Billings

Last weekend, we Nelsons and O'Connells headed out to Billings, MT for a visit with Butch and Sheila.  Fun!  It was a very short trip, but we squeezed lots of laughs, smiles, and glasses of wine into those 2.5 days...  I loved every minute of it.

I think Butch loved every clam in his bowl.

This wasn't HIS bowl.  I just wanted him to pose before we threw them in the beurre blanc sauce.

Mmmmm!

Reed had fun squirming around a new, bigger, prettier living room floor.  And I think Sheila's Christmas tree was the first he'd ever seen.  Somehow, it remained upright.

Beards are always fun.

Sheila is always fun.

 And that crazy Aunt Sara will always let you play with plastic bags, buddy boy.

That's right, Reed.  This lady LOVES you!!

 

What family Christmas celebration is complete without the self-timer posed shot, in front of the tree?

Dad, you could not possibly be any cuter.

Dad, wish you were wearing a Santa suit in this pic, because this shot is way better than the ones we got at the mall...

Thanks for a great visit, Guys!!!  We love you!!!

Food and water

Reed is officially crawling, which means that he is officially getting into LOTS of things.  So far, I am okay with it (the days i could put him on the couch, walk away, not think a thing of it--such a distant memory).  Our house is tiny, and we have yet to "baby proof" it, but there is still mischief to be had.

Last night when Karen was out walking Barley, Reed got into Barley's food AND water.  Reed especially liked the pond he created in the kitchen.  I did too.  He splashed around in it for quite a while.

And while I am at it...

I can't possibly let these images just sit in iPhoto and collect dust..........

How cute is this boy?

Bath

We like to think that we have some sort of routine in terms of raising a child.  Part of this routine is bathing Reed.  Sometimes we shower with him (especially if we are dirty and need to clean up), but mostly we bathe him in the kitchen sink.  As you will see towards the end of this study of Reed in the Bath, we might have to progress to some sort of five-point restraint system in the bath.  For now, I am really glad he enjoys this part of his day.  Because I do too!!

I cannot get enough of this sudsy face

He's been reading the same book for months.  Should I worry about that?

This is when it becomes clear to me that maybe the bathtub, even though supervised, is not safe for this boy.

I guess there is a bathtub on the market that fits in the regular tub but it is somehow baby proof and baby fun.  We'll see....

Bath time with Eileen is always fun!!!

Thanks

 

Yvonne, Carver Extraordinairre

It seems like once Labor Day rolls around, and then Thanksgiving--time speeds way up, and then you find yourself 730 days forward (that is two years.  i used a calculator to figure that out).  I know that time flying by is kind of an adult thing, but I also think that having a kid makes things fly by especially fast.

Anyhoo, Thanksgiving was last month, and I have not yet had a chance to write about it.  Soooo much for which to be thankful.  I had a list of things, but since it is now mid-December, it seems silly to share my list.

We had a great time.  Dad and Bev were here, and we pretty much congregated at Sara's for four days.  We hung out, marveled at Reed, ate turkey and potatoes, ate huge burritos (the day after.  we aren't THAT crazy.), laughed, hung out, ate more, and generally very much enjoyed each other.   Yvonne and Steve and kids joined us for Thanksgiving Proper, and that was a lot of fun.  Cousins!!!  I love cousins!  I am sure that Reed's first word will be "cousins!!!!"  Love.

Clara and Reed on Yvonne's lap

Sometimes it takes a village to give the youngest his bottle

 

Reed hamming it up with Grandfather and Grandmother Bev

Cory!!!!

 

I am turning into a Holiday Lover, for sure. Christmas-------Bring it ON!!!!