Reagan's First Hair Cut

I have wanted to take R for his first hair cut for many weeks. Though his sweet curl in the back was, well sweet, it was also unruly and becoming increasingly more like a rat tail. The front didn't bug me as much as the back and around the ears. So, yesterday Clint and I agreed was "the day". Off to cool cuts we went. Thought sitting in a car would be a good thing for R to make it through the short procedure. Here are some pictures of the event...

our big boy waiting for his turn.

getting in the taxi and getting ready. you can tell he is really impressed with the experience.

The unruly back.

She begins, he seems happy.

He hates the drape and tried to pull it off most of the haircut.

She's wetting it, he's loving it :)



All done, don't the sides look so grown up!

Finished product and this little boy is finished as well.

Here's a little video of the hair lady using the trimmers on him...


Overall, Reagan did great and it was a good first hair cut for him. I will mention that I think cool cuts is a rip off and we won't be returning simply because the prices are WAY TOO MUCH. I love that my little boy looks so big now with his trimmed hair!

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

Every Christmas season, i am captured by a "christmas" song that just sings sweetly to my soul. Last year O Come, O Come Emmanuel was it. This year, that song is Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus. I am sure that I have heard this song plenty in my 31 years, but I am not sure the words stuck to me like they have this year:

Come, thou long expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.

Born thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne.

This hymn was penned by Charles Wesley and was published in 1744. This was the hymn that really set Wesley's career as a hymn writer in motion. It was birthed out of Haggai 2:7, "And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations will come: and I will fill this house with glory saith the Lord of Hosts." This excerpt from the Book, More Stories Behind the Best-Loved Christmas Songs by Ace Collins really connected the dots in my head and heart...

After reading these word, Wesley began to consider what Jesus’ birth meant to the world’s people. The minister lived in a time when many were suffering in hunger and poverty. There were orphans all around him. The distinction between the classes was distinct and large. He also knew a world in which slavery was allowed. It seemed that in the more than 1,700 years since the Lord had come, humanity had improved little, if at all.

As Wesley considered the plight of so many in the world and the thought of Jesus’ birth, a hopeful thought consumed him. With great anticipation he found himself looking forward toward the second coming of Christ, desiring to see that with as much zeal as the writer of Haggai had looked forward to the Lord’s birth. And like the man who wrote down those words in the Old Testament, Wesley realized he would have to be patient. God’s timing would take precedence over man’s desires.

As he thought of what the birth meant in the eyes of those looking forward to it, Wesley began to jot down the lines of “ Come, Thou, Long-Expected Jesus.” Much more than a babe in a manger, the Jesus Charles wrote about was the adult king who came to set people free. He was the fulfilling prophecy and the answer to the problems not only of every man, woman and child, but of each of the earth’s nations. Though Wesley’s lyrics acknowledged and emphasized the mighty power of God, his words also embraced the loving nature of Jesus. While it was the power that would deliver the world from sin, it was God’s love that would ultimately change us into being more like Jesus. When he finished “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus,” Wesley has perfectly married power and love." (pg. 100-101)

There is such a huge part of me that longs for Jesus returning because I see the condition of the world and of men's hearts. I know there are hurting people, hungry people, abused people and people who are just existing for the moment. I also know that Jesus not only came for me and you but for all the nations of the earth. With such expectancy I long to see him redeem all that is his.

15 months and 17 weeks

Reagan turned 15 months at the beginning of the month and I have yet to post. I was waiting till we went to the doctor this past wednesday so I could include his stats. Here he is at 15 months...

Weight: 21 lbs. (5-10%)
Height: 31 inches (50%)

At this age R is a ball of energy. He never stops moving and he never stops talking! He is climbing on everything that is climbable. I keep finding him on the kitchen table. Yesterday, I found him standing on the table, stiring my drink with a pen. He is stealthy and fast, but when he gets quiet you can be certain he is up to no good. He is currently trying to figure out how to climb the book shelves in our living room. He has a good appetite and likes eggs and ketchup, chickfila chicken nuggets and fruit. He talks A LOT of jibber-jabber, but has a growing word bank. He has discovered that a flight path is overhead in our backyard and is crazy currently about airplanes. He hears them coming before I do and waits until he sees them. He points in the air and gets really excited when he spots one. He has also discovered birds flying as well and points them out not only in the backyard, but also when we are driving in the car. He has transitioned to one nap a day and it has gone pretty smooth thus far. He has been saying Hot for awhile, but is starting to use it approriately. When he seems steam he says hot or he sees flames or when we get near the oven or the stove. He has starting using some sign language, which was funny cause he just started doing it one day. He says more and all done. Reagan is affectionate, sweet and a joy to be around. praying baby 2 is as mild mannered. We truly are having so much fun with him!

A quick note on the pregnancy. I hit the 17 week mark on thursday and had my 16 week appointment on tuesday. All is looking well with baby. He/She would not sit still to have his bpm taken, which was kinda funny and kinda scary. Scary because that activity mixed with amount of activity I have begun to feel in my womb - folks we have one crazy child in the making! Maybe it's just cause they have so much room to roam right now. I say this all the time, but this pregnancy is so different from Reagan's. Now that we are past the yucky part, I am enjoying every gestational day. We are excited to find out if this baby is a boy or girl and that day will be January 5. Glad I have the holdiays to distract me till then. We will let you know!

Family Pictures

We had some family pictures taken recently and here are a few of my favorites. We are going to try to do this every year around this time so that as the years go by, we will be able to see how our family is changing.Enjoy!

Snow Day...

So, I am a little late on posting these, but I wanted to share some snow day pictures from last friday with the rest of my family (not on facebook). The snow was an awesome treat! Reagan LOVED it! Here's a couple shots and a video from our play session outside. Uncle Thane came over for this first :)

Uncle Thane, Meredith and Reagan

Look, It's a Snowball!


I can eat this, normally they tell me not to eat what I find on the ground!

first encounter with the snow.

This is what our backyard looked like at about 3 pm.

Clint and Reagan Playing in the snow

Obsolete

I have been thinking about the word obsolete all day. What a strange word. What a great description for my blog right now. I get so frustrated when blogs I follow don't quickly keep me posted on new going ons, but I have let me own blog fall by the way side. Not that I think my readers are really that out of touch with my going ons, but it's the principle. I think I have put blogging on the back burner because my mind and body have been preoccupied with gestating and surviving each day. And even though the fog of yuckiness seems to be lifting - I am so behind on all things related to having a clean home and a well taken care of child and husband. But with each day I am digging out of that pit. Aren't you glad for seasons. Right when you think you just can't take the summer heat, a cool front blows through. I am so glad that the season of trimester one is getting farther and farther behind me. Ok, so it is only two days behind me, but that feels far right now!

Another Month Has Gone Bye...

I have been a horrible blogger of late. It is mainly because I do not have many cohesive thoughts these days. I think the cloud of pregnancy funk is starting to lift a bit and therefore I know I need to get back to my blog!


REAGAN
We have once again hit the marker day that bumps my toddler up in age. He is now 14 MONTHS OLD! His latest word is car. He loves riding in his car around the block and jumps up and down in excitement when you tell him we are going. He loves playing with cars and has a definite car noise. I love hearing him do it. All of a sudden he wants to eat with a fork or spoon. He isn't too bad at it either. I have been trying to teach him to stab food with his fork and he tries, sometimes he gets it on there and in his mouth and we make a big deal about it. We have been watching WAY TOO MUCH TV because i wasn't really getting off the couch much for a while. I am trying to limit it more and more. He really likes curious george and super why right now. He is working on all four of his molars, 3 I actually see poking through his gums, one is just still swollen. I find it interesting that he gets teeth on one side of his mouth faster than the other. It has been this way with every tooth. Reagan loves being outside and he is loving the weather here in Katy as of late. He was Chewbacca for Halloween this year. He wasn't that into the costume, but I think by next year he will be. We went to the fall fest at church and his favorite part was the balloon swords that he come home with. We too him across the street to trick or treat and he really loved that. He didn't quite understand that you go to the door and then leave, he wanted to go in our neighbors house. We stood outside and watched the big kids for a bit and danced to our neighbors Monster Mash music. Reagan liked handing out candy to kids, he got frustrated cause he wanted to go with them when they left. All in all a great 2nd halloween.


BABY H
Had my 12 week doctors appointment yesterday and all seems to being going good with pregnancy and baby. All my tests of late are coming back perfect and we listened to baby's heartbeat yesterday. That little heart was beating at 150 and sounded happy. You could hear the little one doing his/her little flips and flops. I have lost weight since my last appointment, but this is not surprising with how yucky i have felt. Folks keep asking if i am showing and really I haven't been until the last couple of days, I am starting to notice having a little more pokey pouch then normal. I am still fitting in my normal clothes for the most part. I am looking forward to the next couple weeks and getting to feeling better. I will be 20 weeks on New Years Eve and have a doctor that is usually very set on waiting until that point to determine gender. I am hoping she might move an inch and let me find out right before Christmas, but I am not betting on it.

OTHER NEWS
Really we have no other news. Just looking forward to the holidays! Have you started listening to christmas music yet? We have!