Reagan's First Haircut

Reagan's first haircut took place on January 8th, 2008 (over a month after her 2nd birthday). I wasn't all that happy with how the pictures and video turned out, since Reagan was rather expressionless and she never took the lollipop out of her mouth. But then John sent me an email, asking "isn't a first haircut blog-worthy?" and I reconsidered. I sometimes need to be reminded that even though I'm not happy with how a picture comes out, it doesn't take away from the importance of an event. My poor family often gets annoyed by my quest for the perfect picture ... I have to remember that pictures are meant to preserve a moment in time; so if I happen to capture someone having a 'bad hair day,' it really shouldn't matter. :)

Dinner at Houlihan's

John and I took the girls out to dinner at Houlihan's in Ramsey last night. We met up with our friends Kerry and Paul Arbadji, along with their daughters Kara (6) and Jenna (5). Kerry was the first person who befriended me when I moved to New Jersey, and for that I will always be grateful. She is an incredibly talented teacher at Woodside Elementary here in River Vale and I was lucky enough to work side by side with her in her kindergarten classroom 3 years ago. Last year, we worked side by side again in her new position in the resource room ... I've learned SO MUCH from her as an educator. She's been a wonderful friend to me and she's someone I respect and admire. My only gripe about Kerry is that she's always so busy, juggling her full time teaching job, her part time tutoring business, and of course, her full time role as a mother. Now that we're not working together, I don't get to see her as often as I would like, but at least we got to catch up last night.

Kerry's husband Paul and their oldest daughter Kara

Kerry holding Avery

Kara challenged John to a game of Tic-Tac-Toe ... I caught John's expression when he realized Kara was going to beat him!

Kara, Reagan and Jenna ... Reagan could learn from these girls about how to smile on cue!

Our Little Problem Solver

We've been having some problems with our heater, so John's uncle Pepin came over today to help him fix it. Reagan loves Pepin and seemed disappointed when he and John disappeared into the basement. I told her that they were fixing the heater because it wasn't working. She thought about it for just a moment and then said, "it needs new batteries." Obviously! When her toys stop working, that is our usual response, so why wouldn't that apply to the heater too? I absolutely love hearing her say things like this, offering us a glimpse into the mind of a 2-year old. Her insight is simple and genuine, and it always makes me smile. :)

And when she says these things, I couldn't be happier that I have a forum such as this, to share these experiences with friends and family.

Keeping Busy

The last few days have been rather busy, but fun. On Thursday, my friend Alexis had us over for a playdate. We both have 2 girls the same ages (her daughters are 2 months older than mine) and they live just one town over in Westwood. Reagan loves playing will Ella and I'm sure Avery will have fun playing with Sofia when she gets a little bigger.

Amanda and Avery ~ Sofia and Alexis

Reagan ~ Ella

On Thursday night, we had our monthly bookclub meeting at Michelle's house. Michelle picked the book, Gods in Alabama, and she led a discussion that lasted all of about 5 minutes :) My friend Nicole (who lives around the corner from Alexis is Westwood) drove the 3 of us and we enjoyed a huge spread of delicious appetizers and desserts. It was a fun night out with the girls.

Michelle

Amanda and Nicole

On Friday morning, I hosted a playdate at my house with 8 moms and their kids. Reagan had a great time playing with Meredith's son Timmy ... she even let him drive her car!

Reagan and Timmy

Meredith and Timmy

On Friday night, I went out to dinner with some moms from my group to bid farewell to a woman moving back to the Netherlands. I brought my next door neighbor and friend Lizzie with me and we had a wonderful time.

Amanda and Lizzie


In August, John and I were pleasantly surprised to learn that we had some new next door neighbors. Lizzie and David Trimm moved to River Vale from the UK with their two delightful daughters, Hattie (8) and Emily (10). David was offered a large promotion to move here and run the entire IT department of Hertz. Since they arrived, we've thoroughly enjoyed spending time with them and getting to know them. The Trimms are a wonderful family and we feel so lucky to have them right next door. Reagan adores Hattie and Emily and they are so sweet with her. I'm sure I'll be writing more about them in the future.

Emily, Hattie, & Reagan on Thanksgiving

Yesterday was a big day for my sister Camille ... she turned 30!!!!! I wish I could have been there (in Utah) to help her celebrate.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Camille!

Yesterday was also Joaquin's 1st birthday, so we went to his party this afternoon. Joaquin is the son of John's cousin Maribel. They rented out a large hall so there was plenty of room for all the kids to run around. It was so much fun to watch Reagan running around with all the big kids!

It was a great party and it was fun to be with all of John's family. Reagan wore herself out and was exhausted by the time we got home.

All in all, it was a fun-filled, activity-packed 3 days! Thank goodness tomorrow is Sunday and I can relax a little :)

It only took 10 weeks

So it only took 10 weeks for Reagan to figure out what a little sister is good for: passing blame! I give her credit for figuring it out so quickly and at such a young age. Just before going upstairs to take a bath tonight, Reagan walked over to where I was sitting on the couch holding Avery. The smell that followed her was unmistakable, so I said, "Wow, Reagan! Something really stinks! Do you have a poopy diaper?" Of course she said, "No," which didn't surprise me (she hates having her diaper changed and usually avoids it at all cost). But after her typical reply, she quickly added, "Avery has poopy diaper."

John was sitting nearby, but didn't hear the exchange, so I repeated it to him. We both laughed and then goofed around with Reagan that she had blamed a very stinky diaper on her innocent little sister. This was the first time Reagan had ever thought to blame someone else for her actions, but I'm sure it won't be the last time she points a finger. And I'm sure that in the future, we won't find it half as cute as we did tonight! :)

We then went upstairs for baths and I took these pictures of them. Here's Avery just after her bath and here's Reagan in the bathtub, trying to squirt John with water.

Happy Birthday Missy!

Today is my best friend Missy's birthday. Before I met John and moved to New Jersey, Missy and I lived together. Our friendship began a long time ago, back when we were cheerleaders together in high school (oh how I wish I had a picture of us from back then that I could post to this blog ... but all those pictures are in a box at my parents' house in Utah)! We saw each other at the U while earning our undergraduate degrees and then briefly kept in touch through the years after college. Then just over 5 years ago, we sat next to each other at an annual Christmas dinner with all our friends and we reconnected. A few weeks later, we were roommates, staying up 'til 4am talking and giggling. And even though we live 2,000 miles apart, she's always there for me when I need to talk. As we always say about each other, she's the only person I can say ANYTHING to. We've been through a lot together and I'm grateful for her friendship.

So, Missy: Happy Birthday ! ! !

Avery's 2 Month Dr. Appointment

Avery on 12-29-07

On Monday (1-7-08), John and I took Avery to her 2 month well visit. She weighed 11 pounds, 6 ounces and measured 21 3/4 inches long. When she was born, she weighed 6 lbs 10 oz. It's shocking to think that in 9 1/2 weeks, she's gained 4 lbs, 13 oz. ... almost 5 pounds! Maybe this isn't shocking for most parents, but for us, it's new territory. Reagan was born 7 weeks premature and weighed 4 pounds, 2 ounces. She was 5 months old by the time she was the size Avery is now at 2 months old.

Because Reagan was so small, I spent a great deal of time wishing she would just get bigger. With Avery, I'm allowing myself to enjoy this infant stage and all the simple pleasures that accompany it. Exchanging stares with this precious little baby brings me so much joy. I love hearing her coos and all the other funny noises she makes. Watching her break out a huge smile when her big sister talks to her is a proud feeling that cannot be expressed by words. And finally, letting her fall asleep on my chest is ever so lovely and completely priceless. It is all these things that remind me why I absolutely love being a mother. It is the most gratifying experience I'll ever have in this life and I can't help but feel truly blessed. There are so many women who struggle to or can't get pregnant, and so many others who have children with illnesses. I feel so very fortunate that I was able to experience the joys of pregnancy and end up with two healthy children. And you know what the best part is? I found a man who loves being a parent just as much as I do! John is the most incredible father and I feel so lucky to have him as my husband on this journey through parenthood.

Daisy

Such a funny thing happened today with Reagan and I just have to post about it. I took her to a playdate this morning and then we met up with my friend Meredith. Meredith and I were pregnant together and she had her baby boy 6 weeks after I had Avery, cute little Quinn (DOB 12-17-07). She also has a 3 year old named Timmy who is Reagans buddy. When we were pregnant, we often met at Starbucks after dropping off Timmy and Reagan at preschool ... this was always enjoyable adult time for us.

I told her I was going to come over after the playdate to bring her some diapers (Avery has already outgrown her size 1's and is now into size 2's!) and she said she was ready to get out of the house. It was her first time driving (she's been recovering from a c-section) and she met me in Ridgewood for lunch. We had a delicious lunch and had a great time catching up. Before we left the cafe, we discussed our plans for tomorrow morning, since Timmy and Reagan will be going back to preschool. Instead of Starbucks, we decided to meet for pedicures, because I haven't had one since the end of October and she said she had a great new place for us to go. She told me where the nail salon was and told me the name of it was "Daisy."

Just after Meredith said the word 'Daisy,' Reagan got the funniest look on her face ... then it was as if she was trying to sing a song, singing "Daisy, daisy ..." It quickly occurred to me that she was remembering the commercial for Daisy Sour Cream! Now, this wouldn't have surprised me if she'd seen the commercial recently, but she hasn't seen it for at least a month and a half ... I think it was shortly after Avery was born when we were watching a program that we had recorded using TIVO. The program was sponsored by Daisy Sour Cream, so the commercial came on at each break. Reagan has become quite accustomed to TIVO, so if she likes something, she asks to see it again. I rewound and replayed this commercial many times that day and she tried to sing along. Having TIVO, we rarely watch commercials, so we haven't seen it since. Anyway, once I realized what she was trying to sing, I did my best to help her with the song.

We were both trying to sing the song as we got in the car to go home, but neither of us really remembered how it went. Reagan was getting tired, as it was almost time for her nap. On the way home she started getting frustrated with my pathetic attempt to sing the song and she asked to hear it on my phone. I've been playing music for her on my new favorite iPhone when we're driving in the car and she loves this. She's growing up in a world where we have just about everything at the click of a button (digital cameras, TIVO, iPhones, etc) and this is all she knows. She couldn't understand why I didn't have the "Dollop of Daisy" song right at my fingertips!

And then it occurred to me that maybe I did in fact have the song right at my fingertips! So when I stopped at a red light, I tapped on the little button that said "You Tube" and searched for "Dollop of Daisy." To my amazement, up came the commercial and once again, Reagan's request was satisfied with the click of a button. This, of course, only reinforced my love for my new phone!

When we got home, I recorded a lot of video of her enjoying the song. I edited all the footage and put together this mini movie:

Sorry for such a long-winded explanation, but I have a difficult time being brief.

Now it's time to get to bed, since it's very late and I have to have Reagan to preschool by 9 AM!

I Love to Read!

My friend Alexis started a book club within our mom group in September and I've loved being a part of it. When I lived in Salt Lake, I participated in a book club and it was something I really enjoyed. Once I moved to New Jersey, my reading slowed down when I started graduate school and then stopped altogether after I had Reagan. It's great to be a part of one again, even though we don't spend too much time actually discussing the book.

Alexis had a baby in August and she told me how she passed the time during all those middle-of-the-night feeding sessions by reading. So, once Avery came along, I decided to try this too. Since Avery was born (9 weeks ago today), I've read 7 books, all of which have been great. I thought it would be fun to post them here, in case anyone is looking for a good book to read. I enjoyed and would recommend all of them:

I just started this one, so we'll see how it turns out:

I ordered most of these on Amazon, so if any of you here in NJ would like to borrow them, please let me know. Also, after I finish Water for Elephants, I'll need some new reading material. I would love to hear your suggestions! If you know of a great book for me to add to my list, please post a comment on this post or send me an email. THANKS!

Christmas Cards

One of my favorite things about Christmas is receiving cards from all my family and friends. It's about the only time of year that I anxiously await the delivery of the mail each day. We felt so blessed to receive so many cards this year. It was fun to hang them up in our kitchen, and then look at them each day. We also enjoyed talking about them with visitors who would see them and inevitably comment on them. Thanks to all of you who contributed to our wall of familiar faces!

This year, we had a big dilemma. Since Avery was born in November, we wanted to mail out an annoucement. We also wanted to mail out a Christmas card with a picture of both girls, but it didn't seem right to send out of picture of Avery without announcing her birth first. We thought about combining the two, sending out a Christmas card that also announced the birth of Avery, but we didn't want Avery to one day feel slighted that she had to share her announcement with a greeting card, just because her birthday happened to be in November! So, we had my sweet friend Christie take pictures of Avery just before Thanksgiving (she was 2 1/2 weeks old at the time). Christie is an amazing photographer, (http://www.christieadamsphotography.com/) but also a talented graphic designer, so we had her design an announcement for Avery. It turned out beautifully and we spent the first week or two of December getting all 150 mailed out. In case you didn't receive one, here is Avery's announcement:

Then we wanted to send out a Christmas card with a cute picture of both girls. This proved to be a very difficult task! We had taken a bunch of pictures but wanted to try to get a better one, so we kept delaying the ordering of our cards. Then Reagan got really sick and it was impossible to keep her nose dry long enough to get a decent picture, so we just went with a picture from the first attempt. We also used one from Christie's photo shoot. I scanned one of the Christmas cards on my scanner, so here's how it turned out:

Happy New Year!

We celebrated New Year's Eve this year by having John's family over. This first picture was taken at the end of the evening by Maribel's friend Lola. This is all of John's family (who lives here in NJ), except for Debbie and the boys, Joshua and Ethan, who needed to get to bed. Oh, and Maribel and Marcelo's son Joaquin was asleep upstairs, but is recognized here by the monitor in Marcelo's hand :)

From Left to Right, Top Row: Nayda (John's aunt) holding Avery, Amanda, Nila (John's mom) and Doreen (Jose's wife). On the Couch: Alexis and her dad, Jesus (John's brother), John, Reagan, Pepin (John's uncle, Nayda's husband), Jose (John's cousin/Pepin's son) and his daughters, Gabby and Lauren. On the floor: Maribel (John's cousin/Jose's sister), her husband Marcelo, and Uma, Maribel's friend Lola's daughter.

Reagan, Amanda, Avery and John

Debbie, Doreen, Lauren, Reagan and Amanda

John and and his uncle Pepin. John picked up Cuban food to serve for dinner, so he asked Pepin to help him carve the pork.

Debbie and Jesus

Marcelo and Reagan

Amanda and Reagan (putting the Christmas stockings on her feet as 'socks')

The kids had a great time playing with all of Reagan's toys and the adults had fun socializing and eating. When midnight approached, John and Maribel prepared two things for each person: a glass of champagne or sparkling apple juice, and a bowl of 12 grapes. When the clock turned to midnight, everyone toasted glasses, kissed, and wished each other a happy new year. Then we each ate our 12 grapes, one for each month of 2008 ~ a good luck wish for a healthy and happy upcoming year. The men went out to the front porch to honor another tradition that John's family has done every year, as they tossed a large pot full of water out the front door. I love that John has these fun traditions that we can continue to practice with our own kids.

After ringing in the new year, some of the gals had a great time playing games. We had fun with Scattergories, as well as a great new game called Whoonu. This was a really fun game that helped us get to know some interesting things about each other (like the fact that Gabby loves wrestling and Doreen loves coconut!). I highly recommend this game to anyone!