Mr. Show Off (or shall I say, "Like Father, Like Son" :)

A little clip of our cute show-off. I think Reed is letting his "Mr. Fantastic" superhero nickname get to his head! No ego-boost needed here, I wish I was as excited as he was when I saw my reflection...haha :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPPenaPiA-4&feature=related

Christmas 2008...a bit late :)

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Hawaii Gone By

Quick posting to say that, due to the sadness that came around the holidays, I never got around to posting the great times with family and friends that were also a part of those month. Fact is that this year I was thankful for those cherished times more than ever before! Since winter is almost behind us (though never really the case until June around Colorado, I suppose!), I thought I'd put up a few pics from the end of '08 archives.

Thanksgiving week was paradise in Hawaii on the island of Kauai. We had never been and now definitly would love to return if future funds ever allow :). We spent this time with my family and friends of ours, Ryan and Kristen. Highlights other than the perfect beaches included a delicious Turkey Day feast at sunset and an adventurous helicopter ride that was an experience like no other. Such incredible "up close and personal" scenery! I would certainly go again if given the opportunity.

Christmas was in Colorado this year and spent with my mom's side of the family, Casey Cousins and Aunt Donna and Uncle Mick made the treck from South Dakota this year. We had a relaxing time, sang the usual carols at church on Cmas Eve and watched the tearful Marley and Me on Christmas Day. Great food, too many homemade cookies, and a bag full of unneeded though appreciated gifts to take home. Reed had a successful visit with Santa, too, as he has no problem being buddies with the boys/men but screams in fear around new women...maybe it will stay that way and he will stay with us forever, no intereste in pursuing the ladies. Be careful what I wish for, I know :)

Now that I have updated you on last year's TGiving and Christmas, hope your Valentine's Day was a happy one and here's to a great St. Patrick's Day (and March Madness!) ahead. (so confusing!)

a face only a mama could love?

Reedo had some "runny eye" as reported by his nanny yesterday. I was out last night and didn't get to survey the situation, but knew something definitely took its course when I went to get my sweet boy out of his crib this morning! Here is a nasty shot of the poor thing...pretty crusted up. Yummy. Don't ya just want to kiss this face? Hee hee. An insta-bath helped him see once more and put him in great spirits, himself once again. He is now napping and most likely accumulating more....we shall see :)

Whatta Day

I woke up groggy this morning after going to bed later than usual due to parent-teacher conferences. We had to wake Reed up to get him ready for day care, he usually wakes on his own...we would have all rather slept in on this Wednesday! Tired and cranky (both of us), wouldn't eat breakfast and whiny through diaper/clothing change (just him :)). Finally R headed out the door with dad. Scrambled to get myself ready next, after sweeping all the various foods that had been spit onto the floor, also finally headed out the door as well. Almost to school, got a call from his nanny that the lil' one was sick and we may need to get him. Half a day later in the astonishingly-corrupt school I get to call my work environment, I finally get "outta there" and back to my increasingly sick tot. A few smiles outside in the warm sun and cuddles with dad before the tone of the day rears its ugliness again. Dinner is a battle...food trial-and-error pulled out of fridge and pantry. All spit on floor again (with the exception of applesauce). Dip the cranky child in warm bath after letting the room 'steam' a bit while he cries because of being put down momentarily and, ahh, finally a few minutes of relief. Cold/warm shakes, get him out, screams pathetically ('sick scream', about half of usual volume). Dad leaves for basketball. Bottle, medicine, footed football pj's (he says "ball" in agreement to these), and time for books. We are both exhausted. Lights out. Throws up ALL over us. I want to cry. He does cry. Clean up (again) and plop in chair, even more exhausted, about to reach for book. On my lap, he curls his body to the side, folds his hands like he is praying (maybe he knows I need one right now :)), and falls into a deep, snorty-'cuz-congested, sleep. I do cry. Despite all, he is my release of the bleak and a reminder of the sweet. My purpose and perspective. Whatta Day :).

"Cancer Sucks"

My blog won't always be about death, I swear it, but unfortunately it has gone in that direction as of late. Unjustly so, five young lives of amazing people I have known over the years have been taken from them over the last month and a half.

Megan, who I wrote about more in my last entry, passed away yesterday afternoon and will forever be missed and still the laughs continue as all who have known her, even if briefly, surely have a funny "McBride story". One that I remember that made me smile today was when Megan was riding on Alex's back on the way back home from a formal. He was scolding her for being so dumb to wear such uncomfortable shoes and she was firing back at him not to be such a jerk, he back at her threatening to drop her if she didn't stop talking, she back at him...all very "sober" and rational conversation . They ended up smooching on the porch as if none of the previous had taken place which I found to be hilarious, odd, and just cute. Years later, they were married and who would have known that just years after that, when they had wanted to start a family, instead she would lose her battle to cancer at the age of 31. "Cancer sucks".

This blunt catch-phrase adorned the buttons that her sister Sara passed out for us to wear in Chicago for a walk in her honor last spring. Her dad, from what I have been told, has continued to wear it ever since, can you imagine having to go through this with a child?

Please keep this special family in your thoughts and prayers as they now face a new, daunting life without their Megan. Fight, too, for a cure to this nasty disease for all who have been affected by it in some way (and that, unfortunately, is probably all of us) and for all who hopefully can be prevented from its curse in the future.

Peace, Love, and Happier Times in '09.

(Off to suffocate Reed with hugs again....poor unknowing little man :))