On Being Reese

Reesie Piecey,

I've been wanting to write down all of the things that have been going on in your little world lately, mostly because I don't want to forget and because you are so cute and funny these days. You are 30 months old...although I don't think we should go by months anymore...because like you always say you're a "Big Girl."

Let's start with how much you are talking and all the funny things you say. First of all, you are a little parrot! You repeat anything from Mom, Dad, the TV, a song on the radio! We have to be careful what we say or what you can hear. Things I say to you definitely come back to haunt me...like, "I'm busy now." I usually only say that when, for instance, you ask me to put your baby's diaper on for the 40th time and I'm trying to bathe your baby sister...but you like to tell me "I'm busy now" when Mommy wants a kiss or when I ask you to pick up your toys...little Diva. You've started saying "dang it" quite often which I silently chuckle at but make sure you know that we shouldn't say that. The other day when I was changing Bailey's diaper you said "Mom did Bailey poop?" and I said "yes" and you said "Mom, look at me," and I did and you looked me in the eyes and said "Did Bailey poop" and I made sure to look you right in the eyes and said "Yes Reese." I guess I must make you look at me when I'm telling you something important so you felt the need to do the same with me. You like to tell me "don't worry about me" quite often. You are too smart for a 2.5 year old and have a huge vocabulary which sometimes comes back to bite you because you can be pretty sassy to your Mom and Dad. I'm amazed at some of the things you say and how you use them in the right context.

You seem to really like music and will sing anything, you listen carefully to the words and repeat them. You have 'Itsy Bitsy Spider,' 'Are You Sleeping Brother John,' 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,' and a few others down pat and you like "Come and Get it" by Selena Gomez. You are always singing your own made up songs and you give them titles, like your favorite "The Cake Song." You will also just randomly sing whatever you want to say. You love to 'dance' which is more like spinning in circles until you fall down over and over.

You can be quite emotional some days. Anything can bring you to tears...the joys of being a 2 year old girl! It's very important to you that everyone knows you are a big girl and not a baby, so when you start crying over minor things, Mom and Dad remind you that you are not acting like a big girl and usually you stop. You used to put yourself on timeout when you know you were misbehaving but now if TO is mentioned you put your hands up and say "no,no, no" and usually flail around on the floor screaming, like it's complete torture! You have started to test boundaries and see how much we will allow you to control which has put you on timeout quite a bit lately, but after you serve your time, you are willing to do what it was that was asked of you. Mind games!!!

 You and Ava love to be together and play together but there can be some fighting. Mostly over possession of toys, but you also fight over the most ridiculous things, I just look at you like "Really?" For instance, on the ride to daycare the other morning Ava was telling Mommy to "take the path" to daycare and you starting bawling and nobody was sure why. When you calmed down a bit you said "I want to say 'take the path'," so you were fighting over who got to say what?! Goodness gracious! But you like to say "Ava's my friend" and you always want to know where she is. I just know you will be best friends...we just have to make it through these toddler (and then teenager) years! You have started calling her Ave and it's just so cute.

You are very into the show Umizoomi. Mom gets a little annoyed with the show but you've learned shapes and other things by watching it, so I'll put up with it. Your interest in books has peaked and you must have at least one story before bed everynight and read them throughout the day. I love when you "read" the book yourself, you give your own version of the story and it's pretty accurate. We often find you and Ava in your room together, book on each of your laps, reading to each other in dramatic voices. It's so sweet.

Reese, you are very smart and have the kindest heart. Sometimes I look at you and can't believe at one point you were a tiny 5 lb baby in the NICU struggling to regulate your breathing. I thank God for you everyday and cannot imagine my life without my little Reeser.

Love, Brandi

On Being Ava

I want to take a moment to write down some funny things you say and do, so that I can remember my little 2 year old Ava!

You really love your baby sister, Bailey. You hug her all the time which is more like a head butt! Haha...but she doesn't seem to mind and it will toughen her up! You say "I love Bailey," which just melts my heart. We all call her Bailer and you have taken to shortening it up and referring to her as Bail. You are very affectionate lately and tell us you love us and randomly give us hugs...we love it! You ask if you can lay on us on the couch, meaning you want to snuggle...which we are all too happy to do with you.

You are very motherly, I think it comes with the role of oldest child. You love playing babies and are always carrying around a baby. You love to help out with Bailey too and will put her pacifier back in her mouth when she drops it 50 times or turn her around when she gets all tangled up on the playmat. You will bring Reese her juice or snack cup if you are getting yours. If you want a toy, you always look for the matching/coordinating toy for Reese...you are always thinking of her.

You are so smart that I think people are surprised you and Reese are only 2 years old. Your vocabulary is very big and you use words in the right context most of the time. Last week when we were playing on the deck, I asked you to stop dumping the sand on the deck and your exact words were "Mom, you're ridiculous." I just looked at you dumb founded...I couldn't believe you knew the word ridiculous, let alone how to use it correctly. (Although, I don't think that was a ridiculous request!)

You love reading and that makes Mommy very happy! You really like story books, particularly, Three Billy Goats Gruff, Three Little Pigs, and Little Red Riding Hood. You want to take a book with you everywhere we go and like to read your version of the story, which is quite accurate. I've also noticed that you are picking up on the lessons in the book. The other day, while playing outside, you told me "you don't talk to strangers," which was the lesson from Little Red Riding Hood, giving the perfect segway into the discussion of not talking to strangers and who strangers are.

You have a deep seeded repulsion for bugs and if there is one in a 2 inch radius of you, you will scream bloody murder. Sometimes I will come running because I think something terrible has happened, like a broken bone or a 5 inch laceraton, but no it's a fly. But when it comes to things like swimming or playing at the park, you get a little too brave and we have to reign you in. For example, when we go to the park you think you can just run up and down the stairs/ladders by yourself and Mom just about has a heart attack watching you on the playground. We have to remind you to slow down and stay away from the edges.

Ava, you are the sweetest, most fun-loving little girl. I thank God for you everyday and cannot imagine my life without my little Bayba. Everything you do amazes me and I'm so proud that you are mine.

Love, Brandi

Bailey is 5 months old!

(I'm a little late on this post...I completely forgot about it! I guess that's what happens when you have your third kid!)




Love those chubby baby thighs.



Weight: 16 lbs (80%)

Height: 26 inches (90%)

Size Clothes: 6 month or 6-9 months

Newest Milestone: She has gotten good at grabbing things and bringing them straight to her mouth.She chomps on everything...even her Nana's face! Hahaha! I'm pretty sure she has some teeth trying to make their way through but we have yet to see them.

Milestone you think LO is close to: It seems like she has gotten better back control when she is sitting up. She can sometimes get herself back up after she grabs a toy but still has troubles.

Favorite Activity/Toy: She still really likes her jumper and has focused on the little roller thing with balls in it (I know! Great discription right?) She also really likes this little rubber ring that has a ball on that she can chomp on.

Sleeping: We have started a new fixed schedule and it seems to be working pretty well. We lay her down anywhere from 6-7 p.m at night and she will sleep until about 6 a.m. although she is still waking up 1-3 times per night and wanting her pacifier. We dropped the night feeding but she is addicted to the paci! We are also trying to break her of the swaddle so we are currently only swaddling one arm and she is doing well. So we will keep working on weaning off the swaddle and the pacifier at night...phew could be a sleepless couple of weeks around the Hastings' house!

Amount Eating: Our Bailey is a good eater! She is now eating 6 oz milk about 4 times a day and either rice cereal or a container of Step 1 baby food at two of those feedings a day.

Newest Pic:

Always has that little finger in her mouth.

Love, Brandi