Halloween+Birthday+More to Come=FALL FUN!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Our falls are especially packed as, in addition to Halloween and Thanksgiving, we celebrate a household of birthdays. Mine in mid-October (skipped this year due to my dad's retirement, though well worth the great time we had!), and Steve and Reed's ten days apart in early November. All in under a month!

I put together another "Smilebox" that combines Reed's Halloween and birthday. I loved these special days especially this year as I feel he is now "getting it". We read Halloween books as well as birthday-themed reads, discussing the routines and rituals of each beforehand. It's fun teaching Kindergarten this year, too, because I teach him all the songs and poems that I teach my class.

We had several costume options for Halloween, but ended up going with the least constrictive one as R's a finicky one! The fireman costume consisted of boots and a coat, two things he enjoys wearing daily so easy to trick him into wearing :). Plus, he's more than into the fireman/firetruck/firehouse/hose/fireman dog/ladder- you get the idea- thing as of late too. We had three trick-or-treating type of events, the first just the two of us at the Children's Museum as I was on fall break. He loved it! On Halloween day, we went to "Boo at the Zoo" as a family, with our friends The Brooks'. That night, we did the traditional neighborhood trick-or-treating with the girls next door, Kennedy and Chandler, who Reed adores! He was in awe of all the costumed kids and it was awesome to be a part of his wonder.

Next up was his Cookie Monster themed party. We didn't have the big bash that we did last year for his 1st, just a handful of kids that he knows well and plays often with, as well as my parents and his nanny, Jessica. Reed talked about his birthday several days beforehand, often confused when we'd sing to him like at a family dinner we had one night as well as on his actual day, he'd ask "where's the party", or demand "birthday cake?!", he knew what a birthday entailed and wasn't going to be short-changed!

And, so, here's a Smilebox o' smiles from Reed's great month. More happiness to come with our Havenar Thanskgiving (14 cousins= craziness and fun!) and Christmas in South Dakota yet ahead!

Happy Birthday TWO Reed!!!

Happy birthday TWO you, Reed-O!!!
(above pics are "through the years" :))
Reed turned two on November 12th and it is amazing how the last two years flew by, yet it is hard to remember life without him as if it were long, long ago. Funny how that contradiction just seemingly makes sense as a parent!

Though two, Reed is "going on ten", or at least three...he told a lady at the store that he was three when asked recently ;). He is very deliberate, inquisitive, verbal, strong, and independent...the combo of some of these characteristics make for some unbelievable fits o' rage ;)! On the flip side, he remains very cuddly which I savor every second of! Hugs, snuggles, and head resting all allowed, but not kisses..."Ow, that HURT!" is now what we get when we dare to sneak in a smooch!

Our celebration for Reed this year was not the big bash that we had last year, but a great gathering nonetheless. He was excited and seemingly awkward at the attention, not knowing quite what to do with himself as guests arrived. He rolled around and made weird sounds when his first friends came- way to "be cool", Reed! The party's theme was Cookie Monster, and he wore a cookie shirt, I made a cookie monster cake, and the favors and house were "cookied out" as much as possible (the teacher in me :)).

Having had the flu shot, Reed knew all about the process of vacinations at his two year appointment. He only had to have the H1N1 shot at his check-up, but he freaked out at everything that came before it, probably shouldn't have prepared him/talked up the appointment beforehand as much as I did. His fear-struck tantrums when poor nurse and doc tried to listen to his heart, check his ears, measure his length and get his weight made for an unnessesary drawn out appointment! He remains 99%tile for height, and 50%tile for weight...just like his mama was growing up (though the weight part caught up a bit in my later years, ha!). We followed up the appointment with a family outting to Red Robin for the birthday song and some great grub, just like last year...maybe a 'tradtion' now, know it's one I wouldn't object to!

Looking forward to another great year with our one-of-a-kind, fabulous son. We are so blessed to have him in our lives, each day a new adventure!