Is it May already?

Aargh, I am so bad at this blog writing thing. Ok, so I need to make a commitment to write at least one a week.

What's new? Well, we are expecting again! John and I decided to start trying or not not trying as we like to call it, in January. So, we will be welcoming a new addition to our family in November, right before Thanksgiving-ish. I have a great doctor, which is such a relief. I have also seen and heard the heartbeat, so I am sleeping a little easier. Now we just wait. In June we should be finding out the gender. Everyone keeps asking me what I want, and honestly, I really don't care. I know that sounds cliche, but it doesn't really matter. I am just hoping for a healthy pregnancy and baby. So far I have had a touch of the queasies and really bad allergies. I feel like I am already sticking out, belly-wise, but no one can tell. I just wonder if they always thought my tummy was that big.

Mallory is still growing like the proverbial weed. She is getting easier and easier to understand, also! It is really entertaining to listen to her sing her favorite songs and dance up a storm. She loves "KidSongs" and her favorites are "Jeepers, Creepers", "Oh, you Beautiful Doll", "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer", and "Five Little Monkeys." Usually she only picks up a few words or lines from each song and then blends them into one musical montage. Mallory also REALLY likes playing in the dirt/sand. Grandma Hanner got a sand box and she will sit in there for hours, which is fine by me! She is a bit stubborn and has had a case of the "no, mommy's" which drives me nuts, but I guess it's just that age. She is learning her ABC's and 123's and is becoming quite better at them. She can count to ten, but always, no matter how persistent we are, forgets 3. Not sure what she has against the number 3, but whatever! She is also learning colors and is starting to really grasp the concept, I think. She can name tons of animals, though, and knows their different sounds. She has become more aware of other people's feelings, or I guess their actions. Whenever someone is crying or looks sad she tells me and wants to know why.

Braydon is a ton of fun and comes up with the best lines! The other day he didn't want to nap, so he asked if he could help with chores instead. He is a big help, and very competitive with Mallory, which can sometimes work to our advantage. Grandma Hanner gave him a new batman motorcycle, and he told me, "Grandma Hanner must like me a lot, since she gave me this batman motorcycle." It was very cute, he came up with that all on his own. He also asked me if the new baby would come home with him to his Mommy's house, and I just had to chuckle. I mean, only a kid would come to that conclusion, but I can see how it made sense to him. He can also write his initials! What a smarty pants.

Work is going great. I am down to 4 shifts, and soon will be down to 3. It is just too hard on my back to work a double on Sunday, but I am sad to let that shift go since it is a good money maker. I guess people still go out to eat, even if the economy sucks. Fine by me!

My next big project? Finishing some scrapbooks. I haven't updated since *gulp* 2005. I think my last pages were of my college graduation! And that does not even include my trip to the United Kingdom.

Florida

I am back from my vacation and feel like I need another vacation. Rephrase...I need a vacation with no children. Not my children, not anyone's children. In fact, maybe a vacation with no one but myself.

I sound so glum. Our trip to Florida was fun. We went shopping alot which was great. Except Mal wanted to "I walking" the whole time. "I walking" is her walking alone, no hands and no leash. No bueno. So we had to cut some trips a little short. We drove out to the beach, but it was rainy so we just looked at the water and all the crazy nice condos. On Super Bowl sunday we went to Sarasota Jungle Gardens. My Grandmother worked there in the 60's which is kind of neat. It has beautiful gardens, a flamingo pond (it was mating season so there was some serious squaking), tropical birds that will sit on your shoulder, alligators and reptiles, and cool animal shows. I was able to hold a baby alligator, and Mal had another fit because she was not old enough to hold him as well. She loved the parrots and the flamingos.

The day after the Super Bowl we went to Tampa to check out the stadium. My sister wanted to do this, not sure why, but whatever. So, in the pouring rain we took pics of the day after the super bowl. Let me mention that I didn't know the super bowl was in Tampa this year and I didn't even realize it was the week I would be in Florida until a few days before I left. I decided day of to root for the cardinals.

The weather was nice to me, but my Aunt said it was rather cold. Mallory was able to wear a tank top and shorts one day! I actually sweated a little bit. Then a "cold front" moved in and we were back in jeans. By cold front, I mean temps in the 60's.

We hung out with Great Grandpa...he will be 90 in a few months. Hard to believe! Anyway...now I must finish preperations for Mallory's 2nd birthday. This is even harder for me to believe.

Hi everyone! I'm finally back. I guess I could say that my busy life has taken up all my time lately and made it impossible for me to write any blogs. The truth is...I've had writer's block. I still feel like I do, but I need to write something, even if it turns out to be super boring.



We are leaving for Florida in 2 days and I still have nothing packed! My house is a wreck and I just can't keep up! Help.



Mallory is "growing like a weed." It seems like an outfit that fit last week is too small this week. It doesn't help that children's clothing has no sizing standards. So, I can't just take out all the 24 mos...half of them still fit. Ugh. Braydon seems to have shot up in the last few months as well, but his clothes were all too big anyway, so now they fit just right. ;)

The Great Imitator

So here we are...our family blog.



This is mainly a way for me to keep track of all the important milestones in our family. However, I realize that people like to know how the family is doing without needing to read all the crap on my MySpace or Facebook. So, for all those who enjoy reading about my little beasties, here you go...The Reynolds.



John (Johnathan, Johann, Daddy, Johanthan) is currently a student at Weber State University, Debbye's alma mater. Go wildcats. He is studying computer networking and trying out all of his newly learned psychological theories and communication techniques on Debbye. John is also working part time at Rooster's Microbrewery, consistently outselling everyone there, including his wife. In his sparetime he likes to wrestle children and taste test cookies.



Debbye (Debster, Debtastic, hey you, Mommy) works part time at Rooster's as well and prides herself on making people laugh. I will be going back to school in the Spring or Fall to obtain a teaching license. Look for me at a high school near you in the next 2 years. She is also a full time housekeeper/mom/laundry specialist. You should notice I didn't put down cook in that last job description. I don't cook. I reheat.



Braydon (little man, bud, batman) is living in Montana right now...we miss him a lot. We look forward to seeing him as often as we are able. He enjoys keeping the order around here and doing anything that Mallory can't do yet. He loves the pets, even when they run away from him in mortal fear.



Mallory (Mal-mal, Mallmsy, batgirl) is a very curious child. She enjoys pushing limits, and testing her parents' patience. She is learning a lot of new words right now and also stringing them together in to "sentences."



Words Mallory knows:

• Mommy


• Daddy


• Kittie


• dink (drink)


• book


• bease (please)


• bee(s) (any bug that flies)


• bug


• bido (spider)


• baby


• guy (her eeyores)


• chip


• cooka (cookies)


• cow


• toy


• tree


• api (airplane)


• deedo (Deidra)


• anna (DeAnna or banana)


• ory (Lorelai)


• ampa (Grandpa)


• bado (Braydon)


• puppy


• ugs (hugs)


• lo (hello...she only says this when she is on her play phone)


• hi


• bye


• see ya


• going


• see (after I take a picture of her with the camera)


• candy


• mine


• doing


• bite


• help


• uck (stuck)


• ew


• stinky


• ball


• money


• outside


• bum bum


• nose


• no


• poo poo


• too too


• meow


• tweet tweet


• moo


• ruff ruff


• uh-oh


• owie

ate (kate)

She also asks where people are going (daddy going?) or what they are doing. She likes to shut the door, any door, and say bye bye to whoever is in the room. She also knows where all the snacks are kept at our house and Grandma's and especially likes fruit snacks. She says please and thank you (when prompted). She is learning "I love you" in sign language and will say it sometimes. She knows several nursery rhyme songs...her favorite is "itsy bitsy spider." She knows "Wheels on the Bus," "Rock a bye baby," "Patty cake," complete with hand motions. She is learning the starfall alphabet and really enjoys the letters F-K. She likes to sit on the potty, but doesn't actually use the potty. She takes good care of her babies, taking them for rides in the stroller and feeding them in the high chair. She is fiercely independent at times, and always a dramatic actress. We enjoy watching her learn and I am amazed at how much this little girl teaches us.

I understand the children imitate adults as part of the learning process. Who knew they would look so cute doing so? Mallory seems to copy something new that either John or I do every day! Today I caught her putting her baby in his carseat (like a miniature one that her cousin Lorelai uses), grabbing his bottle, strapping on her purse and sunglasses, then heading for the door. Good thing she can't get it unlocked yet. Otherwise she probably would have driven off in the car. Just kidding. But seriously, when she is ready to leave she grabs her sunglasses then brings me my sunglasses and then waits by the door.

We are well right now. Looking forward to a trip to Yellowstone and Halloween. After that it is just a few weeks till Deidra comes home!