Cusp of talking!

Reid is on the verge of verbal explosion. For lunch we usually eat some veggies, a starch and some sort of meat. Then after he is done, he usually gets some type of fruit. Today, he had lima beans, corn and ham. Then after he was done he pointed up to the shelf where he could see a couple of bananas and he said anana! So I repeated with "would you like some bananas"? He pointed again and said anana. So I grabbed one and he got super excited as if he were saying"finally she understands me"! After he ate his banana, he pointed down to Obie and said "odie". I really think he is started to understand and figure things out. We are so excited! We will keep you posted of his progress!

Off to the Spa!

Andy surprised me last week and told me that he had made arrangements for us to stay at a Resort and Spa this weekend for our 6th Anniversary. He told me earlier that he would pack my things and not tell me what we were doing until we got there, but he cracked. I think he was so excited, that he couldn't stand not telling me, and I didn't even ask to know! He planned the whole weekend with dinner reservations, message, champagne and brunch! WOW! Am I lucky! I think he felt bad since our 5th was pretty lame since I was pregnant and we were in Ohio for a wedding. Not much fun when you are 8 months pregnant! My parents, Nana and Papaw are on their way up now to watch the little monster so Andy and I can have a relaxing weekend. Thanks Mom and Dad! I will post pictures on the next post of the family. I have to get some cleaning done before they arrive.

Back in Chicago

We made it back Tuesday from visiting my family and friends in Ohio. I got my parents set up with a laptop and webcam, so now we skype almost everynight! They enjoy seeing their little boy and Andy and I enjoy watching my parents act like fools!!! Having a little one around brings back the child in all of us, including Nana and Papaw! Reid just points and talks to them. Its very cute!

We went down to be with my nephew Kade, he turned 4 and we enjoyed the birthday party! I think Reid made out with more toys than Kade! Kade handed down a lot of his old toys that are for "babies". Kade was so cute, when I saw him before the party, (Reid was sleeping back at Nana andPapaw's), he asked "where's your Weid, where's baby Weid" His Rs sound like Ws and we all got a chuckle out of it. Reid really likes other kids and enjoys being around them. He loved playing with Talyn and Hadley too! Talyn and Hadley are 8 and 6 years old. Talyn enjoyed him a little more than Hadley. Hadley's comment to me when I asked her if she wanted to rock Reid, "It's not about THE Reid anymore, he wasn't just born"!!! Thats Hadley, full of personality and only 6! Gotta love kids!

All in all we had a wonderful time and enjoyed our visit!

Here is Reid with one of his new toys, he walks with it, can you believe he is walking (holding on to something) already! Crazy how fast they grow!

I think Reid is going to have Hadley's personality. I swear he is rolling his eyes at me in this photo! "Mom, stop taking pictures of me, gosh!"

My little Piranha!

This past week Reid has decided that he is a piranha. I say no more.

Tomorrow Reid and I leave to visit my family. My nephew Kade, is turning 4 and I have never been able to go to any of his birthday parties. So, since Reid and I aren't working, I have decided to tackle my biggest fear, two day road trip with a baby by myself! Am I crazy? Yes, but I am bored more, so road trip it is!
I am taking along the lap top for my parents, so hopefully I will get it up and running for them and I can post and skype from there. Andy picked up some Amy Sedaris books on tape and some NPR interviews with Terry Gross for me to enjoy on the way. THANKS DADDY! We'll miss you:(!

What a GLORIOUS DAY!

The last few days have been wonderful here in Chicago! But today has been the BEST! It is sunny in the 60s with very little wind. Reid, Obie and I have been out in the sun two days in a row now. Yesterday we went down to see Anna, Michael and Kyra. We took the kids to the playground and Reid LOVED the swing! Reid and Kyra snoozing after a hard day of playing. Reid 9 months and Kyra 4 months.Reid's first car!Michael is in the background here, he was to busy checking things out! To old to swing!So today I took Reid and Obie down to our little playground and Reid enjoyed the swing while Obie enjoyed a little girl's cookie! OOPS! I forgot to mention to the mom that Obie will steal food! The mom and I were both apologetic, but the little girl 17months wasn't laughing as much as her mom and I! I guess Obie stole it "gently", as the mom put it, so I couldn't get to mad at him. Then after the swing we walked for 3 miles down to the ice cream shop and got some ice cream for Obie and I, and Reid eat a banana. Then he slept the whole way back. Here is a video from today! Thanks Anna for pictures!

Dr. Visit

Reid's Dr. appointment went well. He had his 9 month check up. When Dr. Mercola came in the room he asked Reid "have you been a good boy" and Reid just smiled real big and started clapping. This is his newest thing, any time you say good job or good boy or "yeah" he starts clapping and smiling. I love it! He is starting to understand those around him and it gets me excited! Its like confirmation that he is learning! Anyways he is a very small little "dude". He is 18.3 lb 16th percentile, 27.5 in 22nd percentile, and 45 cm head 40th percentile. So he is like a short lollipop! We never anticipated that he would be a giant, since Andy or I are neither tall or big. I guess he is just going to have to use his intelligence and personality to get people to notice! Little people, but BIG personality! The kind of people I like! Most importantly, he is very healthy, speech development and fine motor skills he is ahead of the game, and as the Dr. put it what he lacks in size he sure makes up with strength and determination. Dr. Mercola was having a hard time examining him. Reid just wanted to listen and eat the stethoscope and was determined that the Dr. was not going to put it anywhere on his body, he kept rolling over, turning around, standing up, on his back then his stomach, with a big smile on his face the whole time!
Since some of you out there were a little leery of my feeding habits, including Andy, Dr. Mercola said that he can eat anything we can eat. He should still stay away from peanuts and eggs, but everything else is fair game. I told him about my concerns of having a picky child and he said, "since you are concerned about it, I am pretty sure he won't be." He says that children become picky from what they learn. As infants they are constantly learning their surroundings, so when they eat, they are learning about the food and also about what they can get away with. If they learn that when they spit something out, refuse to eat or push something aside they will be offered something else until they get what they want. They are also watching their parents expression, if mom likes it, it must be good. Reid does this a LOT! When I feed him something new, he looks at me with a puzzled face to see my expression if I put a big smile on my face and clap or say yummy, he smiles and wants more, if I have no expression or a look of concern, he gives me the same feedback and sometimes will even spit it out! Crazy how they pick up on cues like that! Dr. Mercola tells parents that have kids that only eat a couple of things, you give your child what you are eating for dinner, protein, a few sides and they have those options, nothing else, and if they refuse, they don't eat, then eventually they learn that they must eat what they are offered. I was telling my mom this, and she said that is exactly what she did with all of us growing up. Honestly I remember that and NEVER remember my mom fixing different meals for myself and my brothers, and we all know now that I LOVE to eat all kinds of food! So THANKS MOM for doing that!! All in all, good visit!

Hangin out!

Reid's grandma left this past Thursday and boy does Reid miss her! Edythe did what grandmas do best, spoil! Thanks for coming and staying with us!

Reid is really starting to change daily. He now pulls himself up onto everything, couch, shelving, crib and yes even Obie! See below... I was watching him in the monitor today and he was constantly standing up then down in the crib. Obie cautiously watches, making sure he doesn't fall. He even lends as a booster to help Reid reach higher items. I guess in Obie's mind it is thank you for all the treats he is being left under the table by his little brother!!

Tomorrow we go for Reid's 9 month check up. I have a lot of questions to ask, so I am really excited to go, I know, weird, but I am truly excited! Jamie, I need some ideas of what Reid should be saying by 9 months old, HELP! Put that money to use! HAHA!

Andy has been doing a lot of traveling lately, and it looks like it is not going to be letting up. Wednesday he has to go to D.C. to present to Capitol Hill! WOW, can you believe that Andy is getting into Politics! Well kind of.. more details later.

Also I added more photos in the Picasa link to the right. Check it out!