Monday, June 23, 2008

The Ring Bearer got Cold Feet

As mentioned in my last post, we traveled to Houston last weekend for a wedding. Reagan was to be a ring bearer. Persis, a friend from law school, had asked us last year if he would be in her wedding. We said yes, but there were no guarantees! Reagan can be very shy and is pretty strong-willed, so again - no guarantees on performance. He fared rather well at the rehearsal and we were encouraged. When wedding night rolled around though, he was clinging to John and me like a monkey. I took my seat on the side of the church, ready to snatch Reagan and take him outside after he walked the aisle. I was so anxious for him - my heart was pounding and I was just praying that he wouldn't fall down the steps or cause a scene. I couldn't really see the aisle, but after the last bridesmaid passed there was a pause, then two children (the other two kids in the wedding who were siblings)came down the aisle together - no Reagan. Then there was another long pause. Next I could see John walking down the aisle. When they got closer, I could see Reagan holding his pillow in one hand and trying to put his other hand (which John was holding) in his mouth. Apparently, when it was showtime, the other two children bolted and Reagan had no intentions of walking the aisle alone. And as I had predicted the week before, John got to be in the wedding too. We felt really bad for Persis and wished it could have gone better. BUT, it turned out to be a wonderful wedding despite the Hull Show. The bride was beautiful, Reagan looked smashing in his tux, the reception was great and we got a chance to catch up with friends from law school. Reagan was a happy camper once he got some cherry coke and chicken nuggets in his system. However, if you are still with me here, the good times do not end there. Reagan was exhausted - he crashed on the way home and John and I were trying to peel his tuxedo off him without waking him too much. Reagan got to coughing and choking around and threw up that cherry coke, and those chicken nuggets and ketchup and some tootsie roll ALL over John's dress shirt and the WHITE, RENTED vest and tie. Oy. It was not so funny then, but we are certainly laughing now.
Congratulations Persis and Matt and thanks for letting us be part of your special day!
Reagan checking out his gift from Persis and Matt.
At the rehearsal - feeling confident.
In transit to wedding - still exuding confidence.
Will tap dance for tootsie rolls.

Reagan and his handler.

Stretching and warming up
During the wedding, Reagan and I went outside. He took an immediate interest in some "seed thingy" that had fallen off a plant in front of the building. Probably poisonous.
This look should have been clue enough that the evening was going to end very badly.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Weekend In Houston

Last weekend we were in Houston for a friend's wedding. While there, we stayed with some of our college friends, Chad and Teresa, and their little boy Cooper. Saturday morning we took the boys to a new park downtown. It was a really great place and the kids quickly discovered there was also a splash park. We did not know about the water attractions and did not go prepared, so we ended up with two little boys riding home in their underpants and tennis shoes. (Reagan and Cooper - not John and Chad.) The kids had a blast and played well together and we enjoyed seeing Teresa and Chad before their big move to North Carolina.






Thursday, June 19, 2008

For He's a Jolly Good Fellow

Ryan is still the happiest baby. I think I already have more pictures of him smiling in his four short months than I do of Reagan in his three and a half years of life. (I apologize for the poor picture quality and lag in postings - our camera is broken and I have been reduced to taking pictures with our video camera and even Reagan's digital playskool camera!)




Just to be fair, he isn't ALWAYS happy. He HATES "tummy time" and has no problem letting us all know.

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Bedtime Snuggle

After bath time one night, Reagan asked if Ryan could sit with him and watch Charlie Brown in our bed. I figured they would tire of this pretty quickly, but both managed to stay content until bedtime.

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Swimming Lessons

Reagan started swimming lessons Monday. He is in a class with three of his buddies, so that is an added plus. He can be a little timid at times (he always insists the other kids go first!), but he has done a great job. The teacher is wonderful and has lots of cute learning games.
Cleaning their animals before getting into the pool.
Making waves and sending the animals out to sea.
Swimming out to rescue the animals.
"Elevator Down"
"Digging Hands"
Waiting his turn with Margaret
Waiting for the "rooster" to wake up the farmer
Getting the animals wet again. Poor animals. They've had a rough day.

Ryan: 4 Months