Mother's Day 2014

Mother's Day snuck up on me this year. I just wanted a relaxing day with Derek, Reece, and my family. And it turned out to be an amazing day!

I woke up to a giant card (seriously, it's huge), some of my favorite chocolate, and a scented wax warmer that I have been wanting for a long time. We had Cinnabon cinnamon rolls, eggs, and bacon for breakfast, which was, as I'm sure you can imagine, delectable. 

After church, we came home and took some pictures. Reece was especially grumpy because she didn't get a nap, so we got zero smiles from the little stink. But at least she's not crying, right? 

We got to do a Google+ Hangout with my three older sisters and their family. I miss them all so much! I'm grateful for technology that makes it possible for me to still see my sisters and their families. I love them! Then Aunt Patsy, Haley, Maddie, and Aunt Cinn came over for dinner. We had bacon-wrapped filet mignon, raspberry salad, waffle fries, rolls, and a green salad for dinner. It was incredible. For dessert, we had the giant chocolate cake from Costco with raspberry pie filling on top and vanilla ice cream. Again, delicious. 

Being a mom is the most trying and beautiful thing of my life. The moments and the days where motherhood is absolutely and beautifully wonderful--where Reece is happy and smiling, and I can feel in my heart that this is exactly what I am supposed to be doing, are without a doubt the best moments and days of my life. But there are those days that are average--where Reece has a melt down at nap time or continually climbs on top of the kitchen table despite the many times I tell her no. And those are the days where my patience and faith in myself as a mother are tried. And those are the days where I am so grateful for a loving, supportive, and awesome husband who reminds me of all the good that I have accomplished that day. It's those days where all of Reece's hugs and kisses, and little "lie lous" (love yous) mean the world to me. 

Being a mom requires more trust and faith in my Heavenly Father than I would have thought. I have to trust in His trust in me (if that makes any sense) to raise one of His precious spirit daughters. And I am so grateful to Him for giving me and Derek this sweet, wonderful, and hilarious little girl. I wouldn't trade being a mom for anything in the world. 

Reece is mine, and I am hers.

Reece: 18 Months

I keep trying to think of ways to say how amazed I am that Reece is eighteen months old without sounding completely cliche. And I'm coming up with nothing. 

I would be lying if I said that I'm not sad at all to see my little girl growing up and that she isn't really a baby anymore. Because it is sad, in a lot of ways. But there are so many other ways where it's fun and exciting and a new adventure every single day! I love it. As Reece gets older, the challenges that come with being a mom change and in some ways become more difficult. But then, as she's getting smarter each and every minute, she is better able to communicate and that means a lot more hugs, kisses, and snuggles from my sweet little monster! I love, love, love it. 

Things Reece has loved doing lately:

• Climbing on everything. I am constantly pulling her off of the kitchen table, the heater, and the stools. My parents have a roll around step stool, and I've found her pushing it to the counter, standing up on it and climbing up onto the counter. Little monkey.
• Dancing. Reece has never been much of a dancer, but lately she has started to move! When a song comes on that she likes, she will start bobbing her head, waving her arms, and bouncing her cute little self to the beat. 
• Singing. Reece has always loved to play the piano, but lately when she plays, if you listen really closely, you can hear her singing a little tune. It's the most adorable thing ever.
• Going outside. She comes up to me at least four to five times a day saying, "Ou-sigh?" She loves playing outside and pulling all the basketballs out of the bins in the garage. The girl would live outside if I let her.
• Watching Curious George. There aren't many shows that will keep Reece's attention, but Curious George seems to do the trick. She loves it! It's adorable to see her sitting in the recliner watching her TV show after her nap. I love it.
• Wearing her cowboy boots. When Reece and I went to visit Derek and Marcie in Tennessee, Marcie gave her a pair of hot pink cowboy boots. She LOVES them and will bring them to me multiple times a day asking to wear them. 

She has been talking a lot more lately, and has a ton of words and phrases that she'll say.

• "Hi dad!" She will say hi to everyone. A favorite around here is when she says hi to grandpa, "Hi papa!" It's adorable.
• "Oh no!" and "Oh no! My binky!" Or she'll say, "Oh no! My ball!" or just about any other toy that falls or she can't find.
• "Aw, man!" This one cracks me up.
• "Nigh-nigh" and "bye bye" 
• "Go ou-sigh?"

And her other words right now are, "no, yes, uh-huh, all done, more, sishies (fishies), shoes, bath, Nana, cheese, cracker, wa-wa (water), bee-bee (binky), milk, pretty, good, and okay". She says a lot more, but I can't think of it right now. 

She is hilarious, and she makes every day a challenge, but Derek and I wouldn't have it any other way. She is spunky and quite the little character, but she is such a sweet heart. She gives lots of hugs and kisses and will sign "I love you" to us. 

She looks so much like her cousin, Hallie, in this picture to me!

"Ta Da!"

We love our Reece Averie. 

I Miss This Guy

I don't really care how silly it is to just post pictures with no real reason. I miss Derek. He's over 2,000 miles away and I hate it. Every minute.

Also, I miss summer. 

The next few months could not go by fast enough.