Last weekend, Bryant and I loaded up the minivan (that's right, we took the plunge and are loving it!), and headed to Bopper and Becky's. Bopper is Reeves' godfather. From there, we all drove to their mountain house on Lake Burton in northeast Georgia. I had never even heard of this place, and I can only say that it was amazing! The house is built on the mountain a bit more than 400 feet above the level of the lake. 
This is the view of the house when you drive up, and then it just falls away down the back. you would never know it.
Apparently you can see the mountains of Georgia and South and North Carolina from here. It was an amazing view.
This is the view of the house when you drive up, and then it just falls away down the back. you would never know it.Apparently you can see the mountains of Georgia and South and North Carolina from here. It was an amazing view. Bopper's youngest child, and only girl, is Madeline, who is 4 months older than Reeves. 
It was so much fun watching the two of them play together. I wish we could have stayed longer because when we had to leave, they were really starting to warm up to each other.
Unfortunately for us parents, most of that warming up took place on the most dangerous place on the property - this path that ran in front of the down-mountain side of the house between the bottom deck and the driveway. Why are children so attracted to places that make my fear of heights rise to the surface? 
I let Bryant do most of the chasing on those little toddler jaunts. I much preferred to be responsible for them in the security of the only-one-exit porch.
It was so much fun watching the two of them play together. I wish we could have stayed longer because when we had to leave, they were really starting to warm up to each other.Unfortunately for us parents, most of that warming up took place on the most dangerous place on the property - this path that ran in front of the down-mountain side of the house between the bottom deck and the driveway. Why are children so attracted to places that make my fear of heights rise to the surface? I let Bryant do most of the chasing on those little toddler jaunts. I much preferred to be responsible for them in the security of the only-one-exit porch.On the other hand, it took Reeves all of about 2 seconds to warm up to Knox and Riley, Bopper's two boys. Reeves thought he was in hog heaven palling around with these two big guys. I love to see how he is fascinated by older kids. He was happy to be doing anything with them, whether it was running behind them as they rollerbladed down the driveway or just sitting beside them watching the TV.
It was actually quite cold when we were there. There is a neverending breeze (wind) that blows and we had to bundle the little ones up when they insisted on going outside in the morning.
Reeves got his first taste of Oreo cookies and instantly fell in love.
I had no idea he would even be able to eat them, but according to the label, there is no milk or egg in them, and judging by his non-reaction, it must be true. Luckily for us, he hasn't remembered how much he likes these cookies. I do not like the thought of black Oreo cookie all over everything!
Here are Bopper and Bryant across the lake from the house. It's that small dark spot right above the middle of their heads. 
It is hard to determine just how high up you are when you are standing on the porches, although the teeny-tinyness of the boats in the lake does give some indication. This is a nice perspective of seeing where we had been. Unfortunately, it was on our way home, but we look forward to more trips to this amazing house.
I didn't eat any oysters due to the little one inside of me, but if it weren't for this child, I would have bellied right up to that table. The oysters looked beautiful - big, salty singles - and, I imagine because of all the clam and lobster bakes they do, there was plenty of melted butter on the table as well. I am a sucker for anything dipped (marinated, slathered, floating, you-name-it) in melted butter. I know, it's pretty bad, but I just comfort myself with the fact that I can pass up a chocolate bar whenever offered, so I'm allowed this indulgence when it comes available. Anyway, as there is not always melted butter at oyster roasts, I noticed this fact.
In the true spirit of regional concord, as the oysters were cooking outside, there was a huge pot of clam chowder warming on the stove inside. [And yes, it was New England Clam Chowda, not Manhattan - which is, in my opinion, nothing more than vegetable soup with some clams added in - not a chowda in the least!] 
And, as an acknowledgement to what wonderful spring weather we are in, there was a watermelon, so Reeves got his first of the year.
Reeves was fascinated with Booey, the golden retriever. He loved throwing the ball for her and petting her and feeding her pieces of ice out of the beer bin. 
Bryant now thinks we should get a dog. Yeah, right! Do you want that before or after we have this second child? And when I say after, I mean, like 10 years or so after. But it did make him so happy to throw the ball for her....
It has been since last summer that I have been out there and there is a whole new sandbar. I was glad to see that the gully is still there as this is the perfect layout for beaching it with a toddler, but I am not happy about the fact that it is mud and not sand on the bottom of the gully. This is not a lake or a river. This is the beach, which is by definition, "a shore of a body of water covered by sand, gravel, or larger rock fragments." Note the distinct absence of the word "mud". I guess this summer we can't say we're going to the beach. I'll have to come up with some other term. Of course, being almost two, you have the luxury of not noticing this at all. And that may be one of the best things about being almost two. Reeves absolutely adored our little adventure. 
He loved when we took his shoes off towards the end of the path. 
He loved the loose, dunes sand running through his toes. 
He loved the ships he could see as the channel was, luckily for us, quite busy yesterday afternoon. 
He even loved the mud as is squished under his feet and made him slip and slide a little and almost fall down. But I think most of all he loved running through the water. I think something in his short little memory remembered how much he loved it last year, and this new surefootedness of his being almost two let him enjoy it even more, despite us not letting him go all the way in. 
I really can't wait until it warms up just a little bit more, and we can go to the beach for the day, with bathing suits and buckets and shovels and juice boxes and sandy snacks and sunscreen and towels. Of course, this summer, it will also be with a mommy who will be bulging at the seams, but I should make a nice float for him to climb on. Maybe Daddy and Reeves can dig a big hole for Mommy to hide in so as not to scare the other children on the beach - or whatever you want to call it!
Second, show Daddy just how big the pile is that Mommy raked up. Knee high! Mommy must be a very hard worker! "No, Daddy. It may not look like it, but I'm still helping. I'm here for you!" Maybe just try to kick some leaves into the bag so that Daddy thinks you actually are still helping him. This will give Mommy just a few more minutes of being able to transplant her seedlings without being called over.
Finally, forget about helping Daddy all together and instead, show him what a fast runner you are. Remember, it helps disperse the leaves now that you have learned to drag your feet through the pile as you are crossing it. Daddy, while impressed at your fantastic athletic abilities, is no longer so impressed with your "learning by example" prowess. But on a positive note, not only was Mommy able to get the seedlings transplanted, but she even had time to snap a few pictures. What a good boy!
So much for the precious linen JonJon I had chosen for Reeves to wear this Easter! I just couldn't put him in it only to freeze because, of course, he would choose to spend as much time outside as possible. 
So, we spent our Easter morning warmed by the furnace, wearing winter jammies, and bundling up for church. Reeves has really gotten into his Easter basket and eggs this year. I feel like such a tool, but I was able to find eggs with banana chips and raisins inside them rather than candy. (Boring Mommy) I should have bought more. Who knew, but this child loves banana chips. He is also quite fond of the Hot Wheels eggs he got, straining very hard to open them himself. Oh, and do you see that wide-eyed bunny we got for him? Yeah, let's just say that it's not so cute when you see those eyes reflected in the kitchen window the night before, and your husband has had to run out, so you are at home by yourself with your child. Don't shoot until you can see the whites of their eyes? Not a problem Saturday night. I almost called the police. Thought I had a creepy stalker in the back yard.
Reeves put on the charm big time to his Uncle Andy. He pulled his Thomas book out and went right up to Andy for him to read it to him. He loved it, and Andy even called me later that night to let me know that Reeves had made his day. I completely agree. 
Although I'm not sure I can forive Andy for actually reading this quite wordy book to Reeves. He had been content to flip quickly through this toddler tome, pointing out each train and maybe some sheep or a bridge or some tracks. But now, now that he knows there is more to hear than, "And where's Skarloey?", I doubt he will so readily scroll through this as part of his bedtime ritual. This could put bedtime off for at least another 10 minutes or so. I had thought I wouldn't have to actually "read" books to him until he was older. I thought I had maybe a few more months before he started pointing out to me that I had skipped 3 or 4 pages.
Miller is quickly indoctrinating Reeves into the world of soccer. I swear, he even drags one foot when he is "throwing in" the ball. Reeves is entranced by Miller's fancy footwork, and never holds back his laughter when the two of them are playing. I can't wait to take Reeves to dress parades next year when Miller is a knob at the Citadel. He will probably be saluting and marching just like his big cousin Miller does, because Miller is one of the coolest people he knows.
Here's something you don't see everyday.... Seersucker pants and a wool sweater. Glowing in the warmth of the Easter fire while watching the Masters. There are just so many things wrong with those statements.
Reeves was soaking up the love before the out of town girls had to head home. We will miss you! And we really missed Reagan. You better plan on being home for at least a week over Christmas, RayRay!! These children need you to play with them!
We headed out to the country after this full day. Unfortunately, Reeves had had just about enough and was exhausted. If he hadn't been so sticky and dirty, I wouldn't even have given him a bath, but I'm glad I did. He slept like a log last night. Although he did play a bit in his crib, which he has never done before yesterday. Is he just getting himself ready to move into his big boy bed? We'll see. Hope you all had a wonderful and blessed Easter.
We couldn't have asked for better weather - sunny and relatively cool, with a nice breeze on the incoming tide. Other than the totally uninvited gnat guests, everything was perfect. (I keep trying to convince myself that they actually serve a purpose, that they are the first tiny step in the great chain of life, and without them, we, as a species, would ultimately not survive, but, My Heavens!, do there really need to be so many of them!?) I can't thank the Walpoles/Halfords enough for again volunteering their little slice of paradise for this hunt. It was perfect - playtime, anticipation in the backyard, egg hunt in the frontyard, with each child getting a little glimpse on their way in as to the location of their favorite eggs.
