The one about transportation

I think it’s safe to say my baby is now a toddler.  For the last few weeks he has steadily been improving his walking skills.  At one point he was very comically using whichever mode of transportation was most convenient.  If he had pulled to a stand to play then he would begin walking from there until he fell on his butt.  At that point, he would start crawling.  To our amusement, if Reed was laying on his back, he would push with his heels until he was scooting around the hardwood.  Flat on his back, propelled only by his feet and the most serious face you could imagine, he would scoot his way to his destination.  Check out the youtube video on my channel. It’s hilarious.

This past week, Reed has really started to rely on walking to get anywhere. Even when he’s tired and he only makes it a couple steps at a time, he will push his butt up into the air, and get himself to a standing position to take two more steps before thumping back down to the floor.  Last week, if he hit the floor, he would just stay there so he could get where he’s going quicker.  Now he’s determined to master his steps and walk like a big boy.  He also has a new challenge he’s trying to conquer.  In our house, where the living room and the kitchen meet, the floor goes from hardwood to tile.  The hardwood actually slopes down to meet the tile and creates quite the literal stumbling block for a toddler.  Last weekend, I watched as my friend Melissa’s son, Ty, did a face plant as he ran through the house.  Luckily, at that age they just bounce right back up with a questioning glance to mom, “am I okay?”  Reed finds this little slope about as stimulating as a roller coaster. Up goes his butt, he pushes the floor with his hands until he’s at a stand and heads towards the kitchen tile.  As he unsteadily tries to navigate down the slope, he inevitably falls and with that rush of adrenaline the first thing he does is turn around and push himself back up to his feet to try it the other way!  And he toddles back and forth, one foot at a time up the hardwood slope (a slow process) and we’re cheering him on, because we just know he can do this.  His toes curl under for balance and traction – his arms are out for balance as well, the left is to the side and the right is up almost over his head until… thump.  Back to square one.  He continues to do this until he can no longer stand. Or until he sees the football and decides it’s time for a little game of catch.

Speaking of balls, we usually toss all of them into his pack ‘n play in the living room when Reed’s not playing with them.  He has a few racquet balls, a red and blue Giants football, a mini Chesapeake football, a mini soccer ball, a large green bouncy ball and a blue knobby “gerdy” ball.  All together this becomes his personal ball pit.  The other day it looked like Reed was trying to climb into the pack ‘n play.  He can almost do a pull up on the edge and he can get both feet off the floor, so I picked him up and tossed him into the ball pit.  45 minutes he spent in complete paradise.  I got the dishes done, changed the laundry, packed up for our trip this weekend (Branson MO) and didn’t have to worry about him in the least! Every time I walked by him, his face was covered in smiles and he was throwing himself all around the pack ‘n play laughing!  When Mike got home he was able to witness the last 10 to 15 minutes and by the time we got him out of there he was so sweaty that his clothes were damp! We were both cracking up.

As I mentioned, we have a big trip planned this weekend with Mike’s old gang.  We’re meeting up with his parents, his brother’s family, the Fousts and the Cissells.  It will be great to see these guys again, we always have entirely too much fun, but I wonder how much will change now that we’re all parents and have the little ones running around.  As I’ve heard said this week, that’s what Grandparents are for, right?

The one about heat, baby#2, and hunger strikes

It's hot. In case you didn't know, the heat dome is upon us and it doesn't look like it's letting up any time soon.  This is not ideal because it means Reed and I have to get our workouts in really early.  We have to leave for our walk by 7:30 and be home by 8:30, and I'm talking at the latest. By the time we get home we're both drenched in sweat and we only go on Tuesdays, Thursdays and a weekend day.  If we have other plans, such as a play date or any other special circumstance, then Reed doesn't get any time in the stroller and that makes me feel bad.  He hates being locked up in the house and longs for fall.  In the spring there were days that  I was taking him out in the stroller 3 times a day because he just loves to be outside. Somebody getting cranky? Hop in the stroller! Now that's not an option because I don't really want to subject my baby to heat stroke.

Either of them!
Being pregnant again is wonderful.  I don't have as much time to concentrate on the life growing inside me- as with Reed, but when I do stop to think about it, I feel that wonderful rush of warmth to my heart.  I've been pretty tired and my body is requiring more sleep of course.  This makes things difficult, but Mike has been my hero, getting up in the night with Reed as needed.  It's getting easier, he is becoming a much better sleeper, slowly but surely. Most of the time I rush around trying to clean up, cook meals, wash bottles and make myself presentable for the public.  When I plop down on the couch, exhausted after a 10 minute spout of energy, it looks like I'm doing nothing.  Do not let this fool you! I'm still very busy! I'm over here making fingers, toes, eyelids and everything in between! Sure it doesn't take a lot of concentration to build a baby in your belly, but it takes all the energy that you have.  At 13 weeks, I'm looking forward to the start of the second trimester where I get my energy back.
Its no secret that I am hoping for a girl.  I grew up very close to my mom and love how our relationship has evolved and grown over the years.  My whole life I've had a great relationship with my mom and I want that for myself. I want to be a mother to my daughter.  There are so many things to look forward to with a daughter and also the balance of having one of each.

If this baby is a boy, there are so many benefits. Reed will have a built in best friend.  They will grow up very close, much closer of course than a brother and his sister would.  Two brothers- they'll have each other's backs.  I guess these are the things you consider when you have two paths in front of you.  There can be only one, and once I imagine a future down both paths, I become attached and attracted to both options.  Knowing that I will lose one doesn't stop me from daydreaming about it.  I suppose I like to mentally prepare, because I'm not one to settle on one, because lets face it- its a 50/50 chance!  I have no way of knowing what gender this baby will be until they tell me, so how could I start planning for only one or the other?  I can't even imagine having a baby before the days of the ultrasound.  Oh the anxiety! I would go crazy!  I want to know as soon as possible! In fact, I think the stick should just tell you in the beginning.  "You're Pregnant, and it's a girl!"
I've been getting more serious about planning Reed's first birthday.  It's going to be such a blast! My mom just sent me her flight itinerary yesterday, so she's officially going to be here! Which is excellent, I won't have to skype her in.  On the other hand, it looks like we will have to skype Mike's parents in. Because Reed's mother's day out (child care) is taking a two week break at the end of August, Mike's mom, Connie, is coming for the two weeks prior to Reed's birthday.  However, she leaves on Saturday, the day before.  Mike and I were both very disappointed that the timing didn't work out better.
I really believe that this party should be more for Mike and me.  I also think we should be the ones getting gifts, I mean, what are we really celebrating here?  Mike and I survived the first year with a baby without fatally harming Reed or each other.  That's something to celebrate! I suppose that would be very untraditional of us, but I still get very knowing nods of approval when I bring up this option to other parents.
My sweet Reedster has always loved food, but recently has turned on us.  He now only eats what he wants to eat, when he wants to eat it.  He will eat something one day, and not eat it the next.  This makes it very hard to plan his lunches at school.  At least when we're home, I can just open the fridge and choose another option.  This hunger strike frustrates me because I spend the time and effort to arrange his meals and then he doesn't eat them.  It doesn't seem to bother Mike much, but I can't exactly hand over the feeding duties full time as he's the one with the full time job.  I was starting to get very worried but recently I read that it's very common once your baby starts walking.  This is great news and eliminates a portion of the worry, however it doesn't solve the malnourished baby issues I'm facing. 
I suppose when survival instincts kick in, he'll eat.  Either that or mom will give into his preferred diet of blueberries and black beans.

The one about a trip to see family, good friends, best friends, old friends, my friends your friends!

For the 4th of July weekend we took off on a flight to Salt Lake Friday afternoon and didn't return until midnight Tuesday.  Sounds like a long trip, but not to worry, I found a way to make it fly by and feel like just a few hours.  I have a knack for that- speeding things up when I really want them to slow down.
Friday night was an awesome dinner spent with the Stills.  Amy and Monte are the role-model parents that Mike and I talk about and compare to all the time.  Ella and Emerson are 4 & almost 2, and complete the picture perfect family.  Reed was unleashed into the back yard with them and was never happier!  It was great to watch him play and interact.  Ella has that nurturing maternal thing going on and loved smothering Reed with it- the most adorable thing you could imagine.

Saturday morning as the men went off for their bike ride- I hopped over to my dear friend Joni's house, who I haven't seen since we moved to OKC. More than 3 years, but you'd never know it.  Joni is fun, beautiful and full of wisdom.  I'm lucky to be able to call myself under her wing. She can really appreciate my love for Michael and Reed, which made it so special for her to be able to play with my little guy.  And play they did!!  My regret? Not getting a picture of them together! What's wrong with me?? I guess I was so wrapped up in the moment that I forgot that I wanted to remember it.

We drove up to Wyoming after that, to be with my family.  My mom was (sort of) patiently waiting, imagine her anticipation to see her shining star!  Reed got to play at the water park in Green River- hesitant at first and a little afraid of water that shoots from the ground, but soon he was exploring and playing.  I got plenty of pictures of this!
Sunday we drove north to Riverton, the town where I grew up with my best friend, Nicki.  I drove Mike through the old trailerhood so he could see where his wife really comes from.  It's hard to explain how it felt so familiar and yet so distant.  How I could feel connected and yet so completely removed. It was like a scene from a movie I'd seen a thousand times, but not actually the backdrop of my real life childhood.  You're not going to get a picture of it, because it was hard enough to take Mike there!

We had dinner at Nicki's house with her family.  Her parents, who were like 2nd parents to me are still just as wonderful as ever.  Her daughter Adrianna, (almost 10!) tried to make us feel at home, while her son, Aiden (16mo), tried to make sure Reed knew whose toys he was messing with. I love watching how differently kids interact.  Mostly I'm interested to see Reed's reactions to different personalities and how he deals with it all.  He's a pretty chill guy. He'll play with just about anything and if the toy gets taken from him he'll just pick up the next closest thing.  This is Reed at 10 months. We'll see how he changes in the next few :o)
We saw a couple sights in the Sinks Canyon and walked a nature trail along the Popo Agie (popo-ja) River.  Beautiful, fresh, clean air was quite a treat after the stuffy heat we've been suffering from for weeks.
Monday morning Mike was up bright and early for his first Wyoming half marathon in Lander.  He did amazing considering the altitude change and the hilly course that ran up the bench of the mountain. We are both convinced that had it been an acclimated course, he'd have broken 130.  But that's why you race em! They're always different and challenging in their own way.

After the race, we hung out in Lander for their 4th of July Parade.  I wish I could have gotten better quality time with Nicki and her family, it seemed like all the time we did spend together was pretty distracted.

Back in Green River that evening I was able to meet up with and old friend of mine who I haven't seen since my junior year in high school.  Beau was in town visiting his family at the same time and although both our schedules were very busy, he dropped by the neighborhood after his trip to the grocery store.  The benefit of the small town! You're pretty much "in the neighborhood" where ever you go!  Mike and I ran out to the parking lot and met Beau and his son Tyson, who have been living in Denver.  It was cool to see him again after all this time and meet Tyson in person (his pictures on facebook are pretty cute, but he's so adorable in person!)
Tuesday after lunch, it was back up to Salt Lake in the car for a visit to the old Williams building where the love connection all started.  I remember the first time I met Mike when he came strolling up to my cubicle.  I remember all the flirting and what it lead to... our engagement and relocation to OKC.  Reed got to meet some of the old gang but the building was pretty much a ghost town at 4:30 on a Tuesday.  I can't blame them- the windows wrap around the building and the mountains have their "reach out and touch me" taunting ways, there's no putting up a fight. When you live somewhere that beautiful, with that climate- you take advantage of it.  If you don't see people out on their bikes, skateboards, roller blades or running shoes, then you have your eyes closed. I swear you can almost count the population of the city with an aerial shot.
Dinner with our good(GREAT) friend Clark at Bombay House was the icing on the cake. How I have missed good Indian food.  I'm going to stop there before I get emotional about it.
Reed did pretty well on both flights, there and back.  They both timed out to good for sleeping, but our mistake was that he was overly tired at take off so it was a struggle to get him down both times.  I think I'm done flying with him for a while.  I bragged about how great he's been on all his flights and now he's to the point where he's got this mind of his own, and it's not very convenient.  He wants down, he wants to play, he wants to blow raspberries on the window- and we can hardly stop him because he's so strong.  I think road trips might be the wave of our future.  I cringe as I say that because I'm so NOT a road tripper.
Thanks to all the friends who made this trip so memorable! LOVE you guys!