Imitation.

It is said that imitation is the greatest form of flattery.  I think imitation is the largest form of self-discovery.  For those of you who might be new to Teagan Tales, Teagan is 2 1/2.  For those of you who have been reading since Teagan was born...she is now FLIPPIN' 2 1/2.  Can anybody else not wrap their heads around that? Also, Kyra Mae is 7 months...where did that come from?

Anyway, Teagan is showing me who I am and how she sees me.  There are good things, not so good things and some necessary things.  Teagan is really into baby dolls right now and treats them like how she sees me act.  Occasionally it's "Shhh, shhhh baby, I got you" or "I got you baby, I got you, it's okay".  Other times it's "I comin' baby, I comin'" or "Just a minute, baby".  There are a few times I even hear her say "right now baby, right now".  And then there are the feedings, poopy diaper changes and time outs.  Yes, she puts her babies in time out.

I've been thinking a lot about this lately.  How my girls view me.  I want to be a great example for them.  I want them to see me as a loving but fair and firm mommy.  I want them to see me love their daddy with an intensity they can only pray to match.  I want them to see me reading my Bible, praying to our Lord without abandon and I want them to see me grow in my walk with Him.  I want them to see me being kind to people.  Not just people like me but especially people not like me.  People who are extremely different from me.  I want my girls to have a helping heart.  I want them to learn that from me.  I pray that I can teach them to be adventurous and to go. see. do.  I want them to always see the world through innocent but not naive eyes.  

I am so thankful that I have an example of these things in my mom, who is also an example to my girls.  I am equally thankful for the friends I have been blessed with.  I have friends who love the Lord and seek to help my girls grow closer the the Lord just as they do their own children.  I even have friends who are willing to discipline (not physically) when I am not around or even when I am and can't get to, currently just, Teagan.

Have you thought about how your children view you, lately?  How they will remember what you said and did when they were young?  What is going to stick out to them when they officially start forming their long term memories?  Just something to think about...



Also, a little something random.  They reset the numbers over at Top Baby Blogs...think you could spare a vote for us? Thanks!

        

Dear Girls.

My Dearest girls,

Your actions over the last few weeks have kept me going.  Your smiles, your laughs, even your tears.  They have brought me back to reality often and pulled me away from the simplicity and monotony of auto-pilot. 

The trek up the proverbial mountain has been a long one and we're not quite to the top yet.  Tonight, I remember we are on our way to the top.  Tonight I am remembering to turn around and look at how far we've come, not focus on how much farther we have to go.  Sure, there are a few ruts and intentions in the mud where we've slid a little but there are so many more footsteps up than there are places we've fallen or slipped down.  There are times where there are four sets of footprints, sometimes two, sometimes just one.  The LORD has blessed us with each other and such amazing family and friends.  

I hope we are all able to look back on this crazy time and realize just how much we're growing during this time.  How strong we have gotten and are getting.  I pray that you both realize that your daddy and I have leaned on the Lord, more and more over the last few months and despite the trials we are clinging tight to Him.  I pray your hearts continue to grow closer to Him with every step we take.

Forever & Always,

Mommy  

Peek-a-boo, Kyra Mae!

Sweet things she does.

Tonight, Teagan help me put Kyra Mae to bed.  Normally I have her sit in the corner, next to the rocking chair on the floor and read a book so I can get Kyra fed and rocked a little and put down.  

Tonight she wanted to stand, she wanted to help.  She looked at Kyra's head and started to touch her and then she looked at me, normally I would have told her no because it gets Kyra all excited but tonight I just let her.  She rubbed her head and then her cheek and said "I just rub her" in a sweet whisper, I smiled with tears in my eyes.  Then she leaned over and placed a kiss on her head and said "I just kiss her, night-night".  I just smiled and leaned to Teagan, touching my forehead to hers.  An understanding passing through us. One of pure and innocent and unyielding love.

No matter what stressors I have during the day, whether it be work or just in general, there is something about the love my two girls have for each other, already, that just wash them all away.  

Summer Day List.

Our Summer 2012 list...

movie nights at the park

neighborhood cookouts

kiddie pool on the deck

swimming sans clothes or diapers (the girls only, thank you very much!)

sprinklers in the yard

sidewalk chalk

dancing in the warm NC summer rain

jumping in the puddles without shoes

play dates at the park

potty training

fireworks and picnics

nights on my great-grandma's blanket admiring the amazing things God can create

books. lots of books

walks around the neighborhood

running

beach with friends

getting away for our anniversary, hopefully

mommy and teagan time

daddy and teagan time

mommy and kyra time

daddy and kyra time

lovin' and livin' as a family of four

Find other summer bucket lists here: 

Wednesday with Words!

Getting ready to watch Lion King for the first time.  Kyra Mae got to listen to it. Teagan lasted 10 minutes.  Guess that's what we get when we don't let our kiddos watch TV...lol

*Also linking up with Carrie with Children*

A little Teagan.

Care free. 

Exploring. 

Giggling. 

So full of wonder and curiosity. 

A little Kyra Mae.

See, I wasn't joking when I said her gummy smile is infectious! 

What, Mommy? 

There is just something about this picture that I can't stop looking at.  

Not hopeless.

We've been going through some crazy-ness the last few months.  Honestly, had this happened a few years ago I would have fallen apart.  Lack of sleep, the amount of sickness that has plagued our house and other things going on would have sent me over the edge a few years ago.  Even as short as three years ago.
This time I have amazing and encouraging friends who I am able to open completely up to.  My walk with the Lord allows me to be tired or sad or frustrated but not hopeless.  Even when my mood has darkened to a place without light I have not felt hopeless.  I am so thankful I can cry out and have those negative feelings but know that the Lord is waiting there, arms wide open.  I truly believe that times like this happen in order to grow us.  To make us cling tighter to the Lord.  I have.  I am. I will.

So, if my tweets have been a little off or my lack of blogging has you worried, please don't be.  I am allowing myself a break as often as I need.  I am resting my weary bones and my weary head.  Things will be back to some sort of normal and all will be well again.  Sleep will come, the kind that lasts more than two hours at a time and sickness will leave for longer than a week.  It will happen and boy I can't wait!  

Wednesday with Words.

This started out as a "Wordless Wednesday" post but there are words to go along with it.  I'm calling it a "Wednesday with Words" post.

Teagan came with me to vote last night.  I felt led to bring her with me so we can teach her, by example, to exercise her right.  The right that men and women died for.  I told her just that.  I explained what I did at every step and then when we got to the booth I told her about the soldiers that fought for Mommy to be able to do this.  For her to be able to do this when she was old enough. I explained how important it was for her to know about what she would vote for.  To educate herself.  To look at both sides of the argument.  I told her to make sure the vote was hers and nobody else's.  I told her it was okay if she struggled with her choice until she put pen to paper or finger to computer screen.  I told her Mommy and Daddy would be proud of her no matter what.

I know she is only 2 and probably won't remember much about this day other than she got a sticker.  We will continue to take her with us when we vote and Kyra Mae will make the journey with us next time.  I want them both to know the importance of voting.  The importance of struggling with a difficult decision.  The importance of educating themselves and making their own decision.  How else will they learn, if we don't teach them?  

6 months. Really? 6 months?

Surreal.  That is the only word I can think of to describe what I feel.  With Teagan, they warned me...time will fly.  Nobody told me how much quicker time goes with the second.  30 seconds vs. 60 seconds per minute is the going baby #2 growing up pace.

Weight- 15.2lbs (2 pounds more then Teagan at this age)
Height- 26 inches (an inch taller then Teagan at this age)
Diaper- we've recently moved to size 3s.  Her torso was outgrowing the 2s but her belly still had a lot of room.

Kyra Mae was above average on her development.  She is sitting up by herself and getting stronger every day.  She has started rolling over more and more and does the occasional rocking back and forth.  She is so ready to chase after Teagan!

We started solids.  She could care less.  She eats her oatmeal most of the time but usually doesn't eat more then 3-7 spoonfuls of her fruits or veggies even if we give her that instead or before the oatmeal.  So, we're taking a break on the fruits and veggies for a week or so.  Then we'll try again. 

I pulled out the 3-6 month and 6 month clothes the other day.  She can still wear some of the 3 month stuff but length wise she is making the pants turn to capris.

Squeals like you wouldn't believe!  She is hilarious.  She has started the "ah ya" and "ah ga" sounds. Mostly we get squeals and gummy smiles.  She does have a very, um, vocal 2 year old to contend with though, so I am interested to see if she is going to continue to sit back and listen/observe or try and top Teagan...

LOVES her feet. She cannot get enough of them.  I was so excited when she started to notice and play with them.  There is just something about a baby chewing on their feet...gets me every time!

Has started sleeping on her side some but mostly sleeps sprawled out.  She kind of looks like a flying squirrel (especially in her sleep sack).

Is becoming a rockstar in her excersaucer.

Kyra is still very patient when it comes to Teagan's constant "lovin'".  On the other hand, when she's done she is DONE and the whole world knows it.

Teagan is her favorite person.  Her face could light up three houses when she sees or hears Teagan.

Teeth are nowhere in sight.  With Teagan that was an amazing thing because that meant I wouldn't get bit!  With Kyra that just means she isn't in any pain yet.  Hopefully she has a simliar experience to Teagan.  We didn't know Teagan was teething until the pearly whites popped through!

She is getting so much better in the carseat!  Kyra Mae has hated the carseat since our first ride home from the hospital.  She does a lot better now that she can manipulate toys and actually pays attention out the window.  If she looks out the window too long she konks out, which is usually the case on the way to school and most of the rides home. 

Oh! I almost forgot! Kyra Mae has started to "whoooo" which isn't surprising seeing as she has heard about Getty her whole life!! We're gonna get this on video soon!


And of course here comes the "I can't believe how fast she's growing and I can't wait to see what the next 6 months hold...".  Truly, I can't.   Who knows when Kyra will decide to take off and crawl.  She's growing like a Reid already.  Her laugh continues to be infectious.  Her eyes light up with wonder at everything new.  It's amazing to see the eyes through a baby again.  Josh and I are so blessed to have a constant reminder of the innocence of a child and how sometimes we just need to laugh or cry with no explanation behind it.  Having a second child rocked our world but I'm so glad it did.  I'm so glad it is.  I'm so glad it will. 

It's Friday.

I've already written this post once. Blogger you can kiss my big toe.

Anyway, life is still topsy turvy in the Reid house.

Teagan is officially allergic to amoxicillian and all the other "cillians".  Not cool.  We've basically had to pump her veins full of Benedryl for the last four days (and counting) until it works its way out of her system.  Basically, toddler zombie.

Kyra Mae had her 6 mth check up and rocked it.  I will post more on that later.  She is growing like a little weed and super healthy.  Praise the Lord.

Kyra has also thrown up her night time bottle the last two nights.  I'm not talking spit up people.  I'm talking full on the Exorcist throw up. If it happens again we're calling our on call nurse.  Not normal.  Can't be.

Our family is still climbing up Mt. Kilimanjaro but with each mile the Lord gives us a new tool to make it easier.  The peak is in sight and we're going to slide down together.  Possibly on our bellies. 

I am so thankful for the "school" Teagan and Kyra Mae go to. (Note-Teagan goes to "school" and Kyra goes to " Ms. Alice's room". Or at least that is what Teagan says.) The teachers they have and have had are amazing and we are so thankful for them. The patience they have when dealing with both of my children is incredible. We love them all dearly and are so grateful that upcoming circumstances are not going to tear them away from their current environment. The Lord truly is working it all out.

I have used my crock pot three times this week.  All meat came out so tender we looked at it and it fell apart. SO. GOOD.

My car temperature thingy read 100 this week. 1-0-0. This is NOT okay. It's freshly May in NC. This is NOT how it's supposed to be.  Can I get an 84? Please!?

I think I have figured out what theme I am doing Kyra's 1st b'day in.  Mum's the word.  Yes, it's 6 months away but what part of topsy turvy did you not get? I have to run with ideas when I get them. 

I've opened an Etsy shop.  It is just a few odds and ends of stuff I've made.  Basically, gas money and diaper money.  Please visit if you've got a chance.  There are only a few things listed but I do custom orders as well. 

There were two awful things that happened this week around the blogshpere.  Diana, from Hormonal Imbalances, lost her two sweet twin boys this week.  They were 19 weeks and 4 days.  Please go read about her story. 
Avery, from Avery Can, also went to Heaven this week.  She was diagnosed with SMA on April 6, 2012.  Avery died from SMA complications on April 30, 2012.  I cried so much for both of these families that my shoulder's shook and my eyes were so puffy I put a cold can of soda on them so I could have visits with my clients.  Teagan's buddy, Getty, has SMA also.  We love her and we love her family.  Please visit their website and find out more about SMA and how you can raise awareness and money for research.  Another baby should NOT have to die from this.


I hope you all have had a great week.  I hope you have an even better weekend.  Eat some ice cream.  Or frozen yogurt.  Or a freezey pop! Just eat something cold and yummy cause it is stinkin' hot out there. 

Happy 6 months to Kyra Mae.

Kyra hit the 6 month mark on the 27th (update soon). Teagan heard us talking about Kyra's "half" birthday and of course had to sing to her!