Calling Baby Alleigh

On Saturday, we attended a baby party/couples shower type of thing for my cousin Travis and his wife, Ashleigh. They have been back and forth to the hospital (and admitted several times) over the last 16 weeks, doing everything they can to hold this baby off - cervix won't stay closed, labor won't stay away. Well, now that Ashleigh has finally reached the point of being full term, Baby Alleigh has found a comfy spot and is opting for life on the inside. She is even keeping the doctors guessing at this point.

The soon-to-be parents received some great gifts, but I have to say that the funniest gift they received was the baby booties filled with condoms, courtesy of Travis' friends who appear to be looking out for his best interests. still chuckling....

I am bummed that I did not get any pictures of Evyn and Reed all dressed up at the shower. Evyn wore her Easter dress (for the very first time) and Reed was sporting a striped button down. Nice looking kids, if I do say so myself.

BFF

Most parents would probably agree that there is nothing cuter than watching your kids develop friendships, especially when you really like their parents and were friends with them before the kids were even born. Evyn, Reed, Braxton and Ayden are such buddies that we cannot help but bask in their cuteness every time we get together. Evyn has a very soft spot for little Ayden, and I think the feeling is mutual, although Braxton and Evyn have been buds before they could even speak.

We spent last weekend with our friend Joyce, brothers, Braxton and Ayden and many others at her parents' river house. House does not quite describe it though. Maybe compound or retreat would be more fitting. There was plenty of fun to be had and great people to have it with.

Three years ago when we first joined Joyce and family for Joyce's river weekend birthday celebration, the fun started in the car before we ever left Richmond. Braxton, who is Evyn's age, rode in our car while leaving his little bro, Ayden to ride with his moms. Ditto the second year. This year, Ayden wanted to ride with us while Evyn took off to ride with Braxton in Joyce's groovy (soccer)mom mobile.
Ayden and Reed were so cute riding down the highway. They actually talked, as in conversation-like talk, and we got the biggest kick out of it.

One conversation went like this:

Ayden: "Hey Reed, look at that big orange truck."
Reed: "Oh, cool."
Ayden: "Do you want to ride in it?"
Reed: "Yes, I do."
Ayden: "Okay" said in a voice like he had connections and would set it all up.
Reed: "What is in there"?
Ayden: "Maybe toys."


Here are some pics from the weekend. The one of the boat with the people riding up on the front of it, yes, that would be Holly, Braxton and Evyn. The faster the better, according to Evyn.

Another reminder of Meg.

This morning while drinking coffee and starting our day, Holly and I both had a story to tell about the previous day. Little did we know, it was about the exact same thing, just a different circumstance.....Meg and trash cans.

As I have said before, Meg was horrible about breaking into trash cans (or anything really). She never hesitated to turn at least one over every day, no lie. Whether it was full of paper or food, she did not care - it was the thrill of the hunt. She knew that Pat was a prime target because he would leave his trash can, which always included food remnants, unattended just about everyday (by the way, he never caught on, but that is another story). You could not even take the trash bag out of the can without strictly guarding it because Meg, the ever so patient hunter, would be on it faster than fast. She was always lurking and would wait minutes to hours for the opportunity to dive in.

Yesterday marked one week since Meg's death. One long and very quiet week. She, as Pat called her, was "the mouth of the south." She was the boss, the greeter, the food stealer, the trash hound and the rooster on some mornings. Anyway, at two separate times yesterday Holly and I both emptied a trash can (Tuesday is trash pick-up day around here) and both were reminded of Meg's absence. I was doing my usual pre-dinner kitchen clean up and opened the compacter to take out the bag. A little voice from the other room needed me - quickly! I ran away, leaving the trash unattended, and guess what.....it was not all over the floor when I returned to it. Nobody messed with it at all, not even a little sniff. Holly's story was very similar - she was emptying Pat's trash and Meg was not there to supervise as she always had been. Meg was an optimist, apparently. The trash can was always half full to her.

Now I/we could not have been happier that after 12+ years of rigging up trash cans to make them Meg proof and never being able to walk away (even for one second) from a trash bag that may have been left on the floor briefly, but with this thrill and new way of life came sadness and a strange longing for that certain pain in the butt who always created mess in my already busy little world. I have always said that if I could have back the time I have spent cleaning up Meg's messes and all of the money for the food she has taken from the pantry, the table, the kids, the cats, etc. that I would have fists full of cash and plenty of time to spend it. Seriously.

The Anatomy of a Disagreement, Reed style:

'Nuff said.....

Friends from near and (very) far.

We just had a super fun time with our friends Elaine, Justin and Grace. Elaine is my friend from MCV who joined the U.S. Army after working a few years post graduation. She is doing great career-wise in the Army, but the freaking war is keeping her separated from her kids and the rest of us who love her. She has been deployed for 10 months and has four months left in Iraq . She has a very impressive job over there that involves supplying blood and blood products to our injured military, Iraqis and even insurgents. She is focused on the mission and knows this is the path she chose, but it still seriously sucks that her job has the ability to take her far away to dangerous places.

Anyway, she was back in VA for two weeks and we were fortunate enough to get to spend five days of that in their presence. Justin, who was 2.5 when we first met is now 11 and little Miss Gracie is 3, just 17 hours younger than Reed. It was like a five day play date, including adult play time in the evenings. We did a lot of fun stuff but the best part was sharing some serious quality time with Elaine and her awesome kids. Elaine is currently en route back to Iraq. She will be home, or at least back in the states, in late November. I know two little people cannot wait for that day to come.

Encouraging words.

The other day at a showing of Ratatouille, Sir Reed had to go potty no less than three times. I decided to take advantage of one of the potty breaks, and as Reed watched me pee, he started clapping and cheering "Good job Mommy. I so prouda you." I heard a giggle but there may have been more. I suppose I will take the encouragement wherever I can get it.

Oh Meg, We will miss you....

I hate to start our family blog out with the announcement of a death, but that it the way it will have to go. Meg, our very first family dog, was put to sleep today at 13 years old after being diagnosed with bone cancer. The above picture shows her years ago (looking rather thin and sleek, I might add) hunting our fish in her off time.

Way back when Ashley was the ripe old age of nine years and I needed loads of convincing that having a dog was actually a good idea, Holly got her way and Meg came along. After being named after a hot-sounding radio DJ who later turned out to be quite, umm, large and not too hot, our Meg set out to be the biggest trash knocker-over, food stealer, pantry robber that ever lived and spent most of her life obese as a result (could it have been the name?). We have spent serious wads of cash on dog-proof trash cans (the only thing that stopped her was a trash compactor) and replacement food to make up for all that she has stolen from us. Anyone who knows Meg has a Meg story and it always involves food. Heck, Reed's very first sentence was "Meg's boderin' me!"

Just so you know, Meg snarfed down a breakfast cookie, half of a buttered bagel and half of the treats in the jar at the vet's office before she peacefully passed on this morning. She had to have thought she was in doggie heaven prior to actually leaving us - no day had ever started out this food filled. We will miss her and all of her sneaky and somewhat annoying ways. sniff, sniff...