Closing In

Caroline,
Just realized that the 6th is one week from today. I can't believe it!
Love,
Kak

Bathtime Fun

He finally has enough hair for me to make a mohawk!
Reeves loves bathtime. And that Winnie the Pooh treehouse thing behind him is the best $9.99 Bryant has ever spent. He picked it up on Christmas Eve at Walgreens, and it has provided hours of entertainment.
Per our routine, after his bath, we brush his teeth. He loves being in charge of the water flow, but he hasn't quite figured out how to control the temperature, but isn't that what Mommy is for anyway?
It always amazes me how there are some things so ingrained in us - things we learned from our parents that we unconsciously pass on to our children. When I brush my teeth, I finish, rinse the toothbrush, and tap it on the side of the sink. My dad always did this. I picked it up from watching him. I have, without even realizing it, taught that same practice to Reeves. Here he is, tap,tap,tapping his toothbrush on the side of the sink. I'll wager his children will probably do the same thing.

Wild, Wild Willie B

I forgot how quickly these newborns can go from this:

To this:

We finally caught him awake. B, R, and I visited the newest member of the family on Sunday evening. He is such an angel. And amazingly sturdy. Even Reeves standing on his legs didn't seem to bother him too much.

This was as good a picture as I could get of the three of them. And this was with the fast camera!

I just love this picture of Leeze and William. I wish her face was a little better lit, but it is such a sweet moment. He is really getting to know his big sister. And she just loves him.

And here's an equally precious picture of Reeves and his little cousin. Reeves was fascinated and kept giving him kisses. Luckily, this was one of those rare kisses where he wasn't using William as support but rather was leaning on the boppy. Like I said, William must be one tough dude!

Of course, aunt and uncle had to get their kisses in too. I think that's my kiss that's making him smile. I'm just sayin' is all. Can't wait to watch this little one grow.

The Fall That Wasn't

So, ever since Reeves fell out of his crib. My nighttime/morning motherly senses have been on high alert. Every time I hear a noise from his room, I jump. Even though there is a nice thick layer of pillows below his rail, I am still worried that he may hurt himself if he falls. Well, so far, so safe. He has not climbed out again and has, for the most part, been sleeping soundly through the night again. But there was an incident Saturday night/Sunday ungodly morning hours. Bryant somehow managed to get up without waking me. However, he wasn't so quiet at closing the bathroom door. Well, right as I heard that, I also heard Reeves cry. A thud and crying. After Friday morning, that combination of noises meant only one thing to me. Waking from a dead sleep, I was not able to distinguish the closing of a door from a fall to the floor, so I immediately jumped up and ran to the nursery, assuming that Reeves had fallen again and was on the floor crying. Nope. If I had just left him, he probably would have fallen right back asleep. Oh, Unlucky! Needless to say, Sunday started much earlier than we had wanted. Amazingly, even after waking so early, he had one of his worst nap days. It truly is amazing how wonderful a schedule is for children - and for parents!

Not Quite as Painful as a Fall From Grace

We heard Reeves this morning at 6:30, not really crying, just making noise. As a rule, we don't get him out of bed until 7:00. As there was no audible emergency or need for us to get him early this morning, we went about our business. Then, a few minutes before 7:00, we heard the thud and the crying. We raced back to his room. He had climbed/fallen out of the crib. He was face down on the floor, just crying. I scooped him up. Daddy hugged him. We both covered any and all possible boo-boos with kisses. Luckily, that was all the medical attention needed. It wasn't long before he was laughing and snuggling. I do think that in addition to the TLC we administered, the Wiggles helped heal his wounds. Dancing can solve so many pains, both physical and mental.
I must admit, I can't believe it has taken this long. The boy is quite the climber. I hope this is a one time thing, and he resumes his happy crib confinement. I am not quite ready to move him to a big boy bed yet. For now, we'll just cover his floor with pillows and make full use of the video monitor.

Another Yearly Tradition

I am a bad, bad friend. Each year, I promise myself I will not miss it. I will not confuse the dates and think, for whatever insane reason, that her birthday is on the 24th instead of the 20th. I will have the card in the mail in plenty of time for it to arrive on her birthday. I mean, she is one of my BEST FRIENDS! I can't remember not knowing her. I can't remember a time when she wasn't one of the most important people in my life. We lived across the street from each other for a couple of decades. We talk all the time and see each other as much as we can. We have shared the deaths of grandparents and the births of children. My husband and I met at her wedding. I've even thrown birthday parties for her. For all these years, her birthday has always been on the same day. It hasn't changed. And yet, I still have some mental block about it. I don't know what it is. I also don't know why I'm so shocked and mad at myself about it this year. It's not like this is anything new. We joke about it throughout the year. Our husbands even know and laugh about it. And yet, each time it happens, I feel like crawling under a rock.
So, Happy Birthday, Jodie!!
Sorry this is two days late, again. I'm a freak, again. Please forgive me, again. I promise, again, that I'll definitely remember it next year. Yeah right. Who am I kidding?
Love you!!

MLK Day at the Park

What fun we had on Monday at the JICP. It was so nice to have the day off and be able to spend it with friends. Wish Daddy could have been there, but we had fun nonetheless. Thanks, Amanda, for putting this together.

It's hard work, watching these kiddies. Good thing we have a strong team! What will we do when the young ones outnumber us?

Up and down. Up and down. The first hour of the day was nothing but real life Chutes and Ladders! Well that, and trying to figure out how Harris' hair mysteriously got wet.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!

And finally, the patriarch and matriarch of the group. Spencer and MK, y'all better be good because all of these other little ones are learning form you!! You two are in charge when we're not around.

All Better Now

Reeves had a fever of 104.5 on Tuesday. High enough that we took him to the doctor, just to be certain it wasn't anything serious. It wasn't. Something's going around. He's got sores in the back of his throat. Strep test was negative. We just have to wait this one out. Tuesday night was not much fun for Mommy and Reeves. (Daddy slept just fine. We'll correct that next time.) His fever came back around 9 or 10. The poor child was miserable. Damp washcloths on his forehead actually did seem to make a positive difference. The fever finally broke around one. Silly me. I thought that would be a good thing. Oh no. Now he was ready to play! I put him in his crib and he screamed and screamed. Finally, not wanting these fits to reinvigorate the sickness, I got him out. Luckily, his Disney Channel favorites were starting up, so I was able to sneak in a couple of winks of sleep.
The good news is that he's all better now. Slept 9 hours last night. I'm hoping he'll go for 10 tonight. And I think I found the true cause of the fever. I got him to laugh really big tonight during bathtime. Looks like his first canine has poked through. Can't wait to see what joy the other three will bring!

The Greatest Generation

Last week, we had the priveledge of going to the Citadel/CofC basketball game. I can't remember the last time we have gone to a game. They are so much fun. I was immediately thrown back to the days of our high school games - the excitement and energy. Not that our games were close to being on par with this game, although our play was, at times, comparable to El Cid's. But I digress. We went to the game for Poppa. He was being honored at the game. He played basketball for The Citadel for four years while he was a cadet. When he returned to Charleston after WWII, he was coach of the College of Charleston basketball team. He currently holds the fourth best record as a coach at the College. Pretty impressive. He did not know they were going to do this, and it was so sweet when it happened. 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?
In the end, I suppose there have always been those elements of society that have been morally deficient. There have always been people who get their jollies from shocking the general public. It just seems like now they are given so much more play time. The media rushes to cover the stories that are so apalling and disturbing that they make us wonder what is wrong with this world. There's that old saying that ignorance is bliss. Maybe lots of this stuff was going on back when our grandparents were younger, but it wasn't reported, so, to them, it didn't matter and, sort of, wasn't happening. Call me old fashioned, but I'm just wondering what was so wrong with that? Honestly, I don't think my child needs to be able to turn on the TV or open a magazine and see that Britney Spears doesn't wear undies when she goes out.

In the meantime, we'll just make sure that Reeves is surrounded by people who share our moral and ethical values. (Thank you friends and family for making that an easy task!) We'll be sure that he gets to spend as much time with his grandparents and great-grandparents as possible. And once he's old enough to go it on his own, we'll just have to sit back and know that we have instilled a strong sense of what is right and wrong and appropriate and inappropriate in him.

Leeze and William

Here's the comparison. I must say, William looks a little more serious than Leeze did! But you can definitely tell they're siblings (as much as you can tell that about any newborns!). I think William has a little bit more hair than Leeze did, and, of course, there's the whole not being jaundiced thing!

William Pictures

OK, I didn't have the energy to post them last night (Right, like it takes a lot of energy to click a couple of buttons!), but here are some pics of William. He's a cutie pie. Can't wait for everyone to meet him. Reeves and I are on our way back to the hospital tonight for another visit!

Welcome, William!

Morn had her second child today!

William Phillipps Bearsch

8 pounds, 8 ounces

21 1/2 inches

Full head of dark hair

Mom and baby are doing great. I don't have and pictures yet, but I'm going to visit in just a bit, so expect an update tonight!

This Weekend - An Unwelcome First

I have heard all of your stories about the babies and the poopies and the cribs and the splatter painting. Never has it happened to us. I have felt so lucky. I thought I had made it. I thought Reeves was just one of those babies who didn't really care to see what was in his diaper. Boy, was I wrong!
B and I were outside working, periodically checking at his window to see if he was up. I heard him, but he was happy, so I didn't rush in. We finished up our project. When I did go in, wash my hands, and make my way back to his room, I found every item from his crib had been tossed to the floor. Any item within reach on the chest of drawers was in the crib. And there stood Reeves, pajama pants and diaper (still connected) down around his ankles, proudly, yet simultaneously worriedly, pointing and announcing, "Poo Poo!" I do count myself lucky that everything was confined to its original container, but there was that instant when I opened the door that I didn't know where it would all be. I can't imagine what it was like for those of you who found it on the walls, the sheets, et al.
Needless to say, what could have been quite a messy situation turned out fine, and all was well for the rest of the day. After dinner and bath, as I was about to dress Reeves in his pj's, it occurred to me that I should probably put him in a one piece pj to avoid a repeat of the afternoon. What a smart mommy! Always outhinking the kid, that's me! Guess what. The kid can think too. Heard him Sunday morning and went in. Snaps are undone, diaper is off, same announcement of, "Poo Poo!", not so lucky this time on the containment, but still not as bad as stories I have heard.
So, does this mean we're ready to start potty training? He is clearly aware when he has made a mess and has actually been letting us know for a while now. Is this an indication that, unlike most boys, he is not content to sit in his own poo for hours on end? Who knows. For know, I'm just trying to catch him any time he looks like he's about to go and put him on the pot. This is a fine line because, though you need to react quickly, you don't want to move so quickly that you scare the poo out of him (or scare the need to poo out of him). It's early. I have no delusions that he will be potty trained any time soon. But it's a good practice to start thinking about it now. If he's not trained by March, I'm dropping him off at Nancy's for a week!

No More Pork

Homer Simpson may have called it the Magical Animal. It may be the main ingredient in many delicious meals. And you may long for for a slab of its ribs coated in a savory sauce. But I am here to say that I am tired of pork! We had it for New Year's Eve dinner - ribs. We had it for New Year's Day dinner - roast. Dinner at the Bair's on Tuesday - you guessed it - ham. We have had the leftover ribs for almost every meal since. I-couldn't-possibly-eat-another-bite, even if it is wafer-thin. Caroline, where's that beef brisket?

New Years Eve 2007

No babysitter plus stuffy noses plus busy weeks equals a quiet New Year's Eve at home. That was where B and I were headed this year, and probably would be in bed watching the ball drop. But then J and V called and were equally sitterless and homebound. So we decided to combine forces and they came up to our house. I've never seen Reeves so excited before. When I told him on Saturday that Davis was coming, he immediately started running around looking for him.

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.
After playing for a while, and the previously mentioned Preston visit, we headed down to Marion Square for First Night Charleston. 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.
So we returned home and continued our celebration of the passing of the new year in our driveway. Reeves pulled Davis in the wagon while Guerin looked on from the recently removed from storage exersaucer. 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.

Davis was a bit scared of the sparklers at first, so he got Reeves' light up wand to use instead, but it wasn't long before he garnered up enough courage to handle a sparkler himself.

"This little light of mine. I'm gonna let it shine."

And, of course, Reeves wanted in on the action. You'll note that his firework for the night was a glowstick, but he was longing for the real thing. The boys eventually went to bed, and we couldn't believe they actually slept through the barrage of fireworks that assaulted us at the midnight hour. I thought they weren't allowed in the city. I was wrong.
I hope everyone had a safe and happy New Year's. Here's to a wonderful 2007.

Ummmm.....

Who needs a copy editor when your sign only has two words on it?

Overheard This Weekend...

Preston came over to play with Reeves and Davis on Sunday. When it was time to leave, he was not such a happy camper. Maybe in an effort to make him feel better (but I don't really think so), Davis, after Preston complained again that he didn't want to leave, told Preston, "I get to stay here all day and all night." It was really too funny, but I don't think Preston enjoyed hearing it as much as we all did.
Not to be outdone, as Reeves was telling Preston goodbye at the car, Preston showed Reeves his new Thomas movie, and promptly followed it with, "This is my new movie, and you're not going to watch it!" Little did he know that that was not the plan at all. We had dinner at the Bair's last night, and Reeves was pleasantly occupied during dinner with "Steamies vs. Diesels".
Oh, these boys, so sweet and so bad all at the same time!