E's on the DL (not the down low, the disabled list)

I've only got a second so I'm gonna sum up the past week or so real quick. We've had some big leadership changes at G's store, so that means more work for both of us. So we never made it to a baseball game and definitely have not enjoyed any beach music. We have however been interviewing new babysitters because McKenzie is leaving us for the summer...boo. It's also looking like I am going to be going back to work pretty full-time over the summer...I can't lie, it makes me a little sad.

Anyway, before life took a turn for the crazy (don't you hate it when it does that), G was taking E to play Frisbee golf every afternoon so I could take a nap. She was his caddy...it was cute. Real cute. She seriously holds his Frisbee's for him the whole time.

Em has also been sporting some super cool sunglasses. Ok, so I put them on her and she takes them right off...it's still cute.

She's also really into digging in her toy baskets and pulling everything out one at a time but at an extremely rapid pace.

Sometimes when she gets to the bottom she falls into the basket and her feet flail around in the air. It's awesome.

Then when things get stuck in the basket (in this case her cash register) and she can't get them out, she makes this face. It's even awesomer.

Sadly, little E burnt the tar out of her fingers by touching a light bulb the other day. One of our new babysitters was here when it happened and we didn't notice it until the next day. I'm sure we looked like great parents taking our kid to the pediatrician with a burnt hand swearing we had no idea what had happened (we didn't talk to the babysitter until after the visit to discover what really happened). It is really sad b/c all of the skin on two of her fingers is peeling off and blistering. I feel so bad for her. We have antibiotic burn cream for her and I tried to put band aids on her fingers. She pulled them off within a few minutes.

No worries, she's still her joyful self. We really love this kid.

We Might Just Have a Life....Maybe

I realize that I have not posted in a while now, but I'm thinking it may be due the fact that we are starting to get a life...maybe. We have been in Durham (no traveling for work or pleasure), for 13 straight days now. And if you take out my 3 day work trip right after Easter, we have been here for 3 weeks straight...which I am pretty sure is a record. I cannot tell a lie, I kind of love it. The more time we spend here the more we realize how much we love this area. The only stinky part is that it is really starting to feel like home. I often find myself thinking, "if we can't live in Greenville, I would love to stay here." With my luck, we'll get moved next week.

Anyway, in our 3 weeks here, we have been enjoying all RDU has to offer: yummy food (lots of yummy food), a bazillion parks, a gajillion farmer's markets, 20 different natural food stores (local and chain), and an infinite amount of shopping centers. This week, I also hope to hit up a Durham Bulls baseball game and possibly go check out the summer beach music concert series at North Hills in Raleigh....I'll let you know if we make it happen. Additionally, we have started making some friends...exciting I know. When we first moved to Durham, we genuinely believed we would only be here for 4 months so we kind of held back on getting too settled or involved in much. So, after almost 8 months, we are abandoning that approach.

Additionally, in a fun little way I feel like little E and I are enjoying the blessing of Garrett's obedience in getting baptized. While we were waiting for G to get baptized on Easter Sunday (the baptisms were held outside after the service), a mom of a little girl in Emerson's nursery class struck up a conversation with us. It was so good to be able to just chat with someone in a similar season of life. Anyway, I ran into her again at church this past Sunday and she invited Em and I over for a little play group at her house today. It was so fun to get to meet and spend time with other women and their kids.

So there you have it folks, we've been busy...but the fun kind of busy. And last but not least, little baby Emerson turned 11 months old today. Here are some pictures from her 11th month of life. It has been a good one.

loving some blueberries...oh this child is pure joy

just being real cute

enjoying some froyo at our favorite local yogurt place (appropriately named "Local Yogurt")

just practicing walking...

driving around Harris Teeter (you can get your cart license at 10 months...he, he)

pulling everything out of the laundry hamper...i love it when she does that

eating pizza at our new fave pizza place, Cinelli's

(ok, E didn't actually eat pizza, just some of the toppings.)

It's Raining Pollen

The title of this post has nothing to do with the actual post. However, it is true. I have never seen a "pollen event" like this in my whole life. It's hard to see outside b/c there is so much pollen in the air. I hope we all survive the plague.

Anyway, the past week has been kind of nuts so I am gonna try to sum it up pretty quickly. We took an at home gender test (yes they actually make these now). It says we are having a BOY. It is allegedly 82% accurate. We will see. I would love another girl (sorry little baby, if you are a boy I still love you), but G of course wants a boy (he will still love you if you are a girl). Only time will tell. Regardless the test was kind of fun.

We were spending lots of time until the great pollen plague of 2010. During this time Garrett taught Emerson how to eat dirt and sticks. I love him.

We spent Easter in Durham, just the three of us. I thought about it, and I think this is the first big holiday that we have spent together just as our little family. However, the day before Easter, we did head over to Winston-Salem to see some of my cousins, their kids, and my Aunt and Uncle. We had a GREAT time. It was so good to see my family. And to meet the newest addition to our family, Kellen. My cousin and his wife welcomed her to their family on January 18th (which also happens to be my birthday). It was so fun to meet her and to see their 3 year old, Maddox. They live in the Tampa area so we don't get to see them nearly often enough. Also, Emerson got to dye Easter eggs with her cousins...that was fun too.

Emerson mostly liked licking the eggs.

And she really LOVED the hammock swing. We need to get one!

We spent Easter morning at our church here in Durham, The Summit. It was wonderful to celebrate the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. As a family we are constantly overwhelmed by his love for us. It was a beautiful morning. Part of the teaching was on baptism. J.D. (the pastor) talked a lot about what baptism looked like in the Bible and that how biblically, people would get baptized immediately after coming to faith in Jesus to show their new identification with Christ.

I was baptized when I was younger after coming to faith. Garrett was also baptized when he was younger but it was before he really came to faith in Jesus. All that to say, he has been wanting to get baptized again for a long time. He kept thinking he would do it back at our church at home so our family could be there, etc, etc. On Easter Sunday, The Summit was doing baptisms after the service, and half way through the service Garrett decided that it was time to just do it. Although we wanted our family and old small group from Greenville there, we both decided that in the end it really isn't about any of those things. So, G got baptized on Easter. It was beautiful and Emerson and I enjoyed every second of it! I can't think of a better way to spend Easter Sunday.

I love you Garrett, and I love the way you love the Lord.

Thank You Lord for Spring...Seriously

We are seriously thankful for Spring here in the Reed household. It sure is nice to be able to get your freakishly energetic 10 month old out of the house. It is equally nice to make her wear the bunny ears that her Aunt Amanda and Uncle Willie gave her in her Easter basket (thanks guys)...we are still trying to figure out how to get her to keep her cool new sunglasses on. Apparently she's not a fan of sunglasses b/c anytime I have mine on she takes them off too. Weird.

Pictures like this are why I keep having babies with this guy...

Grandmothers, her nose in these next 2 pictures is red b/c she was crying....not b/c she has a cold....no need to worry.

I Can't Even...

I can't even begin to wrap m mind around the fact that little Emerson turned TEN MONTHS OLD yesterday. She's double digits! I also can't wrap mind around the fact that we will have another little one 7 months from now. I kind of like how life keeps me in constant amazement. Anyway, I have been accused more than once in my life of not being sentimental enough. Therefore, I don't have any pictures tracking Emerson's growth each month or a baby book full of stuff I've been collecting. So, in lieu of those things, I thought I would take a moment to share some of my thoughts about little Em.

My top 10 favorite things about Emerson:

(some of which might also make me crazy at times)

1. She is freakishly persistent

2. She has some really great facial expressions

3. She gets her feelings hurt easily (very sensitive)

4. She prefers to feed herself

5. She has ZERO fear (I wish I had that)

6. She claps for everything and everyone

7. She will mimmic almost anything you do (this could be trouble down the road)

8. She genuinely loves our dog, Stabler (she is the only one)

9. Instead of giving you kisses, she licks your face

10. She thinks she is the funniest person she knows

For your enjoyment, pictures of our little lady. She makes our hearts feel things we never knew we could feel.

she has mastered the downward dog

It's True

In case you hadn't heard...

It's true....Garrett got me pregnant, again. I think we have both been in a little bit of shock/denial. So, when we were in Charleston this past weekend we paid a little visit to our doctor and she confirmed what we already knew. Here is the proof.

It was so cool to hear the heartbeat and to see our new little one. Baby Reed #2 is due on October 26th. However, due to the complications I had after delivering Emerson, this baby will have to be delivered via C-Section. So, realistically this baby will arrive closer to October 19th, which will make our kiddos exactly 17 months apart. Wish us luck!

Tour de Carolinas 2010

Last week, I decided that our lives had not been chaotic enough lately, so I decided that Emerson and I needed to take a little tour of the Carolina's (G of course was working so we didn't invite him). Plus, it started snowing here in Durham last Tuesday night (I have noted in previous posts that I am over the snow), so I said "That's it. We're outta here." So on Tuesday night I gave Emerson a bath...and packed our bags.

*the snow was making her have crazy eyes*

*and this sassy little look that i love*

The snow happened to coincide with my best friend, Mandy, (i may have mentioned her before) having her second ectopic pregnancy in 9 months. The girl cannot catch a break. You can read their story here. So, since Mandy ended up having emergency surgery to remove her ovary, Emerson and I knew exactly where we were headed first on our road trip....Myrtle Beach, SC. I am sure Mandy is wanting to punch me right now. They actually live in Litchfield, and the idea that they would ever live in Myrtle Beach seems to repulse Mandy. I don't know why, it's a really classy place.

Anyway, Em and I decided we would drive down and help the Brantley's out a little bit. Which is funny b/c anyone who has a crawling baby knows that bringing your crawling baby to someone else's house could never really be helpful. But, we tried. And I think Harrison and Em thoroughly enjoyed their time together. You be the judge.

I mean he looks a little concerned that she is playing with his toy,

but he is in fact letting her use it for a while

Ok, now he might look a little angry

We know, y'all can both play with it!

(yes, we realize this looks slightly inappropriate...get your minds out of the gutter)

Harrison says, "I ain't sharin' with a girl (he says ain't b/c he lives in Myrtle Beach),"

and then tosses Emerson off of the truck.

It's true, Harrison wasn't wild about Emerson playing with his toys (he recently learned the word "mine"). However, I still think he's sweet on her. For evidence of this, you can look here. On Friday afternoon, it was time for Emerson and I to head to the Upstate. We had a 1st birthday party to attend. We hugged the Brantley's and Mandy and I cried (we do that every time we are forced to leave each other). Mandy I miss you so much already...looking forward to seeing you again this weekend! So, we headed to Greenville b/c Bryson was turning one!!!!

Emerson was ready to party

She liked watching the action from Matt's lap rather than being in the middle of it

Bryson...ready to eat some cake!

Yummm

The aftermath...

We loved getting to celebrate Bryson's birthday. We love the McCall's so much and miss them a lot. Oh to live in Greenville again....I dream about it. We were also lucky enough to spend some great time with my family while we were in Greenville. And Garrett surprised us with a quick visit on Sunday. We spent the whole day playing outside and we loved every minute of it.

We went out to dinner on Saturday night...Emerson wanted to play with her Uncle Willie the whole time (it was really sweet).

Em rolled around the driveway for a while...

Stabler rolled in the grass...

Nana smoked cigarettes...

And Garrett was happy to not be working (and so were we).

The tour came to an end yesterday when Em and I headed back to Durham in the hopes of getting to spend some time with Garrett (and to take a nap, we are tired). However, the tour will resume this weekend when we head back to Charleston to celebrate my friend Kelly's 30th birthday!!! Can't wait.