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.
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Last Saturday, Bryant and I took the boys down to Marion Square to see the animals. We hadn't even looked at a SEWE schedule. If we had, we probably would have headed over to Brittlebank to see the Dock Dogs. But no matter, we still had a great time and even got to see the birds of prey in action. 
This was very exciting for Reeves who is all in to bald eagles. Apparently any bird bigger than a dove is a bald eagle. "Mommy, see bal eadul!!" "No, Reeves, that's a vulture." "No! Bal eadul!" OK. I guess we'll work on the various subspecies later. 
We went through the petting zoo again this year, and Reeves was fascinated with the camel and monkeys. We were successful at avoiding the jump castles for most of the day. Unfortunately, the exit of the big tent was right at the castles. Any other time we would have let him get right in there, but there were so many people there we were hesitant to do it. Luckily he didn't pitch too much of a fit. 
Reeves is still scared to death of anything canine, but he has no fear of slithering, coldblooded snakes. I don't get it. We gave in to one little bout of consumerism and bought Reeves a plastic bald eagle. 
He adores it. It hangs from the Oh Shandle above and beside his car seat. He has named it Pickles. Oh, how Pickles loves to fly around in circles for Reeves! 
We took the obligatory SEWE-Here's-An-Alligator-Eating-Your-Child picture. This is still a little disturbing to me. The boys had done great all day, and we made it home just before breakdown time. A great ending to a great day.
I feel like Sisyophus every time I sit Bennett down to feed him. Try as I may, I simply cannot push food into this child's mouth. As soon as I get everything ready to feed him - the bib on, the food mixed, the distractions to a minimum - he clamps his mouth shut. We have gone from plain rice cereal with breastmilk to rice cereal, breast milk, and syrup to rice cereal with applesauce to rice cereal with applesauce and sugar. I feel terrrible adding sweeteners to it, but at this point I'll try anything. I've let him get super hungry. No luck. I've fed him after he's nursed. I've tried right after he wakes up. Right before he goes to bed. With a bib. Without a bib. Clothed. Naked. This is really beginning to drive me crazy because I am not a mother who wants to cater to her child's every whim, but there must be something that will make him eat. What little bit does make it in is either spit right back out or chipmunked, only to reappear the next time the None-Shall-Enter-Jaws open.
This month you have finally taught yourself to roll back over from your tummy to your back, although you are not all that good at it yet. And my only proof that you can do it is because there have been times when you have woken up on your back after I know you had been on your tummy at some point. I have not actually witnessed the front/back roll, but as long as it keeps you in blissful slumber just a little while longer, I’m willing to believe things I don’t see.
Right now it’s just big enough to cover your body when you roll on your side and curl up. You immediately grab it and pull it up to your face and, most of the time, fall instantly asleep (or at least quiet). So far you’ve only had this in your crib, and if possible, I’d like to keep it that way. Otherwise, I’ll have to contact Maddelle pronto and get at least three more! With Reeves, we have a whole herd of his froggies, and he doesn’t seem to prefer one over the other, so come to think of it, it might be a good idea to go ahead and stock up for you.
Your movements this month have gotten much more deliberate and focused. When you reach for something, you go after it directly and without much wandering of the hand. Though you are not near crawling, you somehow manage to maneuver your way around the den floor. This is great as far as your development goes, but it is not such a welcome change to your brother. More than once he has left a toy on the floor only to look over and find that you have managed to grab it. 
I thought I would have a little more time before I had to address the whole “sharing with your brother” issue, but it looks like you have decided to move that up a few steps. So far Reeves has been relatively good about getting you another toy to play with, and none of your fingers or arms appear to be disjointed, so he’s also mastered the art of not grabbing whatever it is from you.
We have never laughed so hard. Even Reeves was amused. You have the same disturbing habit that he had of seeming to choke on anything you decide you don’t like. 
It was more than once that I jerked Reeves out of his seat, prepared to administer the Heimlich maneuver, only to discover that it was his tastebuds that were revolting and not his windpipe. Be warned, I’m privy to these tricks now, so you won’t get away with it as much as he did!
Only now, you’ve added to his happiness even more because you are starting to reach out to him when he goes to take you from my arms. You make us so happy, and we love you more than you’ll ever know.
I guess it's just not as much fun to make your own fort as it is to have Mommy construct it. I wonder what I'll use when Bennett outgrows the playmat.
He and Reeves are perfectly fine with nothing more than a roof over their heads, a couple of good books to read, and a flashlight to illuminate their wonderful world of make believe.
We definitely have two distinct groups in our little (growing) posse. The older kids relished in the cookie cutting and decorating. There were sprinkles and icing and flour everywhere. 
Nancy is certainly a great sport for subjecting her house to the messes these kiddies make. And while all that was going on, the babies enjoyed sleeping and nursing. .JPG)
It's not a bad deal for them either. Now that Reeves has grown out of his egg allergy, we have the freedom to use ready-made cookie dough. For those of you with children with a milk allergy, Pillsbury products generally are milk free. We use so many of them now that every time Reeves sees the Pillsbury Doughboy, he points to him and says, "ReeRee's crackers!" Oh yes, brand recognition is alive and well at our house.
We headed down to PR the weekend brfore Christmas to visit with the Willis clan and exchange our gifts. J&V hit a gigantic homerun with the Mack they gave Reeves. 
Even now, there has not been a day that goes by without his playing with it. It has also worked as a great behavioral tool when it gets taken away. Who knew? A gift for the child and the parents!
This year the Smiths were all out of town, so we moved our get together up to the 23rd, after church. It was actually quite nice, particularly now as the number of children in the group has doubled since last year. 
Reeves, Henry, and Leeze all play so well together. Lolly even added a four legged friend (and another Henry) to the group. I think Reeves, in his heart of hearts, loves him, despite the fact that Lolly's puppy's sole goal in life is to "eat ReeRee." I never knew five pounds could be so frightening. 
He felt pretty safe when Pops rescued him and held him above the fray.
We were showered with so many gifts that there are still some hidden away for a rainy day. Reeves and Preston were drunk on wrapping paper, boxes, and toys. It is so much fun to watch them play together, and equally as much fun to send them upstairs or outside to give us a little peace and quiet. 
So far there have been no broken bones or stitches needed, so our plan seems to be working! This was the first Christmas for Bennett and Caulder. They both took it is stride, chilling out in someone's arms or the swing. 
I now bring the Bumbo seat with me almost everywhere as Bennett has an insatiable desire to be right in the middle of everything, and since we tend to spend the most time in the kitchen, we can just plop him right up on the counter and let him watch. (I wonder where he got this personality from?) 
Growing up, Julie and Bryant had wanted to have children close together, and it is such a blessing to have these two little ones be only (exactly) four months apart.
Santa didn't go overboard, mainly just filling the Disney Corporation's coffers since Cars and Toy Story are such big hits around here. I swear, one year, I'm just going to give the boys big empty boxes and a couple of rolls of wrapping paper. 
Those always seem to be the most played with items on Christmas mornings. We headed down to Gams and Pops' for the big family Christmas. 
As has been the case for the past 32 years, it did not disappoint at all. Mom always tells us that "it's not going to be a big Christmas this year" and "I hope you're not disappointed." I really think she just does this out of habit now. 
She and Dad always know just the perfect gifts for us, some are just for fun and some are for self improvement and some are so meaningful they bring tears to your eyes. We had a little of all of it this year. Grandmother and Poppa gave the most special gift this year to Miller. 
As he is a freshman at the Citadel this year and Poppa's namesake, it was truly fitting that Poppa should pass on to him the picture of the entire corps from his senior year, 1943. 
It was a very sincere moment, and one that we will all treasure forever. 
Despite the dark and lack of an actual soccer ball, Reeves and Miller were able to get in a bit of practice before it was time to head home. I'm beginning to think that Miller has an agenda with my son - soccer or bust. It's OK by us.
Willy Wonka got just about all the lovin' he could handle. We had the Bearsch family with us too, so he was getting it from both sides! Bennett got to have his diaper changed on a table that was passed down from his great-great-grandmother which was on top of a rug handed down by his other great-great-grandmother. 
It seemed only fitting then, that his great-grandmother should oversee the whole process. Only in our family! 
Dad gave Mom the gift of fire for Christmas. He's so old fashioned. I just hope she uses this power for good and not evil. I'm sure she will. Of course, we can't forget the final gift Mom got Dad. What do you get for the man who refuses to own a cell phone and who uses a computer only to play solitaire? 
Why, a portable navigational GPS computer, of course! I was going to throw in a pair of stiletto heels for him as well since I figured they'd get about as much use as this thing would, but apparently he has turned it on and even figured out how to make it work. Wonders never cease, and we can all sleep easily at night knowing that he'll now be able to find his way to the office and Yeamans without getting lost anymore.
It's easy to forget that amidst the hustle and bustle of presents and parties. Thank heavens we have the little ones to remind us every once in a while.
