African Safari

Nana on the last night of her visit.

Reese wanted me to take of picture of her posing exactly like this. We had to take this picture before she agreed to take any other pictures.

A casualty of all the rain. I saw this driving home from dropping Nana off at the airport.

Can you tell she's pooped? She fell asleep while she was using her foot to balance the back of her chair on the ground. She slept like this for about 1 hour.

We headed to San Antonio yesterday to attend Atlee's birthday. Atlee is the son of Ryan's cousin Jason, and Atlee is exactly 5 days older than Reese. The party was at Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch, so we got to see the exotic animals, feed the goats in the petting zoo and take a safari tour and feed the animals from our car. It was a ton of fun, and something I had never done either.

Reese and Garrett. This girl can find a new friend in an instant. He's a cute and very funny kid.

The gang who attended the birthday party, birthday boy Atlee standing up in the tan shirt.

Reese admiring the pretty giraffes

I really enjoyed watching these sweet giraffes.

I see baby goats in our future. If I am helping with this whole 4H/FFA thing when Reese gets older, we're going the goat route. I know I'll be the one doing most of the leg work with raising the animal, and despite my desire to have a calf of our own, I have no desire to clean up cow crap for an entire year...thus the fact that I am hoping for a goat. Smaller animal with MUCH smaller poop.

Having so much fun feeding the babies. She was not fond of feeding the adults because when she ran out of food they would try and eat her clothes. Screaming would ensue.

My not so baby anymore feeding the baby goat

These are scary. I opted not to feed them. I told Ryan if they pecked his hand off I was not going to feel bad for him. Thankfully he has still hands both intact.

The only shot of me all day. Self portrait

I love me some zebra

Up close and personal...he/she and I bonded, you can see it in the eyes

eating out of our hands

I snapped this picture right before this sweet giant put his/her head in my car. I enjoyed it, Reese on the other hand...I think she peed her pants a little. I had a great time petting the zebra, lovely creatures these things. Sadly I don't know that a zebra would be a good addition to the family, however I wish they could be.

feeding these things...I'm thinking mountain goats

And my all time favorite...the donkey. I want one so badly...I think it would make a nice touch to the backyard. I think I heard him say "Hey lady, take me home with you". I told Ryan we could both benefit from adding this handsome beast to our family, he'd have MUCH less grass to mow and I would have a pet donkey. In the words of my mother...when people would ask me "a donkey" I can reply with "my ass". I'm mature :)

Hurricane Karl...and rain!

What a week...we had a visitor this week (more on that later), Reese got a stomach bug (AGAIN) and we hit the beach one afternoon! Reese had a rough week at school. Cried the entire time she was there (both days) because she "missed her Mom". It's nice to be loved, I just wish she wouldn't cry the entire time she was at school. 5 hours people...We're hoping for a better week this week. Crazy thing is the first two weeks of school were fine..week three is when it sank in that this is more permanent than just a couple days of fun.
Reese shopping for groceries in her pj's.

with "her" Coach purse (she wishes)

We had a visitor this week. Nana braved the trek to my house, I say that loosely as it's a 30 min flight, and has been spending the week here. We hit the beach and hung out a lot at home. Sadly Reese got the stomach bug again so after 12+ hours of puking (on and off) we headed to the doctor (Nana in tow) and spent 2 hours there (mostly because it was busy). She got a shot that helped stop the vomiting and she slept from 4 p.m. until 6 the next morning. She needed it and yesterday she was on her way to being on the mend. In classic Bading family behavior...my husband was working a football game so Mommy once again got to take the vomit on all by herself. He was nice enough to sleep in Reese's room and leave her to me in our bedroom for the night as well. Thanks Ryan... :) Proof that being a stay at home Mom is a 24/7 job...with NO breaks.

After Reese was starting to feel better we started getting some rain which is a result of Hurricane Karl. He went well south of us but all that tropical moisture in the air made a MESS of rain for us. We had 4.5 inches of rain yesterday and since this morning we've had another 3 (and it's STILL pouring) Ryan is out of town for business so it's my job to deal with the rain gauge...otherwise I could care less about it.

Thank goodness we invested our money into that fabulous back patio this summer because without the handy work of our friends at Duran Concrete we would have had water in our house for sure. I am sooo glad we got that done. In fact our backyard is dealing with the onslaught of water quite nicely. Best money I ever spent.

Our street on the other hand had a hard time dealing with the rain...as the rain slows down the water recedes but once it starts back up it gets bad again.

Standing on the sidewalk in front of my house..water water everywhere

Ankle deep on the street (right off the curb) I am sure it's deeper in the middle.

Lake Clear Fork Dr.

This is the park across the street from my casa. Usually there is a two step wooden ledge around the entire thing. Right now you can barely see it.

The drainage ditch one house down from ours...notice the rapids

The park...all under water.

And this is how Reese passed her time inside. I went to the garage to get something out of my car. I think I was outside for 2.5 seconds. I came back in to be greeted by Reese...announcing that she used crayon....she in fact got the GIANT highlighter out of our desk.

So impressed with her make-up skills.

School is in Session!

We've had a busy few weeks...maybe one day things will slow down, after Reese goes to college.
My Mom and Dad came to Corpus two weeks ago and we hit the beach all weekend. They were kind enough to drive down this awesome desk. It was my Pop-Pop's for many years. He got it when he was a fireman at the Reliance Engine & Hose Co #1 in Port Chester, NY. My dad did an awesome job refinishing the wood and Ryan and I are thrilled to have the antique in the house. It's one hell of a desk, and I can't even begin to tell you how long/deep the drawers are. It's also nice to have things that have meaning. We also have a lot of my Grandpa and Grandma's furniture, they spread the wealth as well.
After Mom and Dad were here, Reese and I headed up to Kingwood 4 days later to visit the family. My Aunt and Uncle were in from Belgium and our cousin Stacey is moving to Texas to work as a PT at MD Anderson. Aside from a visit with the family, I also ran in a 10K with my friends Julie and Ashley from Corpus Christi. I plan on running the half with them as well so this was a nice preview run to get us really amped up. Despite the odds we completed the race and did really well. I finished in the top half of my age group and also well overall. Reese had a 24 bug Friday, so she threw up all night Thursday and had a fever all day Friday. Ashley and Julie had lost sleep due to their sweet babies as well. Like I said despite the odds and chaos we did it. Now the countdown to 13.1 miles is really on.

We are women...here us roar! (post race) It was awesome to run in Kingwood because my Nana, Dad and Reese were able to come watch me run. It kept me motivated knowing I had a cheering section mid way through the race.

Reese in her Groucho Marx glasses and her pocketbook from Nana. Sorry this is not flipped, I sent it to the computer from my cell phone...

Ready to head to school!

She picked out her outfit. She said yesterday that she wanted to wear the Hawaiian dress that Grampy got her with her sneakers. She knows what she wants!

Ryan stayed home so he could bring her to school as well.

Sending my girl off to school

Summer HEAT!

And the award for "Craziest Outfit of the Week" goes to Reese Bading. This would be my tankini bathing suit top worn backwards....
and a bikini top worn backwards underneath the tankini.....

Sometimes it's not even worth questioning. Much like wearing a belt with your nightgown, to dress up your look before asking to go to the park at 7 a.m.

I hate running. Esp. when it's about 90+ degrees with 100% humidity. However, I am running. On a regular basis, before the sun is even up(most mornings). I am training for a half marathon, call it as you may...I suppose it's on my bucket list of things to do before I am 30. I decided to run this before I remembered how hot it is in Corpus in the summer. Now that I am in the thick of it I am second guessing myself daily. The race isn't until October but the training...yeah it's HOT. I am not "racing" as much as looking to finish alive. I think it is best for someone to send the meat wagon out around mile 9 to look for my dead body. I am pretty confident that after I run this 1/2 marathon that will be the end of my racing career. I might stick to 5K's here and there, maybe the occasional 10K but 13.1 miles...for the birds.

It just looks like I'm running this Fun Run alone...don't be fooled, there were others. I came in second place in my age division, we won't discuss how many others were also in my age division. because it's not that important. Ryan and Reese came out to watch me run (hence the action shot) and to cheer me on. That being said, whoever said running in South Texas in the summer was a smart idea was nuts. Despite this fun run being at 7:30 a.m. it was still Africa Hot, and the humidity was awesome, as in awesomely horrific. We ran the Calallen Girls Cross Country team's training loop. This was a good reminder of why I didn't run cross country in high school.

Miracles Happen....as you can see in this picture. It is possible for me to be photographed with my child and for it to be a nice picture. Let the record show it takes a special occasion to get me showered and dressed (in something other than work out clothes) in the middle of the day. This picture is from my dear friend Monica's baby shower. I am so excited to have her join the ranks of Mommyhood with the rest of us. We are sitting on pins and needles waiting to hear when Clayton will be making his grand entrance into the world.

***Monica it should be noted that Reese was THRILLED that you sent the Thank You card to her. Since getting it she opens it once a day and recites what it says and then stashes it into her belongings for the next day.

Yet another one liner from Reese. The day after the baby shower we all met with some friends in College Station to eat lunch at Double Dave's. Reese was sitting next to our friend Wayland (Monica's husband) and in the middle of the meal she needed to use the potty. So as we're leaving the table she points to Wayland and says "Hey, Wayland...don't eat my pizza". I was cracking up.

We've been hitting the pool, and gearing up for school. That's right in 2.5 weeks Reese heads off to Mother's Day out and I have 5 glorious hours (two days a week) to do whatever I want to. I am sure "doing whatever I want to" will involve cleaning the house, and running errands but we'll both be enjoying those 10 hours a week.

She's says the silliest things!

No pictures this update. I will try and do some later this week. I do however, have a funny one liner from Reese.

While eating dinner last night, (Reese had finished and was playing in her kitchen) she turned around quickly, looked at Ryan and I and said "Ladies and Gentlemen, I have to make pee pee."

She's nuts!

Crazy Heart!

We had a busy few weeks. Two weeks ago my Mom came to visit for the week and we had a blast. We hit the beach, pool and got to just spend some quality time together. 3 generations of girls. So nice. That weekend we headed to College Station for a baby shower and a wedding reception. We had a great time seeing our friends and enjoyed our little road trip.
Upon returning home I turned my cleaning lady mode into hyperactive and spent two days doing things that only get done once a year (like oiling the wood in my house which requires the 8 ft ladder, hence it only getting done once a year). I hosted Bunco for the ladies, which is always fun. Ryan and Reese had a special father daughter date night at Chili's and then played at the mall.
Thursday Ryan's Mom came in for a quick overnight visit with Reese. We rounded out our week with a trip to the pool, Reese getting a haircut, and a visit and tour of the local firehouse with some friends. I didn't take my camera but I know my friend Ashley snapped a picture or two of me spraying the fire hose all by myself. I am woman hear me roar! We had a lazy day at home today while Reese played pretend for most of the day.
In College Station at Meems and Grampy's condo. Reese took Meems' straw hat, after she put on her boots, and took all her food into the kitchen to feed the farm animals. Here she is feeding the animals.

Dumping her food out for them. She refused to allow me to photograph her with the hat on

Just playing in the condo with her kitchen. My mom has this girl prepared to play anywhere. She has a kitchen in Kingwood, College Station and in Corpus. Clearly she's loved.

At Chic-a-fila a few weeks ago it was dress like a cow day. We didn't go but they gave out this cow hat a few days earlier while we were working out at the mall. As you can see she dressed herself (in the middle of the day) in her winter pj's and insisted on wearing the Halloween tutu. Topped off with this cow hat she's a sight for sore eyes.

Chips...every time she wears this I think of the pig mask/hat thing from Saw...good thing she has no idea about that or she'd never wear this again. I do think if she came into my room wearing this in the middle of the night I would wet the bed in fear.

Nap time. Lately Reese has been pooped. Especially when we are gone for the weekend. After we got home from College Station she had three days in a row with 3 hour naps. Thurman must miss her after about 1.5 hours because he goes and scratches her door to get in. Then I find him sleeping on her bed with her. Too cute.

The next day during nap. She has started taking so much garbage to bed with her I had to hunt to find her in there. She's under the pink and blue princess blanket by the yellow pillow.

Today she played pretend for about 1 hour all by herself. Her favorite show is Phineas and Ferb on the Disney Channel and there is a character named Jeremy. Today she had a date with Jeremy. She said he was coming over to pick her up in his blue car and they were going to go swimming. She said she was going to sleep at his house but I said she wasn't allowed to have sleepovers with boys. She thought about it for a minute and said she would bring her own big girl bed to his house. I guess she can problem solve nicely.

Long story short, she packed her back pack, pool bag, and brought along some toys (all in her shopping cart) and went to the pool (dining room) with Jeremy. She played in there for a while, then went into her room and packed most of her clothing in a cardboard box she got from Build a Bear. Along with that was the dictionary. I tell you she was clearly prepared for anything that should come up. Ryan and I were cracking up with all the things she was doing today.

Never mind that she's in a sweater, a beanie and has her Crocs on the wrong feet

My happy big girl! How could you not want to spend as much time as possible with this kiddo. I am so glad that I get to chill with her during the day at home.