This is Kind of a BIG Deal...

Reid is pacifier free! Six weeks ago our family embarked on the long...LONG...hard...HARD journey of ridding our 2 1/2-year-old of his infamous "pie." This might not be very daunting for other parents, but you see, Reid has had his popeye since the day he was born, and has not been without it since...the same big saucer-like pacifier for nearly three years. He slept with it, took a bath with it, played with it, sat it on his highchair while he ate, and many times, he would tote two or three extras around for moral support. He was as addicted to his pacifier as a smoker is to a cigarette. But after about two weeks of he...well...you know what...he has been such a trooper and here we are, over a month later, and my sweet boy is one step closer to growing up!


Just thought I would share a timeline of popeye pics. This is literally from the day he was born...

Toes in the Water

We survived! Not only did we survive, but we had a really great time. Last Wednesday, Cory, the kiddos and I packed up and headed to the beach. We took our annual summer trip to SanDestin, and I was a little nervous about tackling a 2 year-old and a 1 year-old. Cory and I made up our minds that it would be fun but we could forget relaxing. We were pleasantly surprised. Reid and Georgia were wonderful, the beach was beautiful, and the weather was perfect. It was nice to enjoy the sun, (with 50 proof sunscreen for this family of redheads, of course) water, and my sweet family.

It amazes me how much planning and packing goes into taking these two to the beach. We've stayed at the Hilton many times before, so I knew we would have a small fridge and a mircowave...that's it. I planned all of the kids' breakfasts and lunches based on what could be cooked in a microwave. Needless to say, I won't be winning mother of the year when it comes to the healthiest food choices this past week, but Reid and Georgia really enjoyed the fudge shop cookies they got to eat a couple of mornings! = )

I'm a stickler for sunscreen. I was crazy when I was yonger and would rarely put it on (I'm a REDHEAD...what was I thinking???) After many painful sunburns, I have finally realized the importance of sunscreen...so I buy nothing but waterbabies...for everyone. When pool time came around, I would lather up Reid, then Georgia, then Cory and myself, we would pack up everything possible and about 45 minutes to and hour later we would be ready to head to the pool. Let me say that the $5 sand toy pack I bought at Wal-Mart was the best money I have ever spent. Reid and Sissy sat on the side of the pool and played for hours. Reid is not a huge water fan. He REFUSES to put floaties on but loves to play on the steps and the side of the pool where he's close enough to be wet. Sissy on the other hand is a little daredevil. We have to watch her like a hawk. She too will not wear floaties, but she LOVES to be in the water. I'm embarrassed to say that I didn't even get a picture of her at the pool...mainly because I was too nervous to look away for a second and grab the camera...

Honestly, I was so wrapped up in enjoying my crew this week, that I forgot to take too many pictures. Here is what I did capture.

Reid and Sissy feeding the ducks at Louisiana Lagniappe.

Daddy and Reid listening to the band.

Sissy enjoyed listening to the band too, but boy was she pooped!

Reid and our friend Andrew Kimbro at the pool.