Charleston, part 2.

Our kids became professionals at taking 10 hour car trips this fall (to & from Charleston, and then to & from upstate NY a few weeks later.) Joe was thrilled to get to turn around in his car seat for the occasions (stop judging; it's perfectly legal, just not recommended.) He got to watch movies instead of the back window. It also made all the hand-holding he insisted on much easier for me. (That boy & his hand-holding are KILLING me. I swear my arm almost fell off on our trip to Charleston; it went numb at one point and I thought to myself "Well, at least I can't feel him digging his nails into my skin anymore.") Brooke was thrilled we got to eat at "Old McDonald's" on both car rides (What the hell does the South have against Wendy's?) Both kids had gigantic smiles on their faces any time we stopped & got out of the car, borderline giddy. They weren't super keen on napping in the car on the way down to Charleston, meaning they were awake for about 8.5 of the 10.5 hour trip. I KNOW, I can't believe the husband & I survived either. (Did I mention it also rained for a majority of the drive? Lovely.)

Thanks to the oh-so-stellar weather we had while we were there, it was tough to do much sight-seeing with the kiddos. Rather than walk around Downtown & explore, we often booked it to the first place we could reach once we hopped out of the car so we could keep them dry/warm. We managed to hit a few highlights though. One of the kids' favorites was probably the boat ride we took across the river from our hotel to the eastern side of the city. Though it was very cold & windy, the kids sat wide-eyed as we slowly trudged along in a 7-person water taxi. We had been spotting dolphins in the river from our hotel balcony all week, but they were up close & personal while we were on the boat! We even saw them jump out of the water; our taxi driver said it was only the 3rd time he'd seen it all year. Though she claims she could see them, I'm not totally convinced Brooke saw the dolphins each time we pointed them out. But it was still fun to be on the water for both Joe's first boat ride!

On this particular day, we were taking the boat into town so we could go to the Children's Museum. The kids spent a few hours running around and exploring the museum. Joe seemed most impressed by the room full of golf ball ramps (which was a tiny bit dangerous, not gonna lie...) though he also got a huge kick out painting in the art room. And Brooke's favorite was probably the grocery store, complete with a working cash register/scanner that printed out real receipts. It was a fun way to kill a few hours indoors.

We spent the better part of the morning one day at a plantation house. It wasn't quite what we expected; most of the exhibits/presentations were closed b/c it was the off season. We were able to walk around the beautiful grounds for a short time (too cold for a long time - I did not pack a warm enough jacket for this trip...) and take some cute pictures, though. The massive oaks trees lining the driveway and scattered throughout the property were incredible; they made my giant kids look tiny :)

The kids & I joined the husband & my parents for 1 of UD's 3 tournament games. Brooke remembered to bring her pom poms on the trip & we cheered extra loud! They were absolutely the cutest Flyer fans in attendance!

After flipping through my vacation pictures, I realized that Brooke really seemed to enjoy my favorite part of vacationing: the food. Like mother like daughter. We had some delicious dinners, including a very fancy meal at a steakhouse where she got to drink from a water glass and use fancy silverware "just like Fancy Nancy!" And there was certainly no absence of sweets on this trip! We made stops at ice cream & cupcake shops, as well as indulging in dessert after several dinners. She got to share her first piece of a double chocolate cake with Mommy - it was quite a hit! (And then she didn't go to sleep until after 11pm... That's what vacation is for, right?) We even managed to stop for a drink at some family friends' bar while we were in town, children in tow. Yep, we were those people that had their babies in a bar. (We happened to be the only people there; it was early on a Thursday night.) The bartenders LOVED Brooke, a sentence I imagine will be repeated in about 18 years.

The highlights of the trip for Joe were the essence of the phrase "it's the little things in life". Upon arriving, he instantly fell in love with a fish rug outside the elevators on our floor. He would sit down and point to the fish saying "Fishie!" each time we passed it. He found the suitcase full of the toys & books we had packed in the closet & managed to find a cozy little spot for himself as well.  And he absolutely loved running up and down the dock, free to roam and dance as he pleased. I can only imagine how much more time we would have spent out there with our little explorer had the weather been more cooperative. (That's our gorgeous hotel in the background. Our balcony is the one on the top left!)

We really had a great time on this family vacation, in spite of the weather! The kids didn't know we were missing out on activities because of it; they just loved spending 7 straight days with Daddy & their grandparents. And that's what it's all about, after all.

We are so appreciative of my parents for everything they did for us to make this trip possible. It was soooo good for all of us to escape reality for a week & just unwind. Thanks again, Mom & Dad. Love you!

January.

And just like that, January comes to a close. We've spent a lot of time at home this month, thanks to both the cold weather and the need to unwind after the holiday craziness. The majority of our (non-preschool) days have been spent in pajamas, with more meals being eaten here at home in the last 30 days than in any other month ever since we've lived in this house. (In other words, I'm going crazy from all the time spent staring at these yellow walls & in desperate need of warm weather & a cocktail.)

Without further ado, I present to you our month, via Instagram:

"Joke's on you, Mom. I know where you keep the extra pacifiers."

 "How we entertain ourselves during bath time. #crazyhair"

"Best. Bedhead. Ever."

" Who needs toys?"

"Excuse me while I go snuggle with these little munchkins. (Yes, even Belle.)"

" My besties."

" And the first 'I want a snack! Let me in this pantry!' battle of the day begins."

"Still hasn't quite mastered the big boy cereal bowl...#messylesson."

 "Doing her 'homework'. She's breezing through the alphabet like it's no big deal."

 "'I fancy! I fancy!' Indeed you are, little man."

 "Knew he was in trouble before I made it 2 steps into the room."

 "Hot chocolate date with my girl. Just because."

 "Just love them to bits."

 "'I sit Booke!'"

 "The best part of my Wednesdays. #tutucute"



Charleston, part 1.

Back in November, we packed up the kids (& what felt like everything we own) and drove 10 hours to Charleston for a week-long vacation. The husband had learned the year before that our beloved Flyers were playing in a tournament down there the week before Thanksgiving. Since Charleston is a city we had always talked about wanting to visit, it seemed like fate.

The weather was completely uncooperative while we were there. It was "unseasonably cold", lucky us. And by cold I do mean freezing (it was warmer in Cincinnati while we were in Charleston). The kids wore hats & gloves the whole week & I wore boots almost daily (boots that were thrown in the car last minute, even though I assumed I'd be in flip flops all week!)

Thankfully, our very first day there was beautiful so we got to enjoy a little bit of sunshine at the beach!

Brooke loved everything about her very 1st trip to the beach! On the way there, she told us we needed to stop & get a surfboard. She couldn't wait to dip her feet in the water and play in the sand. She spent a good chunk of the 90 mins we were there collecting sea shells and sand dollars. The phrases "Awesome waves, dude!" & "This is totally cool!" actually came out of her mouth (I'm so not kidding.) Homegirl could have moved there.

The makings of a sand castle, step by step.

 

Joseph, on the other hand, was less than impressed.

He spent a good chunk of the 90 mins we were there freaking out and screaming. He was NOT a fan of the water one tiny bit. After traumatizing him at the beginning by letting his precious feet touch the ocean water, it took a good 30 mins for me to convince him to leave the towel. Thank goodness I had the foresight to bring a couple balls or that child wouldn't have budged. After some coaxing, I got him to play in the sand with the shovel. He finally had about 3 mins of fun digging in the sand before treating himself to a sandy snack.

 It's hard to see, but the little man is losing his mind right about now because the tide has made its way up to his little tootsies.

The Atlantic Coast must taste delish as both of my children ate sand.

Thanks to the generosity of my parents, we stayed in a gorgeous suite in a resort by a marina with a beautiful view of downtown Charleston & the Ravenal Bridge. The kids loved watching the boats from our balcony and running down the dock.

The end of this dock was the perfect place to have a dance party! (You can see at this point that the sun has disappeared, not to return the entire time we were there. About an hour after this was taken, a cool front swept in; we were in coats by dinnertime.)

Part 2, coming soon.
 (Even though this was just Day One, it was by far the most photo-heavy. If I don't post this now, who knows when I'll get to the rest & then you'll just never hear about this trip.)

My resolution.

I resolve to be a better mom.

I resolve to play. To play what they want to play, not what I'm in the mood for or what would make less of a mess. To get off the couch when she wants to dance & to throw the ball back & forth with him for 20 minutes. To help them use those imaginations to become princesses & monsters & waiters & rock stars.

I resolve to listen. To really give them my full attention instead of only half listening until they get to the point. And to respond in a meaningful way that validates their feelings & lets them know they were heard.

I resolve to teach. To spend time every day teaching them something, through play or conversations or experiences. To sit with Brooke while she practices writing her letters on her MagnaDoodle and to teach Joe the colors of his cars. To read each book they bring me, regardless of whether I think I have the time to stop & do it.

I resolve to be patient. To keep my tendency to be quick-tempered at bay by remembering that they are so little & not intentionally trying to irritate me. And to take their ages into account when they're in the middle of a tantrum over something that may seem trivial to me but is so, so incredibly important in their little minds.

I resolve to say "yes" more. To limit the "no's" to when it's really necessary. To let them get their way more often than not. Even if that means letting her listen to more Fresh Beat Band & letting him use me as a personal jungle gym. Or letting them "help" with laundry & cooking even though it ends up being more work for me.

I resolve to dance. Because our musically-inclined children think singing and dancing is the greatest thing in the world.

I resolve to make them my priority. To be present when they are awake. To put down my phone & turn off the TV & actually be with them. To focus on what they need over what I need (most of the time). Even at the expense of housework & my Etsy shop & my Pinterest obsession.

I resolve to set a better example. To actually show them the kind of person they should be rather than just tell them. To make healthier choices at the dinner table & watch my portions. To exercise more often so they realize that it's important to move. To be appreciative of others & show my gratitude more often. To be patient & understanding, kind, generous, thoughtful.

I hate that it takes an occasion like New Year's to make me reevaluate my role as a parent, but alas, it is what it is. This year, my resolution is to be better for them. We're only 3.5 days in &, I must say, I am really happy with the mom I've been these past few days. It hasn't been a complete transformation (some bad habits are hard to break), but I feel like I'm headed in the right direction.

Here's to 2013!

Three.

I remember all the waiting and the anticipation and the "please come out already!" I remember the anxiety that crept in when they said it was finally time to start pushing. I remember how excited I was when I found out she was a "she". I remember how big she looked yet how light she felt when I finally got to hold her. I remember being overwhelmed by the sudden pressure I felt to make the right decisions and take care of her in the right way. More than anything, I remember the pride I felt when I introduced her to our family as our daughter, Brooke Mary Reeder.

Three. We can't even believe it. Our hilarious, sassy, stubborn, adorable firstborn is three years old today. These 3 years have been magical. Exhausting, but magical :)

Happy birthday, lady. As you always say, you're my best girl ever.

Brooke's Birthday Interview: Year 3
1. What is your favorite animal? A hippo, like Hallie (from Doc McStuffins.)
2. What is your favorite food? Broccoli, cereal, &, um, yogurt.
3. What is your favorite show? One of the princess shows. Can you guess what it is? Belle! Because she's on my boots. (She was wearing her princess snow boots at the time. When prompted for an actual TV show, she chose Fresh Beat Band.)
4. What is your favorite color? Pink & purple.
5. Who is your best friend? Claire & Molly.
6. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Waffles.
7. What is your favorite restaurant? Skyline, DaRosa's, & barbecue sauce.
8. What is your favorite book? Frosty. (The song was playing.) And Princess books & Dora & Strawberry Shortcake.
9. What is your favorite song? Frosty! And Fresh Beat Band! And Princess!
10. What is your favorite toy? My guitar that Abby & Max gave me. And I like to play with my best buddy Joe.
11. What is your favorite snack? Animal crackers.
12. What do you like to sleep with at night? My best buddy Belle, Honey Bunny, Bunny, & Seahorse.
13. What kind of birthday party are you going to have? A Pinkalicious party!

Blessed.

Happy kids, blessed parents, successful holiday :)

Hope your Christmas was as magical as ours this year!

José.

Joe, at 15.5 months:

- knows & can point out lots of body parts. Current list: ears, nose, head, teeth, mouth, eyes, belly, legs, feet, & hands.
- can do "shhhh!"
- uses a fork and spoon pretty well. He can eat an entire bowl of yogurt/applesauce with surprising accuracy. He loves to have utensils at meals, even though 1/2 the time he holds it with one hand and eats with the other.
- has been using a few 2-word phrases for a while, namely things like "Thank you, ____!" or "Bye ____!"
- has mastered the following sounds: cow, cat, dog, horse, goat, lion, duck, car, train, & Santa.
- talks all the time. He's adding new words to his vocabulary daily. His favorite & most used words: no, pappy, cracker, & "nack" (snack)
- has 12 teeth, thanks to the recent addition of 4 new ones. Those darn molars have been "coming in" for months and they finally broke through this month!
- favorite toys: balls (any size, color, sport, doesn't matter - he loves them all!,) Legos, beads, bowl & spoon, cars
- is wearing (mostly) size 18M clothes and size 6 shoes. Not nearly as big as his sister was at his age.
- loves to put shoes on, but ALWAYS kicks off the right shoe within 6 seconds of being in his carseat or a high chair. No matter how tight the shoe is on his foot, he manages to get it off.
- is a major monkey! He can climb up onto the couch by himself, which is actually quite helpful. Not so helpful is when he climbs up onto kitchen chairs (ours are bar-height) or onto the kiddie table in the playroom (I've caught him standing on it multiple times.)
- is very much a mama's boy, and it seems to be getting worse. Daddy is having an increasingly harder time soothing him, especially if Joe knows I'm nearby or in the middle of the night. He also seems to be doing a lot more crying lately, though that is likely due to his teeth & the stomach bug he's had for about 2 weeks now.
- would live his life holding someone's hand/finger at all times if he could. If he is even the least bit tired or sad, holding (and playing with) someone's hand is what calms him. It is the most bizarre thing. His hand of choice is certainly mine, but will latch on to the hand of whoever is holding him. We've recently made 4 10-hour car trips, & I spent a significant amount of time each trip leaning into the back seat so Joe could hold my hand when he was sad. As cute and endearing as it sounds, it's getting really old really fast. And he doesn't just hold your hand/finger; he plays with it. He likes to scratch the pad of your finger with his nail or squeeze the cartilage by your thumb. So random, I know (and sometimes painful.)