Is it possible to fall in love with a planner? If you're me...it is.

I have this slight obsession with planners and all things organization.  Sometimes my obsession comes to a productive fruition and other times it's less about productivity and more about writing birthdays and fun stuff in pretty colors with new pens.
I am extremely picky when it comes to planners.  It has to have everything I need, in very specific formatting, and anything else is icing on the proverbial cake.  I came across the Erin Condren "Life Planner" and let me tell you, if I had an extra $50 I would be all over it...all over it for every year from now on.  Maybe a graduate school graduation present for the following year can be a possibility to give into this new find.  I was already loving this planner but then I found this adorable video on their website and I have to admit it made the longing worse....So, for your enjoying pleasure I've shared the video.  Even if you have nothing close to a love for planners, the video is perky and peppy and colorful!  Enjoy!

Our Christmas.

Our Christmas was full of Baby Jesus, family, fun, and of course, breakfast with the princesses.

We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! 

Love,

The Reid family

Sprinkled or Saturated?

No, I am not talking about food.  I am talking about Jesus.  Now, those of you who turn off immediately when I mention His name on here, hold on just one second.  Let me get this out.
I tend to go through my days sprinkled; not saturated with Jesus.  I tend to go through the day doing things my way, making my plans and going through the motions my way (notice all the "MY's" in there).  Through the day I will usually have little sprinkles of Jesus, sometimes as an afterthought, sometimes as a complete and utter necessity because I am to the point of pulling my hair out with the girls, sometimes it is because I get a text saying somebody is sick or having a bad day and in need of a prayer.  More often than not I end up frustrated at somebody or something and I hop on a roller coaster of emotions that could quite possibly beat out the Kingda Ka.
How often have we turned from Him, as in Isaiah 53:6 and still expected out lives to be grand? rewarded? easy?  What would happen if instead of sprinkling my day with Jesus I saturated my day with Him?  How much better would life be if I allowed Jesus to LEAD my day instead of just asking Him to occasionally be present in it?
In this holiday time it is easy to think of Jesus as a small helpless baby.  Why would we saturate our lives with any baby but our own, or at the very least nieces or nephews?  The thing is, we aren't saturating our lives with a helpless baby.  We are saturating our lives with a man who loves us with a love so intensely it even surpasses a mother's love for her child.  A man so powerful that he could rip the planet into literal pieces but who chooses to be so gentle a butterfly would not shudder in His palm?  We are saturating our lives with a God who is so patient that no matter how many times we DO turn away and try to do things on our own, He is there with his arms wide open, waiting for us to turn around and realize He has been there waiting all along.
So, this Christmas and this New Years, when you are beginning to make and list your resolutions, I have a challenge for you.  I am taking on this challenge, mostly for myself, but I am offering it up for those of you who would like to join me.  I pray that we will begin to saturate out lives with Jesus.  Not the baby Jesus, as cute as he may be, but the man Jesus.  The man Jesus who has His arms wide open waiting for us to turn around and be embraced.  The man who has had His arms wide open since He was sacrificed on that wretched and wonderful cross.
I know, I know, you wanted to loose those last four pesky pounds for your New Years Resolution.  I have good news for you....Jesus is ready and able to walk those pounds off with you.  So, whaddya say?  Join me?  Will you sprinkle or will you saturate?

Pinterest: School vacation to do list.

I don't have a lot of down time during the time school is in session. So, I was going to take my Christmas break to get a few things done around the house.

Here are a few ideas I had in mind:

1) Paint the girls bathroom and then paint/write scriptures and inspiring quotes for the girls like this, this, this, and this.

2) To organize the laundry area like this.

3) To organize the under our bathroom sink like this or this.

4) To organize the pantry like this or this.

5) To make a gigantic "R" out of cardboard and wrap it with fabric, similar to this.



Things do not always turn out like I plan and the only thing I have gotten done on my list is to cut out a large "R" out of cardboard and tape off/prep the girls bathroom.  I have, however, got to spend time with some of my family and friends.  I have gotten sick and gotten over it.  I have helped my Mamaw run errands and visit my Papaw's gravesite.  I have gotten Chuckwagon (my favorite restaurant in L-town) a few times.  I have ran around like a chicken with it's head cut off.  Today, my girls have their Christmas parties and PJ day at school that I will be attending.  I have realized that it will get done at some point.  But right now there are more important things going on in my life than hot gluing fabric to a cardboard letter or organizing my pantry.  It will happen. Slowly but surely. It will happen.

 

Sick kiddo and awesome pillows.

Last week a bug hit our sweet Kyra Mae.  The stupid stomach bug.  My poor baby threw up all night last Thursday.  After the second time of Josh changing everything in the bed and me changing Kyra's PJs, I decided to sleep in the floor with her.  We slept on a bed full of towels.  It was great and awful all at the same time.  I enjoyed cuddling with Kyra Mae because it is something I very rarely get to do.  It was awful because our poor baby threw up several more times through the night and we basically folded towels up and over the entire night. I also had an "OMGoodness I knew I had an awesome pillow but I didn't know how awesome it was until I slept on the floor with a  sick kid and did not wake up with a sore neck or back" moment.
Thankfully, Kyra's sickness lasted only around twelve hours and she was back to her normal sweet teething but not sick anymore self.

Dearest Kyra Mae.

Dearest Kyra Mae,
My sweet girl, you went to the dentist for the first time today and you did great!  You did cry a lot but after you were finished being what seemed like tortured you perked right back up and turned on the Kyra Mae charm!  You are getting in so many teeth at one time but you are such a trooper!  You started getting your teeth around nine months and you haven't stopped.  So, my sweet baby, you have been teething for four months non stop.  I just don't know how you've done it and not been a complete grizzly bear!  You haven't come out unscathed though because you have basically kept an ear infection the entire time.  Hopefully this next round of antibiotics will knock it out.  
You are growing so quickly.  Much too quickly.  You are practically running right now and you have almost caught Teagan in height.  You are truly going to give her a run for her money pretty soon.  You are a feisty little booger and I have a feeling she is going to realize that in the next few months.  Watch out, Big Sister!
You are working on eating with a fork and you are doing a pretty good job!  Tonight you ate french toast with a fork and seem to really be getting the hang of it.  You have also started doing "praying hands" on your own.  It is precious to watch!  
Even though you are a feisty little bear you are extraordinarily sweet.  You love hugging on your stuffed animals.  Whether you are walking or running around the house you typically have your puppy or your gorilla snuggled up to you.  You are still a great sleeper and 9 times out of 10 you go down without a fuss and without needing to be rocked.  Sometimes this still bothers me a little bit and I am so thankful when you allow a little before bed cuddle.  I don't force it though, because I know you are not a huge snuggler and that is okay.  I take whatever I get.  Even when you don't want to cuddle you allow me to sit you on my lap and I pray for you.  I put my hands over yours and we do praying hands, we say the typical sweet children's "night-night" prayers and then I pray for you, over you.  I pray for you to know how much I love you.  I pray for you to have sweet dreams.  I pray for your heart to grow closer to the Lord with every day.  I pray for you and Teagan's relationship to grow stronger each day.    I continue to learn so much from you, Kyra Mae.  You teach me every day that just because you and Teagan both came out of my belly does not mean you came out the same person.  You have different strengths, different weaknesses, different likes and dislikes.  When you were first born that idea intimidated me a little bit and I had a hard time dealing with it.  You have been so patient with me and our relationship has grown so much over the last 13 months.  We are still learning each other and I know we will continue to do so the rest of your life.  You and I are completely different and to be completely honest, I think that is going to come in handy come your teenage years!
I hope you know how much I love you.  I will continue to remind you every day a few times a day with a ton of hugs and and equal amounts of kisses.

Forever and Always,
Mommy    

Crockpot Baked Ziti. UhMazing.

Sometimes I don't feel like cooking.  With school sometimes I just don't have a lot of time to cook.  The crockpot is becoming a constant companion, a reliable one at that, in our house.  I wanted something filling and carb-y (hello, PMS, go away soon thanks) and something I knew the rest of the family would dive into as well.  

I had crockpot baked ziti pinned and thought this would be a good time to do it. 

Here's my version. 

1 box of pasta (I usually mix wheat and white)

2 jars of pasta sauce (I used one garlic/tomato and one sweet pepper/basil)

Parmesan cheese to taste

1-2lbs of the meat you love.  I used hamburger meat that I had browned in Italian dressing (SO FREAKIN GOOD). 

To do with the goods.

Put the crockpot on low for 4-5 hours or high for 2-3 hours. 

Use a crockpot liner or spray some cooking spray so it doesn't stick. 

Mix your meat and your pasta sauce together.

Spoon a layer or meat/pasta sauce. 

Spoon a layer of noodles (uncooked)

Sprinkle a layer of cheese (we LOVE cheese in this house, so I sprinkled a LOT)

Repeat. 

Cover. 

Go read play with your kids, go for a run, take a hot shower, or whatever else makes you happy. 

This turned out really good.  We are still eating leftovers and nobody has complained yet.  When you reheat make sure you cover it with a moist paper towel so it stays moist and add a little garlic and an extra sprinkle of cheese! It's almost better as leftovers! Move over baked-baked ziti, here comes the crockpot kind!

Even when you don’t think you can…Sometimes you just have to laugh

Sometimes life gets too serious or too regimented around this house and in our lives.  Sometimes I find myself having a below average day at “work” or school but wanting to run back there after we get home.  There are some evenings where Josh and I are squabbling because of miscommunication or both girls are having tempter tantrum after temper tantrum.  Last night was one of those nights for the double or triple temper tantrums.  We had a great ride home.  We even rode home paci-less without any tears.  Teagan and I sang Jingle Bells at the top of our lungs with the windows rolled down with Kyra Mae harmonizing with her sweet baby coos.   Then, we get home, and all hell breaks loose.  The cries, the not listening, the shrieks at the table just got to me about 45 minutes in and instead of crying I looked at Josh and started laughing.  Josh looked at me like I had lost my marbles at first and then he started doing the same.  The girls continued to cry and we continued to laugh.  It calmed us.  It calmed the girls down after a minute or two.  Did it fix the behaviors or the fact our sweet girls were tired but wanted to fight going to bed? Did it fix the fact that Kyra has four more teeth trying to make their way through while the others just made their appearance? Did it fix the fact that Teagan is bordering on three and ALL that encompasses?  No, it did not.  It did, however, change Josh’s perspective and mine.  Sometimes we don’t need a fix.  Sometimes we need a break.  Sometimes all we need is a change of perspective.  So here’s to laughing instead of crying.  Here’s to perspective changes, the fun way. 

American Heart.

I've never heard this song or seen this video.  When I did both at one time I cried.  Beautiful song. Beautiful message.  It makes me prayerful that Americans will come together and stay together. One heart at a time. 

Watching, Wishing, Waiting, Wondering, Worrying

Teagan is currently...


Watching for "little Santa's" and Baby Jesus.  She loves the Christmas lights but she is obsessed with finding a little Santa or a Baby Jesus in somebody's yard.    

Wishing that she could accessorize and wear her princess dresses and heels everywhere.  How did I end up with a girly-girl? How? 


Waiting for her birthday.  She thinks it is before Christmas even though she knows December has to come before January.  She wants her Minnie-Princess party (yeah, I'm going to do that how?!?) and for everybody to come to her house.  What can I say? She is a social butterfly. 


Wondering - Why? Why? Why, Mommy? Why, Daddy? Why? Why? Why? 


Worrying about whether or not she is going to have enough dresses to wear. Every. Single. Day. 

Kyra is currently...




Watching her big sister.  All the time.

Wishing we would allow her to climb up the stairs by herself anytime she wanted.

Wondering how many tries it will take her to make it up the stairs without getting caught.

Worrying about those pesky teeth that won’t leave her alone.  She didn’t get the top four completely in before two more top teeth started making their debut!

I am currently....



Watching Bones.  I have watched Bones since it came on.  I also love the show Elementary but have not had the energy to stay up to watch it. 

Wishing that I will be able to use my Christmas break from school wisely.  Spending time with my husband, my girls, my family and my friends is on the top of my list.  Reading a fiction book about nothing social work related is also around the top of my list.

Wondering what Christmas is going to be like this year.  With two little ones I am sure there is going to be a lot of excitement and I cannot wait!

Worrying about final grades.  I won’t know them for a few weeks and the anticipation of one or two classes is going to drive me batty! 

Linking up with Harvesting Kale this week!

Dearest Teagan.

Dearest Teagan,
You are growing into such a little lady.  I tell people I don't have an almost three year old; I have an almost five year old because most of the time that is how you act.
I am so proud of the little lady you are turning into.   You have to be accessorized almost always, with either my "high heels" or your sparkly shoes or jewelry of some sort.  You've learned that it is not proper for little boys to watch little girls use the potty.  You have learned to sneeze into your elbow because we don't want to spread the germs.  You have learned we must wear leggings under dresses that have gotten too short because we are ladies and "ladies do NOT show their panties, except to Mamaw and Mommy and Dad".
You are quite a smart little bear as well.  You are always coming home knowing something new.  You are basically a sponge and absorb everything you can.  Right now you're working really hard on your letters.  You can recognize over half of the letters of the alphabet and can name a word (mostly people) those letters begin with.  You can spell Teagan and Kyra.  You love to put puzzles together and are rarely found without a book or a baby in your hand.  You can count to fifteen in Spanish and twenty in English.  You know "head" and "mouth" in Spanish also.  Honestly, I taught you those because I find them fun to say.
You have become quite the "mommy".  To your babies and often times you try to be the mommy to Kyra Mae.  The being mommy to Kyra Mae has its advantages and disadvantages.  You are still working on reading people's body language and so you don't always realize Kyra is saying no until she cries and starts pushing you away.  Then your feelings get hurt, my tender hearted girl.  You walk around with your baby on your hip or cradle them in one arm "like Mommy do".  I often times look to see how you are playing with your babies because I know you will act like you have seen.  Thankfully, I haven't witnessed anything that has made me feel like a hill of dirt.  Mostly I see you being loving but occasionally I hear a "no ma'am" or a "do you need a time out" and I have to stifle a giggle.
You love all things Disney princess and Minnie Mouse.  Honestly I cringed at this and fought it tooth and nail in the beginning.  We were not going to raise you to be a spoiled "princess".  Then I realized it was not the princess trend that grows a spoiled princess, it is how the princesses are presented.  We do not present the princess idea as one of entitlement.  We present it as Belle loves to read like you do or Cinderella is kind like you try to be with your friends and Kyra or Ariel loves adventures and wants to travel to new places like we plan to do when you and Kyra Mae get older.  Also, I watched this video on youtube and as I cried I said "this.  this is what I want princess to mean to Teagan and Kyra".
You love hard and you play hard.  You get your feelings hurt really easily but you know what you want and you want things a certain way.  You wear your emotions on your sleeves like I do but you are methodical like your daddy.  You love for me to pray for you.  When I put you to bed at night and we are "rocking" often you ask "Mommy pray for me" or "talk to Jesus for me, Mommy" and my heart melts.  Little do you know that I pray for you and Kyra Mae often but I will never turn down an opportunity to pray a little more.  You like to pray too.  You love to pray for the firetrucks and the ambulance and the police cars when they zoom by us or you hear them at night.  You also pray for the missionaries, Tim and Kristin Milner in Califorina.  We don't know them but we picked up a postcard with their information on it and you have prayed for them every night since.
Sometimes you and I butt heads because we are so alike and I am sure this is going to get worse as you get older but know that I will always love you.  No matter what.  You will always be my first baby.  You will always be my Little Bear.  You will always have a part of my heart. No matter how quickly you grow or how far you travel, I will be here.  Arms wide open.  Praying for you every step of the way.

Forever and Always,
Mommy
    

They bought a jeep....

My parents bought a jeep for the girls from some friends...can we say hilarious?  These pictures are from earlier this year but Teagan is still itchin' to drive her jeep.  Fast forward 13 years and this is going to be trouble with a capital T.

Getting a feel for the gas pedal.  Poor Kyra Mae. 

Sweet sisters

Do you SEE that face Teagan is making?  Oh my...

Eventually she will realize looking forward is necessary...

Mom, why are you letting her do this to me? -K 

Nothing but giggles!

Kyra's turn to drive!!

I got this, Mom! -K

Makeshift seatbelt!  

PJs

This picture was taken a few months ago.  Teagan put on some of my really old (like middle school days) PJs and was prancing around my parents house.  

T & K in the yard

It's never not a struggle.

We've been doing a study at church on Psalm 73.  It has reminded me of a time when I was in a deep dark place.  Of being so depressed and angry and bitter and confused that I just wanted it all to go away.  I even tried to make it go away once.  The Lord had different plans.  In my mind I had done everything right, in the right order and the right way, but in my selfish mind I wasn't getting what I wanted.  The internal struggle took me to a dark place.  A place so dark that any form of light was so bright I had to turn my head; I was in the dark for a very long time.
The thing about depression for me is, it never goes away.  It just manifests differently.  For the most part I have been able to keep it at bay.  However, there are days and sometimes weeks that the dark makes itself known again.  The dark is a sneaky booger.  It creeps up from behind and veils me in its invisible darkness.  Thankfully, Josh has been with me for a very long time and knows what the invisible darkness looks like, in spite of its invisibility.
This last week or so has been one of those weeks.  It wasn't surprising that the darkness covered me this week.  Sleep has evaded me, Kyra Mae has been sick and the end of the semester is upon me.  My adrenaline was keeping me going and that is usually when the darkness strikes.  It's different now in it's manifestation then it was before babies.  I am easily frustrated with Josh and the girls, I do not want to be around anybody but I need to be around people, I need sleep but I tend to play the martyr role and stay up grumbling about not having any help even when I do.
One thing I notice when the darkness comes is that I have not been doing my Bible reading and journaling.  When I am not pushing into my Lord and my relationship with Him, I begin the slide down the proverbial slippery slope.  The awesome thing about knowing that fact is seeing God's grace in it all.  Looking back and realizing that in all these years of my struggles with depression I can look back and see God's grace.  He is truly sufficient, if I just remember to let Him be.

Lessons learned from little ones.

Having two children has enlightened me more than any other thing ever has.  Having two girls has exacerbated that enlightenment.  Having one girl who is more like me and one girl who is more like Josh has tripled that enlightenment.
When Kyra was born I thought I had it figured out.  This was going to be easy, without complication.  I was wrong.   I was prideful and puffed out like a peacock.  I knew what I was doing.  I had this second baby girl in the bag!  The Lord truly shows us where our shortcomings are but he does so with mercy.  Thankfully!  
Kyra is different from Teagan.  Kyra does not like to be held.  Teagan loves to be held and snuggled.  Kyra wanted nothing to do with "Mommy milk".  Teagan loved it and nursed a year.  Kyra HATES having her diaper changed.  Teagan could have cared less, as long as she has something to play with or I was singing to her.  Kyra crawled and then quickly walked.  Teagan took her time and waited until she was one to walk.  Kyra wanted table food long before she was allowed to eat it.  Teagan would still eat some baby food if I would let her.
These differences have taught me a lot.  It took me quite a while to give in to how different the girls are.  I still do not have it down pat.  Occasionally I need a reality check from Kyra that "hey, look Mommy, I am Kyra.  I am not Teagan."  As frustrating as those times can be, they are learning experiences and I am trying to appreciate them instead of fight them.  Kyra and I are still learning each other.  Teagan and  I are battling over boundaries; battling over boundaries is something that is probably going to happen the rest of her life.
I am thankful for the differences my girls have but I am also thankful for the similarities as well.  They were both pretty chill babies, it really does not take much to please them.  They are both very kind.  Teagan is always thinking of others: Kyra, Mommy or Daddy, etc.  Kyra has already started showing that same sort of kindness.  They love to laugh and sing and dance.  They have started talking to each other across the hall in the mornings.  They have such a bond already and it is amazing to see it grown stronger every day.  Josh and I are truly blessed.  

Happy Birthday sweet ONE!

Kyra Mae is 1! 

Well, she was one two weeks ago.  Two weeks ago? 

We had our, or her, one year appointment the Monday after, and mercy, she is her father's child!

Weight: 21.4lb

Height: 30inches (90th percentile)

Diapers: size 4 right now, however, due to her height we might be changing this soon because the are beginning to look uncomfortable. 

Kyra has been walking since around 10 and a half months.  She is in to everything.  She wants to be where Teagan is, even when she is using the potty.  I am hopeful this will come in handy come potty training time...

As far as food goes Kyra Mae started rejecting baby food early on.  She started table food around 10 months and we would supplement with baby food.  Now, she is full blown food-food but we still supplement with pouches because she (and Teagan) love them.  

Kyra has a 9 month waist with 18 month legs.  So, she is in some 12 month clothes but she is getting more into 18 month clothes. 

Kyra is working on her top four teeth, she has had the bottom two since her 9 month mark.  These top four teeth are awful though!  They have been rough for her.  She also contracted an ear infection due to the congestion they caused.  

Kyra right now is still taking some milk at night.  This has made me anxious because we had Teagan completely weaned by a year old at night.  However, Kyra began teething when we would have started  weaning her and we did not want to strip her of that comfort, so, it will happen when it happens.  

Kyra has started talking and started signing.  She understands what we tell her and can obey commands  (throw your diaper away, get that book, do you want your milk, etc.).  She is not very verbal but can say three to four words.  Again, I feel like her language skills- she understands but she chooses to not speak as much and she chooses to observe.  Her and Kyra's relationship mirrors mine and Josh's.  I am the social half and he is the wise and quiet observer.  

We are so blessed to have Kyra Mae.  She is truly a completely different child than Teagan and while difficult at first but I am so thankful.  I have learned so many lessons from Kyra Mae, there is a blog post to encompass this coming soon, actually.  I cannot, we cannot, wait to see what happens with this next year!

Changing it up.

Please ignore the construction on the blog...I'm in the middle of trying to tweak the blog layout and all that goes with it....

Sugar and Spice

Last night was Teagan and Kyra's first experience as bona fide "trick-or-treaters".  They had a blast!  The costumes did not turn out like I'd envisioned but that was not the point ( I am slowly learning that lesson...).  The point was, they had a blast and looked adorable doing so.  Plus, everybody got the point of the costumes...

Getting their bags ready! Thanks, Mamaw!

Sugar & Spice...and everything nice!

Walking around the neighborhood!

Hmmm...what's in here?!?

Exhausted. 

Their loot (we didn't go to many houses)

Teagan "testing boundaries" behind the camera.

Funny Halloween faces!!

Daddy and his girls

We had a great time with the girls.  We started out just as the sun was setting so we didn't run into too big of a crowd.  Teagan only got a little frightened once but then we talked her through what a costume was and how some are "funny-scary", some are just funny and some are sweet.  She eventually got it and thankfully we had no nightmares.  Josh carried Kyra Mae the whole time because we didn't know if she could walk in the contraption I put her in...haha! 

This picture is of my friend and partner-in-crime and I at our placement at the hospital.  We went as "Intern 1 and Intern 2"... We had so much fun!