First Cupcake & Astros Game!

Every Monday I come home for lunch to see Reese and every Monday she looks different, bigger somehow. It's like I've seen her all weekend and then being away for a few hours makes me notice how much she is changing and growing each day. I can't really explain it, but I take a step back and look at her and see she has changed. See if you can tell a difference in our big girl.



Here she is running to hug Daddy before bedtime.



Daddy kisses!





Mommy kisses!

Reese ate her first entire strawberry Crave cupcake at Harper's 2nd birthday party. She also gobbled down pepperoni, hamburger and cheese pizza! I couldn't believe she ate the entire cupcake. I was almost sick from eating my cupcake because it was so sweet. When I took her bib off a piece of cake fell on the table and she stuffed it in her mouth. How in the world she didn't puke is beyond me!

We decided to let Reese and Brady run the sugar off by going to the park. The park only had big kid swings, so Reese sat in my lap and we swung together. She loved it and didn't want to stop. We must have swung for 20 minutes. Daddy pushed and it was so much fun!

Saturday, we took Reese to her first Astros game. They were playing the Rangers, so we took Grandma too!

Reese did well and loved all the people, lights and sounds.

Reese drank her first Coke; at least it looks like she did!

She got restless a few times, so we took a few walks. The club level seats were a good buy because we had a waiter and were able to take Reese inside to walk around.

Unfortunately, the Astros lost to the Rangers. Reese was sad, but Grandma was happy!

My best friend, Kelly, and her family were at the game, so we all met at the original Ninfa's for dinner afterwards. Here are Jaxon and Luke with their Houston buddy (who's name I cannot recall).

Reese watches me put on my make up every weekend, but I didn't realize what all she was taking in until she mimicked me. Wow, she is really watching and learning from our every move.

I love the picture below; what a cute face!

Right before bedtime, we ask Reese if she is ready for her milk and cookies and she jumps up and runs (walks really) into the kitchen. She has been so good about bedtime lately. We take turns each night, rock her for 5 minutes and lay her down. She cries for a second and then puts her self to sleep. Yes! Finally! Oh, and she is totally off the paci. I am so proud, we met all of our 15 month goals! Why did I ever worry? Reese did everything in her own time with a little help from us and it all worked out.

More outside time before dinner! Daddy dressed her in these jeans and crocs!

Look at that hair! And cute butt!

The past few days have been hot, so we've sat on the front steps and drink crystal light instead of walking to the park. Reese has discovered she likes to eat ice and drink from our cup.

The pictures below are from playtime before bedtime last week.

On Sunday, Matt and I ventured out to the outlet mall off 290. We had a great time and found good deals for all three of us. Reese checked out her new duds when we got back.

Monday, we met Matt's family at our "old standby" Empire Cafe. It has become a nice tradition meeting them at least once a month for breakfast!

Reese and Daddy played with bubbles!

In Memory of Eike Eaves

It is with sadness and sorrow that I write this post. This past Saturday, May 16, 2009 my brother Joe's mother Eike passed away after a long and courageous battle with cancer. I will be driving to Brownwood tomorrow morning to attend the afternoon service with my Dad and Dana. I ask that you keep Joe and their family and friends in your prayers.

Lake Brownwood, Texas

Memorial Services for Eike Regina Eaves, 55, of Lake Brownwood, Texas will be held 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at Heartland Funeral Home with Don and Yvonne Sanderson officiating. She passed away Saturday at her home surrounded by family after a courageous battle with cancer.

Eike Regina Eaves was born on January 5, 1954 in Germany to Herta Martha Bunn and Winfred Lester Brown. She was raised in Todendorf Germany briefly then in Abilene Texas where she graduated High School. She obtained her mortgage and real estate license and worked in that field. On, June 26, 1994 she married Samuel Ray Eaves in Abilene, Texas. They made their home at Lake Brownwood for the past three years having moved there from Austin, Texas. She was a member of the Lakeside Christian Center. Her hobbies included bowling, gardening, fishing, boating, camping, cooking and being a homemaker.

Survivors: husband, Samuel R. Eaves of Lake Brownwood, Texas; sons, Joe Roberson and wife Angela of Abilene, Texas and Cassidy Eaves and wife Shannon of Killeen, Texas; daughter, Shannon Martinez and husband Gilbert of Abilene, Texas; mother, Herta Howard of Clyde, Texas; sisters, Doris Broadus of Baird, Texas and Monika Bennett of Dallas, Texas; Grandsons, Tyler Roberson, Kyler Faulkner and Riley Roberson; grandaughters, Leah Martinez, Sydney Tingler and Aubrey Eaves.

She was preceded in death by her father, Winfred Brown.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Family and friends are invited to sign the guestbook at
www.heartlandfuneralhome.net

Arrangements are under the direction of Heartland Funeral Home.

Tidbits

Hugs...

This past weekend Matt kept asking Reese, "Where is Mommy?" and "Give Mommy a hug" and she would walk over to me and give me a hug and kiss. I tried to return the favor to Daddy, but she wouldn't walk over to him.

Today at the park Matt asked her, "Where is Mommy?...Give Mommy a hug" and she walked up to me with her arms out and gave me a hug. Then I said, "Give Daddy a hug" and she walked over to him and gave him a big hug. She repeated this at least four times. It was so sweet! Each time she walked up to us we gave her big hugs and kisses and told her we loved her.

Milk...

Reese knows that her milk is in the fridge because she'll walk over and stand at the door until you open it and hand the cup of milk to her. Tonight after our walk, I asked her "Where is your milk?" and she walked right over to the fridge and reached for it when I opened the door. Before bed time, I asked her if she was ready for milk and cookies and she eagerly began walking towards the kitchen.

I am truly amazed at how much she understands and absorbs. It is so much fun to watch her express the new things she has learned. She is taking in so much and I can see that it is never too early to start teaching her manners, to say please and thank you, give her encouragement and praise when she does something good/new/right and tell her when she is doing something she isn't supposed to do like throw the remote control on the floor. We try and explain why she shouldn't do something because we think it will help her to understand why we are telling her no. It's just a theory, but I'll bet it's not a bad one.

Climbing...

Reese now climbs up the steps outside. Our steps, the neighbors steps any steps will do. She'll climb up the first one, sit for a bit and then stand up. Then we spot her as she tries to climb the next one. Before I know it she'll be walking up them all by herself.

Teeth...

Reese has 11 teeth. 8 in front and 3 in back. The back teeth become more prominent each week.

Happy to be Reese's Mom

I have read this poem a few times before on your blogs and in emails...here's to all Mothers!

Before I was a Mom, I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby. I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom, I had never been puked on. Pooped on. Chewed on. Peed on. I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts. I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom, I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests. Or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom, I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put her down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.! I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom, I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.. I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child. I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom, I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom. I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom. May you always be overwhelmed by the Grace of God rather than by the cares of life.

Happy Mother's Day!

The week before Mother's Day...

Reese climbed in her rocking chair over and over again. Grandma finally had to put the chair in timeout because Reese kept standing up in it.

Little crossed legs are so sweet.

Oops, I dropped my spoon.

After bath time, Reese loves to run around the house with her towel on. She holds both ends of the towel and laughs while running naked as a jaybird in and out of each room.

Reese learned this mode of transportation has multiple forms. She liked being pushed back and forth across the floor. When she got off, she picked up the end of the toy trying to stand it up and walk with it. I then put it back into its original form.

Reese can brush her pretty brown curls.

Say Cheese!

Saturday, we had lunch at Jennifer, Chad and Brady's before walking from Midtown to the Art Car Parade at Allen Parkway. It was warm, but we all survived! Reese loved walking around and people watching.

For those of you who don't know what the Art Car Parade is . . . . it is a parade held once a year where artists take old cars and turn them into art. This year the parade had about 250 entrants. Matt and I had never been before, so when we found out we were going to be in town during the parade . . . we jumped at the chance.

Here is Reese "chilling" while she was watching the parade. It was actually darned hot outside!

Since Houston has lots of cockroaches . . . someone decided to make a cockroach art car . .YUCK!

I am not quite sure what the Viking on rollerblades in short shorts was doing in the parade . . . I guess he decided to call himself art?

I guess you never know when you have to drive around Houston in a chicken car.

A Lone Star car for the Lone Star state?

After the parade, we headed to Matt's parents for bar-b-que. Reese was so good, except when I tried to get her to eat at 5:00 instead of her usual 6:30/7:00. Ok, you can play while we eat! She played with everyone and was quite social. She even let Scott hold her and she smiled! I think the two of them look a like in this picture.

No luck in getting a smile out of her for the family shot though.

Pat looks so pretty in this picture; quite photogenic I would say! ;) I look like I've been sweating at the Art Car Parade all afternoon. :)

Sunday we went to Baba Yega for brunch with Mom and Sam. The $20 buffet lines were ridiculously long, so Grandma, Mom and I split up and piled our plates high to share fruit, omelets, waffles, quiche, ham, sausage, and finger desserts. It was delicious!

Afterwards, Reese cleaned her hands and face all by herself. She finds it way more fun than when I do it for her.

Cards and presents! Grandma got a Merle Norman gift card and Celtic Woman dvd. Mom got a Dillards gift card and Fleetwood Mac "Tango in the Night" dvd. I got a Banana Republic gift card and Tory Burch flip flops which Matt and Reese picked out!

Later, while I did laundry (some how I did not manage to get out of doing chores on Mother's Day) Reese showed off her pretty dress.

And played in my shoes...

She loves the logos and buckles on my shoes and sandals.

Reese enjoyed leftover banana cream pie from Flying Saucer.

This is a funny picture of Reese. Looks like she was talking away.

We always make folding laundry a fun time!

Reese wore her shades just long enough for this picture.

And then we headed back out to face the crowds and meet Meghan, Sam and Maggie for an early dinner. Pappadeuax was our goal as Maggie wanted boiled shrimp, but the wait was 2.5 hours at 3:00. So we went next door to Pappasito's instead. The fajitas and ritas were delightful.

Reese colored and ate a crayon for the first time. I knew she would probably put the crayon in her mouth, but I also knew coloring would entertain her. I don't think she swallowed any of it as I scooped the crayon tip out of her mouth with my fingers as soon as I noticed the tip was broken off.

Reese fell asleep on the way home and then we took an hour and a half nap. I finally woke her up at 6:20 afraid she wouldn't sleep that night. I was right, she was up (although tired) until 12:30 a.m. We couldn't clam her, she was so tired all she could do was scream. The t.v. was the only thing that would calm her down, but as soon as I turned it off and tried to rock her or put her in out bed she refused. Grandma came to her (and our) rescue and of course Reese passed out and slept with Grandma all night.

Clucking with her tongue.

Reese, I am so happy that you are our baby girl! I absolutely love being your Mommy!