Today I feel better than I have all week, and that's not to say I feel great, but I am up to about 75% which is far better than the -50% I was earlier. I have been attacked by the worst swimmer's ear I have ever had, quite possible the worst swimmer's ear anyone has ever had. (I put that in just for you, Mom!)
On Tuesday morning we took Reeves to the hospital to have his endoscopy. He did perfectly, and the procedure actually took place on time. He recovered quickly from the anesthesia, and, much to my disappointment, didn't feel like he needed to sleep for the rest of the day. Unfortunately for him, my left ear had started hurting worse than ever. I couldn't hear anything out of it, and it was swollen and painful. I didn't have the energy to force him to take his nap. Bennett had spent Monday night with the Bairs, so when Bryant finished his day, he came home and got Reeves to go with him to go get Bennett. So sweet. This would give me time to rest and hopefully recover. No such luck. Two hours after they left, the pain was worse than ever. I called my dad. Through the tears, I asked him if he thought it would be overkill to go to the ER for swimmer's ear. He came and got me. There was something oddly reminiscent about having him take me to the ER. It is a trip he and I have taken many times over the years. I was finally sent home with Lortab, Augmenten, and Cipro drops.
So this is what my days have been since Tuesday - drugs, drops, and sleep. My children stayed out in the country this whole time. I can't thank the Bairs enough for their help with the boys. There was no way I would have been able to take care of either of them. The Lortab was the only thing in those first days that would even touch the pain, and, since they made me dizzy, nauseous, and tired, I just wouldn't have been able to mommy. We're heading out today to see the boys. I miss them more than I thought I would. Bryant has seen them everyday, but somehow, his reports just aren't quite fulfilling enough. I can't wait to have them in my arms. I've said it before, I would rather give birth without an epidural than have this ear infection. This is by far the most neverending pain I have ever been in.
The Charleston Symphony Orchestra played at Smythe Park, and we all set up a tailgate to enjoy the show. Apparently, there was a tailgating competition, but we, of course, weren't even thinking of that when we began our preparations. 
Yeah, right! We pulled out and dusted off all of our Charleston Cup decor and started our own Daniel Island Yacht Club right there. Despite the throngs of passersby who would have placed bets that we would win, we didn't even get an Honorable Mention. Perhaps it was because they didn't notice us. 
It's so easy to overlook a 15 foot flagpole complete with four fullsize flags waving in the breeze! Luckily, the oversight on the judges' part did not dissuade us from having a perfectly marvelous time. While we and the Smiths did most of the set up, our wonderful friends provides all the nourishment for the crowd. (Plus some divine pork tenderloin cooked up by Stephen. He truly is a grilling master!) We had everything from pickled shrimp to cucumber sandwiches to peanut butter brownies. It was quite a spread. 
And, as much as he drives me crazy when it comes to doing stuff like this, Bryant's flowers were just gorgeous, and his ideas always turn out great. They were the last things to be finished, but they really completed the whole layout. 
We had some of our dearest friends in the spot right next to us. As you can see, their theme was Crazy Mexican, and Jason just couldn't help himself! 
Yo quiero kaluha ice cream!
Thanks to Stephen and Matt, however, some of us were able to snuggle up on the Smith's Party Porch furniture under Aileen's blanket. (Honestly, we had WICKER FURNITURE out there, and we still didn't win?) 
This proved to be the perfect spot to watch the fireworks. 
The breakdown was pleasantly uneventful and quick. I can't thank everyone enough for all they did to make this night turn out to be such a success, and special props go to Caroline for getting us all involved in the first place. It was a perfect evening spent with friends in a beautiful setting. We look forward to resurrecting the DIYC next year!
Reeves had his first dentist's appointment on April 8. Luckily, I'd been preparing him for this day since he was a month old by making fairly regular visits to the office just to go ahead and get him acquainted. Well, that and I suppose visiting his grandfather had something to do with it. Actually, I am convinced that those past visits did indeed get him excited about finally getting into the chair where he has seen his Pops working on so many people.
Like anyone who goes to the dentist, we made sure to brush his teeth right before we went. He first got to watch me get me teeth cleaned. (No cavities, thank you!) Kim, Dad's wonderful hygenist, let Reeves assist her with my cleaning. 
When it was finally his turn, he jumped right up in the chair, where he got to wear some "pretty tool" sunglasses. She counted his teeth (20) and even polished a few. 
She told him and showed him everything she was going to do. I can't thank her enough for being so patient with him. It's not really a pediatric dental office, so I'm glad we were able to pull some strings to get in!
Reeves thought it was really neat when Pops came in to check out his teeth. And naturally, I thought it was very special that Reeves got to have his grandfather do this.
Reeves immediately found Henry, and the two of them set off playing. We were lucky to be able to keep an eye on them at all, and this was no easy feat given the fact that every child was wearing the aforementioned same t-shirts. I lost sight of Reeves once long enough to get me worried, but, like magic, all of a sudden he popped right up. Luckily, I had Aileen and David helping in the search. 
And Aileen really stepped up to the plate when she took over occupying the children at the end of the picnic with her mad ball tossing skills. 
It was so good to see all the children and the parents. I am still in shock that we are about to put this school year in the books. I don't even have to work very hard to remember the little blue sailboat jon-jon we had him in for his first day of school. He has grown so much this year. From the scared little baby who clung to our legs and who cried all through naptime to this confident little boy who runs to his classroom and shows me all the things he has done at school. Each time I pick him up, he runs from wherever he is playing on the playground and hugs me and then his brother. He tells all his friends goodbye and practically counts the minutes until he gets to see them again. And as for that blue jon-jon, well that has long since been put away in a bin for Bennett. Reeves has grown too big for it. Like this first year of school, it is just a memory now, something we got as much out of as we could, but now it's time to move on. 
I can never thank his teachers, Mrs. Ledbetter, Miss Chapman, and Miss Carpenter enough for all they have done to make this year wonderful for Reeves. He adores them, and I just hope that in some small way, they realize just what a blessing they are to each parent.
It's so interesting to watch your little boy wanting and trying to be a big boy. With each of these milestones we check off the list, he gets that much farther and farther from the teeny tiny infant he was less than three years ago.
About three weeks after our initial attempts at solids, you finally relented and are now eating like a champ. Some nights I wish I had three hands because it certainly would keep you a lot happier if I could just shovel those sweet potatoes in, one spoon after another. It is so refreshing to have a child who eats so happily. I hope you keep up these healthy eating habits. Maybe one day your big brother will learn from you that food and mealtimes are not the enemies..JPG)
As expected, you have really upped the chatter recently. Your favorite noise is now the squeal. I love it because it is such a wonderful indication of your complete happiness. You will make that noise for me, but you reserve your uninhibited squealing for your brother and your father. Reeves usually squeals back at you, but you know that Daddy will instantly pick you up and snuggle and smooch you, and I think that's why you really do it. You have really started to love your Daddy time. 
For a while, you were waking up around midnight just to play with him. I know this because you weren't wet or dirty, and you weren't hungry. All you wanted to do was get right in his face and play. Of course, he delighted in those times. I suppose you have gotten your late night fix of him for a while because you are once again sleeping your solid 11-12 hours a night.
Speaking of bonding, you and Reeves are, apparently, on your way to becoming best friends. You adore him, and luckily, he appears to feel the same way. He loves to snuggle you and will even share some of his cherished toys with you. 
Of course, you aren't yet "taking" his toys, so we'll see how long this goodwill lasts, but we're off to a good start. Sometimes when you're fussy (which is rare), I can tell Reeves to go make you happy, and he is successful every time.
You started sitting on your own right about 7 months. Since then, you have learned to "swim" all around the den. Somehow you manage to get to what you want despite the fact that you only, two days ago, got up on all fours. It is too much fun to see you do this. When some toy catches your eye, you direct yourself towards it with all the excitement and dedication you can muster. How you even have the strength or energy to play with it once you get there is beyond me. You still can't get yourself to a sitting position on your own, but I know that is right around the corner.
Bennett, I can hardly remember life without you. Eight months ago we didn't even realize how incomplete our lives were. You have brought such joy to all of us. We love you more than you'll ever know.
Now, my own son loves building forts just like I did. And since we don't have a fireplace, what harm could there possibly be? Unfortunately, unlike my precise placement of the cushions and pillows forming secret rooms, his construction mainly involves throwing every soft object in the house into a pile, creating more of a landing pad than a fort. Occasionally he will burrow deep into the pile to "hide", but for the most part, he just likes to run and jump onto them. This is exactly what he was doing Saturday night - for almost two hours. We didn't stop him because the joy was so evident on his face and in his howling laughter that all we could do was join in the fun. Bryant even tossed him onto the pile a few times. However, like all good things, the time eventually came for this merriment to end. With bedtime rapidly approaching, Reeves was given two more minutes to play. He accepted his fate and went about having as much fun in those last two minutes as possible. And then it happened. His last dive into the pile was met not with a cushiony landing but with the hard edge of the sofa. 
He had busted his mouth. His scream was frightening. I fully expected to pick him up and find a tooth beneath him. He bled and bled. Luckily, all his parts seemed to be in order, and he calmed down realtively quickly. After sufficient snuggling and tender care, we were able to elicit a smile. Perfect. We loaded him up with Motrin and put him in bed. I called Mom and told her that I would be bringing him by in the morning to let his dentist grandfather check him out.
Amazingly, when he woke up, he was not black and blue. He drank his milk, ate his breakfast, and was even able to brush his teeth. We were floored. Needless to say, we didn't make a trip to see Pops. What a wonderful thing to be so young and so quick to heal. This was, by far, the worst injury Reeves has ever had. I'm so thankful it wasn't as bad as we thought it was. Coincidently, he has his first dentist appointment tomorrow.
Reeves was a little unsure about sharing his treasured bath toys with his little brother, but ultimately relented as long as Bennett didn't play with any of his "my favorite color blue" toys. 
It really was too cute, and despite the reason behind the necessary second bath of the night, I'm glad it happened. Bryant got the camera to document the occasion. It amazes me looking at these pictures now, how big Bennett looks. He's not an infant any more. I can't believe it. He really did a good job in the tub, sitting up most of the time, only slipping a couple of times.
I just hope we haven't created a monster who doesn't like his baby tub any more. Unfortunately, I've never seen him have this much fun in the tub on the kitchen sink, even when his big brother gets on the counter and washes his toes. I think Reeves liked having a buddy in the tub too.
She's got him right where she wants him!
I'm booking the rehearsal dinner spot right now!
They were all gone two minutes after the bell rang. ALL GONE! Not a single undiscovered egg was left. I know this because since my child was 20 minutes late and asleep in the car when he arrived, it took quite a while for him to liven up. Unfortunately for him, this foul mood ate into the two precious minutes of egg hunting. So he ended up with about five eggs. 
His fault, so I didn't feel too bad, but I was silently bemoaning the fact that I wouldn't have and cute "hunting" pictures of him. Thank heavens for the kindness of friends. 
Caroline "borrowed" three eggs from Fordham's basket, which I promptly dropped, and Reeves found. That was thankfully sufficient to satisfy his need to hunt. 
Then Henry and Reeves shared all their eggs together. Somehow they ended up with about the same amount. What a sweetie. 
Even Bennett got in on a little of the egg swapping action. What a world of wonder the ability to sit up has brought him! I think we're going to have to come up with some better hiding places next year, or perhaps have varsity and JV fields. These kids are just too smart for us!
Because of the forboding weather, it was a cool day with a great breeze (wind). This was wonderful because it kept the gnats away, and honestly, I would rather have to load up on the layers rather than fight the bugs. 
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It really was a perfect day with family and great friends. And I think the hosts and hostesses were wonderful!
I don't know what I'd do without you girls!! Thanks again for a great hunt!
He and Fordham have had lots of fun over the past couple of months playing there, and I knew he would be super excited to go. And he was. Until we actually got there. Dr. Jekyl, meet Mr. Hyde. He starting pitching a fit as soon as we pulled up. I now know it was all over these stupid Batman stickers I was letting him play with in the car. NEVER AGAIN! I left him in the car when we first got there, and when he was finally allowed out, he say that I had given a little girl one of the stickers. Well, it was either that or I'd just told him that I'd just killed his puppy. 
Either way, his animosity towards me was the same. So, back to the car we went. I buckled him in, left the door open and returned to the playground. Then Caroline reminded me of 
Luckily today, the boys got a lot more time to play together since I brought Dr. Jekyl to the park. 
Thanks, Caroline, for braving the playground again with us! We had a great time on this gorgeous day!
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We can't pop by and see him; we can't call him and hear his distinctive voice. Our everyday lives haven't changed too much other than the places in our hearts that were once reserved for love and caring for Poppa are now occupied by how much we miss him. But Grandmother's world has been changed. Everyday she sees where he used to be, and I can only imagine how much that breaks her heart. She's still in the house that they built together almost 60 years ago. She now sits down to an empty breakfast table and next to a silent Lazy Boy. I know dying is a part of life, and we all knew this day would come, but it doesn't make it any easier. I'm glad we have a big family to be there for her. I'm glad she has a great network of friends as well. Both are such an important support system.
I know he was a wonderful father to my mother and her siblings, but I think he was really put on this earth to be a grandfather. He took us on trips up to the farm and to Disneyworld and Dollywood. He played with us in the surf at the beach. I still remember vividly going down to the beach in the late afternoons and jumping off of his shoulders into the waves. He took us to play golf with him and would give us advice on our swings. 
He (and my mother) made sure we always spoke proper English. I remember growing up that I would always say "was like" when what I was meaning was "said". He took it as his own personal mission to break me of that. He would say "Like what?" every time I said it. I don't know that I completely stopped saying it, but to this day I am much more cognisant of it and still try not to say it. .jpg)
As much pleasure as his grandchildren brought him, his greatgrandchildren only sweetened the pot. He would get very emotional each time he saw them. I can only imagine how amazing it must be to look down on three more generations. 
I hope I am so lucky one day. It is truly a gift from God.
A week before he died, I brought Poppa the papers for him to sign to give my boys their Provisional Appointments to The Citadel. It doesn't guarantee they'll go there, but I want them to know how important that school was to their greatgrandfather and how much it meant to him that they just might end up there. It was a very emotional moment for all of us.
It's hard to believe that was less than three weeks ago. We miss him so much. In the words of Pearl and Frannie's grandfather, "He's gotten his final promotion." 
What a legacy he left.
Oh no, he wants the one that I have decided would be the best for Bennett to use. Of course.
He stopped, looked at me, and opened his mouth again. I couldn't believe it. He liked the peas!! Hey Mikie!! To be sure it wasn't a fluke, I put more peas into the open mouth. It worked. Oh joy! I added a little rice cereal to them to give them a thicker consistency with equal success. Maybe this is the breakthrough we've been needeing. He's not inhaling them, but he's at least amenable to the idea that all of his nourishment doesn't have to come from me. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for more success today. If motherhood has taught me nothing else, it has at least made me realize that what works one day doesn't necessarily work the next, but you can always hope.
Both boys slept great. I had envisioned being up all night as they woke each other up and took turns keeping us up. I was sure Bryant was going to be nodding off in his class because of this. Looks like Bennett has been a good influence on Reeves. 
Once we were all in for the night, we pushed the Pack-n-Play up against the door and covered the open side with a blanket so that Bennett couldn't see out. (It was too small to fit in the bathroom.) It worked like a charm. He even took a two hour nap in it Wednesday morning with Reeves and me in the room! Reeves spent the first night in one double bed by himself and the next snuggled up next to Daddy. (I know Bryant loved this!) Both boys, and consequently we, slept through the night both nights. Our room was peacefully quiet until almost 7:00. Neither B nor I could believe it.
For days before we left, Reeves would walk all over the yard with his beach toys. He loves them. He talked all about how he was going to play at "Murray Beach" with his beach toys. Unfortunately for him (and me), the weather was not cooperating. It was cold and rainy on Tuesday and pretty but freezing and windy on Wednesday. So, while Bryant was in class, the boys and I did a lot of driving and a little shopping - but mostly driving. They both took their afternoon naps in the car while I did laps up and down the bypass and the strip.
When Daddy got out of class on Tuesday, we headed to Broadway at the Beach for dinner. It was almost deserted. 
We first went to eat at a place called Key West Grill. I had to ask to be seated away from the table of smokers. I mean really, we have two children with us and the restaurant is about 9% full. Is this really the best place to put us? What an idiot host! Once we sat down and looked at the menu, we realized the cheapest thing on the menu was $23. Let's just say that's not in the budget now that I'm staying home. Luckily, no one came over to us at all in the five minutes we were there. Bennett was pretty fussy, so we used that as our excuse to book it out of there. 
We ended up at Hard Rock Cafe. Not too bad, and Reeves loved walking around looking at all the memorabilia. And it was loud, which is a must when your pushing bedtimes with two.
Since checkout was at 12:00 on Wednesday, I loaded up the car and headed out with the boys. We walked some, but it was so cold outside that, although Reeves probably would have been fine, I just couldn't subject Bennett to it. We hit Barefoot Landing for a bit, fed Bennett in a couple of parking lots, napped, and watched Nemo on continuous loop. Other than a few breakdowns, Reeves did great. The breakdowns concisted mainly of him screaming "NO!!" at the top of his lungs, continuously. I can't wait for this phase to be over.
Then, juxtaposed right across the street, oceanfront, are these massive highrises, holding hundreds if not thousands of guests each. They completely dwarf the smaller ins behind them. There is no view of the ocean save for those who pay for it from up above the fray. I just can't see that any interaction goes on with anyone else when you stay at one of these places. I didn't expect it to, but it depressed me. I don't long for the "good old days" all that often, but Myrtle Beach made me do just that. I can't fault the landowners who sold out so that these monstrosities could be built. How can you turn down multiple millions of dollars when you're making a living by cleaning up other people's rooms? They have torn down the old Pavillion. I imagine they'll probably put up another couple of huge hotels, maybe a park or two, but these too will be places cloaked in anonimity. Seems that the best place to go to be alone is right in the middle of the biggest crowd you can find. That's the beach vacation most people who go to Myrtle now get. 
SHAG, the movie, is truly now nothing more than a distant memory. There are still some beaches that are doing all they can to stay true to the family summer communities, but they are few and far between.
He was perfectly content to dig and rake. We watched the birds and looked for shells. Then, it started to get dark. I looked up and realized the sun was indeed going down, but it wouldn't truly set for another hour and a half. It was just sinking, not below the horizon, but below the tops of the highrises. 
A day cut short by overzealous development. But a trip I am so glad we all got to go on. Our first "vacation" as a family of four.