Well, our first day of preschool was, I assume, a big hit! She was pretty tired not too long after her lunch, so she went down for a semi-early nap.

I have to buy her some lace-up shoes, though. Her adorable polka dot shoes are a bit too big, or the socks are too slippery (hard to explain), because they kept coming off. :( Added to my to-do list for tomorrow!

I didn't know what to do with all my "free" time. I say "free" because I still had Chloe, but compared to Reagan she's a piece of cake. I remember thinking it was SO HARD taking Reagan out by myself when she was Chloe's age. Uh, yeah. It was like a vacation today. A baby in a stroller? NO BIG DEAL. Now, a baby AND a 2 year old? No thanks. Chloe was even a little fussy, and it was still a breeze. I was high on freedom. Am I weird that I didn't get the least bit sad? I think I will when her first day of real school comes around. Right now, it's just a nice break.

Then maybe I'll have a third child, and taking 2 out will be a piece of cake compared to 3. The circle of life continues.

I finally joined the YMCA! I am actually quite excited about this. Even better, nothing really opens around here until 10 AM. Therefore, I am practically forced to go work out, or just go home until 10 AM (which is a waste of gas all around). I will be working out 3 mornings a week, for an hour! I just know this is going to be so good for me. Setting aside the inevitable weight loss, which is awesome just by itself, just getting out of the house and doing something good for me for a full hour sounds wonderful. Not that I love working out, quite the opposite actually. However, this place has personal TVs on the treadmills (which I've never had at a gym). I just bring some headphones and enjoy. I know that will help me a lot with that boring treadmill part.

Oh, Reagan said "Chloe" this morning. She kept trying so hard, it was so cute. She kept making the "kuh" sound over and over, very emphatically. It went something like, "KUH - KUH- KHOEE!" It was a very clear Chloe, minus the L, right at Chloe's face. I got ridiculously excited, because she hardly EVER really tries to say something the right way. She just says whatever is easiest, or nothing at all. Which reminds me, her second speech therapy session is tomorrow morning. It's a busy week for us, obviously. Then again, so is every week.

Another small thing: I handed her a stuffed dog on the way home from preschool, and she immediately started going "ruff ruff!" and moving it around on her lap. She has never done that before either, from what I can remember. She will say "dog" or "kittie" to a stuffed animal every once in a blue moon, but not make the sounds for them. It's amazing how such small things can make me happy now.

She looks like such a little GIRL!
These are all kind of out of order, but they're all from August.

(First day of preschool)


A couple of days ago...I was deliriously excited that she had kept her diaper and shorts on throughout her entire nap.


After her horrifying trip to get foam pulled out of her nose this past week. Yes, my child stuffed mattress foam up her nose (it has had a zipper cover on it for almost 2 weeks now, so yeah). I do not understand 2 year old logic. It stank to high heaven, hence the doctor trip, hence the second trip to remove the "foreign body". I still get chills thinking about it. She loved her sucker, though!


Not posed. :) I looked over and saw them like this, so I grabbed my camera quick!




I love this, she totally looks like she is telling him off/smacking him on purpose


"Helping" me cook eggs!


John watched the girls for a WHOLE HALF HOUR while I ran to get pullups and a late supper for me and him. I came home to this. Sweet, huh? As you can see, Reagan desperately needed pullups!




Reagan playing in the sink this afternoon. She loves water.




And a rare picture including me, at my grandma's house! I've been hiding from the camera these days, but not for much longer!


Really, Reagan loves "playing" with Chloe. It's so cute, she just lays next to her all the time and talks to her and brings toys to her. She's been more careful lately though, because Chloe doesn't play around when it comes to hair-pulling. I've had to rescue Reagan from her clutches more than a few times. I can't help but giggle secretly, though. Bad, bad.

Professional photos will finally be taken this week, when I can get a good appointment in the MORNINGS. Who are all these people scheduling photo sessions with JCPenney's? It isn't holiday season!

Good night. :)
♥

Chloe is growing like crazy! She is way bigger than Reagan was at this age, which isn't hard to do since Reagan was wayy tiny. Chloe is normal, lol. She's already rolling around like a mad woman, laughing out loud quite a lot, and semi-interacting with Reagan. She grabs for toys, grabs for Reagan, etc. She'll be 4 months old next week, but it feels like she's almost 5 months old really.

I have quite a few cute pictures to share!

( Follow the link! )

I'm re-organizing and re-decorating our office/desk area. It's more practical than the kitchen right now, and more budget-conscious. I'm pleased with the results so far, but I have so much more I want to do. It's basically just a bunch of decluttering right now, but I also picked up some color-coordinated 3 ring binders, post-it notes, and notepads. The key is, and always will be, KEEPING it neat.

I guess that's all for now....

All ready to go swimming!



John took her today, and said she couldn't get underwater even if she wanted to. She floated and "swam" all by herself! My fearless little girl.

Reagan got in the pool for the first time ever today! She LOVED it!

( A few pictures )

She had a blast. We are definitely making that a regular thing until the pool closes, and I don't know why I put it off so long. Oh, wait, yes I do! Swimsuit shopping! THAT was fun. Only, not really.

I need to find the regular arm-floaties for Reagan, also. I couldn't find any at Target and settled on the thing she has on the in pictures, but I don't like it. If she leans forward at all without any help, she could very well tip completely upside down. Not cool. Of course we'd never let go of her at this age, but I like the arm floats better anyway.

She loved the pool and cried like crazy when it was time to leave. She was fine once they were out of the gate, though. Silly girl.

It was fun. :) I might try to do it again sometime this week, as a matter of fact.
♥

John put together Reagan's Sand and Water Table yesterday! She LOOVES it. We had to carry her in kicking and screaming once it started getting dark, and she hadn't even had supper yet. Crazy!

( Lots of pictures from the last few days )

I vacuumed and straightened up the living room earlier. About, oh, 10 minutes later it was TRASHED. Clothes thrown everywhere, toys covering the floor. I give up. ;)

I put The Little Mermaid in to entertain Reagan so I could take care of some crucial work. That lasted a little longer than I expected. I don't plan on letting the TV baby sit her, but it's helpful once a month or so. Seriously, we have no cable and during the day we might as well not even have a TV. I never turn it on, except to watch movies with John once a week or so.

I love The Little Mermaid so much. Probably more than is healthy, really. I sing the song daily to Reagan. It's weird, I know. I don't know what it is. Maybe because she's a redhead? I always like the redheaded princesses the best (Anastasia is another one I loved). I also remember that line, "I'm 16 years old! I'm not a child!" so clearly. I remember watching that when I was about 10 years old and thinking that when I was 16, that's when I wouldn't be a child anymore either. Sadly, that's not exactly how it works.

I'm 21 years old and most days I just feel like I'm just playing an extended game of house, and at some point my mom is going to call me to come home because it's dark, and it's time for dinner.

Dear Reagan,

This month has been VERY exciting with you! I told your daddy the other night, "She's just getting more and more FUN!". It's true, too. I love playing with you even more now. You laugh more, which is wonderful. You used to not be much into laughing, or we had to practically do cartwheels to get it out of you. Not so much, now. It makes playtime so much more rewarding for me, honestly.

You have also taken your first step! Well, sort of. Your Nana says it doesn't count because you fell, but it seemed like more of a step to me. You've been looking so much older to me lately. I put your hair up for the first time yesterday (well, first time in a ponytail). You looked like a toddler. You almost ARE a toddler. It makes me sad in a way, but I'm also really looking forward to watching you grow even more. Watching you learn new words, learn about the world around you. I'm excited about you walking, talking, and interacting more with us. Well, you already interact alot with us, but actually being able to communicate with something other than "EH!" and "UH!"

The other day, you wanted your daddy to hold you ALOT. It was kind of a first in itself. Not only did you reach for him (even while I was holding you), but you wouldn't let me take you back! It didn't make me sad at all, I was really proud of you actually. It showed me how much you really are growing up. I didn't have to hide to hand you off to anyone. We went to your cousin Jonathan's 8th birthday party, and you wanted all sorts of people to hold you. That was also a first. It was kind of nice, actually.

You are a very BOSSY baby. VERY demanding, just like your momma. It's kind of funny, but I know I have to make sure to not let it get out of control. When you want more food, you want it RIGHTNOWWHEREISMYFOODGIVEITTOMENOWWWWWWWW. I am trying to teach you the word "More" (sometimes I sign it too, most times I forget), and maybe you get it, but you don't say it. That's ok, though. You will one day, and you'll wear me out with it I'm sure. THEN we can work on "Please" and "Thank you". So exciting (sarcasm)!

I just love you so so much. I love snuggling with you at 3 AM, even if I do lose sleep. I don't mind as much as I used to. You normally go back to sleep easily. While I am looking forward to a full night of sleep, I also know that one day I will miss these nighttime snuggles/feedings. The other night, you would NOT sleep by yourself. You HAD to be with us, and you slept fine as long as you were with us. You didn't even have to nurse all the time, you just ate and then snuggled up against your daddy. It was really precious, honestly.

I know one day you will think I am totally uncool, and I may listen to all the wrong music, and say all the wrong things. But you know what, I really do think the world of you. I don't expect you to be perfect, I know you are human just like I am. I'm just so proud to be called your mother.

Love,
Your momma

( We put her hair up for the first time the other day...CUTE. (Click here!) )