BIRTHDAY PARTY

Ok -I admit I was a complete cheat and HyVee was worth every cent! We ordered cocktail sandwiches and a pasta salad. I picked up chips & pop there to. They even filled up the party balloons while I shopped and help me load everything into the car. HOORAY FOR HYVEE!!!

The Friday night before the party I had my first experience at Nobbies - YIKES that place has every choking hazard imaginable!!! I picked up the plates/utensils and some party favors there (probably all stuff I could have gotten at HyVee).






We celebrated Reese's birthday on her due date - Feb. 7th. We were blessed with a BEAUTIFUL day and lots of friends and family! Rick has worked so hard on finishing our basement and now we actually have room for entertaining! On a side note - I sent Rick out to get a cardtable and after much deliberation he bought a pool table. They actually finished putting it all together an hour before the party started...not EXACTLY what I had in mind...but it seats 9 comfortably and provided afternoon entertainment for the adults once the birthday girl went down for her nap (or should I say sugar crash?!)

Reese's hand eye coordination improved with each bite of frosting - faster, faster, faster!!

We were sure to invite potential suitors (from left: Kellen Ivey, Reese, Grayson Kraus). Kellen turned one in mid January and Grayson turns one the end of June. What great fun to have friends with kids the same age - always someone to consult with!

She loves the cell phones!

Giddy up!

Oh how she makes us laugh!

Crawling on the mom to get to the camera!

Reese loves to ride her Poknee. It actually straps to your thigh for the ultimate horsey ride or as Reese demonstrates - it can be used on the floor. She rides it foward, she rides it backward, she hugs it, and she squeezes its ear to hear it gallop, whinney & neigh. The day this video was taken - Reese was wearing a skort home form daycare (her clothing had apparently been soiled). So I find it especially amusing that she is riding her horse in a skort?! Funny girl!

no time for photos!

Not officially walking just yet (mom is in no hurry - dad is making her practice daily). For now - I have time enough to intervene as she is pulling up to get to things out of reach....

We learned that climbing actually comes before walking?! Silly girl LOVES to climb up into/onto everything! She proceeds to stand, bounce, dance and then whine when she is afraid to climb back down. With a little supervision she is learning to dismount solo.

Her much needed toybox arrived in the mail. We ordered it before Christmas but it was on backorder. Her old toybox (see Cruisers box in the background) was not quite doing the job!

New use for old toybox!

I haven't taken nearly as many pictures this month compared to before. Sadly - the majority of recent photos I have are of her in the highchair (the only time she is willing to stay still!!) As she is getting more mobile - she simply does not have time to pose for photos.

Fun things - we are really enjoying this age. Reese is able to sign "more", "eat", and "milk". She is officially done nursing and has taken to her sippy cups with no battles! She has gotten a bit picker about eating...sometimes mom or dad will pretend to eat what she has in an effort to entice her. Often times - she will pretend right back and then put the food back on the tray!