baby's room so it's in the hallway for now, but I hope in a few days he'll get used to the idea and let us finish the move. I'm also hoping he gets excited about the new bed and we can work out a deal that he only gets the bed if he lets us move the crib.

Since Reed is so into books we've done a couple things in that department too. First I bought a small ottoman for the nursery that I plan to use to rest my feet on when nursing, but it also serves as a great seat for Reed when we read stories. He usually likes to be cuddled up next to me, but in the nursery he's more than happy to hang on the ottoman to hear stories. Jon and our family friend, Lisa, both got him books about being a big brother that he LOVES (like to the point that I hide them sometimes because I'm tired of reading them). Yesterday we were reading one of the books and there is a picture of the new family complete with the baby so we were pointing to Mommy, Dad, etc. and Reed looked at me and said "Dodger too?" I'm going to blame the pregnancy hormones, but I couldn't help but get teary eyed over his comment - such a sweet boy!

Reed talks a lot about the things he's going to do with the baby. On the top of his list are taking a bath with and riding next to him/her in the car. There is also an abacus in the nursery that he's dying to play with but I've told him that it's a special toy for him to play with when the baby comes and Mom is nursing. He's also obsessed with the swing and loves helping to buckle in stuffed animals and using his whisper voice because the "guy" is sleeping.

We have two friends due to have a baby before Baby McClarty arrives so I'm hoping Reed will have the opportunity to be around them a bit too. I think seeing a baby in action will lessen the blow a bit when a real life one comes home to stay! I know there will be bumps in the road and that Reed will probably have a few melt downs over the baby's arrival, but hopefully we've prepared him as best we can. We honestly can't wait to meet our Little One, but I think the best part is going to be seeing our two children together and feeling like a complete family.

Who Likes to Party?

If you've talked to me in the last few weeks you've probably heard me complain about just how busy the last two months of pregnancy are going to be. It's a good problem to have because so much of our schedule is full of celebrations, but at times it can get a little overwhelming to think about. The last week was another jam packed one. I had book club on Wednesday, then on Thursday we had our annual neighborhood block party. Since Jon is President of our HOA that means I am responsible for organizing the event. The night was supposed to start at 6:00 but most of the neighborhood didn't show up until close to 7:00. By the time Reed's bedtime (7:30) came around we weren't even close to eating. I decided to take the Monkey home and Jon was a sweetheart and packed us up some to-go plates that he brought home a little later.

On Friday we headed over to my Parents' house after Jon got off of work so that we could spend some time with them as well as Uncle Kyle, Aunt Kari, Annaliese, and G-Mama all who were in town for the weekend. The kids had a great time playing together and the "adults" had a wonderful time catching up.

 

We attempted to get a few family shots in. Pretty crazy to think there will be two more babies in a few months (Kari is due with #2 in February)!!!

 





Saturday was Auntie "M's" bridal shower (the 8th bridal or baby shower I've attended while pregnant with #2) so Kyle, Kari, Annaliese, and G-Mama came over to hang out with Reed while I helped my Mom, Grand-Aunt Jana, and Blingy decorate. Once Kari and G-Mama left for the shower Uncle Kyle was on his own with the two toddlers. He said they were on good behavior and he seemed to have a great time, but was still exhausted despite both of them taking bomber naps. His hands were pretty full so he wasn't able to get any pictures during his solo stint, but I did snap one when I got home.

Auntie "M" and Grand-Aunt Penny

G-Mama, Aunt Kari, and Grandma

A pic of the table I was sitting at to prove I was there too!

Blingy, Grammy Linda ("M's" Grandma), and G-Mama

Doesn't Auntie "M" look adorable!!!

The only pic I have of Uncle Kyle on "babysitter" duty

After the shower Reed and I went to Penny and Mark's house to spend a little time with Blingy, Grand-Aunt Jana, and a few other visiting relatives. Jana had a blast playing with Reed and Blingy had brought Reed's Birthday present with her which he loved - books and tractors!!! After that we went to my Mom's house for a quiet dinner with G-Mama (I didn't even take the camera out of the car).

Pool noodle play with Grand-Aunt Jana

Explaining to Blingy how tractors work

I failed to mention earlier that Jon was out of town all weekend at another friend's wedding, so Reed and I were partying solo. On Sunday we had a quiet day at home including a visit from my good friend Lee. In the evening we were invited to join in the celebrating of Grand-Uncle Mark's Birthday. Reed had a great time watching everyone play ladder ball, charming them with his knowledge of Star Wars characters, learning how to blow spit wads (thanks Grandpa), and to top it off received another Birthday gift. This time it was Mark and Penny and they got it just right too - Star Wars flash lights!!!

Ladder Ball Spectators

Reed didn't understand why no one else could
figure out how to get the balls to stay on the ladder

Reed opening his Star Wars flashlights with Penny

It was a very long but very fun few days and the Kiddo held up great through it all. When we were leaving last night he even went around the whole room giving hugs and saying goodbyes using names of people he'd only just met for the first time. He definitely makes a Mom proud!!!


A Day in the Life of an Almost 2 Year Old Reed

I wanted to document a typical day around our house one more time before the new baby arrives. Since we are so busy for the next two months, I decided a mellow Saturday would be a good day to do it. Here is a Saturday in the life of an almost two year old Reed:

6:05 I wake to Reed stirring in his room, I wait five minutes to hear him announce "orange light, wake-up" (his toddler light has changed colors) and then go in to say good morning. He immediately requests we read "George books" and I happily curl up with him to read some Curious George stories. When I return from a quick trip to the bathroom I find Reed amusing himself with the book.

6:45 Reed asks if Dad can read him a story and we all cuddle up in bed for one story before Jon heads off to work.

7:00 We say goodbye to Dad and I ask Reed what he wants for breakfast. His answer is "banana in big pieces and cheerios and puffins and milk and big pretzel." Breakfast is almost always Reed's choice so I oblige. After I'm done with my breakfast I tidy up the kitchen, clean out the dishwasher, and look up some vegan pie recipes to try out on Sunday.

7:40 I change Reed's diaper, get him dressed, do his inhaler, and brush his teeth. My new trick is to have him brush someone else's teeth while I brush his, today he selects C3-PO.

 

7:55 We head out to walk Dodger



8:30 We are back from our walk and decide to play outside before it gets too much hotter.

9:15 We head in the house and I start a load of laundry and turn on the dryer. Reed wants a snack so I give him some apple-carrot sauce I made earlier in the week and a few alphabet cookies at his request.

9:35 I lead Reed to his room where he plays independently while I fold clothes and put away laundry. As always he comes up with some good "looks" while I'm putting things away.

10:15 I tell Reed I'm all done and he decides piling stuffed animals on top of Mom sounds like a fun game.

10:30 I change Reed's diaper and then Jon gets home. We all hang out in Reed's room and he tries to put shoes on us and feeds us books (they are delicious by the way).

11:15 I go to the kitchen to make lunch.

11:30 I tell Reed his lunch is ready whenever he wants it and he immediately sits down and starts to eat some corn, a bit of plum, guacamole spread on toast, quite a bit of leftover lamb, and of course hemp milk.

12:00 The boys play in the living room while I clean up the kitchen. I join in for a bit, but hear the buzzer on the dryer and go to put sheets on our bed.

12:30 The Kooky Monster (the deliriously tired, yet hilariously funny kid my child turns into when he is sleepy) starts to come out and I know Reed is about ready for a nap. I change his diaper, read him a story, and lay him down.

12:50 Reed is asleep. I take a shower and decide to embrace this last free weekend of baby-less-ness by doing nothing. I take a short nap and read.

4:00 Since Reed has slept more than three hours I decide to wake him, knowing if I don't, bedtime will be impossible. He immediately wants to play "bad guys, good guys" (his Star Wars characters) and have some milk. He hears Jon playing guitar and leads me to the office to check out the noise. We all hang out in the office listening to Jon play guitar, then Reed requests a turn at the drums, and we finish up our time in the office by letting him doodle with highlighters on scrap paper.

5:00 I take Reed into his room and we do a quick clean up of the day's activities. We head to my closet so I can get dressed (did I mention this was a really lazy day?) and Reed smashes his finger in the door. He's never done this before and while he does dissolve into tears for a few minutes, he quickly recovers and we head out the door for dinner. I recently realized that I haven't posted a video on here in forever so here is a glimpse of Reed waiting for his dinner to be prepared (a sauce-less, cheese-less pizza he goes crazy for).

6:45 We get home and Reed asks if he can have some "sauce," he selects a broccoli applesauce and dances around the kitchen like a crazy man. I decide to get him in the bath and try to mellow him out a bit.

7:10 He's out of the bath, has had all of his medicines, brushed his teeth, and has his pajamas on. We are talking about what books to read when he requests to go potty on the big boy potty. This is a totally new thing, but we decide to just go with it and whatever happens, happens. After a few minutes of grunting and groaning he suddenly starts peeing. As Jon said, there has never been a Mom so excited to be covered in pee. We do high-fives over this big boy accomplishment and Jon takes Reed to get cleaned up while I mop myself and the bathroom floor up.

7:25 We read a book and say goodnight. When we lay him down he requests "no sleep-sack." We know this means trouble (and usually an hour of tossing and turning before he gets to sleep), but again this is something he's going to have to do sooner than later so we tuck him under his two favorite quilts and give him kisses goodnight.

8:25 Reed is still not asleep and has now started to cry (not normal). I go in to his room and attempt to put the sleep-sack on to great protest. He has a complete meltdown and only calms down once we go in the kitchen and get a cup of milk.

8:45 I let him lay on me in his chair for awhile and then put him down in the crib again. He gets pretty upset and I tell him I just need to go to the bathroom and will leave his door open while I'm gone. He lays in his bed calmly and doesn't make a fuss (I watch on the monitor). By 9:05 he's sound to sleep.

5:20 Reed is up and crying for me. I go in to his room and he is in tears. This has happened a few times in the last two weeks and I think he might be getting his molars in because he's usually grabbing at his teeth and complaining about something hurting. I give him a few hugs and ask him to lay down and try to sleep since his light is still blue. He lays in bed rolling around and talking to himself until at exactly 6:10 when he declares "orange light, time wake-up!!!!!" and we start all over again.