The things she says and does...

So I don't forget...

- She calls the Christmas tree a "Chris" tree.  I admit, Christmas is a very hard word to say!

- She can point out where all of "her" ornaments are on the tree {aka, the ones we've allowed to be on her level} and can remember exactly where each of them are!

- "I hear amblance" whenever she hears sirens.

- "I hear airpane" whenever she hears an airplane.  She says "I see airpane" when she actually sees one.

- Whenever she sees letters or writing on anything {menu, newspaper, etc}, she says "ABCDs" instead of "ABCs".  I bet that "D" is happy to have some recognition.

- She can say her complete ABCDs and count 1 to 10.

- She can pick out the letters in her name.  She forgets a few of the Es {she has 3 of them in her name} and spells her name "RES"

- She calls the bathtub a "tubtub"

- Miss Independent is attempting to dress herself.  We've worn a few dresses as pants.  She'll put her legs in the armholes.

- She calls her coat a "coke"

- "PEEEEEEEEEEEASE" and "MOOOORE" are becoming more frequent requests.

- "I do it." I did mention Miss Independent, no?

- She can't pronounce the L in anything, so any word that has an L in it is pronounced with a W instead.  Example: "cowor" instead of color.

- Speaking of "cowor", she loves to.  Yesterday, she told me she "cowor gween fower Emma." Translation "color green flower {with} Emma."

- "Barney comin" when she's waiting on the dvd player to start in the car.

- "Barney sweepin" when I've had enough of Barney in the car and tell her he's sleeping.

- She speaks in 3rd person all.the.time. "Reese do it", "Reese hode it", "Reese cowor", "Reese potty", "Reese pitty {pretty}", "Reese coke {coat} on/off", "Reese buckle"

- She takes her shoes and socks off every time we are in the car.  It's not annoying at all.

- She can say every person she knows and who they go with.  For example, "Cott, Catcat and Noah" are all mentioned together.  "Jojo and Bawisswa {Melissa}", "Ianne {Diane}, Tewwy {Terry}, Reid, and Buddy" are all mentioned together. Diane is Reese's babysitter {but really more like a 2nd mom/grandmother} and Reese knows everyone in the Riley household!  She names all the dogs that are at her Nana and Paw's house too!

- Apparently Catcat's sister "Sawah" {Sarah} really made an impression on Reese because we talk about her a lot.  Last night we were in Target and she saw this huge display and she thought one of the girls looked like Sawah so she started calling her name.

- She pronounces the word bicycle "bi-kick-le". I love it.

- She says "hot bot" for "how about".  For example, when she's standing in a chair {and not supposed to} and I tell her to sit down, she says "hot bot Reese stand."  This means, how about I don't sit down and continue doing what I want to do.  

- She loves to wear "kigtails" {pigtails}

- She can say all of her colors, but if you ask her to identify a color, it's almost always "green."

- She is almost speaking in full sentences: "Reese hands cold" or "Daddy be riiiiiiiiiiiiight back"...makes her seem so mature!

- She says things are "pitty" {pretty}, "bewful" {beautiful}, and "tuuuuuuute" {cute}...what a girly girl!

-  She has just started doing imaginitive play with dolls, stuffed animals, etc.  She wants her Tigger to eat dinner with her and she likes to put her baby doll "night night."

I decided that if I don't start writing some of these things down, once I have 2 kiddos I might not remember as much!!!

Christmas cards!

Let's be honest...taking a decent pic of a squirmy, wormy, easily distracted 19-month-old is HARD.  

Taking a pic that is Christmas card worthy??  Almost impossible.

This could be why I haven't even attempted!

Once I do capture the perfect image, I have found the most adorable cards to choose from on Shutterfly!

Seriously, how will I ever choose??
Also, how adorable is that little boy in the first card?  I've always loved beach picture Christmas cards and that would be a perfect card for that!

I really love the quality of Shutterfly products.  I've never ordered their Christmas cards but I did order the wall calendars for some Reese-loving grandmothers last year!

They not only have great Christmas cards, but I have already bookmarked the birthday card invites!  A certain little girl is turning 2 {gulp} in 4 short months {double gulp} and I'll have a newborn baby, so I might as well start looking!

Any other bloggers looking for some great Christmas cards?  Check out the awesome deal Shutterfly has going on just for bloggers!

Also?  Even if Shutterfly did not have the promotion going on, I still would choose their cards!  If you take a look at their website and see all they have to choose from, you would see why!!

So, this week I will be braving the elements and the 19-month-old squirmies and capturing the PERFECT picture!

Can't beat it.

Monday afternoon.  No work.  For mommy or daddy.  Airport picnic.  Pigtails.  

Perfection!

 

{Bangs have been trimmed since the taking of these pics.}

{That was for you, Joel.}

The Good Stuff.

In my college years, weekends full of "The Good Stuff" consisted of worrying about what to wear to a bar or making sure friends got home safely {or in some instances, out of the dorm bathroom, right Beth and Kmac?}.  It's a lot of fun when your biggest worry is what to eat for dinner or what bad things will happen if you skip your 13th 3rd class of the semester.  My college years were definitely the most laid back years and sometimes I wish I could snap my fingers and be back there: living with my best friends, making memories, and living a carefree life.

But then.

I spend a weekend with the man I love and the little girl who's captured my heart and I think, THIS.IS.IT.  There is nowhere else I'd rather be than reading books and doing puzzles and changing diapers and making tents with sheets on the bed.  Life seems so hectic right now, with so many things up in the air, and I'm so thankful for a weekend of nothingness that's filled with so much awesomeness.

So even though there are times when I wish I could be seated behind the goal post, right in front of the swim team, watching Auburn win football games with best friends...

...it doesn't compare to life now.

Even when Reese wakes up every hour from 12:00 until 4:00 and I can barely keep my eyes open the next day.

Even when I have no idea where this little boy is going to lay his head when he's born.

Even when DirectTV tries to take $600 out of my bank account {true story}.

I wouldn't trade places with the ME of 10 years ago for anything.

I have a daughter who says her ABC's and pats my belly and says "Wub woo Jack"

I have a son who constantly makes me aware of his presence with his kicks and jabs.

I have a husband who loves me even when I'm not the easiest person to love.

I have family who supports us with love, time, and a whole lot more.

And you know what?

That's the good stuff.

Lately...

...I feel like this guy:

Seriously, this little guy I'm sharing my body with is on his way to becoming a great kicker for Auburn's football team {Class of 2028, baby!}

I don't remember Reese kicking this often or this hard.

Jack, sweetie, remember you're supposed to be my cuddly, lay-on-the-couch-with-me baby.  It's only slightly alarming that I have to wonder when you are sleeping in there!

Really though, it's my favorite thing about being pregnant and it's somewhat depressing when the baby's on the outside and I won't feel them anymore.  Although, the newborn baby breath smell helps take care of that...

Also?  I realize I've been {majorly} slacking in the blog department.  I have several posts coming, including pics of the CUTEST bunny you ever laid eyes on.

Stay tuned!

The goods...

He's got 'em!

Our little boy.

Our little Jack!

I was shocked and so very happy.  One little girl and one little boy.  It just feels right.

Jack Ellis Dismukes

Jack was my grandmother's brother's nickname.  It means "the Lord is gracious" and He certainly is.  He knew exactly what our little family needed.  Ellis is Brandon's mom's maiden name and I love it.  It means, "the Lord is our God."  It's a simple, strong, and masculine name.  It's one syllable like Reese's name and more importantly, she can say it!

And now for the details:

At our appointment yesterday, we did not find out what it was.  We had the ultrasound tech write down what it was and put it in a sealed envelope.  Everything else about our baby was "perfect."  He was measuring exactly on schedule and estimated to weigh 13 ounces.  My blood pressure was very high, so I will have to be on meds, but the doctor doesn't feel like it's something to be overly concerned with.  At 34 weeks, I will begin having weekly non-stress tests and ultrasounds to check on the amniotic fluids.  We will deliver {probably} a few days before 39 weeks, so I'm guessing around March 1st or 2nd?  As long as everything stays on course, that is the plan!!

So, after we left the appointment we took the sealed envelope to Lauren who had already baked a pink cake and a blue cake.  She saw what the verdict was and iced the cake with white icing.

After we left her house, we got pulled over {I mean, why not?} for not wearing our seat belts {oops!}.  Luckily, he gave us a verbal warning and we were on our merry way.

We then met my parents, B's parents, Scott, Cat, Noah, and Lauren up at The Pub {thanks Blake for the hook-up} and had a private room.

We couldn't really wait any longer, so we decided to cut the cake before we ate!  As soon as we cut it, we could see the bright blue!!!  We all teared up and really had a great night surrounded by our family!

It really was such an exciting way to find out!

And now for the video:

 

Sorry it's dark, but you get the idea :)

And here's my preeeeeeeeeeeecious little baby who's so excited about baby Jack that she woke up this morning saying his name!!

18 weeks and 18 months!

Disclaimer: this post was obviously started a few days ago :)

How often does that happen?? 

The new munchkin is cookin away!  I've been feeling the kicks since about 14 weeks {much earlier than Reese} and I'm ready for other people to start feeling them too!  There's not much new to report....until October 25th...the day of the big reveal!!

Now, onto my 18-month-old going on 18-year-old.

She's all over the place.  Speaking in sentences.  Running around in big girl shoes.  She's a mess!

She's got some pretty cute phrases that she's picked up over the last few weeks:

I'llllllllllllllllllllll do it!

Hold you, mommy {when she wants to be picked up}

Are yous?  {where are you}

Hug {she walks up sideways to you and puts her cheek against you!}

Der he/she is!

Booooog {bug}: whenever she sees a black speck that may or may not be a bug!

Uh oh spaghetti-o!

She can also identify most body parts: eyes, nose, mouth, tongue, teeth, hair, head, face, arms, hands, fingers {neeners}, belly, booty, legs, feet, and toes.

When she wants something and can't reach it, she says "REACH!" or "have it peas"

That cold I mentioned last time, well that turned into strep throat.  Really though, you wouldn't have known it because she didn't act at all like she did last time she had strep! 

Have I mentioned she's a creature of habit?  Like, hardcore.  She has a memory like you would not believe and you can't get anything by her or distract her once she sees something she wants.  And what does she normally want??  Peepaste AKA toothpaste.  I'm not sure why the "tooth" part was replaced with "pee" but I hear the word many, many times a day.

She knows exactly where certain pages are in books and wants to read those pages.  She's a puzzle master and is obsessed with the "eepane" {airplane} puzzle.  

Her newest accomplishment?  She can count to 10!  I'm not sure she could count out 10 objects, but she can say all the numbers 1 through 10 in order.

We are working on colors but so far everything is blue or orange {can't say I object to that!} and occasionally pink!

We had her 18-month-appointment yesterday and here are her stats:

weight: 26.6 pounds {50-75%}

length: 32 inches {50%}

head circumference: 45.5 cms {50%}

Who would have thought that a short 18 months ago, her weight, length, and head circumference were less that 1% {not even on the charts!}

What a big, growing girl!