Happy Birthday, Pa (Larry)!

I warned you it was birthday season, didn't I? Well, we are celebrating Pa today! What a fun, hard working guy that Brice and Anna just adore. My father-in-law and I have always gotten along fabulously mainly because of three reasons: 1) we both like The Three Stooges 2) we both like Gatorade and 3) I can get ready in 20 minutes (including a shower). All of these earned major points in Larry's book when I was dating Justin. Obviously, we get along for other reasons including the fact that he is just like Justin. Anyway, hope your birthday was great, Pa! We love you and hope you had a relaxing time at your favorite place- the lake. Other than Panama City, that is. I will leave you with a couple Larry Reynolds' quotes, "All Buffet, All The Time" and the name of his brilliant plan to help people lose weight, (you have to imagine him running out into the audience, pumping his fist), "Get Off Your AAAAAASSSSSSSS!"

My Last Day in My Twenties

Twenty Things Accomplished in My Twenties:

1. Survive 21st birthday celebration
2. Graduate from Nursing School
3. Marry my sweetie
4. Help Justin graduate from Georgia (with the help of Robin and Larry!) ;)
5. Live with a boy- ewwwwi- took six months to get used to
6. Watch two friends lose their mothers
7. Buy first house
8. Almost lose the only Grandma I've ever known
9. Labor and Deliver over 14 hours including a C-section
10. Become a mother to the sweetest boy
11. Learn how to be a NICU nurse
12. Watch most of my close friends either get married, have babies or both
13. Buy second home
14. Practically deliver my daughter in the car but made it in time to NOT get pain relief!
15. Become a mother again to one amazing little girl
16. Save my daughter's life
17. Learn how much it means to have a supportive family
18. Experience love so great, it feels as though my chest may burst open
19. Buy first new car
20. Make big, important adult decisions

Guess this means I'm ready to be thirty, huh?

Can't wait to see what the next ten years hold! Thank you to God, friends, family, Justin, Brice, and Anna for making this all possible! I love you all!

VSD News

So, as those of you who follow the blog know, Anna's pediatrician did not hear her murmur on her six month visit a couple weeks ago. This made us VERY ready for her check-up today with the cardiologist. Although we didn't get to hear the magic words, "her VSD is closed", we didn't get bad news either. Dr. S feels as though she is doing so wonderful and was extremely encouraged by her growth. She has actually gained almost a whole pound in two weeks! He thought that she looked and sounded great. He did still hear her murmur but had more encouraging words than discouraging. Justin of course had to ask about the possibility of surgery and the answer was "highly unlikely". She will go back for another follow-up in three months.

I took all of this news much better than Justin. He has been super busy and stressed with work and I think this just added to it. We kind of don't think about her heart when we don't have an appointment coming up and therefore don't worry about it because Anna is doing so well. Then, we have to take her in and it brings back all the worry. While I want more than anything for this tiny little hole to close, I know that there are much worse situations to be in, whether it be a cardiac defect or something else. I also told Justin I think we are that much more worried about her because of the whole RSV episode. She just changed our lives with a BANG! and hasn't taken the "back seat" since!

Dr. S did say that she could go through her whole life with a VSD but continue to play sports or do whatever she wanted. Our prayer and hope is that it closes completely on its own (or with a little help from the Man upstairs) and that we don't have to continue following it. So, maybe her nine month check-up will be the ONE! Thank you for your prayers and following the blog.

Happy Birthday, Nana (Robin)!

Yesterday was our beloved Nana's birthday! We won't disclose her age. Like she said, "I'm not excited about being #$, but it's better than the alternative!". Yes it is! Brice loves picking out people's cards on their birthdays as well as making cupcakes or anything sweet. The sprinkles were all done by Brice.
He is getting really good at writing all of the letters by himself.


And here is Miss Anna in her dessert dress. As if we needed something else to tempt us into licking her, she is so sweet! So, Happy Birthday Nana! We couldn't do it without you. You are so giving of your time and energy to all members of the family. You have definitely fallen into the role of the "sandwich generation" taking care of the old and new. I for one am so thankful to you for watching Brice all those years so I could continue working. I know you two have sealed a bond that will last forever! We love you, enjoy your sweet treats!

My Favorite, Behind

From the title of the post, I know what some of you may be thinking. It's not the case however. I do not play favorites!

To sum it up, Anna has entered "my favorite" baby stage, SITTING UP. I just adore when these little beings learn to sit up and look at their world. They are so much happier. And, Anna looks like a little doll when she sits up because she is so little and then puts her little hands together and shakes her arms up and down while "talking". So, that is "my favorite". The "behind" comes in because that is what I am these days. Behind on cleaning, errand running, shopping for big stuff like a dining room set and another booster seat for Brice for the car. (Anna is now too long for the carrier so she will be moved to the 3-in-1 that Brice sits in if in my car.) I am behind on blogging, scrapbooking, organizing rooms. The more I think about it, the more overwhelmed I get. I am now really glad I signed Brice up for a summer camp. While I am truly enjoying spending the summer with the kids, the other parts of my life are falling "behind"!


So, here is an attempt at catching up with one thing, the blog. I have changed the title of it. Whenever I tell people our last name I say, "Reynolds, like the wrap". Occasionally, people want to spell it Renolds which I find odd but I do remember a time before I got married and someone once spelled Ruffin, Roughen. Anyway, hope you like the play on words. We spent last Saturday at the lake with the Reynolds' and had a great time. Brice became a prune in the water as he floated the entire day. Anna ate and slept well which is always a good thing. Brice continues to take the big brother role very seriously. He asked me the other evening if he could take Anna for a walk in her stroller, just to the front porch and back. He is like a mama bear with the things she puts in her mouth. Always asks me, "Is it okay if she chews on that?".Watching a rain storm
The stroll around the driveway.

Not a great picture of Anna, but look how happy Larry is with his granddaughter!


Brice had a great time with Kelly and Greg. Greg did lots of "boy things" with him and that went over VERY well.



Okay, so I lied. I do have a favorite and I will leave you with MY FAVORITE BEHIND! And go catch-up on some other things.

"If you love..."

This summer we have started "rest time". I set a timer for 45 minutes and Brice and I go our separate ways. It has been really nice for me. It is 45 minutes of NO TALKING! Today, he was resisting rest time. I told him we could play/do one more thing and then it was time. He was being all pitiful saying I never play with him or do things with him. Can you hear the tiny violin playing in the background?? He came over with his puzzle and we started to put pieces together.

Me: "Brice, you know I love you, right?"

Brice: "Well, if you love a kid, you just play with them all the time."

Oh, brother! I guess he thought this would get him out of rest time. Nice try, kiddo!

"Snap Turtle"

Yes, this is our deck with a snapping turtle on it. Justin saw it while driving in our neighborhood the other morning and thought Brice would like it. Boy, did he ever! We called every grandparent, individually, to tell them about the "snap turtle". The turtle hissed and snapped at Justin when he picked it up. I told him before he left for his meeting that day, he could kindly put him/her back where he found him. Don't think I want to be responsible for any missing fingers of the neighborhood kids! But it was fun for the two hours we had him. And this is why we love Dads so much. Only they would bring something like this home!