Reaves: week ten

Happy 4th of July!

Reaves started his first July 4th at the neighborhood parade! Emily donned her crown, Reaves his 4th of July outfit/bathing suit, and even Annie had on her fourth of July attire! Sandra brought over all this red, white, and blue paraphernalia to decorate Reaves' stroller. It was too cute!

My little firecracker!

After the parade we headed to the pool to meet the Fishers! Boy it was hot! Reaves took a few dips in the pool with me and slept under the shade for a bit! We played motor boat, motor boat, go so slow, motor boat, motor boat, go so fast, motor boat motor boat step on the gas! My mom used to play that with me in the pool when I was little and I LOVED it!

Later that evening we went to to the Fishers for a cookout! We had a great time and meal! George even set off a few fireworks for us and the kids had smores! FUN TIMES!

Our Little Family

Amber and Chris

Greer,Olivia,Jack, & Grant

Jorie and Lisa

Reaves, Christy, and Me
On Tuesday Reaves first cousins Kelly and Abby came to meet him for the first time! They wanted to hold him every minute and watch me change his diaper! They were too funny! They were the best little helpers! We had such a fun time! I took them to Hills of Snow where they enjoyed their rainbow snow cones!

Kelly, Abby, and Reaves



The rest of the week was pretty chill............

On Sunday we went to Joe's parents for his sister Bridget to meet the babes and for our nephew Joey to meet him! They thought he was sooo precious! They gave him the cutest book called Tickle Monster! Mommies you have to get this book it's so clever and comes with these adorable tickle mitts!

Reaves: week nine

Sweet Annie came to visit Reaves this week! She has known me my whole life and is a very special lady to our family! We enjoyed her visit so much and Reaves was in the best mood the whole time she was here!



Gina made Reaves this tie onseie. It's so fitting since one of my many nicknames for him is little man! A lot of people will say he looks like an old man! I guess it's because he doesn't have any teeth yet nor much hair in the front! ha ha Well he is the cutest little man I've ever seen!!!!

Friday we had an eventful celebration at my Aunt Jackie and Uncle Joe's house. Miranda their granddaughter turned two and my cousin Rod was home from his deployment. We haven't seen him years. We had a great time catching up and watching all the kids run around! One of them even dialed 911 and yelled the police were on the way! We thought they were joking until the Police called back! Oh gosh we are going to get it twice as bad as our parents I do believe!

Happy 2nd Birthday Miranda!




The babes turned two months old on Saturday! I compared his month one and two pictures and he really does look the same except he is a little fuller! He was even able to give me some real smiles. I love this stage the cooing, smiling, and following me around the room with his eyes. Even though I get sad knowing he is getting older with each passing breath, I also am so very excited about the ages and stages to come!

If one feels the need of something grand, something infinite, something that makes one feel aware of God, one need not go far to find it. I think that I see something deeper, more infinite, more eternal than the ocean in the expression of the eyes of a little baby when it wakes in the morning and coos or laughs because it sees the sun shining on its cradle."

Vincent van Gogh

               

My favorite of the 200 I took!

We spent the weekend down at the River on Albermarle Sound at my Aunt Judy and Uncle David's place. It is so relaxing.....that place just puts us in a sleep coma! We caught up on some much needed rest, played in the water, went for a sunset cruise on the boat, read books, and ate some yummy food! Oh how I love spending time there with Big Dave and Ju Ju! The baby actually liked the water!!!! He looked so cute rocking his little 4th of July attire! His shirt says Mommy's little firecracker!

Gorgeous Sunset

Sunset Cruise

Captain Big Dave

Aunt Ju Ju

Thanks for having us! We had so much fun! We love you!

Reaves: week eight

When I was little I loved playing with baby dolls. My favorite had to be Waylon. I named him Waylon because that is my dad's middle name and I thought it was just the most beautiful name. I remember changing his diaper, singing to him, tucking him in at night, pretending to feed him, strapping him in the back seat of my mom's car and pretending to drive while all the while looking in the rear-view mirror to check in on him. Even though the car was parked in the garage my imagination led me to believe we were driving in Florida in my jeep with the top down! Probably headed home to our glass house on the beach. Oh to dream........

Well my little Waylon turned into my real life baby doll Reaves. I did consider Waylon for his middle name but went from a family name on Joe's side instead. I guess all that pretending helped prepare me for the mommy I am today. I've always known I wanted to be a mother probably since I was two with my cabbage patch dolls. We might not be driving with the top down in Florida but I tell you we are burning up the roads in Smithfield, NC and I wouldn't change a thing. I rather be changing a diaper, singing to my little peanut, snuggling with him on the couch then anything else in the world.

One of my most favorite things about my real life baby doll is dressing him up! One day he is wearing smocking, or Polo, or something monogrammed and the next day he has something on slightly more alternative with a Mohawk. I'm going to enjoy these days while they last and style him like I want :)

                                                                          School Boy

to Surfer Boy

We had a ball at dad's Thursday night for a later Father's Day Celebration. He loves his eight grand kids and his three kids and would do anything for us! I love seeing him with Reaves :) It reminds me of the care free days of my childhood and all the memories come rushing back. He would take me to Bojangles every morning for a ham biscuit, check on me in class everyday from Kindergarten to Fifth grade while giving me a kiss in front of my whole class ( he was my principal),  and many of our afternoons were spent on the golf course I loved driving the golf cart and playing in the sand traps and getting a canned Hawaiian Punch on hole #9. Thank you dad for making me feel special! I love you!

Here is a picture of Papa with his 8 grand kids! 1 Girl +7 boys= fun chaos! He loves every minute of it!

Mad props to all you childhood photographers! It is impossible to get 8 kids to sit and smile all at the same time!

Including Crickett Thornton who shot Reaves' newborn pictures!
http://www.crickettphotography.com/

I heart the canvas I received for Mother's Day from Joe!

and the birth announcements she did!

front

back!

We had so much fun at Jamie's baby shower on Saturday morning. She is having a baby girl in a few short weeks! We can't wait to me Caylee!

I am launching my new business and I am so excited!!!! I am now booking trunk shows and selling Stella and Dot jewelry! I love being a teacher, but have always also wanted to be in sales.Now I can do both because I finally found something I'm passionate about selling. This jewelry line is affordable and irresistible! Half of the line is under $50.00 and has been featured in such magazines as People Style Watch In Style and More!

Reaves: week seven

Joe, Reaves, and I enjoyed a few extra days at the beach as a little family after Carla and her fam left. It was Reaves first vacation!!!! On Monday night we took Reaves on the beach for the first time for a few pics! He was trying to fall asleep but I was determined to get a few shots. Then we went to Swansboro for dinner at Ducks on the waterfront. Joe had tuna and I had peel and eat shrimp and Reaves had milk! It was delicious and nice to be with the two guys in my life! My heart feels so full these days!!!! I am truly the happiest I've ever been!

Reaves and Mommy

Daddy and Reaves

Reaves first time on the beach!

I hope Reaves will love the Salt Life as much as his mommy and daddy!

On Tuesday we had a pool day and then headed to Morhead for drinks and appetizers at Chef's105. Too bad they didn't catch any Marlin that day :( in the Big Rock tournament....it was still fun to people watch! Then we headed to Granny and Grandpa's to spend the rest of the week.....

Little Joe Joe

Reaves met his second little friend Reid on Wednesday..... Reid is just five weeks older than Reaves and such a cutie! His mom Leah and I have been friends for ages!!! We seriously talked the whole time I was there and could talk for hours on end..........I'm so glad we've remained friends since the first grade!!!!! Later that day I had a pedicure and a hot stone massage! That was one nice gift for a new mama! If you've never had a hot stone massage, indulge yourself! It is wonderful! Later that afternoon Reaves met his Aunt Sara and Uncle John (Joe's brother) for the first time! They were so cute with him!!!

Reaves and Reid

Aunt Sara

Uncle John

The rest of the week we enjoyed family time with Joe's family......we went fishing, shopping, had a low country boil on Saturday, loved on the baby, played games, ate, ate, and ate some more!

Uncle John and Sara got Reaves this cute nautical outfit with his first pair of boat shoes. They made his feet look HUGE!

Joe is wearing his head lamp trying to get on that "nite bite" fishing! haha

On Sunday we grilled shish-kabobs for lunch to celebrate Father's Day. Joe's Dad bought him a shirt New Dad 2011......how cute does he look? Joe is just making the best daddy! He says to Reaves "hey buddy your my best friend!" I love him that much more seeing him with our son! We are celebrating with my dad on Thursday when everyone can get together! I am the apple of my daddy's eye and he is the best dad in the world!

Three Generations

                                              My Boys!