Well, Happy Valentine's Day, Boo. You are 20 months old today. I can't believe it. You have been so much fun these past few months - not that you weren't before, but you are truly turning into a little boy now, and the new things you do seems to grow by the day. Trains continue to be your absolute favorite mode of transportation, followed closely by airplanes - not that you have actually ever travelled by either one of these vehicles. Your father and I are looking forward to taking you on your first trip by train or plane, as we know you will warm our hearts with your wide eyed fascination and unrestrained excitement. I'm not sure when it will happen, but we can't wait.
In these two months since my last update, you have celebrated your second Christmas and New Year's. You have welcomed a new cousin and a new friend. You have fallen out of your crib and climbed a ladder all by yourself (with my supervision, of course.) 
You can, with enough time and patience, put on your socks all by yourself. You can also, as we learned Sunday morning, remove all your clothing (pajamas) and your diaper. Luckily for us, everything was clean, and there were no accidents during the time of your unbeknownst-to-us nakedness. I think this may have been your favorite morning ever as you were bouncing up and down and running back and forth in your crib, and once you noticed us watching, the show only increased. I have been surprised that you have not disrobed in the mornings since then, but maybe this is like the climbing out of the crib thing - you are satisfied just knowing you can do it.Saturday mornings are special as that is our one morning to be truly lazy. You spend time snuggling with us in bed. We all eat a liesurley breakfast, and then you get your favorite treat. You get to shower with one of us - usually Daddy. Oh, how you love this! You do your naked shower dance, which is basically just running around the bathroom and bedroom and banging on the shower door, while we wait for the water to warm up. Then, as soon as Daddy opens the door, you rush in and wait for him to lift you up onto the bench - your shower spot. This week's shower was especially eye opening for us as we now know you truly are watching and absorbing everything we do.
Naturally, you wash your hair. You do that in your bath as well. That wasn't the Aha Moment. It was when you picked up a thing of shower gel, in a container shaped similarly to a stick of deodorant, and started rubbing it in your armpits. 
I guess it's time for us to stop flicking matches onto the carpet and running with scissors. You're watching!We finally bought you some new shoes this past weekend, specifically some new saddle oxs. It was time, really. Just the sight of your old size 5's would bring you to tears. We bought size 6 1/2. Granted, they are a whole size bigger than your foot actually is, but we are cheap, I mean frugal, and they don't look like skis on you, so we're all winners. After shopping, we went to LaHa for lunch. You were not at your best, but we were pushing naptime, so I can't really blame you. I can, however, blame the waiter when, out of the kindness of his heart, and I'm sure with the best of intentions, he gave you a sucker in order to keep you happy until our food came. I should have just stuffed it in my pocketbook and dealt with your fussing, but those suckers are for sale at the front, and I didn't want him to think that I was just taking it and not using it for the clearly intended purpose of keeping you quiet so as not to disturb the other diners. So, for lunch on Saturday, you had a Blow Pop and three bites of chicken fingers. We're well on our way to parents of the year for that one!
Sports has become a new interest for you. You actually enjoy watching football and basketball on television. You entertained us all at Bob and Alicia's Super Bowl party, Pavlovianly responding to each of our cheers by immediately throwing your arms into the air signalling a touchdown.
We were going to take you to your first basketball game on Monday, but you apparently decided that a nap was not necessary that day, so when you fell asleep in the car on your way home from the country, Daddy and I decided we would have to attempt it another day. We're hoping to be able to watch the Dogs beat Furman on Saturday.
The church nursery continues to be your own personal torture chamber, so Daddy and I have been taking turns going solo to early church. The last time we tried to go to 10:30, they wouldn't even let me out of the nursery. You apparently already have a reputation. However, on the babysitter at home front, I am happy to report that we have had two great Saturday nights in a row. You are loving Janine now, and that is so good, because I was almost convinced that you had scared her off last month. You still are not happy when you see her walk in, but it is not long now before you and she are playing and reading, and you are, if not happy, at least content to see us leave. She is truly a godsend. 
You continue to bewitch your father and me. I can't believe it's possible, but we love you a little more each day. You give us big drooly kisses and love to bump foreheads. You have brought so much joy to our lives. We love you, ReeRee! 
This slide was perfect because, although it started really high up, the incline was so gradual that the children didn't come shooting out at the bottom. Reeves loved it.
Ashley and Fordham get down and dirty in the rocks. The Target truck was a big hit.
My monkey hamming it up by the tree. This was after the picnic, where he would only eat if I fed him like you would feed a horse. I should have brought apples and carrots instead of chicken and tomatoes. I did make sure to keep my fingers and thumb out of the way.
Poor May. So close to being able to walk. It won't be long now. Then you won't have to crawl through the lunches and the mud. You can just step right over them!
Mills wanted rocks for lunch, but mean ole Nancy made him have PB&J. Something about nutritional content and digestability. Can't believe these two are almost a year old. It seems like just yesterday we were waiting for them to get here.
Brian kindly gave Rossi a few of minutes off and took both kids for a quick walk.
Herding cats? Yeah, that's what it's like. These kids better appreciate these pictures when they get older! 
Harris takes a moment to reflect on all the fun he had this morning. Way to stay hydrated!
We were in the row in front of them, and as the announcer started, I heard Mom urging him, "Daddy, stand up. Stand up. This is about you." OMG! Emotions! Hello! I couldn't even turn around and look at him, there were so many tears streaming down my face. Oh, yeah, and this is in addition to the tearing up I did during the singing of the National Anthem. 
What is wrong with me? Ironically, during the singing, Poppa leaned down to Bryant and said that if Grandmother had been there, she would have been crying listening to those boys sing. So, I guess I come by it naturally. 
Poppa was able to talk to lots of his friends, whose numbers are sadly diminishing as the years go by. I was so proud as I watched him shake hands and greet people he has known for years. 
I am always fascinated by people of his generation. The things they went through, the hardships they endured, and the changes they've seen. These are the people who grew up during the depression, who fought during WWII, and sacrificed here at home so that our troops could have the equipment they needed. They went from having almost nothing to, through hard and contsant work, building a strong financial foundation for their families. I sometimes cringe at the thought of where we, as a society, have gone and what this older generation must think of it. I know when it comes to movies and shows with lots of swearing and violence in them, Poppa and Grandmother would just rather not see them. It must be shocking for them to see what is so widely accepted today as OK and not inappropriate. I often wonder if they are disappointed, not in us specifically, but in our generation generally. Is this really what they made all those sacrifices for?
Much to the delight of both boys, a train came by shortly after they arrived. Oh, the joy a hoo-hoo can bring. You'll note that Reeves is still in his pj's. This is what happens when we play inside on a rainy day and then go immediately down for an early nap so we can be well rested before company arrives. A pleasant disposition is much more preferred than a cute outfit. One is considerably more easily fixed than the other.
It was cool to see the lights and all, but, as much as I enjoyed taking the kids to Marion Square during the day to see the Bud horses, it really wasn't so great at night. There's something a lot less worrisome about watching your kids run around in the daylight. It's a bit disconcerting at night when it is so easy for them to slide out of view. 
That being the case, and the fact that neither Davis nor Reeves were much interested in staying in a stroller or holding a parent's hand, we did not stay down there very long. Not sure I would do it again, but I don't regret going.
We did get a cutish picture of D and R in Santa's sleigh, sans Santa.
We had to pull it out just so that G-Man could be outside with us and we wouldn't have to take turns holding him. He's cute as a button, but the boy is BIG! Luckily, he loves the exersaucer, so we were all happy. He is definitely a muscle maker! But look at him. 
He's edible in his cuteness! Can't wait to watch this little man grow up!
While Jodie fed Guerin and put him to bed, the older boys did what older boys and men do - they sat around a fire. There's something hypnotic about it. And, for future reference, sidewalk chalk is a good first line of defense against children attracted to fire pits. "Don't go past that line." I wouldn't suggest leaving them alone with just that, but it definitely helps.
Jodie and Bryant practiced their synchronised sparkler art.
