Talking Like a Grown-Up

Reagan is starting to expand her vocabulary. Every now and then, I catch her trying to use a new word that she either hasn't fully grasped the meaning of or doesn't quite know how to pronounce. The result is pretty humorous, and I wish I could remember a good example to share here!

New phrases are also making their way into Reagan's vocabulary. This week, her favorite is "ya know." For example, she might say, "I'm playing dress-up, ya know," or "I just need to sit down, ya know." And yesterday at lunch, when I offered her some grapes, she said, "I'm not a big fan of grapes." Yep, that one was totally me. I say that a lot.

The final example, I'm ashamed to admit, is also from me. See, I get frustrated when Presley falls asleep in the car when we are only going to be in it for a few minutes. (She falls asleep and then wakes back up as I'm taking her out of the car seat--postponing the nap I was hoping she would take.) A week or so ago, we drove about five minutes away to our library. When we arrived, Reagan said, "Ugh...Presley is asleep. Crap!" Only, she still doesn't say her Rs very well, so it came out like, "cwap!" I had to explain to her that it's not a very nice word and we really shouldn't say it. Of course, she has said it about half a dozen more times since then. (I don't think it helps that I have recounted the story to several people while she was within earshot. It just fuels the fire.)

Still, despite the bumps in the road, it's exciting to hear Reagan experimenting with language. Maybe she'll decide to be a writer someday--or, better yet, a public speaker!

Already the Boys Are Calling!

Reagan got her first phone call from a boy today. Seriously. Her little boyfriend from church and preschool, Curry, called and asked for her. Sadly, she was away at her Nana and Gran's house, but we returned the call this afternoon.

A conversation with 3- and 4-year olds is pretty entertaining. They don't have much to say, so they just sit there and giggle a lot. (Well, at least that's what it sounded like from our end. Maybe boys don't giggle as much as girls.) And then when they say good-bye, you're never quite sure if the other parent is going to get on the line to talk or not. Dena did, and we had a brief exchange of "Aren't they cute?" and "Let's plan a playdate" and the like.

I'm glad that Reagan has a sweet friend like Curry. I'm glad...for now. Ask me again when she's 13.

10 Things I've Learned Since Becoming a Mom...in no particular order

1. There is no such thing as an"extra" napkin.
2. Knock-knock jokes don't have to make sense to be funny.
3. When a 3-year-old says she "hid" something, it doesn't imply that she knows where.
4. After listening to you and your spouse talk for thirty minutes on the ride to Grandma's, your preschooler will remember the one questionable thing either of you said and repeat it--out of context--to Grandma upon arrival.
5. The laundry basket is never empty.
6. The dishwasher is always full.
7. A toddler will eat anything not meant for human consumption, but she will, without fail, spit the pureed peaches back at you.
8. Stuffed animals multiply in the night.
9. A preschooler who cannot remember her own phone number can easily recall all the words to "Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off." And she will sing it to her Sunday school teacher.

And, finally...
10. There's nothing better than a toothless grin, a sloppy wet kiss, or a sincere, "I wuv you, Mama!"

The Cutest Place on Earth Last Night...

...had to be the sanctuary of New Hope Community Church in Brentwood, Tennessee--where Reagan's first Kinderdance recital was being held. As you can see, eight tiny dancers took the floor in their pink tutus and sparkling tiaras to prance around and show off the skills they've acquired this year.

Mama was more anxious than Reagan, who performed her routines without missing a beat. (Well, she might have missed a few beats...but it was still great!) Each dancer received a Kinderdance trophy, but the most thrilling moment for Reagan was receiving TWO DOZEN pink and orange roses after her performance! She is truly a girl, through and through.

My Little Doolittle Fans

I took the girls to see Melinda Doolittle on Friday at Belmont University. We had a surprisingly easy time parking and getting into the area where she would perform. But, as is common with televised performances, things didn't get started until about an hour after they were supposed to, and my little angels got hot and cranky. We stayed long enough to see a little of the festivities, and we heard Melinda sing one song, and then had to make our exit. But we're still glad we got to be there and say, "We saw her perform, way back when..."

On an entirely different note, I saw the funniest sign a few days ago. I am a very strong supporter of any anti-smoking legislation. And I simply detest being seating in a non-smoking section at a restaurant where I can still smell smoke throughout my entire meal. (I'm nearly at the point of boycotting restaurants that allow smoking.) Anyhow, the sign was a little crass, but very true and funny: "Isn't having a smoking section in a restaurant a little like having a peeing section in a pool?" My point exactly!

Cubbie Awards

Last night we went to the Awana Awards program at church. Reagan is a Cubbie and received her first year Cubbie Award. I wasn't actually sure she would get anything, since we started in the middle of the year and she didn't finish her book, but I guess they give everyone an award for participating.

The kids were cute and sang a couple of songs, including the Cubbies theme song. Reagan got to hold up a sign during their second song, and she followed directions very well. Presley was VERY excited to see her big sister, and couldn't contain her squeals of delight.

First Tooth

Last night, while sitting in church for Reagan's Cubbie awards program, I reached into Presley's mouth to quiet her (she was squealing with glee at seeing her big sister!). But to my surprise, I was bitten by the tiniest little breakthrough of her first tooth! It is one of her front, middle teeth on the top. I've been checking her every morning, so it must have broken through sometime during the day. If her gums are any indication, that lone tooth will have lots of companions before long.

Baby Girl Is Walking

It's official: we no longer have a baby; we have a toddler. My heart has a moment of mourning at this thought, knowing that Presley is our last child and that some of those precious baby moments are now behind us. But I'm also excited for the changes that her toddling brings. Mostly, I'm glad that she'll no longer be picking up (and eating) every tiny piece of fuzz or hair that might be on the floor. I'm thrilled that I no longer have to vacuum constantly too. (Although, quite frankly, we weren't as good about this as we should have been.) And I'm excited that soon I won't be carrying her everywhere we go!

Presley can now get across the room without holding on to anything and without falling. She still crawls when she's in a hurry--and, wow, is she fast!--but she chooses to pull herself up and try walking much of the time. She's quite proud of her new accomplishments and enjoys the attention it garners.

Now, if I could just teach her to vacuum...

She's Got It All Figured Out

This morning I reminded Reagan that Curry would be coming over before preschool. (Curry is Reagan's "boyfriend" from church; he rides to preschool with us every Wednesday.) Reagan was excited as usual and began talking about Curry's recent birthday. Then, she spelled out her life plan:

"When I get big and Curry gets big, he's going to marry me--because he's my best friend!"

Well, there you have it. Decided.

The Twins Are Here!

My dear friend Jenny just delivered twins--Chance and Grace. The healthy boy and girl were around six pounds each and arrived via C-section. If you know petite Jenny, the thought of her carrying over 12 pounds of baby, along with all the extra weight it requires to sustain them, is ridiculous! But what's more amazing is the miracle that these babies are. After several years of trying the old-fashioned way, then various fertility tests/treatments, and finally two rounds of IVF, these were the "little embryos that could"--and they did! Considered a high-risk pregnancy, the fact that Jenny carried the babies until her 39th week is also astounding. Lots of people were praying for these little ones, and God certainly hears the prayers of his people!

Congratulations, Jenny and Eric! Can't wait to meet your precious miracles!

First Steps

The baby girl took her first steps last night! They were a bit tentative, and for some of them she was actually in the process of falling. But there were a few legitimate, actual steps in there. My prediction is that she'll be taking multiple, balanced steps by her 10-month birthday (April 11).

The Funny Things She Says

I forgot to add to my last post the few funny mispronunciations that Reagan is still holding on to. It will be a sad day when she finally learns how to say these words correctly:

breakfixt (breakfast)
gorilla bar (granola bar)
Weagan, Pwesley (Reagan, Presley; this pretty much applies to any "r" word)

He Always Was One of My Favorites...

Your 80s Heartthrob Is

Kirk Cameron

Who's" Your 80's Heartthrob?

Reagan's Favorite Things: Spring '07

It's been a while since I've done a "favorite" list for Reagan, so here goes:

favorite friends: Curry (her "boyfriend"), Langley, Ashley (her cousin)

favorite food: Pop-tarts

favorite colors: pink and green

favorite game: Ariel Story Studio (computer game)

favorite shows: Little Einsteins, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Dancing with the Stars

favorite stuffed toy: cow (she's had it since she was a baby)

favorite beverage: Sprite (an occasional treat)

favorite activity: Kinderdance

favorite princess: Ariel (for now; ask again next week)

Sisters...Sisters...There Were Never Such Devoted Sisters

Reagan and Presley are getting so cute together! Reagan is such a good big sister and loves to hug on Presley. Presley thinks Reagan is the greatest thing ever and loves to clap and laugh with Reagan. Mama is very relieved that they're starting to play together a bit. Since there's no preschool or Kinderdance this summer, it could be a very long one for Mama if the girls aren't able to entertain each other!

"Just Say 'Yes' " to Baby Einstein

I've decided that Baby Einstein is like crack for babies--or maybe I mean Xanax (I'm not really sure if crack is a sedative or an upper). Either way, it's like a drug. Presley has been cranky all evening, and nothing seemed to settle her. In a desperate moment, I pulled out the old DVDs and chose Baby Mozart. She and Reagan are now both quietly seated, watching intently. Amazing!

I'm actually kind of surprised, considering I never enjoyed history or anything remotely like it...

You Passed the US Citizenship Test

Congratulations - you got 10 out of 10 correct!

Could'>http://www.blogthings.com/couldyoupasstheuscitizenshiptestquiz/">Could You Pass the US Citizenship Test?

What a Difference a Couple of Weeks Make

Wow! Presley just started crawling about two weeks ago, and already we are having to re-think our baby-proofing. So far she has climbed the stairs, taken DVDs and videos out of the cabinet, hit miscellaneous buttons on various electronic equipment, and basically had her hands on everything that is two feet or below to the ground!

We're trying to make sure all the toys with tiny pieces are in Reagan's room, where Presley doesn't go, since she also puts everything in her mouth now. The irony here is that she coughs and gags every time I try to feed her baby food with the least amount of texture in it (those 3s are hard to get used to!), but she'll put anything she finds on the floor right into her mouth.

I'm sure Reagan did pretty much the same things, but it seems to have snuck up on us this time. Fortunately, we never took the outlet covers or cabinet locks off, so we have only a few minor adjustments to make. And even though we will take every measure to baby-proof our house, ultimately, we'd like to house-proof our baby!

Comic Relief at a Funeral

We just returned from Indiana, where we spent nearly a week visiting Reagan's great-grandmother in the hospital and, ultimately, at her funeral. Before we left, I told Reagan we were going because Grandmother was about to go to heaven. Reagan responded, "But I want to hug her first." She had plenty of opportunities, as Grandmother held on for three days after we were told she wouldn't likely make it through one night. Even though Grandmother wasn't able to respond and had an oxygen mask on her face, Reagan wasn't afraid to go right up to Grandmother and pat, kiss, or just talk to her.

Before visitation at the funeral home, I had warned Reagan that we would be having a celebration to say goodbye to Grandmother and that some people would be sad. I also told her that Grandmother's spirit had gone to heaven, but that she would be getting a new body there, so she didn't need her old body. When we arrived and Reagan saw Grandmother all dressed up, looking pretty good, I guess she figured this must be her new body. Reagan asked, "Is this heaven? Are we in heaven?" Um, no. She also proceeded to touch and poke at Grandmother and asked me, "Why she not squishy like me?" Um, I don't know, but I'm not going to touch her and find out. At one point, Reagan was jumping and making a sweeping gesture with her arms, saying, "Celebration party! Celebration party!" I asked, "What are we celebrating?" and she replied, "Grandmother goes to heaven!"

The last story is unrelated to the funeral, but it did happen in the kitchen of the funeral home, so it's worth mentioning. Reagan saw a sign and asked her cousin Melanie what it said. Melanie told her it was a "Thank You for Not Smoking" sign, and Reagan began her anti-smoking rant. (She takes after me in that respect.) She said, "We don't smoke! Only the bad people smoke." She added a few more comments that I couldn't really understand, but I clearly heard this next part. Now, imagine that she is wagging her finger, totally animated, while she gives this speech: "And Jesus comes down and tells the bad people, 'Don't you smoke!'--but they don't listen!" A preacher in the making, perhaps?

All in all, the funeral was a fitting tribute to my grandmother. I don't think she would have minded the levity Reagan added. She might even be laughing in heaven.

Puppet Show

This might actually be considered more of a "What Presley's Doing Now" entry, but it does include Reagan.

A few days ago, Reagan had assembled a makeshift puppet theatre, which consisted of her plastic ballet bar with her plastic ballet mat draped over it (never mind that she has an actual puppet theatre that her cousins Cody & Camille gave her for Christmas!). She was holding a pink bunny puppet and began telling her story.

Suddenly, baby sister Presley erupted in spontaneous applause! She may not have understood what the story was all about, but she did know that when someone puts on a show, you should clap. It was priceless.

Whatever Happened to "Sunday Best"?

I didn't wear pants to church until I was nearly 30. Almost never--except for the few times when my mother conceded that the 12-18" snowdrifts in the gravel parking lot of our rural Indiana church were too high to navigate in heels. Then, and only then, was I allowed to wear courderoys with boots. But my hair was still meticulously styled, accented with a bow or ribbon.

Still, on most Sundays, you'll find me in a dress or skirt with heels--unless, of course, it's my week to sing on the praise team, and I'm trying to fit within a mandated color scheme and still comply with the required skirt length, as stipulated in our dress code. Then, it's just easier to wear pants.

I understand what churches are trying to do--to be a welcoming environment that says, "Hey, you don't have to have fancy clothes to worship with us. Come as you are!" I get it. But it's almost never the "have-nots" who dress down for Sunday services. In fact, experience tells me that the poorer the congregation, the better dressed they are. This can be observed in the churches of third-world countries, as well as the poorer neighborhoods here in the States.

In my own affluent Brentwood church, any given Sunday can bring out gentlemen in suits (usually the older crowd) and teenagers in ripped jeans and concert T-shirts. Honestly, it's not the attire of the teens that gets me. It's the adults who think they're still kids! Ugh.

The truth is, I can't get away from my "Sunday Best" roots. I think little girls should wear darling dresses and bows in their hair. I think young men should wear a belt and dress shoes. Think of it this way: we get dressed up to go out to dinner on our anniversary, or for a special date, or to go to the theatre (stage, not cinema). Why on earth wouldn't we get dressed up for our special date with God each week? It's a matter of reverence.

The African-American church still gets this. And I admire them for it, among other practices. (Most A-A churches also seem to understand that God's working is not limited to the time between breakfast and lunch on Sunday morning. They are guided by the Holy Spirit--not by the dinner bell.)

So, this morning, I'll be sitting in my pew in a skirt and heels--even with the inch of snow that covers the ground here in Tennessee. (By comparison, this equates to the foot of snow from my youth in Indiana.) And my two precious daughters will be in cute dresses with bows in their hair. (Well, ok, Presley won't have a bow in her hair, since she doesn't actually have any hair just yet.) I know that doesn't make me more spiritual or a better worshipper than the guy in ripped jeans. But it's what I need to do to get to a place of worship. It's what my upbringing and spirit tell me is right...for me...and my family.

What We Did Today

We finally got a little snow in Tennessee, so Reagan and Mama went out to play. After a few minutes of running around, kicking the snow, and making snowballs, we came inside for some hot cocoa with marshmallows. Yum!

How I Communicate...

The part about the iPod is correct, especially now that I have my new pink Nano that matches my pink RAZR phone!

You Communicate With Your Ears

You love conversations, both as a listener and a talker. What people say is important to you, and you're often most affected by words, not actions. You love to hear complements from others. And when you're upset, you often talk to yourself. Music is very important to you. It's difficult to find you without your iPod.

How Do You Communicate?

Maybe the Cutest Kid Ever...

Well...at least in the top two. Here's Presley at 7 1/2 months.

First Trip to the Dentist

Reagan had her first visit to the dentist yesterday. We chose a pediatric dentist that was recommended by our pediatrician. I thought since it was her first visit that I would be going back to the exam area with her. But when the hygenist called her name, I asked if I should go and she said it was up to us. I asked Reagan if she needed me, but she chose to go solo. About twenty minutes or so later, the hygenist called me back and said she was all done. Reagan was sitting happily in the chair. She had stickers on her shirt and was holding a balloon puppy and a bag full of products--toothbrush, paste, floss, etc. She also got a T-shirt that says, "No Cavity Club" on it.

I met Dr. Hendricks and she seemed very upbeat and great with kids, as did all the other staff members. She said Reagan's teeth looked great! She did ask if Reagan was a thumb-sucker, as she could detect it in her bite. She wasn't terribly concerned but said it would be a good idea to curb that habit in the next six months. They even sell the yucky nail polish there in the office when we're ready to try it.

It must have been a good experince for Reagan, since she has started brushing her teeth multiples times each day now.

Birthday Countdown

Only about six months left to plan the best birthday parties ever! Better get started.

Two Roads Diverged...

Remember that poem by Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken? "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and sorry I could not travel both and be one traveler, long I stood and looked down one as far as I could to where it bent in the undergrowth..." Okay, so that was from memory, so don't sue me if I don't have all the puctuation correct. The point of the poem is that the traveler takes the road that looks the least worn--the uncommon path--and it makes an amazing difference in his life.

I've been thinking a lot lately about the paths we each take. I recently discovered some bizarre twists that took place in the lives of some of my college acquaintences. These discoveries were the result of some random web searches. Some of these people have become quite successful, but it's a strange, twisted success that I can't really go into. (I went to a conservative Christian college, remember? They are NOT living conservative lives!) Others have achieved only moderate success, and in the process have abandoned who they once were--one of them very literally: he changed his name!

I wonder what old acquaintences would think of me today? Would they think it's kinda cool that I'm a writer and that my words are now in print for all to see? Or would they find it disappointing that someone with a degree in vocal performance who lives in Music City isn't doing anything more with that opportunity than singing with the praise team on Sunday mornings? (Note: I'm not dissing the praise team. Singing for the "audience of One" is more important than any other performance.)

I struggle with my mission...my vision...my life's calling. I love being a mother more than anything, and I see that as my first priority, but I wonder if I'm doing enough with my life. I seem to always take the "safe" road--the one that offers financial security and a dental plan. I have so many interests that sometimes it's hard for me to define my passions. I tend to be a dabbler--do one thing for a while and then move on to the next. (Of course with the two girls, I don't seem to have the time or energy to do much dabbling.)

I've never worried about having a job. I know there are dozens of things I can do, and even do well. But what do I want to do? What was I meant to do? It still eludes me, and I stay on the safe path.

But I haven't given up the search. Someday I'll find the uncommon path that has my name on it. Just wait.

Sweet Big Sister

Reagan is really becoming the sweet big sister we knew she could be. Now that she realizes that Presley is indeed staying and we're not replacing her with the baby chicken Reagan requested, I think the big sister instinct is finally kicking in. Reagan wants to hold Presley and often walks past and pats her baby sister's head. She also enjoys getting in Presley's face and letting baby sister indulge in her favorite pasttime: pulling hair.

Of course, warming up to her baby sister hasn't stopped Reagan from requesting other diversions. So far she wants the aforementioned baby chicken, a real Mackey dog, and a pig just like Wilbur. Explanation on the Mackey dog: We once owned a Sheltie named Mackey that we had to give to another home when he became aggressive when Reagan was a baby. We bought her a stuffed version so that she would always remember him. The pig reference is probably in response to our recent viewing of Charlotte's Web. Not sure where the idea for the baby chicken came from.

Seriously, Enough

So we went back to the pediatrician on Monday with both girls. Presley had been running a fever since late Saturday night, and Reagan started running one Monday morning. It turns out that Presley STILL has an ear infection, so she's on another round of antibiotics.

Reagan seemed fine by the time we got to the doctor, and her fever was gone. He said she probably just had a little virus. On Tuesday morning, she threw up a few times, so I called the doctor (because it was green, and that's on the list for "call the doctor"). They said to keep a watch on her--see if her fever comes back and/or she vomits enough to get dehydrated. By 10 AM, she was already feeling pretty well and asked if she could go to dance class (sadly, it had already started).

We're on our way to preschool after a much-too-long-for-Mama's-taste Christmas break. Reagan's "boyfriend" Curry is with us. We'll be dropping him off on Wednesdays, since his Mom has to leave for work before drop-off time. Reagan, of course, loves playing hostess to her best little friend.

No More Doctors!!!

It's Christmas Eve, and while it seems that everyone is feeling pretty well, we still have two different antibiotics in the refrigerator--one for each child. If you add up all the co-pays for visits to the pediatrician and ER (yes, ER--more on that later) and for prescriptions this last month, we've spent close to $300. But it's all worth it to have two (relatively) healthy girls.

Here's the rundown: First, Presley had an unidentified bacterial infection (high white count, but no visible ear troubles or UTI). That accounted for two doctor visits. But because there was a little bacteria in her urine, we had to have a catheter put in to get a "clean" sample. Fortunately, she had a well visit scheduled, but that still brings us to three doctor visits.

Next--and this is the biggie--we took Reagan to the doc last Friday morning because she was throwing up and lethargic with fever. She had a cough and runny nose as well, but I wasn't that concerned until the fever showed up. She was pretty pitiful, and I wasn't surprise that her white count was 28,000. However, what threw us for a loop was her glucose at 250! The pediatrician was so concerned that he sent us immediately to Vanderbilt Children's Hospital with a tentative diagnosis of the onset of type 1 diabetes. We were terrified, thinking our lives were all about to change. I'll spare you the non-essential details and skip ahead to the good part. Once the ER docs saw her, they were more encouraging. They pumped her with IV fluids, and she started perking up. Her glucose went down to 127 (almost normal), her fever lowered, and they felt diabetes was not an issue. After a second check, her glucose was normal. By the end of a long day in the ER, Reagan was actually playing and asking for something to eat! A return visit to our pediatrician on Saturday, with a glucose of only 84, confirmed that she does not have diabetes and simply had a severe stress reaction to a bacterial respiratory infection. She's doing fine and at the end of a round of antibiotics. (We're up to five office visits plus and ER visit.)

We've been watching Presley closely, as she developed a cough very similar to Reagan's. Until late Friday night, she had seemed fine. But Friday evening after returning from a family Christmas celebration, Scott and I were up ALL NIGHT, taking turns consoling her. (This is our child who sleeps ten straight hours without a peep in between!) By morning, her fever was apparent. We headed, once again, to the Saturday clinic at our pediatrician's office. Sure enough, baby girl has ear infections in BOTH ears! (No wonder she was so grumpy!) After a day of antibiotics, she's almost back to normal.

So, the grand total is 6 office visits, 1 ER visit, and 3 prescriptions--whew! Needless to say, we're really sick of going to the doctor! So far, Scott and I have managed to stay pretty well--or at least keep trudging through the pain. That's what parents do. We're all looking forward to a healthier 2007.

My Accent--Or Lack Thereof

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Midland   "You have a Midland accent" is just another way of saying "you don't have an accent." You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio.
The West
Boston
North Central
The Inland North
The Northeast
Philadelphia
The South
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

Christmas Is Coming

The holidays seem to have us bustling around like never before. There's the church Christmas muscial, Scott's office party, Reagan's preschool Christmas program, etc. Even with two days of relative freedom each week (with Presley in tow, but no Reagan), I still can't seem to get the shopping or baking or Christmas cards finished.

Nevertheless, life goes on. Presley is growing by leaps and bounds. She is eating all sorts of fruits and veggies now, so we've had some pretty interesting diapers. She's also beginning to sit up on her own and will probably be crawling before you know it! She says, "Dada dada dada," but so far she hasn't said, "Mama." Big sister is trying to teach her to say, "Reagan," too.

Reagan is getting ready to debut in "A King Is Coming to Town" at church. We constantly hear, "Extra! Extra!" being sung thoughout the house. Both sets of grandparents will be in the audience, so it will be interesting to see if she performs as she is capable or if she instead clams up with stage fright. I'm guessing the first. She's been quite the little ham in rehearsals.

We saw Santa this weekend, and Reagan asked for a Princess Guitar. She also wants a Baby Alive, but I told Santa she couldn't have one until she was four. (I'd be the one having to feed it and change its diapers.) Grandma says she'll buy Reagan one if she stops sucking her thumb. I don't think I have to worry about that happening any time soon.

May you and your loved ones experience the joy of Christ during the season that celebrates His birth!

Pretending

Reagan is very into pretend play right now. You never know what character she might be at any given moment--and you never know what she might do next. Last week, she was being the mama, and I was supposed to be Reagan. She kept calling me "Kid", and after she had me say my Bible memorization verse for church she said, "Good job!"

Recently, Reagan has been playing with one of her baby dolls quite a bit. Having a baby sister has brought out her maternal side. Yesterday she got the "Boppy" (a nursing pillow) wrapped around her waist and propped her doll up on it. Next thing you know, she was lifting up her shirt and "latching" the doll on! She sat there about ten minutes, patiently waiting for her doll to finish eating. It was pretty convincing, and maybe a little disturbing.

Dear Lord...

We finally gave in and bought Reagan the "real tail, just like Ariel" costume for Halloween. Then she had the nerve to say she also needed the Ariel shoes, magic wand, and crown. Ugh! We had been trying to teach her about not being greedy and having a grateful heart for what you have. A night or so later, we were saying our bedtime prayers. Reagan's went something like this: "Dear Lord, thank you for my real tail, just like Ariel. But I also want the Ariel shoes, Ariel crown, and Ariel magic wand. But it's OK I don't have them. But I really want them. But it's OK I don't have them. But I really want them..." You get the idea. I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing.

Reagan has been learning her Bible verses for AWANA. This past week, one of her verses was a simplified version of Romans 3:23--"All have sinned." When Reagan wasn' t understanding the words exactly, I repeated it slowly and then said, "Sinned means that we've all been naughty. You are naughty. Presley is naughty. Even Mama and Daddy are naughty." When I was quizzing her a day or so later on the verse, she said, "All have sinned. That means you're naughty, and Daddy's naughty, and Presley's naughty, and I'm naughty."

Two Funny Incidents

Reagan is sick. : ( She has had a fever since yesterday, and she is being uncharacteristically still. Today I asked her if there was anything I could do to make her feel better and she replied, "You could give me some of your energy." Where does she get this stuff?

Later today, she was obviously feeling a little better. The phone rang and caller ID said "unavailable," so I didn't answer it. (This time of year, we get a zillion calls from politicians.) Well, Reagan was in another room and did answer it. I could hear her saying, "This is Reagan. Do you want to talk to me?" When I took the phone from her, the caller on the other end was a recording.

Catching Up

As you may have imagined, having two children has greatly affected my ability to blog in a timely manner. There just doesn't seem to be enough time in the day for such luxuries. But I'll try to catch up on the last couple of months.

Presley is getting to be such a big girl! She babbles constantly and is getting rather round (in the 90th percentile of height and 75th of weight and head size!). She rolls over now and loves sitting in her exersaucer. On the downside, she's also teething--drooling and getting pretty cranky at times. But she's still a basically happy baby.

Reagan continues to be an imaginative, animated child. It seems she's imitating a different princess each day. In fact, she'll say, "Mama, I'm Reagan now," to let me know when she wants me to treat her as my daughter. Otherwise, I'm supposed to play along, I guess. Daddy very often finds himself playing the part of Prince Eric or Beast or...whomever.

We're getting geared up for Halloween. Reagan wants "a real tail, just like Ariel," but we had already agreed that she would be Belle for Halloween. We actually did purchase the mermaid costume, but haven't told her yet. We're trying to teach her a life lesson--not to be greedy and to be thankful for what you have. If she seems to have mastered it by Halloween, we'll fork over the Ariel costume.

Presley's costume will be a surprise. I'll simply say that it has something to do with Daddy's favorite hobby. If I ever get Scott to show me how to post pictures on here, I'll post some after Halloween.

Not much else to report. We keep a pretty predictable schedule. Tuesday is Kinderdance; Wednesday and Thursday are preschool days; on Monday and Friday, we usually stay home. I'm working as much as I can, but there never seems to be enough time to do everything. From here on out, I'm sure that will only get worse.

Ariel Obsessed

Reagan's favorite princess seems to change from week to week. Sometimes it's Belle, and she walks around with a book in her face, just like the opening scene of the animated film. At other times, she's being Jasmine, and either Daddy or Mama play the part of Aladdin. But lately, with the release of "The Little Mermaid" on DVD, she's been seeing lots of commercials that have her thinking about Ariel.

In particular, the McDonald's commercial with the two little "mermaids" on the beach has caught her eye. About a dozen or more times a day we hear, "I want a green tail, just like Ariel." We tried explaining that if Reagan were a mermaid, she's have to live in the water and that Mama and Daddy couldn't live there with her...wouldn't that be sad? But no, she says she wouldn't be lonely because she'd have Flounder and 'Bastian the crab to keep her company. (By the way, she has a hard time pronouncing "Sebastian," and it comes out sounding more like the word for an illigitimate child. Hee hee.)

At this point, Reagan thinks she's going to be Ariel for Halloween. That might be tough, considering we don't have an Ariel costume. (Belle was her original choice, and we have that costume all ready for her.) Maybe "Ho Ho" (aka Santa) will bring her a "green tail, just like Ariel"--if he can find one!

Update on the Girls

The baby princess is growing so fast. I can't believe she's almost 12 weeks old. She's still sleeping like a champ, although I find myself reaching over to pop the pacifier in her mouth several times a night. But at least I don't have to get up to feed her! Presley's favorite activities include smiling, "talking," and "playing" on the floor with her toys. She's so close to rolling over!

Reagan is gearing up for a big change in her little life--the start of preschool. She has learned her teachers' names (Miss Roshawna and Miss Christy), and we've bought all her supplies. We found out her "boyfriend" Curry is in her class, so at least she'll have a friend from the start. Reagan has also learned her phone number. It will be fun to see what she learns in preschool.

Scott is making a big change too--starting a new job after 13 years at Thomas Nelson. He'll be at CHD Meridian, a health care company, doing about the same stuff he does now. The pay is better, but mostly he was just ready for a change. I'm sure the first few weeks will be busy, but I'm hoping it will be a good move for him.

I'm finally back to work, doing a writing project and a few proofing projects here and there. It's kinda tough to fit them in right now, but I'm hoping it will get easier once Reagan starts preschool. I do think it takes me longer to do things than it once did. Concentrating on work seems more challenging. I guess I still have hormone brain. Or maybe it's just that I have more to think about now.

Update for August '06

The last few weeks have flown by, with Presley growing so fast! Reagan is a great big sister. She loves to make Presley smile and wants to hold her constantly.

Reagan starts preschool next week. We visited her class and met her new teachers, Miss Roshawna and Miss Christy. (And Reagan has actually learned both their names.) Reagan's "boyfriend" Curry is in her class, too. It will be interesting to see how she adjusts to the structure of a classroom setting.

Reagan has learned her phone number. Her mind is like a little sponge these days. And she always seems to hear and repeat exactly the thing you hoped she would miss. I can't wait to see what she learns in preschool.

We're looking into dance class for our little tippy-toe walker. She seems like she would be a natural.

Sleeping Through the Night

At the risk of sounding cocky--and later having to eat my own words--I am happy to announce that Presley is now consistently sleeping 7-8 hour stretches at night! She has even gone as long as 9 hours without a feeding. At six weeks old, this is quite an accomplishment. The downside, however, is that she tends to start her 7-8 hours at around 9:00 p.m., meaning that she's still ready to eat by around 4:30 a.m., much earlier than I would desire. And it doesn't really seem to matter when I feed her at night--she still thinks 4:30 should be breakfast time.

Regardless, I'm still getting a decent amount of sleep, and for that I am very grateful.

The First Month

I can't believe it! After only three weeks, I am down to my pre-pregnancy weight. Wow, that nursing thing really works. Now all I need to do is lose the baby weight I gained when Reagan was born--ugh!

Speaking of nursing, Presley is doing much better than Reagan did. (By this point with Reagan, I was getting over mastitis, and had given up nursing permanently in favor of pumping.) It still hurts like crazy and is time-consuming and cumbersome. But I fully believe in the health benefits, so I'm willing to take the extra effort.

Presley has been sleeping very well--usually 5-6 hours the first stretch at night. (She has even gone 7 a couple of times!) And when she does wake up she just wants to eat, have her diaper changed, and go back to sleep. Did I mention that she's not even four weeks old? I know, I know. We're very lucky.

The last meal from our church care ministry came this week, which was very sad. There's nothing better than a home-cooked meal that you didn't have to cook! We've been eating very well the last few weeks. Guess it's back to pre-packaged frozen dinners and takeout.

Overall, we're all adjusting much better than I expected. Two is definitely harder than one, but we're figuring it all out and managing pretty well. But I still have no plans to go to the grocery store with Reagan and Presley anytime soon.

Miss Independent

Reagan is becoming more and more independent every day. She is truly embracing the role of Big Sister. Sometimes she gets tired of Mama holding Presley, but mostly she is very pleased to have Baby Sister with us.

Now that Mama often has her hands full, Reagan is doing more things on her own. She has started saying, "I need to use the potty by my lone." (As in, by myself or alone.) She does everything pretty well, but still needs a little help getting her pants/panties back up.

Reagan has also started eating cereal in a bowl with milk, just like Mama. Last week, after breakfast, Reagan stood and upon seeing the mess she had made on her lap said, "I'm all milked up!" Later in the week, she made a similar comment when she spilled blueberries in her lap: "I'm all jellied up!"

Pretty much every day Reagan comes up with some new funny expression or behavior that keeps us cracking up!

Reagan Is a Big Sister!

Presley Faith Gibbs arrived at 4:08 p.m. on June 11, 2006. Reagan just loves her new baby sister. By comparison, Reagan suddenly seems very grown up to her Mama and Daddy!

Reagan has been playing peek-a-boo with Presley and loves to gently pat her and talk to her. So far, she has been gentle with the baby and doesn't seem to be very jealous. Of course, Grandma is still staying with us and is giving Reagan lots of extra attention.

For her "Big Sister" gift, Presley gave Reagan a Big Sister Dora doll. We get to hear Dora sing, "It's great to be a big sister!" all day long. (Reagan might have been slightly more excited about the doll than she was about her actual sister.)

Next week, Daddy will be off work and plans to take Reagan on a Daddy/Daughter date. They're going to see the movie Cars and eat at Krystal. (Mama told Daddy he would be on potty duty after that, since Reagan's stomach has never been exposed to Krystal burgers.) By the way, Reagan has been talking about seeing Cars with Daddy for weeks. Mama has asked if she could go too, but Reagan says, "No. Just me and Daddy." Guess I'll catch it on DVD.

She's Finally Here! (A Birth Story)

Presley Faith Gibbs made her appearance on June 11, 2006 at 4:08 in the afternoon. After about two weeks of contractions and false alarms, we had an induction scheduled for June 15. Fortunately, we didn't need it.

At about 4:15 a.m., I woke up thinking I was leaking amniotic fluid. I woke Scott up and called the hospital. They said I needed to come in ASAP to be tested. So, we packed our last-minute items, woke up Reagan, and headed to Nana & Gran's to drop her off. We got to the hospital at around 5:40 (not bad, considering it's on the other side of town and we had to make a stop). The first test was negative for amniotic fluid, but they wanted to watch me for an hour and check again. At 7:00, the test was again negative, but when the nurse did an exam, more fluid gushed out, so they had me walk around for another 30 minutes. After that, the test was STILL NEGATIVE! But by that time, I had dilated to 4 cm, so they decided to admit me.

The funny thing is, the contractions I was having were much milder than those I had experienced over the last couple of weeks at home. In fact, if I hadn't had the leakage issue, I wouldn't have even gone to the hospital until much later in the process. I certainly didn't feel like I was in labor.

By 6 cm, I decided to get my epidural (around noon)--not because I was in so much pain but because I was afraid I would dilate beyond the point of no return before I got it. (Didn't want to risk pushing the baby out without meds!) But the epidural experience was so bad that I almost wish I hadn't had it. I know, that sounds so unlike me! I have long sung the praises of a good epidural, but this was not one. Rather than just numbing me from the waist down, this one went all the way up to my chest! I had no muscle control and my breathing was affected. I also got nauseated, which was awful. (Try throwing up when you can't feel your stomach muscles--not easy.)

The anesthesiologist tried sitting me upright and turning down the meds, but eventually I asked them to turn it off completely (around 2:00 p.m.). By the time I was ready to push (3:30 p.m.), I had regained much of the feeling in my upper body, but I still couldn't even move my lower body. All I could do was hold my breath and grunt, hoping that was pushing the baby down.

Fortunately, everything worked out fine, and I was able to deliver her in about 40 minutes, with only a minor episiotomy. But I didn't regain all the feeling in my legs until 7:30 or so that evening.

Despite the bumps in the road, we are extremely thankful to have our beautiful, healthy baby at last. She looks pretty much like her big sister did at this point. She's eating like a champ and, after a couple of rough nights, is now sleeping between her night feedings. (She was having some stomach issues--spitting up and not having enough dirty diapers.)

We're settling into a rythm and actually getting some sleep--and she's not even a week old yet! We're praying that continues.

Still Waddling Along

I'm REALLLLLY ready for this baby to get here. It's official: I am waddling. And I'm so tired all the time because I can't get through a night without getting up at least four or five times to use the bathroom. And getting out of bed is no small feat, either. With the fortress of pillows that surrounds me, I have to shift everything and then roll (because I can't even sit up without a struggle!) out of bed. When I return, I have to reset all the pillows and deposit myself back in the cocoon, hoping I land in a comfortable spot. And, did I mention that my back aches, like, all the time? Oh, and I also have allergies (pollen counts are at a decade high), and since your nasal passages swell when you're pregnant, I have to wear Breathe-Right strips and take Benadryl every night. Even after these measures, Scott says I snore so loud that he can't hear the TV.

And these are only the things I can mention without blushing. SO much is going on in my body right now that I don't even want to think about.

According to my official due date, I have four more weeks. But I'm shooting for three max. Beyond that, my mental health may be in jeopardy!

Reagan's Favortie Things for May '06

Favorite Kids Shows: Dora the Explorer, Blue's Clues, Wonder Pets

Favorite Prime Time Shows: American Idol (she's now pulling for Taylor, since Kelly is out), Everybody Hates Chris

Favorite Food: chicken nuggets with honey

Favorite Sayings: "I have an idea," "That's not the law," "Watch my show"

Biggest Fear: ladybugs (any sort of bug is classified as a ladybug)

Favorite Clothes: Belle dress and Snow White costume (which we wear almost daily)

Reagan is anxiously awaiting the arrival of Baby Sister. She still wants to name her Kelly Pickler. Since Mama is hormonal and gets weepy at almost anything, Reagan asks, "You sad?" a lot. She also yells, "Baby Sister come out!" to Mama's belly and then says, "She not ready," when it doesn't work.

Hopefully our next post will be the announcement of Baby Sister's arrival!

Getting Ready for Preschool

Last week we visited two Mother's Day Out programs to see where we'd like to have Reagan in the fall. If all goes well, it looks like we'll have her in for two days a week at the church that is right across the street from us--how convenient! I used to attend that church, so I'm very comfortable with what they teach, and they also have a very new facility with a fabulous indoor playground. Reagan (and Mama) can't wait!

Preschool (well, actually Mother's Day Out) was a great motivator when it came to potty training. I told Reagan that if she wanted to go to preschool after Baby Sister was born, she'd have to learn to shoo-shoo in the potty because they don't let you wear pull-ups in preschool. (Actually most MDO programs do require their 3-year-old classes to be potty trained.) I'm happy to report that Reagan is now fully trained and rarely has an accident. And though we put pull-ups on her at night, she is almost always dry in the morning. On the drive to visit both MDO programs, Reagan reminded herself: "I learn to shoo-shoo! I go preschool!" She's very proud.

Reagan has also learned to recognize her numbers. I was changing my wooden calendar (you know, the kind with all the little number pieces) to April and asked her to bring me the correct numbers I needed. She did it perfectly through 11. I even skipped around, since I was putting numbers in from both sides, and it didn't mess her up. I have been seriously negligent in actually teaching her anything, so watching TV and playing My First LeapPad must be doing something good for her!

Countdown to Baby

Today I'm officially at 31 weeks, but since I'm counting on this baby being early, I expect to have about 8 weeks left. We're just now starting to do all those important baby preparations that first-time parents would have done months ago. For instance, Scott spent the weekend priming the nursery. He still has to paint it, but hopefully that will happen this week. At the moment, the crib, changing table, glider, bassinet, and various other items are blocking our hallway.

We have a plethora of boxes and baby accouterments to get down from the attic. This will hopefully happen over the Easter weekend, as my family will be in town (read: Dad and my brother can help Scott do the heavy lifting instead of me!).

We still have several things to get rid of, since we're converting what was our guest room into a nursery. (We had taken the liberty of using the closet space in that room, so now we have to shuffle and eliminate.)

Reagan asks almost every day when Baby Sister is coming out. She even yells, "Come out, Baby Sister!" to my belly. So far, it's not working. We're all anxious to meet our little one--and I'm especially anxious to finally hold her outside my body (and get a little freedom from my ever-growing belly).

She doesn't officially have a name yet, but we're getting closer.

Have We Found Our Baby Name?

Now that Reagan is going to be a big sister, we've been trying to include her in the pregnancy and birth in little ways. Recently, we've been asking her what we should name her baby sister. Her responses have ranged from "Snow White" and "Belle" to gibberish that we can't understand.

This past week, we asked Reagan again what we should name baby sister. Her response: "Kellie Pickler." Now, unless you're American Idol devotees like we are (well, mainly Reagan is), you may not know that Kellie Pickler is the very country-fied blonde contestant who always seems confused about something Simon Cowell has to say to her. She certainly has a likability factor and a charming accent, but she's not exactly the most brilliant young woman on the show.

Nevertheless, Reagan is sticking to her "Kellie Pickler" name choice. Mama and Daddy aren't on board just yet.

More Potty Talk

I realize potty training is a subject that I've revisited several times on this blog, but we have a new development that I thought was worth mentioning: Reagan is finally pooping in the potty!

She has been consistently peeing in the potty with very few accidents since my last entry. We still put pull-ups on her for sleeping, and sometimes when we leave the house for errands and such. And until several days ago, Reagan would wait until one of those opertune pull-up times to do her business. In fact, she would even ask for a pull-up. That's when I realized we had a problem. She was intentionally avoiding pooping in the potty.

I'd like to say that I came up with some great motivator. The fact is, even after bribery, she resisted. Our luck came in the form of constipation. We had been in Indiana visiting my parents for a long weekend, and Reagan had gone four days without pooping. She still didn't go on our first night home. The next day, knowing it was bound to happen, I decided to forego the pull-up for her nap and deal with the consequences--hoping she would not go in her panties.

By late afternoon, she still hadn't gone. I guess by evening her prune juice finally kicked in, and she was able to go in the potty with me cheering her on. It wasn't pretty. She was upset and her tummy hurt (constipation doesn't make for the most comfortable bowel movements). But when she got immediate praise--and a treat and a prize from her reward bag--she felt much better about the situation.

Three days and four prizes later, she is consistently going "shoo shoo" in the potty. And she says, "I so proud!" Don't know how long we'll have to keep up with the bribery, but I'm not ready to cut her off until the whole system is well-established. For now, I'm just happy not to be changing any more stinky diapers.

Reagan's Favorite Things

Here's a list of Reagan's current favorites.

Favorite TV show: Dancing with the Stars (American Idol is a close second)

Favorite CD: Walk the Line soundtrack ("Listen to Johnny Cash!")

Favorite movie: Annie (loves to sing "Tomorrow")

Favorite characters to portray: Belle ("I Belle!"), Annie, Clifford

Favorite noisy toy: My First Leapad

Favorite quiet toys: Cinderella, Snow White, and Alice in Wonderland dolls

Favorite sayings: "My father's not crazy!" (from Beauty and the Beast), "I need help," "No, I not take a nap," "You read book"

Reagan's imagination is developing so quickly. Every day she decides to be a new character--and you must call her by that name. She's also learning new songs constantly, and she LOVES the music of Johnny Cash. Her favorite song right now is "Jackson." (We got married in a fever hotter than a pepper sprout!)

We are constantly squishing imaginary spiders and such, as Reagan tells us, "I scary!" Yesterday, she decided the TV was scary, so we had to turn it off. Conveniently, it was no longer scary when it was time for "Dancing with the Stars" to come on.

Reagan has started telling random people at the mall about the baby in Mama's belly. She says that she has "Baby Kate" in her belly. She also likes to play doctor, which means she wants you to do a pretend ultrasound on her tummy. You have to say, "It's a girl!" and then she rubs off the imaginary gel and gets up.

Every day is a new reason to laugh in our house.

Naming Baby

As many of you know, Reagan is going to be a big sister in June. We've been trying to ease her into the idea in a number of little ways, but so far Reagan is still asking for a puppy rather than a sibling.

This morning, Reagan and I were cuddling in bed and talking about baby names. I asked her what she would name a baby brother or baby sister. At first she thought we should just name it "baby sister." But when I started mentioning boy names that were on our "still-in-the-running" list, Reagan finally came up with one of her own to add to the list: "Um...Rudolph!"

OK, so I guess we watched that DVD a few too many times before Christmas. Don't tell Reagan, but I'm pretty sure there won't be a Rudolph Gibbs in the family anytime soon.

Feelings...Woh, Woh, Woh...Feelings

For some reason, Reagan is interested in feelings these days. One day while eating lunch, Reagan looked at me and asked, "Mama, you angry?" I said, "No, I'm not angry." She came back with, "You sad?" Again, "No, I'm not sad." Finally, she asked, "You happy?" and I responded with, "Yes, I'm happy!"

Since then, this has become a recurring conversation. Reagan asks just about everyone she sees if they're angry, sad, or happy. And she rather enjoys sharing her own feelings as well. (She's always happy, by the way.)

Potty Training (Still!)

Over the holiday, our potty training saga took a positive turn. We were in Indiana for almost 5 days with my parents, so my mom got the whole process jump-started. (OK, I know it's lazy to let your parents do the work, but since I've been pregnant, I haven't had the energy or patience to give this whole potty training thing my full attention.) Anyhow, at Grandma's, Reagan went to the potty a few times each day and even did a "shoo-shoo" in the potty once. She was rewarded with candy treats, so she was pretty motivated.

When we returned home on Sunday, Reagan had again decided that she wasn't interested in using the potty. But by Monday, we had renewed determination to make it work. That day she wore big girl panties and use the potty several times, with one small accident. (She was listening to music in her crib while Scott and I were putting Christmas decorations back in the attic.) Again, treats were the secret weapon.

On Tuesday, Scott went back to work, so I knew it was up to me to dig in and "get-r-done"--as Larry the Cable Guy would say. Once I got her to go the first time (around 8:30), she went pretty much every half hour until lunch time! At this point, I began to suspect she was "working the system"--trying to get as many treats as possible. Was it possible that she could be holding back so she could go again in a few minutes for another treat? Perhaps. But, in the end, I decided the sugar buzz was a small price to pay to have a potty-trained child. By the end of the day, she had gone 17 times!!! And one of those was a shoo-shoo!

Today (Wednesday), Reagan is off to a good start. Again, she's going about every 30 minutes, but we've cut back on the treats a bit. And if she says she has to go immediately after she has just gone, I let her know that she will NOT, in fact, get a treat. (But I still take her to the potty. Don't want to risk any accidents.)

We're spending a LOT of time in the bathroom, but I have to believe that a few days of intensive "work" will pay off eventually. I'll keep you posted.

Ode to Reagan

My nephew, Matt, (age 11) had to write a poem for a school assignment. If you know Matt well, you understand that sitting down and writing a poem is not on his list of fun things to do. (He's more of a science guy.) But despite his protestations, the end product is a sweet poem that our family will cherish for years. If you don't understand the last line, see my previous post entitled, "False Alarm."

Rambling Reagan
by Matt Bower

I have a cousin, who is two and a half
She has curly hair and a cute little laugh.

Reagan Joelle is her name
And rambling around is her game.

She runs around all over the place
And when she hides she leaves not a trace.

She’s loads of fun and as smart as you please
But she loves to touch everything she sees.

She is full of joy and has lots of charm
Except when she pulled the fire alarm.

Our Disney Souvenir

I haven't been blogging lately. "Why?" you may ask. Because I have been spending just about all my free time (which isn't much) resting. You see, we brought back a little (VERY little) souvenir from our Disney vacation: I'm pregnant!

In our usual style, this wasn't a surprise souvenir; it was very much planned. We knew we wanted a summer baby, and it just so happened that the first opportunity to create one coincided with our trip to Disney World. Our projected due date is June 12, 2006.

I've been pretty sick with this one, much as I was with Reagan. And, speaking of Reagan, she has become quite the "Daddy's girl." Since I tend to crash on the couch when Scott gets home from work, the two of them are spending lots of quality time together.

As for the sex of the baby, we won't know until late January. When asked if she wants a baby brother or baby sister, Reagan replies, "No! Doggie!" Boy is she in for some disappointment.

Don't expect a lot of pregnancy updates. I'm really just not that into writing these days. But I will try, at least, to write about the really important stuff--like whether it's a boy or girl and when we decide on a name. Other than that, plan on long stretches of my being incommunicado. I will, however, make attempts to keep Reagan's blog updated at least once a month.

Bye-Bye Paci

Those of you who know Reagan also know that she has two great loves in her life: her cow and her pacifier. She is only allowed to have the latter while she is sleeping or preparing for sleep. For months we have been subtly trying to convince Reagan that she no longer needs a paci--that big girls don't sleep with one--to no avail. This week something extreme happened that brought Reagan's paci days to an immediate halt.

Reagan has developed a bad habit of undressing herself (see earlier posts), particularly during naptime when she has decided she really doesn't want to nap. And it's not enough to simply undress herself. She has to dismantle her diaper into hundreds of tiny pieces. (If you've ever taken apart a diaper, you understand what a huge mess this makes.) So far, these diapers had all been merely wet. But on Wednesday the diaper was, as we say, a "shoo-shoo."

I went in to check on Reagan about ten minutes after putting her in the crib. She was undressed from the waist down, holding her filthy hands out in front of her with the diaper at her side. I began to assess the situation and form a plan of action. After an initial round of wipes, I put Reagan in the tub with LOTS of soap. As I was cleaning up the crib, it appeared that most of her bedding was relatively clean. (That didn't, however, prevent me from washing everything--including toys--in hot water for two cycles.) Then I saw it--the paci. And, you guessed it, it was "tainted."

My first instinct was to save it. How could we live without it? Then I thought, "No. This is it. The moment we've been working toward. The paci must go." I explained to Reagan that her paci had "poo poo" on it, and that it had to be thrown away. I also reminded her numerous times that this wouldn't have happened if she had kept her clothes on like I have told her again and again. (Hey, this was a tough moment for her, but I wanted her to know exactly who was at fault!) Then I gave her the princess pillow we had already promised her for when she gave up her paci.

The first night was rough. She cried, and I rocked her for a while. Even that didn't work, so I decided to lay down with her until she fell asleep. (I am generally opposed to this, but I knew that I could break the habit of sleeping with her a lot easier than I could break a two-year pacifier habit.) The next day, she went down for her nap without incident. And by the next night, she didn't make a peep when we put her to bed.

If I had known it would be this easy, we would have taken it away months ago! Reagan still talks about her paci and even asks for it sometimes, but we remind her that she's a big girl now and doesn't need it. And sometimes she even reminds us at bedtime: "No paci."

Again with the Nudity!

This morning, I needed to wake Reagan up a bit early so that Scott could drive her to her Nana's house on his way to work. As I crept into her room, I could hear her light snoring. When my eyes adjusted to the low light, I was able to see that Reagan was completely naked and sound asleep! Her warm footie PJs were there beside her along with her diaper. But the truly amazing part is that both the diaper and the bed were completely dry! (She's still in the process of potty training. She sometimes has dry naps but has never had a dry night.)

Potty Power!

For the last three days, Reagan has been wearing "big girl panties"--except for when sleeping--and hasn't had an accident yet! This is quite an accomplishment, since she had just about given up the whole potty training thing, deciding it was better to just let someone else do the work of changing her diapers. The renewal in interest came with a DVD we got at the public library. It's called "Potty Power" and it has lots of songs and stories about going to the potty. Reagan was very sad when it had to go back to the library, but she is still keeping up the good work and using the potty like a big girl!

My Latest Obsession: English Tea

As I mentioned in my Disney post, my friend Nori and I had afternoon tea at the Garden View Lounge of Disney's Grand Floridian Resort while we were on vacation. I have had an interest in traditional English tea rituals for years, and I have even hosted several tea parties with my friends. But now, having experienced all the delicate details in the tea itself, the food that accompanies it, and all the dainty accoutrements required, I have gone beyond interest to obsession.

For the last few days, I have spent hours on the Web, searching for just the perfect tea strainer. (Did you know that they are as inexpensive as around $2 for a plain stainless steel one and as much as thousands for an antique silver one?) I have suddenly decided that herbal teas in bags are for tea "wimps" and only loose-leaf English varieties will do for my collection in the future. I have even started doing something I just never thought I would do--drinking my tea with cream! The very thought--scandalous!

My next venture? Finding a friend who is willing to try out some tea rooms in the area with me. There are a few nearby, but the most noteworthy is all the way in Dickson. Someday, I will make the trek--even if I have to drag Reagan there with me. (On second thought, she doesn't even use silverware, so I doubt she has the social graces to sit down to afternoon tea.)

In the meantime, I am beginning preparations for my Second Annual Mother/Daughter Teddy Bear Tea. Since this is a kid-friendly event, I probably won't get to truly explore all the nuances of traditional English tea. But perhaps, if I find a nice tea shop around town, I can at least premiere a few new tea "gadgets" and a nice blend of loose-leaf English tea leaves!

Um...Let's See..How 'Bout...

Since we got back from Disney World (see my post at www.valsmomblog.blogspot.com), we have been asking Reagan about her favorite things from the trip. When I ask her who her favorite princess is, Reagan responds with, "Um...let's see...how 'bout... __________," then fills in the blank with either Cinderella, or Jasmine, or Snow White, or Ariel, or whomever. She's repeated this pattern several times, and it's so funny.

For the record, today her favorite princess is Snow White and her favorite non-princess character is Tigger.

Disney World

Although our vacation started and ended on rough notes, we had a delightful time at Walt Disney World. Reagan was certainly old enough to enjoy the trip, even if she's not old enough to remember it for years to come. That's okay, too, since we took enough pictures and video to help her remember.

We opted to drive, and we stopped in Atlanta at my brother's house both coming and going. On the evening we arrived, we had eaten at CiCi's Pizza. Reagan had both cousins, Matt and Melanie, on either side of her on the drive back from eating, and they were giggling and playing. We got all the way to Dave & Sharon's street when Reagan began projectile-vomiting! It lasted less than a minute, but I didn't realize that much puke could come out of a child that size. We got the other two kids out and gently removed Reagan from the vomit-soaked seat.

Scott got to clean the car seat, while I took Reagan in for a bath. Within minutes, she was back to her normal, playful self. (The car seat, however, was not. Even after a thorough washing, we caught occasional whifs of throw-up throughout the drive to Florida.)

With that little bump in the road, we ventured on our way. Our drive was relatively uneventful until we got close to our destination. Our mapping program took us off the beaten path, eventually directing us to a closed road. We used our instincts and eventually found our way onto Disney property and then to the Pop Century.

Check-in was a bear, but the Pop Century was fun and active. (It's good for families with kids, but I don't recommend it for a relaxing childless vacation.) We got into our room with just enough time to freshen up for dinner with my friend Nori at Bahama Breeze. It was great seeing her, and she made instant friends with Reagan when she brought her a belated birthday gift that included a princess book, DVD, and magnet.

The next day we headed to meet my friend Conny at the Disney's MGM Studios. Conny, who works as an entertainment manager at the Magic Kingdom, wasn't scheduled to work that day, but she met us to walk us into the park with her ID. I hadn't seen Conny in over 10 years, and she looked exactly the same--as youthful as ever!

At the studios, we went straight to the Voyage of the Little Mermaid, then the Playhouse Disney show. (Those were probably Reagan's favorites at that park.) After hitting some other rides/shows, we hopped over to the Magic Kingdom for our Fairytale Lunch with the princesses at Cinderella's Royal Table in the castle.

The lunch was a bit of a splurge, but since we got into the parks free and got a deal on our hotel (thanks, Conny!), we decided to go for it. It did not disappoint! There were half a dozen princesses there, and each one visited our table for autographs and photos. We fully expected Reagan to be beside herself with excitement, talking up a storm in her little Snow White costume (yes, she--along with nearly every other little girl there--was in costume). We were soooo wrong. Reagan was so awe-struck that she completely clammed up! What's more, she wouldn't even smile for the photos--and she's normally quite the poser. Furthermore, she refused to eat even one bite of her lunch. (Fortunately, we didn't have to pay for her meal, since she's just two.) Despite her backward reaction, we know that she really did have a grand time. She's been talking about the princesses ever since.

We cranked through a few of the kiddie rides at the MK, then went back to the Studios to finish off the night. Reagan actually fell asleep on the way back over, and she stayed asleep through the entire Great Movie Ride. (FYI, there's a gunfight in that ride! And she didn't even budge.)

The next day, we took a break from the parks and had brunch with Conny at the Animal Kingdom Lodge (very yummy!) and I had tea at the Grand Floridian with Nori (very fun and girly!). Scott had the priviledge of dealing with a little constipation issue with Reagan (she hadn't gone in 5 days!) while I was away. That evening we went to International Drive and had dinner at pizzeria Uno.

Our second day in the park was spent with Conny at the MK. I didn't understand how great knowing an "entertainment manager" at Toontown would be--but it really was! She walked us up to most of the characters and princesses. She had even told the princesses we were coming, and they welcomed "Princess Reagan" as we walked in. We also had the Pooh characters entirely to ourselves! They even allowed us to come back later--without standing in line--and see Piglet, who was MIA at our morning greeting.

We saw pretty much everything at the MK that we wanted to by evening, so we hopped over to Epcot to let Scott ride a couple of grown-up rides. We also strolled through the World Showcase and saw some of the performers (the Chinese acrobats were Reagan's favorite!).

Then came our "rough ending." That night, Scott got violently ill. Since we were all in a rather small hotel room, none of us got much sleep, although Reagan got the most. He was still pretty sick the next day, so I did most of the driving back to Atlanta. Once we arrived at Dave & Sharon's, he went straight to bed.

Scott got sick exactly 4 days after Reagan had. When we returned home, I got sick exactly 4 days after Scott. Coincidence? I think not!

Barring the illness, we had a very good--and incredibly affordable--vacation. If Conny is still working at Disney in a few years, we'll definitely plan another visit with Mickey and the gang!

False Alarm

At the risk of repeating myself, I am copying a post from my other blog (What Reagan's Doing Now) below. It's a story that shouldn't be missed, so I'm doubling my coverage. Enjoy!

This is an entry that will live in infamy in the Gibbs household.

It was the end of our Sunday morning church service. Scott was down in the fellowship hall, manning the PA system for Kids Town; I was on the platform, having just finished singing a closing song; and Reagan was in her Toddler 2 classroom. Before Pastor Paul could utter "Amen", the fire alarm went off.

Our pastor quickly dismissed everyone, and I rushed down to the end of the building where Reagan's class is held. (They had already evacuated the children, so the room was empty.) Everyone was walking out rather casually at that point, feeling certain we were facing a false alarm. I was near our associate minister's wife, and I jokingly reminded her of the time her oldest daughter (probably around age 2) pulled the alarm. She made the comment that hopefully this time it wasn't her kid, and I said something like, "Well, I guess it could be Reagan."

I made it outside and spotted Reagan's teacher holding her. I went to retrieve her and said, "Did she freak out on you when all the noise started?" She replied, "No. Actually, she was the one who pulled the alarm."

Utter disgrace and mortification are words that come to mind. Yes, our darling two-year-old was responsible for the evacuation of about 400 people. The firetrucks came, and the firefighters secured the building. All because of our little climber.

Reagan joins an elite group of kids who have done this at our church, and the club includes two of our pastors' children. Apparently, the placement of the alarm pull in the toddler classroom has been a problem before (about half a dozen times in as many years).

As I took the walk of shame to retrieve my purse at the other end of the building, word was spreading about who the culprit was. (Reagan, by the way, had no clue what she had done.) Other parents were helping us laugh it off with a "Hey, it could happen to anyone" and even the occasional "My kid did it two years ago." Everyone was very good-natured and lighthearted about it.

And we can even laugh...now.

False Alarm

This is an entry that will live in infamy in the Gibbs household.

It was the end of our Sunday morning church service. Scott was down in the fellowship hall, manning the PA system for Kids Town; I was on the platform, having just finished singing a closing song; and Reagan was in her Toddler 2 classroom. Before Pastor Paul could utter "Amen", the fire alarm went off.

Our pastor quickly dismissed everyone, and I rushed down to the end of the building where Reagan's class is held. (They had already evacuated the children, so the room was empty.) Everyone was walking out rather casually at that point, feeling certain we were facing a false alarm. I was near our associate minister's wife, and I jokingly reminded her of the time her oldest daughter (probably around age 2) pulled the alarm. She made the comment that hopefully this time it wasn't her kid, and I said something like, "Well, I guess it could be Reagan."

I made it outside and spotted Reagan's teacher holding her. I went to retrieve her and said, "Did she freak out on you when all the noise started?" She replied, "No. Actually, she was the one who pulled the alarm."

Utter disgrace and mortification are words that come to mind. Yes, our darling two-year-old was responsible for the evacuation of about 400 people. The firetrucks came, and the firefighters secured the building. All because of our little climber.

Reagan joins an elite group of kids who have done this at our church, and the club includes two of our pastors' children. Apparently, the placement of the alarm pull in the toddler classroom has been a problem before (about half a dozen times in as many years).

As I took the walk of shame to retrieve my purse at the other end of the building, word was spreading about who the culprit was. (Reagan, by the way, had no clue what she had done.) Other parents were helping us laugh it off with a "Hey, it could happen to anyone" and even the occasional "My kid did it two years ago." Everyone was very good-natured and lighthearted about it.

And we can even laugh...now.

Reagan Loves the Pool

Last week Reagan and I were at my parents' house in Indiana. They recently put in a pool, and Reagan has been in it a few times this summer. The first couple of times she got in, we put Elmo water wings on her but still held her the entire time she was in the water. On our most recent visit, however, Reagan didn't want to be held. In fact, when one of us would reach out to stabilize her, she would push our hands away.

She doesn't actually swim, per se, but with her water wings to assist her, she can get to where she wants to go. She also enjoys standing on the top step inside the pool (steps that will one day lead to the deck that hasn't yet been built) and jumping into the water. It really doesn't matter if there is someone there to catch her--she is fearless.

Reagan enjoys singing while she swims (Disney Princess songs--especially "A Whole New World"), and she's not afraid to take the occasional drink from the pool. She loves to play with anyone, but she especially likes it when Grandpa is in the pool with her.

What I'm Reading Right Now

Lately I've been too busy reading what I have to read to read anything for my own edification or pleasure. But due to a difficult family situation, I was inclined to pick up a book that had been in my "get to it someday" stack for some time. And what a blessing it has been!

Back in my days as an assistant at Word Publishing (now W Publishing Group), I had the pleasure of working with Dr. Chuck Lynch. (He was a dream author to work with, by the way. Extremely accommodating and humble.) He is a psychologist and president of Living Foundation Ministries. His book, You Can Work It Out, is about restoring relationships by tapping into the power of personal responsibility.

Now this may all sound like psycho-mumbo-jumbo, but his idea is really very simplistic: Everyone involved in a conflict has his or her own circle of responsibility. One person's circle may cover 75% of the conflict, while another's may cover 50%. Still another could cover just 5%. The point is, a conflict is never just one person's fault.

Lynch's method is to establish where the parties are AT and determine where they want to BE, before establishing responsibility. Then the parties take an X-ray of their conflict, identifying their circle of responsibility. (Lynch offers step-by-step examples of how to do this.) Only when responsibility is established can the parties move toward where they want to BE.

Dr. Lynch primarily addresses marital issues, but his principles can be applied to other relationships. He offers biblical insight to back up his methods. He also tackles situations involving others who won't accept their responsibility. (Guess what? You're still responsible for yours!)

God is teaching me how to deal with someone I just don't know how to handle. He's prompting me to pray more and get angry less. God has also assured me that vengeance is his (Yes, even God has a circle of responsibility!) and hidden sins are made known. For my part, I have to dismiss bitterness and not allow anger to cause me to sin.

Dressed to Nap

I've been noticing that Reagan can now open her closet doors from her crib. It hadn't been a problem, since she couldn't actually reach anything in the closet, just the doors. But last week I put her down for a nap while she was still quite energetic and active. (She was wearing a white tank top and a pull-up.) I heard some sounds for several minutes, but eventually it got quiet and I assumed she went to sleep. When I went back to check on her a few hours later, she was just waking up. Her closet door was open, there was an empty hanger on the floor, and she was wearing her most elaborate dress--pink and princessy, the one she wore for Easter! She had it on frontwards, with both arms in the right sleeves. The only thing she wasn't able to do was zip it. Since I only heard sounds at the beginning of her nap, I can only assume that she slept in the dress.

Houston: We Have a Poop!

Yesterday Reagan took one of her many trips to the potty. While waiting for something to happen she said, "Shoo-shoo." I said, "Yes, you can shoo-shoo on the potty. That would be great!" After several minutes of the same sort of banter, I saw the look of concentration and heard the sounds--Reagan had her first poop on the potty! It's completely ridiculous how proud a mother gets the first time her child does this. I had to call Scott immediately. We called Nana & Gran and Grandma & Grandpa! This is big news in the Gibbs house.

Two Incidents

Reagan gave Mama a bloody nose this week! I was bent down to her, holding the phone so she could talk to her cousin Ashley. She popped up rather quickly, hitting me square in the nose with the back of her head. I, of course, immediately got off the phone and started crying--which, of course, upset Reagan. (She wasn't hurt at all, by the way.) I decided to lay on the bed with her for a few minutes to calm her down before her nap. While horizontal, I started to taste blood. I put her down, then went to the sink and spit up a pretty good quantity of blood. Then I blew my nose and more came out. It didn't totally stop until later that afternoon. Now I have only a faint bruise, but two days later it still hurts!

We met some friends at the mall for Tahra Time on Friday. Reagan was pretty good for most of the show, dancing up front with the other kids. There were several big kids, so it was hard to keep track of her in the crowd. After what had to be less than a minute since the last time I saw her, we realized that Reagan was nowhere in sight. I jumped up and headed for the stage--still no Reagan in the crowd! Then it occurred to me to look under the stage where I had seen movement of the curtain earlier. Sure enough, Reagan and two other little girls were hiding under the stage! (It was very dark under there, as the curtain was black.) I had to be the firm adult, "All three of you, get out right now! I don't know your mommies, but you're not supposed to be under here!" They obeyed, and Reagan sat in my lap for the rest of the show.

Back on the Potty Train

It took a few weeks of setting potty training aside, but now we're back on a roll (pun intended), and things are going much better. In the last week, Reagan has used the potty multiple times each day. Also, it no longer takes her 30 minutes of drinking juice and watching a video to decide to go. Best of all, she's happy and proud of herself when she goes, not scared.

We haven't tried making the switch to panties just yet, but perhaps we should do that soon. I've heard other moms say that was the only thing that made their child cross over from being a casual potty user to being fully trained.

In the mean time, we have Disney Princess pull-ups to wear, stickers to chart her progress, and suckers as a special treat when she goes. (Oddly enough, she's not that concerned with getting the sucker. She usually takes a few licks and gives it back.)

As for the potty doll, we don't even bother with it. Oh, well. Maybe it will work for our next child.

A Very Princessy Birthday

Reagan celebrated her 2nd birthday on Saturday (her actual b-day was Sunday) with a fiesta, complete with pinata, sombrero, and lots of Mexican food. The party took a very princessy turn when she opened her gifts. She received a Disney Princess (DP) tricycle, a DP toy CD player, a Belle (from Beauty and the Beast) doll and purse, a DP toy organizer, a DP desk, a princess skirt, a Snow White costume with matching shoes, and a Dora the Explorer princess book that has a magic wand. There were a few other gifts that didn't have a princess theme, and she liked those too. But the day was really all about princesses.

Reagan did quite a number on her cake, and she didn't come down from the sugar high for several hours. In fact, we think the sugar may have been the reason for her bad behavior in her toddler class at church on Sunday. (It just happened to be our turn to watch her class, so we got to see her in action.) We were stunned to see Reagan hitting and even pulling hair. Yikes! Guess we'll have to ask the teachers each week to give us a report at the end of church. We can't have her being the bad kid in class.

Today, Reagan had her 2-year-old checkup with Dr. Lee. He said she was just about perfect. She is in the 90th percentile in height and the 60th percentile in weight. She's a very healthy, normal two-year-old.

More Potty Training

After setting aside potty training for a few weeks, we tried it again last weekend. This time, Reagan really used the potty. Before, she would just let a little out and as soon as I put a diaper back on her, she would fill it up. Also, she was visibly upset and even cried a few times before when she used it. Now, no crying and she's proud of herself! It still takes a LOT of water/juice, a DVD playing, and a little chunk of time to get her to go, but we're progressing.

I Give Up

OK, I gave this whole potty training thing a good shot, but it just isn't working out. I've decided to just forget about it for a while and revisit it after Reagan's second birthday. She actually used the potty four days in a row, but she was so visibly upset by the whole ordeal that I decided I was probably causing more harm than good.

Our latest and greatest obsession is Disney Princesses. Who knew a two-year-old could be so into princesses? They are the first thing Reagan thinks of in the morning and the last thing she wants to see before bed. We watch princess videos, read princess books, and color princess pictures.

But, all in all, if you have to choose an obsession, princesses are a good one. They're pretty and girly and lots of fun. And readily available. They make a Disney Princess version of almost everything--and I think Reagan is getting about every DP product made for her birthday in a couple of weeks.

We're planning a trip to Disney World in September, where we will be dining with the princesses at Cinderella's Royal Table. Stay tuned for more princess updates.

Obsessed with Princesses

Reagan is absolutely, completely, wholeheartedly obsessed with princesses--Disney princesses, to be exact. It all started when we began to plan a vacation to Disney World. I had been checking out their website, planning an itinerary. On their website are several short video clips of attractions there, one of which is Cinderellebration, the show that features all the princesses. Reagan must have watched that 15-second clip a dozen times that first day. She has been making us replay it almost continuously since. Fortunately, we found a longer clip (about 2 minutes) on the Disney Princess website. At least we don't have to replay that one as often.

I've shown her most of the princess movies: Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Snow White, Cinderella. We fast-forward through the scary parts. Actually, we fast-forward through most of the parts that don't include princesses, because they are all she really wants to see.

It's a good thing her birthday is coming up, because she's going to have a princessapalooza. Nearly everyone at her party is bringing her some sort of princess item. She's getting a Disney Princess tricycle, a Disney Princess desk, a Disney Princess costume, a Disney Princess DVD, and even Disney Princess panties (in case she ever does get potty trained).