2 posts in less than 24 hours!!!

First and foremost let's get some house keeping out of the way. I title the picture below...."You know you're in Corpus when..." As we walked out of the Science Museum this morning this was the scene to our right. I think my title sums the scene up perfectly. Let me just say that is one HOT dress! (Check out the Back to the Future Limo doors). I'll stop now...
As mentioned above we had Stroller Strides outside the Science Museum this morning. Got to see a new part of the bay I hadn't been to before. After class we went inside and played on their super cool kid friendly playground/activity area.

She looks so sweet and innocent...right before she climbed the chairs

Friends Andrew and Elise

Check out my BIG girl walking down the stairs all by herself...

Hi Reese!

Playing the musical instruments...do I see a future band geek in the making?

Hi MOM!

Playing on the toy boat (say toy boat three times fast...bet you can't)

Trying very hard to get into the fountain after class

So happy. Thanks for the shirt MiMi....and I actually bought the pants and shoes. I know that none of you think I buy my own kid clothes...I do (sometimes)

Yes that is a bow in her hair...lasts 3 minutes after said photo opportunity...we're making a little progress. In the words of the great Dr. Leo Marvin...baby steps Bob, baby steps.

For the peanut gallery

Well apparently I'm not updating enough. I will admit, I realize now that it's been since Valentine's Day that I put up new pictures. Sorry for the delay...however, I was in Kingwood last week so I do have a sort of excuse. While there we did the Tour de Kingwood, visiting all the great-grandparents daily...and Reese attended her FIRST Mardi Gras parade with her friend Henry. Henry is dying to date Reese ever since seeing her shake her "thang" to Beyonce on the blog about one month ago. We're excited Henry and his family just moved to Kingwood so now we can see them a whole lot more. Reese did get lots of beads, and we even brought them to share with the other kids on Fat Tuesday when I taught Stroller Strides.
Reese had a blast in Kingwood, as always, and she really took a liking to Sean. Usually she doesn't have much of a reaction at all to Sean, other than the hello and goodbye. However this time around she was all about Sean. She even cuddled with him at dinner. She loves her Uncle Sean.

Hanging out at the Sternson abode. Reese looks gigantic in this picture. Sorry Grandma I think you being vertically challenged is making Reese look like the Incredible Hulk.

Reese also enjoyed lots of time with Grandpa. Here he is helping her put her socks and shoes on. At one point he got up to go to the restroom...Reese walked all over the apartment and even looked out the window...she just kept saying "Grandpa...Grandpa" she was very glad when he returned.

Surrounded by the stuffed animals Grandma keeps for her to play with

Picture time with the Herbst Crew. Funny story...we were in Sam's today and an old man walked by us. She just saw him from the back and I will agree with her that the back of his head was just like Pop-pop's...haircut and color. She pointed to the man and said "Pop-pop" over and over again. I don't think she understood that it wasn't her Pop-Pop...she was just wanting to hang out with Karlie.

Playing with Aunt Sister (as I like to call her)

Playing with Nana

Nana goes to the garage sales and gets ALL kinds of loot for Reese to play with whenever we go visit

An unhappy camper after a nap that wasn't quite long enough. I don't know why she was crying, because prior to this she was having fun sitting on the couch with Leslie and MiMi. I think she wanted to pet Dusty

Trying to take a nap with Aunt Leslie. Reese just can't get enough of her "AL"

So happy to be with Sister

Warm enough in Corpus to wear a short sleeved dress in Feb. Really just unnatural.

Thanks for the dress MiMi.

Pee Pee on the Potty!

We had a VERY eventful day on Friday (and one more time Saturday morning). Reese pee peed on the potty 3 times on Friday...she told me all three times that she had to go. We went running to her potty and each time she followed through. I would too if a chocolate chip was my reward. We're hoping this little trend she has going continues...wouldn't it be nice if we used less diapers. I know I'm looking forward to it.
Reese attended a 2nd birthday party yesterday for her friend Riley. Barney was at the party to sing songs for all the kids, Reese hated it. I put her down on the floor once to show her it was fun to dance with Barney, and she was running to any pair of legs that she saw gripping them for dear life. So sad. The moonwalk didn't go well either. Too much wildness for her in there.
Here's Reese in her cute Valentine's Day shirt, and super hip new jeans from Miss Vicki. Thanks for the jeans, we LOVE them.

Notice we kept a clip in long enough to take the photo. She had it out by the time we got to Stroller Strides.

This is how happy my kiddo is in the morning.

Walking around with the camera case. No shirt because when she went pee pee on the potty she got some on her shirt. I know doesn't seem possible but it happened.

New SUPER cute outfit from MiMi. The pink shoes are her new "big girl" shoes. I thought it was a great match with the cute little capri pants and shirt. Yes it's Feb. and we're already wearing capri pants. Ridiculous!

The Petting Zoo

Daddy came home! Big highlight of Saturday night. After being away since Monday, Ryan finally made it home and Reese was super excited. She did forget he was home Sunday morning. Usually on weekends she likes to annoy Ryan until he gets up...this time she went on playing with me in the kitchen and when he woke up she was slightly stunned he was in the house. I thought it was hilarious. That's what going away for a week will do.

Monday she had some fun on her own accord. After taking some Tupperware out of the cabinet and using it to dump dog water from the bowl onto the floor (all so very quietly that I should have known she was up to no good), I had to pick up the bowl...leading to the hole in the top of the dog's food bowl stand. Next thing I know little miss "Clarissa Climbs-A-Lot" is up on the food stand and in the hole like it's a seat. Freaking hilarious!

So damn proud of herself and the latest accomplishment

On Nana's last trip to N.C. she brought back this shirt for Reese. Sunset Beach is where we spent many a summer, while Nana and Pop-pop lived in Calabash. It is one of my favorite places from my youth. I miss going to the beach there, maybe one day we can take Reese when she's old enough to ride the waves into the shore.

Next time she wants to go on the trip too.

If you look closely you will see the goose-egg in between her eyes. Ryan was tickling her in Church and she lurched forward and nailed the pew in front of us. Needless to say the ENTIRE congregation turned around and looked as they heard the hit and the scream that came afterwards. Let this be a lesson to an ADULT (Ryan) that you shouldn't play around in Church...Poor kid, had a rough Sunday...a mere 3 hours after the head injury she was playing outside on her swing set. Our 30 mph sustained winds got the big girl swing blowing and she walked right into it. Ryan and I couldn't get there fast enough and the metal brace holding the seat of the swing, split her lip right open (no stitches needed) but a little bit of blood and LOTS of crying. Poor baby...she enjoyed a nice afternoon cocktail of Infant Tylenol.

Reese was invited to a 1st Birthday party for her friend Ronan this past Sunday evening. They had a mobile petting zoo so she got to see all kinds of little animals. They had a goat, bunny, pig and lots of chickens. Let's just say that once again Reese is down with animals as long as they are coming to her live from her See-n-Say toy. In real life, Reese wants nothing to do with them. She clung closely to Ryan and really only ventured to touch the chicken.

Peek-a-boo

Little Monkey

No one really prepared me for the climbing part of having a 1 year old. She discovered that she can climb and nothing is stopping her. I am thinking about just leaving her wrapped in bubble wrap to prevent any and all injuries. She can climb up almost everything and really enjoys standing on chairs. Anytime we're in her room, she climbs up into the rocking chair and stands on it rocking back and forth. I'm thrilled as you can imagine because now I just sit guard making sure she doesn't splat down onto anything. She's also having major listening issues and is not at all threatened by the potential of getting in trouble. I tell her no and then she just does what I tell her not to do...instead the second time she says "No No NO" and smiles at me. Imagine how much fun her teenage years will be for us. We're still Daddy free, which means no cooking dinner this week. I love that part.

Reese has gotten into the habit of putting her hat on at night and reading a book all on her own. Her favorite right now is Bad Dog Marley. Marlie is Reese's middle name, so when they came out with kid books based on "Marley and Me" I thought they would be prefect gifts for me to continue giving her (Our little thing). So she asks for that book after she has climbs up onto the rocking chair of course, slaps on her hat and points out all the times Marley is in the book. Although she says "mawee" Every time she turns the page she says "page". Too Cute! Here's a few pics of her trying to push off bedtime as long as possible.

A City Girl Can Survive!

We traveled to La Grange this weekend for our annual trip to make sausage. I never thought this would be something I would enjoy. In fact tales are told of my first sausage making weekend, when I brought along a lawn chair and my People magazine to read while everyone else was working. I lasted all of ten minutes before I was chopping, grinding and stuffing meat like everyone else. This year I didn't get to participate as I was chasing around Reese. Keeping her out of the fire, away from all sharp knives and entertained. We took a few trips in town to visit our awesome friends Lucy, Les and Chris. Reese got to experience her first hotel stay, and we learned that no nap just means a WIRED child. Fun weekend had by all. It should be noted that Ryan lost his knife, I think he equates this to life as he knows it being over. Hopefully we can take him off suicide watch soon. Enjoy pics....if you have a weak stomach LOOK AWAY!
Raw meat waiting to be stuffed into casing. As I look at this picture I realize, it's not all that sanitary.

Bobby showed up with his deer meat frozen...it thawed out nicely on the roof. I think we're going to take this photo and send it to the FDA with the caption "Our local HEB" (HEB is our grocery store).

Reese's poor hair...the static, wind and fleece hat did not mix for a good hair day. I asked her not to move while I took pictures....she held the camera case for me

Ryan cutting meat...I think that's the knife he lost. He should be more careful. I had a coupon for a $1.00 off organic milk which he lost the night before. He told me it was no big deal. When he lost his knife he was very upset...I should have told him "no big deal"

Meat...as in 500lbs of pig about to be cut up and stuffed into casing

Example of Ryan's outstanding picture taking abilities...blur anyone?

My sweet baby

Running through the hotel parking lot

Loving the new elephant she got from Mimi and Grampy