Turning the Big 3-0!

February has been a very busy month this year. It started out with the birth of Reid on the fifth, and then my 30th birthday on the 21st. Since that was to be my due date, I had always envisioned my 30th birthday caring for a newborn. Jon & my Mom made my birthday very special. Jon the night before took me out to my favorite restaurant, Panda Inn. This was our very first dinner out together since having Ethan 3.5 years ago. I know that sounds crazy, but I hate doing anything without my children. It felt weird just having a quiet dinner just the two of us, but it was very nice. We ordered an appetizer, soup, 3 entrees, and fried rice. I got an entire entree to myself Shrimp in Garlic Sauce (my favorite) because Jon is deadly allergic to shellfish. On my birthday, my Mother took me out to lunch and shopping to get some non-maternity clothing. Later that night, we had dinner at my parents' house where Scott and Christine came over and shared the evening with me. No it was not the party of the year, but it was a very special day for me.

I am extremely grateful for my family. I have a wonderful life and could not ask for anything more than what these 30 years have given me. I have a wonderful husband, two wonderful healthy boys, a home near our families, and a career that makes me feel like I'm making a difference in this world. I don't feel old...age is just a number. I always thought that when I turned thirty that I would feel old, but I feel thankful, blessed and happy.

Yes we are all in our pajamas :)

Two Week Appointment!

Reid's two week appointment was on Friday. He was weighed, measured, and poked. He now weighs 8 pounds 8 ounces and is now 21 inches long. He got is first Hepatitis shot as well. He didn't even cry...just a small whimper. Dr. Metsch was surprised to hear that he was already eating 3.5 ounces at each feeding and was eating every two hours. I have a feeling that Reid's weight won't be quit like his skinny brother's, but we will see. Reid is in the 50th percentile in weight and height, so he is right where he should be. I can't believe that 2 weeks have already come and went.

Brotherly Love

Ethan just loves his little brother. He is a little bit disappointed that he cannot do the things he was hoping he could do like: play video games and slide down the slide with him, but Ethan loves to help out with Reid. He will sometimes ask to feed him, which I let last for a few minutes or so. He also likes to take baths with Reid and help wash him off. He knows that Reid will cry the entire time in the bath, but Ethan does not mind. Ethan will walk up to him and begin to tickle his feet or just smile when Reid is looking at him. It has been an adjustment for us all, but Ethan has been such a wonderful boy and loves his new brother!

Happy Valentine's Day

What a great Valentine's Day. I was able to spent the day with the greatest loves of my life my two boys. They are truly the best and I feel very blessed. Happy Valentine's Day!

Ethan's Outing with Daddy

Ethan has been couped up in the house for over a week since Reid has been home. We have spent the time playing outside when it is not rainy, doing crafts, playing computer games, playing video games, playing store, etc., but I could tell that Ethan needed a day out of the house. Thank goodness for the weekend. Today Jon took Ethan bowling. Ethan loves to bowl. He even knows what color balls he wants. Today it was a red and green ball. They had a blast together, and Ethan even got to snack on popcorn and an icee while he was there. I am glad that Ethan has been such a great boy while we are going through the adjustment phase of a family of four. He is such a great boy and I'm glad that Jon was able to take him somewhere to do something he enjoys.

Will you be my Valentine?

Yesterday Ethan & I worked on making valentine cards for 4 important people in his life. He chose the 4 people and did not want to make anymore for anyone else. The 4 people that were so privileged to get a card made are Reid, Daddy, Taylor, & Amma. Ethan punched out red, pink, and purple hearts. He then decorated the hearts with glue and glitter or a stamp that read I love you! He then glued them to a card. When the cards dried he wrote the names of his valentine's on each card. He started with Taylor, then Amma, then Reid, and when we got to Daddy's he said," but where's mine?" I tried to explain that he was making the valentines for others, but in the end he eliminated Daddy's valentine and made the valentine out to himself. After all, he need one, right? Ethan had a blast making the cards and was very excited when he gave his first card to Amma last night. He still has to deliver one to Taylor, which I think makes a great valentine for Ethan.

Reid's 1st Sponge Bath

On Wednesday evening Reid had his very first sponge bath. He of course did not like being without clothes (who does in the wintertime) and really did not like being bothered with warm water all over his body. He softly wimpered the entire time. Ethan watched and sat next to him the entire time to make sure that he was okay. Reid was content once we wrapped him in a towel. When I saw Reid wrapped up in the towel, he reminded me so much of Ethan. I need to find the picture I'm thinking of of Ethan and compare the two.

Hide and Seek: Where could Ethan be?

About a year ago Ethan began playing the game hide and seek. He normally loves to play this game with his Amma and Poppa, but he has now started playing it daily with Reid and myself. The rules are very simple. You have to count to ten. Not 11 or any other number. Jon likes to do that to Ethan. Ethan will get mad and say, "No Daddy count to 10!" After you count to ten, you have to find him.

I thought it would be fun to take pictures of the hide and seek games that we have played. Can you see that this must be a very difficult game to play...wink..wink!

Reid's Visitors

Since Reid came home Friday evening, he has had many visitors. Everyones first response is always that he is so adorable! Thanks everyone. I think so too! Then I have noticed that they tend to say things like: he is darker than Ethan. He has darker hair, dark eyes, and he does not have the birthmark that Ethan has. I think that Ethan and Reid look different when you first look at them, but I have noticed several times already that Reid does resemble is brother. Thank you to everyone that has come by to help or just to say congratulations. He is a joy to have in our family, and we are enjoying every second (even without the sleep) of it.

Amma & Reid


Grandma Heaps & Reid

Uncle Potty, Aunt Christine & Reid

Uncle Jay & Reid

Auntie Stac & Reid

Auntie Joy & Reid

Poppa & Reid

He's Arrived: Reid Jonathan Monroe!

On Thursday, February 5, 2009 Reid Jonathan Monroe made his arrival at 9:49 pm. He weighs n at 7 pounds 11 ounces and measures in at 19 1/2 inches. He has light brown hair and from what we can tell (does not open those eyes very much) has brown eyes. He loves to sleep! However, the downfall to this is that he loves to sleep all day! He has his days and nights confused, but he is a very content and good baby.

That morning, Ethan woke up and told me that I was not supposed to be home and that Amma was supposed to be here instead. I thought that was a very strange thing to say, but just 15 minutes later small random contractions began. Jon was working in San Diego that day, so my parents were coming over to dinner to keep Ethan and I company. By the time they got to our house (around 5:30) the contraction were about 3 to 4 minutes apart and getting strong. I decided to call Jon and let him know that he need to try to get home as soon as possible. By 6, my mother advised me that I should probably go to the hospital, so she drove me to Riverside Community, and I called Jon to let him know to meet me at the hospital. By 7:15, I was admitted and Jon arrived about 15 minutes later. I was already dilated between a 5 and 6 and was given the choice to have an epi. I hesitated but decided to have one. I however in the end did not have an epidural. By the time they were ready to give it to me I was already an 8 and could not get into the right position to get the epi, so again I went all natural with this childbirth as well. Two and a half hours after being admitted Reid arrived at 9:49 pm.

Reid is a sweet, calm, quiet, sleepy baby so far. He does not really have a cry but a squeal. Ethan is very excited to have his little brother home and wants him to follow and watch everything that he does around the house. It is very cute. Jon and I feel very blessed to have Reid in our lives. He has made our family very complete.

Reid & Mommy: Just born!

Proud Daddy

My boys

Our Family

Chuck E. Cheese

Today Ethan & I went to Chuck E. Cheese for what was supposed to be lunch. I found 28 tokens in my purse, so I thought we could go, have a good time playing games, and eat some pizza (he loves the stuff...I hate it). He was not hungry when we entered. Instead he played and played and played. His highlights were getting a ton of tickets, which is a first for him. When we left, he had earned over 100 tickets just this afternoon. Another highlight was playing Mario Kart 2 on his own and getting 1st place throughout all the rounds. He was so proud of himself. Normally when he plays Mario Kart at home he still will get 8th place. I think having just the steering wheel and a gas pedal is much easier than a controller. After he used up all 28 tokens, I thought he would want to have some pizza, but no! He just wanted to go home. So in the end, our outing to Chuck E. Cheese did not cost a thing. The only thing he wanted before he left was a sucker that he could get with all his tickets. He had over 100 tickets and just wanted to spend 10. Just like this Mommy...a saver! We had a great day.

Swings, Slides, & Airplanes!

This morning we drove down to Paint a Memory. Thank goodness it was open today! Ethan was looking so forward to it. Now if you know anything about Ethan and his painting skills, he loves this place because of the end result he gets in a few days. He does not take his time picking out an item to paint, he was not contemplate what colors to pick (the main color will always be red), and he does not waste his time painting the item with care and detail. He will always pick 3 random colors that he ends up mixing together. He throws paint on the item without care, and then in about 20 minutes will declare that he is done.
Today Ethan's item was an airplane. Who knows what it will look like in the end. His works of art normally surprise me. I never fix any of the "mistakes" that I see along the way. This is his work of art at this age. I will love every piece of pottery he makes at any age!

After Paint a Memory, we went to the park because it was such a nice day out today. He enjoyed the slide and the swings the best.

Impromptu trip to Barnes and Noble

Ethan & I set out this early afternoon to have some Jamba Juice and then off to Paint a Memory. He was very excited to paint. But when we got to the door it said, "due to the economy we are now closed on Mondays." Ethan was very sad. He hung his head down and said he wanted to just go home. I knew that he also loved book stores, so I said we could walk over to Barnes and Noble and get a book or two. He seemed okay with it, so off we went. We spent an hour at the store. I read many books to him. I told him at the end that he could pick out two books, but he knows that his Mother's a sucker. He ended up leaving with 4 books total. The Napping House by Audrey Woods (which I just love) and three Mickey Mouse I can read books. He also left with a brand new puzzle that I'm just thrilled about. It is a United States wooded puzzle. When you put the puzzle pieces in place, it will say the state name and capital. Where was this when I was a kid? I know I'm more excited about the puzzle, but in time he will love it too. We had a very enjoyable day at the book store. Even if it was not what we had planned to do.

Ethan Art!

Last night after dinner Ethan and I painted. It was a crazy adventure. Ethan loves to mix all the colors and create the most amazing color of black possible. Also he decided to talk, move his hand with the paint brush, which in turn, created this amazing color black on the carpet, table, chair, and wall! It all came off with a lot of scrubbing from me, but in the end Ethan was very proud of his masterpiece. And in the end, that is all that matters.

Reid's room is complete!

Reid's room is finally complete. All furniture is up and ready, clothes are washed, bedding washed, letters are on the wall. Jon did a great job getting all together. Also thank you to Briz for helping with the fan and the crown molding. I know that he won't be in his room right away, but it is always nice to have everything ready before his arrival.

Don't mind Gurgie...she loves changing tables!

Every new beginning comes from some other beginnings end

This past week Ethan and I shared some lasts. On Thursday, he said good-bye to his wonderful Auntie Twila's. He has been with her during the day Monday thru Friday when I'm at work since a week before his first birthday. That would make it 2 1/2 years. It wasn't a tearful farewell. We will still keep in touch, call, visit, etc., but it was still hard to leave on Thursday. She will forever have a lasting impression in our hearts and with Ethan. On Friday, I had my last day of work before Reid arrives. I made it 37 weeks to the day. I am glad to finally be at home with Ethan for just a short while before Reid comes, but it was still hard to leave my class. For one, I love teaching, I would hate for my students education to be hindered while I'm gone, I'll miss all my colleagues (friends), and I hate making sub plans that make sense for over 12 weeks...yikes!

With these lasts comes new beginnings. Being home with Ethan, becoming a mother of two boys, Ethan going to preschool in the fall or sooner perhaps. There will be so many new beginnings. I am looking forward to them all. Let the new ride begin!