Happy 30th Birthday, Rob!

Saturday, while Bryant and Bopper worked on the fence, Reeves and I headed out to Folly for Rob Kunes 30th. Of course, Reeves nap put us a bit late, so we missed lunch, but it didn't matter one bit. We got there with plenty of time to change into our suits, lather up, and get on the beach. Of course, I am such an idiot. I put sunburn lotion all over Reeves, but failed to do the same for myself. Luckily, wherever Reeves touched me, the lotion transferred, so the top of my left arm, my shoulder, and a leg shaped section on my back are all without sun. But it's OK. I didn't get burnt, just enough sun to feel it. Julie helped Reeves and me make our way to the beach, where we headed immediately for the kiddie pool (gully). There were a couple of other kids there just a bit older than Reeves. He was loving it! When Mom and Dad came down a bit later, Reeves immediately started waving to them. As soon as Mom sat down, he promptly crawled out of his puddle in the sand, and onto her lap. Is there anything that makes you feel better or more loved?

Dad pulled Reeves on the boogie board. I was very impressed with his balance…and attention span!
It was so good to see the Kunes again. Here, Rob and I grew up two houses apart from each other, saw each other nearly everyday (except when he went to boarding school), and now it takes his birthday for us to get together. I say this only because the last time we saw them was at his birthday TWO YEARS AGO!! It's not that we don't talk, it's just that every time we talk, we end each conversation with, "We really need to get together soon." Likewise, we left that way on Saturday. I really miss seeing Rob and Julie. Hopefully soon, Rob and I will be able to follow through on our threats to have each other over for dinner!!

What a Hunk

Already turning the eyes of the ladies!

Here She Comes, and There She Goes

The Queen Mary 2 steamed into port yesterday. Until last May 19, she was the biggest ocean liner in the world. The Freedom of the Seas took over that honor, outweighing her by a mere 6,600 tons.

I had forgotten she was coming in until I spotted her as I was crossing the bridge into Mt.P Wednesday morning. She was bigger than any ship I'd ever seen. I couldn't believe how small she made our harbor look! I snapped this picture just to document it. (I know you are all breathing a sigh of relief and jumping for joy that I am now bringing my camera everywhere again!)


Mom had picked Reeves up, so after work, I headed down to their house, and Mom, Dad, Reeves, and I walked to the CYC to see her leave Charleston and to grab some dinner. It was a bit anticlimactic watching her go. I'm not really sure what I was expecting, but if nothing else, it gave us an excuse to go out to dinner AND get a bit of exercise. We ran into the Boykins and the Baileys. And I got to meet baby Betsy. She is just precious! Oh how I missed the days of the bucket seat as Reeves was batting my water all over me as I tried to give him a sip! Thank you, Ann, for helping me dry off!
Here's what amazes me the most about this ship. According to the Charleston Regional Business Journal, "the potential economic impact of the one-day visit for Charleston could be as high as $230,000." Are you kidding? She was here for less than 10 hours! And that's the amount if she didn't take on fuel and provisions. Who knows what it would be then. I say bring on the cruise ships!

Anatomy of a Swing

I love this Canon Rebel camera. I put it on sports mode and was able to capture all these frames of Preston's swing and run to first. I'm sure future t-ballers will be studying these during training. Notice the focus, the backswing, the follow through. Oops, careful! Don't trip over that bat! Good job! SAFE!

The Boys (and Girls) of Summer

The Crowd Goes Wild
Preston's last t-ball game was on Saturday. It was so much fun, but these poor kids. They had a double header! -They are four years old!- I can hardly focus through a double header! But they were great. Of course, in the second game, the coaches had to direct them a LOT more, "Throw it to home","Run to first","Look this way","Stand up","Come on, back on the field". And they were much less apt to jump up, but I truly think they were loving every minute of it, if for no other reason, than in anticipation of their turn at bat. You could see, through the masks on their helmets, the excitement on each face, the concentration, and the joy when they actually made contact with the ball. They would race off to first base as fast as their little legs could carry them. Then it was time to chat with the first baseman. "So, are you going to catch The Wiggles in Columbia?" But at the crack of the next bat, they were off rounding the bases in a cloud of dust, helmet bobbing, arms and legs flailing.

Preston's friend, Meredith, races to first. Don't you love the pink helmet?

Preston just beats the throw to first!

This is why I love sports.
I love that you get so focussed on the game, that nothing else matters, except getting to that next base. I love that you know your family and friends are in the stands cheering for your whole team, but cheering loudest when you come up to bat. I love the feeling you get after a long game, win or loose, when you're exhausted and physically spent, but you have just enough energy to hug your teammates and rehash all of the great plays. This is why I'm looking forward to Reeves being old enough to play sports. I can't believe Bryant and I will be the parents in the stands. How did this happen? Don't worry, Reeves, I won't get your team any Technicals!! Love ya, Gams!

Put me in, Coach.

I'm ready to play, today. Look at me. I can be centerfield.

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!

Oh, He Walked?

OK, so I am a bad mother, not in a Joan Crawford, "Mommy Dearest" way, or even a Brittney Spears way, more in a Martha Stewart, scrapbook, "How could you not pictorally document a momentous occasion in your child's life?" way. Here I am, the mother who brings her camera everywhere, from a no-occasion lunch to the doctor's office, just in case there is some super precious moment that I might want to capture. (Truth be told, motherhood has only intensified this practice. I have always done this - just ask Lolly!) On Sunday, Reeves and I went to IOP to visit with a lifelong friend of mine, Helen, and to meet her new son, Wyatt. As soon as I pulled into the driveway at the beach, I realized my Grand Canyon error. My camera was sitting on the chair in the den, right where I'd left it after taking random pictures of Reeves because I liked the way the morning sun was coming in the window and lighting his face. (Do you see what I mean when I say that I don't need a lot of inspiration to take a plethora of pictures?) Oh, the inhumanity! Here I was, smack dab in the middle of such sweet photo ops, and I had no camera. It was awful. Why did we all have to go and have such cute kids? Then, to make matters a thousand times worse, we went down to the beach, and Reeves took his first sequential four steps! I've got a great mental picture of it, and luckily, there were others there to see it. And really, it's not like I would have really gotten pictures of him walking anyway, but I certainly would have loaded up that memory card with plenty of other pics. I need to just start leaving the small camera in my bag, thereby ensuring that from now on, if I miss a picture, it is because I choose to miss it, not because I am unable to take it.

Water Babies

Later on Saturday, we went to David and Jenny's to play in the pool and grill some dogs and brats. (David is a master brat cooker, for those of you who don't know.) This marked the first time Reeves had been in a big pool. Kiddie pools are for babies, and these are big kids. He loved it and took immediately to the water. Bryant swears he was even trying to kick. He isn't a huge fan of having water splashed in his face, which surprises me because I have never shielded his face from the bath water, and I am now beginning to wonder if perhaps I wasn't a bit too overzealous when it came to "making sure he wasn't afraid of water in his face." Anyway, we had a great time, and it was so much fun to have all three little ones together. I'm sure the above picture will be repeated many times in the coming years. Hopefully, there will be more hair in the later ones!

Leeze danced.

Henry splashed.

Reeves kicked.

And David tossed...

...and tossed...

...and tossed.

I have decided I pretty much either need to have a pool of my own or live in a neighborhood with a pool.

Water Baby

Saturday, we Bairs had a nice relaxing day at home. It was nice to have absolutely nothing on the agenda. Reeves took a great morning nap, had a wonderful lunch, and went for a swim. We finally set up his baby pool, and he loved it - although, I think he may have been a bit confused at first, thinking it was a bath. I suppose if I had put a bathing suit on him, it would have helped with the distinction, but that tooshie is just too cute! Well, that and the fact that we gave him some of his bath toys to play with.... You will notice that the pool is a nice bright yellow with a nice royal blue bottom. I bought this thinking how convenient it would be to have this little blow up pool that will neatly deflate and be out of the way, and the colors are awesome for pictures. Well, the colors may be great, but the blowing up bit is a nightmare. From now on, this pool stays in the car for a swim need emergency. Tomorrow, we get in Daddy's truck and head to Wally World for an old fashioned, hard as a rock, plastic pool. Reeves will get much more home swim time if we do that!

Reeves and His Cuzzes

Just thought I would post some pics of Reeves and his favorite cousins. We are so lucky to have so much family right here. I wish we could see Leeze and Henry more often, but, as I have been saying for the past 6 years, things have got to slow down soon. (Yeah, right!)
Reeves and I stopped by to see Leeze last Thursday since she was going to New York on Saturday to see Casey's parents. (Lucky Morn and Case get to spend 4 days in the city, while Leeze gets to spend quality time with her grandparents.) Anyway, when I called Morn to tell her we were coming over, she was just about to put L in her bath, so she held off till we got there. These two had such fun playing together. It was hilarious to watch them. All that money spent on bath toys, and you see what their favorite toy was.
At 4 years old, Preston is Reeves' oldest cousin. He also doubles as his older brother. Preston's mom, Julie, Bryant's sister, watches Reeves for us during the day. We are so lucky to have her. Reeves gets absolutely the best care possible. I wish I didn't have to work, but it is so comforting to know that Reeves is with people who love him like their own. I really think Reeves is learning and doing things that, if he did not have Preston as a role model, he would not be doing yet. He does his absolute best to keep up with Preston. In return, Preston is his watchdog. He is more worried about him than we are! "Kacky, hold on to him! He might fall!" "Kacky, I think Reeves needs his bottle." What kind of a mother am I that I am getting parenting advice from a 4 year old boy?! Hard to believe that at this time last year, Jenny and I were about to pop. We had no idea what we were doing or what lay ahead of us. What an adventure. Now look at these two boys! They are going to have so much fun together as they grow up. I just hope they don't get in too much trouble!! They are so similar and so different, but they both make our hearts melt.

All Hail the King

We had a coworker's sick child with us today, and she begged him to take her to BK for lunch. Not sure if any of you have ordered a Kid's Meal at Burger King lately, but the next time you do, be sure to read the "Rules of the Crown" printed inside the crown. Apparently, "Whoever places the Crown on his or her head first, then in a loud voice proclaims, 'I am the King' is from that moment forward, in charge." One of my favorite rules of the advanced play is that "The King must speak with some kind of cool accent." There is a Three Second Law - "The King's rule ends when the Crown is removed from their head for any reason, accidental or otherwise, for more than three seconds. The first person to exclaim, 'One…two...three...King' may claim the Crown." I guess this is similar to the three second rule regarding food consumption, but not nearly as disgusting - particularly in a BK restaurant. If you choose to become King, please note that regarding the magnitude of your kingdom, "If you are eating in s Burger King restaurant, your rule extends all the way to the edge of the parking lot. Off restaurant grounds, your rule extends to a radius of 10 feet around you in any direction." Of course, in our incredible litigious society, there is a warning, but it is refreshingly glib. "WARNING: This Burger King Crown is made of paper. Your rule may end prematurely if Crown is exposed to water or flame." (Ha! Just try to get around that one, Bill Green!) Kinda Makes showering and maintaining rule tough. Anyway…. Now, I must run because Chloe has abdicated her Crown for much longer than the required three seconds, and I am only four words away from complete 10' radius domination!

Where Are They Now?

OK, I can't take credit for thinking of this myself. I read it in a comment on a blog from a blog from a blog, etc. Anyway, this goes back to Grey's Anatomy for a minute..... What about Meredith's panties? She never found them. When and where will they turn up, and who will find them? You know they are going to be an issue, otherwise, why mention them at all? Ugghh, this is driving me crazy!

What a Show!

I took these pictures around 9:30 Sunday night. Our power was out, so when the lightning wasn't flashing, it was pitch black dark. It was very eery and super cool. And coolest of all, Reeves slept through the whole thing. He only later woke up crying because he couldn't find his pacifier in the dark - enter the battery powered Coleman lantern. Worked like a charm.

My First Mother's Day

Reeves turned 11 months old on my first Mother's Day, May 14. I can't believe almost a year has passed since we brought our Cinderella Man into this world. What a wonderful Mother's Day this was. Reeves slept until 8:30. That was a great present in and of itself. Anyway, as is usual for our Sunday mornings, we had to rush and hurry to make church on time. Bryant and Reeves gave me my cards and present before we left. It was so sweet and special. I love my boys! As soon as we got downtown, I turned around only to find Reeves completely passed out. Since we were having dinner at Andy and Carolyn's later, Bryant and I decided to let him sleep. We spent the next two hours driving around the Old Village. I had forgotten just how massive it is. We went to places I have never even seen before. Neither of us could get over how much new construction is going on. I didn't think there were any open lots left! The drive was unexpected and, given gas prices these days, expensive, but we had such a nice time. Sometimes you have to get away just to get together. Being stuck in the car is not such a bad thing. It's good to slow down and reconnect with your husband. Dinner at Carolyn and Andy's was wonderful. There might not be a better piece of meat out there than the NY strip from the New York Butcher Shop. And Andy rocks for having it for us! It was so nice to spend time together with the family and the kiddies. I feel like I never get to see them. Thank you, Andy and Carolyn for hosting us. We missed our Mom, but you know how she loves the golf. Why we ever got her that first set of clubs, I'lll never know!

Luckily, when we stopped by to drop off her cards, Mom and Dad had already returned, so we did get to spend a bit of time with her on Mother's Day. Reeves managed to find every bit of dirt on their front porch. He was too cute. I love being a mother, even though I don't get to be with Reeves nearly as much as I would like. Sometimes I feel like two separate people, and it's hard to reconcile the two. But my guys make all the hard work and tears worth it. I don't care if Hallmark created Mother's Day. I enjoyed my first one immensely and look forward to many more!

....Of course, the one thing we didn't get was a picture of Reeves and me on Mother's Day!!