Before Christmas

This was Taylor's Baby Jesus Celebration Show.  He isn't really interested in participation as much as he is in singing to his own melody.  He has a lot of energy but clearly can't and won't direct that energy to the motions of the song.  He would rather do stair climbers and go up and down and turn around than follow the director.  It was so funny watching all of the kids combined, but I wonder how Taylor will do in any future plays or shows put on at school.  I think he does the best at free play... He likes things his own way, without direction, he doesn't want help until he needs it and is frustrated at his own efforts, if he needs help he wants you to do it for him and he is very social.  None of that really helps out the teachers when they are trying to organize cooperation and effort for these sort of shows.  It is funny to watch though.  Taylor was so excited to have us come.  He couldn't find us in the audience and once he did he screamed "daddy" but he couldn't find mommy so that was confusing for him.  We all enjoyed gooey cupcakes after and Taylor wanted to save his and eat it at home.  Hmm, strange.  In all, we had a blast!

Highlights of the week

So you could see her teeth, watch out!  They hurt!

This is my ham!  I love him to death!

Always likes to stand up, it kind of looks like she has a pot belly, but she doesn't.  

Very different from Taylor's big behind!

They love to sit together or play together.  Oh, and Taylor wants to wear pajama's all of the time!!!  After we get home from school he changes.  He loves to lounge!

Taylor took this picture.  We just wrapped up his Christmas show at school.  They had tables set up for cupcakes and punch.  Taylor didn't want to eat his cupcake until we got home so he goofed off some and snapped this.  As usual, daddy can't be normal!  We love him!  He makes us laugh!

Tis the season for hot cocoa... and lots of goings on...

Always good fun news around here.  That being said, I will start with the general things on my mind first before I tell you the importances.  I just got back from Babies R Us and was letting Reagan test out a baby walker there.  While we were just playing a woman, very thin, long blond hair said to me that she bought that same walker probably 4 times.  (WHAT?!)  She said she didn't realize she was going to have more kids.  So what did I say???  Well, how many kids do you have?  To which she gushed she had 8, I can't even believe this but I asked her how old her oldest was and how young her youngest were, (this is becoming a very popular thing for me nowadays living in the South... this large giant family epidemic.)  She said the oldest was 14 and the youngest 4 months.  She then grabbed a box which contained an exer-saucer and then another box of the same walker Reagan was sitting in.  I am done with my exer-saucer and thought this woman obviously needs this, but these things were of no price object to her or she wouldn't have given all of her away REPEATEDLY!!!  Anyway, she was a very nice woman and I got to see 4 of the 8 children, I just don't know what to say?!  WOW!  I couldn't  wouldn't  no let's be clear... I will not ever have so many children like the woman in the shoe who had so many children she didn't know what to do.
  Okay, that is shared, now the weather... it is a fine and wintery day, registering now at 30 degrees with a chilly wind.  Tonight is supposed to get down to 19 degrees.  Time to break out the heating blanket.  Oh joy!  Still no snow, but we will see.
  Now for Reagan and Taylor updates.  Reagan is doing well besides her cold.  Her poor nose is so runny that it freezes to her face in no time flat.  I have to run her into the school when we drop off Taylor.  Taylor still LOVES school.  One of the little girls in his class has been out for a week because she is battling Leukemia.  I don't know really if she is just too weak or sick, but we have been praying for her and her family here and I wish you would also say a prayer for her too.  Her name is Molly and she is just a precious little girl.  This week the kids will be giving a show for Jesus' birthday.  I hope to film it for you all to see.  We are very excited!  I have no idea what they will be doing.  It is a big surprise.  Back to Reagan, she is sprouting 2 teeth on the bottom and wants very much to walk soon.  She rolls around during diaper change, hating every minute lying down and then when you are all done with that she grabs at your fingers and pulls right up into standing.  She hesitates with steps, but always tries to stand at the ottoman and with an adult if she can.  She doesn't like to sit alone for very long either and so you have to carry her.  She wants to GO GO GO.  I recently brought the swing out again so that she can swing and cuddle up in a blanket.  Then she is moving and she is okay.  Another thing that Reagan does that I never noticed with Taylor, is that she pulls her hair when she is tired.  If I don't happen to catch that, she screams at me.  It is funny and cute now, but we will see how long that lasts.  That is all I have to report now.  Have a good Tuesday.

It is only 6:50pm

I have had a busy day, yes, what's new, but I digress.  Taylor went to bed at 5PM but needed his blanket so it was really about 5:45ish.  I am tired now and it is EARLY!  Wow!  We had a GREAT dinner, too bad Taylor didn't get any, he decided he just wanted to go to bed, he was tired!  I wonder what time we will all be up tomorrow as a result.  Hmm.  Just thought I would share.  Have a great night.

Ramblings:

-I have decided to not argue with my 3 year old about mixing the play dough colors.  It is a battle I will never win!
-Have you ever googled your name?  SCARY!  I just did and it is amazing who has your information stored!
-I DON'T miss Facebook!
-I am wasting time RIGHT NOW!  Off to do laundry, yeah!

She is 7 months old! Wow!

So, we have been gifted 7 wonderful months with our little darling!  The time goes by so fast!  Anyway, she has started to wrinkle her nose up at us.  Here it is.  She was doing this face to Taylor.  No real reason, but she does wrinkle her nose when she smiles too.  She is so funny!  It cracks us up!  Gotta love her!

Parkinson's Walk

This morning we went out with the CSRA Parkinson's support group and the Navy to walk for a cause.  I am so glad we went.  We all had a great time!  People had dogs, some wearing sweaters, someone brought their 7 week old baby, and we all walked or ran for the better part of the morning.  

They had the local fire departments park some fire trucks for the kids to look at.  You know, it never matters how many fire trucks he's climbed into before, there is always something new to look at!  We love it!

This morning we woke up and it was 35 degrees.  The sun is out in this picture, but it is only in the 40's here.  We were all hot by the end since we all ran a little.  

Everyone asked if they could ride in Taylor's seat.  There was a donut on his tray that everyone thought the most appealing considering the ride included a donut.  

Dad is on stroller duty... we are on the fire truck asking millions of questions.  Did you know that a lot of the firemen are hard of hearing because of the loud sirens and that back in the day when fire trucks didn't have roofs, they lost most of if not all of their hearing!

Looking for dogs and the clown and well, there is a chief that Taylor has a crush on.  She was working at a table and before she was busy with her food station Taylor ran around with her.  Thank you, Chief Hagan.

We were watching them parade the colors and then they sang the national anthem and we did the pledge of allegiance.  It was great that Taylor got to see all of the ceremony, but he really didn't get that he was supposed to be quiet during it all.  

Taylor ran a good mile.  I was so shocked.  He wanted to chase us and I had to tell him several times that it was hard to run through the masses with my double wide.  We did run though.  He loved it!  Maybe I need him to get out to the track everyday for a mile run.  We will see.  Ha!

Just a few pics...

She gets red cheeks, just like Taylor would when he was teething.

This is his interacting, too sweet!

This is my indian brave.

Too funny, ooh I can get loud with this...

Hey!

I am a nut!  

Little Miss is sitting up.

She has the infamous Elvis lip like Mommy, Grandma, and Gigi.

Yes, it has been a few weeks... Busy life, I guess!

  There has been a lot going on around here.  Sickness and health, thank-goodness and more sickness, date night, new babysitters, Dr.. visits, always more issues with insurance company and credit agencies.  We are going tomorrow to take part in a Parkinson's Walk with the kids and a group from the Navy.  We got rid of our Facebook accounts and really haven't missed it!  I don't see as many pictures as I used to, but other than that, I have really not had withdrawals!  It was hard to ditch the whole thing initially, but I am over it!
  Let's see, in recent news, Reagan and Taylor both have had Dr.. visits and we have great news for Reagan!  She is almost 7 months and weighs 15 lbs. 15 oz. or it may have been 5 oz.  I don't remember.  Oops!  She is 26 1/2 in. and so far that tracks in at 50% weight and 75% height.  She still hasn't caught up to Taylor's growth scale (weighing 17 lbs. at 2 months), ha ha! but goodness, she is healthy as can be, right where she needs to be and the pediatrician said she is not worried about her heart or anything anymore.  On November 1 she had a tooth on the bottom poke through, but that is all it has been for the last few weeks.  It is sharp and she still acts like she is bothered, but maybe more will emerge.  She is eating great and also right at the beginning of the month, she started sitting up.  This is great, I can sit her on the floor in Taylors room with all of the toys while we play or get ready in the morning for school.  Taylor loves to interact with her and when she went for her visit for vaccinations, he said he would be brave for her.  Sure enough, there he was, coloring on the paper which covers the table you climb up on at the Dr.s office, saying be brave Reagan, it is okay!  Stop crying...
  Taylor had an appointment to see a Gastro-Intestinal Dr.  We are trying to figure out the reason behind Taylor's tummy aches.  Likely story though, right before the visit and even up until today, there haven't been any tummy aches or anything.  We are not allowed to give him any medicine if he complains and just give him sprite, ginger tea, crackers or a microwavable heating pad.  I am glad for all of the instruction since I don't want to give him medicine, I don't know if he is just going for the medicine for attention and we will be happy to find out what all is going on.  Unfortunately, he had to have blood drawn in 4 vials from the vein in his arm.  He looked at it and cried, but didn't move a muscle.  When we got home he had forgotten which arm was poked, so that was good.  They are running tests and I am not sure when we will get answers, but I am to watch out for reactions from what he is eating, like excema, diaper rash, tummy aches, headaches and such because he could have an allergy to something.  We will get to the bottom of this.
  That is all I know for now.      

Happy Halloween Party

The Book Club (Rachel, Janice, Lexie, Katy & little Chelsea, me, Tracie, and Katie)

Pirate Hopps and the Pearl

Them are pirate eyes...

We are the happy pirates, yes, Taylor is missing, of course he wouldn't leave the play area, or his friends!

Nothing can separate us!  We are maties for life!

Bubba

He looks nice, but really you oughta watch out!  

Huh?  You mean, I, I, I have to look for booty?  What is that?  Oh, treasure,  I, I, I Like that!

Can you guess which one is my mother?

Happy Halloween!  This is my mother and her great group at Sunnyside High.  They are a hip group!  Always having parties and rallying together for a new ways to keep the spirit alive in their administrative office!  I owe it to my mother who always taught me to make the best of things, make Good Memories, and  Have Fun!  Anyway, there is never a dull moment here, you can tell!  I suppose I get my spirit from my mother!  Sorry mom, I don't know what you are?  Cheeta girl?  Cave woman?  Wilma Flinstone?  I don't know.  Hmmm.

Taylor loves, loves, loves to recite his favorite poems!

Maybe he should be in drama one day!  He loves to recite the poems, but, He loves to WATCH himself preforming too!  It is fun at night when we go through the books to see what poems we should read.  He loves it!

Tickle me Elmo? No, thank goodness!

I love to tickle the kids!  They are so funny!  It is just a joy to watch them laugh!  Reagan loves to have tickle time and then when she is tired of it watch out!  Here is a cute clip.  Enjoy!

Keeping it Together: Hello Sister

Keeping it Together: Hello Sister: "My day started off as a regular day, but then...you'll never guess!!! Wait for it...wait for it... it pretty much ended the same way. :) I..."

Reagan & Buddy the cat.

Just wanted to show you all how Reagan gets along with the cat.  He is declawed by the way.  Reagan just loves him, but I don't really think Buddy enjoys the massages so well!  He doesn't seem to mind either of the kids and Taylor totes him around and Buddy would sleep with him in his bed if I let it happen.  Reagan doesn't bother the  cat and he will try and climb up while she is being fed to lick her bib off.  I have proof of that one in another video.  Anyway, for the most part, I am glad we don't have a dog right now.  The cat is getting along just fine and belongs with the kiddos.  It is much fun at our house!  Enjoy the video!

She wants to sit!

Now, Reagan is growing up!  She wants to sit so bad!  She is still wobbly! It is so cute!  

TIMBER!

Here she is the leaning tower of Pisa.  She either leans sideways or folds directly in- half!  Soon, very soon, she will be sitting all on her own!  Oh, by the way, do you see she is biting her lip.  This is another new thing she has picked up.  We aren't sure whether it will last or if it is just a temporary teething thing. That is also why she is sporting the bib... She drools like mad!

I think I can do this!

That's my girl!  She is sitting up big and tall!  Got to love her big feet!  Happy Halloween! 

I got it, YEAH!

She is for sure being a good girl!  Yes she is!

He repeats it exactly how he hears it!

Today, we were in the car leaving preschool when Taylor repeated something that daddy always tells him. Here is the scene, I was backing up, in a very busy parking lot, crowded with moms toting 1 of 5 or 6 of their kids, Taylor was talking up a storm.  Meanwhile, I am checking my mirrors, turning around and not giving Taylor the time of day.  All of a sudden I hear, "MOM!  You are going to have to start answering me!"  Out of all the things I heard him say, this was it, and I am glad to say it made me LAUGH!  Beyond laughter!  Aren't kids the joy of life!  I love my Bubba!

Autumn is here

Out front of Taylor's preschool, the church has put on "Pumpkins with a Purpose."  We decided to stop by for bubbles, a train ride, interesting pumpkins, a ride in a wagon, pictures and such.  These pumpkins pictured are called "Bumpy Pumpkins" and the silvery-white pumpkins in the background are called "Cinderella Pumpkins."  We were lucky to get this shot in the middle of the pumpkins... Reagan was very uncooperative!  That was until another mother, who understood my need for the perfect shot came and very sweetly echoed my calling... "Reagan, Reagan, Reagan," over and over and over, until, I just thought okay, I will take what I can get!  She was a trooper!  Taylor is such a great big brother!  I just love my kids!

Crazy?! Nah!

I didn't realize that the camera flashes once and then again, hmm~  None of us appears normal, what did you expect?  Maybe Reagan is confused, maybe she thinks we are funny, maybe she is mentally saying, "God, you gave me to a bunch of Loonies!"  At least we know how things will be when she is a teenager telling all her friends.  Ha ha ha!

Watch out!  Don't set her off!  She is MAD!  I mean MAD!

Tonight was a beautiful evening so we ate outside and listened to the crackle of the embers in the chiminea.  The birds and the squirrels were out and a little chill was setting in.  We had a GREAT dinner.  The menu included pork ribs, kale and spinach with onions and garlic, and cider rice.  It was so good!  Reagan, as you can tell from the pictures really wanted some!  Daddy fixed her a gourmet bottle soon after the photo was shot.  We just love sitting outside for dinner!  We love being outside period!  Luckily, we have been able to enjoy the weather to satisfy our cravings for God's beautiful handiwork that we live in!  "God, Our Father, we thank you, for our many blessings, A-Men.

Late, but fun to see anyway,

Yes, I know it is late...

Reagan Pearl is 6 months old. She loves to sit at her post here and relax while we dine. She wouldn't have it any other way. If she is not with the family, she is upset!

She has been chewing on her fingers for a while. Most of the time she gags herself, and sometimes you can catch her with both hands in her mouth. It makes for interesting play time. First she will chew at her hand and then she will grab your face with sopping wet hands filled with drool!

She is our happy girl! She likes to stick her tongue out a lot right now! She makes us laugh!

Look who wants to be 6 months old again! Let me tell you, we don't put him in that, he jumps up and climbs in and then fastens this all by himself. He has been stuck in it a couple of times now, but he thinks it is funny none the less! [Yes, gloves are necessary in 80 degree weather, it is called do whatever I want stage in life.]

That Darn Cat!

This morning we woke up to cat destruction! You know, kind-of similar to when a dog goes haywire and gets the trash and toilet paper all over the house. Well on a slightly smaller scale is cat destruction. We just got the kitty declawed this past week and the veterinary highly recommended that we get an all natural kitty liter. This way, he wouldn't chance dust and such in his open wounds on his paws. The litter is newspaper pellets. So far we have had no issues and it has been easier to clean and there is NO dust! Anyway, the cat must be bored out of his mind or FAMISHED at night because he found the HUGE bag of this litter and bit through a hole in the bottom about 8 inches in diameter and pellets were EVERYWHERE! Did I say they were EVERYWHERE? I try to get up before the children so that I can get ready every morning, well, I am off to a slow start today. Sigh. I tried to hide the mess from Casey's eyes but he found it and brought it to my attention. JOY! So, now, at 7AM, I am off to get myself ready for a long but exciting day ahead of me! I have my whole day to spend with my girlfriends today! Blessed day, even Cat Destruction, my little interruption won't stop me... hahahaha!

A Dairy, Egg and Nut Free Treat Like No Other…

A Dairy, Egg and Nut Free Treat Like No Other…

Since we are going dairy free around here it is always interesting what new desserts and treats we might try next. Just looking at how simple this one is makes me say oooooh! I hope to get this made quick for a book club meeting or something. Do I dare say, yummy!

Taylor in the Local Paper

How exciting! Definitely proving to be like his daddy already appearing in the local newspaper. This picture was taken at his school's Pumpkin Patch. All of the boys pictured are in his class and he is really getting along very nicely with them all! He just loves school! We are really excited everyday to see what he is learning. That day they got their pictures taken in the patch, they each picked out some baby pumpkins. OH JOY! Immediately he gave it to Reagan to hold onto. Now it is on our mantel and is the pumpkin for our family cat "Buddy." That will be a picture for later. Anyway, I wanted to show you all the clipping and I hope you can read it.

Last soccer game

We have finally come to the end of our soccer season. I am glad to have experienced the busyness to get a feel of what is to come in the future with sports activities. I don't know how Taylor felt though being a part of the whole thing. I know he loved being cheered for! You can tell though, by the first picture here how enthusiastic he was at moments of practice and well, this was during a game. Ha! He isn't even looking in the direction of the ball. Well, we will see how his athleticism evolves. Now we are going to concentrate on swimming.

What is Taylor doing? Hmmm, what is he looking at?

He got a medal. I have said over and over that I don't like the idea of "Everybody gets a medal," Oh well, if this continues over the years I will grow faint!

On the sidelines, very into his 3-year old skills at hanging upside down rather than cheering his team members on. Oh well, here I am taking a picture of my darling... guess I am not really cheering them on either.

This is right before the coach personally came to me and told me how very impressed he was with Taylor's involvement this game! He was so excited! I had hoped that it would last the whole game, but as you saw in the first picture, it didn't!

This was at a water break/half-time, Taylor wanted to show me a trick... he would toss it and catch it in his hands. The only real good action shot from the whole season was the prior shot. Good job, Bubba!

Watch out now, she's talking...

Dairy Free

So we have gone "Dairy-Free" here at the Tibbs' home. If I have already mentioned this to you then this is just a post for those who I haven't shared with yet. Taylor frequently had symptoms that I didn't know how to deal with in regards to his digestion, mood and overall health. I took him to the doctor and due to his age, their is generally a lot of things that could be affecting him, but we would have to do a trial and error test to see what helped him. Anyway, he complains of headaches, tummy aches and had issues with the potty but now, I am happy to report that I no longer have to bring him children's Pepto Bismo or give him Tylenol for headaches anymore. For all of us, this has been well, not SO easy, but semi-rewarding! I have felt better, and feel like I am offering healthier snacks, more vegetables, fruit and non processed items. I don't do ice cream anymore and now that we are coming up to the holidays we will not be able to have chocolate. This does not mean that we don't eat sweets.... OH NO... we eat yummy sorbet and other sweets that yes are loaded with sugar, but not the same as we used to. It has been fine for Taylor, except if he has something that has any dairy in it, he complains of a headache or something. Yes, I feel like we are becoming more and more like hippies but, we still enjoy MEAT and lots of GRUB! Maybe one day I will have my own chickens, goats and pigs. Who knows, hahaha! Just news I thought I would share.