We had lots of friends and family stay with us or just visit for the day while were there.
We even had some out of town guests. Bryce and Caulder stopped by one afternoon. Reeves is smitten with Bryce and asks about her all the time. When I remind him that he likes Caulder too, he stops me and tells me, "No. I love Bryce!" According to Reeves, you can only like (or love) one thing at a time, and no one else can like it either while you are liking it.
Towards the end of our stay, Mom and I went exploring on the golf cart and found a beach access just past Fort Moultrie. You could drive the cart up and step right onto the beach. I wish I had found this the day we got there. From then on, every night, B and I would load the boys up and drive down there. 
The sun set just beautifully over the city. 
Reeves could run and play. He loved climbing on the rocks and running from the waves.
Bennett spent most of his time on his Daddy's shoulders, and I was able to get some great pictures. 
It was the perfect pre-bedtime jaunt.
On our last night at the beach, Bryant took off work a little early, and we were able to put the boat in. Reeves drove, which is astonishing as you would think he is too short to see over the console, but apparently, you don't really have to be able to see where you're going when driving a boat. You only have to be big enough to reach the steering wheel. And heaven forbid he get any help. "No! I do it by my own!"
We went all the way around the island and behind Goat Island. Even though it was my suggestion to circumnavigate Sullivan's, I must admit, I did get a little nervous out there in the "big water". (Am I becoming my mother?)
This was Bennett's first trip in our boat and his first time with a lifejacket on. He wasn't crazy about it at first but animal crackers (and, I suppose, the scenery) quickly helped him overcome his discomfort. While I was tooling around waiting for B to park the truck, I found it quite difficult to manuever and hold Bennett. 
Solution - I put him right where I put Sadie the first time I took her on the boat, on top of the console. Of course, Bennett is considerably bigger than she was at 6 weeks, but it seemed to work fine. It was a beautiful evening that made you really appreciate living in the Lowcountry. We watched the kiteboarders from the ocean and watched the boats going out the channel. The tide was so high we couldn't even see the jetties. We had to go back and forth under the Breech Inlet bridge a few times, yelling each time. We saw dolphins in the creeks and watched the flyfishers poling towards their prey. The boys loved it. We loved it. It was a perfect cap to a great two weeks.
As with all good things, our time at the beach ended too quickly. I am already looking forward to next year and crossing my fingers that we will be lucky enough to have just a little bit of time there. 
Summer just wouldn't be the same without The Ark. Thank you, Poppa and Grandmother!
Bennett and I were in the front of the house; Reeves was playing in his room. It was Bennett's naptime, so I went to put him in his crib. As I entered the hall, I saw that the full length mirror at the back of the hall had been pulled from the wall, hangers and all. Luckily, it was propped up against a fan back there, so it wasn't broken and no one (Reeves) was hurt. I put Bennett down, went into Reeves' room and asked him what happened. I got no response. I asked him who knocked the mirror down. He told me that Bennett had done it. Enter the "Here Is An Important Parenting Moment So Take Advantage Of It" thought. I didn't blow my top; I didn't yell; I sat him down and talked to him. I told him that while I was upset about the mirror, I knew it was an accident, and even though he should know better, that is not what I was the most angry about. "I know you just lied to me about who knoked the mirror down." We talked about how bad lying is and how he should never, never do it. "You are being punished now, not because of the mirror, but because you lied about it when I asked you."
He's growing up too fast. I'm not ready for the "shades of grey" that come with parenting as they get older. Sometimes it makes me long for those first three months of sleep deprivation. They were hard on the body but easy on the soul.
Here we are at your third birthday. I can’t believe it. Only 365 yesterdays ago, I was writing to you on your second birthday, marveling at what a big boy you were becoming, still being able to count the words you were able to say, just getting introduced to your fits, and most importantly, relishing our last days with you as an only child. We have now left all those things in the dust.
I say this because so far, he is the only member of the household to whom you have not said, “I don’t like you no more!” Even now that Bennett is mobile and is able to take the toys you are playing with, you will still go and get him a replacement toy as you retrieve your original toy. I know this happy nirvana of no sibling rivalry will not last forever, but it certainly is nice right now. He is your “Baby Brudder”, and he adores you just as much as you adore him.
Speaking of “Brudder”, this is as good a time as any to discuss your ever expanding vocabulary and your ever increasing ability to actually verbalize those words intelligibly. While your speech has most definitely been slow, you have now, for the most part, caught up to your peers. Your pronunciation still leaves much to the imagination for most, but we understand you pretty well, and, unless you are whining, everyone else seems to also. I am so happy to see that you have finally progressed in this category. I know school helped a lot with this.
It has been so much fun watching you grow and change over this past year. Your new brother, your new school, the fact that I am now staying home. I know all of these things have made lasting impressions on you. You have handled them all very well. There have, naturally, been a number of bumps in the road, but, like all things, these too shall pass. Your temper has certainly blossomed as you have gotten older. Daddy says you get this from me. Probably. You are also quite persistent with your demands. Your memory is like an elephants, and it is taking quite some time for you to realize that you aren’t going to get what you want just by screaming and whining about it. Someday you’ll come around. 
You’re already starting to make teeny, tiny steps in that direction – the one in which you realize that candy is for after a meal, not in place of it, and you may as well zip it and just go ahead and eat because the faster you do, the closer you are to your “yoyyipop.” It is definitely hard sometimes not to give in to your demands, and occasionally I have a weak moment, but luckily you have learned just to take your temper to your room and lat it work itself out there.
Reeves, you are so loved. At the end of each day, no matter how frustrating it’s been, Daddy and I always thank God for you and Bennett. We are so lucky to have both of you. You are amazing children. I can’t wait to see the new person you will become this year. Such a big boy, but you’ll always be my baby. I love you!
As Murphy would have it, since I didn't post at your ninth month, you spent the majority of the time before that hurtling over milestone after milestone. Your two bottom teeth finally popped in in April. So far, they are the only ones brave enough to make the journey. I think they have warned all the other dental buds that you thouroughly enjoy putting any and everything in your mouth and chomping down. You have mastered the art of opening any flip top with your two little teeth.
While you had been commando crawling for a month or so, you finally made the transition to full fledged crawling. It was as if all of a sudden, one day you figured out that it was much faster and perhaps less painful to go it on your hands and knees. 
While I find myself doing less laundry now, I am also having to clean the floors more since you are no longer doing your sweeping laps.
On May 20, you stayed out at the country for us to take Reeves to his endoscopy. This started what was to become a five day stay. I came down wth terrible swimmer's ear and could do nothing more than lie in bed 24/7 and wonder, "Whhhyyyy meeee?" When I went to finally see you and Reeves on Friday, I learned that you had apparently decided this was the week you would start pulling up to standing and go from crawling to sitting all by yourself. As much as I hated to miss these firsts, I am so glad you had your grandparents to take care of you for them. Of course, you have never looked back, and while there haven't been any major new developments, you have certainly perfected those you do have..jpg)
Bennett, you are just about the happiest child I have ever known. You smile all the time, and somehow, when that one dimple appears, you get even cuter. You are, most of the time, easy going, but have no qualms about letting us know how you're really feeling. 
You adore your daddy and big brother. I like to think you feel the same about me, but since you jump out of my arms to get to either one of them, I'll be content with being #3 in your hierarchy for now.
One of Bennett's favorite things is a ball attached to this rope. Probably not the safest toy, but he never plays with it unless we're around, and the delight it brings is worth it.
He has recently been all about Daddy. I definitely play second fiddle when the Daddy's around.
No one is safe when both boys attack! Bennett is really beginning to be able to join in the fun. Thankfully, Reeves doesn't seem to mind too much.
Luckily, Daddy survived the attack just fine and was able to regain control.
It doesn't get much better than this. All the mommy frustrations just melt away at times like these.
So this is what my days have been since Tuesday - drugs, drops, and sleep. My children stayed out in the country this whole time. I can't thank the Bairs enough for their help with the boys. There was no way I would have been able to take care of either of them. The Lortab was the only thing in those first days that would even touch the pain, and, since they made me dizzy, nauseous, and tired, I just wouldn't have been able to mommy. We're heading out today to see the boys. I miss them more than I thought I would. Bryant has seen them everyday, but somehow, his reports just aren't quite fulfilling enough. I can't wait to have them in my arms. 
The Charleston Symphony Orchestra played at Smythe Park, and we all set up a tailgate to enjoy the show. Apparently, there was a tailgating competition, but we, of course, weren't even thinking of that when we began our preparations. 
Yeah, right! We pulled out and dusted off all of our Charleston Cup decor and started our own Daniel Island Yacht Club right there. Despite the throngs of passersby who would have placed bets that we would win, we didn't even get an Honorable Mention. Perhaps it was because they didn't notice us. 
It's so easy to overlook a 15 foot flagpole complete with four fullsize flags waving in the breeze! Luckily, the oversight on the judges' part did not dissuade us from having a perfectly marvelous time. While we and the Smiths did most of the set up, our wonderful friends provides all the nourishment for the crowd. (Plus some divine pork tenderloin cooked up by Stephen. He truly is a grilling master!) We had everything from pickled shrimp to cucumber sandwiches to peanut butter brownies. It was quite a spread. 
And, as much as he drives me crazy when it comes to doing stuff like this, Bryant's flowers were just gorgeous, and his ideas always turn out great. They were the last things to be finished, but they really completed the whole layout. 
We had some of our dearest friends in the spot right next to us. As you can see, their theme was Crazy Mexican, and Jason just couldn't help himself! 
Yo quiero kaluha ice cream!
Thanks to Stephen and Matt, however, some of us were able to snuggle up on the Smith's Party Porch furniture under Aileen's blanket. (Honestly, we had WICKER FURNITURE out there, and we still didn't win?) 
This proved to be the perfect spot to watch the fireworks. 
The breakdown was pleasantly uneventful and quick. I can't thank everyone enough for all they did to make this night turn out to be such a success, and special props go to Caroline for getting us all involved in the first place. It was a perfect evening spent with friends in a beautiful setting. We look forward to resurrecting the DIYC next year!