Birthday Girl

Anna,
A year ago today you came flying into our lives. You are such a sweet being and so cheerful! Although the weather today is cold and dreary, you have been the light of our lives for a whole year now. While I've been emotional about you turning one, it is not because I don't want you to celebrate your birthdays. It is because I know it will be hard for me to remember just how you are right now. I love you so much little girl! HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY!


I will post some from the party soon!

I Remember

On this Friday on year ago (which was December 12th),

I remember getting up and dropping Brice off at school.

I remember heading to the dr.'s office for my last check-up before my C-section.

I remember the midwive telling me she wouldn't check me because I didn't look like I was in labor and there was no point because I was having a C-section.

I remember meeting one of my best friends for a pedicure.

I remember Brice requested that my toenails be pink since Anna was a girl.

I remember talking to my cousin on the phone telling her everything was set, all I had to do was relax and enjoy Brice, alone for four more days.

I remember picking Brice up and taking him to Blockbuster to rent a movie. He wanted Little Mermaid so he could see just how mean Ursula was!

I remember watching the movie and wondering if I was having contractions. And even if I was, I was 38.5 weeks pregnant, probably nothing.

I remember Robin calling and letting me know that they weren't going to the lake that weekend, just in case.

I remember Justin left and said he would probably be home around midnight after the installation (cut-over) was complete (it ended up lasting until about 2:30 am).

I remember putting Brice to bed and instead of just saying goodnight, I stayed with him and rubbed his head until he drifted off. I knew our time together was going to be interrupted soon. ( I just didn't know how soon and how interrupted!)

I remember thinking Anna hadn't been moving a lot that day. Hmmm?? Perhaps a cupcake and some hot chocolate would give her the sugar jolt.

I remember sitting down to address a few last minute Christmas cards at the kitchen table.

I remember the moon. Full, Bright, HUGE! And with all my pregnancy brain, I didn't think anything of it.

I remember going to bed and watching Knocked Up.

I remember waking up to go the bathroom at 3:30am, getting back in bed, only for my water to break.

I remember being so scared, not knowing who to call, what to do with Brice, or if my uterus would be okay if I labored for a little bit.

I remember calling Justin and telling him to hurry.

I remember him finding me on the closet floor trying to put all of my things in a suitcase.

I remember getting downstairs, and getting in the car to find Brice all buckled in and asking, "Where's Anna?"!

I remember squeezing Justin's hand every 1-2 minutes on the LOOOOONNNNNG drive to Northside.

I remember thinking, once I'm there the pain will go away because they'll give me an epidural.

I remember getting out of the car on my own in between contractions because I just couldn't wait for Justin and a wheelchair.

I remember them wheeling me to pre-op and leaving me in the room alone only to start crying and beg someone to help me change.

I remember them yelling down the hall, "She's complete!".

I remember asking the nurse if they were going to put me under and cut me open.

I remember not knowing what to do, how to breath, and wondering if my baby girl was okay in there.

I remember my doctor showing up and two minutes later Anna emerging into my life.

I remember December 13th, 2008 at 5:13am.

What a special day! I will post some pictures (taken with Justin's blackberry because there was no time for a real camera!) on Sunday of her birth and her birthday!

Have a good weekend. I remember...

Another To-Do

With all of the hustle and bustle, the holidays are stressful, let's just face it. There is a lot to do and I think we should all give a shout out to our mothers who make this time of year so special. I mean, if we left it to the men, they would throw some garland on the mantle on the 24th, run to Home Depot for a gift card, drink some egg nog and call it a successful Christmas. I think if we all sat for a moment and thought about what made our Christmases enjoyable, the one person who would come to mind is our mother or grandmother. I mean it was the Virgin Mary who really made all this happen in the first place. Anyway, if Mary were alive today I think she would be pleased with how much of a big deal we make her son's birthday celebration. Not the commercialism of it, obviously but the other efforts we women put forth. The decorations, the baking, the cooking, visting family, friends, sharing the joy of the season, watching Christmas specials on TV, going to visit Santa, reminding the children the real reason for Christmas, shopping to give to others, wrapping, and of course sending out Christmas cards. And now I, like Mary, have a child with a December birthday that I want to make just as special as if her birthday was in August. So, to say the least while I am trying to make this season special, there are a lot of "to-do's". Last year, I was trying to make sure everything was set for 1) Christmas and 2) the birth of my second child (which I was assuming I would have surgery in order to give birth). This year, I am trying to make sure everything is set for her birthday, Christmas, and traveling. For whatever reason, the Christmas card got the better of me this year. Don't ask why but something had to be the major stressor, right?!

So as most of my family has seen, we took the Christmas card picture yesterday. Brice knew we were going to do it after school. We came straight home, took baths and got all dressed up, well the kids did anyway. Brice was so cooperative and knew this was important to me. He just went with the flow the whole time. Anna was another story, whining and crying. Pushing Brice's face out of the way. She was miserable! This is so NOT like her. So, I decided that we would try again after naps which meant taking Anna's outfit off, putting her in something comfy to sleep in and then having to get her dressed again when she got up. It also meant letting Brice stay in his outfit but not letting him eat anything that could stain, e.g. chocolate pudding, orange yogurt...

When Sleeping Beauty awoke I was determined to have a good attitude about the whole thing and make it fun for the kids and me. This wasn't going to be another to-do, it was going to be an enjoyable part of Christmas. I knew it would take thirty to forty shots before I got one that I was pleased with. I knew I couldn't get them both looking perfect but wanted at least to capture their true personalities without a fake smile from Brice or a pouty one from Anna. Well, I probably took more like 50 pictures which I deleted lots while I was taking them. Anyway, Anna again did not last long and by this point, Brice was well over it as well. I was getting stern with him because he was not being still. I knew then, it was pointless to continue. One of the ones I had already taken was going to have "to do". I picked a picture, did the card on the computer and sent all forty of them out to the family to see what we had been up to. Done, checked off the list.

In all my stress, I had made it a to-do instead of a holiday memory. This morning I asked Justin if he wanted to take the kids to see Santa tonight, He said, "Why, so you can check it off your to-do list?". I guess I need to stop and enjoy the season, huh? Or, I just might end up looking like this...

Sunday (Monday) Snapshots: Guests in Our Home

Sorry for the delay, I had to work yesterday so I couldn't get to the blog! Here are some pictures from Brice of people that have been to our house. The first is of Amy, a wonderful friend and great photographer. She had come over to do some of Anna when we brought her home from CHOA and Brice was not a fan of her taking Anna's picture. If Anna whimpered, he would tell us to, "Stop, she doesn't like it!". But for those of you who have seen Amy's work, it's amazing!

The other guest in our home is Suzanne. She has been keeping the kids for me while I either work or run errands or do whatever. I work with her at Northside and have known her for eight years. She loves the kids and that makes me love her! Thanks Amy and Suzanne for being Brice's subjects and GUESTS IN OUR HOME!

As Promised

We got our tree on Thursday afternoon. Brice was pumped. It was one our chillier days because of the wind but it didn't take long to find the right tree so it wasn't too bad. Anna and I proceeded to sit in the car while the boys secured the tree to the top of the car.Anna and I before leaving.

Sorry for the sunshine but Brice was willing to take a picture so I had to take advantage!
"Little full, lotta sap".

As promised, here I am doing the lights. It took 11 strands and three hours. Can you see Brice laying under the tree? He's talking on the phone.

The practically finished product, minus the tree skirt and the angel. It looks and smells beautiful!

In Progress

We are a work in progress over here at the Reynolds'. Every decoration is up but the tree. We are going to get real one this year but haven't been able to because Justin has been oinking! Yes, he thinks he had the swine flu over the weekend into Monday. Feeling much better now thank goodness and the rest of us are still holding our breath! He never went to the doctor so he was never tested but based on his symptoms we think that is what it was. Below are a few pictures from around our house. Brice has been singing, "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas" and then adds, "around here"! I'll post pics of ME putting lights on the tree!

A Date With the Ladies

For Christmas, Blaire and I decided to continue our New York theme and get Mom tickets to see the Rockettes at the Fox. Since, you know, Radio City Music Hall has nothing on the Fox Theatre! It was such a fun day and Brice's first time. We went to IHOP for breakfast and yes he got a Funny Face pancake to eat. Then we headed down and walked around the Georgian Terrace Hotel until Brice almost walked through a glass door. Poor thing had a nice red spot on his head. Of course the door had a nice drip of drool going down it so I'm not sure which fared worse! We all loved the show, because if you don't enjoy the Rockettes at Christmas time, then there's no hope for ya! It was awesome and the highlights for Brice were 1) when it appeared that all 22 Rockettes got out of one taxi cab, 2) the two camels in the live nativity and 3) the Toy Soldier scene (which by the way has been in every Christmas show since 1933!)

Pretending he is King, which he pretty much is!

As far as "little bit" goes.....


LET THE CABINET LOCKING BEGIN! Holy cow, she is quick and can climb into the cabinets so fast I don't know where she's gone!



She's not against the drawers either. She opens it and in she goes!