Quality Time with Baby Boy Layden

As Baby Girl Layden's due date approaches, I have been experiencing a lot of emotions about Reid's life as an only (human) child coming to an end. I am excited and grateful to be able to give Reid a sibling, but I am nervous about how Reid will receive his little sister and share attention with her. I don't want the love and attention that I give Baby Girl to detract from the love and attention I give Reid. I know, to a degree, my attention will be split between my children - especially in the early years. However, I really want Reid to feel completely and totally loved through all of the trials of raising two young children. For now, I am trying to stock up on  a lot of quality time with Reid.  This past Friday, I was able to leave work early and take Reid to Azalea Lane Park (the "Choo Choo Park"). Andy met us there, and we all enjoyed a beautiful Florida day with our little love. Reid loved sitting in the metal train and playing make-believe with the mulch (making pizza, chicken, strawberries, etc.). He also loved running to the corner of the playground with all of the other kids whenever a train came by. Andy and I loved watching him explore his world with intense wonder and curiosity - his imagination is really taking off lately. On Sunday, we took Reid on an adventure to the Crayola Experience. Reid loved every minute of it, but he especially loved the play area where he could climb and go down a large slide. He kept up with the older kids without issue, which was a bit anxiety-provoking for me. He also enjoyed making different crafts with the crayola crayons (wax mold, drip art). Afterwards, we enjoyed lunch at Le Madeline.  We ended the day with a family swim in our pool. We also spent time going on "scooty" rides, playing with cars, and otherwise enjoyed a lot of family time together.

Life Lately...

With three weeks to go until my April 12th due date, life is about to get much, much busier.  So, before Baby Girl Layden joins our family, it is time for an update on our first (human) baby. First, I want to note that Andy and I just returned from our very first parent/teacher conference. At first, I felt a bit silly signing up for a conference; after all, what insight can Reid's teachers possibly give us since I  do not have any real concerns about his development? However, I quickly changed my mind and signed both Andy and myself up- I think I was the first parent to sign up, actually. I miss Reid so much while he is at school, and I will gladly soak in any bit of insight that I am provided regarding the life he leads at school. While I didn't get any groundbreaking information, it was nice to hear that Reid is "super bright" and that he plays well with all the kids, loves music time (duh), sings throughout the day, is a very good eater (duh), loves bicycling on the playground, is very independent, identifies snowmen as "Olaf," and is making strides with potty-training. In fact, his teachers (Ms. G, Ms. Erika) mentioned that the only time he has an accident in his pull-ups is after naptime when he is waiting for his turn to use the bathroom and the teachers are preparing for snacktime. Apparently, Reid is very concerned that he will not get a snack and finds it difficult to take the time to use the restroom or even wait to use the restroom when snack is being prepared. That's my boy! Also, Reid is very connected with his classmate, Jewels (or, as he calls her, "Jewelsie"), and the feeling is mutual.

Right now, Reid's favorite food is still fruit of any kind. He especially loves oranges, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries. One of his newer party tricks is peeling an orange and taking it apart himself. Every now and then, he will have a meltdown when he realizes he is unable to put the orange back together, but he is only 2.5 years old so I get it (sort of!). He also loves picking out cookies from our Peter Rabbit cookie jar, a special treat he sometimes receives when he has a successful potty situation (think #2). Anyone over the potty training talk yet?

As far as tv shows go, we really try to limit Reid's screentime in general, but we have been enjoying some weekend morning snuggle time in front of the tv lately. Reid's current favorites are Llama Llama, Daniel Tiger, Tayo ("Bus Tayo"), and an episode of Doc McStuffins that features Winnie the Pooh and friends. Reid loves books, too, and has been enjoying Dr. Seuss ("What Pet Should we Get?"), "Are You My Mother?," "Brown Bear Brown Bear," and "Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site"- among others. Favorite songs include Jesus Loves Me, Don't Worry Be Happy, Just Can't Wait to Be King, Moana songs, You Are My Sunshine, Twinkle Twinkle, and the Rainbow Song. Reid still loves his guitar and has told me numerous times that he is going to play guitar with his baby sister. One day, sweet boy...

Speaking of Baby Girl Layden, we have been talking to Reid about his baby sister, and he will kiss and talk to my baby bump ("Good morning, baby sissy"). He tells us he will rock her and she will be cute and little. He also plans to sing to her, play guitar with her, and share his balloon with her. He  wants to share his raisins and other snacks with her, too - I know we will have to intervene with some (most) of these activities for a while. Still, it is exciting for us to imagine Reid's connection with his little sister, and I am really looking forward to introducing our two little loves to one another soon.

Here are some pictures of "Life Lately" with our big boy:

Already excited about his baby sister (or excited about wearing a shirt with a bear on it...)

The Laydens took Sunrail to work/school - what a treat!

Mommy has really been enjoying her chats with Reid, usually on the way home from school. He loves pointing out the construction vehicles he sees, school buses, and telling me about his day (naming his friends, mostly).

Reid still talks about the Touch-a-Truck event he enjoyed with Olivia and Charlie about three weeks ago. Boy loves his trucks!

With the help of some warmer days and a pool heater, we enjoyed a few swims in our pool with out little shark.

Reid was captivated by all the animals (real or not) during our recent trip to the Sanford Zoo. He was especially intrigued by the river otters and watched a pair of them swim around for quite a long time. He also loved feeding some of the animals and riding the "choo choo train." We managed to get in two rides on the carousel, also, although one was a fail because he didn't get to sit on an animal. 

Bookworm!

In an effort to promulgate stereotypes, I will state that every bookworm needs a nice pair of reading glasses. Reid, the littlest bookworm in my life, is no exception. Fortunately, Reid hasn't shown any sign of vision issues, so his experience with glasses is limited to trying them on at a LensCrafters while waiting on Andy. Reid loved picking out different glasses to try on and running to the mirror to see how good he looked. I loved that it kept him busy while Andy continued his never-ending quest for rimless glasses.

Madagascar!

Reid enjoyed his very first play recently - Madagascar at Orlando Repertory Theater - with Ellison, Dylan, Olivia, Charlie, Aunt Jenn, Aunt Kim, Andy, and me. He was fascinated by the whole thing and sat on my lap or in his own seat for the entire play. I think there will be many more plays in our future!

Feeling poetic...

IF…..by Rudyard Kipling 

IF you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream – and not make dreams your master;
If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ‘em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
‘ Or walk with Kings – nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And – which is more – you’ll be a Man, my son!