Phone pictures.....

are the best I have right now....but I'm sure I won't hear too many complaints.

I feel like I can actually watch her grow while she sleeps. 

Watch out world...here come the Reid girls!

Love this face! 

Our little bookworm. 

Her favorite sunglasses are Mommy's pink ones. 

Definitely was greeted by this sweet face when I picked her up the other day. 

That is some good sleep. 

Windows down. Hair blown'. Perfect. 

Postpartum depression.

For those of you who know me, you know that one of my passions is postpartum mental illness.  I had postpartum depression with both Teagan and Kyra.  I have friends who suffered from postpartum depression, I have a friend who suffered from probably the most severe, postpartum psychosis.  Some of my friends had a great support system in place and they were able to get the help they needed sooner rather than later.  Some didn't have that support system and were left to flounder around trying to figure out if they'd gone crazy or not.
There are many misconceptions about postpartum mental illness. Whenever I hear an untrue statement about postpartum mental illness I try to educate and explain why that particular statement is certainly untrue and what the truth is.  I don't claim to be an expert, although one day I hope to be, but I'm a mom of two.  I am a mom who suffered.  And I will continue to be an advocate for those moms who are suffering, who might suffer, or who did suffer and had nowhere to turn.  It's inexcusable that we are not helping these women.
I came across an article from Katherine Stone, who is an incredible postpartum mental illness advocate, and thought I would share some of it with you.  This is a list of common statements that are made towards or about women who are suffering with a postpartum mental illness.

This list is by Katherine Stone from the website Postpartum Progress. 

20 Things I NEVER Want to Hear or Read Again, Postpartum Depression Edition

1. Just [go for a walk/go out with your friends/have a drink] and you’ll feel all better.

2. If you just buy this book online, even though we don’t tell you what’s in it, you’ll learn the “cure” for postpartum depression.

3. In a news report on infanticide or any other child murder: She must have had postpartum depression.

4. Magazine or online article headline: 10 Easy Steps To Get Over PPD Now! (None of them will mention, of course, that getting over postpartum depression is not easy, and none of them will mention getting medical help.)

5. Women have been having babies for tens of thousands of years, and they got through new motherhood just fine. Toughen up.

6. I just finished my album/thesis/marathon/political campaign. This must be what postpartum depression feels like.

7. Maybe postpartum depression is God’s way of letting you know you don’t have enough faith. I think you should pray harder.

8. Here’s some information on postpartum depression I’m supposed to give you. You’re probably not going to get it, though, so I wouldn’t pay too much attention to it.

9. Quitting breastfeeding is selfish. The baby’s health is so much more important than yours.

10. I know breastfeeding is really important to you, but you have to quit so you can be treated for PPD.

11. This is the exact medication and dosage I took for my PPD. Just take that and you’ll be OK.

12.I would never take antidepressants. You shouldn’t need that stuff to be a mother.

13. Here’s a prescription.(No mention of side effects. No mention that it may not work. No mention of therapy. No mention of follow up appointments.)

14. You’re just mad the baby is getting all the attention.

15. PPD is just a fad. Only spoiled, Western women get it, and now that it’s “popular” on the blogs, everyone is jumping on the bandwagon.

16. Can’t you see how lucky you are? You have a beautiful baby!

17.This will probably go away on it’s own, so don’t worry about it.

18. I wouldn’t talk about this with anyone. You don’t want them to think you’re crazy.

19. You don’t need to worry about your symptoms unless you’re having thoughts of harming your baby.

20. Postpartum depression isn’t real.

Have you ever been told or asked these questions?  Have you ever asked these questions? What are some questions you've been asked?  Let's think before we speak ladies and gents. You never know how much power words have until you use them to hurt somebody else. 

Things that make me smile.

These two. Yes.

Moments.

This evening was one of those moments.  The moments I wish I would have had time to grab my phone, the camera, or the video camera but I didn't.  It was in arms reach but the girls and I were having too much fun.  We were cooking dinner and having a dance party.  
We made stromboli (a recipe I've adapted from my amazing friend, Kristin!).  Kyra Mae was strapped to my back and Teagan was on the stool next to me.  We rolled out the dough, we sprinkled cheese and pepperoni (and we ate some cheese and pepperoni)... did I mention we sprinkled BACON on as well? Hello!  Then I popped it in the oven (which is the main reason Kyra was on my back).
While we waited on the stromboli to finish we jammed out! Teagan grabbed her baby and put her on her hip "like Mommy does", I took Kyra off my back and hoisted her to my hip and we all just danced like fools in the kitchen! It was amazing. It was a much needed moment with my girls and I.  It was one I will forever have embedded in my memory but unfortunately  never have pictures of.
I'm actually okay with not having pictures of it.  I've been trying really hard, especially since I've been in school, to just live in the moment.  I try to record those memories as often as possible but often I find myself in such a rush to find my camera or my phone that I almost miss the moment.  I take plenty of pictures, but those pictures will be worthless if I wasn't able to enjoy the moments they capture.  

Mommy-Teagan Day

This week I had off from school (it is GOOD to be back on a college schedule, haha!). I wanted to take this time to catch up and be with people I don't normally get to spend time with since going back to school. A really important thing for me to do this week was to spend time with the girls. So, I took one whole day with Teagan and one whole day with Kyra.

My day with Teagan was a little more eventful and "go-go-go" than my day with Kyra. Our day started off dropping "sister" off at school and then heading to Target/Starbucks to have breakfast and a mommy-daughter quiet time. Teagan picked out her favorite Bible story and we read it in her Bible and then in mine. She had a big girl cup of milk and some banana bread while I sipped on chai tea and just listened to her talk to me about what she was seeing and what she wanted to do the rest of the day.  We walked around Target and tried to find Kyra Mae a certain kind of sippy cup and she picked out a Cinderella doll for finishing her potty training! We officially have a fully potty trained kiddo! She has done wonderful! After we left Target we headed to the doctor (oddly enough this is fun for Teagan still).  She's been having issues with her belly hurting but we were never really sure why.  The doctor said he didn't think it was anything we should worry about it but we'll keep an eye on it.   Then, we met Aunt Jeana and Miles David for lunch and then some fun at the splash pad!

  

  

1 down. 2 to go.

We made it.  Today is the last day of class for my first semester of grad school.  It's a pretty amazing feeling but one I couldn't have come to on my own.  I have truly been blessed with a beyond supportive support system.  The people I've been blessed with have given selflessly to my journey.  To the journey my family is taking.  I have never walked more than a few steps this summer without somebody by my side, encouraging me, praying for me, hugging me, or reading over my papers!  I feel a sense of accomplishment but I cannot claim it in its entirety.  Josh has been so supportive over the last few months, he's stepped up to the plate as husband, provider, daddy and occasionally mommy.  Knowing he was in my corner and holding me up when I got weak gave me strength this entire semester.  The Lord truly blessed me with an amazing man.  My sweet girls, even though they don't know it, have given me the fire to fight through the complaining, the days where I wanted to do nothing, and the overall feeling of ignorance.  They constantly remind me of how far I've been able to come, how strong the Lord has made me and how much stronger I am today than even three years ago.  They are both always ready with a smile or a kiss or a laugh and a constant reminder that "I am Mama Bear! Hear me roar!".  My parents have always been supportive of me but they have gone above and beyond by not only supporting me but supporting my husband and my children.  They have truly proven that you never stop providing for your children.  This would be so much harder without them and their support and their love for our children.  Josh's parents have been equally loving on our sweet girls.  Any opportunity they have to gather our girls up in their arms they willingly take, even if it might be at an inconvenient time.  My girls have never been an inconvenience to either set of grandparents and I will be forever grateful.  Our church community has surround us, with love, support and prayers.  Constant prayers.  I know, that on a daily basis, somebody in our community group and our church is praying for me.  For the journey our family is on.  For my husband.  For my girls.  We've got amazing friends and family scattered all over the world and I know that in those in between moments where somebody from Exodus isn't praying for our family that those special people are.  God is so good.
This next semester is going to be pretty intense but it won't be a sprint it will be a marathon.  I am still a little apprehensive about what the course load seems to be but with a support system like the one I've been blessed with, I'm sure the breakdowns and freak outs I am sure to have will only happen every two weeks instead of every week or every day.

Airplanes.

Josh and I have made it a point to get alone time together whenever we can.  We weren't so good at it when we had just one kiddo but now with two it is extremely important.  We recognize that our relationship needs to be as strong as possible so our relationship with the girls can be as strong as possible.  Some people say the kids come first, we however, do not agree.  Our marriage comes first.  Second only to our relationship with our Lord.  We have to be strong in the first two in order to be strong for the third.  

Since having Kyra and starting graduate school it's been a little difficult to find time for ourselves.  Quality time at least.  There are some evenings where we barely say twenty words to each other in the time we get home to the time we lay our heads down on the pillows.  Too many nights like that can really wear a marriage down.  

The other day the girls had an impromptu sleepover with my parents and we had an impromptu weekend to ourselves.  We were unsure of what to do with our time.  We went out to eat and then went to the overlook at the airport and watched the airplanes landing and taking off.  It was so much fun.  No distractions.  Just the two of us.  His arm around me and my head on his shoulder.  Perfect.   

30 months and 9 months

Teagan- 30 months (basically a fancy way of saying a little over 2 1/2).  Little girl, you are talking and talking and talking and then talking some more.  You will carry on conversations with anybody who will talk to you, which can be good and bad.  We are starting to explain that you don't talk to people you don't know unless mommy or daddy (or the other responsible adults in your life) are with you.  We are not saying anything that will scare you, just make you be aware.  Your imagination is sometimes that of a 4 year old and it continues to amaze your daddy and I.  Like last night, you called me into your room and it was because there was a "red and orange bug" in your bed.  I had to scoop it out and then you were good. And this morning, you were telling me about your dream and you and "her" went to "tick-tock" land and you would take me there sometime.  Amazing kiddo, just amazing.
You are in big girl panties and have been for a month now.  You are doing great.  We haven't had an accident during the day in a few weeks and only occasionally at night.  I rarely have to change the pad we have on your bed.  Your daddy and I are so proud of you!  You are also proud of yourself and love to come out of the bathroom telling whoever will listen that you went pee pee in the potty!
Your favorite food right now is beans. Baked. Beans.  You would eat them all day if we would let you.  You are hit and miss with a lot of foods.  We still don't have much consistency with what you will eat.  Somedays you will eat anything we put in front of you and other days it's a struggle to get you to eat anything we put in front of you...except beans.    
Kyra Mae- 9 months. Oh sweet baby! You have TAKEN OFF! You are crawling and climbing and cruising and mere weeks away from walking.  You cannot wait to run instead of crawl after your sister and that is so obvious by the look of pure determination in your eyes.  Mommy took you to your 9 month check up and MY how you have grown!  You are 18 lbs and 28 inches long already sweet baby, that is only 5 inches shorter than your sister is RIGHT NOW.  You are truly a Reid in every sense of the way!  That means you get more new clothes than we thought you would...haha, you are definitely not fitting in the clothes your sister passed down to you.  Fall wardrobe here we come! (Hear that, Mamaw?!?)
You are not a fan of food.  You love cereal and that is about it.  We are truly hit and miss with food.  We started yogurt the other day and after the second introduction you ate it really well. We have started some finger foods but you're more playing than eating but you're trying.  We're just taking it slow and letting you develop your appetite at your own rate.  It will come and we're not going to force it.
You are talking up a storm right now saying Mama and Dada constantly.  The other night you fell and bumped your head and looked up at me crying "mama mama mama".  Of course I scooped you up and loved on you as my heart melted to a puddle we could have swam in.
You have your bottom two teeth and we think you're working on your top two but I've never been good at determining when teeth are coming in until I see them so who knows!


You both are so very special to us and you are both such a blessing.  Your relationship seems to grow more every day.  Teagan you are so patient with Kyra when she wants to do what you do and play with the exact toy you have.  Kyra Mae you are so patient with Teagan when she wants to give you an abundance of love and get in your face trying to kiss you.  There are times when it is hard because both of you want either me or your daddy at the same time and won't settle for the other parent but that's why the Lord provided us with two arms and not just one...even though sometimes I feel like we need three! I cannot wait to see how you continue to grow and learn and explore with each other.  We love you both very much our sweet girls!

Oh the things she says.

We were in the car on the way home the other day and Teagan was telling me and Kyra Mae about her day.  In the middle of describing what her, Matilda and Kendal had been playing she found one of her pocketbooks beside her. All of a sudden this is where our conversation went....

T- Mommy, I like cupcakes.  I like birthday cake too.
M- Me too, Little Bear"
T- Mommy, when I get older, I have "monies", right?
M- Yes, Little Bear, when you get older you will have money after you find a job.
T- When I get older I buy cupcakes and birthday cakes.  You want some?
M- Sure, kiddo, I'd love some.
T- Kyra, you can't have some, you not older yet.  I read now, Mommy.
M- Okay, Little Bear.

I love the way her mind works.  I wish I'd had the camera with me to video it.  I can only imagine what it's going to be like when Kyra Mae starts talking...like with words, haha! It's gonna be hilarious, I'm sure!