Our Visit to Tennessee

It was a Sunday afternoon when I texted Derek and told him that I missed him. This text wasn't out of the ordinary (to be honest, I probably texted him that at least once a day), but his response was different this time. He said, "Why don't you and Reece fly out for a visit?" Within a few minutes, we had a flight chosen and I was going to book it the next morning.

My level of excitement was ridiculous. I couldn't wait to get to Tennessee and get to see Derek again. Reece was pretty excited too. Every time I asked her if she was excited to go see Daddy, she would scream, "Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!"  My flight left SeaTac on Tuesday, March 18 at 8:00am and Reece and I arrived in Nashville at 4:40pm, which was 7:40 for me and Reece since we were on Washington time.

The flight went surprisingly well! The first leg, from Seattle to Atlanta, was probably the most difficult one. It
was an almost five hour flight and it was completely full. Thankfully we got an aisle seat and the young man sitting next to us was very kind and thought Reece was the cutest thing ever. However, what made it so difficult, is that I was exhausted! I had to fight sleep the entire time and Reece had enough energy to share with five other people. But, as we were getting off the plane, the people in the three rows ahead of us turned around and were amazed that there was a toddler on the plane! They said things like, "Wow! I didn't even realize there was a baby. She's a great traveler!" And it's true. She was a champ.

Waiting at the gate!

A little blurry, but this was taken just a few minutes after getting on the plane. Reece's very first time!

We made it to Atlanta and the flight from there to Nashville was a piece of cake. It was a 40 minute flight and only half full, so Reece go to have her own seat by the window. She loved it! She kept playing peek-a-boo with the ladies behind us.

As Reece and I were trying to find our way down to baggage claim, we hopped on an elevator. I thought I had heard the flight attendant say that we needed to go down to Level 1 for baggage claim, but as I moved out of the way in the elevator to let some people off at Level 2, I heard, "Taylor! Tay! Hey Tay!" I looked up, saw Derek, and reached out just in time to stop the elevator doors from closing. Of course we wouldn't have a Hollywood reuniting moment, where our eyes meet across the baggage carousel and our hearts are filled with an overwhelming feeling of love while cheesy, romantic music plays in the background. We're the kind of people where those situations are somewhat awkward. But it works for us!

I'm pretty sure I have a picture of Derek and Reece together at the airport just outside of the previously mentioned elevator. But for some reason I can't find it anywhere. Maybe it's on Derek's phone. Anyways, I'm sure we have some absolutely adorable photos of Derek giving Reece a giant hug while she says, "Hi daddy!" It was ridiculously cute.

As we were walking toward the correct baggage carousel, we heard over the intercom that I was to go to the baggage claim office. And if you are currently thinking, "Oh no, they lost her bag," you would be correct. My bag didn't make the connection from Atlanta to Nashville. The girl told me that my bag was already on a plane heading to Nashville and that it would be delivered later that evening. 

During our visit to Tennessee, Reece and I stayed with Marcie. When we got to her house Tuesday evening, she had three other kids there with her because their mom had to run to the hospital to do a newborn shoot. So we all hung out, helped watch all the kiddos, and Reece got totally and completely spoiled by her auntie. She got a pair of hot pink cowgirl boots, a new My Little Pony shirt, and a couple pairs of socks. (I don't think I'm forgetting anything, haha.) Once the kids had been picked up and the boys and Reece were in bed, Derek, Marcie, and I sat down to watch The Voice. It was so nice to be able to sit and watch one of my favorite TV shows with Derek again! 

Because Derek was still working while I visited, he had to go back to his hotel that night so he could get to work the next day. He stayed there Tuesday night, Wednesday night, and Thursday night. So during those days, Reece and I hung out with Marcie and the boys! We had a blast. We got to eat at some restaurants that are only in the south, we went to Hobby Lobby (it was my first time and yes, I fell in love with that store), we ran some errands, and overall just enjoyed spending time with Marcie. 

Reece and Levi playing peek-a-boo through the window. Sorry Levi is all blurry. He is always moving!

Pushing the cart at Kroger in her awesome new boots, a new jacket, and her new pretty pink purse all from Aunt Marcie.

On Thursday Marcie had to go to work for a few hours in the morning until the early afternoon. So I stayed home with Reece and Levi. Reece, for some reason, was suuuuuper tired. She slept pretty well the night before, but I think she was just having a difficult time adjusting. Anyways, she fell asleep while sitting up on the couch around 11:30am. I tried to keep her awake so she would take a really good afternoon nap for me, so I decided to stand her up on the floor. This is what happened.

She just crumpled into this little ball of total and complete exhaustion. It made me and Levi laugh pretty hard. 

On Friday after Derek got off work, he picked me up and took me out to dinner. Marcie was kind enough to keep Reece for us. While in Tennessee, Derek found a small, privately owned fried chicken restaurant. It's in this tiny little shop, and the guy who owns it is running all around the kitchen in the back, cooking the food and taking orders over the phone. It's just him. He makes his own seasonings, breading, sauces, etc. And let me tell you, his food is AMAZING.

On Saturday morning, before heading back to Clarksville to get Reece, we stopped by the cemetery where Johnny and June are buried.

After paying our respects, we headed to Marcie's to get Reece and the fam so that we could go see the sights of Nashville! We visited the Grand Ole Opry, the mall right next to it (where Reece got some ridiculously cute Nikes), and the Parthenon. It was a lot of fun and Reece loved running around the Parthenon with her cousins.

This picture melts my heart.

I love my girl.

The next day, which was Sunday, Derek and Reece and I tried to go to church, but we didn't know that it was her stake's conference. So we showed up at the wrong building, two hours after the meeting would have started. But we tried! So we went back and Marcie and I made wreaths! She taught me how to make a wreath, and it was SO MUCH FUN. This is the one I made.

We all just lounged around that evening and I enjoyed the fact that I got to spend a lazy day with my husband! The next day was Marcie's birthday! We went to the mall so that Marcie could get a couple of things, and we ended up in Children's Place where Derek and I bought her a new pair of pajamas, a floral jean jacket, and a new skort. Reece got ridiculously spoiled! 

We went to Cracker Barrel for lunch. I had never been, and it was delicious! Reece was a crazy lady during lunch, and was actually kind of naughty, but she enjoyed herself.

Then we went home, Marcie and I each got to take an afternoon nap, and it was beautiful. Derek and I got Marcie a cheesecake and some yummy toppings for her birthday dessert, and one of her good friends made us dinner! So we had friends over for dinner and dessert and enjoyed a nice, relaxing evening together.

Marcie's back hurt, so Reece and Derek helped out.

These two make me so happy.

Derek had to leave that night. It was even more difficult saying goodbye to him than I thought it would be. I guess I just love him too much. I'm pretty sure it took me five minutes after he left to stop crying and wipe off the tears. I hate that he does that to me. The nerve of some people!

Marcie was really sweet to us the entire time, and was especially nice to us the next day. She took us out to Chick-Fil-A for lunch and then we watched Frozen! I didn't get to finish the movie before we had to leave for the airport, but I got to finish it on the plane.

At our gate waiting to fly home.

Reece was a champ on the flights back. She was so perfectly behaved in the airport and on the plane for the first flight which was a little over an hour, and then slept through most of the second flight. It was a long day of travelling for both of us, and we were completely wiped out afterward, but getting to go to Tennessee and visit Derek and see Marcie and the boys was more than worth it.

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.