Reeves' First Dove Hunt

Cooper asked Bryant this week if he and Reeves wanted to go dove hunting with him and some other guys at a place up in Summerton. Of course, he jumped at the chance. I must admit, part of me was a little sad that I wouldn't be there on Reeves' first hunt, but an even bigger part of me knew that this was going to be a super special day for R and his dad, just like every hunt I have ever been on with my dad has been. And since I stay home with the boys, I get to have a lot of special times with them that Bryant often misses out on, so this was really good for them.

Cooper picked them up around 1:30 and they headed out. Reeves was so excited. He was dressed all in camoflauge. He had his camo stool all loaded up with ear muffs and snacks. He wanted to bring his own gun, but I think it will be a few years before he makes that step. He has to be a good retriever first.

I took a picture of the boys before they left. (This would be the last time I would see Reeves awake that day.)

Here is my little bird dog ready to go retrieve.

I sent the little camera out with Bryant, and I'm so glad I did. B got a bird, so Reeves got to really see what it was all about.

I remember doing the same things at my father's feet. For some reason, the first few birds are so fascinating.

Bryant said he examined every bit of it, and then even noticed that after a while, the body was becoming stiff, so B got to have the rigor mortis talk with him. Maybe a bit early, but if he's gonna hunt, he's gonna learn about it. I'm just glad he wasn't freaked out by it.

Reeves took some pictures of the field.

I must say, I'm pretty impressed with his eye for composition. What a perfect place for a hunt.

He got a really good picture of B in the blind.

I'm so glad they got to have this special day together. I can't thank Cooper enough for including them. It meant so much to both of them, and it brings a tear to my eyes to realize just how fast Reeves is growing up.

UPDATE: I just learned today that Reeves apparently told his daddy that he also needed some camoflauge boxers. Maybe Santa can hook him up.

Daddy's Old Stomping Grounds

On the way home from Saluda on Saturday, with Daddy's birthday looming on Monday, the boys and I stopped by Presbyterian College to take a picture in front of Neville Hall. This was were Bryant had most of his classes while in college. Needless to say, after much bribery and me even having to walk away once, we were finally able to get a good picture. Seriously, this is the LAST shot that I took that day. It took a bit of convincing to keep the boys from telling Bryant where we went on when we were coming home. I even had to yell a bunch of jibberish once to cover Reeves' voice when he was attempting to tell his father that we did NOT go to his college on the way home. But it was all worth it to see the happiness in Bryant's eyes when he opened his present on Monday morning. He is now really looking forward to returning with them and really being able to walk them around campus.

The Simple Things

I just love it when I don't have to do all of the bedtime routine myself. It's so nice to sit back and watch the other half take over from time to time.

Oh yeah, and it's super sweet to see The Daddy cuddling with and reading to The Boys. But mostly it's just The Me, sitting silently and watching, and if I feel up to it, snapping a couple of pictures.

Time for Two

Unfortunately, Bryant doesn't get to spend a lot of one on one time with Bennett. With his work and other things and Bennett nursing, he is usually tapped to take care of Reeves as soon as he walks in the door. This, of course, is how things tend to be with two. Mommy handles the baby, and Daddy and the older child get some good bonding time. It works. But, there is still that sacred time, after Reeves goes to bed, and before we do, that Daddy and Bennett have their time to get to know each other. At the moment, this tends to be nothing more than snuggling on the sofa, but these are usually the sweetest times. Watching my husband with our children is one thing that always warms my heart. It seems to make any bad day better.

We will start Bennett on at least one bottle feeding a day next week. The last feeding of the night will be Bryant's. He is looking forward to it. I am too. And I imagine, if Bennett could tell us, he is also.

The Hat

So, ever since we took Leeze with us to the circus, and she insisted on wearing one of Bryant's red baseball caps, Reeves has been enchanted. This is the boy who would only wear a hat in the most blazing of suns, and I think that was only because he realized that he could see better with it on. Now, he grabs his baseball cap (yes, this is a child's one that I bought a while ago for him) before we walk out the door. I don't know why this is. Maybe it's because Leeze wore that one that one time, and he thought she looked so cool. Maybe he is encouraged by all the strangers comments on how cute he looks with his cap on and that he is certainly going to be a baseball player. (Because, Lord knows, if you can wear the uniform [or any part thereof] you will certainly excel at that sport!) Or maybe, and although Leeze may have introduced him to the hat, I think this is the real reason, maybe it's because now that it's winter, he sees his father wearing his hat everyday, and he's becoming a little boy now, who wants to be just like his dad. And maybe that fact is one of the sweetest things in the world to this momma. (But just in case, I'm bringing Leeze over to show him how much she enjoys picking up ALL the toys!)

What's In A Name?

Bryant is so proud. I picked up fried chicken for lunch on Sunday. Not only did Reeves eat the thigh and the drumstick that I pulled apart for him, but he also wanted the drumstick bone AND and another drumstick all together. I am a very picky fried chicken eater (although, not as picky as Jodie!). I will eat the meat and some of the skin, but that is where I stop. Bryant, on the other hand, was apparently taught to eat fried chicken by a pack of starving refugees. There is not much left but a bare bone when he is finished. This has always been the joke between us - that he can make chicken crunch.

(Notice that Reeves is double-fisting.)
Anyway, as you can see, Reeves has apparently inherited the Bair gene for fried chicken eating. Oh, goodness! Looks like I've got my work cut out for me trying to reverse this one!! But look how much they enjoy it! This is true RBB form! I guess I should have expected it when we named him.

This is longing if I've ever seen it!

Just Like Daddy

Since we have only one straight tie in our house, I felt it was necessary to go ahead and indoctrinate Reeves into the world of the bow tie. I think he's ready to head off to the office.

Check out those top teeth!

Springtime is Finally Here - and After Only 2 Years

About 4 years ago, Bryant first experimented with growing a beard. He had been on a long weekend, guys camping trip near Helen, GA. He of course had not shaved, and when he got back, I was sick as a dog, so there was no urgent prompting from me to get him to shave. He decided to let it grow. For those of you who have never experienced first hand, the growth of a full beard, it is an interesting few weeks. Now, Bryant and I knew nothing about beards, so we just figured all you did was let them grow. But something just wasn't right. He would ask me how it looked, and while at some times, I thought it looked OK, for the most part, he just looked like a hungover guy who hadn't been able to get home to his razor for a while. Neither of us could figure it out. Then I went to Memphis on business. Bryant was coming up a couple of days later. He wanted to shave the beard off because he was convinced that in post 9-11 airports, he may just look suspicious enough to be dragged away and questioned. Well, he didn't shave it, but when he walked off that plane in Memphis, he looked like a new man. He had shaved his neck! That was it! That is what keeps a bearded man from looking like a marinated Grizzly Adams! So, long story short, the beard stayed. This was in October. That spring, he shaved it off, and things remained that way until the following October. The beard reappeared. No big deal, we could live through another winter with a beard, after all, Bryant was a beard grooming professional by now. But spring arrived. Easter came and went. We celebrated Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, and the beard was there - through everything! It never left, never hibernated, never went north for the summer. That was in 2004.
Fast forward to today, last night actually. We have dinner with the Smiths, Egelstons, and Halfords. Spencer has always been Bryant's Beard Buddy. Difference being that Spencer shaves his off in the spring. Well, something clicked. Maybe it was the warm weather, maybe it was seeing Spencer's clean shaven face, maybe it was the Miller Lite. Who knows, but the clippers came out last night, and the razor and shaving cream appeared this morning. It's official, Bryant no longer has a beard! Reeves didn't recognize him at first, but then he heard his voice, and all was well. Likewise, Preston didn't recognize him either. "Mommy, whose that man?" Oh, Bryant has not had a beard the whole time Preston's been alive, but he has for all of the years he would remember.
Anyway, shaving the beard is actually kind of fun because you can do it in increments. Bryant let me take pictures of each stage last night.

Last Picture of the Bearded Bair

Goatee - Hhhmmm, Not so Much

Still Bad From the Side

My Name is Earl

There He Is!

A Hump Day Chuckle

Let me preface this by saying that Bryant and I never eat breakfast at home during the week.
As I'm getting out of the shower this morning…
B - "Do you want breakfast this morning?"
Me(shocked) - "Sure."
B - "Cool. What are you going to make?"
Me - "Well, THAT's going on the blog!"
Guess what? No breakfast.

Aren't You His Father?

So Saturday morning, Reeves woke up around 8:00. I went and got him, changed his poopy diaper, and brought him into our bedroom. Bryant, meanwhile, had gotten up and made his bottle. We love Saturday mornings because it is such a fun time for the three of us to have time together to relax and play. Anyway, Reeves is in bed with us drinking his bottle. He finishes, and we play for a bit, then I get up and take him into the den. He plays with his toys while I get his breakfast ready. (Bryant is still in bed wathcing Discovery Kids on NBC.) Once Reeves' breakfast is ready, I go get him, put him in his chair, and feed him his breakfast. By this time, Bryant has come out into the kitchen and is fixing his coffee. He is there, so when I finish feeding Reeves and putting his dishes away, I let B know that I'm going to get in the shower. Bryant calls after me, "Are you just going to leave him there by himself?" This child's father is less than two feet from him! What?! I said, "No, you're there." "Oh, OK."
All I could do was laugh...and shower.

Tenderness

So, right now, I am driving Bryant's Dodge Ram because his truck is in the shop being mended from the deer attack. Although he tried to convince me otherwise, I have forced him to drive my car since he is the one who takes Reeves out in the morning and usually picks him up. I just couldn't see Reeves riding around in the passenger seat of a non-extended cab pickup, armor plated carseat or not! Anyway, I had to work late tonight, and when I turned the Green Monster into the driveway, the headlights illuminated Bryant getting Reeves out of his carseat. It was such a tender picture. He was talking to him, and once he was out, Reeves gave his daddy one of his sweet nuzzles. I took a mental picture and am now blogging about it because I never want to forget it.