Mommy's Day

Today was Mommy's Day. That's not to say that she didn't do anything, we just tried to give her a few minutes to do some things that she wanted to do.



That meant that at 6:00 AM when Reed woke up for the fifth time last night, Daddy got up with him. That is fine since I really didn't sleep that well last night. Reed has a bit of an ear infection, so it was a tough night for all of us I think.



Reed began to get sleepy around 8:00 and since I am still bumming it, I laid down with him. He only slept about an hour, but that got him ready to play for a little while. Abbey got ready while I watched Reed. She was also working on some new recipes.



Since I am feeling well enough that I can finally help take care of the bambino, I suggested that Abbey go and get her a manicure and pedicure for all of her wonderful efforts this week at getting us better. (Lola financed the mani and pedi as a Valentine's gift. I guess mine got lost in the mail, eh, Lola? ;-)



While Mama was gone, Reed practiced walking for a while and then he went to sleep again. He had a good nap and then woke up ready for lunch. I had planned to sneak out with Reed to Kroger and buy Abbey some flowers while she was gone, but I realized that she had my wallet.



What was I to do? I realized that I shouldn't really be out in public just yet anyway, so I called Abbey and told her my intentions and then asked her to stop at Publix and buy some flowers. They usually have much prettier flowers anyway. I think that Abbey was thankful that I was thinking of her, but it was a rather unconventional way of giving your most loved one flowers.



When Mama got home we had to get to work, well, she got to work. Reed got to get a rare daytime glance at his girlfriend Bisselletta. I croaked some cheesy love songs as he admired her deep metallic blue tan. Seriously, I don't know why the boy loves vacuums so much, but maybe he is going to be the inventor of the next great vacuum. Move over Dyson!


We had to get to work because Nana and Putty Sprinkles were coming over for supper. Abbey tried four new recipes from her new favorite blog The Pioneer Woman Cooks. While this may seem not to fit into your plans of "Mommy's Day," cooking and hostessing is one of Abbey's favorite activities.



Reed tried giving Putty Sprinkles his stopper, but Putty isn't feeling great, so it probably wouldn't have been a good idea. We had a great supper and it was wonderful for Abbey to get to visit with Mrs. Sheila.



The flower selection at Publix wasn't great, in fact Abbey said she wish she would have bought some at Wal-Mart. Abbey chose some tulips and snap-dragons. I arranged them the best I could, but I've never really worked with just tulips and snapdragons. They are pretty though.

Many Faces of Reed

I am finally starting to feel a little better, however, just when I think that I am better, I get really sick again! I was actually thinking that it might be possible for me to be able to go to work tomorrow, but as quickly as I thought that I was sick again! All of this illness has led me to think about a few things.



1. When I was growing up and still addicted to "The Brady Bunch" I always wondered why they stayed in their rooms when they got sick. When I was little and sick, I could be found in the living room watching TV on the floor, on couch, or possibly even in my parent's bed, but NEVER would I be in my room in bed. Now, that I am older, there is nowhere that I would rather be when I am sick than in my bed. I don't want lights, I don't want TV, I don't want sound!



2. Single parents deserve a pat on the back! I can't imagine being sick like I have been and having to take care of Reed at the same time. I know that there are some single parents who read our blog and I want them to know that our hats are off to you! My only assumption is that one must have an incredible familial or friend support system in place for such a time.



3. Men are babies. I readily admit that I am probably king of babies when it comes to being sick! Abbey has some kind of amazing threshold for sickness, but not me. I mean, I gag when I see the tongue depresser. The doctor said, "Okay, just say 'Ahhh' really good for me and I won't use it." Abbey is also an incredible nurse. She must be exhausted. She always takes the best care of me when she is sick!



4. I miss this face when I am sick. The doctor said that I shouldn't be contagious anymore after 48 hours on the antibiotics, but we waited longer. That means that I have hardly even seen my little guy since I have been sick. Today, since I was feeling a bit better, still exhausted, but better, I got to play with him a bit.

___________________________

And now ... the latest edition of "The Many Faces of Reed"



"Give me all of your fruit puffs and nobody gets hurt."



"Beautiful Eyes, Even in Black and White"



"No, Mama, I am not up to anything"



"I was just about to say that"



"Sometimes, I get this sour look on my face"



"If you had to big front teeth like mine, you'd show them off too."



"Can I have a million dollars please?"



"Dada, I bet you tell that story all the time."



"But WHY Can't I go down the steps by myself?"

Mixed up Snow Day!

(I apologize in advance if pictures are out of order.)


We were all pretty excited to wake up to this.
Jeff is still sick. And, no, he doesn't believe in talking in third person. Jeff has retired to the bed early tonight. I took him back to the doctor today, because he wasn't feeling any better. He had blood work done and a chest x-ray. Nothing was found, and our doctor gave him some cough medicine and a steroid shot. She said he should be feeling better soon. Reed still has not shown any physical effects of his ear infection.


Luckily, school was closed, so our neighbors Jenny and Mia were home. They graciously agreed to watch Reed for us. I've been told everyone (including Mrs. Jenny) had a grand time. I promise pictures will follow, but I have to get them from Jenny.
(imagine cute pictures here)

After we returned home, I decided it was time for Reed to experience snow up close and personal. He got all bundled up. (Okay, I helped him a little.)



Then, we headed out on our great adventure to the back deck. At first, he was interested but unsure.



I think this one speaks for itself. In Reed's defense, once I was holding him, he wanted to touch the snow.

Don't let the above picture deceive you. Reed generally is very happy. Let's look back at earlier in the day, when the snowflakes only appeared on his pjs.


And, as if you needed to be reminded of Reed's love of balloons, here you go. Mommy + pacifer + balloon = perfect nap!


Hopefully, Jeff will be feeling better tomorrow. We got to speak with our favorite friends in Ireland - Jimmy and Meilyn tonight. We skyped with them, and it was great. We miss them, but we know they are sharing Christ in a far away land. So, my challenge to you tonight is call up an old friend (well, they don't have to be old physically, although that's fine, too...just think of someone you haven't talked to in a while) and brighten their/his/her day! (It counts if you drop them a letter, too. People still send those, I think!)

Don't Hate Me Cause I'm Beautiful

Oh my goodness, does Reed not have the most amazing ability to make his clothes look cute? Abbey got this hat out for him to take to Mother's Day Out with him, because that was one of the supplies each child is requested to bring.



Reed had a great time at MDO. I think that it hurt his Mommy's feelings a little bit because he didn't even seem to care that she was leaving. I didn't think that he would have too much trouble because he is just like that with me when I drop him off for Sunday School.



I was thinking that MDO was probably not going to be very structured because it is a small program in a rural church. It's also only $10.00 a day, so I really didn't expect much. I certainly didn't expect that Reed would be "taught" anything. Reed came home with several worksheets and and a new book. I am sure that teachers were well-meaning, so I don't mind that his worksheets were about 3 years above his age level, but I have seen MANY MDO's that were strictly glorified babysitting. That being said, I am quite pleased with the experience.



After MDO, Reed had his one-year-old doctor's visit. He got to see Stacy who is actually a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and is Abbey's favorite person at the clinic. Reportedly, Reed did really well throughout the visit, however, he was not a fan of getting his ears checked out nor was he a fan of the three immunizations or toe prick. Mommy, who was thinking quickly, promised Reed a balloon if he would settle down. That must have worked, because that's all he said the rest of the time at the Doc's office.



True to her word, Mommy stopped by Dollar Tree on the way home and bought Reed a star balloon. So, for the rest of the evening, he carried around his non-floating yellow balloon and his new balloon. I told him that I thought it was a little greedy to hang on to his balloons so tightly.

Here are some of Reed's battle wounds.





Here is his report card from school.



I have slept all day. Mommy cleaned the whole house and it is sparkling. I don't feel any better, so I am going to stay home again tomorrow.

Just Another Monday?

I woke up this morning at my normal time and began to get ready. I was not feeling really well, but I went ahead and got dressed. By the time that I was dressed, I was completely exhausted and sore. I asked Abbey if she thought I should stay home or go to work until I could get a doctor's appointment.



In her half conscious state, Abbey gave me a non-answer of "What do you think?" I could hardly hold myself up, so I decided to get ready for bed again and go back to sleep.



I called my doctor first thing this morning and got an appointment for midday. I eventually made it upstairs to lay down on the sofa, so at least I could be near my family. I slept a little while Reed played and then also took a nap. Abbey worked on Reed's closet attempting to organize his clothes.



I went to the doctor and she told me that I had strep throat after doing some tests. I was freezing because I had fever and she was a little scared to let me drive home. I assured her that I would be alright. I finally made it home and went straight to bed. It was restful sleep. Abbey and Reed went to Wal-Mart and the drug store to get my prescriptions.



When they came home, I had a little bit of supper. I was glad to finally get to see my family, but I didn't like that I couldn't touch them. It was really hard tonight to not be able to give Reed his bath and bottle. That is my cherished time of the day with my son.



The above and following pictures are an example of what happens when you have two parents who loves clothes.

Abbey discovered many clothes today that we had forgotten that Reed had. I think that Reed is set in the clothing department. I am glad that Abbey was able to get everything out. Hopefully, I will start feeling better soon so that I can help her. Reed is going to his first day of Mother's Day Out tomorrow. I think that he will have fun!

Miss Candace turns 30!

This is one of our new buys from Gymboree yesterday. It's hard to see, but you can try to see how SPIKY his hair was today. The new gel does as promised and keeps the hair stickin' straight up!

The sweater had a few stains on it by the time that we came home from church, so we had to take it off and let Spray'n Wash do its magic.



We didn't go to church tonight because Miss Candace was celebrating her 30th birthday at a local skating rink. Of course, we had to go.

Reed thought that the skating rink was incredible! He was thrilled with all of the lights and the loud music.



I was able to take Reed on several trips around the skating floor before the DJ kindly reminded parents that for the safety of the little ones, please do not skate around with babies. He might as well have said, "Hey Dude with the kid, get off the floor," because I was the only one out there with a baby. I was being very safe and I am a really good skater, so I was not really that worried.



Reed loved watching the people skate around the rink. He was so into the moving lights, it was hilarious.



This morning, the Sunday School kids made a huge sign for Miss Candace. We even practiced saying, "Man your old!' for when Miss Candace came into Sunday School. One of the girls went out of the room and came in pretending to be Miss Candace so that when she came in we would be ready. It was a lot fun.

Miss Candace had a great 30th birthday party. It was a lot fun.



A bunch of people from my work were there at the party. Reed had a lot of fun with Mrs. Shirley. Of course, she completely won his heart when she got him a balloon. As you can see, he was all smiles tonight at the party.



Do we make a handsome family or what?

Happy Birthday Miss Candace! We hope that you have many, many more!