Welcome to the World Baby James!

At 12:10pm, Thursday October 15th, 2009 we welcomed our sweet baby James. James Bradford Riddell. 7 pounds, 14 ounces, 21 1/4 inches long, head full of light brown or sandy blond hair (we will know better after his first bath, but are shocked it is not jet black like Reese's hair was!). Looks like a very cute grouchy old man! He is very sweet and already loves to be held. Big Sis Reese did very well at the introduction although we could not get her to kiss him yet. We're in love with our family of four!

Bittersweet goodbye to the only child.

Dear Reese,

It has been just you and me for over two years now (including when you were in my tummy for 9 long months). I've loved our time together, just the two of us. You figuring out life, me figuring out how to be a Mommy and how not to screw you up.

But I sensed you needed more fun and enrichment and love in your life. More than just me and Daddy could provide for you. So we prayed and hoped and came up with a solution. A baby brother. We are going to leave you with your grandparents for a few days while we go to pick up Baby James, your new baby brother. We just hope you like him.

I am a little sad today. Sad that our days of just the two girls, you and me, Mommy and daughter, are over. It has been so fun and there have been so many laughs and sticky kisses and walks to the park. We can still do all of these things together, just with a bigger stroller and an addition to our perfect little nest. I promise to still have time set aside for just the two of us. And I promise that you will always be my baby girl, my first, my Reese's Pieces.

I love you so much and I am so excited to give you a baby brother. I know you will be a great big sister and that you will be a good influence on James (like eating your vegetables, hint hint). Just remember how much we love you and how you are the only YOU in the entire world!

Love,

Mommy

Can someone please show me the way to the Kentucky Derby?

Now where is that Mind That Bird horse I like so much????

Don't look at me like that just because my Mommy chooses to never dress me!

Taking a little nap, too many mint juleps...

really too many mint juleps....

The Countdown Begins!

Only one more week and Baby James will be here! I am being induced on Thursday, October 15th (that is if he decides to not show up before then). I have not posted preggo pictures this time around because honestly, I am just not a cute pregnant person. But this could be the last time I am pregnant, so I had Jeff snap a few photos of my belly (fully clothed, don't worry I wouldn't subject you to my bare belly!).

Here I am with some photo editing to make myself look all heavenly and maternal...

Reese isn't sure about this...

Reese touching the tummy

Leaning in to kiss baby James!

A Letter From Dad

I was putting away some things in my bedside table today and came across a letter from my dad. I keep some letters and cards from people in the top drawer that I go to when I I need a little pick-me-up, but sometimes I'll just randomly read one. My dad wrote this to me the day we packed up and left for Austin for me to attend UT as a Freshman in August 1998. It's funny, because it is just on the back of some pad of paper he must have gotten from work. It has a calendar down the side from 1996... Casual paper but some serious letter writing...

"Ladybug :)

I love you very very much and am so happy of your successes and bright future. The great adventure begins today! Enjoy, good luck, and have fun!!!!

It can be evasive for most, but you will quickly find the delicate balance that enables tremendous personal joy and growth with high achievement WHILE HAVING INCREDIBLE FUN.

You will love UT and Austin. You have done an excellent job assuring yourself limitless opportunity. The next 5 to 6 years (did he know I was going to be in college 5 years???!!!) of wise investment will yield the great rewards these efforts will enable.

I am a Dad baby, so I will worry. I envision a remarkable future ahead for you. A future where your dreams will be fulfilled, your outstanding potential can be tapped, and where you can make a difference.

Sure, I'll worry. Yes I know you perhaps in some ways even better than you know. I do not need to worry and that I am very grateful.

Although you are and always will be my baby, my ladybug, you are a powerful, fun, and good person and I am so proud!

Seize the future, claim your destiny!!! Think ahead as always, be wise, not just smart.

Great friends, great times, and great memories are so close. You are a great kid, a wonderful young woman.

Baby - will love you always & forever. You fill me with pride and joy and great expectations.

See you Friday. Enjoy Rush. Enjoy your first very own room and place. Enjoy your freedom and independence. Enjoy life, live it.

Love you,
From a proud Dad!"

And now I am in tears....I guess I need to start working on my letter writing to Reese and James right now! I think my favorite line that I never even noticed is "enjoy life, live it". He always enjoyed life, even long car rides that I thought were so boring. I need to stop complaining and start living. I need to enjoy all the things that Reese has to offer, even if it is growling at this point. Just thought I would share since his letter inspired me today!

Can someone please return Reese?

Paging the universe to return our sweet, silly, 19 month old Reese. She has been replaced by a growling alien. She growls at us every time she gets mad or something does not quite go her way. It is really pretty scary. Not to mention embarrassing in public when people look over at your child growling at you...

House of No and Other Funnies

Reese has turned into quite the funny girl lately with all of her new words and expressions. We went on a family outing to Half Priced Books recently (the original is right near our house on NW Hwy and is HUGE, it's awesome!) to pick up some child rearing books. I will be honest and say I kind of stopped reading up on milestones and parenting skills at a year. Now that Reese has decided to start having tantrums, I decided I needed some advice on how to deal with them (ignore, take out of the store, soothe???).

One thing I read was about how many times a day they hear the word "no". In our house lately, it is quite a lot. So Jeff and I have tried to stop using "no" so much and redirect her towards other things or explain instead of just shouting "no ma'am!".

The other night I was loading dishes in the dishwasher and Reese decided to climb INTO the dishwasher and stand on it. Well, I was just NOT going to have a broken dishwasher! So of course I exclaimed, "NO MA'AM! This is NOT a toy!". Well, she got the point and I felt like I had turned into my mom. Next thing I know, she walks up to Logan (our dog) and says "No no NOOOOO!" and then she starts saying something that sounds like "no means no!". Poor Logan, he is the lowest on the totem pole these days and even Reese bosses him around. With the "no means no" phrase I have fully realized that I have turned into Roxy (my mom) and I am sure the next phrases out of my mouth with be "money doesn't grow on trees" and "well then I am a monkey's uncle".

It isn't all bad in our house though. Reese is very sweet most of the time and is saying her "peas" and "tank coos". She is not always quite right on when to say "tank coo". For instance, she'll give us a toy and say "tank coo" instead of the other way around. I asked for a kiss the other night and she smacked one on me and said "tank coo". Of course my heart melted into a huge puddle of love right then and there.

Reverting to babyhood

So we have a baby on our hands and it isn't Baby James. Reese has reverted back to being a baby. Every time we go to a friend's house with a baby, she manages to find and climb into every baby piece of gear. For example, we were over at our friend Alison's house. She just had a sweet baby girl Nora. I think Reese likes trying out Nora's baby carrier and bouncy seat more than she likes the baby!

We were over at our friend's house last weekend and Reese decided to climb into their bouncy chair, sit back, and relax. The funniest part about all of this baby business is we could never get Reese to like her jumperoo or bouncy chair when she was a baby, now we can't keep her out of it!

And she is caught!

1.5 Years Old!!!

Reese turned 18 Months old today or for you non-parents, 1.5 years :) She's hit all her milestones according to the doctor (sigh of relief) and weighs 23 lbs (35th percentile), is 32 inches long (60th percentile), and her head is still big (80th percentile, at least a slight drop from 90th percentile last month!). It was funny because we could barely get her tank top off over her HUGE CRANIUM (to be said in the So I Married An Axe Murderer Scottish accent).

On the way to the doctor, she kept saying "WHOA!" over and over and over. I guess that is the word of the day! She also still loves "uh-oh!" and "ooohhhh". It amazes me how they pick up on the little parts of speech you do not even catch yourself saying.

Here are some shots of our little lady taken today on her year and a half birthday. She was not all smiles for the camera, but I think I still got some good ones. She still has those gorgeous long lashes!!!

Trying to grab the camera out of my hand

Kicking and throwing a ball

Reese's First Day of School!!!

It was a wonderful day (for Mommy and child) when Reese started her first day of Mother's Day Out at a local church. She did so well carrying her backpack and lunch bag. She also did not even cry when we left her in her new room with her teachers. She went straight for a baby doll and music station. Bon Voyage Mommy and Daddy!!!

Reese loves going to school one day a week. She cried a few times but now never a tear! Every week when I pick her up, she and her lovey are covered in blue, yellow, green, etc. I finally asked what was always on her and one of her teachers remarked, "all of the other kids like to paint themselves but Reese likes to paint her clothes and lovey". Fortunately, it is washable!

We are very proud of all of the art projects Reese has completed this Summer. Most consist of her hand print turned into a fish or American flag. We think they are all masterpieces and proudly display in our kitchen for all to see our budding artist's work.

Reese also made a friend in class that she talks about ALL the time. Gabby, god love you. Reese sure loves you more than us these days!

Putting her backpack on for a trial run at home

Backpack and lunchbox - what a big girl!

Getting a hand from Daddy

Her knew classroom! Happy as can be!

mmmmm yogurt...

Reese loves her yogurt, that's for sure. Jeff and I started getting into Mad Men recently (if you haven't seen, you must Netflix, so good!) and there is some 1950s ad man trying to pick up a girl saying she must "bathe in milk for hours" for skin like that. Well we do not give Reese a milk bath, but she definitely keeps her skin like ivory snow with all of the yogurt she smears all over it.

You must keep your neck and chest looking young too, ladies!

Our ambidextrous child - is she a lefty or a righty? Mommy's a lefty and Daddy is a righty.

Looks like she used her right hand this time!

Welcome to the World Baby Nora!

My good friend Alison had her baby on Monday. She is a beautiful little girl named Nora Jane and just as lucky as Reese (love those 7 lbs 7 oz babies!). Reese wasn't too crazy about me holding her. She kept wanting to hold Nora herself or climb in my lap and push her out, I couldn't tell which...

Baby Nora and Me!

Reese either gnawing on her fingers because of her 4 molars coming in or because she is so mad Mommy is holding another baby...

strawberry shortcake.

I'm sorry, I just refuse to let the bubble onesie die. Reese will be turning 18 and I will still be dressing her in them. I thought she was too big for bubble onesies and then I found Carters makes them to 24 months. I may ask if they can make them until 24 years or a matching one for me.

Happy Daddy's Day

It was a great 2nd Father's Day for Jeff and when I asked how he wanted to spend it, thinking he would say watching the US Open or getting away from us, he said he wanted to spend it with his baby girl. Reese and I let Daddy sleep in and made him coffee (usually his job). I then broke out her first big box of crayons (thank you Andy and Miranda!!!) and we made Daddy a "Happy Daddy's Day!" sign.

Reese had so much fun coloring and then had even more fun taking the crayons out of the box, putting them back in the box, and holding each one up to me while saying "gbish bobby aubey!" which I can only think was the color of the crayon.

We then snuck into the bedroom to wake Daddy up and Reese even carried the sign! Daddy had to get his glasses on because being a daddy, he is getting so old he is near blind. We then took him to brunch at Mommy's old favorite brunch place Breadwinners (I know what you all are thinking but Jeff happily cleared his plate, so he must have liked it too!) and Reese surprised us by eating almost all of her own kid's meal. She apparently is a big fan of scrambled eggs with lots of cheese and fruit mixed in ;)

You all know I think the world of Jeff and so does Reese. He is such a good Dad and loves Reese more than anything. Lately he gets home from work and sneaks around the corner and surprises Reese. She of course giggles and squeals and runs away looking for Jeff to chase her. It is the favorite part of my day and I am sure the same for Jeff and Reese. We love you babe!

And the pregnant lady goes in search of cooler weather...

It was so nice to get away for a few days to visit my good friend Sara and her 5 month old Caroline (and her husband Brandon of course!). It was also great that my good friend Beth came too so we could have good girl catch-up time. The weather was soooo nice and everything was green and in bloom for me (I put in my order for the biggest hydrangea and roses out there and I got them). I think we would all agree that the best part of the trip was cuddling and spending time with Caroline and girl dinners on Sara's back porch.

Caroline is the best baby I have ever seen. She makes Reese look like a fussy Mcgee. She is also ridiculously cute and chubby and all smiles and hand chomping these days. It was love at first site! With all their worries of first-time parenting, Sara and Brandon are doing a great job. They couldn't be raising a happier baby!

I came back well rested, maybe too relaxed seeing as I left my cell phone and charger on vacation for the first time ever (blame it on the pregnancy). I am ready to be back at home and missed my Reese's Pieces and Jeffrey (I call him that when I want to be sophisticated) so much! This should hopefully tide me over for my next girl trip sans baby and hubby which will probably not be for another 2-5 years...

little c and me hanging out

the group of us. i pleasantly referred to brandon as the "manny" the entire trip. what a trooper! and yes, i am pregnant, not fat!

beth and little c chomping on those fingers!

Mullet = Need for Pigtails

Reese's hair has been growing like a weed in the back and somehow the top and sides just aren't filling in. I hate to say it, but she has a mullet. I did not want to cut her hair so soon, so I thought I would try out some pigtails. If she wasn't cute enough already, these pigtails pretty much sealed the deal. Daddy couldn't stand how cute she was!

Getting a pigtail headache...

It's a boy!!!

Most of you have already heard through the grapevine or over facebook but we are having a BOY!!! We could not be more thrilled and excited to mess up yet another sex! Just kidding, we think Reese has turned out pretty good ;)