I recently enrolled Reagan into her first structured class. It is a 6 week class centered around a teddy bear theme. Several of her friends are in the class as well, Izzy, Everett, Abhi, and Annie. It seems we don't do much without them and I think that it's great!

Reagan's teacher is Ms. Jamie. She does a great job and Reagan is really enjoying the class. The teacher in me is really enjoying getting a glimpse of the type of student Reagan may be one day. On the first day of class she amazed me a show of confidence I rarely see in her. Ms. Jamie had the kids sit in a circle. She went around to each student and sang a welcome song using their name. As she went around the circle she asked each child to tell her his/her name. Reagan almost never answers a stranger when they ask her a question. So when she very proudly said "Reagan" I nearly cried. Having friends in the class made it that much more exciting. My friend Nicole, or Everett's mom, honestly looked just as surprised and excited. I LOVED being able to see that happen!

I can't wait to see how else she grows!

Neighhhh

While I was cooking dinner Reagan became adamant that I get her some milk. She was hanging on the refridgerator door and whining "Milllkkk." I asked her to hold her horses and I would get it in a moment.

Reagan stopped whining. Looked at me very seriously and said, "Neighhhh."

Play

This morning I sat on the couch reading a book while Reagan was playing independently. I watched as she pulled out the basket containing all the pieces to her Mr. Potato Head. She carefully laid each piece out on the floor. When she was done she walked over to me and asked, "Play Mommy?" I just love that she got it all out and organized and then wanted me to join her. It may not seem like much, but putting down my book to play with my daughter may be the most important thing I do today. I love it!

Self Imposed Time Out

After nap today Reagan noticed a crayon marking on the wall. It has been there for a little while, don't know exactly when it happened. Reagan looked shocked. She pointed at it, looked up at me and said, "What is that?" I told her it was crayon from when she colored on the wall. Her lips formed the perfect little O as if she were saying, "Ohhhh, someone in trouble." Then she ran over to her time out corner. I guess even Reagan realized that she is the only one who colors on the walls.

Ramblings of a Baby

This morning I woke up to the sweetest sound. Reagan was in her crib but I could hear through the monitor. She was repeating "I happy. . . I happy." What a nice sound to wake up to. Far better than an alarm clock. Though I have not used one of those since Reagan was born since she wakes up earlier than I ever need too. But I usually wake up to her crying or just yelling "Mommy!!!"

Well sweet Reagan, "I happy too!"

Signal Hill Water Park

What a fun afternoon! Reagan and I met some friends at the water park at Signal Hill. The water only comes up to my knees at the deepest part. There is a large pirate type ship in the center of the pool with slides to slide down and cannons that squirt water on the people below. Along the perimeter of the pool are several other slides and whales with water coming out of their spouts, and turtles squirting water out of their mouths. It is perfectly designed for toddlers. We met a few of our friends there for the afternoon. We packed a lunch and lathered on the sunscreen:)

Reagan was not completely comfortable in the water but she did not want to get out. She tried to go down the slides several times by herself but got nervous each time and asked me to go with her. When I was putting her in her car seat to go home she said, "Fun water Mommy." "Thank you Mommy." She was asleep before we got out of the parking lot!

Reagan, Annie, and Everett eagerly waiting for the park to open!


Reagan really enjoyed this whale.


Going down the slide with Mommy!

Sing Along "Pee Pee in the Potty"

Last night Reagan used her big girl potty for the first time!

A few weeks ago Reagan and I went to Ikea and bought a few potty's. There is one in her bathroom and one downstairs. She knows that you pull your pants down and sit one them, as she tried to demonstrate in Ikea. But she doesn't really know how to make yourself go potty. So they have mainly been used as chairs and the occassional hat.

Last night Billie had Reagan sit on the potty while he got her bathwater ready. While sitting there she peed. I was in the next room and heard him clapping and saying how proud he was of her. I ran in and Reagan was sitting on the potty smiling. We sang "Reagan went Pee-Pee in the Potty, Pee-Pee in the Potty" and Reagan just giggled. It was a fun moment. Reagan got off the potty and sat and stared at the pee inside as if it was the most amazing thing she had ever seen. She was also very proud to pose by it while Mommy took a picture. Parents are weird!

Reagan is nowhere near ready for official potty training, neither am I, but this was a fun step in the right direction!

Cows-N-Corn

Last Saturday Reagan and I went to Cows-N-Corn for their Ice Festival. We had a fun time. She enjoyed the hayride, looking at the animals, eating a hot dog, and eating the ice cream (that was definitely my favorite part).

But what made this trip so special was getting to witness Reagan take a chance on something new despite how scared she was.

One of the attractions was a cow train. It was nothing more than some go carts decorated to look like cows attached together and pulled around on a tractor. Reagan had seen it go by us a few times and would get really excited. She had fun mooing and waving each time it passed. I asked her if she wanted to ride it and nodded yes and began to run to where we saw people getting on board. Some of the cows were large enough for an adult to sit in and ride while holding their child. I was pretty certain that was the only way my cautious daughter would ride the cow train. But I asked if she wanted to ride alone and she quickly let out a forceful "NO!" and then reached her arms up and said, "Up pease." So I picked her up and we proceeded to get in a cow together. As she sat in my lap she watched as some of her friends go in cows by themselves. Reagan looked at me and with a whine said, "Down." I figured this meant she had gotten scared and did not want to ride anymore. I set her down and as I began to climb out she was already trying to get in the cow made just for kids behind me. I hesitantly put her in the cow because I was certain that as soon as the train began to move Reagan would begin to cry and I would have to get the drivers attention to stop the ride.

Well, Reagan proved me wrong! I still rode the train myself in the cow in front of her. I could tell how nervous she was but she also looked very determined. As the train took off there was a momentary look of panic on her face but I did my best to show how much fun I was having and she got herself together before any tears fell. Reagan never lost the look of concentration on her face or her death grip on the sides so I can't be sure if she enjoyed herself or not. But when I picked her up out of the cow I told her how proud I was of my big, brave girl. She smiled, gave me a hug, and then patted my cheek. She was proud of herself too!

Our Life As We Now Know It

It would appear that Billie is enjoying a beautiful weekend day relaxing without a worry in the world. But it is not until you see the whole picture that you realize what our life has become and we are enjoying every minute!

4th of July Weekend

What a great 4th of July weekend! Billie had off on Friday and Monday so we got to spend a lot of time together as a family. We did not go away so we had some adventures close to home.

After recently reading Roots, Billie has become interested in the Civil War. Living in Bristow is very convenient for a person with an interest in the Civil War since many important battles were fought on the very ground we now live on. On Friday we went up the the Manassas Battlefield and walked a one mile loop where the 1st Battle of Manassas was fought. We did not bring the stroller as it was a great, safe place for Reagan to run around. We figured that we would take turns carrying her once she go tired. While we did eventually have to carry her she lasted a lot longer than we had anticipated. When we got home she slept for 3 hours and 45 minutes. I eventually went in and woke her up out of fear that she would not be able to go to sleep at night.


Saturday was the acutal 4th of July. Our neighborhood, Amberleigh Station, put together a family fun day. The event began with a parade where the neighborhood kids decorated their bikes and scooters with patiotic details. Reagan helped me decorate her stroller. The parade ended at the tot lot where a moon bounce, games, face painting, and pizza were set up. It was a nice way to meet many of neighbors with children near in age to Reagan. She had a great time.



After Reagan's nap we went with friends to LaGrange Winery in Haymarket. It was a gorgeous day to sit outside and sip some wine. The winery had set up a little area with a slide and seesaw. Reagan made a friend and played there for most of the time. We ended the day with a BBQ back at the house. Reagan was in bed long before the fireworks began. I am looking forward to seing them with her next year.

Where Did the Time Go?!?!?!???

The reason that I started this blog was so that I would be able to capture the days I spend with my sweet girl. I did not make my blog public because I did not want to feel the pressure of people wondering why I had not posted in so long. Well...apparently I need that pressure. The last time I posted was in February. February! How in the world did that happen? We have done so much, learned so much, and grown so much since my last post, much of it I have already forgotten. So I thank my friend Inga for starting a blog and asking to see mine. Knowing that someone else may look at mine adds just that nudge I need to keep it up:)

Busy week!

I have to keep reminding myself that it is February because we have had several days this week in the 60's. On Sunday it reached 65 degrees so Billie and I decided to take Reagan to the National Zoo in Washington DC. Neither of us had been there since we were little so we didn't really know what to expect. We also were not sure what Reagan's reaction would be because at times she has a very cautious personality.

It ended up being a GREAT day. Aunt Gloria and Aunt Shumbie (Billie's sisters) met us at the Zoo which made it even more fun. The first animals we saw were the Lions and Tigers. At first Reagan stared at them, with very little emotion. Then all of a sudden she began pointing at them and excitedly said "Ohhhhhhh!" while looking around at all of us to make sure that we saw them also. Her eyes and mouth were wide with amazement. It really is fascinating to see the world through a child's eyes. After seeing the Tigers Reagan was excited to see the other animals.

Her favorites were the monkeys (who walked on a tight rope above our heads), the crabs, and the turtles. She learned how to say turtle at the zoo, which was very sweet. We did not see all of the zoo on Sunday because we had to get Reagan home for bed but that just gives us an excuse to go back:)

JW Tumbles and Pizza with Friends

I don't think that there will ever be a way to truly convey how much I LOVE being at home with Reagan. In the beginning I feared that I would become bored and that everyday would feel the same. It could not be further from the actual reality.

A typical day begins somewhere between 5:30-6:30. Reagan is an early riser and while I would love to have a little more time to sleep in I can't complain. She sleeps about 11 hours each night.

At 7:00 we have breakfast and start the process of getting dressed. Then each day proceeds a little differently. Yesterday we went to the gym. I get to work out, I am trying to become a runner. It is a slow and ugly process, one that would require a separate blog to really explain.
While I am getting an hour of personal time she is hanging out with friends and Ms. Laurie in the kids room. It took a few weeks of going before she became comfortable being left but now she is a confident pro. I love that she has learned that Mommy always comes back.

After the gym we went to the grocery store. I actually enjoy going to the store with Reagan. She does really well out shopping. I enjoy her company and she is so stimulated by all the people, colors, and sounds. She will hold the list and pretend to read off the items for me. She takes her job very seriously.

We rushed home to put the groceries away and then ran right back out to meet up with some friends at JW Tumbles. JW Tumbles is an an indoor playgym for children. You usually have to take a class to be able to go. I don't have Reagan signed up because it is like $210 for 6 weeks. I'm not sure if they have heard, but we are in a bit of a recession. It sounds like a lot of people are not signing up because they have some blocks during the day with no classes. The organzier of my mom's group called to see if we could come in during this time. So for only $5 dollars we went and played for an hour. Reagan always impresses me with her strength. She is very tiny but does not let that stop her from doing anything. She gets her athleticism from her dad, that I am sure of. There were wooden rung ladders all over the walls that would go up to the ceiling. After watching a few older kids climb Reagan went right up and began to climb herself. She was not thrilled with me as I pulled her down as she began to climb out of my reach. It was funny to see this little girl scale a tall wall.


Afterwards we went to Tony Pizzas where she devoured a rather large piece of cheese pizza. Reagan does well in restaurants. She really likes to listen in to adult conversation so as long as I was talking with some other moms she was completely content.

We got home a little after 1:00 and Reagan went right to sleep till about 3:30. By that time we get dinner ready and Billie come home around 5:00. We all eat dinner. Spend some time playing in her playroom. Billie gives her a bath and puts her to bed by 7:00. I mean really, what is there not to like about my day? I am BLESSED!!!

Snow Days

On Tuesday it finally snowed! We have had many days in the single digits, but no snow. I personally feel very insulted when the weather gets that cold and miserable with nothing to show for it. I think that a beautiful snowfall is like a way for Mother Nature to apologize for the 30 minutes it takes me to get Reagan all bundled up before going anywhere. So I am thankful for the snow.

Reagan was thrilled with it. She was so busy watching it fall that I had a difficult time getting her to eat her breakfast. I finally got her to eat but I had to turn her highchair so she was facing outside. I must have said the word "snow" 50 times on Tuesday but she never even tried to repeat it. She did figure out what it meant though because by the end of the day when I said snow she would run to a window and point outside.

I tried to take her outside to play in the snow but she just stood there. Reagan is a very cautious little girl. She really likes to watch and observe things for awhile before she engages in something new. Well, snow was definitely new. Unfortunately she does not have a real snowsuit or snow shoes so we could not stay out long enough for her to get comfortable with the snow. I guess making a snowman and snow angels will have to wait for another time.

Instead of playing in the snow outside I brought it inside. This was a lot more successful. After a few tentative pokes she really got into it. Give a baby some snow, spoons, and cups and it provides hours of entertainment. Well, really only about 15mins, but in baby time that feels like hours.

On Wednesday we woke up to freezing rain that had turned our beautiful snow into a death trap. Our neighborhood roads were covered in about a 1/2 inch of ice. Apparently the highways were fine but no one could get out of the neighborhood. Billie was a little bothered but Reagan and I were thrilled to have Daddy around for the day. We stayed in our PJ's, watched some Sesame Street, and Reagan helped make and decorate her first batch of cupcakes. Not a bad way to spend the day!

Never would have thought

So becoming a mom has changed me in many ways. But I never would have guessed that it would have made me a blogger. But here I sit, typing my first entry as Reagan takes her nap. I have decided to begin a blog that will chronicle the ordinary and not so ordinary days that I get to spend with my sweet little girl.

I am extremely blessed to have the opportunity and privilege of staying home with her. I get to see all that she learns and all the ways that she grows on a daily basis. As she begins to approach her 17th month I realize that I am having a hard time recalling what it was like to have a 15month old or a 12 month old, let alone a newborn. At the moment you think, how could I ever forget the feeling of holding her in my lap while she drinks her bottle. Or how could I ever forget the way she pronounces mommy. But the truth is you do. And as our family will one day grow, God willing, it will become even more difficult to recall the way it once was.

I hope having a blog will serve two purposes. I hope it will act as a diary for Billie and I to look back on one day and just remember. I hope it will also be a way for her family, most who live far away, to get to know her a little better and have the opportunity to watch her grow.

I hope you enjoy reading about Reagan's Days!